Le Bec-Fin

1523 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA
25-567-1000

Type of cuisine:  French Bistro
Date of Review:  August, 2009

Overall Quality Ranking:  Excellent 

Cost:  Expensive to Ouch! 
Gluten-Free Menu Options:  Good 
Gluten Free Diner Comfort ranking:  As Relaxed As It Gets

Description:  You have an expectation of service when you seemed to be outnumbered by the wait staff, and this restaurant delivered.  Service was attentive but comfortable.  When the gluten issue was brought up during menu review, the chef came out to chat and discuss our target, the tasting menu.  While there were three diners, the gluten-free diner was apprised of the status of each dish as it came out.

The food was excellent.  The tasting menu option opened with an amuse-bouche of herbed goat cheese with pickled shallot and apricot puree.  Following this were oysters on a fruit puree, the low point of the meal as the texture of the puree leaned toward thick corn starch and one diner noticed a fishiness.  This was followed by perfectly cooked scallops with white asparagus.  The lobster was done in a nicely balanced brandy-based sauce.  The lamb with corn and fava beans was fresh and simple, a high quality main dish.  This was followed by fresh sorbet, then a wide selection of excellent cheese and more desserts than you might hope to have to choose from.  The flourless chocolate cake was rich and satisfying.  Their signature dish, a chocolate mouse torte, was also very good.  Finally, the coffee was decent and the gluten containing tiny pastries were a nice finish.  Portion sizes were generally appropriate, and could even have been smaller.

The ambiance, while our least concern, was truly sumptuous.  Beautiful crystal chandeliers gently lit a tasteful, off-white, leather-paneled dining room.  Mirrors and gold gilding added an eye-catching glitter of classical bling.