It’s been years since we visited Marché Bacchus in Desert Shores.
But at the urging of a friend, we returned on a weekday morning for brunch and were delightfully surprised.
We opted for a seat on the patio overlooking placid Lake Jacqueline, one of the four man-made lakes in the master-planned community in the western Las Vegas Valley.
I opted for the classic breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes and brioche. My friend, who wanted to go full French, selected the French onion dip soup and a French dip sandwich. We complemented the meal with a reasonably priced pinot noir from Burgundy, France, that had a senses-arousing bouquet and a respectable finish.
Both meals were excellent. My friend selected the Parmesan truffles fries to accompany her lunch, and I repeatedly ransacked multiple bites throughout the meal. And she still had enough to round out her take-home box.
We asked several questions about the food and the setting, and our server was knowledgeable and attentive.
Moreover, the lakeside setting was extremely relaxing.
The table was set attractively, and the misters tickled us with a gentle spray. We were there late morning before the temperature nosed into triple digits. A light breeze ruffled an American flag across the water along with the palm trees and the covers of the many pontoon boats. A puddle of ducks out for a swim or their own lunch briefly entertained us.
The only downside was the jelly for our toast arrived in foil packets that you would associate with a casual dining chain. We expected classier treatment from this French bistro.
Of course, even halfway serious oenologists know Bacchus is the Roman god of wine. (Its Greek counterpart is Dionysus.)
But we would return? Absolutely. It also has a reasonable corkage fee of $10.
Marché Bacchus is at 2620 Regatta Drive. It’s open for lunch, dinner and happy hour. Its website touts live music on Sunday.
