Patti’s Bistro: Good food at unreal summer prices
Only a couple of weeks into the long Vero summer, more restaurants than ever appear to be offering better deals than ever in a bid to lure new customers and fill dining rooms during what always has been the slow season.
While the restaurants we have been visiting on recent weekends seem to be doing pretty well, a number of restaurateurs clearly are nervous about the economy, and are bending over backward to make sure they still are going strong come fall.
When you see the Tides offering a “Sunset Menu” for $15, the Melody Inn ready to take 20 percent off your check, and Citrus Grillhouse laying out a three-course prix fixe dinner for $20.11, this summer’s takeaway message would seem to be you can hardly afford to dine at home.
And no summer deal at the moment beats the special currently being offered at Patti’s Bistro, a charming restaurant in a nondescript strip mall on the south side of Sebastian, where you can order almost anything on its entire menu – a three-course meal of appetizers, entrées and dessert – for $9.99.
You read that right – $9.99. We have enjoyed dining with Patti, who not only remembers names but greets every return diner with hugs, for years. And her restaurant is way too good – way too fine – to be offering entrées (even if they are a bit smaller than the regular portions) at those kind of bargain prices.
So on our most recent visit, even though we could tell from the passing plates that we would have more than enough food ordering the $9.99 specials, we went for the regular menu.
While the salads that come with all dinners – a house salad or a Caesar – are nice, my recommendation is to start with Patti’s excellent soups. The golden onion soup, always on the menu, is light and tasty; the soup du jour, an excellent corn and crab bisque, was even better.
Then for entrées, I ordered the Wiener schnitzel ($19.95) and my husband went for the veal rollatini ($21.99).
The Wiener schnitzel, one of three German dishes on the menu, was a beautiful breaded veal cutlet nicely complemented by sides of red cabbage and spetzel. The veal rollatini, another nice slice of veal wrapped around mozzarella cheese and prosciutto, was as good as it gets.
On other visits, we have enjoyed the sauerbraten ($18.99), a tangy German form of pot roast, and the eggplant parmesan ($16.99) – both available as well on the $9.99 special.
We also on many previous visits ordered Patti’s lobster special -- $23.95 for Maine lobsters that always have been bigger and better than those you get elsewhere. While those are off the menu at the moment, Patti seemed willing to make exceptions for lobster lovers who call a day in advance.
For dessert, you don’t want to consider any options to the chocolate cake – a delicious light chocolate cake, topped with a dab of whipped cream.
While Patti’s has a very limited wine list, you can get a decent bottle of wine which nicely complements your meal for under $25.
Dinner for two at Patti’s with wine, before tip, runs between $60 and $70 on the regular menu – and the tab would come in way less if you go for the $9.99 specials.
The service here is beyond attentive, the food is solid, and the restaurant is not that bad a drive for barrier island residents. At summer prices, you cannot afford to pass up a visit to Patti’s Bistro.
I welcome your comments, and encourage you to send feedback to me at tina@verobeach32963.com.
The reviewer is a beachside resident who dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963.
Hours
Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 8:30 pm
Bar
Beer and wine
Address (MAP)
11632 US Highway, Sebastian, Telephone: (772) 581-4447
