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Saint Tropez:  Better than Perfect

Delectable French Food Makes For Memorable Special Occasions

                 Saint Tropez has been consistently rated as one of the best French restaurants in Fairfield County, so it’s surprising to this reviewer that the experience was not just about the phenomenally tasty food, but about a dining event that I walked away from extremely satisfied and utterly fulfilled.

                 My theory of culinary aesthetics is threefold.  First, ingredients and technique have to be flawless.  Achieving this first level of beauty is pretty simple if you know how to shop and have half an attention span while watching the Food Network on cable TV.  The second step is to be imaginative, taking a dish with no errors and adding a little something different and new, not only making it your own but also making it better.  The final step to culinary perfection is achieving balance, making sure every separate flavor is a complimentary addition to the dish.

                 Every single dish at Saint Tropez that I was fortunate enough to sample had reached this third level.  The restaurant started with flawless ingredients and technique, added artistry in both presentation and taste, then finished with perfect spicing for flavor and balance.

                 I started my meal with raw oysters on the half shell.  It wasn’t enough to just pick out the freshest and best oysters; the chef served them not only with a shallot and red wine vinegar sauce but also the best cocktail sauce I’ve ever had.

                 As my husband and I finished our appetizers, the waitress immediately swept over to whisk away our plates.  The service was omnipresent, but unobtrusive; knowledgeable and helpful without being overly familiar or pushy.

                 They bent over backwards to make sure that everyone was satisfied with their food.  A woman at the table next to us was quite picky about what side dishes should accompany her entrée, but the waiter was patient and accommodating.  The customer came away satisfied; I overheard her say to her dinner companions that it was the best bouillabaisse she had ever had.

                 When they brought my main dish, the filet mignon, it was seared to perfection and deliciously rare on the inside, just the way I like it.  If the steak wasn’t enough, they topped it with just a dab of foie gras and just a sliver of truffle, and then surrounded it with a morel sauce.  It was so good I closed my eyes to completely block out any sensory information that wasn’t the food.

                 My husband chose the seafood lasagna.  Everything about it was flawless.  The freshly-made pasta was tender, the seafood was fresh and cooked to perfection.  Most importantly, the cheese paired wonderfully with lobster sauce in every bite.  When I tried it I was in heaven.

                 When you eat at this place, pay close attention to what is on the specials menu.  This is where the chef is really given a chance to shine, with whatever was the best at the market that morning.  Also, Saint Tropez has an extensive wine list, and every day they offer a few special wines that patrons can order by the glass.  Don’t be intimidated, just ask your waiter and he or she can recommend wine or food that you will love.

                 At the end of our special evening out together, we came to dessert.  I ended my meal with the Profitéroles au Chocolat, which is vanilla ice cream in puff pastry smothered in chocolate sauce.  The ice cream was homemade, and I could see the tiny bits of real vanilla bean.  The chocolate sauce was anything but Hershey’s syrup, and absolutely delightful.

                 I also sampled a few bites of the Flawless Chocolate Cake.  It was chocolate mousse, surrounded by pound cake, and topped off with cream sauce and raspberry coulee, with fresh fruit slices on the side.  It was to die for.  I still cannot decide what dessert I enjoyed more since they were both the perfect end to the perfect meal.

                 Saint Tropez is not a casual dining spot and is priced accordingly.  The food is well worth the $19.95 to $32.95 tag on the entrees, and the $6.95 to $17.95 for appetizers.  However, there are beautiful murals, comfortable seating, and a very nice décor.  The restaurant is small and intimate, seating only 95 people, so making reservations is recommended.

                 If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, the lunch menu runs from $9.95 to $14.95.  Also, the run the O Bar next door, which serves the same appetizers and desserts, has happy hour specials Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

                 The restaurant is open for lunch, Monday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  On Fridays and Saturdays they stay open until 10:00 p.m. for dinner.   Lunch is not served on Sundays, but you can find dinner served from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

                 Saint Tropez is located at 52 Sanford Street in Fairfield, Connecticut.  There are a few parking spaces in the front of the restaurant, but your best bet is every day at the former Parks and Recreation lot on Sanford Street, or on weekends, in the train station parking lot right down the road.

 

5 out of 5 Stars

Copyright 2004

Inside Saint Tropez

By Amanda Evans

Date: 11/29/04