Bienvenue!  Owners Peter Oktas and Julio Velasquez are proud of their French Bistro/Wine Bar where a wide selection of wines and spirits complement the traditional bistro fare prepared with a twist.  With a stellar “25” rating for food from Zagat, they called it a “new hit”, “gorgeous” “enticing” with “memorable meals.” Their newest Aperitif Bistro is in Bayside, 213-41 39th Avenue, 718-215-6470.

Choose small plates for lunch or brunch at the bar, cocktails in the afternoon, or dinner with fine wine, and you will enjoy the delicious dishes Chef Julio creates with Chef de Cuisine Ismet Saz.  Their innovative approach to flavor and cooking ensures you will have a delightful
experience.  Indulge in French classics like escargots, or moules frites and more inventive dishes like branzini in phyllo which shows their Mediterranean spin, and Asian influenced smoked salmon rolls with tobiko caviar.  There’s  also pasta of the day and all-American filet mignon sliders.  Desserts run the gamut of cuisines too: tarte tatin, and figs and ginger cheese cake are delicious.  After dinner drinks are splendid when the place turns into an energetic lounge and the pulsating DJ music begins.

The bistro style setting is complete with artistic tile floors, dark wood, rich red booths, contemporary light fixtures and oversize photos of the Eiffel Tower and Alexandre III Bridge.  Displays of wine are prominent: they offer 140 labels, some unique to Aperitif with 38 by the glass.  

Peter and Julio spent years developing their knowledge of food and wine and bring their expertise to Aperitif and their other restaurants: Sage Bistro, 2620 Merrick Road, Merrick, 516-679-8928; and Sage Bistro Moderne 7955 Jericho Tpke, Woodbury, 516-584-6804.