New Destin Restaurant – Baguette Bistro – French Vietnamese Cuisine
Vietnamese Pho soup in Destin, Florida, anyone? The new Destin restaurant, Zesty Baguette Bistro, has just that and more. Billing itself as a French-Vietnamese concept, owner Duc Tran told us that Vietnamese cuisine goes way back with the influence of French cooking. He explained that he named the restaurant “Baguette Bistro” because the first French food brought to Vietnam was a baguette! Duc said it was time for a “different” type of restaurant in Destin. Vietnamese French cuisine brings an exciting new dining option.
My two friends immediately ordered the Pho soup. They swooned at the savory taste and gave me a sample. It was very hearty and substantial with a generous side dish of garnishes including bean sprouts, basil, pepper, lime, hoisin and chili sauce. You mix that right into the soup to your liking and my friends used all of it. Their bowls were enormous and they ate every drop, even tilting them to their mouths to finish it all! Pho is only served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I ordered the lemongrass chicken. After one bite I smiled with joy at the bursting flavor in just one little piece of chicken. The meal was extraordinary- light, slightly spicy and very flavorful. I ate all of it.
Other items on the menu are egg rolls, beef rillettes, fusion asian salad, krispy apple kale salad, mango wraps (three types), classic co’m tam fragrant rice dishes with salmon, grilled pork, chicken or shrimp, shaken steak, mild yellow curry. Their signature sandwiches include epice chicken, southern buttermilk chicken, po boys. You can get Vietnamese banh mi, bun rice vermicelli, and more. Expanded dinner offering at a slight higher price include boeuf bourguignon, surlonge de boeuf, chicken paillard milanese, grilled lamb rack and more. Their wine menu features many French wines.
The decor of Baguette Bistro is contemporary and urban, with exposed, painted ceiling ductwork and splashes of red and yellow in the hanging lamps. It was clean and beautiful.
During lunch, the owner, Duc, came to check on us several times. He is anticipating that his newly opened Destin restaurant will be packed in the summer as word gets out. I can see why!
Zesty Baguette Bistro is located at 4418 Commons Drive, across from Craft Bar and Chan’s Wine World, in the Publix plaza in Destin.
PRICES:
Lunch $8 to $16
Dinner $8 to $25
HOURS: Daily 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: [email protected]
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, sells real estate in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Miramar Beach, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Florida.
