Bistro 1131 a nice change of pace

As freshmen get acquainted with the campus and the people in Bloomington, a new restaurant in town is doing the same. \nBistro 1131, in business since the beginning of the summer, offers a fresh, minimalist atmosphere and well-prepared meals. \nLocated at 1131 College Mall Road., the restaurant's decor is pleasant, and small touches make this a special dining experience. Single, colorful flowers in vases line some walls, while black straws and cloth napkins add class. Extremely prompt service made us feel as though we were the only customers in the restaurant. \nBistro 1131 begins the meal with complementary bread seasoned with basil and olive oil. It was good but would benefit from a flavorful dipping sauce. \nWe followed that with two appetizers, including the Bistro's special buffalo wings. We ordered them with honey barbecue sauce, at $4.50 for 10 pieces. They were both sweet and spicy, with a tangy flavor. We took home the leftovers, and we give them high marks. \n We also ordered skewered grilled roma tomatoes, which were served with marinated jumbo croutons, basil oil and balsamic syrup. The dish seems mis-named, because the highlight of the skewer was actually the croutons, which had a surprising, zesty flavor. At $6, the two giant skewers were enough for four people, and were a good start to the meal.\n The tastiest of four entrees we sampled was the chicken picatta, seasoned with olive oil, lemon, garlic and basil risotto. At $16, the two chicken breasts offered just the right savory lemon flavor, a true delight.\n For seafood lovers, the grilled salmon was equally good at the same $16 price. Covered with pistachios, lemon and olive oil, the flaky and tender fish maintained just the right seafood flavor. It was served with a seasonal vegetable.\nThe meats were good, but the real delight of both the chicken and salmon was the side dish, basil risotto. The rice was soft and creamy without being mushy, and the basil seasoning complemented that texture well.\nBistro 1131 also offers sandwiches and personal pizzas in the lower $5 ' $6 range. We sampled both the open-faced meatball sandwich and the margherita pizza, courtesy of our companions.\nThe meatball sandwich was piled on grilled foccacia and smothered in marinara sauce. Though the sandwich wasn't exceptional, the bread did complement the taste of the meatballs well. And there was more than enough meat for the hungry diner!\nThe margherita pizza, with a "garlic-infused" crust, proved to be a unique Bistro offering. The yellow tomato topping was an interesting complement to the cheese. Fresh grated Parmesan to sprinkle on the pizza was a nice added touch.\nWe were already thoroughly delighted with our dining experience before we ordered dessert. Our waiter delivered our forks on a napkin-covered silver tray. And the decadent treats only increased our delight. We sampled frozen Belgian chocolate mousse on an almond short crust and eclairs with vanilla ice cream. At $6 and $5 respectively, we were more than pleased with the grand finale.\nLike the freshmen and transfer students who arrived on campus this week, Bistro 1131 is just getting started in Bloomington. Don't be timid about trying something new; it's an excellent addition to the city's host of restaurant options, and it is well deserving of success.