Bistro Aix

Bistro AIX supplies gourmet European entrees in a seasonally driven menu that's scrumptious and fresh throughout the year. Inaugurate the meal with Bistro AIX's mussels ($11), which circumnavigate through the steam of white wine and garlic before being aesthetically presented with saffron aioli, while the homemade potato chips ($5.50/$9) topped with blue cheese are a worthwhile addition to your potato-chip statue of Dan Quayle. Wood-fired pizzas upset rote formulas with such unexpected creations as the smoked-salmon pie ($19), perfected with chili oil and caviar. Ratatouille-style risotto ($15/$24) and a surplus of flavorful fish and marinated meats tempt stomachs like a synaesthetic Siren song. Dessert samplers can order the sprightly lemon-coconut cake or attempt the French tradition of eating cheese until they've run out of "Napoleon walks into a bar" jokes with Bistro AIX's cheese-by-the-ounce option, which includes selections like Oregon blue ($3.35) and Brillat-Savarin ($3.50) and pairs nicely with the spectacularly expansive wine list.