Or is it Bistro Tuli? Eh, whatever. It’s tasty. Maybe not as fall-all-over-yourselves-in-a-rush-to-get-there tasty, but tasty.  Full disclosure – it’s taken me a month – er, okay, nearly two months – to get the photos uploaded and get around to writing this. In the restaurant business, that’s like 15 dog years or something. I am walking/driving/cycling by it regularly, though, and still see people there, so this is probably still good information. If not, feel free to advise me in the comments section.

More after the jump.

Tuli is yet another local, corner spot featuring locally grown, area specialties. Or at least area chef specialties. The menu changes nearly daily and always features some imaginative entries combining less common ingredients in unexpected ways. Oh, and they make pizza which is good too.  Adding another trend to the mix, most menu items are in the “small plate” category. Prepare to share. Or prepare to be frustrated that people won’t keep their mitts off your dish.

 There’s an extensive wine list and our waiter was smart and helpful when it came to pairing a wine to dinner and – more importantly – to my mood. He even brought me a sample when I couldn’t quite commit on his word alone. I appreciate that kind of thing. Plus it gets you extra booze. Bonus!

What sticks in my mind most, though, was the really worth-it dessert menu. They have a banana cream pie that, though it will never beat it, holds its own pretty well against Frank Fat’s.  Also, the little beauty below with fresh baked cookies and perfectly balanced chocolate. I give Tuli two dessert-covered thumbs up. That it’s a nice walkable destination in midtown with (mostly) outdoor dining makes it all the better. Maybe not in August, but for now when our evenings are back to balmy, you can’t go wrong.