Gala New American Bistro and Wine Bar has a warm, upscale atmosphere. While the service is good and friendly, the best part of the dining experience is the food. Gala is a must for lunch or dinner.
Atmosphere:
Gala is located in the historic storefronts along Grand River in downtown Farmington. Look sharp and park smart, however, because Gala is located in the basement of the building and parking is located off the alley that runs behind it.
Upon entering the building, the restaurant can be found at the bottom of a long staircase. The dining room is long, narrow and decorated in warm colors. There is some natural light from a sky-light of sorts on the restaurant’s Grand-River side, where leather couches are strategically placed in a lounge-type configuration. There is also a large bar, grass centerpieces and a flower mural. The restaurant has a definite jazz-lounge vibe, although the schedule of weekend entertainment seems to be as eclectic as the menu.
Upon entering the building, the restaurant can be found at the bottom of a long staircase. The dining room is long, narrow and decorated in warm colors. There is some natural light from a sky-light of sorts on the restaurant’s Grand-River side, where leather couches are strategically placed in a lounge-type configuration. There is also a large bar, grass centerpieces and a flower mural. The restaurant has a definite jazz-lounge vibe, although the schedule of weekend entertainment seems to be as eclectic as the menu.
New American Cuisine and Small Plates
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The theme at Gala combines the notions of new American cuisine and small plates. While the term “New American Cuisine” usually leaves me scratching my head in confusion, the Gala menu provides this definition:Traditional French cooking methods typically with Latin American, Mediterranean, and Asian influences. Often referred to as the ‘new’ French nouvelle.If you take this definition one step further and google “French nouvelle,” you’ll find that the cuisine is “characterized by lighter, more delicate dishes and an increased emphasis on presentation.”
At Gala, the presentation is all about the use of small plates. While other tapas or small-plate type restaurants design their menu for the social sharing of food -- several tapas (or small plates) are ordered for the table, with each dish subdivided for easy sharing -- Gala's small-plate theme is all about portion size. The entrée is served on a small, square plate and the portion is considered a “bite” (typically four ounces in size). Small plate options range from $9 to $14 and include duck, a petit filet and salmon. The plate typically includes a vegetable and/or grain accompaniment that enhances the dish, both in terms of taste and visual artistry.
Lunch:
For lunch, Gala offers a special that includes soup, salad and pick of entrée for $15. While a little expensive for lunch, the special gives diners a nice sample of what Gala has to offer.
Gala’s version of French Onion Soup is unique in that it isn’t overpowered by an inch of melted cheese. Instead, the shredded onion is the star of the show and the broth has just the right touch of spice. While cheese does make an appearance, it is served sprinkled on the two pieces of hard-crusted toast that garnish the soup’s top.
The Caesar Salad was fairly well chopped and was unique in that the anchovies could be discerned in the mix. The dressing also managed to be well mixed without being overpowering.
As to the entrees, the Petite Filet of Beef with Maytag Blue Cheese comes with sautéed spinach. The filet was perfectly done and the blue cheese and sauce packed a punch of flavor in each bite. The Planked Salmon dish was served slightly breaded with pine nuts, which provided a nice texture contrast. While the salmon was perfectly cooked, the French lentils and lemon accompaniments combined to give the dish a memorable and plate-licking flavor.
Dessert was the only marginal course of the meal. While the sorbet was adequate, the sweet shot, a chocolate mouse/banana bread pudding concoction, was bland.
Gala’s version of French Onion Soup is unique in that it isn’t overpowered by an inch of melted cheese. Instead, the shredded onion is the star of the show and the broth has just the right touch of spice. While cheese does make an appearance, it is served sprinkled on the two pieces of hard-crusted toast that garnish the soup’s top.
The Caesar Salad was fairly well chopped and was unique in that the anchovies could be discerned in the mix. The dressing also managed to be well mixed without being overpowering.
As to the entrees, the Petite Filet of Beef with Maytag Blue Cheese comes with sautéed spinach. The filet was perfectly done and the blue cheese and sauce packed a punch of flavor in each bite. The Planked Salmon dish was served slightly breaded with pine nuts, which provided a nice texture contrast. While the salmon was perfectly cooked, the French lentils and lemon accompaniments combined to give the dish a memorable and plate-licking flavor.
Dessert was the only marginal course of the meal. While the sorbet was adequate, the sweet shot, a chocolate mouse/banana bread pudding concoction, was bland.
Service:
Personable and attentive, the waiter at Gala was quick with recommendations and seemed truly invested in giving us a great dining experience. He was also a wealth of knowledge about the downtown Farmington area.
