In Palm Beach, there is no shortage of dining options, but if you’re looking for excellent steak frites and pâté, Pistache French Bistro is the place to be.
A Parisian-style bistro with a Mediterranean twist, Pistache French Bistro is primely located in the most vibrant part of the city: Downtown West Palm Beach. And upon walking in, it’s instantly clear why this bustling restaurant has such an excellent reputation.
The host was immediately attentive, friendly, and took us to our seats with no delay — which seems like no easy feat considering the restaurant was buzzing with hungry and happy diners.
While the cozy, canopied terrace was tempting, to escape the hot weather we opted to sit inside. Bright decor with traditional and somewhat rustic furniture comes together for a delightfully unpretentious vibe that makes this a perfect lunch or casual dinner spot. But don’t let the laidback character of this place fool you, as the quality of the food speaks for itself.
Immediately, our server was eager to help us order, and it was clear they were experienced and happy to answer all of our questions. Despite a plethora of dietary requirements, we were kindly guided through what to order as well as given personal recommendations.
As we mulled over our decision, our drinks arrived. While Pistache offers an impressive wine list, we needed to start the night off with a signature cocktail. The lavender martini offered a cheeky twist on a classic, with lavender syrup that was strong without overpowering the drink. And the London Calling, a gingery take on a Pimm's cup, was fresh and offered a citrus bite.
From experience, we know that our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, but we proceeded with ordering too much anyway.
It’s always a pleasant surprise to see a menu that doesn’t just offer a bunch of wilted mixed greens as salads; Pistache’s hearty offerings meant we were keen to eat our vegetables. The roasted beet salad was packed with crunchy slices of honey crisp apple and velvety herbed goat cheese topped with a tangy tarragon vinaigrette. While the Italian burrata was more cheese than leaf, with a sweet fennel jam, juicy marinated tomatoes, and a creamy port balsamic reduction, we weren’t complaining.
The pace of the meal was perfect, and with our server not leaving too much time in between courses, our outrageous order felt to be the perfect amount of food. When the burgundy escargot arrived, it was cooked to perfection, and served in a delectable lemon garlic butter, while the pâté was creamy and sharp.
The star of the show however, was the steak frites, which is unsurprisingly a crowd favorite here at Pistache. Juicy, medium rare steak arrived at the table chargrilled, and each smokey bite was delightful. Sopping up the meat in the black pepper brandy sauce with mouthfuls of crispy pomme frites, we were beginning to wonder if we’d have room for dessert.
But where there’s a will, there’s a way. It was impossible to look past their specialty — the Pistache profiteroles. These crunchy balls of choux were light and airy, filled with vanilla ice cream instead of the classic Chantilly cream, although this was a welcome departure from tradition. Hot dark chocolate sauce accompanied the dish, making it an exquisite end to an indulgent evening that we very much plan to repeat before long.
