Introducing: Beau Lieu Bistro, Ossington’s new French detour
These days, the buzz on the Ossington hip strip is near Dundas, but diners willing to walk south, past the hours-long lineups at Pizzeria Libretto and Foxley, will eventually come upon the street’s latest addition: Beau Lieu Bistro. Slotted in between The Ossington and Pho Tien Thanh, the six-week-old French restaurant is the child of French-born and trained Sarah Gireau and chef Lon, both formerly of Jacques Bistro du Parc in Yorkville. The pair had been working together for eight years when Lon was approached with the opportunity to open a restaurant near Ossington and Queen. He jumped at the chance.
The place is French through and through, with Charles Aznavour crooning amid candlelit white walls decorated with photos of Normandy and art nouveau tourist posters. The menu, too, is authentic, listing bistro standards from the motherland instead of North American versions. Popular items include a French onion soup made with apple cider ($9), escargots ($8) and nicoise salad ($14). Mains include poached salmon in wine broth ($24), sirloin steak with cognac ($28) and a rack of lamb with mint-garlic sauce ($32). Everything from the bread to the desserts is made in house.
Thanks to the previous occupants, Beau Lieu Bistro is a rarity on Ossington: a new restaurant with a liquor licence. True to her roots, Gireau keeps the wine list as exclusively French as the menu.
Beau Lieu Bistro, 59 Ossington Ave., 647-345-5525.
Our Introducing series explores newly opened restaurants, bars and shops throughout the GTA. This is not a review.
