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Alésia Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants French Vietnamese, French [Edit]
7204 Central AveSaint Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 345-9701
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Tue-Sat 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Sat 10 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
24 reviews for Alésia Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"All in all, can't wait to go back." In 3 reviews -
"...and really complimented the summer rolls as well as the..." In 3 reviews -
"Prices were very reasonable." In 3 reviews
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Bruce M.
St Petersburg, FL
Updated - 5/13/2012
After eating at this place a dozen times or more in the past four months I still crave the great food every day. The wait staff is friendly, attentive and having the owner on site really lends to that fact that these people care about what they put on your plate.
The place is roomy, super clean and the prices are more than reasonable for what you get. I strongly suggest anyone wanting to try a new take on Asian food, give Alesia's a try, you will not be dissapointed.
My only grumble would be that they are closed on Sunday's and Monday's....:)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/13/2012
Just had dinner here this evening and felt compelled to write in about this place right away. Food… Read more »
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Review from Julia C.
Tampa, FL
5/19/2012
Looking forward to my next visit! Unfortunately the location is a bit of a hike for lunch or dinner coming from Tampa (home) but next time I'm headed to St. Pete Beach I will plan on a little extra time to stop in once again!
My husband and I decided on Alesia for lunch on Friday after spending the morning and early afternoon at the beach. When we arrived around 1:30 in the afternoon the restaurant was about half-full inside and only 3 parties dined outside on the patio. Despite arriving after the lunch rush had ended, the parking lot was completely full and we had some difficulty finding street parking. Since we don't know the area, we weren't too sure about parking on the side streets but luckily when our patience was starting to wear out, we found a spot on 1st Ave (where parking laws are clearly marked) after circling the block a few times. We were promptly seated on the lovely patio, as we requested to dine al fresco, and were given plenty of time to peruse the menu without being rushed by our friendly waitress.
My husband decided on the (traditional) Bahn Mi and I went for a bowl of the Pho (with lean beef). Although we both adore French cuisine, the Vietnamese flavors were calling to us this day and we were both pleased with our selections. My husband's sandwich was presented on a very crisp, fresh French baguette and was just spicy enough without allowing the sriracha to overwhelm the other flavors. My pho was excellent and a very large portion size - far too much for one person, I think, but my husband didn't mind helping me out with that. I'll readily admit to not being a connoisseur of Vietnamese food, so I can't comment on authenticity, but we sure enjoyed our meals, and especially the prices - our selections ran us about $7 a piece for lunch. Also of note, Alesia allows you to BYOB for a $10 corkage fee - reasonable, I think.
To sum it up: the flavorful food and lovely patio atmosphere along with the clean, airy design of the restaurant and reasonable prices were my favorite parts of the experience. I think the service could have been better - our original waitress ended her shift after taking our order so we were assisted by a total of three servers, leading to some minor communication and continuity issues as a result. Also, the parking situation was such a nuisance and I can only imagine that it is probably far worse at peak lunch and dinner times. Those are the only reasons I would take away one star from our experience, other than that it was a wonderful treat! Next time I will be sure to save a little room to try the Nutella & banana crepe for dessert :-) -
Review from Danesh J.
Great restaurant, but a little disappointed by the lack of french options for dinner. Mostly noodles for dinner it seems like. Sweet crepes are on point and the Vietnamese Drip Coffee (hot) tastes delicious. For starters, the Charcuterie platter was perfect. The pesto was not an oily mess. It was very refreshing. For dinner, the recommended Pho was delicious (thanks Yelpers!). Partner got the Ratatouille Nicoise, nothing to rave too much about, but it was tasty.
Overall, definitely recommend going here. It can get very loud however, given the open seating style inside. If you go for dinner and the weather permits, the outside seating area looks lovely with all the lights. The entire decor seems to have a simple carefully thought out theme that also transfers to the restrooms (very clean :D). -
Review from Elaine S.
Bradenton, FL
4/19/2012
Good food and very nice atmosphere. Loved the outdoor eating area. Found this gem on Yelp. In need of a good Banh Mi sandwich and some traditional Pho, we gave it a try and were very please with the whole experience. Reasonably priced. Will revisit in the future.
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Review from David L.
St. Petersburg, FL
My Rating: 4.7/5.0
Alesia Restaurant definitely lives up to the Yelp hype!
Even though we visited at an off time, the place was busy. It took a while to get seated and the service was a bit spotty, but the food more than made up for it.
We had the egg rolls, summer rolls. Banh Mi, & Pho. Everything we tried was excellent, fresh, and very tasty. The standouts were the summer rolls (see picture) and the Pho (see picture).
The Alesia Pho was similar to a rare beef noodle soup that you would find in a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, but masterfully prepared by a careful chef. It had a Rich elegant broth teeming with fresh vegetables. If you order it, you will finish every last drop.
The atmosphere is nice and has a good vibe. The prices are reasonable (expect them to go up in the very near future).
It's great to see a solid restaurant in this part of St. Pete. The owners have done a great job. We look forward to coming back and trying other items!
If you go:
- Order Pho & Summer Rolls
- There is extra parking on the street, along 1st Ave S
- Try to go at an off time, it gets busy
Would be nice to see:
- Can't think of anything -
Review from Dena P.
12/21/2011 4 photos
I absolutely loved this place the moment I walked in. It's a very airy and comfortable restaurant set up like a cafe. There's French and Vietnamese dishes to pick from their menu and I must say the egg rolls and pho is the best I've ever had at any restaurant.
I really recommend this place! The interior is very adorable and I felt like I was able to relax here. The waitress are pretty nice and the food was served up fast and hot. It's honestly the best place I've been to recently and wish it was closer to me.
Check this place out!!! -
Review from wine o.
Orlando, FL
8/28/2011
Went for breakfast and dinner -- simply amazing. For breakfast, my house-baked croissant with a perfectly fried egg, gruyere cheese, jambon de paris (ham), and arugula was breakfast excellence.
My noodle bowl with duck was absolutely delicious as well for dinner. One of my friends got the Asian-style Beef Stew which may have been the best thing on the table, it was that good.
One thing to note is their wine list -- a great eclectic selection with amazing prices. Their wines by the bottle seem to be priced with a retail markup, not the usual restaurant-gouging price. Some fabulous finds on this list -- try the Sancerre it absolutely sings with the food here.
And yes, the prices here are ridiculously cheap, for such well-made, thoughtfully-prepared food. My noodle bowl was one of the most expensive things on the menu at just 9 dollars. For dinner.
Keep in mind this is not a "Vietnamese" restaurant -- on the menu it notes that it is a fusion of the three owner's backgrounds, French, Vietnamese and Chinese. -
Review from Jeff M.
St. Petersburg, FL
8/3/2011
My wife and I had a fantastic lunch at Alésia. The place looks great, very light, bright and trendy. But for having such an upscale feel, the prices were very reasonable.
We started with the summer rolls, which were very fresh tasting, with shrimp, pork, rice, and a touch of mint. We had a carafe of their organic green tea with citrus and ginko. It was not overpowering, but had great flavor and really complimented the summer rolls as well as the rest of the meal.
We are both big fans of Pho, so my wife ordered that and I got the bánh mì. My sandwich was excellent, with pâté and salami going nicely with the spice of the jalapeño. My wife's Pho was good, but didn't come out hot so she sent it back for a reheat. Being summer in Florida, I'm sure not everyone wants piping hot soup, but that is how my wife likes it, and they were very pleasant about doing it. The Pho had a bit of sweetness to it which was different for us, but we did quite like it.
We are looking forward to going for breakfast soon, since their morning items look excellent, and different from the usual choices. We are also hoping it will cool down soon so we can sit outside in their lovely courtyard. I would highly recommend going to Alésia as soon as possible. -
Review from Corigado R.
Carlsbad, CA
2/15/2012
The Traditional Bánh Mì of my dreams.
I went here for lunch baring rave reviews from friends and yelp. When you first drive up to the building the sign is low key(screams hidden gem), and the building doesn't look much like a restaurant until you get to the parking lot and see the patio. The ambiance pulls you right in. I fell in love with the art and furniture before I even saw or tasted the food which you will feast with both your eyes and your tongue without hurting your wallet.
I recommend a seat on the patio on a nice day. The service was quick and friendly despite how packed it was. And by the way I went on an a Tuesday right at opening 11:30. My party and I ordered the Vegetarian Summer Rolls, and a Cheese Platter for the table. Both of which were terrific. I was tempted to finish the hoisin peanut sauce without aid from the summer rolls. The Cheeses were spot on, not too much, not too little, just right. A creamy brie, A sweet and smooth Chevre herb which disappeared quickly, and a sharp cheese I couldn't quite place but with the balance and textures of a freshly cut baguette and/or grapes were delicious.
Next course, I ordered the Spicy Bánh Mì. It was soo good and unlike anything I've ever had before. It says on the menu that it's a "Vietnamese sandwich with pickled carrot, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeño, on artisan bread with choice of spicy or nonspicy house spread" and then you choose the meat. I went traditional being a "pâté, salami, sopressata, jambon de paris (ham)." It was an adventure of flavors on my palate I look forward to repeating. The spread wasn't spicy to me and i left the jalapenos on the side as they were served.
Everything was so good that we decided to venture into the realm of desserts with the chocolate mousse. From one food lover to another, all I have to say is Do It. I love this place. Then I got the bill. I felt like I ate at a 5 star restaurant but the bill was so inexpensive that I could make this a regular ritual.
By the way, my better half got the pho gà, being a pho noodle soup with Chicken. Delicious.
Five dishes, out of the park. Price = inexpensive. The plating was beautiful. The taste was unlike anything I've had before. Awesome service, 5 stars. -
Review from Istanbul N.
St Petersburg, FL
8/1/2011
Wandered in here while running some errands, so glad I did... it's one of the best finds I've had recently.
As soon as I walked in, I felt a nice breezy welcome by both the ambiance of the place and the servers. Clear high white walls accented by simple vibrant paintings and plain wood tables. The servers were punctual, helpful and very friendly throughout. I've found that Vietnamese places have a tendency to be somewhat tacky, but there was none of this here.
Ordered spring rolls, not excellent but good. The pho was delicious, basic beef green onions and noodles in broth. One of the servers offered me a lesson on how to use the sauces correctly, even though I am quite familiar with it. It was a nice touch. The drip coffee iced has a great kick but very tasty, thought about ordering a second...
There's a nice patio outside, hopefully I'll enjoy some good times there once the outside temp of St. Pete gets somewhere below the surface of the sun.
Westside St. Pete/Gulfport/Pasadena totally needs some diversity like this. Please give it a chance if you're in this neck of the woods! -
Review from Rep D.
Saint Petersburg, FL
10/27/2011
One of the best meals you can get in town. We have been there twice and cannot wait to go back!
The four of us went there on a Saturday night and sat outside. We started out with a great but inexpensive bottle of wine and a very affordable cheese plate. For entrees, I had a great duck dish - so big and tasty, with a large portion of duck. My wife had the croque madam - also great. Our friends had other, fantastic dishes. We also had a great dessert - nutella crepes. Service was friendly and efficient.
The atmosphere is great - clean and modern. The prices are extremely reasonable - cheap, really. I just wish it were downtown, where we live.
We recommend it to everyone - we are very lucky to have such a big city, modern restaurant come to Da' Burg. -
Review from Nancy H.
Poughkeepsie, NY
1/19/2012
A complete gem. We had Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Parisian Hot Dog, and Chicken Salad Sandwich and we could hardly sustain conversation because we were so delighted with our food. Service was good, and the atmosphere was lovely. Prices were amazing - three people ate well at lunch for $30! If I lived here I'd be here twice a week at least.
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Review from Cricket L.
Davenport, FL
7/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Delicious food and friendly service!
I loved the summer rolls, the chicken salad, the mushroom soup (it was a daily special), and the arugula salad with dijon vinaigrette. Great coffee, as well.
I also ordered the croque madame once. I didn't realize it came with mushrooms -- I am a mushroom lover, but I like my croque monsieurs a little junkier than that. :-) Next time, I'd hold the mushrooms (or just order their chicken salad again, which is incredible -- it does have raisins, which I like, and it comes on fantastic bread).
My friend ordered the charcuterie platter, which had some great meats on it. All in all, can't wait to go back. Luckily, their prices are great, so I can! -
Review from Halina S.
St Petersburg, FL
10/24/2011
Great place! I love the French Vietnamese fusion and it is always a struggle which way to go. Their Pho is not served the traditional way and is lacking in choice of meet, but knowing how cumbersome it may be, I think they made a right choice to simplify the servings. It is by far the freshes Pho I had in this area.
The French fare is excellent too. Their bread is delicious and fresh. The sandwiches come with a cup of lobster bisque, whcih is so good, that you want the bowl of it. But, as the waitress confessed, "if we sold it by the bowl, we would run out of it too fast" Perhaps they will change their mind and add it to the menu.
Glanced at the wine list - very interesting. I want to go back to try asian beef stew next time. Dinner there may be a great experience as well and I look forward to trying new things there.
The only slight complain I could have is that cement floors create bad accusitc in this place, so it seems noisier and barerer than it realy is.
But overall, what a great addition to Central Ave scene! -
Review from William T.
St Petersburg, FL
3/21/2012
Great food and lots of choices under $10.00,big portions.I have made over seven visits and I have not ever had a bad selection.Their french onion soup is large enough to be a meal in itself.I recommend a carafe of the green tea for a beverage.Enjoy!
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Review from Jim C.
Sonoma, CA
12/29/2011
Had a wonderful banh mi for lunch along with spring rolls and mushroom soup. BYO wine allowed with $10 corkage. Outdoor seating is very pleasant.
But the food was so fresh and light and delicious; I am so glad to have this in my neighborhood.
Bravo! -
Review from Jim W.
Cary, NC
10/29/2011
Stopped by here for lunch with the wife this afternoon. Lovely outdoor dining area, perfect for these beautiful St Pete fall days. Started out with the meat platter, which had a great array of meats, olives and pickles. The pesto served with sliced baguette was the star of the show.
My wife had the croque monsieur, and her only (minor) complaint was that she wished it had a little more ham on it. I had the pho, which as other yelpers have pointed out, was quite delicious. Looking forward to heading back for breakfast in the near future. -
Review from E G.
Washington, DC
8/23/2011
This place is good for being the only Vietnamese restaurant on this side of town, but not awesome. Service is decent, maybe a little slow.
First we ordered the summer rolls, which were really good. These I liked. They didn't really need the addition of the chicken though, they would have been fine with just the shrimp.
As someone who eats a lot of pho, I was excited to see a place on this side of town that served it. But honestly their pho was just average. The broth was ok but lacking something, and they served it with beef brisket by default with no other options for types of beef. I prefer eye of round, flank, or skirt to brisket. You got a wedge of lime, and a little split plate with some sort of pepper sauce and hoisin. I'm used to the places that leave a bottle of sriracha and hoisin on the table. Alesia is a trendy style restaurant so I can see why they'd want to serve it on a little split plate. It didn't come with a plate of basil/bean spouts/etc either, and while that's not too important, I do like the restaurants which provide them, because I like to add them to my soup.
I ordered a small pain au chocolat to go, and it was good but a little bit heavier than it should be.
Overall I'd come back simply due to the location and lack of other choices in the vicinity. But I know there are restaurants on the other side of town and I'd be more inclined to check them out the next time I'm visiting. -
Review from Thomas C K.
Tampa, FL
7/25/2011
We read Brian Ries's review and went here on our way from the beach. Simply said: what a find - great and delicious food, wonderful atmosphere, great service and very reasonable prices. Definitely a restaurant worth going out of your way for. My wife and I visited on 7-25-11 and had the Pho, which is very flavorful (the first time I drank the broth out of the bowl) and the Banh mi sandwich - just right. You miss something if you don't visit this charming place.
We will be back. -
Review from Connie M.
St Petersburg, FL
8/19/2011
We thought we would check out the new restaurant at our end of St Pete (we need more restaurants on the west side!). The atmosphere has a country chic vibe to it with high ceilings and lots of windows. We tried the Pho at other yelper's recommendations. We were not disappointed. Prices were very reasonable. Two people at our table ordered the bahn mi sandwich and one person ordered the egg salad. Egg salad sandwich looked like it came from my childhood. The bread was fresh with a crusty crust and the egg salad was delicious. We had spring rolls and egg rolls too. Everything was fresh and delicious. We'll definitely return.
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Review from Elaine S.
St Petersburg, FL
9/3/2011
Refreshing change from the usual spots. Went for dinner with another couple and we were really impressed. Very nice atmosphere, great menu & wine/beer list - coffee to die for! Can't wait until the cooler weather to eat out on the adorable outdoor seating area.
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Review from Amanda L.
St Petersburg, FL
5/31/2011
Finally - a degree of culinary sophistication hits the gulf shores! No sign of grouper sandwiches or fish net decor here. Only a menu that offers us locals a fresh new taste sensation; in a bright and contemporary setting where local art adorns the walls. What's more the staff were sweet and attentive. I was desperate to like this place and they well exceeded my expectations.
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Review from Ricky L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/23/2011
Stumbled across this place as I was traveling through town and looking for a place to grab a bite to eat. Warm, friendly service and fresh, tasty food. What more could you ask for? Would definitely stop by again, if I pass through St. Pete again.
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Review from Suzanne A.
St Petersburg, FL
6/15/2011
Some of the best, fresh, light food I've had in St. Petersburg. Simple elegance for the decor, great service and outstanding food made with quality ingredients. I can't wait to go back!
