Haig Rd Bistro

Haig Rd Bistro is a charming French bistro that brings a delectable taste of Alsace to a colonial Auchenflower cottage.

The chic, cosy dining room has polished timber floors, modernist furniture, a mosaic tiled bar, coloured glass windows, potted plants and a sheer curtain which can section off the back space for private dining/functions.

The menu features a delicious variety of traditional French dishes including the Alsatian house specialty, Tarte Flambee (Flammekueche) which is a must-try. Tarte Flambee is like a super thin crust (yeast-free) cheese pizza with various toppings (including ratatouille, St Jacques, provencale and gratinee) that is melt-in-the-mouth and perfect for sharing.

Entrees include classics like Souffle au chevre (goats cheese souffle), Escargot a L'Alsacienne (snails with garlic herb butter, broth and bread) and Pate Maison (duck liver pate), as well as Salade Palme D'or (warm pumpkin and goats cheese curd salad with wild rocket) and Saumon Gueri (house-cured salmon, beignets, kipfler potatoes & remoulade).

Mains include Cote de Boeuf, Canard Roti (oven-roasted duck, braised red cabbage, spaetzle, cranberries and port wine jus), Poisson en Papillotes (fish of the day oven baked in paper bag, potato fondant, artichoke, courgetee and lemon aioli) or Les Gnocchi (pan-seared gnocchi, beurre noisette, sage & white asparagus) while Desserts include Creme Brulee, Crepes Suzettes and Chocolate Fondant.

The excellent wine list at Haig Rd Bistro features a mix of Australian and French wines from Alsace, Cote de Rhone, Provence and Bourgogne, available by 150ml, 250ml, 500ml or the bottle. For an apperitif, diners can sip on a gin tonica including Manly Spirits coastal citrus gin or Poor Tom's strawberry gin, or there are luscious house cocktails such as McNally's French Martini, Madame Volsey's negroni or Spirit of Provence.

Nice to know - Haig Rd Bistro is also family-friendly, with a kids menu (under $15) that  includes Steak with spaetzle or pommes frites, chicken schnitzel or sausage, Tarte Flambee with tomato and cheese, or small pommes frites.

The menu may have changed since our visit.