VERO BEACH — For the second consecutive summer, the island’s top French restaurant, Maison Martinique, is offering a very attractive prix fixe menu for diners willing to arrive before 6:30 p.m.
While the price has edged up $2 from last year, the special menu is still a bargain at $21.95. Drinks or wine for those partaking of this special are the regular price.
This deal could get a party of two out of Maison Martinique, even with a glass of a modest wine, for around $75 including tip – an unheard of tab for dinner at this stylish restaurant.
Last Wednesday, we arrived shortly after 6 p.m., were greeted warmly by the hostess, and ushered to a table in the Bamboo dining room.
One of Maison Martinique’s veteran servers quickly came over to take our drink order. He also recited the list of that evening’s specials – several of which sounded extremely tempting – but we were on a mission to try the summer menu.
The first course was a choice of soups, a Caesar salad or the Maison Martinique mixed salad. I opted for the soup – in this case an excellent gazpacho – and our companion quickly ordered the Caesar.
But when the waiter saw my husband hesitating over the choice of salads, he informed him that he could have one of the night’s specials, a blueberry endive watercress salad, for only an extra $2.50.
My husband jumped at the opportunity.
The salad was as tasty as it was attractive, topped by candied pecans, gorgonzola, and tossed with a blueberry vinaigrette. Worth every penny of the upgrade.
For entrées, I chose the sautéed shrimp curry, my husband decided on the grilled New York strip au poivre, and our companion picked the salmon.
Other possible choices from the summer menu were blackened mahi-mahi and sautéed breast of chicken.
The curry consisted of four nice shrimp, juicy and tender, sautéed with golden raisins and apples, and garnished with a mango chutney. A very nice dish.
The salmon was perfectly prepared in a beurre blanc sauce, and the New York strip was tender and juicy, with a very tasty peppercorn sauce.
The entrées were served with carrots and haricots verts, boiled or scalloped potato (the shrimp came with rice), and an artichoke stuffed with mushroom.
The portions were generous, and seemed indistinguishable in size from the entrées we have enjoyed in the past from Maison Martinique’s regular menu. The presentation, as always here, was beautiful.
For dessert, the choice was between vanilla ice cream topped with dark chocolate or a crème brûlée. We all opted for the ice cream and were not disappointed.
As was the case last summer, Maison Martinique no doubt will be changing its summer menu entrées from time to time, so the dishes described above may have been replaced by a new array of choices by the time you visit.
But as summer menus go, this one has sets the bar high.
Maison Martinique has long been one of our readers’ favorite restaurants, and with the summer menu, the price is certainly right.
I welcome your comments, and encourage you to send feedback to me at [email protected].
The reviewer is a beachside resident who dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963.
; . Below, the Bamboo Room Photos BY BENJAMIN HAGER
