Restaurant: Mistral
Location: 13422 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. (818) 981-6650
Date: August 1, 2023
Cuisine: French
Rating: Old school, but good
I haven’t been to Mistral in a long long time. It’s an old school Sherman Oaks French place, common in the 90s but now a nearly vanished breed.
Tonight was a hybrid of Hedonists and George who has been going here for decades.
We had this lovely patio table.
They turned the parking lot into patio during the pandemic.
Bread.
Gougères. Always yummy.
Tartar of “Sushi Grade” Ahi Tuna, Toast Points, Cucumber Rounds. Solid.
French Fries. Great crispy thin French style fries.
Ketchup and mustard.
Shrimp “Scampi” in a Beurre Blanc sauce. Really great lemon butter white wine sauce and fresh shrimp. Quite nice.
Wild Burgundy Escargots “A la Bourguignonne”. These were served on a bit of risotto. I prefer them in the classic manner, good for bread dipping. I think that’s what you normally get when you order then here, but they did this little variant given our large table size.
Crab Cake. Lovely soft crab cake with leeks and another (different) butter sauce. Quite delicious.
Moroccan Cigars, Green Yogurt with Fresh Mint, Salad of Cucumbers and Greens. Little beef rolls. Delicious with the yougurt based sauce.
Salad of Mixed Greens with Warm Goat Cheese Croutons.
Classic French Onion Soup “Gratinée”.
A very nice rendition of the classic. Totally the “classic way” — which is how it should be.
Crisp Duck Confit, Orange Grand Marnier Sauce. Chives Whipped Potato, Roasted Brussels sprouts. Very nice confit. Slightly sweet reduction was excellent.
New York Steak, Sliced Garlic, Parsley and Butter. 14 oz. USDA Prime, French Fries and Green Salad.
Steak au Poivre with the sauce on the side.
Au poivre sauce — delicious.
Lamb shank with risotto. Not as good as the confit or steak. Risotto wasn’t creamy enough.
Grilled Lamb Chops, Thyme, Rosemary, Garlic and Bread Crumbs. Potatoes au Gratin, Green Beans, Rainbow Carrots.
Fresh Peach & Strawberry Cobbler, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
Berries and cream.
Chocolate Soufflé. House Whipped Cream.
Pistachio Chocolate Fudge Gelato – a new high nut and no egg formulation with Pistachio di Bronte DOGC produces an intense pistachio base, mixed with Valrhona 70% Chocolate Ganache — made by me for @sweetmilkgelato — #SweetMilkGelato #gelato #dessert #icecream #FrozenDessert #nomnom #dessertlovers #dessertporn #icecreamlovers #gelatoitaliano #foodporn #gelatolover #food #foodgasm #foodblogger #dessertgasm #desserttime #foodphotography #gelatoartigianale #gelatomania #dessertlover #icecream #icecreamlovers #pistachio #Sicily #nuts #Valrhona #Chocolate #Ganache
Overall, a very fun evening. Food was surprisingly good. Slightly dated class “LA French”, but it was very fresh and well executed.
