Husband and I went on a spur-of-the-moment dinner date on a weeknight to
Legume Bistro {on Leap Day}, and made reservations via
Open Table thirty minutes prior. The location in Oakland is fairly new, and it's evident it's in a space that's been remodeled. The tables are covered in white tablecloths, and the walls look up-to-date; however, the ceiling tiles and floor need work. The hostess and our waitress were both knowledgeable and pleasant.
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| Leap Day Menu. |
Their menu looked interesting and fresh, and we were happy with their wine choices.
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| Wine List. |
The small plates and side dishes looked the most appealing to us, so we ordered a meal of just that. I started with the Maine-Style clam chowder, and Husband chose the vegetarian mushroom soup.
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| Chowder. |
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| Mushroom Soup. |
The chowder was very clammy, which is just how I like it. Husband's soup had a nice depth.
We then moved on to the small plate of duck confit with kumquat-shallot marmalade and an escarole salad. Luscious! {What else can a confit be?}
A small crock of brussel sprouts came next.
Filled with bacon and butter! Yum!
Then, maple glazed carrots hit the table.
Finally, we finished our dinner with another appetizer of pork and pistachio pate. It was more of a terrine, but was still flavorful and lovely.
Each dish was a buttery composition of fresh vegetables with a savory sauce. At several points during the meal I tried to fool myself into thinking I was eating healthy because it was vegetables, but that was a complete lie. A tasty lie.
We ended the meal with the salted caramel pot de creme, which was decorated with espresso meringues.
Husband loved this dessert, but it was a smidge too rich for me. I could only take two bites!
Legume Bistro was laid-back enough for a quick weeknight dinner, but could be great for a double date or dinner with a girlfriend. If you're looking for a vegetable-rich or healthy dinner, don't be confused by Legume's name - the dishes here are buttery and creamy. You've been warned! Enjoy!
