Your Friendly Neighborhood Bistro

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BLAKE VERDOORN

There’s a new restaurant joining the neighborhood. Au Troisieme, a bistro located in North Dallas, opened its doors this past summer to the delight of foodies old and young. With a focus on global cuisine and a heart for its patrons, the restaurant aims to be a permanent fixture on the city’s food scene.

“Au Troisieme means ‘third place’ in French,” owner Bobby Pollette says. “You hang out at home, you hang out at your office. We want this to be your third place.”

Nearly two years in the works, the concept is the brainchild of Bobby and his business partner Jeff Acol, both of whom grew up in Hawaii.

“I met [Jeff] when I was 16 at the Four Seasons [in Hawaii],” Bobby says. “He was the chef, and I was applying for an internship. He took me under his wing, and we ended up becoming great friends through that.”

After Jeff sold his restaurant in Naples, Florida in 2020, Bobby convinced him to come to Texas and open Au Troisieme with him.

“It amazed us how many people came and supported the restaurant,” Bobby says. “It was fun to see that I knew almost nobody in the dining room — that these were all people that had heard about us and had been waiting for us to open and to try our food.”

Stepping into the restaurant, guests are immediately greeted with a cozy color palette of green, blue and brown, accented with pops of orange and yellow. From the comfortable semi-circle booths to an aesthetic bar, the establishment invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy their evening out.

For those who love a fruity cocktail, the Watermelon Splash showcases Corazon Tequila, watermelon and lime juices, ginger cordial and mint, while the decadent Cafe Ole combines Sombra Mezcal, espresso, Kahlua, egg white and shaved dark chocolate for a satisfying sip filled with depth and flavor.

“For the drinks, we just wanted something that was well-rounded and fun, but approachable,” Bobby says.

Beer lovers will especially appreciate the restaurant’s three tap offerings, which include Peroni, Lakewood Lager and El Chingon IPA. Those who can’t get enough wine will delight in the restaurant’s eight white varieties, seven red selections and two sparkling options as well.

When it’s time to order, Au Troisieme has a comprehensive menu that covers any craving you may have. Start off with a sharable dish like the fried green tomatoes, served with white cheddar pimento cheese, dill and carrot aioli, or the mezze platter that includes crudites, whipped feta and fattoush, both of which provide delicious savory flavors.

One of the restaurant’s more popular dishes include the smoked duroc pork chop, which is served alongside a root medley, bourbon gastrique and sweet potato brulee. Meanwhile, seafood fans will salivate over entrees like the tuna and foie, featuring cured tuna, smokey ponzu and foie torchon, and the salmon served with Israeli couscous, Marcona almonds, lemon, roasted heirloom tomatoes, Texas goat cheese and citrus butter.

Guests who have a smaller appetite or prefer a lighter meal will also find something for themselves. The concept offers daily soup specials and several salad options alongside modest meals like the blackened tuna with Asian noodle salad, which is made of glass noodles, a seven-minute egg, pickled shiitakes and turmeric cauliflower, snap peas and an Asian ginger vinaigrette.

“We want food that’s everyday fun but will still wow you,” Bobby says.

On the weekends, diners that come in early enough will get to experience Au Troisieme’s spectacular house-made brunch spread. The restaurant’s classic French toast comes complete with spiced maple syrup, whipped cream and berries, while the avocado BLT serves sizzling bacon, arugula, heirloom tomatoes and a poached egg stacked on a slice of sourdough bread. Meanwhile, the hearty corned beef hash comes with its own side of two poached eggs, hollandaise and a biscuit.

And brunch guests shouldn’t miss out on the fancy Fish Locomoco, which is grilled swordfish with fried rice, a fried egg and soy burre blanc, or the steak and eggs made up of wagyu beef, two eggs and greens.

With the tagline “A Great Good Place,” Au Troisieme embodies all of that and more. So schedule a date night, get together with friends or just sip some cocktails at the bar at one of the Metroplex’s newest establishments.

“It’s nice to finally be able to answer all the text messages [saying] that we’re open rather than saying soon, soon, soon,” Bobby says.