Toulouse Cafe and Bar

DC, says:

• Food:

  3/5

• Vibe:

  2/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  2/5

• Overall:

  2/5

I could also call this "that's you're signature dish?"

It's a bit of a strange evening. We're checked in to meet up with the girl from the DSO. Since crossing 30 would be out of the bubble, we acquiesce this time to do K-H or Uptown.

How about Taverna? Sure. Except this isn't Taverna, it's Toulouse. Oh well, whatever, here we are. There are no tables available, so we start at the bar. We order water, a Pimms cup and some champagne cocktail. The Pimms cup is pretty disappointing. I was hoping for something with a deeper cucumber flavor. Her champagne thing apparently has a splash of almond flavor. This holds no appeal for me, so I pass.

We're seated outside to the left of the entrance. There's a real yell-y table about 5 tops over. I'm not sure if we somehow acknowledge a particularly loud girl if she'd be happy in getting her attention. Somehow, though, I doubt it's going to be enough.

It's a medium wait for service from a young man with very disorganized teeth. He tells us about some vague special and some other such thing. We're starving, so we start on some day old bread.

The menu is about half food and about half wine. The booze selections are fine, I suppose. I'd call them a little overpriced, but in keeping with the neighborhood.

The food selections are nothing spectacular, and the menu is kind of annoying. The background to this is kind of personal since I barely speak a hint of Spanish, but I can murder French with the best of them. So, when the first dish on the menu is "Quiche du Jour avec Salade" and the description is "Quiche of the Day served with House Salade," essentially a direct translation, the true fakey-fake Frenchman behind this restaurant is revealed. (when did salad need an e?) I mean, what's the point in half English "Served with" and partly French "Haricots Verts"?

I keep forgetting, there is no point. I guess someone thinks it's something, but I have a feeling it wasn't parody.

So, what the hell, why not trout almondine? It's a creamy slab of white fish. The sauce smothers the fish like a wet blanket, so it's hard to describe what is going on with the fish itself. The beans are unexceptional. They didn't overcook them, so that was nice.

We also have a tuna grilled in some strange spice concoction. This log of red fish is not too bad overall. It's warm without being overdone, and the parsnip puree is rather interesting. I'd give this one a second look as there is a slight snap to the parsnip that is a nice touch even though it is a bit of a stretch to call this a good compliment to the fish.

I didn't know what to expect with the short rib sliders, but they did come with the 'pomme frites.' According to the bid red box on the menu, the pomme frites are the signature item on the menu, so who are we to pass them up.

First of all, the short rib sliders are ok for a little sandwich. They're mildly spicy without a significant amount of smoke. It strikes me like good 'food festival' fare - mass produced and easily re-heated.

The fries...uhh...really? Seriously, McCain grade skinny fries. Kind of cold despite being heavily over fried. No specific seasoning I can see other than salt and disappointment. What a waste of time and billing.

Dessert? No, skinny girls!

In the end, what to think? I don't know what this has to do with Toulouse other than the weak Francais on des menus. It seems to be a good place to talk REALLY LOUD so other people can SEE HOW LOUD YOU ARE. The food I would describe as hit or miss.

Mixed feelings. Wouldn't seek it out specifically unless I had some really loudmouth guests that needed some place to spout off.

The discussion brings us around to the five year plan....

micastio, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  3/5

• Value:

  3/5

• Overall:

  4/5

This place is really climbing my list of favorites here in Dallas. Great pommes frites, delicious baked chicken, reasonable wine selection. The location is outstanding, I'm surprised it took so long for a restaurant to break the cycle of cursed attempts since it's in such a great location right off the Katy trail.
I will say its much better eating in than taking out. The one time we got take out the chicken was overcooked and the fries soggy by the time we got home.