Bistro Duet Will Open in Time to Ring in the New Year

A restaurant specializing in modern French fare opens its doors on New Year’s Eve in a storied space in Arlington. Just in time for holiday festivities, Bistro Duet makes its debut tomorrow in the old Arlington Five Cent Savings Bank building, which was built in 1920 and was previously home to the longstanding Flora restaurant.

Bistro Duet is the work of Cyrille Couet and Wayne Duprey, who previously worked together at the InterContinental Hotel Boston. The Bistro Duet menu features modern French cuisine using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Starters include seafood options like mussels, salmon rillettes, and lobster bisque, along with a “de la terre” selection of salads, soup du jour, terrine paysanne, and more. Main courses are also divided by sea and land and feature bouillabaisse, lobster ravioli, coq au vin, and duck breast, among others. Sides include potatoes, ratatouille, and other vegetables, while dessert includes Nutella mouse, profiteroles, and apple-almond tarts.

Couet is responsible for overseeing the restaurant’s culinary operations and catering program, while Duprey serves as general manager of Bistro Duet. The team renovated the restaurant space and took advantage of the building’s former life as a bank. The 190 Massachusetts Ave. space boasts an open kitchen, barrel-vaulted ceilings, and a private dining room within the original bank vault.

Bistro Duet will open on New Year’s Eve for dinner service starting at 5 p.m., with live music starting at 10 p.m. The bar will remain open until 1:30 a.m. for those celebrating the new year.

• Bistro Duet Opens This Fall in East Arlington [EBOS]