By Emma Barhydt
One of my favorite places for lunch, or a meeting over coffee is Bistro V on Greenwich Ave. The french style restaurant is the perfect blend of chic and casual that creates a welcome environment for all kinds of conversation. Meet with an old friend over a nice iced matcha latte or the whole family can enjoy lunch on the town.
Bistro V’s menu is inspired by the bistros of France where owner Marc spent his time growing up. The influence shows in their thoughtful, well portioned, and balanced dishes. Bistro V has a breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and cocktails menu. You can find their up to date menus and hours here: https://versaillesgreenwich.com/menus-and-hours/. These menus are well done, not overwhelming but with enough variance between dishes to give you a good selection.
Broken up between small plates, salads, sides, and entrees there’s something for everyone. Vegetarians and carnivores alike will delight in the number of dishes suited for each preference. My friends are a mix of both, and they’re always happy to go.
A perennial friend favorite is the burger. While burgers are not my particular favorite dish (too messy), my friend, the burger connoisseur, has a burger at every restaurant in his quest to discover the best burger on the east coast. Bistro V’s burger rests firmly in his top three favorite burgers. Not too greasy or too light, this burger hits all of his checkboxes.
My favorite dish there is the salmon. The salmon is perfectly flaky and tender without being dry or falling apart. Set atop a perfectly seasoned blend of brussel sprouts, this dish is perfect in every season and isn’t too heavy while still being filling. There’s no need for a post lunch nap after this dish.
If salmon isn’t your thing the brussel sprouts on their own are delectable. Before eating a Bistro V, I was strictly anti-brussel sprouts. Now I can’t get enough of them… as long as they’re from Bistro V. I have no idea what they put in their brussel sprouts (I’m pretty sure it’s magic dust) but the Bistro V brussel sprouts actually make my top 5 my favorite things to eat.
Stepping away from the healthy stuff, I can’t go through a Bistro V review without remarking on how utterly spectacular their french fries are. Perfectly crunchy and crispy on the outside but fluffy and pillowy on the outside, their french fries steal the show at every meal. This is all to say nothing of their truffle fries which are so good, they are beyond description. Truffle fries are my favorite things to eat in the world. These are my number one favorite truffle fries anywhere on the east coast. They’re not greasy, they’re not overwhelmingly truffle-y, and they’re topped with Parmesan cheese and garlic. I have dreams about these french fries.
Another star on the menu is their leek mac & cheese. Thought of as a kid’s dish, their mac and cheese dish elevates it to another level. Velvety and elegant, this mac and cheese is a beautiful mix of nostalgia and good food. Not too thin or thick, the texture of this dish is also fabulous.
Their menu continues, and each dish is delightful, full of flavor, and has the subtle aftertaste of a life lived in Paris. Aside from the menu being great, the atmosphere of Bistro V is welcoming and pleasant. The music isn’t too loud so conversation is easy and the laid back atmosphere makes it a great place to grab a meal with friends. It’s not too casual either, which creates the perfect atmosphere for a work meeting. Basically, Bistro V is a great restaurant! This place is a Greenwich staple for good reason.
