Dining Out v John Roberts Slate Bleu Restaurant

Slate Bleu, a favorite French restaurant for many repeat customers, describes itself as “a classic European bistro in a charming historic space in Doylestown's Agricultural Works.” The space, which was the Rhoades Livery is the oldest section of the Agricultural Works, dating back to 1864. The original timber and exposed brickwork meld with the classic décor and contemporary touches to create a space which preserves the charm that is unique to Bucks County.

Chef, Mark Matyas, honed his craft in Paris and New York City, attended l'Ecole Lenôtre and l'Académie du Vin and is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu du Paris. Mark is the former chef at La Grenouille, the fabled NYC French restaurant and he is a veteran of several Paris kitchens. Slate Bleu is family owned and the family is involved. His wife Susan and daughter Siena, oversee the dining spaces, and his son Eric is the sommelier & sous-chef at Slate Bleu Restaurant.

The menu changes and is called Menu Du Jour. On the menu can be found wellpresented salads such as Salade Ardoise (greens, figs, bleu cheese, Prosciutto and balsamic vinaigrette) and Riviera Salad (local lettuces, tomatoes, anchovies, pestocesear vinaigrette, crispy chickpea panisse). Appetizers and soups include items like Soupe De Poisson, Beef Tartare. En- trées include dishes like Homemade Gnocchi, Seared Sea Scallops, East Coast Oysters, Poached Salmon, Steak Au Poivre. A Moroccan entrée that I would like to try is Pan Roasted Bronzino (saffron-honey tomato compote, Moroccan seasoning, charmoula, cous cous and vegetables). Sides include Side of Fries, Potato Puree and Ratatouille Provençale. The desserts include such sinful delights as Gateau Banne-Chocolat (chocolate banana cake, caramel mousse), Blackberry-Lime Tarte (vanilla crème fraiche), Mousse Au Chocolat, and ice cream and sorbet combinations.

A balanced wine list is broken down into three categories: Champagne & Mousseux, Blanc & Rose, and Rouge. Cocktails include Ol’ Old Fashioned, Quick Step (gin, blackberry oleo, lemon), Frozen Grapefruit Martini, A Nice Pear (pear vodka, pear nectar), Duke Falisco (mezcal, blended Amari, passion fruit, honey, lime), and other creative drinks.

The hours at Slate Bleu are Wednesday to Saturday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Slate Bleu is located at 100 S. Main Street, Doylestown, PA. Call for reservations, both bar and table are reservations only. For more information about Slate Bleu, visit www.slatebleu.com. For reservations, call 215-348-0222.