French Alpine Bistro in Aspen, Colorado Review
Location
French Alpine Bistro is located on the corner of Mill Street and Hopkins Avenue in downtown Aspen. The restaurant and main dining room are located downstairs. There is ample outdoor seating with high tops, comfy bench seats, and an indoor/outdoor street-side dining room. French Alpine Bistro is open daily from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made online.
Type of Restaurant
French Alpine Bistro was established in 2011 and has become a very well-known restaurant. Female owner, Karin Derly has created this one-of-a-kind chalet-inspired alpine restaurant. This cozy little bistro has been featured in The New York Times, Food Network, Vogue, The Los Angelos Times, Condé Nast, and many more. This is a great restaurant for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion. Food Network named it one of the “Top Five Best Romantic Restaurants in the United States.”
“We envisioned this as a place for people to create happy, lasting memories.”
– Owner of French Alpine Bistro
Aesthetics
The dark wood panels and eclectic design invites you in and warms your soul. Owner, Karin Derly was inspired by her time in Europe and designed this restaurant around the German word, Gemütlich.
“Gemütlich: a feeling of warmth, friendliness, and a sense of belonging, which guests experience in this charming candle-lit hideaway.“
– French Alpine Bistro
Sheepskin fur blankets are placed throughout the restaurant and provide an extra level of comfort and texture. The tables are pre-set with cloth napkins that add a punch of color along with wine glasses, water carafes, flowers, and candles. The simple table setting lets the unique restaurant decor shine.
The Menu
French Alpine Bistro’s menu offers French-inspired dishes that hug you tight and warm your insides. The finessed a-la-carte menu is well displayed in a brown leather cover. They have classic dishes like Duck Confit, Moules-Marinière, and Escargots. Their long list of wines is a great place to start, with a variety of red, white, rose, and sparkling wines from regions around the world.
To get the full alpine experience, order the cheese fondue! There is a 2-person minimum and you can choose from a variety of accompaniments to dip into the melted mix of fine cheeses. French Alpine Bistro has perfected the crêpe technique. They offer savory and sweet crêpes with decadent fillings. To finish off your meal order a shot of espresso and a sweet-filled crêpe.
Happy Hour 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Buy One, Get One on Rosé Bottles!
What I Ordered
Wine
2019 Domaine Faiveley – $25.00
This 2019 French Burgandy is quite young but provided a variety of complex flavors. I really enjoyed the hints of tobacco and earthy flavors. This is a light red that paired well with the 14-day aged filet mignon entrée.
2016 Comte De Lauze – $17.00
The Comte De Lauze comes from the Rhone Valley of Southern France. The syrah and grenache grapes provide a nice red berry flavor. This is a well-balanced red wine that paired well with the Boeuf Bourguignon pasta dish.
Terrine de Foie Gras – $32.00
Foie Gras is a French delicacy. It is made of fattened duck or goose liver and formed into a loaf then sliced. This terrine de foie gras is flavored with sauternes which is a sweet French wine. The soft but firm slice was smooth and had a rich flavor. The toasted brioche bread was the perfect vessel that added a nice crunch. Tart lingonberry compote was served on the side, which paired well with the sweet sauternes flavor in the foie gras. The microgreens added a nice refreshing element to this rich dish.
Filet Mignon – $75.00
This large 6oz tenderloin steak was aged for 14 days, then cooked to perfection. It cut like butter with a juicy tender inside. The outer crust had a nice sear and provided great flavor. The truffle-whipped potatoes were creamy and created a great base for this dish. Steamy cherry tomatoes provided acidity and a burst of freshness. To tie the dish together, a blanket of peppercorn sauce was laid over top.
Boeuf Bourguignon – $52.00
Boeuf Bourguignon is one of my favortie French dishes. This slow-braised beef stew is the definition of comfort food. The short ribs were tender and melted in your mouth. The red Burgandy brings complexity and a hint of acidity. A few of my favorite bites were in the vegetables. The mushrooms and carrots added earthiness and sweetness which gave this dish depth and flavor. We mixed the beef stew with the perfectly al-dente fettuccine noodles allowing for the noodles to absorb all of the stewed juices.
Schokoladepalatschinke – $18.00
Knowing this a French restaurant that specializes in crêpes, we had to finish our superb dinner with a sweet filled crêpe. Our waitress recommended the Schokoladepalatschinke and Midnight in Paris (the owner’s favorite). My chocolate sweet tooth took over and I had to order the Schokoladepalatschinke. This delicate chocolate crêpe is filled with chocolate ganache, dulce de leche, and fresh fruit. I thought it was going to be quite sweet but it was actually light and well-balanced. The chantilly creme on top provided a nice light creaminess and paired well with the sweet filling.
Rating
This was one amazing dinner filled with great service, delicious food, and special company. We will definitely be back! Thank you French Alpine Bistro for the lovely night!
Visit Aspen’s Conundrum Hot Springs!
