L’Aperitif Bistro

L’Apéritif Bistro Fusion in Fresno,CA is a unique, yet simple approach to dining.

But most people probably know the chef and owner behind it, Thomas Nouantanouvanh, from Tower Sushi.

THE MENU

All those experiences combined to form the international dinner menu at L’Apéritif.

L’Apéritif (pronounced La-pair-ee-teef) translates to aperitif in English, the pre-dinner drink designed to stimulate the appetite. The restaurant is also a wine and sake bar, with 80 types of each.

There’s a tapas (small plates) menu that includes everything from spicy beef teriyaki bruschetta to escargot, snails in garlic truffle butter.

Most dishes on the main menu range from $15 to $38.

You see the blending of cuisines in dishes like the gnocchi served with grilled chicken and a miso cream sauce. Or the cioppino, an Italian-American dish with a chile broth.

“It’s a very unique flavor,” he said of the cioppino. “Fusion spice, Italian and Korean spice.”

Steamed sea snail was a recent special.

And you can still get a traditional steak.

“It’s not fancy. It’s not fast food,” Nouantanouvanh said. “You can have spaghetti with sake and it’s very good.”

You won’t find sushi on the menu, however, because he doesn’t want to compete with nearby restaurants.