Ресторан Chez André. Тарту.

Интерьер. Выбор, где отобедать, сразу пал на внутренний зал ресторана, хотя просторная терраса по-своему мила. Бордовые стены внезапно напомнили о нашем Bordoo (бьет по настольгии!), а музыка 40-х-60-х то ли джаз, то ли рок-клуб. Золотые элементы, белые скатерти, наглядная винная полка, узкие столики в небольшом зале – вполне аккуратно за исключением мелких огрехов (например, вино на солнце не держать, мух ультразвуковым репеллентом отогнать, скатерти разгладить).
 

Обслуживание. Официантки девушки вежливые, скромные, не очень уверенные в своих знаниях по меню, как показалось. О блюдах говорили, будто стесняясь или смущаясь. Надо уметь продавать и еду и напитки: “таким супом не наедитесь”, “такое вино только по бутылкам продается”. Так убедите меня, что это самый лучший буйабес в городе, убедите, что это безалкогольное вино улетит вмиг на жаркой погоде. Блюда подробно не объясняет, даже когда на стол ставит. Учиться и еще раз учиться.
 

Еда. Замечу, что меню лаконичное, поэтому приходится спрашивать, что скрывается за наименованием, например, “Банановая паста”. Стоит обязательно добавить перечень основных ингредиентов блюда.

• Интерьер – 5/5
• Обслуживание – 4/5
• Еда – 5/5
• Общее впечатление – 5/5

Tartu allured me to visit with its Food Festivals, yet I couldn’t find time. Why wait the festival, I thought, and decided to plan my own fiesta. Last week eventually one of my dreams came true – I saw restaurant Chez André in real life. I was surprised that French cuisine is so generous.

Interior. Choice where to dine fell on inner restaurants’ hall, although wide terrace was appealing in own way. Burgundy walls suddenly reminded of our Bordoo (so nostalgic!), and music from 40-s and 60-s – a jazz or a rock-club. Golden elements everywhere, white tablecloths, open wine shelves, narrow tables in a small hall – quite accurate despite minor flaws (for instance, don’t keep wine in the sunlight, scare the flies away with ultrasound repellent, iron tablecloths better).

Service. Waitresses were polite, modest, and, seemed, not confident in their menu knowledge. They talked about the dishes being so shy. Ladies, sell me the meals and drinks not like “you won’t get full with that soup” or “we don’t sell those wines per glass”. Come on, persuade me you’ve got best bouillabaisse in town and tell that non-alcoholic wine will disappear in a blink of an eye in this hot weather. Girl didn’t explain the dishes, even when served them on the table. Learn, learn, learn.

Food.  Must admit that menu is laconic, therefore you have to ask, what stands behind “Banana pasta” dish. Certainly dish ingredients description must be added.

Bread plate: handmade dark bread with forest gifts and white bread, almost like wheat or enriched with best egg yolks.

So, after long hesitation I order “Caesar pasta“. Presume, there will be chicken and parmigano. Chefs’ fantasy went a bit further than mine. Once more I get the feeling that style of presentation start to play very big role. In a deep pot swims penne in a sour-creamy sauce and kale cabbage. It was unusual due to the sauce! I won’t recall the taste after couple of days, but at that moment it was supreme.

Beef brisket with pea puree. Wow, dish is enormous comparing to French haute cuisine miniatures. Excavations till the plate bottom lasted for half an hour. Carrot, bell pepper, zucchini, jacket potatoes – no goodies were even mentioned on the menu. Beef simply fell into million of pieces in my mouth, moreover it was poured in some unrecognised sauce. Kale chips and a bit of fresh greens for additional garnish – voila, amazing balance. Recommend!

Astonishment of the day:  a’la carte desserts cost more than starters. Call me greedy guts, but I took sweets from the showcase. Bright, colourful, merry cakes by Chez André Pâtisserie are perfect curtain fall. I took pistachio with mascarpone and raspberry creme brule. They were served with berry sauce with fresh blueberries and on an artificial green lawn again.

Joy of the day: even two non-alcoholic white wines Jacob’s Creek Riesling on the list. Also, coffee by Julius Meinl, I guess, conquered Latvian and our south Estonian restaurants long time ago.

Sum. Average bill per person excluding drinks is 30-40 EUR. Definitely it’s a place for getting into romantic mood or for thoughtful meditation. I shall return for sure and in a while envy Tartu citizens!

• Interior – 5/5
• Service – 4/5
• Food – 5/5
• Overall impression – 5/5