Blue's Take
My husband and I wanted to do "dinner and a movie" for our date night Saturday, and so we settled on a cool little alternative theater/bistro right in the center of downtown Shreveport. The Robinson Film Center is primarily a cinema showing a variety of Indie and foreign films, among others, but they also have a restaurant upstairs called Abby Singer's Bistro. One unique feature of the bistro is that you can order your food and drinks "to go" and bring them into the theater with you. However, there are no tables inside the theater- just standard theater seating- so I would not recommend bringing your entree in. You will be eating it off of your lap.
Initially, we had trouble finding parking at the restaurant. All of the curbside spots withing a three-block radius were taken, and as it was raining out, we didn't feel up to a hike. Luckily, we drove around behind the building and found ample space in their parking lot. The spots are all marked "reserved," but after inquiring inside we found out it was fine to park there. When entering the restaurant from the Texas street side, you first must enter into the lobby of the Robinson Film Center. It was a little confusing to us as first-time visitors, and we weren't sure where we were supposed to go once inside- the place definitely needs more signs. We asked for assistance, and found that beyond the lobby is an elevator, which you must take to the second floor to get to the bistro. I liked the atmosphere in the bistro immediately. It is what I would call 'upscale casual.' It is a warehouse-style, L-shaped room with exposed brick, beams, and duct-work. Movie posters (many of them signed) cover the walls and might make for an interesting conversation starter, should you and your party run into an awkward moment of silence. The tables and chairs are a modern black and silver, and in keeping with the cinema theme, the salt and pepper shakers look like little rolls of film. We thought this was cool, until we realized there was no way to discern which was salt and which was pepper without actually pouring it (as it turned out, our table had two pepper shakers). There is a small outdoor balcony with additional seating, which was not in use that night as it was cold and drizzly out. The music selection was subdued 90's alternative- audible but not intrusive, and the lighting is just right- dim enough to be relaxing, but not so dim that you can't see what you are eating.
The restaurant was less than half full when we arrived at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night- one hour before our movie, but it filled up to nearly full as showtime neared. The crowd was a mix of 20's hipsters and middle-aged couples. There were no children, nor would I recommend bringing them. The place has a relaxed, decidedly adult atmosphere. Patrons were dressed 'upscale casual'- nice jeans are acceptable attire, ripped T-shirt and flip-flops probably not.
We were quickly greeted and seated by the host as we exited the elevator- a young man in his 20's who was polite but not overly friendly. The waitress, as well, was courteous and efficient, but not friendly. In fact, I didn't see any of the staff crack a smile all evening. Here are my minor critiques of the service:
1. We were asked for our drink order without ever having been supplied with the drink menu.
2. We were not asked if we wanted an appetizer to start our meal (we did).
3. At the end of the meal, we were never offered dessert or coffee (we wanted both).
To my mind these are minor points. The service was good overall.
The bistro has a small but tasty dinner selection of mostly American fare. There are four salad selections ranging in price from $7-$9, including a Spinach Salad with diced apples, walnuts, bacon blue cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette for $7.50. The soup of the day was an uninspired choice of either clam or corn chowder for $4/cup, $6/bowl. The five appetizer choices range in price from $8-$12, and include the Singer's Cheese Board for $12, and the Crab-Stuffed Avocado for $12. There are seven entree selections, ranging from the $10 "Royale with Cheese" (a clever homage to the movie Pulp Fiction, but in my opinion $10 is too high for a hamburger, no matter what you call it.) to the $19 Petit Filet Au Poivre. There are no vegetarian entree options, nor is there a children's menu. There is a separate lunch menu.
The drink menu is quite a bit larger than the food menu. There are nine different kinds of martinis, ranging in price from $8-$10, as well as a number of other specialty drinks, all within the same price range. The continue the movie theme here, with drinks such as "Where the Wild Things Are"- a blend of hazelnut and raspberry liqueurs for $10, and the "Marilyn Monroe"- homemade hot cocoa, white chocolate Godiva, and a touch of hazelnut. There is a good selection of wine. Glasses range from $5 for a House Cabernet, to $11 for a glass of A by Acacia Pinot Noir. Bottles are also available, and include a $22 bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel on the lower end, and a $78 bottle of Shafer Chardonnay. Champagne is also available by glass or bottle, as well as a good selection of both domestic and imported beer.
We chose to start our meal with the Crispy Fried Oysters appetizer for $10. We received a small platter with about eight small batter-fried (what some might call chicken-fried) oysters, two small slices of toasted baguette, and some sauteed spinach, surrounded by a rich white sauce. Notice the repetition of the word "small" in the previous sentence. Although the dish was delicious, I was definitely left wishing for more. This was my first time having oysters, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The texture was nice- very light and soft, they almost melted in my mouth- but there was no specific "oyster" flavor that I could discern. They could have been little deep-fried balls of anything, and I wouldn't have known the difference. The menu states that the sauce is a "bacon horseradish cream," but I tasted neither horseradish nor bacon (which is a shame, because those are two of my favorite flavors). It was simply a yummy, buttery cream sauce. The resounding flavor in the dish, in fact, was garlic. I would order this appetizer again, for sure, but I would probably keep it all to myself next time.
My husband wasn't feeling too hungry, so he ordered the $9 Goat Cheese Ravioli Salad as his entree. It was a plate of mesclun greens in a sherry almond vinaigrette with some sliced almonds. The dressing was well-balanced, and there was just enough of it. On the side of the plate there was a square of phyllo-dough about the size of a pack of cards, filled with goat cheese. It was an interesting presentation, but a little awkward to eat. Phyllo dough ended up flying all around the table as I attempted to try a bite of the salad. I would not recommend ordering this salad as an entree if you are truly hungry because, like the appetizer, it was not that filling.
Unlike my dear husband, I was starving, so chose the Pork Medallions entree for $15. I received three medallions, nicely presented in a stack atop a roasted fingerling potato, broccoli and cauliflower saute. The top medallion was small, the second was smaller, and the third was miniscule. However, the meat was cooked to perfection- tender and moist. The vegetable portion was slightly more fulfilling, and the roasting made for a wonderful flavor- the broccoli in particular was delectable. It was slightly browned, and almost tasted as though it had been grilled. The jus was a combination of apple brandy and thyme. The thyme flavor really came through, but I could not detect any note of apple brandy. The main flavor that came through in the jus, in fact, was the salt. I like my food quite salty, but this sauce was over-salted, even to my tastes. Overall it was a decent dish which left me satisfied, but not full. I would probably not order it again.
The bistro has no dessert menu. When we asked we were told there were three dessert selections- a brownie, a frosted lemon pound cake, and a caramel-covered cheesecake. We were not told the dessert prices. We chose to share a slice of the caramel-covered cheesecake and, since our movie was about to begin, ordered it to go. The cheesecake came in a styrofoam to-go box, with two plastic forks and some paper napkins. It was a very generous slice of cake, however the flavor was dissapointing. It was far more "eggy" than cream-cheesy, and the caramel topping was not gooey and sinful as a caramel topping should be, but thin and bland. I could barely taste it. Not terrible, but very "blah," and I definitely would not order it again. Clearly, dessert is not the Abby Singer's strong suit.
My husband also ordered a "Marilyn Monroe" drink to bring into the theater, but asked for the cocoa to be swapped with coffee. It was no problem for them to do this, however the resulting drink was not good at all. The coffee was weak and cheap-tasting, and made the whole concoction almost undrinkable (he drank it, of course, because in this family when we pay for something we drink it!). Perhaps the waitress knew the coffee and dessert were poor, and this was why she never offered them to us.
Our final tab came to $67 and change, plus tip. Although the food was, for the most part, very good, the atmosphere pleasant, and the location convenient to our entertainment for the evening (a quick walk downstairs), I did not feel like the meal was a great value for the money. I would recommend Abby Singer's Bistro to someone looking to impress a date or an out-of-town visitor with a relaxed evening, or perhaps a group of friends stopping in for drinks before seeing a show, but definitely not to families, individuals on a budget, or anyone looking for a gut-busting serving of food.
Initially, we had trouble finding parking at the restaurant. All of the curbside spots withing a three-block radius were taken, and as it was raining out, we didn't feel up to a hike. Luckily, we drove around behind the building and found ample space in their parking lot. The spots are all marked "reserved," but after inquiring inside we found out it was fine to park there. When entering the restaurant from the Texas street side, you first must enter into the lobby of the Robinson Film Center. It was a little confusing to us as first-time visitors, and we weren't sure where we were supposed to go once inside- the place definitely needs more signs. We asked for assistance, and found that beyond the lobby is an elevator, which you must take to the second floor to get to the bistro. I liked the atmosphere in the bistro immediately. It is what I would call 'upscale casual.' It is a warehouse-style, L-shaped room with exposed brick, beams, and duct-work. Movie posters (many of them signed) cover the walls and might make for an interesting conversation starter, should you and your party run into an awkward moment of silence. The tables and chairs are a modern black and silver, and in keeping with the cinema theme, the salt and pepper shakers look like little rolls of film. We thought this was cool, until we realized there was no way to discern which was salt and which was pepper without actually pouring it (as it turned out, our table had two pepper shakers). There is a small outdoor balcony with additional seating, which was not in use that night as it was cold and drizzly out. The music selection was subdued 90's alternative- audible but not intrusive, and the lighting is just right- dim enough to be relaxing, but not so dim that you can't see what you are eating.
The restaurant was less than half full when we arrived at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night- one hour before our movie, but it filled up to nearly full as showtime neared. The crowd was a mix of 20's hipsters and middle-aged couples. There were no children, nor would I recommend bringing them. The place has a relaxed, decidedly adult atmosphere. Patrons were dressed 'upscale casual'- nice jeans are acceptable attire, ripped T-shirt and flip-flops probably not.
We were quickly greeted and seated by the host as we exited the elevator- a young man in his 20's who was polite but not overly friendly. The waitress, as well, was courteous and efficient, but not friendly. In fact, I didn't see any of the staff crack a smile all evening. Here are my minor critiques of the service:
1. We were asked for our drink order without ever having been supplied with the drink menu.
2. We were not asked if we wanted an appetizer to start our meal (we did).
3. At the end of the meal, we were never offered dessert or coffee (we wanted both).
To my mind these are minor points. The service was good overall.
The bistro has a small but tasty dinner selection of mostly American fare. There are four salad selections ranging in price from $7-$9, including a Spinach Salad with diced apples, walnuts, bacon blue cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette for $7.50. The soup of the day was an uninspired choice of either clam or corn chowder for $4/cup, $6/bowl. The five appetizer choices range in price from $8-$12, and include the Singer's Cheese Board for $12, and the Crab-Stuffed Avocado for $12. There are seven entree selections, ranging from the $10 "Royale with Cheese" (a clever homage to the movie Pulp Fiction, but in my opinion $10 is too high for a hamburger, no matter what you call it.) to the $19 Petit Filet Au Poivre. There are no vegetarian entree options, nor is there a children's menu. There is a separate lunch menu.
The drink menu is quite a bit larger than the food menu. There are nine different kinds of martinis, ranging in price from $8-$10, as well as a number of other specialty drinks, all within the same price range. The continue the movie theme here, with drinks such as "Where the Wild Things Are"- a blend of hazelnut and raspberry liqueurs for $10, and the "Marilyn Monroe"- homemade hot cocoa, white chocolate Godiva, and a touch of hazelnut. There is a good selection of wine. Glasses range from $5 for a House Cabernet, to $11 for a glass of A by Acacia Pinot Noir. Bottles are also available, and include a $22 bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel on the lower end, and a $78 bottle of Shafer Chardonnay. Champagne is also available by glass or bottle, as well as a good selection of both domestic and imported beer.
We chose to start our meal with the Crispy Fried Oysters appetizer for $10. We received a small platter with about eight small batter-fried (what some might call chicken-fried) oysters, two small slices of toasted baguette, and some sauteed spinach, surrounded by a rich white sauce. Notice the repetition of the word "small" in the previous sentence. Although the dish was delicious, I was definitely left wishing for more. This was my first time having oysters, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The texture was nice- very light and soft, they almost melted in my mouth- but there was no specific "oyster" flavor that I could discern. They could have been little deep-fried balls of anything, and I wouldn't have known the difference. The menu states that the sauce is a "bacon horseradish cream," but I tasted neither horseradish nor bacon (which is a shame, because those are two of my favorite flavors). It was simply a yummy, buttery cream sauce. The resounding flavor in the dish, in fact, was garlic. I would order this appetizer again, for sure, but I would probably keep it all to myself next time.
My husband wasn't feeling too hungry, so he ordered the $9 Goat Cheese Ravioli Salad as his entree. It was a plate of mesclun greens in a sherry almond vinaigrette with some sliced almonds. The dressing was well-balanced, and there was just enough of it. On the side of the plate there was a square of phyllo-dough about the size of a pack of cards, filled with goat cheese. It was an interesting presentation, but a little awkward to eat. Phyllo dough ended up flying all around the table as I attempted to try a bite of the salad. I would not recommend ordering this salad as an entree if you are truly hungry because, like the appetizer, it was not that filling.
Unlike my dear husband, I was starving, so chose the Pork Medallions entree for $15. I received three medallions, nicely presented in a stack atop a roasted fingerling potato, broccoli and cauliflower saute. The top medallion was small, the second was smaller, and the third was miniscule. However, the meat was cooked to perfection- tender and moist. The vegetable portion was slightly more fulfilling, and the roasting made for a wonderful flavor- the broccoli in particular was delectable. It was slightly browned, and almost tasted as though it had been grilled. The jus was a combination of apple brandy and thyme. The thyme flavor really came through, but I could not detect any note of apple brandy. The main flavor that came through in the jus, in fact, was the salt. I like my food quite salty, but this sauce was over-salted, even to my tastes. Overall it was a decent dish which left me satisfied, but not full. I would probably not order it again.
The bistro has no dessert menu. When we asked we were told there were three dessert selections- a brownie, a frosted lemon pound cake, and a caramel-covered cheesecake. We were not told the dessert prices. We chose to share a slice of the caramel-covered cheesecake and, since our movie was about to begin, ordered it to go. The cheesecake came in a styrofoam to-go box, with two plastic forks and some paper napkins. It was a very generous slice of cake, however the flavor was dissapointing. It was far more "eggy" than cream-cheesy, and the caramel topping was not gooey and sinful as a caramel topping should be, but thin and bland. I could barely taste it. Not terrible, but very "blah," and I definitely would not order it again. Clearly, dessert is not the Abby Singer's strong suit.
My husband also ordered a "Marilyn Monroe" drink to bring into the theater, but asked for the cocoa to be swapped with coffee. It was no problem for them to do this, however the resulting drink was not good at all. The coffee was weak and cheap-tasting, and made the whole concoction almost undrinkable (he drank it, of course, because in this family when we pay for something we drink it!). Perhaps the waitress knew the coffee and dessert were poor, and this was why she never offered them to us.
Our final tab came to $67 and change, plus tip. Although the food was, for the most part, very good, the atmosphere pleasant, and the location convenient to our entertainment for the evening (a quick walk downstairs), I did not feel like the meal was a great value for the money. I would recommend Abby Singer's Bistro to someone looking to impress a date or an out-of-town visitor with a relaxed evening, or perhaps a group of friends stopping in for drinks before seeing a show, but definitely not to families, individuals on a budget, or anyone looking for a gut-busting serving of food.
Abby Singer's Bistro
617 Texas Street, Shreveport
http://www.robinsonfilmcenter.org/abby-singers-bistro
Hours:
Mon-Thurs 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday Restaurant & Bar Closed
617 Texas Street, Shreveport
http://www.robinsonfilmcenter.org/abby-singers-bistro
Hours:
Mon-Thurs 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday Restaurant & Bar Closed
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