The French phrase a’ la mode means in the latest style or fashion, trendy or with it, and true to its moniker, Bistro a’ la mode serves up amazing lunches and desserts, which are way ahead of the curve.
Most people associate a’ la mode with pie or cake served with ice cream on top or on the side. All of the incredible desserts created daily by Bistro Executive Chef Stephanie Petersen are served a’ la mode, with premium vanilla ice cream or a dollop of lemon mousse.
Choose from a different homemade tart, cake or pastry, or a homemade pie, or the everyday favorite, salted caramel butter bars—a creamy, lightly salted caramel filling in a shortbread crust. Can’t decide? Order the pastry platter of all three for only $13. Since the Bistro opens at 10:30 a.m., it’s the perfect place for a morning cup of French Roast coffee with your pastries.
For lunch, Bistro offers diners four unique sandwiches and delicious luncheon salads, the fall favorite, pot pies, and occasional chef’s specials, all with a choice of sides. Prices are reasonable, from $4 to $9. Beer, wine and mimosas also are available.
Having never tried the Bistro, which opened about a year ago inside the Stonebridge Manor mansion, my husband and I decided to go there for our lunch-date day. Everything sounded so delicious, we couldn’t decide. So, we ordered the Tour de France, a half of each of the four sandwiches on fresh-baked artisan breads with two full side dishes for $15.
The Grownup Grilled Cheese of the Day was filled with marinated pizza vegetables, asiago and pesto; sweet–hot sliced citrus-glazed turkey was spiced with cranberry balsamic; a buttery croissant nestled a chipotle ranch chicken salad; and the caprese chicken had a delicious pesto and balsamic glaze.
The Bistro is known for its unending varieties of mac and cheese, so we ordered the Cream Cheese Enchilada Mac and Grandma’s Loaded Potato Salad (one of the Bistro’s summertime favorites) for our side dishes. Other sides include house-made potato chips, sweet-hot coleslaw, seasonal fruit cup, house salad or soup d’ jour.
Choosing dessert was impossible, so the chef presented us the pastry platter. My husband loved Fall in a Bite carrot cake caramel pudding, made from the chef’s’ grandma’s recipe. There was also an amaretto cherry pie a’ la mode, a cayenne-spiced, brownie-bottom, decadent chocolate truffle cheesecake, and the caramel butter bars, a’ la mode, of course.
“The Bistro is presently open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for all-occasion lunches and even take-out,” said Lindsay Hoff, lead server. “We also schedule private parties, such as rehearsal dinners or anniversary events, here at other times of the day and evening, serving the same fantastic Bistro food,” she continued. “We can accommodate up to 50 guests at $15 to $22 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Menu includes a choice of salad, entrée and dessert.”
The Bistro also is a great place for a small corporate holiday lunch, dinner or event.
For larger gatherings, Stonebridge Manor offers full-service event planning in a more formal setting. “Call us with your plans, and we can arrange the details,” Lindsay said.
For more information, call (480) 641-4148. Information and menus are available on facebook.com/bistroalamode and stonebridgemanor.com. Stonebridge Manor is located in Mesa at 4000 E. Palm St.