Entering Tallulah’s Wine Bar & Bistro, we remarked about the atmosphere and people watching potential. The lively crowd looked as though they all just stepped out of an ad for Ralph Lauren Polo.
Reservations here are a must, as the restaurant accommodates 65, so we made ours a couple weeks in advance. Once seated, we admired the preserved grape vine adorning the wall above us, the neutral cream walls and ceiling, and the potted herbs on each table. The restaurant has the look and feel of a Napa Valley café. Our waitress appeared quickly, and was as bubbly as a fine champagne, flashing an ever present smile. I asked about a couple different wines from the list, and she suggested going with the Brys Estate Cabernet Franc (Traverse City) which had a nice young fruit forward finish. Wine is reasonably priced here, with as many bottles in the $40 range, as in the $80 range. A nice selection is also available by the glass.
We began our meal with a shared grilled artichoke appetizer. The tender meaty parts were divine, with a pronounced olive oil flavor, and the paired rosemary aioli dipping sauce was delicious. Another popular choice is the plate of artisan cheeses.
Starters aside, we moved on to the entrees. The menu here focuses on Michigan products, farm raised meats, organic produce, and simple preparation. The end result-- farm to table cuisine with multiple flavors and textures to please your taste buds.
Our entrée choices included a tender roasted veal off the specials menu, topped with crispy fried onions, and served with an asparagus puree and seasonal vegetables. The flavor profile was amazing. Our other choice was a whole trout, lightly seasoned with herbs and lemon, served with crispy pancetta, and a salad of watercress, ruby red grapefruit and fennel. The salad was refreshing and delicious, and complimented the texture and tastes of the fish.
Other menu entrees include roasted chicken with grilled savoy cabbage and baby sweet potatoes, and a mouth watering hangar steak, served with heirloom mushrooms and redskin mashed potatoes. A couple pastas round out the menu, including sweet potato gnocchi with sage, brown butter, chestnuts and butternut squash.
There are a few desserts to choose from, including two versions of the classic ice cream float: 21 Float is made with Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout and vanilla ice cream. Under 21 Float substitutes Faygo Root Beer in place of the stout. Our choice this evening was a slice of homemade apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. A simple pleasure that’s hard to beat.
Next door, try Tallulah’s Too for retail wine--every bottle served in the restaurant is available for purchase (at about $10 less than in the restaurant). Daily wine tastings are available featuring six wines that change daily--$5 for a two-ounce taste or $15 for a flight of three red or white. Inside, or out on the new patio, Tallulah’s is a wonderful addition to Birmingham dining.
Tallulah
155 South Bates Street
Birmingham, MI 48009
248-731-7066
Twitter @tallulahwine
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