Maison D'Azur

• Cuisine(s): French, Seafood
  Price: $$$$
  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards
• Attire: Casual dressy
  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Wheelchair Accessible
  Serving: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
• Reservations: Accepted, Highly Recommended
  Parking: Valet

Description

This fantastic seafood brasserie takes its name and cue from the Côte d'Azur, and it is so understatedly chic that it's easy to imagine the Riviera coast twinkling below. The main indoor room echoes a timeless, romantic brasserie, with wood floors, arched windows, and linen-draped tables each set with a candle and rose. Cuisine also approximates that of the French Med. Executive chef Gwenaël Le Pape, from the Brittany Coast, exquisitely prepares Mediterranean seafood flown in daily. Fish rarely seen on these shores, such as Dover sole, John Dory, and Tasmanian ocean trout, are grilled and served with lemon and one of seven side sauces. Caviar and shellfish selections are topnotch, and prices reflect the quality. Less exotic fish are offered, too, like a trio of pan-seared diver scallops big as Ping-Pong balls and bursting with sweetness against a rich, butter-laden backdrop of stewed leeks and champagne sauce spotted with salmon caviar. Don't miss the soupe de poisson Marseillaise, a showstopping fish chowder served with Gruyère cheese and chili-spiked saffron aioli. Other strengths: a compelling array of unique wines, all served by the glass; a personable, professional staff that offers the finest service in town; great dining-appropriate music spun by a DJ; and a crème brûlée that makes all other local variations seem as if they were prepared from Jell-O pudding mix. Put Maison at the top of your list.