Arugula Bistro in West Hartford Celebrates 25 Years with A New Look

Kristin L. Wolfe August 15, 2021

Have you strolled down Farmington Avenue lately? West Hartford is BAAAACK! And, Arugula Bistro is now all dressed up and ready to party. The colorful block mural and beautiful lavender plants along the front of the restaurant are just two visual signs that Arugula Bistro is awaiting your arrival. Back open this summer after some much needed reno, your spirit and belly will be delighted by the changes. Like many restaurants, some of the time they were closed during the pandemic was spent fixing to-do list projects. What went from much needed new flooring to some equipment and furniture overhauls, became the redo Chef Christiane Gehami and Chef Michael Kask had always wanted it to be. The pair have run Arugula together for twenty-five years and they’ve worked hard to evolve; behind them, in long-time starring roles on the team are also Steve Reynolds and Shari Warbelow.

Now they have the place they’d always dreamt of, with a bar, tin ceilings, and chandeliers. The new and improved Arugula Bistro feels like the French spot they once imagined when the restaurant first opened in 1996 at the back of an art gallery with just eight seats. Now, with structural and interior updates, including photos of family and chic, comfy banquettes, in addition to their tremendously tasty bites, Arugula Bistro is one stop that will please every sense.

With a high bar on flavor, variety, and a top notch booze program, Arugula is quickly becoming WeHa’s adult playground. “It’s the first, real, adult bar in West Hartford,” one diner mentioned after attending AB’s new social hour and falling in love with the updated decor, vibe, and menu.

Chef Chris unearths her Egyptian roots and Chef Mike adds his expertise with Asian and Indian flavors; frankly the results on the plate are not only stunning to look at but become delicious combos that blend perfectly like hummus and pita.

Speaking of hummus and pita, the Chef duo have taken one of the coziest dishes, the Ful Madame--which is everything you want comfort food to be--and turned it into “nachos” for their new Social Hour menu. There’s the low and slow flavor of grand-mère’s (fava) beans cooking for a longtime on the stove, the crunch of pita chips, and the zing and zang of lemon, garlic, and cumin. Match the pop of this with the tart of their Cosmo and AB’s Social Hour may become two or three.

Another new Social Hour bite that had my tongue wagging for days was the Mini Patty Melts. Give me a light for that friggin’ smoke! Wow, ils sont incroyable! Two, very juicy mini burgers with a smoky aioli, melted swiss, and onion marmalade. When watching Chef Chris make the marmalade at the stove, she makes an analogy to relationships; instead of hooking up, so to speak, or a quick flash in the giant pan, these are cooked long and slow on the stove; “these are the ones you take on a date,” she teases, all while the gorgeous aroma wafts through the bar. Might have to request this dish for their regular menu; it was deeply satisfying.

And that’s the thing though, the regular menu is deeply satisfying as well; it’s an international toodle into food innovation. Taking Mediterranean or Middle Eastern classics and playfully creating other worldly plates from flavors across the globe. For example, there’s a reason AB’s Napoleon has been a mainstay on their menu from (nearly) the very beginning. Another stunner on the plate--like, instagram stunning--this deconstructed Baba Ganoush hits every note. To me, it is Chef Chris and Chef Mike in a nutshell; operative word being nutshell. All kidding aside, there are items that you wouldn’t initially think go together: eggplant, wonton, curry vinaigrette? Yes, yes, and yes. Once you try it, you realize it is not only genius but it just has to be this way.

Other Mezze or plates that wow the palate are the Bao Buns, the Tuna Tartare, the Za’atar, Falafel, & Olive Plate and a giant variety of Flatbreads; all packed with flavor and perfect with their curated wine menu, house cocktails, or beer selection. But guess what I want again, right this minute? On a summer day like today, I’m craving the Watermelon Salad with Grilled Haloumi and Za’atar. Talk about traveling through flavors and textures: there’s salty, tangy, cold, sweet, smoothe, crunchy in one beautifully colorful bowl.

What’s left to share? The only other thing I’ll share before demanding that you try it for yourself, is that this team has a story behind every dish. So, grab your appetite, comfy clothes and party spirit, and sidle up to the bar. They’re waiting.

Arugula Bistro

953 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford

860.561.4888

Arugula-bistro.com
@arugula-bistro