51 Front Bistro and Wine Bar

Really like this place, it;s quiet and small, good for an intimate romantic dinner, easy going people, seem pretty genuine and laid back. Good wine selection. The food is on the rich side. Reminds me of French cuisine, although they claim themselves to be a Mediterranean restaurant. Regardless, i really like it and will be back to explore more menu options.

This was the first visit my wife and I have made since it changed ownership this Spring.  It was excellent and easily exceeded my expectations.  While they've retained some of the dishes from before (the fried chicken being the one that jumped out at me), they've tweaked everything else, and I think it's for the better.  I'm not certain, but I believe it's a new chef at the helm.  The food has taken on a sophistication and subtlety that wasn't there before.

So what did we eat...

We got an appetizer that was a special and not on the menu.  Fried Green Tomatoes with a crabcake and small arugula salad.  On the side was a small piece of Bleu cheese (I could be wrong about the type of cheese...it was in that ballpark).  The crabcake came sandwiched between the 2 fried green tomatoes and was perfectly paired with the tanginess of said tomatoes.  The arugula salad was small, but a nice surprise and went very well with the rest of the salad.

After the appetizer course (and actually before the appetizer course), they brought out a japanese soup spoon with some wonderful cold soup (can't remember what they called it) with truffle oil.  This was intended as a palate cleanser.  I'd eat a bowl of it.

For dinner, I got the Beetroot ravioli.  The filling is a bright pink combination that results from Ricotta and beets.  Once I got past the pink, it's exactly what I hoped it would be.  It came with fresh summer vegetables that were prepared perfectly.  I ate every last thing on my plate.

My wife got the Plank Salmon which came with a spicy corn, avocado and roasted poblano salad.  There was also a croquette of sorts that seemed to be filled with mashed potato.  She also ate every last bite.

Sadly we skipped out on dessert, as we were full.  That usually happens to us.

My only disappointment the whole meal was the beer list.  I had a Stella which was perfect for a hot evening, but I like to explore with my beer.  I do realize it's a wine bar, but I don't do wine.  

In any case, that's a minor quibble and I'll take a serviceable beer with an amazing meal over an amazing beer with a serviceable meal any day.

We'll be back...sooner this time.

Decent atmosphere but the seating is not very comfortable.  They don't have ginger ale, which I thought was odd.  The apps were ok.  I ordered a strip steak "medium rare", but it was closer to well done.  And it was smothered in a bbq sauce and was just not a good cut of meat.  I was not able to eat it.  They apologized and offered to cook another, but I declined.  The potatoes it came with also were not very good.  My girlfriend got the fried chicken, which was ok.  Waitress was nice but not very knowledgeable nor very good at her job.  We won't be going back.