Last night a dear friend of ours invited us to dinner at Bethesda's LE VIUEX LOGIS (www.levieuxlogisrestaurant.com) which is celebrating its 29th anniversary this month with an amazing dinner deal: $29 for 3 courses including a glass of quite decent wine!
I must have been to Le Vieux Logis umpteen years ago as it all came back to me as we walked in. It is cozy electric French provincial decor with a real family feel exuded by owner Diana Dahan, who greets everyone and checks up on them regularly. It did not hurt that our friend was a regular, but everyone (and the place was jammed) seemed to be treated specially; in this economy, a restaurateur would be thrilled to have a full house any night! We even bumped into an old buddy who tended bar back at Galileo for years (speaking of Galileo, Roberto Donna will reopen in DC's Butterfield 9 location later this year with GALILEO III).
We settled in with a glass of tasty French chardonnay and perused the fixed price menu which offers about 6 or 7 options in each category. Diana is quick to mention that if we don't care for these options, there are numerous other specials!
Yummy breads include a black bread with raisins and the table also sports tasty SPICED PECANS; we tried not to fill up. Our starters included a superb TOMATO MOZZARELLA SALAD with Fresh Basil in Balsamic Vinaigrette made up of both red and yellow tomatoes and tasty cheese. GAZPACHO was cold and tasty and welcome now that the summer heat has settled in, and a medley of MUSHROOMS with Garlic & Herbs is one of the heavier options that was simply superb.
The entrees are not huge, but they are all well prepared, tasty and accompanied by numerous sides such as mashed potatoes, zucchini, bok choy cabbage and more. The fishes were no disappointment from the Pan Seared Boston HADDOCK in White Wine and Leeks to my Boneless CAROLINA RAINBOW TROUT in Lemon Butter and Almonds that indeed had not one bone and was simply light, tasty and divine. Will opted for the CHICKEN PICCATA with Lemon and Capers. As if this was not enough, we were treated to an order of Shoestring French Fried Potatoes and the even tastier SWEET POTATO Fries, which are actually baked and seasoned to perfection!
A bottle of HOB NOB PINOT NOIR 2007 which we all thought was a super red for fish (and chicken) due its light body but great character and I would have bet it was California (say, Sonoma Coast) any day. It is a French import for Pays d'Oc, and a nice summer red find for sure!
Diana proffers the dessert tray with glee and then offers up more choices not on the tray, but are happy to choose from the PEACH MELBA, Sorbet with Mixed Berries, Mixed Berries alone or the excellently flaky BERRY TORTE served on a light pastry with a touch of creme choux on top and loaded with fresh berries and other fruits.
A plate of homemade cookies arrives as Diana says these are her mother's Shabbos cookies! They are crunchy swirls dotted with chocolate and are accompanied by some rich heavenly Swiss treats that are imported and melt in your mouth with a little crunch.
As we were "special" we had a glass of after dinner something--mine was Drambuie, and headed home knowing that it won't be 29, umpteen or even close to that long before we return to Le Vieux Logis (which for some silly reason is not even IN the DC Zagat guide!)!
