Every so often, the hype is warranted. Usually, the longer the wait time/buildup, the bigger the letdown. It's just the way fantasy vs. reality works. Anyone who's done online dating could tell you that. But as we know from copious eHarmony ads, dating sites do have the potential to create magic. Sky-high expectations can indeed be met. And here we have the case of Maison Premiere. Two of my favorite things are seafood and cocktails. And lots of seafood-centric places boast quality cocktail programs. But there's no one-two punch like Maison Premiere. Despite its unassuming facade, this place is a total powerhouse. The oysters are as abundant and tasty as advertised (as is the rest of the seafood here) and the drinks are equally superb. There's a reason this place is almost at 1000 reviews on here.
Came here at 8pm on a Monday with the bf for my birthday. Since I've been on the topic of romance, I must mention how sexy this place is. It's pretty ideal for a date at any stage of the relationship. The vibe here is old-timey and sultry, and then there's the whole oysters being an aphrodisiac thing. And remember that top-notch alcohol I mentioned? I can't tell you what the outcome of your trip will be, but the ambiance will certainly permeate.
As you likely know by now, Maison Premiere has a reputation for excellence in mixology. I can confirm this now, because the three drinks I ordered were all slam dunks. Creative and innovative yet seemingly classic, complex, well-balanced and absolutely delicious. The first drink I ordered was the Carondelet (Hayman's London Dry, Lime, Lemon, Blossom Honey, Vanilla, Sea Salt). The ideal first drink. Sweet and smooth, wakes the palette up a bit. My second was the Peacock Throne (Perry's Tot, Suze, Malort, Cappelletti, Lime, Creole Bitters, Orgeat), which I liked as much if not more than the first. For my last drink, I went a bit out of my comfort zone. Maison Premiere happens to have a serious absinthe selection and entire menu dedicated to absinthe drips and absinthe cocktails. I hate the taste of licorice, so I've never been one to enjoy absinthe. But I figured if there's any place that could potentially change my mind, MP would be it. So upon consulting with our waitress, I went with the The Gallant Seventh (Vieux Carré, Drambuie, Curaçao, Lemon, Coconut, Pecan). Rich yet refreshing. Obviously the absinthe came through and at first sip I wasn't convinced, but it really grew on me as I got further along. You can't go wrong here.
Food-wise, I am nearly the 1000th reviewer on here to tell you that this place is an oyster bar, above all else. It's famous for its oyster happy hour and its unbelievable oyster selection in general. The raw bar is truly magnificent here. Because it was my birthday, we balled out on oysters. Instead of ordering an extra plate on the normal food menu, we got two mass orders. The first: Chef's Selection (choice of 12, we got two each of six types). Our favorites were the Discovery Bay, Evening Cove and Beachway. Of the second batch, the Conway Pearl and Kumamoto stood out. In the running for the best oysters I've ever had.
We sampled the rest of the menu to round out our dinner and get the full experience. Over ice, crudo, small plates and mains. We did one of each:
Half Lobster w/ Lobster Aioli, Herbes: A+
The bf wanted to get the whole lobster entree, but I convinced him to go with the half lobster over ice. Saves time and money, and that lobster aioli was calling my name. So unbelievably tasty. The aioli was worth splurging on (I mean physically--it doesn't cost extra) but honestly, the lobster was good all by itself. I haven't eaten lobster in ages, and this just felt right. If you're looking to nosh on a number of different things here, opt for the half, not a whole.
Arctic Char w/ Asparagus, Creme Fraiche, Shiso: B
Truly the only dud of the night. Usually I only give five stars when everything is stellar, but the pros far outweighed the cons here. This was downright boring. Not bad, just plain and blah. We wanted to try a crudo the order was well-intentioned, just didn't pan out. Oh well. Not everything can be a slam dunk.
Cod Brandade w/ Garlic, Parsley, Toast: A/A+
Very different from anything else we had here. The specialties at MP are obviously the raw bar/seafood served over ice. So between us wanting some variety and this particular dish coming highly recommended, we ordered it for our warm starter. I adore salted cod and when it's whipped up with some oil and potatoes, it's pretty damn decadent. Served with crispy, oil-topped bread to get the full textural experience.
Black Sea Bass w/ Hen of the Woods, Leek, Red Wine: A+
Perfectly cooked and wonderfully seasoned. What a gorgeous piece of fish. Thoughtful and super flavorful accompaniments, too. Loved the leek/red wine combo, and the fried mushrooms were delightful. We tried seafood all different ways here, and MP delivered virtually every time (lets ignore the crudo flop) read more