Restaurant Review: Zooi Euro Bistro

Sometimes, by Friday, one's faith in humanity has sunk pretty low. You need some sort of affirmation that all is not in vain and that the world is not one fast food-fast forward blur. I have the answer and yes it is legal: Zooi Euro Bistro.

Veddy, veddy French owners, Thierry and Patricia Moity, work a slightly different magic on the Forum/Mayfaire end of town. The interior is surprisingly modern and full and there is a nifty outdoor seating courtyard complete with fountain and an extremely rock star looking bar.

Dining here you are treated as royalty, waited on with a charming combination of aloofness, deference and complete submission. Despite the sophistication of the place they do NOT TRY TO INTIMIDATE YOU, EVER. I don’t care who you are, odds of you having eaten every ethnic dish or imbibed in every wine on the planet is pretty slim, so why be a jerk when someone asks a question? Oops, soapbox, sorry.

Everyone should try the rabbit. It is beautiful and tasty, served over al dente fettuccine ribbons lightly coated in the scrumptious veal stock and Pommerey mustard sauce. The composed salads are always lovely and fresh, not sporting tired iceberg and a cucumber left over from Labor Day.

Oh yeah, EVERYTHING IS MADE FROM SCRATCH. I mean it! I got to see the kitchen on my 90th visit (under the guise of it was my birthday and I wanted to meet the chef -- I’m bad, I know.) and there was fresh stuff everywhere, even the dessert plate sauces are homemade!

The chef features different French regional specialties every night of the week all delicious and unique. The meats are always of good quality (lamb, beef, veal, duck…) but the soups and vegetable sides are equally amazing. Haricot verts, ratatouille, squash puree... yum

Wine list is really neat- some old familiars and some new faces, and the staff will gladly pour you a taste before you purchase, if it is a by the glass option.

Funky martinis, very tempting appetizers and bar food and over the top desserts using premium chocolates, mousses, sorbets…there’s something for everyone. The last visit I inhaled the Apple strudel, which was bursting with well-cooked tart apples and plump golden raisins, wrapped in a buttery strudel pastry. It was served hot with a scoop of White Mountain vanilla ice cream, crème anglaise and homemade caramel. Sigh.

www.ZooiBistro.com
Chef Thierry Moity and Patricia Moity, Manager
(910) 509-3876
1121 Military Cutoff Rd., Wilmington, NC

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