Reflets becomes Pierre’s Bistro
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine Style: French, European, Bistro
Average Price: $$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in: December 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Pierre’s Bistro Zomato rating:
Pierre’s Bistro Chef de Cuisine:
Mathieu Balbino
Pierre’s Bistro And Bar is a new concept by three starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire, replacing Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire a fine dining culinary experimentalism location at the Intercontinental Hotel in Festival City. The Bistro is a Parisian style art deco space serving French fusion cuisine and mouthwatering cocktails, taking it down a notch from Reflets, but stepping up on culinary creativity. I visited and reviewed Reflets three years earlier in January 2016, ranking it in my Top 100 page of best restaurant experiences, and I was excited to see the recent change to a more Bistro style concept. Reflets dining room was darker with a purple ceiling and crystal chandeliers while the bistro is more open, spacious, brighter white colored, and less of a congested feel.
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| Pierre's Bistro / Dining Room |
The bar and cocktail lounge was busy with most seats occupied, while the outside terrace had several tables open. It was winter and the weather was a perfect 68°f (20°c), and the floor to ceiling windows in the dining room looking out onto the terrace and the Dubai Creek opened in sectional doors to allow the cool breeze in. From the terrace where I dined there was a perfect view of the fountains of the Festival City Mall, and across the creek to the construction of the Dubai Creek Tower which once opened in 2020 will be the new tallest building in the world replacing the Burj Khalifa Tower. On the lobby level of the hotel, Pierre Gagnaire has a second patisserie restaurant called Choix Par Pierre Gagnaire featuring French pastries, finger sandwiches, afternoon tea, eclairs, and more.
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| Pierre's Bistro/mural and quote |
The evening began with a bread course of a French roll, baguette, and three flatbreads consisting of dill, garlic, and cheese. It was December and Christmas music was being played. The Sommelier Unni Clnnikrishnan, an Indian gentleman who has been with the Pierre restaurant group since it was Reflets recommended all my drink selections for the evening starting with a glass of Vermentino Marius by M. Chapoutier. According to the tasting notes, the color is a brilliant and pale yellow with green tints. On the nose, it is very open, with citrus aromas and notes of grapefruit and ripe fruit. On the mouth, it has an ample, rich and fruity attack. Good acidities and aromas of ripe fruit give a great persistence.
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| Pierre's Bistro / Bread service |
Menu:
- To Share
- To Start With
- Crudo
- Pasta / Cereals
- Vegan / Vegetarian
- Meats
- Sea / River
- Sides
- Desserts
Upon recommendation, I began with the lacquered or high glossed pork cubes of pork belly, lightly crusted and deep fried to a golden brown. This is a rare treat as Pierre Bistro is only the second restaurant I have dined in that has served pork on the menu. The pork belly was nice and tender to every bite, served five to the order with a ponzu mayonnaise for dipping.
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| Pierre's Bistro / Pork cubes with ponzu mayo |
The next dish was two slices of a smoked foie gras severed with a beetroot and liquor jelly, served with country bread and a rosè champaign mousse. The duck had the strong taste characteristics of a true foie gras. With the dish I enjoyed the second wine selection of a Minervois from the Landoc, by Domaine de la Senche, Coteaux Bourguignon, Les Deux loups Bouchard Papeta is the Occitane word for “father and grandfather” a homage and a nod to the community they live in. According to the tasting notes, the wine is a full-bodied and vibrant wine with personality blending Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache pairing perfectly with any roast and meat-based course.
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| Pierre's Bistro / Foie Gras |
The fario trout also are known as the brown or river trout fish cooked à la meunière style which is common to Dover sole and was exceptional in flavor and taste to the trout. The process is to dredge in flour then cook in browned butter with lemon and parsley. The dish was served over a bed of watercress fondue, topped with roasted almonds and a garnish of radicchio. The dish was personally created by chef Gagnaire for this Bistro and is one of their top selling items.
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| Pierre's Bistro / Trout à la meunière |
Dessert:
With dessert, I had an Americano coffee and a Manhattan with Grand Marnier. The Pear dessert is a chocolate infusion to go with the sponge dessert of praline and pomegranate with caramelized pears, peanuts, chocolate, and caramel twirls. The presentation was first class, and the taste of light crunch sponge and sweet fruit delight matched perfectly with the Grand Marnier.
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| Pierre's Bistro/caramel pear sponge dessert |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
European Union:
France:
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dubai restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Stylish modern Spanish and global cuisine
Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE
|
Kunāfah Specials and Restaurant
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A journey of the five senses
Dubai, UAE
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Pierre’s Bistro and Bar a 5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, but they surpassed outstanding and were extraordinary.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Pierre’s Bistro
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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10
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1
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Plate presentation
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12
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11
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1
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Customer service
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13
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13
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0
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Alcohol and other beverages
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8
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6
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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55
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51
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4
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.927272727272727
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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2
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0363636363636364
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.963636363636364
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
96% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Click here to view the restaurants’ wine list
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Pierre’s Bistro And Bar Wine rating:
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6 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, New Zealand, South Africa
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Corkage fees:
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Pierre’s Bistro And Bar does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Conservative dining
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Cuisine Style at Pierre’s Bistro And Bar:
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European-Continental, French
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free choices, Halal, Low Carb Choices, Non-GMO, Organic, Pescatarian, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Conservative to Casual attire
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Pierre’s Bistro And Bar Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Scenic views, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Pierre’s Bistro And Bar has a complimentary hotel valet
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Pierre’s Bistro And Bar is a non-smoking restaurant
WARNING: has a smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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Emirati Dirham (AED)
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د.إد.إد.إد.إد.إ
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€
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Alcohol prices:
180 AED
Pierre’s Bistro And Bar:
Promenade Level
Intercontinental Hotel
Dubai Festival City, Al Rebat Street, Dubai 45777
United Arab Emirates
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+971 (0)4 701 1199
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Online reservations
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Dubai Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 3:00)
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Dinner: Mon - Sat
6:30 pm - 2:00 am
Closed Sunday
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Pierre’s Bistro And Bar:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Modern Australian haute cuisine
Sydney, Australia
|
Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Authentic churrascaria-style dining
Palm Island, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Pierre’s Bistro And Bar Pictures:
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| Pierre's Bistro / Choix Par Pierre Gagnaire |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Choix Pastry's |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Christmas Tree |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Dining Room from the Terrace |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Fountain Display |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Flatbreads |
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| Pierre's Bistro / French Baguette |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Wine |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Kitchen |
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| Pierre's Bistro/lounge |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Bar |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Dining tables |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Terrace view of Dubai Creek |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Country bread with Rose Mousse |
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| Pierre's Bistro / Country bread with spread |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
