French Bistro Transports You to Paris

Bistro La Source in Jersey City is quite a find.

Much has happened in the Paulus Hook section of Jersey City since 1776, when General George Washington won the Battle of Paulus Hook. Today, the conflict we had in this multi-restaurant area is deciding where to dine, as there are many worthy options. We opted for Bistro La Source and our encounter there was a victory. What a find!

BISTRO LA SOURCE, JERSEY CITY
First, let me tell you about the three-course, $32 special menu, a great deal that included the dishes  I wanted to try, and was less expensive than ordering a la carte. I started with a refreshing endive and Asian pear salad that was sprinkled with Roquefort and walnuts. My entrée was a scrumptious coq au vin that everyone at the table thought was a knockout, although it was not the classic recipe that I’ve had before. While this slightly spicy, robust dish contained a fall-off-the bone chicken leg and thigh, the thick sauce with bacon, mushrooms, carrots, cippolini onion and red wine was similar to a tomato sauce and reminded us more of chicken cacciatore than the French classic. Accompanying mashed potatoes were gobbled up.

Additional dishes were a steak tartare made from hand-cut sirloin, enhanced with mustard, onion, capers, chives, egg and Worcestershire, came with warm slices of baguette bread; a perfectly seasoned mixture. A potato-leek soup with oyster mushrooms, however had more of a chicken stock taste than potatoes or leeks. Wild mushrooms found there way into the garlicky homemade fettuccine with bacon, Tuscan kale, Parmesan, basil and pignolia; a well balanced recommended dish. The homemade duck liver and fois gras pate were impressive as was the rillettes de canard, a potted duck spread; both came with slices of toasted baguette, gherkins and vinegary thinly sliced cooked onions. Along with St Andre cheese, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, walnuts and strawberry, we shared a chocolate mousse served in a glass. A most satisfying dinner.

Other French-inspired dishes not often seen on menus were an Alsatian choucroute garnie Riesling-braised sauerkraut, potatoes and carrot with artisanal sausages, bacon and smoked Penn Dutch pork loin and a cassoulet Toulouse containing slow cooked Berkshire pork, garlic sausage and duck confit with white beans. A vegetarian plate is also offered.

Mussels lovers take note: On Mondays, all-you-can-eat mussels with five choices of sauces are offered for $12 with the purchase of any beverage.

Bistro La Source is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM with a parking lot that holds about eight cars. Be sure to make a reservation.

Bistro La Source
85 Morris Street
Jersey City
201-209-1717

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Endive and Asian pear salad with Roquefort and walnuts.
Photo courtesy of Lowell Saferstein

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