Mommy Eats Out, Little Next Door

French restaurants can be a garden of Eden for most prego’s. A menu of fantastic offerings but with that one section of strictly look don’t bite. Luckily Chef Kevin Luzande, currently moonlighting at Little Next Door, must have known I was coming as I was delighted with new dishes featuring pasteurized cheeses and cooked through meats!

Here are some of the menu items you can expect to see at Little Next Door this season, with more rolling out as the weeks go on.

Mommy Mocktail-A Lychee puree with sparkling water a served in a champagne glass, which for a restaurant that only offers beer and wine was really above and beyond creative

Beet Salad with creamy goat cheese, savory pistachio granola, mizuna and apple cider vinigrette

Country Crouton with brie, mascarpone, glazed apple and candied walnut–and yes the brie was mommy-to-be friendly

Tuna Tartare with red pepper paste, sesame oil, avocado and blue corn chip–unfortunately off limits for me, except the chips (not pictured), which were tasty enough to make me want to come back for the tuna.

Spicy Prawns with harissa, labneh, aleppo pepper and pistachio–a triumph of Morrocan/French fusion reminiscent of Chef Luzande’s days at Acabar

Cauliflower Duo of cauliflower puree and caramelized cauliflower–never have two of the same thing tasted so good together

Summer Ravioli which I can only describe as heavenly little saucers filled with corn pudding that melt in your mouth thanks to a bath in chanterelle mushrooms, chive blossoms and butter sage

Salmon Risotto with zucchini and basil puree, baby squash, oven-dried tomato and parmesan-a solid dish

Steak Frites with green peppercorn reduction and pommes frites, generally served medium rare but in this case I stole a few well done bites

Dessert is a feast for the senses. Cherry Clafoutis, Pot de Creme, Lemon Tarts, and Must have Macarons

The casual atmosphere at Little Next Door makes you feel like you’re eating at your friend’s house in Provence, assuming your friend also studied at Le Cordon Bleu. The intimate setting with dark corners and low lighting makes a great spot to meet your lover on a Tuesday night, while the sunny outdoor patio provides kid-friendly adult brunches on a Sunday morning.

Meaning, there’s never an excuse not to go.