Nais Cuisine: A Date Night Destination

I don't know when "date night" became a part of the American vernacular but I think it's an important part of a healthy relationship. And I don't mean just romantic relationships, I mean all relationships.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life it's important to carve out time to reconnect with loved ones whether it be over dinner, drinks or by seeing the latest blockbuster together. Obviously my favorite way to meet up is over a meal. There is nothing better than breaking bread with an old friend or loved one.

Sharing a meal is nourishing both to our bodies and our spirits. is a great place to enjoy some well prepared food with those you love.

The restaurant bills itself as French cuisine with Oriental flair but the menu seemed predominantly French. We entered the first dining area and there was no one at the hostess stand. I walked into the larger dining area and still didn't find a host or hostess. A server emerged from the kitchen and I signaled to her that we wished to be seated.

We were given the choice to sit wherever we liked and we chose a corner table by the window. Our server presented us with menus, lit the candle on the table and let us peruse the selections. She saw our bottle of wine (Nais Cuisine is a BYOB) and brought back wine glasses and a bucket of ice.

She asked us if we had any questions and opened our wine (a crisp and refreshing Riesling) and deftly poured three glasses. Next she brought a basket of freshly baked rolls and butter. The rolls were piping hot with a wonderfully toasted exterior and delicious interior. 

We began with the house salad with sherry vinaigrette, cream of mushroom soup and black lobster ravioli. The house salad was simple (mesclun greens, frisee, grape tomatoes, croutons and red onion) and lightly dressed with a subtle but balanced vinaigrette. The ingredients were fresh and blended well together. 

The cream of mushroom soup was thick and brimming with plenty of chopped mushroom. Each bite was bursting with earthy flavor and rounded out by the rich cream. I hadn't had such a rustic mushroom soup before but it proved quite delicious.

The black lobster ravioli in a champagne cream sauce was so called because the pasta was "black", well more of a dark purply hue than black but I digress. The filling of sweet and succulent lobster (and I suspect some crab meat as well) was quite tasty and while I wasn't a huge fan of the slightly sweet cream sauce it was nonetheless a pleasing appetizer. It was visually and texturally appealing with some decent lobster flavor.

For our entrees we had the bacon-wrapped filet mignon with green peppercorns, the duck in red wine sauce and the crabmeat stuffed trout with basil and tomato. The filet mignon was wonderfully tender and not overpowered by the bacon (which was a refreshing change from other renditions of the dish). The red-wine sauce was rich and satisfying and just the right consistency. Green peppercorns and steak are like peanut butter and chocolate, a match made in heaven.

The duck in red wine sauce was the largest portion of duck I have ever seen in a restaurant. While most restaurants serve the duck breast or a confit duck leg or maybe some pieces of meat from each part of the duck, at Nais Cuisine they serve half a duck.

The enormous portion covered the majority of the plate and was bathed in a thick red wine sauce. The skin was impressively crisp and the meat inside rich and juicy. Seasoning was not an issue, it was flavorful every step of the way. Each bite of this duck was heavenly. The red wine sauce was a bit too much for me. I thought the duck was good enough to be enjoyed on its own.

The trout special with crabmeat and Italian flavorings wasn't the favorite of the table. The lemon sauce was orange in color and overly sweet. While the fish was delicately cooked and the crabmeat quite abundant, the basil and tomato flavors were not so pronounced. Everything was a bit understated making this taste like some sort of spa cuisine dish.

All the entrees came with scalloped potatoes and a buttery julienned carrot and zucchini mix. The potatoes were fork tender and prepared with plenty of cream and butter. These calorific spuds are not for the health conscious but taste as good as they look. The carrots and zucchini were cooked nicely and offered a striking burst of color. 

We were too stuffed for dessert but we enjoyed our dinner very much. I touched on the excellent service when we first arrived (aside from the missing hostess) and I'm delighted to say it continued throughout the evening. Before our entrees came out my dining companions were "geared" with the biggest steak knives I have ever seen. Our server checked in on us at appropriate times, cleared dirty plates efficiently and refilled our water and wine glasses as necessary. She had a pleasant and friendly demeanor and was quite accessible.

The decor is quite pink, with pink tablecloths and magenta cloth napkins. Each table had a lone pink carnation as decoration. There are small paintings and living green plants throughout the dining area. Off white and stone walls add a sort of cabin feel to the space. Natural sunlight and candlelight combine to add a warm glow to the dining room. It's definitely a comfortable and welcoming space.

BYOBs are all over the greater Philadelphia area and allow people to keep their costs low when dining out. A place like Nais Cuisine offers more refined dishes at an affordable price in a neighborhood setting. While the exterior is unassuming, once inside you will be treated like a special guest by a staff that understands what good service is.

It was nice to not have to ask for every little thing but have what we needed brought out in a timely manner. The weather might be unbearable these days but we were fortunate enough to find a break from the heat at this local gem. Head here with your family, your spouse, your boyfriend, girlfriend or an old friend.

Break bread by candlelight and catch up on old times. You'll be richer for the experience.