Petit Rouge

Reviews

Name: Elaine Joggerst 
Occupation: Marketing Director
Lives In: Boca Raton
Restaurant Pick: Hickory Sticks BBQ
Reviewed: Petit Rouge

Took a trip to Miami to visit Vizcaya and then eat at Petit Rouge. Easy to find, easy to park, and no wait once inside (I suggest getting a reservation). Fantastic French food at every taste. What was very noticeable was the service given to those that want something special. Over and over management and staff helped to make dinner right for all the guests. I wish they had a website so I could dream of my next meal there. A delicious start to a satisfying finish. Real butter, crunchy and warm bread and many flavors in each bite of each item on the menu!

Name: George Franssen 
Occupation:VP of Sales
Lives In: Fort Lauderdale
Restaurant Pick: Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine
Reviewed: Petit Rouge

The road from Plantation to North Miami is not easy on a Saturday evening, passing by the Aventura Mall, but the location is simple to find. Upon arrival you have to find the sign above the wall on the strip mall to know you have found it. That’s all you get. Nothing on the doors, nothing on the windows. It doesn’t look inviting, really it doesn’t. At first you think, that’s odd, but think a little deeper…. if you can fill all tables most of the time without a fancy exterior, you are doing some right. So many regulars here. Also a good sign. It feels French, paysan chique inside, a touch of country side, but not small village. My passion for French/Belgian cuisine, immediately resulted in the right vibe. It is a small place, only 48 guests (Max) sufficient staff, but not in a disturbing way. Thoughtful, hospital, knowledgeable, attentive, correct etc. Most important, the menu is one that makes your mouth water. It matches menus I have seen in the best venues in Belgium and France. It’s conservative, perhaps old fashioned, and therefore the right mix. Entrees like moules, pate, escargots, assiette de charcuterie, the best coming out of the Elsasse, Brussels and the French country and coastal side. The mussels however, are too small and not fat enough. And it should be the time of the year for mussels. A point of attention. I am a purist, if I order French onion soup I hope for the next one that is better than the previous one. Petit Rouge’s onion soup has landed in my top 5, and that is very high. I would have loved to try the Pate, but there is for sure a next occasion. I have a challenge for Petit Rouge… I challenge you to offer Shrimp Croquettes on you entrée menu. Croquettes filled with small North Sea shrimps, ragout and crispy fried with breadcrumbs surrounded. Serve them with half a lemon and fried parsley. Ask Madame Catharine Dumas from Café Brussels in Houston, hers are the best outside Belgium, for sure.

Main course, same thing. Do your best to find a good Steak Tartare (or as they say in Belgium, Prepare) in South Florida, or in the US in general, good luck. So if it’s on the menu, I have to have it. This tartare is well done, very well (but raw). Steak Tartare has to be prepared with a raw egg, onions, capers (Hugely important) a little Tabasco, Worcester sauce and salt and pepper. The side of fries was large and of the kind that matches the original (European) ones. (Please stop calling French Fries, French…..fries are owned by the Belgians, not the French and they never allow skins to be a part of a gold-brown fry). A tasty (but a little boring) salad completes the dish. I enjoyed it very, very much. I started off with a fresh, cold Stella Artois, (no liquor here, so much for a fancy Gin and Tonic) and changed rapidly joined by my wife, to a fruity Rose. Cotes de Provence, from the winery VieVite, excellent choice. We love Rose. It goes very, very well with………well almost everything. Refreshing, underappreciated, in this one you can see the purple glow of the Provence Lavender and actually taste it slightly, combined with a sniff of pine and olive trees. Dessert was a little bowl of chocolate mousse (Petit Rouge calls it different, but therefore not less in taste), I stole a spoon or two from the miss. I decided to go for a nice cappuccino. The speed of serving is slightly on the high side. You spent a nice sum of your monthly “out dining” budget here. You might as well enjoy it as long as it lasts, for us French-Belgian food addicts it can never be long enough. But I have a new favorite Bistro on my list, to be continued.

Name: Justin Molis 
Occupation: Southeast Regional Wine Sales Manager
Lives In: North Bay Village
Restaurant Pick: Petit Rouge
Reviewed: Petit Rouge

Upon entering the parking lot, you could see the building the restaurant is located in has been well taken care of and the strip mall freshly renovated. Parking was tight, but we managed a spot near the entrance. I found it odd there isn’t a host stand to greet you, but the two servers act as hosts to guide you to a table, as the place is rather quaint, you walk directly into the dining room. We were sat quickly and asked if we would like tap or bottled water. Our server greeted us with menus and brought out a fresh baked baguette with warm butter which we always enjoy. We ordered a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris each, but also brought in 2 bottles of our own. Typically, they charge $30 corkage, but since it was a special occasion the owner waived the cost. The white wine was poured out of carafe, and the 2 bottles were promptly decanted for us as the server let us know about the evenings specials. I would have preferred the bottles had been decanted in front of us, but we could see the server for the most part behind us taking care of it. The 3 appetizers we ordered were all delicious. My wife and I usually do a couple apps and have them brought individually which wasn’t a problem for our server to organize. We ordered the special, Orange roast half duck, and we shared it. The server brought share plates for us and we split the meal ourselves. Being a special occasion, we ordered a dessert, and the server put a candle on it, plus the chef sent out 2 other desserts for us to share. Overall great experience at a great spot nearby our neighborhood. We had dined here in the past and have always really enjoyed it; great neighborhood feel. If you are looking for South Beach, dine elsewhere, this place is quaint and not pretentious.

Restaurant Information