NYC 2 BIG D: April 2012

Nosh Euro Bistro - Plano

Cyberspace: nosheurobistro.com

Grade: A

Where to Find It: 4701 W. Park Blvd, Suite 101, Plano, TX 75093

Food Group: European, American

How Much to Fork Over: $$$

Faves: Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Braised Lamb Shank, Truffle Mac N Cheese

The Jibba Jab:

Transparent and Tasty. Nosh is a place that lets nothing go unnoticed…literally, you can see everything that the kitchen is doing from it’s open and exposed layout to the dining room to a flat screen tv near the restrooms that displays the intense actions of the chefs. Flames flying high, stacks of plates dwindling down, orders being shouted, and the rest of the clinking and clanking of a well managed kitchen. It is quite a sight to see and hear.

The front of the house is just as well maintained as the back of the house because our service was impeccable. The owner or manager (not sure which) immediately greeted us after we sat down at our table, explaining the menu and that he would be happy to accommodate us with anything we needed…..extremely welcoming! We were brought new flatware and plates for each course, and our water and wine glasses were always full….that is until we drank all of the wine, which was the Franciscan Cabernet.

Now on to the food! After we were brought bread and butter on the house, we chose one of the specials, the Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, as our starter. It was incredibly delicious and had a velvety richness that was perfectly complimented by a hint of sweetness. Next, we were recommended to try the Roasted Red and Yellow Beet Salad and I’m definitely glad we did. The creamy peppercorn goat cheese sung in precise harmony with the earthy accents of the beets and was a great way to prepare our palates for the following round. The Braised Lamb Shank was succulent, falling off the bone, and perfectly seasoned….I had absolutely no complaints. Our side of Garlic Roasted Broccolini had a punch full of flavor, but the Big Kid Truffled Mac was something that I’ll never forget. I’ve been to many restaurants that have this dish on their menu and I’ve always been disappointed with the outcome, but I’ve finally found the Mac and Cheese that is worth talking about. It actually smelled and tasted like truffles, the bread crumb topping was in fact “tortilla chip” crispy, which is a must for contrasting texture to the extreme creaminess of the combination of cheeses, and most of all, NO glooping (not really a word, but you know what I mean) of grease or that grittiness you get from the cheese separating….ekkk… such a pet peeve. This Mac and Cheese, and the rest of the experience deserves a trophy for all of the above!!