Le Zoo Bal Harbour Social Hour Review
Le Zoo, an authentic French brasserie, is the perfect respite for excellent cocktails and delicious bar bites after work, or post-shopping at the swanky Bal Harbour Shops on Sunny Isles Beach. L’Apero, short for l’apéritif, is the French social custom of enjoying pre-dinner drinks and appetizers at cafés, private homes, or at the beach. Le Zoo hosts a cocktail party-like L’Apero of their own, daily from 4:00 to 6:30PM.
We were invited to relax and socialize, before the sun goes down, at Le Zoo’s L’Apero offering $8 daily cocktail specials and $6 glasses of red or white wine. Immediately, we were greeted at the bar with basket of complimentary warm gougeres, –light and puffy savory choux pastries made with Gruyere cheese.
After studying the bar menu of cocktails, beers, wines and champagnes as well as a selection pastis and absinthe, I started with Bière Royale, a cocktail based on France’s favorite high-end beer.
From the bar’s draft tap, a goblet was filled with Kronenburg 1664, a pale lager (5.5%) from Strasbourg made with aromatic hops from Alsace. Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant-based liqueur), lemon and Peychaud’s bitters completes the cocktail transformation. The slightly sweet Bière Royale is light and very drinkable, and more in common with a Kir Royale than Framboise Lambic.
My drinking buddy, ordered the refreshing Aperol Spritz. This soda-like cocktail is based on Aperol, a sweet orange and rhubarb flavored Italian aperitif, with just a hint of grapefruit-rind bitterness. The fizziness comes from the added Martini Prosecco and soda, with an orange slice for garnish. The Aperol Spritz is a perfect balance between sweet and bitter tasting drink.
To accompany our next round of drinks, we took advantage of the $1 oyster special on the L’Apero bar menu, and ordered, from Le Zoo’s magnificent raw bar, a ½ dozen of fresh Oysters of the day.
Served on a silver platter on a bed of crushed ice, the deep-shelled Beausoleil oysters had firm meat with a mildly briny flavor, and a sweet finish.
Our second round included a nicely balance cocktail, the Clouseau made with Jim Beam bourbon, fig, lime, and plum bitters, and the potent Caraïbe.
The Caraïbe, so much more refined than a sweet and fruity tropical rum drink, is made with Neisson Rhum Agricole (rum from Martinque), Punt E Mes vermouth, Liqueur de Griottes, pineapple, lime, and Fernet Branca.
Generally, Le Zoo’s French cocktails are tres elegant, and so well crafted there is no need to lead with the spirit.
TIP: Do order one of Le Zoo’s fantastic appetizers from the regular menu, such as the outstanding Lobster Tartine, which will inevitably entice you to stay for dinner.
Le Zoo is located at Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave #135, Miami Beach, FL 33154. For reservations or more information, visit: www.lezoo.com