Jean-Robert at Pigall's: "Best Restaurant in US per Zagat's!" Top 5 Page for this destination Cincinnati Restaurant Tip by BeatChick

I CELEBRATED MY 40TH BIRTHDAY HERE WITH MY FAB FOODIE FRIENDS (MaryG & Ebony) LAST NIGHT!!!

Alas, in 2006 no restos garnered a 30 rating from Zagat's, its highest rating; only 8 restaurants in the entire country garnered a 29. But one of Cincy's own, Jean-Robert at Pigall's earned the top cumulative 29 rating! And this year Mobil (equivalent to Michelin in Europe) just gave them a 4-star rating!

This is the pricey fabulous fusion French restaurant, owned & operated by former Maisonette head chef, Frenchman Jean-Robert de Caval (considered by many to be the best restaurant in the city). The absolute finest in French cuisine due to his well-known philosophy of using local home-grown cuisine with the freshest ingredients (a very French concept - you see this quite a bit in Paris). His menu changew day-to-day dependent upon fresh market pickings.

I find it funny that they persist in including the "Pigall" appellation as anyone familiar with Paris would automatically conjure up images of prostitutes in the seedy area surrounding Pigalle near Montmartre! But the prior resto was called Pigall's and it was a long-term well-known place in Cincy; tradition dies hard in this conservative enclave.

I offer my congratulations to Jean-Robert for his Top Zagat rating as well as his new 4-star Mobil designation. Thank you for bringing several authentic French restaurants to the Queen City!

E-mail: info@jean-robertatpigalls.com

Favorite Dish: Menu Gourmand for the current sampling of the chef's best (especially when pan-seared foie gras is on the menu)! Priced at $134, wine pairings included, and for $97 sans wine. The 3 course prix-fixe comes in at a reasonable $74. Last night I chose the Menu Gourmand as a birthday celebration and it was trés fantastique! Click HERE to see the amuse bouches, HERE to see the main courses, and HERE for the desserts!

When calling ahead to make reservations, if you call before the new season's menu appears, you'll be asked what your food preferences are - cool! I told them I'd love the pan-seared foie gras, if possible, anything to do with macarons (rose preferably) and no mushrooms (even though that seems to be one of de Caval's favorites).

Photos: January 2005 & September 2007

Address: 127 W Fourth St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Comparison: most expensive
Directions: Just around the corner from where I once work at 311 Elm St. From I-75S, take the 2nd Street exit, turn left onto Vine St, left onto 4th St - valet parking is free!!
othercontact: (513) 352-6010 Fax#
Phone: (513) 721-1345
Price: US$41 and up
Rating: 5
Theme: French
Website: http://www.jean-robertatpigalls.com