R Bistro: Some Creole and French Flair for Your Palate, Fairhope

By T. Jensen Lacey

Along Scenic 98 in Fairhope lies a gem of a restaurant that is sure to please the most demanding epicurean. Called “R Bistro,” owned by Misty Rider, this restaurant you will say is “tres magnifique” after tasting some of their offerings.

A local favorite is their Crawfish Gravy, which the owners created in 1997 and is now one of their signature dishes. While I have never been a fan of freshwater crustaceans, after one taste of a sample of crawfish gravy they offered us, we were fighting over the last tiny spoonful.

In the kitchen, the folks making culinary magic are Chef de Cuisine Toni LeVay and Sous Chef Anthony Dotson. The dining room is overseen by hostess Taylor Davies. Besides serving such delectable dishes as French Onion Soup, Escar Oysters, Beef Stroganoff, Creole Gumbo and Redfish Meuniere, R Bistro sells some of their culinary delights through various shops in the area. Some of these items include the aforementioned Crawfish Gravy, which aficionados put on biscuits, rice, steaks, and more. You can see all of their offerings at rbistrogourmet.com

One of our favorites is their Smoked Tomato Glaze, which is excellent on meatballs, chicken wings, tacos, and barbecued ribs. The R Bistro Honey Mustard is tangy and not overly sweet; besides being a delightful dressing for their Spinach Salad, it’s heavenly on sausage balls, ham, chicken wings, and even broccoli. Their Creole Seasoning is good shaken over fries or popcorn but is also the perfect touch sprinkled on chicken or fish, as well as grilled or fried shrimp.

Back to the restaurant: the bar has everything you could possibly want (and the bartender, Charlton Kirkconnell, who is classically trained in the making of libations), and there is seating at the bar, in the dining room, or on the front porch. 

The main dining room includes inviting decor such as a beautiful peacock, whimsical French canvasses, rustic wood furnishings, and a cozy sectional in the lounge. Many evenings have live music in the main dining room, which I found to be low and enjoyable, where we weren’t shouting across the table to be heard.

The restaurant offers in-store tastings and is available for cocktail parties and after-work drinks. Happy hour is 3-5:30 pm daily. They have a private dining room that will seat 30. The restaurant’s hours are Tues-Sat 11-9. Check out R Bistro’s Facebook page for upcoming events.