Jea Kim
Google
Laid-back bistro that specializes in Southern French cuisine.
Recently came across their 1-year anniversary menu and decided to try it out for Sunday dinner. Although I love French restaurants, the restaurant’s low ratings have always stopped me from giving them a try. It appeared that most of their bad reputation was related to service issues. However, everything seemed fine during our visit for an early Sunday dinner.
As the name suggests, Chef Fathman draws inspiration from Marseille, a Southern port city that serves as a culinary crossroads of several Mediterranean countries. Consequently, the menu at this restaurant offers a somewhat unique twist, as it distinguishes from the typical French bistro fare found at PRB’s two other restaurants.
In addition to trying the anniversary menu, we chose two of our staple starters at French restaurants: Liver Mousse and Beef Tartare. The tartare was solid, but the mousse didn't hit the mark. It was thicker than I usually prefer, and the accompanying crostini was overly seasoned, which overwhelmed the mousse rather than complementing it. Fortunately, the other two appetizers from the course menu were excellent. Both were fried yet lightly seasoned, allowing the flavors to shine through. They came with Espelette Aioli, which added a briny and subtly spicy kick that really enhanced the overall taste of the dishes.
For our entrées, we chose the Trout Almandine and the Poulet Rotisserie. Although neither dish was particularly outstanding, the chicken was enjoyable as it was very juicy and tender. The trout, on the other hand, was slightly overcooked, but this was somewhat mitigated by a generous coating of melted brown butter that added a richer flavor.
The finale of our meal were a Marseille Profiterole and Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée. As expected from a restaurant group that also owns PRB Boulangerie, both desserts were exceptional. The Crème Brulée was creamy with an exquisitely light consistency that melted delightfully on the palate, and the Profiterole was also excellent.
Overall, Marseille provided a better experience than we initially anticipated. While it might not serve the best French/Mediterranean food in the city, it still offers a pleasant and relaxing dining atmosphere. Given that the anniversary deal is only available until the end of this month, I recommend visiting soon to take advantage of this offer.