[imported from new blog] Pastis
Went to Pastis, a French restaurant on Victoria St East, same corner as TVNZ and Empire.
I wasn't aware of many French restaurant in Auckland. I been to the one in Parnell - St Tropez and the French Cafe - I heard you have to book like 2 weeks in advance.
Anyway Pastis, is quite small, and also has a bar on one side, was pretty full on Thursday night.
Went with Julie and YouNa. It was YouNa's idea, she been here a couple of times already, dinner and lunch. She said that she wasn't allow to book with less than 6 people. We got there at 6.30pm and place full by 7 - 7.30pm.
There had a live music from a trio - accordian/double bass/singer singing many French favourites.
They move around the restaurant singing, it was very lovely.
Each table has a large bottle of mineral water - I've heard of this in other places, if you open it then you will need to pay for it. There's no price on it, but probably like $7 judging by the size. I could be wrong. I don't really like this idea. Of course they still provide tap water, however the bottle takes up space on the table.
Had a hard time to decide, finally settled on the lamb rack on the special board - cooked with a herb crumb (I've never seen that before, and tasts very awesome - I love crumbed stuff). Very good portion - also came with homemade Tagliatelle (beautiful rough look to it - in Taiwan you can get these "Knife-shaved noodle" that looks like it - I just love them too) mixed with mushroom and pork - the kind with bits of fatty skin on top - I love those too!
YouNa had the main size of the king prawn on a oniony tomato composte (flamed on arrival - youna liked that - but really I'm over the flame stuff :P I dunno if it makes any differences...) and Julie had the salad with eggplant caviar and tuna - it was under the heading entree cos she wasn't feeling hungry. The tuna looks beautiful with a slight sear to the edge. They both love their dishes.
For dessert I had the poached pear and chocolate crepe, a whole poached pear too. The crepe was soooo good with bits of pecan nuts in it. So sweet and delicious. They had a range of crepes on offer alogn with "French favourite dessert" - creme brulee (that's what people always say, but not sure if it's their favourite but certainly well-known).
It's a bit pricey than what I'm used to, but I suppose all French restaurant are like that - the mains were about $30, entree from $15 - $20 and dessert from $7 - $15.
I quite like the place and the environment but hmm would probably need to save up first to visit again :P Although they only 3 waitstaff and we waited a bit before we got our dessert order taken - told them we had a movie to catch later, was almost tempted to just leave and forget the dessert, it's like they don't want us to order more - we waited ~25minutes! Although the wait to get dessert was short (unlike the wait for the main).
Youna say when she was here with one of her friend, her friend thought the waiter was cute, Youna just thought he looked 'funny', but thought he was friendly. (They had 2 waiter and a waitress). I found the boys to be quite arrogant-ish. Show-off-ish. That's my general impressions of European men actually. sowwie... only in general tho - not on individual cases. I also had a annoying/rude experience with a Italian waiter once too at Tony's, although I had a very good experience with another Italian waiter at Da Vinci's. He was cute and can sing Italian opera songs. I think his name was Hadley. He even gave us extra lollies with our bills :p AND I think he came out to see us off especially as anothe waitress was doing the payment thing with us first. Haha. Maybe I should go back there sometime... last time I was there was 3 years ago! The food was good too :P
Anyway my point is... I like good food?
I wasn't aware of many French restaurant in Auckland. I been to the one in Parnell - St Tropez and the French Cafe - I heard you have to book like 2 weeks in advance.
Anyway Pastis, is quite small, and also has a bar on one side, was pretty full on Thursday night.
Went with Julie and YouNa. It was YouNa's idea, she been here a couple of times already, dinner and lunch. She said that she wasn't allow to book with less than 6 people. We got there at 6.30pm and place full by 7 - 7.30pm.
There had a live music from a trio - accordian/double bass/singer singing many French favourites.
They move around the restaurant singing, it was very lovely.
Each table has a large bottle of mineral water - I've heard of this in other places, if you open it then you will need to pay for it. There's no price on it, but probably like $7 judging by the size. I could be wrong. I don't really like this idea. Of course they still provide tap water, however the bottle takes up space on the table.
Had a hard time to decide, finally settled on the lamb rack on the special board - cooked with a herb crumb (I've never seen that before, and tasts very awesome - I love crumbed stuff). Very good portion - also came with homemade Tagliatelle (beautiful rough look to it - in Taiwan you can get these "Knife-shaved noodle" that looks like it - I just love them too) mixed with mushroom and pork - the kind with bits of fatty skin on top - I love those too!
YouNa had the main size of the king prawn on a oniony tomato composte (flamed on arrival - youna liked that - but really I'm over the flame stuff :P I dunno if it makes any differences...) and Julie had the salad with eggplant caviar and tuna - it was under the heading entree cos she wasn't feeling hungry. The tuna looks beautiful with a slight sear to the edge. They both love their dishes.
For dessert I had the poached pear and chocolate crepe, a whole poached pear too. The crepe was soooo good with bits of pecan nuts in it. So sweet and delicious. They had a range of crepes on offer alogn with "French favourite dessert" - creme brulee (that's what people always say, but not sure if it's their favourite but certainly well-known).
It's a bit pricey than what I'm used to, but I suppose all French restaurant are like that - the mains were about $30, entree from $15 - $20 and dessert from $7 - $15.
I quite like the place and the environment but hmm would probably need to save up first to visit again :P Although they only 3 waitstaff and we waited a bit before we got our dessert order taken - told them we had a movie to catch later, was almost tempted to just leave and forget the dessert, it's like they don't want us to order more - we waited ~25minutes! Although the wait to get dessert was short (unlike the wait for the main).
Youna say when she was here with one of her friend, her friend thought the waiter was cute, Youna just thought he looked 'funny', but thought he was friendly. (They had 2 waiter and a waitress). I found the boys to be quite arrogant-ish. Show-off-ish. That's my general impressions of European men actually. sowwie... only in general tho - not on individual cases. I also had a annoying/rude experience with a Italian waiter once too at Tony's, although I had a very good experience with another Italian waiter at Da Vinci's. He was cute and can sing Italian opera songs. I think his name was Hadley. He even gave us extra lollies with our bills :p AND I think he came out to see us off especially as anothe waitress was doing the payment thing with us first. Haha. Maybe I should go back there sometime... last time I was there was 3 years ago! The food was good too :P
Anyway my point is... I like good food?