Water Street Bistro. Madisonville: 804 Water. 985-845-3855.

Written by Tom Fitzmorris September 18, 2010 19:27 in

3 Fleur
Average check per person $35-$45
 BreakfastNo Breakfast SundayNo Breakfast MondayNo Breakfast TuesdayNo Breakfast WednesdayNo Breakfast ThursdayNo Breakfast FridayNo Breakfast Saturday
LunchLunch SundayNo Lunch MondayNo Lunch TuesdayLunch WednesdayLunch ThursdayLunch FridayLunch Saturday
DinnerNo Dinner SundayNo Dinner MondayNo Dinner TuesdayDinner WednesdayDinner ThursdayDinner FridayDinner Saturday

Water Street Bistro

Madisonville: 804 Water. 985-845-3855. Map.
Nice Casual.
AE DC DS MC V
Website

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
A small, inconspicuous, but atmospheric restaurant, the Water Street Bistro's riverfront location and good cooking of basic Creole dishes make it worth remembering. It's the southernmost eatery in the Madisonville restaurants row, which keeps getting more interesting. It is capable of surprising you with its sophitication, but doesn't always do so.

WHAT'S GOOD
The kitchen at the Water Street turns out polished versions of its list of familiar New Orleans dishes. The ingredients are of good quality, with sauces and garnishes that bring the eating well within the range of sophistication. The Sunday bring is one of the two or three best on the North Shore.

BACKSTORY
Chef Tony and Constance Monroe opened the Water Street Bistro in 2004, taking over a converted cottage on the Tchefuncte riverfront that has seen a number of previous restaurants come and go. (The most recent was a Sal & Judy's copy operated by that couple's daughter.)

DINING ROOM
The look of the main room is simple and antique in a country style that fits perfectly into the little community of Madisonville. (In fact, the place could use a little more decorating.) Plank walls, an exposed-beam ceiling, and bent-wood chairs create most of the feeling, with a bar in the rear and many windows looking out into the river.

ESSENTIAL DISHES
»Soup of the day
Scotch smoked salmon
»Crab claws
»Sauteed crab cakes
»Blue cheese salad
Mixed green salad
Spinach and goat cheese salad
»Fish of the day
»Grilled shrimp, sundried tomatoes, olives, capers, artichoke hearts, baby spinach, feta cheese
Shrimp Chardonnay (garlic, basil, zucchini, squash, carrots, green beans, shiitakes, linguine)
»Panned veal, fettuccine
»Veal chop, marsala and mushrooms
»Filet of beef, parsley butter
»Rack of lamb, dijon mustard, bread crumbs
»Roast duck half , fig port wine reduction
Bread pudding
»Pecan amaretto french toast (brunch)

FOR BEST RESULTS
It's my experience that the specials here are almost always more interesting than most of the standing menu. Make a reservation, especially on weekends. The restaurant is small and popular.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
The location creates the expectation of more local seafood than the restaurant usually offers.

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

  • Dining Environment +1
  • Consistency +1
  • Service+1
  • Value +1
  • Attitude +1
  • Wine & Bar
  • Hipness
  • Local Color +2

 

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
  • Outdoor tables, drinks only
  • Romantic
  • Good view
  • Historic
  • Good for children
  • Easy, nearby parking

ANECDOTES AND ANALYSIS
The gourmet Creole bistro is the most popular kind of white-tablecloth restaurant on the South Shore, but even with the multiplication of restaurant options on the North Shore, few bistros can be found there. The Water Street Bistro is one of the best of its kind, with a menu pulling together Creole, French, and Italian dishes in a pleasantly rustic dining room right on the Tchefuncte River.