Komesar Makes F&B Even More ‘Merveilleuse’
Jewish entertainer Adam Komesar sings his way into diners’ hearts amidst the French cuisine at F&B on Peachtree.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
You don’t need to pack your bags to soak up a Parisian experience in the heart of Buckhead as F&B fits the bill with the added boost of phenomenal Jewish singer Adam Komesar, who performs in the restaurant Saturday nights and select holidays.
F&B’s billing as a “romantic neighborhood bistro serving gourmet French fare and fine wines in a dimly lit relaxed setting” is short of the bow legendary French chef Fabrice Vergez deserves. F&B is the third ideation of his Atlanta restaurants, including the bedazzled Brasserie Le Coze in Lenox that closed in 2005. One of the reasons Vergez runs such a tight ship is that he has retained most of his staff and chefs from back, in addition to daughter, Claudine.
Francophiles Lynne and Tom Greenfield described their dining experience, “The décor was charming which we thought was more country French Normandy-ish rather than Parisian. The mussels were the best we have ever had.”
The restaurant has more than just a bistro vibe. There are special venues at each turn — the bar, the intimate yet spacious dining room, the horizontal seafood bar, the outside patio, and the chandelier. Also special is Komesar strolling from bar to table, to his stool’s perch exuding with talent.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., he claims to have only started singing professionally a few years ago when he was compiling a video for his parents’ 50th anniversary. He proclaimed, “I had to follow my own heart and just do it — singing is what I had wanted to do my whole life.”
His silky yet evocative voice rolls out tunes from Sinatra, Bennett, Steve Lawrence to the more modern Glenn Campbell, Gordon Lightfoot, and this writer’s favorite en Francais, “C’est Si Bon,” made famous by Eartha Kitt in 1954. He’s smooth, he’s soft, he’s electric all at the same time.
Komesar said, “Think of me as a one-man band. As a DJ, with an iPod, microphone, and music box all transmitting through the ‘house sound.’”
Komesar weaves around tables, to and from the bar with, “Fly Me to The Moon,” “Wichita Lineman,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” and, “Just the Way You Look Tonight.” In addition to being a jazz vocalist, Komesar’s background is as a magician, DJ, and entertainer at weddings and mitzvahs. He is also a husband and father of two young adult sons.
Back to the old Pano’s and Paul’s days, solidly run restaurants were usually the ones with the owner on site greeting and managing. To that effect, Vergez’s plating line and kitchen run like a Swiss clock.
We started with bread service, colorful beet salad bejeweled with fresh orange segments, pecans halves, and goat cheese. Dinner entrees were grilled salmon ($28) with eggplant in a Greek preparation. The regular menu features salmon with corn succotash, tomato, zucchini, lemon butter and caper sauce; and seared trout ($29) — two large filets with a boat-sized side of red bliss potatoes and green beans. Suggested wines are paired with various courses.
A la carte sides (all $10 each) were Brussels sprouts and wild mushrooms, all large portions. Next visit, note to select tuna carpaccio ($22) with shallots, chives, lemon, and EEOV, and salmon tartar ($16) with cucumbers and parsley. Bistro lunch offers any of the two for $15: half soup, half sandwich, half salad. With a nice selection of whites and reds, the vino (57 in total) is carefully curated; plus champagne — as nothing compares to Veuve Clicquot by the glass.
Just in time for dessert, Komesar burst forth with a rousing “Happy Birthday” and cake for a nearby table where Vicki and Lenny Peal were celebrating the birthday of brother, Bruce Gordon, all in good cheer.
Today’s Atlanta dining scene can be all about fusion, trends, and raw this or emulsified that. There’s value in tried-and-true French cuisine alongside a charismatic singer … not a lounge in Vegas, or a 4,372-mile plane ride to France … just Paris in Buckhead. Chanson d’Amour on Peachtree.
F&B is located at 3630 Peachtree Road (free valet parking in the rear). Lunch is served Monday through Friday and dinner from Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday. Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 pm. (404) 254-1797. To reach Adam, email adamkomesar@mac.com.
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