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Bistrot Bistro
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
1961 4th Ave WVancouver, BC V6J 1M7
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 732-0004
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
43 reviews for Bistrot Bistro
Review Highlights
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"Duck confit mac n cheese." In 2 reviews -
"The prix fixe menu is an amazing value." In 3 reviews -
"Must have dishes: Beef bourguignon, the brussel sprouts..." In 4 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Betty L.
4/10/2012
I've been to Bistrot Bistro a few times over the years. Recently I had dinner with my friend on a Saturday night and the food was pretty good. I like the simple decore of Bistrot. Service was pretty good too. My thoughts on the food I ordered:
1)Escargot Butter Garlic - simple classic Burgundian dish pretty very nicely. The escargots were piping hot and I didn't taste any funky odour from it. The butter garlic really packed flavour into those escargots. Good start!
2)Fillet of Sole w/Almond Butter - huge portion!! There were lots of of almond in that butter and it really complimented the fish. It came out on a skillet-I like the rustic style and it was hot. Fish wasn't overcooked-thank goodness.
3)Braised brussel sprouts w/bacon- a good way to get me to eat my veggies. Those sprouts were enhanced with the balsamic vinegar and bit size pieces of bacon.
4)Crepe Suzette (table side service)- another classic French dessert. I was looking forward to the server preparing it in front of our eyes. Unfortunately their tiny version of it is just bringing the skillet with the crepes and putting it on our plates. I thought the server would prepare the sauce at the table with the Grand Marnier going up in flames. In the end it was still good. I miss those days when restaurant had table side service for Caesar salad, steak tartare and Crepe Suzette because it's a good way to entertain diners with good culinary skills.
Overall. I enjoyed the food. It was nice that Bistrot had suggested wine pairings beside each dish to help diners with wine selection. Decent price, good simple straightforward classic French food............ -
Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2012
My foodie friend introduced me to Bistrot Bistrot last month and I had very good impression the first time. I had filet of sole and we shared the crepes flambe. But I already thought they could very much go a little easier on the butter. It's floating everywhere.
Then I went back there for the fixed 3 course menu, and overall OK, VERY GOOD service. We shared the following dishes:
- Roasted tomato and tarragon soup - Hearty and full of flavour.
- Escargot in garlic butter - Butter was floating...
- Boeuf bourguignon - I see that their style is to serve all stews in classic french oven (dutch oven) but seriously, I'd rather having them serve in proper plates with some vegetables maybe? You need to order side dish separately. Such heavy food needs rice or maybe mashed potatoes, even boiled veggies. By default they come with fries, this reduces their point much.
- Coq au white wine - the taste is there, unfortunately it's full of skins and fatty bacon.
- Chocolate mousse - Absolutely fantastic. The server came with a freshly made big bowl and took a few scoops for us.
- Crème Caramel - OK but it's not fluffy as I would hope. -
Review from Max I.
Vancouver, BC
3/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great food at Bistrot.
My girlfriend and I had a baguette and olive tapenade to start. The tapenade was excellent and the baguette was as authentic as it gets, confirmed by my recent trip to Paris. We also each had a french onion soup, which was very tasty. We also shared some escargot. It was my first time trying it, so i have nothing to compare it to, but it was pretty tasty for slimy mollusks.
I had a leg of lamb with apricot among other things on top. The lamb was tasty and succulent, and the apricot really suited it nicely. My girlfriend had some sort of fish with almonds on top, which was also excellent (according to her).
Although you might not expect it, the portions were very generous. So overall excellent food, great ambience, and our server was very attentive as well. -
Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to give this place 4-stars, but I'm afraid a few things set it back a notch.
I do want to say though, that I will come back here again and give it another shot (Prix Fixe menu), I'm sure they can do better than my first experience.
Booked here for Valentine's Day dinner and promptly seated by our server. Liked the bottle of water that was left for us on the ever so small table. I had the seared tuna salad to start and a rare Filet Mignon for my meal, alongside braised brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. My wife had the sea bass for her main dish and a lobster bisque to start.
The meal itself was good, nothing too special. However, my steak was done nicely and the sides were excellent. My wife thought the sea bass was decent, but again, nothing note worthy.
I think it was mostly due to the limited menu and mediocre service that held this place back. I'll post an update when I come back for another meal! -
Review from Ernesto G.
1/25/2012
$28 Prix Fixe has to be one of the best in town!
Came here last nite with my parents and my aunt. We opted on the Dine Out menu for it seemed the best bang for your buck. Sure enough, it was AWESOME.
Garlic butter escargots were delicious, and unlike other restaurants where you receive 6 or so escargots, you actually get 10-12 escargots and bites of salad. Perfect.
It was cold and rainy last nite, so I had to have their Beef Bourguignon, which came out in a Le Creuset-like pot, with shoe string fries. The beef was incredibly tender and flavourful. The shoe string fries were tasty on its own, or better yet, use it to soak up the juices in the pot.
Last, but definitely not least, I had the Chocolate Mousse. OMG. Not too sweet, and not to heavy. Light and airy, and perfect amount of sweetness. I licked it clean.
Honestly, for $28, you cannot go wrong.
Add a 1/2 bottle of Bordeaux-style wine from Naramata Bench, and you're golden.
One last thing to add, the service here is impeccable!. Thank you Stephanie and staff!!! -
Review from David R.
North Vancouver, BC
3/16/2012
One of our favourite french bistros in Vancouver. The beef bourgignon is simply magnificent. The pear salad as well. Very unpretentious - great bistro food at a reasonable price, served by low key staff. And you must have the fresh baked baguette. Nice wine pairings too, reasonably priced. One word of warning, though, we did a Valentine's dinner here, and the only time out of more than a half dozen visits where we were disappointed. They were simply too harried, too rushed, and the food was a step down from usual, prices a step up. We will never go back on a holiday, but instead avoid those days. They simply lost control that day.
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Review from Jeff W.
Richmond, BC
10/5/2011
OK so I am the dissenter here. I was very unhappy about this place. Some basic sauce and a chicken thigh are just not worth 20 bucks - especially when it comes with nothing.
This place is trendy granted but it is overly priced period. The food is so so (using Costco salad mix, seriously?), and but combined with such tiny portions it is just a ripoff.
If you think French food should be expensive and the portions tiny you should check out Anthony Bourdain's old place next time you're in New York - Brasserie Les Halles. That's the real deal.
And one more thing - the waitress was outwardly shocked that I did not order wine - that would of been just adding insult to injury. -
Review from Meana k.
11/20/2011
I'm struggling between 3 and 4 stars here. 3.5 seems right, 3 feels too harsh, but the 4 stars I'm rating ought to be taken with the review below.
This place is quaint, cute, and cozy. The interior isn't overly complicated. Wooden tables slightly too close together, large garage door windows that probably open up in the summer on a beautiful day, and plain decor overall. Walls are lined with floating shelving holding lit tea light candles, which is a nice touch. One shelf has some awards and a random boot. There must be a story to it, but it's just odd. Another wall has some photos from Paris and paintings of Bob Marley and Dizzy Gillespie and other such non-French characters. Not sure what that's all about either.
Service is pretty good but not great. They kept pushing the baguette until my dining partner caved. The tapenade was pretty good. We had the escargot which comes with just a bit of salad on the side, a nice acidic touch. We also had the duck confit mac n cheese which -- surprisingly -- wasn't overly cheesy. The duck was excellent, however, it wasn't how I imagined. It was a duck leg on top of the mac n cheese, not confit baked into the dish. We also had the veal which was lovely but desperately in need of salt. Lastly, and gluttonously, we had the creamed spinach and the gratin dauphinois (potatoes au gratin). Both were good, but again, lacking salt.
Some things I loved about this place -- the vibe, the bottle of water left at our table, the varied wine selection, and the heated area when you first walk in on a chilly night.
One point lost is on the fact that service felt a little forced and it took way too long to get our wine -- even after our appetizers were already served. The place wasn't that busy, we were there and seated by 6pm so it really shouldn't have been such slow service.
I'll come here again but won't put it in my frequent rotation.
I won't knock the place for lacking in salt specifically because, in my opinion, most food could benefit from a little salt. However, there was a general blandness that makes me question proper seasoning and flavors. They lose another point for this. At these prices, I want a bit more perfection. -
Review from Gillian A.
UBC, Vancouver, BC
2/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent service and great food. The steak in the blue cheese sauce was cooked exactly the way I liked it. The fries were excellent, while the escargot hit the spot. Go here for dinner if you can!
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Review from Chris C.
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a true neighbourhood gem. The prix fixe menu has great selection and is good value. The freshly baked baguette was so good that we nearly filled ourselves up with bread alone.
I had the filet steak and pomme frites. I would dare say that these were the best fries I've had in Vancouver. Others in my party had the duck confit mac & cheese (the duck was great, the mac and cheese was... mac and cheese); and two others had the beouf bourguignon which was rich and tasty.
This is one of my new favourite french restaurants in Vancouver. They were quite busy (even on a Monday night) so service was a bit slow but still good. -
Review from Peter H.
Bragg Creek, AB
9/17/2011
Really good. Nothing fancy about the interior, but the food was really good and wholesome and the staff were friendly and knowledgable with a real feeling of local ownership and pride, together with concern for their customers.
It felt the opposite of being part of a large, anonymous chain. Instead, it felt locally owned and locally cared for. -
Review from Sarah A.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
An excellent french restaurant on 4th. The service is fantastic and the ambience is very intimate and romantic. To begin with, you must order the baguette - which arrives at your table steaming hot and crunchy fresh with lovely butter and an olive spread. If you're like me, you probably could just eat three of these and be happy, but don't do it! Because the rest of the food is amazing too.
The prix fixe menu is an amazing value. For $28 you can choose from a variety of dishes and you get three courses. I started with the green salad, which was good but nothing special, but others at my table raved about the pate and the tomato soup. Then I had the boeuf bourguignon. This to me was the highlight of the evening - it was incredible. Each serving comes in its own casserole dish which sits beside your plate while you serve yourself. And it tasted amazing. Melt-in-your-mouth tender beef surrounded by a lovely red wine jus with pearl onions. I could have licked the plate (don't worry, I didn't). The boeuf bourguignon comes with matchstick french fries and mayo on the side as well, in case you have any room left. Then came dessert. And wow. I ordered the chocolate mousse as I heard nothing but good things. They make it from scratch in the restaurant in giant bowls and come around and plop it in your dish. It tastes like a cross between brownie batter and pudding. Rich dark bits of chocolate in a lovely mousse. It was to die for.
Needless to say, when I left Bistrot Bistro I was fat and happy. -
Review from Cynthia F.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 7/1/2011
Can't believe no reviews for this French gem since our April visit, considering the place is almost full whenever we walk by. (We've been there twice since April but we don't want our sons to know we went without them!) Tonight we couldn't resist temptation and popped in for an early quiet dinner. Delightful warm personal attentive service, delicious tastes trying out new selections each time, and by the time we left the place was 3/4 full.
Everything hit the spot - we give it 6 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/17/2011
My hubby and I had our first visit recently for an early Friday night dinner. Chose it on a whim.… Read more »
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Review from Maggie B.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 3/3/2012
I was a bit disappointed with the Valentine's Day dinner and noticed that there were others who felt the same way. However, I returned a week ago with 3 friends and had a wonderful meal at a good price. I think this place gives the best value in Kitsilano and I will always return. Definitely recommend the lamb shanks. One of my party also had the steak last night with peppercorn sauce and she loved it. Also loved was the mussel appetizer.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/20/2011
Wonderful place to eat. Hadn't even known they were there before last night. Had lamb shank. Hate to… Read more »
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Review from Dee B.
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
How can anyone have ANYTHING bad to say about Bistrot Bistro?!
An amazing Kits gem. I absolutely adore this place and am shocked I haven't reviewed it yet!
I've tried almost everything on the menu. I'd have to say my favourites are:
-Mussels with frits
-Filet minon
-Duck confit mac n cheese
-Chocolate mousse
I love the buckets of frits and how almost everything is served in Le Creuset - it is the healthiest way to cook afterall.
The price point is perfect. It's fine French fare in a humble setting and it's a locally owned and operated business by a husband and wife team. Couldn't get any better really.
Bistrot Bistro, you have my heart forever and always. -
Review from Travis D.
Vancouver, BC
10/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Pretty much as advertised based on the other reviews here - tasty food and perky service, along with helpful descriptions of our server's favorites. Definitely worth a night if French food is your thing.
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Review from Anthony C.
Tried Bistrot for the first time the other day with m'lady and was quite impressed.
Vancouver can sometimes tend to miss on aspects of bistro dining. As defined on the window of their small curtain-enclosed foyer/waiting-area/cold-air-buffer-zone, bistro dining is characterized by delicious, simple cuisine and quick, efficient service in an unpretentious setting with reasonable prices. Bistrot hits the nail on the head.
I had the filet mignon with blue cheese sauce, cooked rare (as always), and it was delicious. Served in a red enameled cast-iron skillet (could have even been a Le Creuset, but I didn't check), you serve it to your own plate and then dip each morsel in back into the sauce in the pan... YUM!! I preceded that with the escargot - served in a classic garlic butter with some greens, it was a healthy portion and tasted delightful. My lovely lady started with the warm goat cheese salad and followed it with the steak tartare - both quite tasty, from the one or two bites she'd share! The fries we ordered on the side were cut thin and crisped to perfection, served in a bucket. Nice touches like tap water in a glass bottle on the table and a fresh toasted baguette added that little je-ne-sais-quoi.
The place was crowded, being the night before the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, but the short staff handled it well. We didn't have a reservation and waited about 20 minutes for a table in the waiting room, but the hostess was kind and attentive to serve us a glass of wine to pass the time.
Overall, a great experience I look forward to repeating.
One funny tidbit I can't quite understand: on our table was a little metal plaque that read: "IT'S A WOBBLY TABLE AND WE WILL FIX IT". It's great that they are aware and intend to fix it, but why not just fix it instead of taking the time and money to print a plaque about it? Wobbly or not, I still left happy :)Listed in: On the Finer Side
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Review from Jason C.
3/31/2010 1 photo
"...yada-yada-yada-chocolate mousse...Bistrot bistro spoke my language"
The peanuts on airlines benefit from the fact that there's nothing else to eat. That and the fact that you're 30,000 ft in the air. Kind of like a picnic. Somehow a measly ham & cheese sandwich tastes pretty good when you recognize that you've got nothing else to eat. And, there I sat in my severely coach seat, snapping handfuls of freebie Spanish peanuts (the bottom feeder peanut pedigree) as I mentally drooled over my laptop. Porno you say? Naw. Somehow porno and peanuts seem particularly low brow. No, I was drooling over the various menus that I had stored in preparation for my Green Beret assault on Vancouver's eateries. Click. Ahhhh. There it was. My email conversation with Laurent, the owner of Bistrot Bistro.
I find that I have this odd thirst to connect with chefs and restaurateurs. I'm that dork who shoves his way into kitchens so that I can ask the chef how the hell they were able get their bolognaise to stand like clay, yet melt like butter. And with Bistrot Bistro, I was relentless with my questions because their menu read like poetry. ...yada-yada-yada-chocolate mousse...Bistrot bistro spoke my language. Sure their menu was filled with more than I could possibly enjoy in one sitting, but that chocolate mousse was somehow reaching out to me like that lone label on a new bottle of wine. You don't know why you chose it. Call it a hunch.
Ordering Beef Bourguignon was a no brainer. Warm caramelized onion Maplewood smoked bacon gruyere tart. Check. And everything at our table was stunning. To me the trick with Bourguignon is to not reduce the wine so far that it's cooked-down to only its taste and remnants from the chemical reaction. To me, it thrives when it still has a nearly imperceptible zing to help open your taste buds for the beef flavors that will follow. And it did. Wow. That's about when I realized that I could actually live in Vancouver; the beauty, people, culture and history were all only accents to the food.
And, for dessert, my hunch was right. The chocolate mousse was not only amazing, but the desert chef comes to your table and serves you a healthy scoop directly from the gigantic bowl from which it was created. Crazy good. Fresh. Fluffy yet rich. How do those chefs do that?
Laurent's wife, Valerie, ended the evening by chatting with us as we joked about my emails with Laurent. Warm people, warm food, and a thousand miles away from sitting in a plane while snapping Spanish peanuts. Hmmm. Maybe the cold winters would be worth it. -
Review from Emily S.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2010
A group of 5 girlfriends went to Bistrot Bistro on a Saturday night for a friends birthday dinner. None of us had ever eaten dinner here, however the birthday girl had done a late night dessert there a few weeks prior.
Yes, it was busy....yes it was a Saturday night...but for the price ( a little on the high end...but not too bad) the service and the food did not impress any of us.
Our server would be gone for huge amounts of time, leaving us without water, wine or any service. She forgot the birthday girls appetizer...which is noteworthy, as she was the only one to order a starter.
The mains were yummy...and the only real highlight of the night. However, this just means that they have a good chef.
The desserts seemed stale, and they were out of a few of them, which our server did not remember until we had ordered and then she came back 10mins later to tell the unfortunate ladies.
All in all...I would say skip it. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2010
It's rare when the holy trinity of dining (quality, value, service) converge in one place. It seems that restaurants usually do well on one or or two of these things, but having all three aspects met is a little like finding a believable picture of Sasquatch or a good porn movie: you know there are a few out there, but you can count on your hand the number times you've seen it.
Bistrot Bistro definitely hits the mark. It's modern without being cold, reasonably priced without skimping too much on quality, and casual without being ordinary. It's a great place for a weeknight dinner or an evening catching up with girlfriends (I don't know if I'd recommend it for a romantic date -- it does get a little noisy when the place is full). Prices are very reasonable for casual/modern French, especially if you take into account the Monday through Thursday, $26 Prix Fixe menu.
My husband and I came to Bistrot Bistro on a weeknight. I ordered the Prix Fixe, he ordered a la carte. It had been pouring rain all day, so starting off with the Butternut Squash Carrot Curry soup was the perfect thing to start off the meal. It was rich, creamy, and delicious. The husband started with lightly dressed salad that was accompanied by herbed goat cheese on baguettes.
For a main course, I ordered the NY strip steak off the Prix Fixe menu; he ordered the filet mignon a la carte. Of course, filet mignon beats NY strip in a cage fight, but both items were tender and cooked exactly to order (medium rare, please). My steak came with french fries, which were served in a cute silver bucket -- enough for the two of us to share. I have to give mention to their ratatouille, which was really good. I've had it elsewhere where it's so goopy with overcooked squash -- the version at BB is homey, and stewy, and not runny. Yum.
The chocolate mousse we shared for dessert was served tableside from a huge bowl. Very rich and airy.
Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. It's everything I want in a neighborhood bistro; I only wish there were one in my own 'hood!Listed in: Oh, the Places I Went!
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Review from Phil S.
Vancouver, BC
7/26/2009
I know there might be better French places in the city but I really love this neighbourhood gem. The service is always amazing and each and every time we ate here, I leave with a big grin on my face. Last night apres Harry Potter and driving amidst the very strange thunderstorm, we ventured into Bistrot again. Probably my 5th time here and last night, I had their Prix Fix Menu $26 and had a pate dish, New York steak with peppercorn sauce, creme caramel and enjoyed every single dish.
Their baguette must have been made in house as it was warm, crispy, divine! It also came with an olive tapanade which I did not get to try as my spouse inhaled it all! I recall last couple of visits, I was equally impressed with the lamb shank or coq au vin and beef bourguignon, there hasn't been a dish here that I don't care for. And their fries with mayo in a pail, wickedly cool way of serving and delish.
They also have a good wine list and almost every single bottle can be served by the glass. I pray they stay forever as I love French food! -
Review from Kyrsten J.
New Westminster, BC
6/16/2010
One of my favourite places to eat in the city. Laurent and Valerie are awesome, and they really believe in giving back to their city - they gave a free dinner to the organizer of Dress for Success a few years back, to thank her for all her hard work (she does an amazing job).
That being said, the food is AMAZING. Proper French country staples - food you might get elsewhere in the city but not in the same way. Plates are for sharing, and if you are a light eater, you'll want to share entrees and appys.
Must have dishes: Beef bourguignon, the brussel sprouts, and the chocolate mousse. Pure heaven - quite possibly my favourite meal in the world.
The only downside is that the room is on the small side, so it's difficult to manoeuvre into a table for those with mobility issues. As well, the room can get VERY loud. But for a boisterous night out, it's not a bad thing at all. -
Review from Namit M.
11/26/2009
Decided to eat here after reading other reviews, and you guys did well. First of all a decent wine list (even by the glass) a true rarity in Vancouver. Kudos
We ordered the baguette to start with and the bread was perfect.
We then did the three course pre fix menu - well priced and portioned. The soup was excellent, the hanger steak with the peppercorn sauce was really good, and the desert was decent. The frites were hard to put down. All in all an excellent dining experience with good ambiance and very professional service. Would definitely repeat this superb neighbourhood bistro! -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2010
What makes this an AMAZING french bistro?
1) unpretentious good service- I do believe the restaurant is french owned (if that makes a difference to you) and the service is attentie without hovering over you too much. They are there whenever you need anything.
2) WIDE range of wines. I LOVE a good wine menu and what makes a good menu is not only variety in tastes but variety in prices. I was VERY please to see everything from 25$ bottles (of mere french rabbit- which is a solid tetra wine) and up to 700$ bottles of french schmoozy wine. Very impressed with the price range, which makes it very accessible for a variety of tastes and various friends with different financial circumstances.
3) Food. food. yum.. food.
Everything is a la carte (meat, veggies, carbs) and comes in their own pans set in the centre of the table. I've actually never seen this type of "share dining" in european influenced restuarants. I saw people with "proper" plated dinners- but if you want tot order a range of dishes a la carte they will place it at the centre and BELIEVE ME, the food is enough to SHARE.
4) not too heavy but quite substantial.
French food is known for its heft in creams and butters. This place is rich, but it doesn't FEEL overly heavy. And instead of TINY portions of heavy heavy food- they give you a very nice portion (definitely needs 2 people to share each meat dish) and its substantial to make you feel just a little overfed.
5) Great share big group place or intimate date place.
The resto isn't huge and there wesn't a lot of creativity in decor- but it is flexible and nice for big group situations (i saw parties of up to a dozen) and a date for 2. And the big/small group situation doesn't clash in a resto like this.
6) Clean washrooms with nice soap.
This is a big deal for me- the cleanliness of washrooms can make or break the chance I will come back.
7) Affordable.
like the wine- the food is affordable too.
appies around 10$, meats go for about $20, sides about 7$, and desserts around 6$
All in all, full three course + wine meal for 3 ran me 120$
Very fair.
8) Creme Brulee
Now the fact that they have it on the menu is bonus, personally.
They dont' do the BEST creme brulee- but it is very nice and an excellent end to a fabulous experience.
Improvements?- k, if the owners are reading, I would suggest you do something about
1) the funky curtain at the front- i get why you do it..but it's weird lookin and kind of obtrusive feeling.
2) espresso! They only had french press coffee. Espresso to me feels like a pretty standard offer at a resto liket his.
Really, a place whose only minor points is a funk curtain and no espresso on the menu? It's five stars. -
Review from Hipster C.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2010
I really wanted to like this place, but was disappointed. Took an out of town guest to this restaurant and it wasn't what I was expecting and the food was mediocre. The servers were really friendly and were helpful, but overall the service was unpolished and slow.
I ordered the $27 3 course set menu. I thought I ordered the Arctic Char in a coconut curry cream sauce, but it was salmon that was served. My salad was nothing to write home about and the chocolate mousse was too rich and there was too much of it, served "table side" from a giant silver bowl. My fish entree was served in a pan, set away from my plate, with no other sides. Was this family style eating? My fellow diners and I were left confused. Then to top it off, the bill came in a mason jar with lollipops as after dinner candies, which I found a bit out of line with their country bistro theme.
Likes: central location in Kits
Dislikes: service, presentation of food, under-seasoned food, -
Review from Julie L.
Vancouver, BC
7/11/2011
This place is tasty and they give big servings. I'll definitely be back for the FOOD.
But why oh why are the tables so close together? I was sitting closer to the people at the adjacent tables than my date. I could hear everything my neighbors said -- this is no place for a romantic dinner! -
Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
2/21/2009
Hands down the best customer service I've experienced at a modern bistro: the perfect combination of attentiveness, friendliness, good timing and conversation (without breathing down your neck).
Atmosphere & Service: This contemporary decorated French restaurant, styling a pair of garage doors, welcomed us with warm and open arms as we walked through their tiny, unconventional reception area. As a smaller space, tables are cozily placed next to each other so let conversations roar to forte levels as the wine pours. Dinner service was very busy but the wait staff were perfectly attentive and the owner even came to ask us for feedback before we left - super nice lady, or I'm just a sucker for a sexy French accent :P
Food & Drink: Traditional French cuisine with a twist. I think I might be in love with their appetizer menu; full of patés and cool bites, you can get a whole, or half, French baguette served warm on a wooden plank with tapénade - how cute! I enjoyed the endive and poached pear salad, perfectly cooked duck magret with hazelnut cream sauce. My taste buds weren't doing the Macarena but the overall experience was blissful - I just wish I saved room for dessert (good excuse to visit again :D).
Tip for 2: Get an appe with the baguette, share a main with a side or two so you can have room for dessert (and lots of wine to top it off :P).Listed in: For Two Please
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Review from Natasha L.
1/15/2010
Great value!
It's actually a 4,5 stars (5 stars have to be mind blowingly mouthgasmic).
The price fix menu is one of the best price fix menu we had ever, as the quality actually reflected the regular menu.
The goat cheese salad was good but not great. I felt it just miss that something that bring it to the next level.
The pate was delightful with shallots, plus the portion more like McMeal.
The halibut stew was aromatic and comforting and the chicken au jus has good flavour profile too.
Definitely worth every penny. -
Review from Mike J.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2009
The best meal I have ever had was here at Bistro Bistrot.
I was out with my girlfriend at the time and we decided to go out for dinner - no special occasion, just in a good mood.
Bistro Bistrot gets credit for selling Chimay beer, my favorite beer. Beer for me, glass of wine for the mrs.
We were going to pass on appies, but the charming waitress sold us on a bagette, it was perfect
I got the halibut, delicate fish in a lot of butter and garlic, it was incredible
My lady friend got amaretto hazelnut duck, as delicious as it sounds. We also got perfect carrots and tomatos for sides
Dessert was creme brûlée.
This place is not pretencious at all, simply perfect French food in a charming setting
All in all it came to $100 even after tip, worth every penny -
Review from Ysabelle R.
Vancouver, BC
6/20/2010
We went there on Mother's Day as a party of nine. The service was good considering the group, but the constant change of plates per course was ridiculous and an incredible waste of the server's time.
The food was awful. My mom and I had steak, which was tough and under-seasoned. Everyone came away from the meal wholly underwhelmed. We paid around 300 for the meal and severely regretted it. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. -
Review from Eric B.
Victoria, BC
12/28/2009
I've been 3 times this year and have come away impressed with the food, the atmosphere and the service every time. There may be better French places in Vancouver but they cost a mint. Bistrot brings tremendous value with terrific food - the bill is always smaller than expected while our appetites are thoroughly sated.
Of all the dishes I've tried the duck confit mac and cheese and the shepherd's pie rank as the best - the mac and cheese is decadent and the shepherd's pie is a creative remake of comfort food. The filet mignon is also terrific as are the fries which are my favourite in Vancouver.
Tonight, for dessert, I had the french version of the sundae (I forget the official name) which was rich and light at the same time - no small feat.
Along with Pied-a-Terre, Bistrot represents the right mix of terrific value and terrific food. Pied-a-Terre is a bit more classy and reserved in its presentation while Bistrot is the perfect place for a group of friends to share a number of plates together - the cozy room, Valerie's warm approach and the presentation are great for this. -
Review from Odette C.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I luv French bistros, I like the value to $ ratio. Pied A Terre is still my favorite but the prices are increasing and it's sooo hard to get a reservation.
This time we had:
French baguette with black olive tapenade
Onion tart
Escargot
Lamb shank
beef bourguignon
Chocolate mousse
I had the prix fix menu $28. Started with the Escargot so I had to order 1/2 baguette $2.50. I have to admitt i'm a bit stingy and avoid paying for bread and water most times; however, this time I think $2.50 is worth it for the olive tapenade alone. The baguette is just what it is suppose to be, perfect crusty outside and soft yet still chewy on the inside. The black olive tapenade is flavored just right, not too oily or salty, with lots of garlic. Escargots by the way is great and comes with small salad but somehow I enjoyed the bread a little more. Beef bourguignon is very good, the broth is just right, a little on the light side (which is better than some that taste like beef concentrate) and comes with pearl onions and mushrooms. My only wish is if they had other veggies like carrots, turnips etc would be even more perfect. Fries were crispy and plentiful. Chocolate mousse = excellence.
My dad had the onion tart, very nice and filling. Lamb shank I actually liked better than my beef bourguignon. I love the rosemary, apricot and tomato combination with a demi glace texture broth.
EXCELLENT...will be back soon. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/17/2008 1 photo
Despite Bistrot Bistro's sleek, sparse décor, traditional French fare is on offer here. Poached pears served with spiced walnuts, a seafood medley stewed in a hot pot, rabbit resting in a rich pool of white wine cream.... The flavours are warm and rustic but always elegant. It's everything you could hope for during these cool fall months.
Located right in the heart of Kits, people continually flock to Bistrot Bistro for its subtly hip vibe and delicious food. -
Review from Sofia E.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2010
If you've never been to France you can not appreciate that restaurant. The service was great. The food served was well presented and yes every time you get a new dish you get a new plate.
For those that can not tell the difference between Arctic Char and salmon may be the best place to start is the Macdonald's French Fries:) It is sooo hard to run a restaurant business, especially in Vancouver. It is very competitive. I am very happy to see that there are restaurants like Bistrot Bistro that try their best to please us, their customers. Well done! Great work! -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
6/21/2009
This has to be pretty close to 5 stars... and I feel like 4 stars just doesn't do it justice.
As I walked in with my Bf... I saw two of my super close friends and thought it was a complete coincidence that they were having dinner here too.... but NO - it was a birthday surprise dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The waitress was attentive... for the most part - she suggested a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate which seemed to satisfy everyone (at least I hope it did). We ordered a large baguette with olive tapenade to share to start us off.... the tapenade was subtle, which was very nice because I'm not usually a fan of olives at all!
Our group of 7 all ordered appies... from the smoked bacon w. grutere onion tart, goat cheese salad, escargot, and for me - the poach pear endive, walnute and stilton salad. The escargot was rich and tasty, the onion tart was creamy and full of flavour, and the poached pear was soft and well seasoned.
I guess we went all out with the main courses - fish stew, vegetable crepe, lamb shank, fillet mignon, halibut and, free range chicken. Since it was family style side orders, we got a few orderes of scalloped potatoes, shoe string french fries, zuchini, and carrots. everything was absolutely delicious and the owner would come over a few times to make sure everything was okay... we were so full by the end of the meal.... but then I saw a little girl bring out a huge bowl of mousse for her daddy while they sang happy birthday for him. The waitress scooped large spoonfuls of it into a bowl for him and it looked delicious. That was seconded by my friend as well....so we all decided to share one bowl... and all my friends sang for me too. with my imitation cork cake and candles.. very touching I might add.
All in all a fabulous night and I could not have asked for a better birthday. I have the greatest friends in the world :)
Make sure you make reservations - the space is small but they seem to be as accomodating at possible. As it got later in the night, I saw blankets being placed on seats closer to the window- very nice touch. There were spurts where people were waiting at the door.. but I think we were there for a total of 3 hours and we were never rushed to leave.
... I still have a little chinese take out box with shoe string fries in my fridge... yummy :) -
Review from Pete S.
5/19/2010
nothing special at all. i went here on a friday night with my family. the service stunk, the food was mediocre, the wine list is blah and the presentation was terrible. our dessert was chocolate mousse delivered by the server out of a giant stainless steel bowl and plopped into a bowl in front of me, complete with mousse spatter on my shirt. that's what i remember most about this place.
i see a lot of great reviews for this spot but i have to disagree. maybe it was an off night, but i'm not going to give it another try for a long time. -
Review from Brian S.
Richmond, BC
1/6/2010
There's not much to add because the other reviewers have hit all the high marks-the food, service and value, as well as the low mark-that funky curtain as Melissa called it. Sorry the curtain cost you a star with me but something really needs to be done about that-it really is annoying if you are sitting next to it and freeze every time the door is opened. I'll be back for sure but will ask NOT to have the table next to the curtain. Hmmm... guess I should take the advice of the Wizard of OZ.
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Review from Judy L.
10/22/2008
Modern interior. Amazing chocolate mousse.
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Review from daisey d.
Vancouver, BC
9/10/2010
4 Stars. I've been there 3 times. Two times were amazing and 1 was only okay. Go on the early side on a week night or on a Sunday evening. When the restaurant isn't too crowded the food is amazing. However, the menu has a lot of very unforgiving dishes that have to be perfectly cooked and when it gets busy the execution and service suffer. It's a small restaurant and gets busy around 8 or 9.
The bread alone is worth going for - it comes to the table warm from the oven with the perfect crusty outside and soft inside. The ratatouille side dish is my favorite - although it's a generous portion so you only need 1 order for the table. The wine list isn't going to excite a connoisseur, but they've chosen good drinkable wines that go well with the food. Even the inexpensive glasses are very nice. The best dish I've had there was the mussels in white wine (they were plump and perfectly cooked). The escargot are traditionally prepared and quite good, but don't order them if it's busy as they would be particularly bad overcooked.
On the off-night one of my companions had a flambe dish that was literally hair raising and not otherwise memorable.
I went there with someone who has a gluten allergy and they were extremely accommodating. -
Review from Brandi M.
9/21/2009
Celebrating our anniversary with a dinner at Bistrot Bistro was a fantastic treat. Completely unpretentious and extremely cozy, the quality of the food rivaled some of the best meals at the swankiest restaurants I have ever visited.
True to authentic French bistro tradition, each course was perfectly prepared and beautifully but simply presented. Prices were very reasonable. As a side note, I love it when the owner (in this case, Valerie) serves along side the food server.
Definitely on our list of new faves when we're in Vancouver!
