February is the month for love – so it must be time for a French restaurant.

My experience when celebrating a special occasion with a woman is that she expects dinner at an expensive French restaurant, that to obtain entry I have to wear a tie and jacket, spend lots of money on small portions of food, and be intimidated by a server with a French accent. So in preparation for the February issue of this publication I made a reservation at a relative newcomer to the Alexandria restaurant scene-Bastille Restaurant in the Northern end of Alexandria on Royal Street.

Unfortunately, the evening of my choice was also the first night of the annual Restaurant Week promotion in which the Bastille was participating and the earliest opening was at 8:45 PM. I decided that it would be an opportunity to determine how the kitchen and wait staff handled a full house. I’ll let you answer that question after reading my article.

Bastille-named after the former Paris prison, is located in a building that was years ago the home of Smoots Lumber Yard, and today shares the building with a furniture store. Across the sidewalk is the Metro Stage. Although its location is off the path of the shops and restaurants close to King Street, the advantage is the ease of parking.

There is one dining room with seating for about fifty diners that has been renovated from the previous occupant into a cozy, comfortable space with a chocolate brown ceiling, beige walls, dark wood paneling, and a gleaming newly finished wood floor. There is a new bar at the back of the room that accommodates a dozen guests. The entrance to the kitchen is now hidden from the dining room with a counter service area and framed with a red curtain.

Upon our arrival, the host welcomed us, even though I was in khakis and a sweater, and took us to our table. Immediately, we were offered bread, butter and marinated olives. Our server presented the menus while explaining the dining options for the evening. We choose the Chef’s six course Tasting Menu with the wine pairing.

First course was Cod Brandade, a salt cured cod that was rehydrated, formed into a cake and pan seared, served with Frisee salad and truffle vinaigrette. Wine selection was Muscadet, Coteaux de la Loire, Domaine Guindon, 2006. Tasting the cod by itself had a strong salt taste, but when eaten with the salad followed by the wine, the flavors melded together.

One of my favorite foods, foie-gras was the second course served with brioche toasts and cranberry chutney. Wine with this course was Jurancon Sec, Camin Larredya, 2005.

Our third course was Duck Magret, glazed turnips and the wine, Cotes du Rhone, Patrick Lesec, Cuvee Bouquet, 2004.

I especially appreciated that between each course, our server brought the wine first, describing its origin and other pertinent information about it and then brought the food. He was attentive without being intrusive.

The fourth course, was braised short ribs served with winter root puree and paired with Cotes de Castillon, Chateau La Bourree, 2004.

We opted to include the cheese course which was a Roquefort mousse served with frisee salad and paired with Coteaux du Layon, Domaine Jo Pithon, 2004.

Finally, the desert course was a Pistachio butter cake with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Red Mountain, Chenin Blanc Ice Wine, Kiona, 2005 was paired with the cake.

We found the pairings superb, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere casual and inviting. Owners, Chef Christophe Poteaux and his wife Michelle Garbee have added to the increasing list of quality restaurants in Alexandria. Both were at Aquarelle at the Watergate before opening Bastille.

In addition to their concise dinner menu of Soup & Salads, Appetizers, Entrees, Artisanal Cheeses and Deserts, they offer a Pre-Theater Menu and an Early Week Three Course Menu.

As expected the majority of their wines are French with many served by the glass. Prices range from $20 for a bottle of Cotes du Frontonnais Rose, Chateau Bellevue La Foret, 2006 to $48 for Pouilly Fume, from the Loire Valley. Included in the “New World” selections are wines from Prince Michel and Tarara Winery, both in Virginia. From their Reserve List, sold only by the bottle, are found some exceptional wines, all under $120.

They also offer an interesting selection of beers; Fullers, London Pride, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Casablanca, Tillburg Dutch brown Ale, Erdinger Heffe-weissen, and Trois Monts. Currently they do not have a liquor license.

I now know where to take the woman in my life when she expects a celebratory dinner, but I probably won’t wait until then to revisit Bastille Restaurant.

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