Todd Jurich's Bistro-Valentine's Day 2010

Date Visited: February 12, 2010

Reason Why we Visited:
Valentines Day 2010! Jon found this restaurant online and was eager to try it. The chef Todd Jurich is a James Beard Foundation member and both him and the restaurant have won numerous awards and accolades. For more info about these awards, please visit this link: http://www.toddjurichsbistro.com/todd.html .
This establishment is located on Main Street in downtown Norfolk right across the street from Nauticus.

The Wait:
For once in our culinary tasting career we made a reservation. We figured fancy restaurant plus Valentine's Day Weekend required planning ahead. We were seated immediately upon entering. Our car also was treated to valet service so parking was no problem. Valet was $5.

The Atmosphere:
Todd Jurich calls this little restaurant venture of his a "bistro". The decor and atmosphere reflects everything you would expect in a chic down-town eatery. The wood paneling and white tablecloths with polished silver was inviting and warm. However, Jon and Kate were a little put off by the accent color on some of the walls above the paneling. The artsy and decor-minded Kate felt that the pale yellow did not compliment the rest of the room's class and actually gave the area in front of the kitchen a "fast food" appearance. The waitstaff were dressed well and the general look of the place is appealing and comfortable.

The Service:
Our waiter was prompt and courteous. He was very knowledgeable of the menu and quickly informed us of his excellent recommendations. Please be advised readers, the menu was a special Valentine's Day selection and may differ on other nights. Take note of the website provided to view their regular dinner fare. In general, the service was quick and effortless. There seemed to be excellent communication between all members of the staff and kitchen. Our waiter answered all of our questions well and was very personable.

The Drinks:
Throughout the evening Jon sipped on a Tom Collins and a mojito, two of his all time fave drinks. He thoroughly enjoyed his mojito, noting the hand made quality that denoted this drink did not come from some bottled "mix". Kate had two glasses of an excellent Max Reichter Riesling. She had not sampled this particular kind of Riesling before but liked it so well she declared it one of the best she's had. Wine is sold by the glass and by the bottle with extensive choices available.

The Food:
Jon and Kate both ordered the Cesar salad, preferring a light "first" as the menu called it, over a heavier appetizer. We agreed to save our palette for the main event. The Cesar did not disappoint. Romaine lettuce, strawberries, and tasty dressing were complimented by a warm, delicious "popover" and a Parmesan frico. The frico crunched up over the salad provided the salty and crunchy aspect usually expected from croutons.

The entrees we chose were the flounder and jumbo lump crab flavored with Meyer lemon for Jon and the tuna steak with peppercorn crust on a bed of bok choy and mushrooms for Kate. Jon loved his dish and enjoyed the sweet/sour flavoring of the Meyer lemon. The flounder came lightly breaded and was cooked perfectly resulting in a flaky texture. The only negative he noted, was a small amount of grittiness in the lump crab. Kate and Jon enjoyed the tuna dish immensely. It was prepared medium rare and had a good sear with a nicely formed crust. The pepper was a little over powering but the delicious melt-in-your-mouth quality of tuna more than made up for it. The bok choy was wilted and still crunchy and the marinated mushrooms were a perfect complement.

The Dessert:
Jon and Kate chose the bread pudding. It came topped with hand whipped cream and crunchy toasted nuts on top. The bread and cream anglaise were perfectly married into a soft and chewy masterpiece. Each bite was better than the last and both of us were disappointed when it was gone. Excellent!! This is a must try.

Value:
The prices at this bistro reflect typical downtown complete with an award winning chef. However, Jon and Kate both felt the money more than paid for the excellent quality and service. Every dime was well spent and very much enjoyed.

Overall:
Jon and Kate would definitely recommend this eatery. Don't just save this one for special occasions. The bistro also offers a lunch selection and seasonal specials. Jon and Kate plan to return and try the calamari and the salmon! The descriptions listed on the menu were mouth-watering and tempting.

For further info check out:
http://www.toddjurichsbistro.com/index2.html

Happy Valentine's to our readers!!! And in recent news....Jon and Kate became engaged February 12, 2010.