Miami - Short Order - This Little Piggy Went To South Beach: Au Pied De Cochon Opens

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This Little Piggy Went To South Beach: Au Pied De Cochon Opens

By Jackie Sayet in First Impressions

Friday, Jun. 12 2009 @ 3:27PM

Au Pied De Cochon

The restaurant's namesake, roasted pig's trotter

Move over Les Halles, brasserie Au Pied de Cochon is now serving up a taste of the old world, south of 5th Street.

The restaurant dates back 60 years to its original location in the Les Halles district of Paris, unlike that area's eponymous, Bourdain-adorned chain which you may be surprised to know is 100% made in the U.S. of A.

French-born exec chef Didier Lailheugue executes a menu heavy on the classics like croque monsieur (lunch only,) French onion soup gratinée, and escargots de Bourgogne in their shell with parsley butter sauce. Yummy, but how disappointed we were at Short Order to find out from the kitchen that the "assorted matured cheese selection" imported from France is pasteurized! Any lover of cheese knows that it is in fact legal to import unpasteurized, as long as the product is more than 60 days old.

Au Pied De Cochon

Can't get more classic than that

Reflecting the outpost's proximity to the ocean, fresh catches of the day include oysters, lobsters, stone crabs, Dungeness crab, mussels and jumbo shrimp - all displayed in on an "ecalier" (seafood showcase) in the center of the restaurant. Les Plateaux de Fruits de Mer (seafood platters) are offered per person or in portions for sharing.

Au Pied De Cochon

Baby I like it raw

Sommelier Ryan Cullen presides over more than 1,800 French wines, champagnes and liqueurs. Desserts are made in-house and pay homage to Paris, like "La Vie en Rose" featuring raspberry sorbet, hibiscus jelly and assorted fresh berries. Opt for fanfare tableside with crepes flambéed with Grand Marnier or the decadent-sounding "artisnal" melting chocolate bar with layers of nougat, praline and caramel ice cream.

Au Pied De Cochon

Looks a little stodgy to me

The South Beach branch is the second state-side (Atlanta opened in 2004) and resides in a two-story Art Deco building renovated by local architect Charles Benson. Just make sure you bring your crystal ball, though, if you plan to dine al fresco on its landscaped patio... This summer's going to be a real wet one.

Au Pied de Cochon
(305) 674-1844
81 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year
Breakfast from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.