Zov's Bistro

Zov's Bistro
Tustin, CA

Today, we ate in the conference room for a Social Media Network workshop and presentation. Zov greeted us with a warm smile and genuine conversation as always. I've never been to this location before. My first impression was, "Wow, this is a great place to sit outside on a nice day." The restaurant caters to 'good weather' seating. There is a green-house atmosphere at the front of the restaurant with panoramic light streaming in from all sides -- beautiful.

Fresh Fruit Tart
I enjoyed its clear hints of almond extract. The tart, a 1/2 inch high medallion of approx. 4" diameter was lovely. The blackberries on top were plump, hand-selected for the gods themselves. They were cozied by two sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, all of which were lightly drizzled in a sugar water. The layer between the fruit and the almond tart -- similar to a soft shortbread -- was a soft, milky cream like creme brulee. There was also a bit of sugar gel; I try to forget this part, and it's only a bit so it doesn't bother you. I would say the tart was a little much to devour on one's own after a meal, but if you split it into thirds with others you'll be fine; even a split in half will do. Oh, and there was kiwi on top. The tart is colorful and far more exciting than you're average French fair. I was surprised to see this on the Mediterranean menu. Beautiful work of art. Heavy to carry in the tummy, but fresh.

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Here was the first round of greeting from Zov's staff:
Black Currant Ice Tea and basic round Rustic Rolls.

The rolls were white rustic flour, but were a bit dry. Not much air, though they were presented European style with bubbles on the crust and a silk inside (more dense).

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Oven-Roased Chicken Salad,
with baby greens, asparagus, al-dente fingerling potatoes, apple-smoked bacon and sherry vinaigrette.

Sliced oven-roasted chicken breast with parsley on top of a bed of spinach and red lettuce greens. There were also baby Roma tomatoes involved. The dressing was light. I am not one to have a lot of dressing on a salad but this was a light amount that didn't drown the salad and was still healthy -- olive oil and vinegar based. There were petite fingerlings on the plate that turned to mush in your mouth. Perfect shape with ideal texture. Beautiful. The chicken was ideally cooked. Tender, but with a nice color to the outside, and no skin! The portion was perfect for a meal and I was surprised when they presented us with dessert afterward. I was already satisfied by the salad! Thus I took the fruit tart to go, as beautiful as it was.

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I'm always curious to see what new dishes Zov comes up with. Most of them are colorful. That's what I enjoy most about them. The bistro is certainly a the best option between the cafe and the restaurant. Go to the Bistro!