Aug. 13, 2014:  This French restaurant in Eastchester, just north of Mill Road, has been through a number of changes over the years. We were intrigued by recent comments from some of our friends and wanted to see what Bistro Parisien was all about.

Like its predecessor, this restaurant specializes in French bistro food. It has an intimate French country setting with teal green and taupe walls, adorned with a couple of large framed posters of Paris landmarks and an eclectic collection of French chandeliers. It has a small bar and is housed in the previous location of Jackie's Bistro, but it is not as crowded as before, as the owners took out some of the tables.

When you arrive, you are greeted pleasantly and enthusiastically by Stephane Kane, one of the owners who also runs the successful Bistro SK in City Island. I can say that he is one of the friendliest and engaging hosts that I have met, and he makes you feel right at home. On this particular evening, we arranged to meet at the restaurant with good friends, which was a plus because we could taste more things from the menu.

For appetizers, my husband and I split a classic frisée salad with lardons, croutons, and a poached egg, as well as moules marinières in a garlic, cream, and white wine broth. We ordered pommes frites, which do not come with the appetizer portion, and they were quite good. Our friends split a baby field mixed salad with a garlic, oil, and lemon dressing with a hint of cream in it. They loved it.

Three of our main courses were excellent: a gratin de fruits de mer, a very flavorful seafood gratin with spinach and béchamel sauce; trout amandine, a special of the day, with julienned vegetables and basil basmati rice; and sautéed scallops with the same vegetable and rice. The scallops were also a special of the day and were costly at $34.

I would make a suggestion that the almond, butter, and lemon sauce be put on the top of the trout, rather than underneath it, as I could have enjoyed it more as I ate the delicate fish, rather than finding it at the end of this delectable dish and eating the sauce all at once. The only main course disappointment was bavette à l'échalotte--hanger steak with shallot and red wine reduction. Both men found it lacking in texture and over-sauced. The scallops and trout were creatively presented on the plates.

We ordered three desserts: crème brûlée, apple tarte tatin, and profiteroles, all of which were yummy and quickly devoured, although the puff pastry with the profiteroles was a bit hard and difficult to cut with a spoon.

The co-owner is also the chef, Manuel Jara, and he certainly has talent cooking this type of cuisine.

The waitstaff is attentive and the wine list, while limited, was adequate and reasonably priced. When you are next in the mood for Gallic food, Bistro Parisien is worth a try.

Pictured here:  An interior shot of Bistro Parisien.

Photo by Karen Talbot