Another great place we went in the Fall of 2023…Amuse Bouche Bistro! I was looking for a more casual place, and I found this lovely spot. But, I must admit, I was a bit confused as I approached the address. I didn’t see a building or anything that could like a small restaurant or an eatery. Then, I found out it is located inside the La Marqueta, an indoor market under the train tracks.
Amuse Bouche Bistro was right at the entrance. It had all sorts of delicious looking food and treats. We got there around noon time on weekday, so it was not busy, and some shops were not even open. One of the founders/owners of the bistro, Chef Anthony came over right away and greeted us with a warm smile. He was so nice and welcoming!
We order a few things off the Le Plat du Jour menu. All the “Specials of the Day” sounded really good, but we did make our decision. The first up was Roasted Poblanos Pepper, a large pepper stuffed with savory, buttery rice, sauteed vine tomatoes, onions, and cilantro, mixed with cheddar cheese. The pepper is then baked to golden, served with arugula salad with tomato, cucumbers, and homemade vinaigrette. Some of the slightly burned edges were crunchy and extra tasty! It had a little kick in some spot of the pepper, but not too much. Loved the little kick. This dish was so amazingly delicious! Every bite was heavenly. The amount of salad was generous too. Super fresh veggies. Not too much dressing which was great.
Then, the Duck Parmentier. It is similar to Shepard’s pie, with silky mashed potato on top, but instead of ground beef, they make it with shredded duck confit. Chef Anthony told us it is cooked with a little brandy for extra bold flavor. The mashed potato was sooo good, really creamy and so flavorful. The duck confit, oh my goodness, really deep flavor that was just delightful! it was oh-so-satisfying.
My niece was curious about Gumbo, as she never had it before, so we ordered that one too. The Gumbo is made with chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, and okra. It was served with rice and salad. And you know what, it sure had some kick to it! I love spicy so I was fine, but more sensitive niece needed lots of water (LOL). She still loved every spoonful, it was super delicious! It warms up your body and soul! Forgot to take a picture, but we also received some complimentary bread, and we used a few to dip into the gumbo too, and it was great! They sell the baguette at the counter also, among other baked goods, if you just want the baguette. I am glad she had a really great gumbo as her first!
My hubby could not resist getting Croque Monsieur ($13.59). Toasted bread with shaved Black Forest Ham, Swiss cheese, and béchamel sauce. Served with Salad. This is a real deal French Croque Monsieur! It was beautifully golden, a bit crispy and additive cheese hugging the bread with warm embrace. It was cooked to perfection. The béchamel sauce was great too. Every bite was so comforting and amazing.
After the amazing meal, we got some Cappuccino ($4) and Hot Chocolate ($5.50). And yes, they were as good as the food! The coffee was fresh and aromatic, hot chocolate was rich and decadent. What a nice way to end the delicious lunch.
They have one gender-neutral bathroom that is shared by everyone in this indoor market. It was huge, well-lit, and well stocked. Since it is the only bathroom, there might be a line of people waiting during a busy time.
We enjoyed our lunch here at Amuse Bouche Bistro, while listening to some nice French Jazz-y music in the background. It sure got busy with locals and workers from nearby. Must get packed on the weekend! All the dishes we tried were amazing, but I think the Stuffed Pepper was number one, if I had to choose… They were all amazing though, I don’t know how many times we said the word “delicious” throughout our meal. We were very happy! I would love to go back again for more delicious food!
Amuse Bouche Bistro – 1590 Park Ave, New York, NY 10029