La Boucherie, a steakhouse concept based in France, steals some of the best aspects of chain restaurants with its budget-friendly, consistent food. The restaurant infuses its traditional steakhouse menu with classic French dishes.
What I would try a second time
Admittedly, beef carpaccio ($7.90-$16.50) is one of my favorite dishes, but La Boucherie’s take is delectable all the same. The thin, melt-in-your-mouth slices of rare beef are marinated with basil and can be paired with warm goat cheese or Parmesan. Appetizer or entree portions are available.
What I didn’t like
My entree, the Daily Butchers Mix Grill Selection ($24.90), came with three cuts of steak — sirloin, flank and steak frites (another version of sirloin, but I substituted the fries for vegetables). The tender flank was an easy favorite, but the seasoning and temperatures were not consistent with the other two cuts.
What I would put on Instagram
Our dessert was particularly social media-worthy. The floating island ($6.80) consisted of whipped egg whites in a pool of crème anglaise, a soupy version of custard. A drizzle of caramel sauce finished off this not-too-sweet end to our meal.
Other eats
La Boucherie’s escargot ($9.50) swam in a mixture of garlic, shallots and butter — as expected. The snails were supple, not the dreaded gummy texture.
My guest’s half-roasted chicken was simple, but beautifully cooked to a juicy texture. Crisp French fries came with the bird, making him a happy man.
How I was treated
Our server was gracious and knowledgeable about the menu.
My next visit
Is it strange to want to try a cheeseburger at a French restaurant? La Boucherie’s burger options sound delicious — particularly a duo sandwiched between hashbrowns. Maybe for a future indulgent brunch (although the restaurant does have a menu of special brunch-only dishes already).
For bar-hoppers
French wine isn’t the only adult beverage on La Boucherie’s menu, French beer makes an appearance on the restaurant’s draft beer list. Belgian brews along with American craft and macro beers are also poured.
For those with special diets
Finding meat-free or vegan-friendly dishes is difficult at La Boucherie. A few salads can be tweaked to fit these dietary needs, and there is a vegetarian burger.
La Boucherie
Where: 7625 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando
When: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Cost: $14.90-$30.25
Beverages: Beer, wine, cocktails, soda, coffee, tea
Wine by the glass: Yes
Attire: Casual
Extras: Indoor bar; indoor-outdoor seating; brunch
Noise level: Moderate
Wheelchair access: Good
Credit:Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover
Call: 407-930-1708
Online: LaBoucherie-usa.com and Facebook.com/LaBoucherieUSA
