FOAMS, airs, deconstructions; Linton Smith has no interest in any of it.

“It’s not my thing- it’s not what I do,‘’ chef Smith says. Instead he’s focussing on the classic; indulging Brisbanites as they hug nostalgia to their collective bosoms with his take on a French local.

Bistro Arlette, at the old Miro’s Spanish restaurant site in New Farm opens tomorrow night.

“Blue cheese soufflé with Waldorf salad, duck and mushroom pie with onion puree, crumbed lambs brains, duck a l’orange- classic dishes based on really good produce.’’ is what I want to do.‘’ Smith says.

The bistro, named after his first patron, Arlette, a Gold Coast restaurateur who introduced him to the joys of cooking, is petite, seating around fifty, at linen -clothed, well-spaced tables.

Prices too, are small, with mains priced under $35 and entrées at $17. At the moment, they’ve yet to receive their license, so it’s BYO, but Smith says he’s putting together a compact list with some well-priced French drops he expects to sell by the glass for around $6.

 Once the fickle Christmas period is out of the way, Smith will also be opening for lunch Thursday and Friday with a prixe fixe menu.

Previous owner of Rhubarb Rhubarb in Wooloowin, Smith and partner Sheree, who will oversee the floor at Arlette have spent the last 18 months in Toowoomba and on the northern NSW coast before making the move back to Brisbane. They’ve not been forgotten though with opening night already booked out by old customers.

‘’Simple, honest food that will make people happy,’’ is Smith’s ambition for Arlette.

‘’It’s intended to be a bistro like you’d find in the suburbs of Paris or Lyon or anywhere else.’’

Bistro Arlette

Shop 4

154 Merthyr Rd

Ph 32540788

Open Tues-Fri night