Fantastic food within view of the Helsingor Slot (castle), artfully prepared by a very small staff…read morewho can do it all. This is the type of small, local business that everyone should support.
Food:
A small menu: 3 choices of starter, 3 choices of entrees, and 3 choices of desserts. Keep in mind that ONE person does all of the cooking, the serving, bussing tables, filling water glasses. I chose the duck and pork rillette as my starter, followed by a piece of roasted pork shoulder served with lentils, tomatoes, and olives. Others chose a lovely pan-roasted piece of white fish, or half a roasted local game bird (pigeon-like). Each dish was pretty and precise, but not at all fussy. Other starters included a warm goat cheese salad and asparagus with a mousseline sauce. Only one person in our party of seven had room for dessert - creme brulee - and I couldn't bring myself to have another bite (but it looked great). The food was so well-prepared and tasty that it was the perfect ending to what had been a long day.
Service:
As mentioned above, this was a one-man show. And frankly, I'd pay double for the show that we got. We were a party of 7, and there were three more small groups dining at the same time. We never had a long wait for anything, and service was friendly and welcoming.
Vibe:
Hamlet-would-eat-here-chic. Intimate dining room, tiny-but-eclectic bar, and a water-front yet still dimly-lit dining room for some fantastic ambience. And I was there for a work dinner! This is a great place to hang out for a glass of wine and a salad, or for a full 3-course meal.
Family-friendly:
Probably. But tourists should leave the stroller at the hotel room.
Summary:
Bistro Francophile certainly makes my list of places to return to when I am visiting for business. I'll be happy to come back until I've tried every dish on the menu. And then I'll start from the top again!
