db Bistro Moderne

• Cuisine(s): Contemporary, French
  Hours: Sun 11am-10pm, Mon 12pm-10pm, Tue-Thu 12pm-11pm, Fri 12pm-12am, Sat 11am-12am
  Price: $$$$
  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards
• Attire: Casual dressy
  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Banquet Facilities, Wheelchair Accessible
  Serving: Dinner, Lunch
  Alcohol: Full bar
• Reservations: Required
  Parking: Valet

Description

Dining at DB is a classy experience from start to finish. Service is professional, and the waiters are well informed on the cuisine -- orchestrated by executive chef Jarrod Verbiak, who has worked with Daniel Boulud for nearly a decade. Sommelier John Mayfield entertains an encyclopedic knowledge of the wines that compose a 30-plus page list (a blend of classic French and contemporary boutique). Steamy, eggy cheese gougères kick-start the meal, which can then be taken in any number of directions: platters of assorted fresh shellfish; assiettes, or plates of regional bar snacks (Basque, Provençal, Lyonnaise); and a host of soups, salads, and appetizers. Favorites include chilled vichyssoise greened and lightened with lettuce, and pté de campagne -- a coarse, fresh, pork-dominant slice crusted with peppery, pastrami-like seasonings. A few pastas are available in starter portions as well; try the ricotta cavatelli with fennel-flecked sausage. Among the entrées, bread-crusted pompano wowed, as did seared sea scallops with shellfish over saffron-soaked fregola. The original DB burger of ground sirloin, short ribs, and foie gras is the menu signature, perhaps famed as much for its $32 price as for the decadent flavors. Light desserts such as lemon gratin or a basket of madeleines provide a light finish. A finale more fitting of France would be by way of selected cheeses -- a genteel end to an elegant dinner.