Since Alouette Bistro opened in 2021, I haven’t had much opportunity to try them since Downtown Vancouver is no longer my stomping ground. Similar to my initial thought about H2 Kitchen + Bar, their Dine Out menu didn’t make it on my shortlist this year because it has limited options. But then, what they offer are some solid choices and some of my favourite classic French dishes. So, I was quite excited to try their Dine Out menu and I had Papa Lam as my lunch date. Yes, the $49 Dine Out menu is available for both lunch and dinner here at Alouette.
The restaurant was quiet at 11am when we first arrived (hence my picture), but the dining room was pretty much full when we left at around 1pm, and most diners didn’t partake in Dine Out (truth be told, it’s too much food for lunch and you may suffer from a food coma if you’re heading back to work). That’s a really good sign!
Food
For appetizers, you have two options. First, the Beluga Lentil Salad had a great mix of ingredients on the plate. The beluga lentils were tender; the endive and arugula offered a bit of bitterness and crisp freshness; cherry tomatoes and goat cheese brought tang and acidity; the pumpkin seeds adds texture, and the squash gives sweetness. It was a perfect appetizer portion to start the meal.
The Signature Beef Tartar was definitely my favourite appy of the two. It’s a Dine Out version of their regular menu item. The wagyu beef was in a beautiful pink colour, tasted fresh, and all the flavours went well together with a hint of truffle on the nose. There was a perfect amount of baguette slices. I was worried the beef tartar would be too rich but it was just the right amount of creaminess and richness.
As for entrees, the Signature Duck Cassoulet was soooo good. It’s a staple in their menu and I can understand why. The duck confit was a good size; its skin was crispy, the meat was tender and flavourful. The surprise was in the bean stew! There was so much flavour from the lardon and chicken sausage. I’m usually not a beans girl but I kept going back. Papa Lam was absolutely vocal that this was his favourite dish of the whole meal, period. Oh, make sure you take out the fried crispy skin first so they don’t get soggy.
The Beef Bourguignon was also delightful. It’s not your typical stewed beef in a red wine jus. The way they prepared it, the cut of meat, makes you think you’re eating steak. The jus was tasty with a prominent red wine note, and I really liked the carrot and potato too.
The sweet finish was a Chocolate Mousse cake. It was airy, it was decadent. I liked that they included a few pieces of roasted chestnut on the plate to accentuate the chestnut flavour.
Cocktail
Here we are with cocktails again! We got to try their take on a Moscow Mule, called Martinique Mule. I love me a good, gingery Moscow Mule, but this is nothing like it. And not necessarily a bad thing. It’s cherry coded with the use of a Danish liqueur called Cherry Heering. Sometimes cherry flavour can have this medicinal, cough syrup note, but this was fruity, and almost reminded me of pomegranate juice. It was refreshing, and the little sprinkle of pink peppercorn on top may give you a tiny little kick. It was also in a pink hue, which is perfect for this time of year, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Final Thoughts
At $49, this Dine Out menu was solid. Truthfully, the options are a bit limited, but they feature a couple of their regular menu items here so you get to experience what they always offer. Both entrees were very good, and each included a generous amount of protein. I think it’s really good value for the money. My recommended combo will be Beef Tartar + Duck Cassoulet. I must point out, though, that it’s missing a vegetarian entree option. I’m hoping that if you are a vegetarian having Dine Out there, they would be willing to prepare you a veggie entree. And if you are going, give their Martinique Mule a try as well.
Alouette Bistro
Executive Hotel Le Soleil Vancouver
567 Hornby Street, Vancouver
alouettevancouver.com
Disclosure: This meal is complimentary but the opinions are entirely my own.
VanFoodies.com 
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