Le Zoo — Restaurant in Bal Harbour Village

Despite my initial interest in dining at Le Zoo, it took me a while to visit; the restaurant only takes reservations for parties of six or more. Thankfully, when I happened to be nearby on a Friday night, I took a chance and was seated right away.

Along with Buddakan, Morimoto, Makoto, Steak 954, and Continental -to name a few- Le Zoo joins the Starr Restaurant group. This French brassiere is located inside the Bal Harbour Shops. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, I was lucky to dine during one of Miami's five "winter" days. Needless to say, sitting outside on the large terrace was extremely pleasant. Did I mention there's also people-watching for days?

HIT

The salty, delicate, and decadent Foie Gras Terrine accompanied with confit kumquats and a dreamy brioche kicked off dinner. How's that for a delightful starter? I also enjoyed the classic and flavorful Steak Tartare du Parc (hand-chopped steak, capers, quail egg). Anytime I can end dinner on a high sweet note, I am one happy diner. The Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée, Milk Chocolate Pot de Creme, and a scoop of Sunkist Sorbet? Hit, hit, hit. Simple. Nothing crazy, but done just right. All of that was for a party of two. No judging. Since apparently I still needed more sweets, I ventured out to try the Vietnamese Coffee. It's not something I expected to find on the menu, but so glad I did. Even with the added condensed milk, it wasn't overly sweet.

MISS

The Bouillabaisse, as served, could have been hotter. I wish the dish incorporated meatier fish. Maybe it's just me, but it seemed a little skimpy.

The outside tables were very close to one another. I could have easily reached out and touched someone, had I wanted to. The Steak Frites ordered by the diners next to me tempted me, but I kept my hands to myself.

The Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée brings a warm madeleine on the side. Asking for an additional one meant I was charged $2 more. As a reference, I can tell you I've never once been charged a single dollar for any additional ones at DB Bistro Moderne (aka home of my favorite madeleines). Is $2 a big deal? Not really. It just bothers me more on principle. It's not like I didn't already spend a pretty penny with all we ordered (and a corkage fee). Is it really necessary to charge more for one side cookie? In case you are wondering, yes, at least it was a good one!

OVERALL

On the list of things to try next time: the Seafood Tower, King Crab Angel Hair, Trout Amandine, and the Duck Confit. The beer menu also has some gems on it I don't often see elsewhere (including a favorite: Saison Dupont-Farmhouse Ale).

Overall, Le Zoo was a hit and a welcomed addition to the...

You pay for the location...at Bal Harbour Shops. Our waitress was very sweet, professional and real. The hostess on the other hand, let's just say she tried to make sure we had the most uncomfortable table she could choose. Either outside in what can be described as a one person patio table from Walmart or inside, right next to where everyone walks by to do their deed in the restroom. There were other tables available. I really wanted to leave at this point...and yes, we should have. But it was our anniversary and I didn't want to make a fuss in front of the Mrs. who really wanted to go there.

Part II, what we ordered.

Chilled Cucumber Soup: Very good consistency and flavor. Green apple being very tart and strong, did not over-power the dish.

Mixed Greens: Fresh greens drowned in a heavily oil-based vinaigrette. Ask for it on the side. The greens are worth it.

Steak Tartare Du Parc: This dish had no flavor. I don't know if the quail egg was a little too old, the beef a little past its prime or if they again...added to much oil, but the taste was something like chilled Plain Gummy Worms.

Escargots: So umm, I have nothing against little things. In fact, it's the little things in life that make it so grand. However, the Escargots where the size of coffee beans: All 5 of them. The Hazelnut Butter was more like a store-bought, watered-down pesto sauce.

Moules Frites: In keeping with the previous trend of small aquatic animals, the mussels seem to have originated from Le Petit Sea. They were the size of small cashews. However, the broth...sauce, consomé if you will, was one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't too salty, too watery, too buttery, too thick, too thin. It was perfect. Normally, I would use a baguette to absorb the broth, but this time all I needed was a spoon.

So, is it worth going to Le Zoo? Depends. Want to "be seen?" Sure, but want good food? Well, let's just say I've been to Makoto a few times. Same concept if you want to be seen, but waaaayyyy better food. Just avoid the Risotto. It's like a small pot...

We recently dined at Le Zoo, a French brasserie nestled in the upscale locale of Bal Harbour, near Miami. This area is renowned for its high-end shops, designer boutiques, and a variety of restaurants. It’s not uncommon to spot celebrities and other high-profile figures frequenting the Bal Harbour shops.

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of dining at several restaurants in this area. On this occasion, we chose to visit this French-Mediterranean establishment for dinner. We opted to sit on the patio, despite the interior of the restaurant being quite beautiful. The outdoor seating offered a cozy ambiance with views of palm trees.

The restaurant boasted a wide selection of oysters and caviars. However, we decided on sauteed foie gras, and onion soup gratinee for our appetizers. The foie gras, although small in portion, was delectable, especially when paired with marmalade. The french onion soup was also superb.

For our main course, we ordered steak frites, grilled salmon, duck l’orange, and butter noodles for our grandson. The butter noodles, which were essentially spaghetti, were served in a small portion and were quite buttery, which our grandson did not particularly enjoy. The orange duck, on the other hand, was quite flavorful. The steak frites and grilled salmon with citrus tabbouleh were also very tasty.

For dessert, we indulged in vanilla bean creme brulee and profiteroles with ice cream. As someone who is well-acquainted with the authentic taste of creme brulee, I must say, this creme brulee was genuinely true to its original flavor. Profiteroles were also delightful, but they were a bit heavy for me.

Another noteworthy aspect of our dining experience was the availability of mosquito repellent upon request. This thoughtful gesture significantly contributed to our overall satisfaction...