Located in the rear of the quaint Shoppes on the Alley a block east of the Mid-City Mall, Le Gallo Rosso, Bistro 1325 (1325 Bardstown Road, 473-0015) is a charming pit stop during a day of shopping, or, by night, an intimate setting for dinner. The restaurant’s Italian name translates to "the red rooster," a theme that permeates the decor of the small dining space. The ceilings are low, but bright reds, greens and blues brighten the mood and there’s an outdoor patio with plenty of shade (but only two tables) for afternoons when the summer humidity has subsided.
The menu carries a Mediterranean theme, with a few surprise items including an appetizer of baby back ribs grilled with an espresso bourbon sauce ($5). On a recent lunch visit, the poor man’s caviar ($5) — a chilled dip made with roasted eggplant, garlic and lemon and served with deliciously spiced pita chips — was reminiscent of baba ghanoush, without an overwhelming eggplant flavor, and was so good we had to make ourselves back off so we had room for our entrees.
Other interesting appetizers, sandwiches, salads and a few pasta dishes complete the lunch options, while the dinner menu replaces the sandwiches with more pasta dishes. One winner is the beef Lugiano ($17) — seared beef with wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and a red wine demi-glace. For a much lighter, but still filling, meal, the Gorgonzola, walnut and pear salad ($7) is unbeatable. Crisp greens and pears are tweaked by the smoky, nutty flavor of toasted walnuts, but what really ties it all together is the homemade fig vinaigrette. It’s a perfectly sweet accompaniment to the fruit and nuts, and it’s one of the few dressing I’ve ever been able to use liberally on a salad without smothering other flavors.
Le Gallo Rosso is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.
