Downtown Bistro Reviews

Steak tartare is one of my fav dish ever and i am kind of picky with it! .... the one i had at the downtown bistro is my new reference!!!! Absolutely delicious!! Recomended 10000%

While I was looking for a sushi place and not happy with the choice downtown, I ran into this French Bistro. What a nice surprise! Food was excellent, the staff was very friendly and they spoke some French to you to make you feel the ambiance. Bread and butter was good to begin with; then a fried goat cheese with arugola salad as a starter and a nice trout with truffle risotto. Everything was excellent. I would certainly go back.

We were greeted warmly upon arriva, about 11:30, before the lunchtime crowd. We were still there after the lunchtime crowd had departed. It was too wonderful to leave. We started with the warm goat cheese salad and bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese. That could have been a delectable meal on its own. But we continued with two of the daily specials - quiche and a penne pasta. Then cappuccino. Then desert. Everything was wonderful. The service was excellent. Very attentive young ladies who were not overbearing. We are only in Miami for two days but plan to go back again tomorrow. Would love dinner here but this is a family run bistro that ctoses at 5:00

"A real treat" Upon arrival in Miami we were quite surprised how empty and slow the Downtown area in this city at night was. Not as we imagined at all for a big city in the United States. We checked the restaurants close to our hotel and stumbled over Downtown Bistro. We love french food and they had decent reviews so we decided to give it a try. We didnt regret it at all. The menu is big so it took us a while to decide. My wife tried the Fondant de Chevre and said that it was the best she ever had. She was as well happy about her mussels in white wine sauce. Myself, i tried the Short Rib Ravioli with cheese sauce and shrimp. Very filling but what a taste. With a bottle of Bordeaux and some french music in the background we forgot all about Miami and felt like being back in Paris. We ll definitely return after our cruise. Axel Wüsthoff

Where do I begin? Everything we had was amazing. Try the bacon wrapped dates, the octopus carpaccio and the short rib raviolis. Service is excellent. Wish they were opened for dinner more!

We attended a rehearsal dinner here and lunch today. The food, ambience, people: I could eat here every day. I tried to convince Ilona to move to Raleigh but with no luck! You will not be disappointed!

In Miami food is not great, we all know that. BUT this place has opened to change our mind about that! It's amazing. For brunch: fresh orange juice, French toast, tuna, mussels... Endless feast. Try it!!

After waking up late and needing to head down south to run some earns we decided to check out brunch at Downtown Bistro the week before "ULTRA Music Feat" took over downtown. We arrived near 1pm at what was an industrial-chic-urban-French-oasis, and decided to sit at the bar to see what libations Jose had behind the bar for us to enjoy. I started off with the pomegranate mimosa as we ordered and soon were enjoying the mussels and escargot. The escargot was so amazing and the cream was great with the baguette. This deserves a repeat soon. After chatting with Jose while we ate, hearing about his knowledge & skills behind the bar I decided to have his Lavender, Malbec & Sake "special of the day." (The best part was seeing the bottom of the glass. I uploaded a photo and hope TripAdvisor shares it because it looks yummy.) Which I enjoyed while, we shared the Croque-Monsieur, which was covered in just the right amount of béchamel and toasted to perfection, with a side of fries. With no room left for dessert we were going to take an expresso, until Chef Johanna told us what she had made especially for that day a "tiramisu with chocolate mousse on top." So we took a piece to share with the much needed caffeine-hit which luckily kept us from going into a self-induced food-coma that afternoon.

Straight forward and good French bistro food in the middle of downtown, great price, great service and good food. Almost everything we had was good, from the duck leg, to the oven roast chicken, to the "authentic" knife cut steak tartare and the mussels. Worth a visit and much better than any restaurant in Mary Brickell Village, but it doesnt have the hype, although I truly believe that this strip of SE 1st is going to become something interesting in the future. Chapeau! To Downtown Bistro! Definitely worth a visit, lunch or dinner! Don't order the Pepper Steak, it was the only dish we thought was not up to standard.

I have been here on multiple occasions, and it really is the best French fare you can find in downtown Miami. The food is consistently excellent - a lot of classic bistro dishes, all with fresh ingredients and executed very well. The fish dishes are excellent and I also think you can find the best Nicoise salad in Miami here. Strongly recommend.

After meeting Johanna Faraldo, the chef of this wonderful bistro and discussing the restaurant and menu, it didn't take long for me to visit. The restaurant is very quaint and the staff is very friendly, we started with a bottle of wine and appetizers which were very tasty. We then ordered the Onion Soup which has been the best I've had and I've tried many. For entree I had Filet de Boeuf, Pomme de terre ecrasee, Beurre a l'ail, Asparges & Carrottes (Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes garlic butter asparagus & carrots), and my husband had the Ravioli Short Rib, Sauce quatre Fromage, Gambas pochees et Asparges (short rib ravioli with 4 cheese sauce poached shrimp & Asparagus), both dishes were delicious. Desserts were magnificent as well, very light and scrumptious. It's great to have such a great eatery in the Downtown Miami Area. I highly recommend it to everyone.

As a local, it's not always easy to find great unique places. Every time I eat here, the food is perfectly executed with fresh ingredients. The staff is very welcoming, and the ambiance is great! Love the frissee salad and the bacon wrapped dates. Can't go wrong with bacon! Perfect happy hour spot if you work in the area with great deals. Can't wait to try their brunch.

The service and food was amazing!!! A great way to end my Florida trip. The sliders were so good!!!!

Our server was very friendly and helpful. We went on a Thursday night around 7 pm and it was quiet. Everything we had was delicious. Homemade soup, crab cakes, mussels, trout almandine. They even brought us a complimentary creme brûlée, which we managed to squeeze in! I would definitely go back.

I love this place. The quiche is always great. The soups are delicious. I've never had anything from the menu I did not find well-prepared and tasty. Some of the sandwiches are quite unique, and unlike many French restaurants, more than enough. Often find myself taking half a sandwich home.

The food was on all occasions exceptionally good and the menu varied and quite interesting for our tastes. The service was friendly and efficient

I ran some searches for downtown Miami restaurant with French onion soup and read about Downtown Bistro. It is an enchanting little bistro on a not so pretty street. I had the soup which was full of rich flavors and shared a prosciutto, brie and pesto baguette sandwich with my co-worker. The sandwich came with a salad and they brought out two plates (one for each) with half a sandwich and some salad. The service was friendly, attentive and efficient. These are important attributes when you are on a scheduled lunch time. Reasonable prices, good service and good food. We will return and try their homemade quiche or the Croque Monsieur.

I have only visited in the evening, which means Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The rest of the week they are open for lunch and everything on the menu is fantastic. I am sure that will change as the downtown area evening foot traffic increases. Discount parking is available right next door.

Downtown Bistro is a small restaurant on SE 1st Street where I was taken by a business friend. The menu card is well balanced and what I tried was impressive. Fresh and high quality product finely prepared. Service does not come better. Will be on my list of restaurants in the future when visiting Miami

My husband and I were staying one night in Miami prior to our cruise. We didn't want to eat at our hotel's restaurant/deli for lunch, so we decided to walk around the area. Needless to say, some of the restaurants were closed/ out of business and we stumbled upon this wonderful establishment. It was simple yet elegantly decorated. The menu looked appealing and they offered a free glass of mimosa! I ordered the portobello sandwich and my husband their a turkey/cheese sandwich special. Of course sandwiches had lovely French names, but this is the gist of what we ordered. The food was phenomenal! We will definitely come back if we're in the area again.

It's not easy to find a restaurant downtown with really nice atmosphere, good food and good service, but this is it. A very pleasant little French bistro. It was my first visit so I've only tried one dish, the Arugula, Feta and Watermelon Salad but it was quite tasty. I had a very nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc with it and the pour was generous. My servers were helpful in making sure that I received expeditious service as I had a time limit. I would recommend this restaurant and will return.

We visited for lunch, and there were quite a lot of people on a week day. Foood was good but pricey. The usual onion soup, charcuterie platter, steack frites were very good. A little limited offerings in beers ..... for my taste....but otherwise pleasant surprise.

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. I've been many places, and this is simply the best in downtown Miami!

Small intimate setting. The service was excellent. Came for a quick bit to eat and wished we had more time. Our wine was perfect. We only had time for entrees. The sea scallops with risotto and lamb with vegs and potato was yum. Definitely coming back because the food was so good and the menu made my mouth water.

1st class mussels and escargot! The 2 pm happy hours Sancerre and sparkling rose were perfect after a hot Miami riverfront walk. DO go there.

Wonderful service, excellent choice of specials. Nice wine selection, especially the Bordeaux. Also, great dessert options.

Finally, authentic French cuisine in an area of downtown that is sorely lacking in good food. The restaurant is beautiful inside and the service is always good. The food is great, and most importantly it is consistently great every time we go. Some of the notable dishes to try are the steak frites, mushroom risotto, and fried goat cheese with pumpkin and arugula. Brunch on the weekends is great too, with a free mimosa and great french toast and omelettes. This is a great lunch spot for business meetings, clients, couples and family. Highly highly recommended if you are looking for a good meal in downtown Miami.

This is a very charming small French bistro. The food is very good and so is the service. I highly recommended if you are looking for a downtown option

I have come here for lunch on many occasions, just got around to writing this review. Its a lively place for lunch and they have great daily specials. I have a tendency to order the quiche of the day, they have never let me down. I have never had quiche that is so moist and plentiful served with a side salad. The salads are great as wells. But on my recent visit, I had a baguette with prosciutto, cheese and pesto sauce - grilled- WOW! For those of you who prefer it cold, that is also an option. The staff is friendly and professional. This is not fast food- so there is a small waiting time. Tip-They do have a few sidewalk tables...but that street is a bus route and there is a bus stop just a few feet away, so try to sit inside.

I love the food at Downtown Bistro. The owner and his wife are lovely people and make you feel so welcomed. My favorite sandwich is the Portobelllo mushroom, melted cheese and sweet onions!

We were looking for an after-dinner dessert and happened upon this restaurant. We were treated well, had a lovely creme brulee and shared a decadent dessert of battered cookies with a lovely vanilla ice cream. Our service was friendly and warm - nice spot.

This restaurant is definitely the perfect place for our every day lunch during work time. Everything is fresh, home made, and as tasty as my family's cuisine in France. Waitresses are very nice, and service is quick. To be recommended with no hesitation.

This small jewel in the middle of nowhere was a real big surprise to us. Downtown Miami seems to be quiet during nighttime and theres not much around. But the decor of the restaurant caught our attention, it looked very romantic and beautiful. Although not very busy we entered anyways.The music caught our attention too. Great vibes. The dinner menu was big and didn't make it easy to decide. We started with the classic butter garlic snails. They were heaven! The watermelon caprese was a refreshing surprise and the combination with the prosciutto just yum. As for the main i had the crispy duck àlorange and my hubby had the tuna tartar. Oh my. Fresh and so tasty. It was served with tortilla chips and that combination was just delicious. The meat of the duck leg fell right off the bone. Do i need to say more? the portions are really decent and for the price,there is really nothing to complain about. The wine list is ok, nothing out of the ordinary, but the RoseChampagne i had was delicious and the red from my hubby was really good too. All in all, from start to finish, a spot on experience. Service very friendly and helpful. We only wished there were more people who would know about!!!

This is the place. It's like an oasis of goodness in the midst of one of the ugliest downtowns in the country. The service is excellent, with very attentive and helpful service staff. The food is well made and very tasty. I had as appetizer a crabcake with a nicely spicy sauce to put over it, as much as you want. The spiciness was not overwhelming and added very much to the crabcake. The main course was a salmon with a coconut/curry sauce, which was very unique and flavorful. The creme brulee dessert was a bit small, but very good. The wine list was small, but it didn't matter, as it had excellent wines, good enough that you didn't feel the lack. The glass of Sancerre was superb. The red was a Cotes du Rhone, which was the only downer of the lunch. Not the wine itself, which was probably good. Unfortunately--and the first time I ever experienced this in a restaurant--it was chilled like a white wine. As a result, being anesthesized I couldn't tell how good it was. All in all, though a good meal, one I hope to repeat soon!

The place is just great, i’m not a big food enthusiast but this place was good. The service, the style, the atmosphere was all great but the food was amazing.

You can tell they use the freshest ingredients, and the flavor combinations are rich. I work Downtown and try to eat here every week or two. I've never had a better chocolate mousse :)

I walked from the Best Western Plus Miami Airport North as the hotel about 1-2 blocks in the evening and the staff told me it was safe. from the outside it looked more like a convenience store until I entered. I had the cooked to to order Churrasco (skirt steak) with a nice simple salad and mixed vegetables and a half bottle of red Cabernet. The medium rare steak was tasty and filling as were the salad and vegetables. Service was quick. The ambiance was very informal. Pricing worked out to under $16.00 for everything.

I go to Miami five times per year and always make a point of eating here. The French flair, the excellent food, the reasonable prices, and the happiness of the staff is an honest reflection of the love and support they receive from the owners. Great atmosphere! Great food. They bend over backwards to ensure your satisfaction.

Whether you’re a traveler visiting the Miami area or a Miami native in search of that special place to call home-the Downtown Bistro is a “Must-Do” that you don’t want to miss. Owners Ilona and Jonathon are working diligently to ensure their guests feel welcome with their European charm and gracious hospitality. Diners experience an ambiance that is warm and inviting, upscale -yet not pretentious. You will truly fall in love with this place. Lunch service is lively, upbeat yet with an attentive staff fully prepared to get you back to work on time. Not in a hurry to get back to work? Feel free to stay and enjoy a crafted coffee drink or perhaps an adult beverage during the Bistro’s late lunch happy hour starting at 2 pm ending at 3 pm Monday thru Friday. Night brings about a different look and feel for the Bistro. Lighting and upbeat music selections give the Bistro that perfect vibe for the after hour gathering with friends or intimate evening with that special someone. Chef Johana Faraldo's presentation of French Nuevo cuisine is truly reminiscent of my time spent dining at the Parisian cafes across the street from the Trocadero and the tower Eifel. Where has she been all my life? Dishes are expertly prepared, are of adequate portion size and served at perfect temperature. Her flavor profiles are superb. A small presentation window allows guests to see the chef in action. My favorite is a glass of sparkling wine and the charcuterie board- a sampling of chef selected prepared meats, cheeses, pate, fig jam and caramelized onion-served with warm baguette and compound butter. Perfect for two but don’t ask me to share. A large blackboard adjacent to the bar reveals the chef’s daily creations. Menu selections for starters and entrees will appeal to the most finicky diner in your party. Try the soupe du jour- prepared fresh daily- it alone is worth the trip. Bar service includes an ample selection of beers and wine. Ask the bar keep to recommend the perfect pairing. Pricing is surprisingly realistic for Miami-not inflated. I believe the owners have discovered the perfect price point which best reflects the product quality and the overall dinning experience. I am confident you will enjoy the Downtown Bistro.

I've had lunch and dinner here numerous times. Always find the French influenced menu and service to be very good. Ambiance is very nice and welcoming. A great find in downtown Miami that won't break the budget.

The food is absolutely delicious and delightful, extremely healthy dishes are great options! Some of the best fish we've ever had. The lovely ladies have excellent team work throughout the restaurant. They remember you, what you like to drink and are always wearing beautiful smiles! Thank you for such a great dining option!

We visited this restaurant at the request of some friends. I had complained in front of them that there are very few FRENCH restaurants in Miami. What a pleasant surprise! The food, the service, the ambience and last but certainly not least the owners who made us feel right at home in spite of the fact that it was our first visit. I highly reccomend this place if FRENCH Bistro is what you are looking for.

Lunch at the Downtown Bistro was a delight. Elegantly served, my two slider burgers were taller than wide, tasty and filling! There's a choice of cheese toppings and bacon that's been cooked to order. I chose the French (of course) fries instead of the salad. They were served in a miniature stainless-steel frying basket, and they were crispy and delicious - without a hint of oil. The place is small, but the décor is welcoming and the service was like the cheddar: sharp!

This charming hideaway has some of the best French food in Miami. Everything I have had on the menu has been incredible and you can tell how fresh all the ingredients are. They even have brunch on Satuday which is hard to find in Miami with bottomless Mimosas and Bellinis! Everything about this restaurant is genuine and you can taste the passion they put into every dish.

Owner operated: excellent daily specials which really do change each day. Perfect wine pairings. Very attentive staff. Has become very popular in a short time and well deserved.

Consistently the best restaurant in Downtown Miami. We're lucky enough to work close to this little gem & dine there several times every week. Check out the delicious daily lunch blackboard specials - the quiche is always amazing. Generous servings & always perfect. Dinner from Thurs to Saturday is a real treat. The owners have just got it right ...from the ambient lighting to the perfect music selection - and menu selections to die for. The short rib ravioli is exquisite. Excellent service and friendly crew. We love you, Downtown Bistro.

The food was absolutely delicious! An impressive mix of flavours that definitely need to be tasted. The staff was outsanding!!!! The owner of the restaurant was a kind young man who treated us with care. This restaurant is a must.

I have visited this restaurant a few times and I love it. Its atmosphere takes me to Paris along with its menu. All their meals are delicious and their croquetas are the best. Very good service .

Wandering around downtown I walked into this place because it had a pretty decent crowd. Am I glad, finally some good French food in Miami! I had a delicious Octopus carpaccio, they didn't try to smother it in sauce like a lot of places that serve seafood. For my main I had a perfectly cooked mahi-mahi. Couldn't have been happier, it felt like I was in France again. My sever was friendly and even though she was pretty busy I didn't wait long for my food. Seems like they have a lot of regulars. Don't be afraid to order an espresso, they also have that one nailed! Whenever I'm eating downtown if it's not Zuma it's going to be Downtown Bistro!

A convenient spot for those who work or visit downtown, the French modern style bistro is attractive, the service is friendly and the food is tasty. I enjoy their bistro salad with salmon or chicken and their nicely done Niçoise salad. Their soups are always tasty and they have a quiche of the day. Busy at lunch.

Went to this restaurant back in March and had been meaning to review it ever since. We attended the Miami Film Festival and were happy to find a French Restaurant within walking distance of the Olympia Theater/Gusman Center. The restaurant had a nice ambiance, the service was great (we were served by Maryelis), and the food was delicious. We had several appetizers and all were good, but the dates were out of this world. Our main courses were the Moules au Bleu and Short Rib Ravioli - both were very good. I would say that the Downtown/Brickell area has a very limited selection of restaurants that have French or French inspired cuisine, so this is restaurant is an excellent option in Downtown Miami. If I had to give it any negative marks, I would say that it was a little pricey but it was worth it for the quality of food and service we received.

I ordered French onion soup and salmon with coconut curry paste. Both dishes were delicious. Staff is great and welcoming. Happy hour drink specials are great! Would definitely recommend this place :)

Have been here quite a few times and it keeps getting better and better! The food is a fun spin on traditional French dishes like escargot, steak frites, and moules frites. They also have some more untraditional fare like risotto croquettes and tuna crudo. I highly, highly recommend the croquettes, the crudo, and the steak and salad entree. The staff is super friendly and helpful and the daily specials are amazing! The wine list comprehensive and very reasonably priced. Check it out for lunch or dinner, you will not be disappointed!!!

We found Downtown Bistro on the Miami Spice webpage while searching for a date night restaurant. As my wife is French we decided to go to a French restaurant. Truthfully we picked Downtown Bistro because it was the only restaurant that offered 4 courses for the $39 per person fixed price as opposed to 3 courses offered at other restaurants. We both figured the courses would be smaller but it was worth a try. Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised. The space is small but not cramped and the atmosphere is elegant without being pretentious. I was a little worried to see no one else in the restaurant when we arrived at 7pm. The hostess was friendly and gave us the option of several tables. We looked over the menu and ordered our 3 courses as dessert was 3 mini desserts picked by the chef. We ordered a nice Bordeaux and were informed that it was still Happy Hour so the wine was half price. Not bad to have a very good Bordeaux for $4 a glass. My wife had the FONDANT DE CHEVRE with caramelized pear, mixed greens and prosciutto for her appetizer, which was served on 2 hearty slices of French bread. I had ESCARGOTS AU BEURRE PERSILLÉ, the white wine, butter, and garlic sauce was divine. One note, the serving bowl for the escargot was a standard bowl with 5 indentations for the escargot to sit yet my bowl was topped with 3 more, a pleasant surprise. I gladly soaked up the extra sauce with slices of baguette, which seemed freshly made, that were brought to the table in a basket. For our second course we both chose the LE STEAK TARTARE AU COUTEAU. I was expecting maybe a 3 or 4 ounce serving. Much to our surprise we both were served between 6 and 8 ounces plus greens. One faux pas, the chef added tabasco sauce to the steak tartare, which is not standard, and not noted on the menu. It was too spicy for my wife. Before she could raise her hand to the waitress, she was table side asking if there was a problem. Needless to say in about 7 minutes my wife had a fresh plate in front of her, sans tabasco. Our main entrees consisted of NEW ZEALAND RACK OF LAMB served with creamy polenta and ratatouille for my wife and LES MOULES MARINIÈRES steamed mussels in white wine, shallots & parsley for me. The lamb was seasoned well but slightly on the rare side of the medium rare ordered. The ratatouille was good but then again it is hard to mess that up. The star of the plate though was the polenta. To quote my wife, "this is the best polenta I've ever had and if you tell my Italian aunt I said that, I'll deny it. I could eat this every day". It was creamy, cheesy, and rich. My mussels were brought to the table in a medium sized crock pot. I expected 8 to 10 mussels and some greens, my mistake. I didn't count them but I would say there were at least 20 in the pot. The mussels were perfectly cooked, supple but not chewy and the shallots were delicious as was the white wine steaming liquid. A basket of frites accompanied each of our entrees as well. Perfectly cooked, not too thick, not too thin, crispy on the outside like a good fry should be. Finally we got to dessert which was a trio of mini delicacies for each of us. A mousse au chocolate, a crème brulee, and a deep fried Oreo nestled in vanilla ice cream. The mousse was light and not overly sweet, as most places like to make it, topped with fresh whipped cream. The crème brule was firm and delicious. We did feel that the fried Oreo was the odd man out. Not French, not very sophisticated, although the ice cream was good, and really not necessary. The owner stopped by the table for a chat with us, apologized profusely for the tabasco incident, and shared a few moments listening to us. This is definitely a place we will eat at again and worth the trip from Homestead. Being downtown, I am sure they do a bigger lunch service than dinner, which is fine with us. Having a friendly staff, a crafty chef, and food that is inspired as well as inspiring makes this a must visit if you like French cuisine.