Bistrot Pierre Ilkley Review | A taste of the Med at this Ilkley favourite

Bistrot Pierre Ilkley Review Written by YFG’s Jemima Parsons

Bistrot Pierre Ilkley Review | A taste of the Med at this Ilkley favourite

Setting the Scene

Thursday night and you’re craving a treat to get you through to the weekend. It’s been a long week, so a glass of wine sat on your sofa simply won’t do, you need a little luxury.

Or, it’s Saturday evening, you’ve just been perusing the foodie news direct from Yorkshire Food Guide, and now you fancy indulging in a classy meal.

Where are you going to turn? Bistrot Pierre in Ilkley.

Celebrating their 25^th birthday in 2019, Bistrot Pierre has enjoyed such a long time in the game for good reason. Excellent prices for top quality French-style dishes in a relaxed environment have kept satisfied diners returning for years. So much so, Bistrot Pierre now has 24 restaurants up and down the country, meaning you can eat well wherever you find yourself.

The restaurant we visited is situated in Ilkley’s cosy town centre, so whether you decide to dine for lunch or dinner you’ll be well situated. Walking into the spacious entrance between the restaurant, hotel and bar feel like a step away from the bustle of life into a snug restaurant-shaped embrace. Inside, the décor has a retro, vintage feel, with just a hint of art deco to finish it off. With candles lit so indoors reflects the cosiness outside, Bistrot Pierre is the place to be in Ilkley.

First Impressions

As we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly waiter and taken promptly to a table by the window. With the light fading outside, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, as were the oversized menus. Glass of white ordered from their well-thought-out wine menu (as you would expect from a French restaurant), we sat back and watched as the popular restaurant slowly filled up. Even with almost every table taken, the restaurant did not feel overcrowded, it hummed with the buzz of a pleasantly full restaurant.

Stomach’s growling, let’s get some starters

Scanning the tempting menu to begin our meal, the excellent array of options meant choosing a dish took a while. Eventually, I narrowed it down to two dishes, the Toast et Champignons – sourdough with mushrooms and bacon (how good does that sound?!) or their Seasonal Risotto. Being a rather large fan of risotto, that’s the option I chose. And an excellent selection it was, fluffy rice with goat’s cheese, courgette, peas, edamame beans, French beans and just the right herbs, it was cooked perfectly. The portion size was rather generous (which was welcomed) and the light, flavoursome goat’s cheese was amply sprinkled over. Vegans, this meal can be adapted to suit, and gluten-frees, enjoy! The menu has lots of options for those with dietary requirements so everyone can eat happily.

Again opting for a dish from the new menu, my dining partner couldn’t resist the medley of heritage tomato, goats cheese and basil leaves, piled high on toasted sourdough with a generous serving of black olive tapenade.

The main event

With the menu being so extensive (there really is something to suit everyone), choosing a main from the many delicious sounding options also took a while. I found the Pan-fried Duck Breast leapt out the page for me. While they cooked up our mains, we settled back and relaxed in the snug environment. Despite a busy restaurant, we didn’t have to wait long for our food to arrive and we soon tucked in. My Barbary duck breast from Western France was served with dauphinoise potatoes, blackberry jus and seasonal vegetables. The duck was perfectly complimented by the jus, and the dauphinoise potato tower was cooked to perfection. Creamy, crispy and full of flavour, just the memory makes my stomach growl!

Across the table, another mouthwatering main course. Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with fragrant wafts of Moroccan spices filling the air. Served on a bed of pearl couscous, potatoes and seasonal vegetables and finished with pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and mint yogourt.

Sweet, now for dessert

The dessert menu was smaller but still perfectly formed. I went for the Eton Mess, which was summery and sweet. It was served with strawberry and vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, meringue, marshmallows, pistachios, strawberry coulis and delicious crème Chantilly. Basically a dessert lovers dream! It was light and a great finale, not to mention its pretty presentation in a vintage style sundae glass. It was a little on the large size after a well-portioned meal, but the pastel colours and fresh fruit made it a dream to eat.

Perfect for the cooler Autumn nights and another addition to the new menu, my dining partner opted for a freshly baked Apple and frangipane tart. Served with a healthy scoop of vanilla creme fraiche and a scattering of toasted pistachios

Get some zzzzz

Bistrot Pierre in Ilkley recently refurbished the upstairs rooms in The Crescent, their inn next door to the restaurant. Suites to accommodate slightly larger groups of up to 5 guests have been done up to create a boutique, comfortable and stylish place to rest. The extra space makes the suites the perfect place for families or friends to take some time out and feel pampered with a luxurious stay. Suites named after local Yorkshire towns and villages, the full-sized kitchens, large beds and snuggly sofas make The Crescent a must for stays in Ilkley.

Bistrot Pierre Ilkley Review Summary 

Overall Bistrot Pierre is a relaxed place to stay and dine. Excellent value for money and a huge range of dishes mean the restaurant is the perfect place to treat yourself in Ilkley. French-style attention to flavours make the food utterly drool-worthy, and Bistrot Pierre’s commitment to quality means you know you’ll be well looked after.

Bistrot Pierre, Brook St, Ilkley LS29 8DG – 01943 811250

Find out more & view their menus https://www.bistrotpierre.co.uk/locations/ilkley/

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