Shut your eyes and imagine for a moment you are entering a quiet bistro in a small village of cobble streets in France with soft French music playing in the background and French accented waiters greeting you at the door.  This is what it felt like walking into Pierrot on a Wednesday evening. 

Pierrot is one of those restaurants that people mention as being a local to them.  When they talk about it I think to myself “I must try it” and then immediately forget.  Not this time.  The second my friend, Nancy put this on the list as a potential place to go I jumped at the chance to try this talked about little bistro.

Located in Beacon Hill on Cambridge Street this corner restaurant with a red awning welcomes patrons into their small rather authentic French bistro.  The dining room is cozy with exposed brick walls covered in Pierrot dolls (clowns) and posters and oozing with French charm.  The tables of different sizes and shapes are covered with white tablecloths and seating is wooden traditional French cafĂŠ chairs.  A French radio station plays music softly in the background.  I loved it immediately.

I was first to arrive and escorted by one of the French waiters to a small table away from the door (as requested by me).  A nicely located table to look at the restaurant.  The waiter took my coat and hung it up for me while another waiter poured water for me and an additional waiter delivered some crusty French bread and sweet butter. 

Looking at the drinks menu I immediately smiled to myself as I noticed Lilet.  I love this little sweet wine and knew I needed to order one on the rocks with a slice of orange.  I am not sure if we (me and Lauren) made up this drink or it is a traditional way to drink Lilet, either way it is a sweet and refreshing aperitif.    Nancy had joined me and we both decided to enjoy a glass.  I think she is now a Lilet convert!

The menu is quintessentially French with Moules, Pate and Escargot on offer as some of their appetizers.  Nancy had heard the Moules were quite good so that is where we started.

A huge bowl of steaming mussels in a white wine sauce was brought to us and had aromas that literally made our eyes widen and our mouths water.  They were juicy, plump and perfect.  The white wine broth was tasty especially mopped up with lots of crusty bread.  A meal in itself.

The entrees are again all classically French with offeirngs of Boeuf Bourguignon, Steak Frites and Escalopine de Veau.  I picked the Magret de Canard (duck).  My plate arrived burning hot so my thought was that food would also be that way.  It wasn’t piping hot it was just warm.  Not bad but you knew it had been kept hot on the plate for a little while.  The duck even warm was succulent and cooked perfectly – a little pink in the middle, which I like. There was a small mound of cheesy scalloped potatoes and butter covered fresh vegetables.

Nancy ordered the Baked Salmon with a barbeque sauce (we think it was barbeque).  I couldn’t find it online but her description was of it being delicious and was noticed by her empty plate.

Our evening ended with a crème brulee infused with lavender. Creamy vanilla yumminess with a crispy lavender sweet crust.  Quite different and rather good.

The service is attentive and warm without being over the top. When asked if I wanted another glass of Sancerre I made a joke of perhaps just wanting a half glass.  No sooner had I said that, the waiter was back at my table pouring me a very healthy half glass.  A nice touch.  More restaurants should do the half pour. 

As we were dining we both thought this would be a really lovely first date place.  I just need to find a first date?  All in all a very nice experience at Pierrot.