Tartine Bistro

I have been dying to try Tartine Bistro in Rocky River for a long time, finally I got to experience this quaint restaurant and happy hour was a great time.  We walked in and decided to sit at the bar.  The restaurant is small and there is a nice patio in front.  The door and windows were all open creating a great outdoor feel even inside.  We decided to go with the happy hour menu and it was well worth every penny. 

For two people we ordered 4 happy hour items and decided to try one of the pizza's as well.  We started with the cheese platter and it is a chef's choice of three cheese, lavender honey, and nuts served with crackers.  My dining companion is pregnant so we asked the chef to keep that in mind while picking the cheeses. He chose a tellagio which was salty and sharp, the prima donna which was sweet and creamy and tomme du levezou which had a nutty flavor.  We then each had an order of chicken chorizo stuffed peppers with a saffron aioli.  These were spicy but the aioli helped cool it with great flavor.  Each order came with 2 peppers.  We then finished the happy hour menu with the dates stuffed with goat cheese and served with bacon.  They were crunchy, sweet, and salty.  A perfect balance and I do not even like dates!  We then decided to splurge and get a pizza as well.  The happy hour items were each $5, the pizza was $15.  We ordered a peach and bacon pizza with a balsamic glaze.  It is new to the menu and great for summer time.  light, fresh and very good.

They also have drinks available for only $5 each  including he La Bicyclette.  It is made with Campari, a French dry white and soda served with a  lemon.  I like Campari, but appreciate that the bartender asked if I had ever tried Campari before.  Many people have not and it can be an off putting taste. 

The bartender provided wonderful service and conversation in answering all of our questions.  It was a great experience and now I want to go back for dinner sometime soon...but would settle for happy hour chorizo stuffed peppers anytime!