Suzette

Suzette
2210 4 Street SW, Calgary, AB 
(403) 802-0036
www.bistrosuzette.ca  


While perusing some of the stores on 4th Street, my girlfriend and I decided to stop in at Suzette, a little French restaurant started by the founders of Cassis Bistro. They are known for their buckwheat flour pancakes (Galettes), stuffed with local and seasonal ingredients but they also offer any array of other dishes from salads, fish, to pasta along with savoury crepes.  The average price of a meal is in the $16-$18 price range.

When I walked in, we were greeted right away by a friendly Server who said it would be a few minutes for a table.  As for the ambience, I was generally underwhelmed as I looked around.  Though it's a very bright space, with large windows in the front, they've done a minimalist approach when it comes to the color scheme and it lacked overall warmth.  The bar, table and walls are white, accompanied by some dark wood accents and a few eclectic photos and art pieces placed on the two main walls.  Because they occupy such a small space, everything is tightly packed in with the tables very close to each other, which I'm not a big fan of. 

Though underwhelmed by the décor, I was however intrigued and looking forward to being overwhelmed by their well known Galettes and decided to order the Fermière filled with goat cheese, spinach & herbs ($16).  My girlfriend ordered the Paysanne filled with local farm bacon, roasted potatoes & sautéed mushrooms ($15).  All of the Galettes come with a small mixed green salad with no other side options offered.

When the Gazettes arrived, they didn't disappoint, as they were a generous size and were full of flavour and richness. Mine had a nice tomato base, and mixed with the goat cheese, it created a nice creamy sauce that saturated the spinach and herbs inside.  

After finishing our Galettes, our friendly Server insisted we finish off our experience with their delicious Classique Crepe, which we could share if we didn't have a lot of room, made with butter & brown sugar ($8).  She managed to twist our rubber arm and when we had our first bite, our taste buds went into overdrive.  It was simple but delicious, with a melding of butter and brown sugar to create the most delicious sauce that filled the crepe. We had just had the most perfect meal of savoury and sweet.  

Overall, it was a good experience, with amazing food that was far from the blandness of the décor.  The Server we had was very friendly,  good at maneuvering us through the menu and helpful in providing recommendations.  For me, ambience is just as important as the food though, and the marriage of the two will bring me back again and again if done well. In this case,  Suzette lacked the overall ambience I look for in a restaurant with their clinical approach to their décor and tight spaces, so I doubt I would return again regardless of the food.  Not everyone is about décor and ambience though, so if you're looking for a delicious and savoury French dish at a good price, then I would recommend you try Suzette.  You will definitely not be disappointed by the dishes.