Top 10 facts about dinner at Bastide

Here's my impressions of dining at the week-old Bastide. (Given yesterday's rant, I feel compelled to point out that while we dined anonymously, I don't feel comfortable calling this a full-fledged review.)

1. Free wine pairings for all. (For now; they still don't have a wine list.)
2. Tiny. Maybe 30 seats.
3. At $80 and $100 for four or seven courses, a bargain. (That doesn't include tax or the compulsory 18% tip.)
4. A commitment. Expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours.
5. Sincere and enthusiastic, although service is still a little wonky.
6. Deconstructed lobster taco: A shot of crystal-clear salsa, a spoonful of lobster with a dab of avocado mousse, a tiny scoop of lime sorbet in a tablespoon or tequila.
7. A chandelier composed of filament-thin wires tipped by wine labels.
8. Little bacon brioches.
9. Duck-fat fries.
10. A piece of 7,000-year-old pink sea salt large enough to kill someone. Our waiter grated it over the hamachi instead.

Best wine of the night: A Barolo, the 2001 Poderi Aldo Conterno Cicala.
Best dish: The hamachi with the sake-oyster cocktail. The LAT forgot to mention how delicious they tasted together.
Biggest disappointment: That UrbanDaddy photo (see above) is accurate.

Want to see the evening's menus for yourself? Please visit the jump.

[Click through for larger views]

The seven-course menu:

The four-course menu:

Comments

[Nick]

Well, as amazing as the food sounds, I don't think I could justify paying $80 a plate to sit in a room that looks like a coffee shop at Burbank airport. I mean, there has to be SOME advantage to living in L.A. over SoHo.

[Chris]

The menu is 80 bucks, not the plate. How Amazing does the food sound? It's just a title. Get a clue, and chirp in when you aren't trying to impress somebody Nick.

[Nick]

I would totally respond to that if any of it made sense.

[AMADAMinNEVADA]

I think the sense that Chris is trying to make is, "It is about the food."
It is not about your taste or lack thereof in decor. First things first
1. Food
2. Drink
3. Price/value
4. Ambiance

[Nick]

Thanks for clearing that up! I'm going to tattoo that list to my thigh just in case my internet access is on the fritz the next time I'm choosing a restaurant.