People used to ask me what my favorite restaurant was (a question I felt as difficult to answer as Tom did), and if there was any restaurant I hadn’t yet been to that I wanted to try. Bayona sort of fell into the latter category. I hadn’t been to it, even many years into my marriage to Tom, but that was because I wasn’t that interested in it. I always felt it too gourmet for my interests.
Recently, I have been to Bayona a few times, and I am sorry it is only a recent development. Tom would have loved to have me by his side there. I had no idea it was as beautiful and charming a place as it is. But the food is still out of my league. I proved that again recently at lunch with a friend, who is glamorous and sophisticated. It is definitely her style. We started by splitting a garlic soup. I had heard so much about this soup that at some point, I needed to try it.
Susan Spicer started Bayona 36 years ago with partner Regina Keever, and sold her interest years ago to focus on Rosedale, but has since completely retired. She originated the garlic phenomenon, at one time doing an all-garlic dinner ending with garlic ice cream. But the garlic phenomenon started with the garlic soup.
The portion was enough to split. It was a dark beige color, which is what I would expect. It was creamy but not especially thick, and there was a small pile of really toasted garlic in the center. I liked this very well, but I don’t know that I would feel compelled to get it again.
I also ordered that duck pate, which came with pickled piquillo peppers, Mostarda, and Dijon mustard. Very thin and very good crostini were on this plate. When this plate arrived, I was taken aback by it. The Mostarda gave it a very strange color. The texture was offensive to me as well. I brag about never meeting a pâté I didn't love, but I didn’t love this one. Glad my friend did. She took home the remainder of what she didn’t eat in the restaurant.
Entrees on the table were Mussels and a Gulf Fish of the day, meaning Sea Bass this day. I also ordered an eggplant dish featuring fairytale eggplant, and a salad with tomatoes and arugula.
The salad was refreshing and beautiful, with thick slices of yellow tomato covered by arugula leaves, drizzled with a perky, citrus vinaigrette.
My friend loved the mussels, which came in a garlic and wine broth that she said was the best she had had.
We both loved the eggplant dish, which was a small pile of tiny eggplant (aptly-named) nestled in a collection of beans, tomatoes, and miscellaneous other vegetables all softened to a sweet spot. This was very nice. I ate the little eggplants by holding onto the stem and pulling them out with my teeth.
The Sea Bass was served over a sort of rice pilaf with a lot else on the plate. There was a Creole sauce and two gorgeous grilled shrimp, with green beans perched underneath the fish, which was white, flaky, and delicious. I’m not a fan of al dente vegetables, particularly green beans, but these weren’t too raw. This, too, was a nice plate of food.
Bayona is a lovely place that will be great in the fall. The French Quarter patio is charming, and the interior building is most interesting and beautifully appointed. It certainly doesn’t look its 36-year age. It’s too bad it has taken me this long to visit
Bayona. Finally, I get it.
The restaurant is celebrating its anniversary with 36-cent martinis at lunch. All the more reason to go.