One 20 bistro perfect dining experience

NICEVILLE –One 20 is a new restaurant in Niceville that combines excellent food with great value.

The chef-owner is Dan Pettis, a young chef with an already impressive culinary history, including local restaurants Marina Café, Harbor Docks and Beach Walk Crystal Beach.

Our meal at One 20 was perfect from start to finish.

The start was a basket of fries with a pleasantly spicy dipping sauce served instead of a basket of bread. Both the sauce and the fries were addictive.

Things just got better from there. To start the meal a thick carrot and ginger bisque packed with crab meat was very satisfying.

A lighter option was the Gulf Coast Salad, a fresh mix of tomato, onion, mango, avocado, and cucumber tossed in vanilla vinaigrette. The vanilla added a faintly sweet counterpoint to the rest of the salad.

A warm spinach salad got a savory touch from bacon and a touch of spice heat from the mustard vinaigrette. A salad of field greens with Champagne ginger vinaigrette, and a Caesar are also on the menu.

Other meal starters include New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp, curry chicken wings, and fried green tomatoes. The tomatoes were a nice variation on the traditional dish. Slices of green tomatoes have a crisp fried crust, and are topped with warm Creole tomato sauce, and crumbled Feta cheese. The juxtaposition of green and ripe tomato teamed with the saltiness of the Feta worked beautifully.

There are five main course options, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. A boneless roasted pork chop was incredibly juicy and had wonderful flavor. It was served atop tender braised collard greens laced with bacon, and topped off with sweet and tart apple compote.

Roasted chicken with potatoes and vegetables was simple and wonderful. The serving was a half chicken. I normally prefer dark meat, but found the white meat to be exceptionally moist and tender.

One 20’s version of the traditional bistro dish steak frites is a butter soft 8-ounce filet served with sautéed mushrooms and fries with an herb salt seasoning. Our filet was ordered medium rare, and served exactly that way.

Grilled tuna with jasmine rice and stir fry vegetables is another entrée option. There is also a daily pasta dish offered. On our visit it was penne in a creamy Cajun-style sauce packed with crawfish tails and large shrimp. A touch of parsley and green onion added nice brightness.

Children are welcomed with their own menu. They can choose from macaroni and cheese, pasta with sauce, chicken fingers and grilled cheese.

Finishing the meal, our dessert options included Key lime pie, triple chocolate cheesecake with roasted pineapple sauce, and ice cream. But the highlight of our evening was a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and frosted mugs of ice cold milk. As with everything at One 20, this dessert was simple and perfect, a wonderful contrast of hot and cold.

The wine list at One 20 features a good selection of wines from $16 to $59. I always enjoy the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier. The fruit forward Hook and Ladder Station 10 Zinfandel blend was excellent with the filet and the pork chop. Some wines are also offered by the glass.

The décor at One 20 is smart and comfortable. Soothing colors, natural materials and big comfortable chairs create a place where it is easy to relax. A nice touch is the flat screen television on the back wall displaying a cozy fireplace. When the weather warms up it will become an aquarium or fish pond.

Excellent service goes along with the great food and relaxed atmosphere. Courses were properly spaced and our server was pleasant and knowledgeable.

Dan Pettis has a great concept with One 20. It is already becoming popular with Niceville residents, and it is just a matter of time for his following to spread.

QuickBites

Restaurant: One 20, a Modern Bistro

Location: 120 Partin Drive, Niceville

Telephone: 729-2120

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Handicap accessibility: good

Children’s menu: yes

Reservations: Accepted

Price range: Appetizers, $6 - $9

Salad, $5 - $6

Entrees, $18 - $26

Children’s Menu, $5 - $6

Lunch, $5 - $10

Brunch, $5 - $26

Payment: Major credit cards