Dinner and "A Show"
Window table at Bistro 218 overlooks Arrtwalk 2025.
By Jan Walsh
We head up 20th Street North just in time for our reservations at Bistro 218. Yikes! The road is blocked by tents in the street. Ahh, Artwalk! This annual arts festival takes over Birmingham’s downtown loft district transforming it into a two-day, outdoor art exhibit. There are more than 100 visual artists, everything from caricatures to oil on canvas, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. We quickly detour and find Bistro 218’s valet on the corner rather than in front of the door as usual.
Inside we are seated at a window table. While sipping signature cocktails we are (beyond) entertained by the street scene. Artwalk attendees come from all walks… Some are here on a serious mission to purchase art. Others are out for an evening with their dogs or parrot! Artists are engaging with visitors to their booths. And everyone seems to be enjoying their evening. For other shows, Bistro 218 also offers a pre-concert, fix price, three course menu to get you to the thestre on time.
We start with Bistro BLT Salad and Watermelon Salad and share both. And we pair our salads with Les Glories Brut Rosé Crémant. The range and depth of the wine lists at the Saab’s restaurants make pairing easy. Each bottle in the collection is the selection of general manager and beverage director, Carlos Cisneros, Certified Sommelier of Master Court of Sommeliers. So, no need to overthink which wine to pick because Carlos has well vetted the options. The food friendly crémant offers notes of citrus, white fruits, strawberry and raspberry balanced by a bright acidity. The BLT is a crisp, cold wedge of baby iceberg, encircled with tomato and dressed with a thick, creamy, and robust Danish Blue Cheese dressing and topped with chewy bacon lardons. Simply divine! Large, spheres of sweet, juicy Florida melon glisten in the watermelon salad, complete with gastrique. One of my favorite cheeses, French feta adds pungency, and pistachios bring a crunchy bite. My grandfather taught me, as a child, to salt my watermelon. And even better is Bistro 218’s selection of sea salt. Hurry in before the season ends.
For entrees Kev orders the Free-Range Chicken Paillards. And I choose the Tournedos au Poiver. The pristine chicken is simple and bright. It draws flavor from its lemon butter caper sauce and a dreamy risotto. And as always at the Saab’s restaurants you miss out if you do not order their risotto. Au poivre translates to “with pepper.” My two melt in the mouth, juicy pieces of tenderloin are cooked to order and boast a bold, peppery, caramelized crust. The filets are elevated atop two pearly, starchy slices of potato gratin and alongside asparagus, which lends grassy earthiness. And the rich, savoriness of the aromatic, velvety brandy sauce cuts through the heat of the pepper, balancing the dish with its decadence. Highly recommended!
As we finish our entrees one Artwalk a woman on the sidewalk becomes an artist right before our eyes. This opera sized lady not only takes over the sidewalk but one of Bistro 218’s outside tables as tripod for her phone and its flowerpot as a prop, to record not the Artwalk but herself, posing dancing and singing. Now that’s entertainment! The video is likely somewhere on the Internet making money. And we watched it live!
It has been a good peach season, and I will soon miss them. Thus tonight, we share a Chilton County Peach Tart for dessert. The sliced tart is a work of art itself, served with vanilla ice cream and a dreamy almond anglaise. This sweet synthesis of fruit, creaminess, and crunchiness is light, lovely, and is not to be missed.
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