It had been years since we’ve gone out with friends Cathleen and Chase. Parenthood had intervened, but tonight we both had sitters. So, we got dressed up to go out for a special night at a fancy—and new-to-us—restaurant.
And the restaurant? Nothing says fancy more than French food, so it had to be Bistro 55 in North Augusta’s Hammond Ferry.
Bistro 55 is located in the former DiVino’s location, directly across from another French food favorite, Manuel’s Bread Cafe. The bistro is charming, with both indoor and outdoor seating, white tablecloths, wood accents and a cheerful red door to welcome you.
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Its menu—much of which is in French with English descriptions—features classic French dishes. You can start with escargot (snails in garlic butter), for example, or brie baked in puff pastry, or French onion soup topped with a thick layer of cheese. Swoon-worthy entrees include duck a l’orange, steak frites (a strip steak with fries; plus two other steak entrée options), a roasted chicken au jus, even a fettuccine primavera (with vegetables) for vegetarian diners.
There are also three salad options; sides such as gruyere macaroni and cheese, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, fries two ways, and sauteed mushrooms; and an array of desserts, including a French pudding that takes 15 minutes to prepare, a cheesecake with raspberry coulis, crème brulee, and a dessert of the day.
But first a toast, with cocktails. Bistro 55 has 17 cocktail choices, including a bellini with peach puree and prosecco, a cosmopolitan, martini cocktail or a mojito, but my choice was the strawberry Caipiroska. Even the guys declared it very drinkable—a sweet and light summery cocktail full of fruit flavors and a touch of lime. For wine drinkers, there’s also an extensive list featuring red and white wines of France, Italy and California, along with sparkling wines and champagne.
Together, we’d decided on the mussels appetizer, which arrived soon after the bread service—a terrific crusty French loaf with sweet butter. The mussels, in a briny broth, were garlicky and served with more French bread, toasted—and the guys asked for even more so we could enjoy every drop of that broth.
I wavered over the duck as my entrée—but I nearly always order risotto when it’s on a menu, and Bistro 55 serves up a shrimp and scallop version. My husband, meanwhile, chose the sole meuniere—a filet of the fish in a brown butter sauce with lemon and parsley.
We laughed and talked so much that night in between bites and tasting each other’s entrees. Chase had ordered the ribeye and shared a tender, savory bite. I swapped one of my shrimp, which were cooked well, but hoarded my perfect, melt-in-your-mouth scallops. Both added a great seafood punch to the creamy risotto, rich with the earthy flavor of mushrooms cooked in butter and sharpened by a hit of bitter greens decorating the top of the dish. Sean’s sole was savory too, and light, even with the butter sauce flavoring his deeply roasted potatoes and his side of carrots and slim green beans.
As we dined, our waiter walked by temptingly with a tray of the night’s desserts. So. we ordered two—the chocolate souffle, which takes 25 minutes to prepare, as well as the dessert of the day, a layered Bistro 55 cake.
The cake turned out to be coffee, with an old-fashioned flavor that reminded me of coffee candies my aunt used to share with us. The souffle, rich chocolate dusted with confectioner’s sugar, was all crisp edges and the perfect, warm, melty center, with the aroma of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.
Afterwards, we did as the Parisians do, walked and talked—about the meal, our lives, our children. Bistro 55 is a bistro in the best sense of the word—a cozy and inviting place with great food, where friends can come together, laugh and reconnect.
Make Your Reservation
Bistro 55
465 Railroad Ave., Suite 100
Entrée cost: $24 to $60
