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![]() Tournesol - LIC Chic (c) Annie Y. Miller Tournesol - Restaurant Review of French BistroFrom Annie Y. Miller Guide Rating - ![]() The Bottom LineTournesol. It's the French word for sunflower, derived from the Italian tornasole, or "that which turns toward the sun." Whether it's said with Continental flare or a New York accent, in Long Island City, Tournesol is synonymous with delicious and inexpensive French bistro fare. The very popular restaurant is a bright spot you can't help but turn toward for its delicious brunch and dinner specials. Pros
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Description
Guide Review - Tournesol - Restaurant Review of French BistroLong Island City evokes many things, but Paris? Nestled on the neighborhood's main strip is Tournesol, a small and welcoming French bistro adamantly doing its part to bring a little of France to this side of the East River.
The dining room is smallish but airy. Expect close, neighborly tables. The ambience is cheery and distinctly French, with a well-appointed bar, mirrored back wall, tin ceilings, and accented waitstaff. Artwork by an LIC artist decorates the walls, adding a touch of the local scene. The menu is traditional bistro fare: hanger steak with fries ($16), grilled chicken with garlic ($14.50), escargots with tarragon sauce ($8.50). Though a dinner special or two may surprise you, there's nothing groundbreaking here. But don't mistake the orthodox for the ordinary. Tournesol's burger ($10.50) is a luscious ball of beef, hand-formed and cooked to a juicy and savory perfection. Salted, crisp frites make the ideal bed for this majestic burger. Befitting a French bistro, Tournesol features the queen of all pressed hot sandwiches, the Croque Madame ($9.50). It's the real deal, with fluffy toasty bread, creamy béchamel, paper-thin slices of ham, and a broiled crunchy and chewy crust of tangy, but not overwhelming, Gruyère cheese. The Madame is crowned with her traditional fried egg, and accompanied by a glorious salad of delicately bitter greens in a house vinaigrette. If you're lucky, the gracious proprietor may visit your table and toast to your brunch with homemade mimosa-like cocktails. We found ourselves with a refreshing blood-orange-and-white-wine concoction, compliments of the house. Paired with a plump little square of bread pudding for dessert, the unlikely flavor combination brought a fruity yet weighty end to our meal. |
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