A recent trip to Bastide revealed just how much the restaurant has shifted to a more casual approach in its current incarnation. Hot young folks who could star in a revival of Melrose Place sprinkled the patio in place of elderly Daddy Warbucks and Lovey Howes, while fried chicken accompanied a delicate watermelon salad (wonder if Joe Pytka ever gave Ludo’s version a chance?). An off-the-menu secret has gone even further in putting a breezy touch into the restaurant, as Joseph Mahon has been quietly preparing burgers for those in-the-know, a restaurant rep tells us. The restaurant is pulling the lid off this addition by launching a burger night every Monday where Mahon will prepare a weekly, seasonally-driven burger made from Nebraska prime beef and utilizing such creations as sriracha aioli, tomato confit, and market-fresh bibb lettuce. And yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same, meaning the burgers aren’t exactly cheap, going for $28, including salad, fries, and choice of Grimbergen Belgian Blonde or glass of house red. The burger night starts this next Monday at 6:00 P.M., with reservations at 323-651-5950.
