The service was excellent for the first hour. Then the dining room started to clear out and we were encouraged to finish our meals by the nonsubtle cues the staff sent out. The lights were shut off in the kitchen (which is open to the dining area), we couldn't get more bread, or extra bernaisse sauce for my sons $31.00 steaks- although the waiter offered to us that if we needed more, feel free to request it. Additionally, both steaks were cooked rare, not medium rare as ordered and they took forever to come out of the kitchen after our appetizers of oysters and escargot. We were expected to eat quickly, as the waiter was reaching for my sons dinner before he was finished. The smell of cleaning fluids took over, as the staff started to do their end of the evening clean up and our waiter became preoccupied with his closing duties. Our reservation was at 8:30pm and if you look on Yelp they take reservations well beyond that time. Unfortunately, we were uncomfortable and left instead of having dessert to celebrate one of my two sons birthdays. This establishment really shouldn't take reservations after 8:00pm if they are going to rush their patrons. The food is expensive and the service is cheap. read more

Best place on the shoreline for dinner. Not for a quiet romantic dinner! For all those that say It is loud - IT's A BAR!

A little piece of Paris in CT. Quaint little restaurant with excellent cocktails and epic food. Had sweet potato bisque and the quail special which were fantastic. C'est magnifique!!!! read more

By far my favorite restaurant around Madison, Guilford area. From the elegant ambience to the delicious food!! I wish I could give it 6 Stars :-) read more

What a fantastic addition to Madison; truly world class. I dine here often and am never disappointed. The food and service is always excellent. It is close-quarters, so don't expect to have a lot of room. But it is worth it! read more

Last night we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Bar Bouchée that left us wanting to go back again every week. The warm welcome by the hostess, a celebratory cocktail "Independence 76", friendly and professional service, wonderful food, all add up to a superb dining experience! read more

Food is outstanding. My first time experiencing French cuisine and I was extremely pleased with the taste and preparation. Highly recommend this place. read more

Excellent French style bistro in Madison, Connecticut. Compact menu with adequate variety expertly prepared and served.

A taste of France in Madison. I think that Bar Bouchee faithfully replicates a real French bistro, with an array of carefully prepared cocktails, appetizers, main courses and desserts. And a very well curated wine list at reasonable prices. It's not a Michelin starred-level restaurant, but for delicious French food, professionally prepared, it can't be beat. My only quibble is the many bar stool tables, not really authentic and less comfortable than regular tables, but I can see how the layout requires it. read more

Recently ate at this restaurant, and I have to say at first glance walking up to the building it looked like a throw back to an old police precinct! Walked in and the decor from the bar, to the eating area were right on the mark! From the textured wallpaper right down to the basket weave floor tiling, the place exuded a pleasant relaxed bistro atmosphere. The bar with its stainless steel top and nail-head leather stools is sized just right, and Fernando (bartender) made it even more inviting and comfortable. This French Bistro has a limited menu but all are good, and a list of specials are offered. The Braised Beef with gnocchi that I had was better than any other I have had...it was so tender, it cut with just a fork and melted in your mouth. Nice to finally see something new in town other than the old Cafe A. read more

Attractive Charming Place. Drink. Impress Girl friend. Just don't eat there. At least don't eat steak without someone who knows the Heimlich maneuver nearby. G-d awful. The potatoes were quite nice. the Sauce nice too, but the steak - #1 $$ item on the menu was so tough it could have been Gazelle or Giraffe for all I know. Thank heaven the portion was tiny. Go, Sit outside, Feel French. Sip an aperitif... But for real representative french Bistro Steak go to someplace like Bourdain's Les Halles in NYC. Sorry... the people are nice enough, Service ok. but this meal did it for me. read more

Having heard such good things about Bar Bouchee we decided to celebrate a 60th birthday here. Expecting a special dining experience, we were quite disappointed. The bread arrived, not anything resembling a baguette, but more resembling Pepperidge Farm crusty rolls. Remaining open-minded for the salads/appetizers to arrive... Beet salad was terrific, haricots vert so-so, mussels a real disappointment. Entrees arrived - adequate, at best - limp watercress side, flat au gratin potatoes (frites were quite good however), hanger steak cooked as requested but merely adequate - would like it to have been sliced rather than having to wrestle with it, chicken resembled airline food. Service was adequate but not noteworthy. We will not return & do not understand why there is so much hype about this establishment read more

THE BEST restaurant I have ever been to in CT and perhaps in my whole life! Eating here is gastronomic experience. Every bite is to be savored. This chef is incredible. It's a bit more expensive, but totally worth it. I only wish I could give it 2 stars more. Only problem is the dining room is small, so advance reservations are a must any day of the week. And you may also be elbow-to-elbow with fellow diners, so be prepared. read more

A group of 4 of us stopped in on a Thursday afternoon (without reservations) for coffee and dessert to celebrate a birthday. From the moment we stopped in, we were unwelcome. The hostess told us she could seat us but we only had 45 minutes. And stressed it numerous times. The waitress followed suit and made us feel uncomfortable, rushed, and unwanted. We left as fast as we could. Ever hear about making guests feel welcome?? Especially first time locals. Will NOT be back. You lost 4 customers and anyone we can share this experience with. read more

We snuck in less than an hour before closing time and were impressed by the extraordinary service of each server. Our server's presence was never felt, but he lwas always there when needed. We had the salmon entree, the salmon was cooked to perfection. I was also impressed by the cocktails. We had two desserts, the Pavé and the profiteroles with ice cream. Divine! We will definitely be returning. read more

Sadly I loved this place 2 years ago but this time I was really disappointed. The PEI mussels were over cooked and shriveled up like raisins. The broth was good and the rolls delivered good to dip. My husband had the smelts which he enjoyed and got plenty which he was surprised about. I had the croque Madame and it was dense and the ham was pedestrian at best. There was little to no cheese taste and the egg on top had little to no flavor and barely warm. We ordered frites and they could have been French fries from any diner .... Thick and no herbs to be seen. They are not at all the picture on their website.The aioli was mayo.... Nothing more. My husband had the lamb shank entree and he said he was hard pressed to find any meat.I will cross this place off the list. read more

AMAZING food. Such a delightful experience. We went somewhere else for a date night and completely regretted it. We will be back to enjoy the wine, friendly wait staff, and ridiculously delicious food soon. Thanks!! read more

The food was excellent. Coming from Manhattan - extremely comparable to other fine French bistros. The place is extremely tight with very limited bar seating. Tables are right on top of one another. I thought this place was originally going to be a South American style place serving tapas and other small dishes? Nonetheless is certainly suits Madison - take what you will from that description lol! The dishes are well executed. Excellent wine selection and drinks as well. The bartenders are true artists! read more

Not a happy customer. Came here hoping to expect greatness and was disappointed. Menu was short, with inly a few dishes that interested me. Started with a glass of Riesling for about 13 bucks (not any better than 7 dollar a glass Riesling). My husband had the steak tartare and I had a tomato tart. His was mediocre and the chips that came with it were too salty to enjoy, and mine was almost tasteless and rather oily. Next I had hanger steak with a side of potato gratin. The steak was chewy. I took two bites, forced down the third, then left the rest. The potato gratin was good. My husband had roasted chicken. It was dry and not juicy at all. We decided to get dessert... for one we were still hungry and two we were hoping to get better luck from the pastry chef ( I would figure there is one). My husband had the chocolate mousse I had almond tart. Eh. Both okay, with the mouse being better than the tart. Guess its back to union league cafe in new haven for us (at we thought we'd love this place as much because from our understanding bar bouchée is/was union league staff trained and/or owned.) Oh well. It's a far cry from union league cafe food quality and taste. Oh, and we sat outside and the tables are very close other couples were eavesdropping on our conversation. We also got eaten alive by mosquitoes. read more

Best restaurant on the Shoreline. Escargot is garlicky, buttery heaven and beef cheeks are soft and overflowing with flavor. Halibut is incredible. Fresh squeezed juices are mixed into delicious drinks from the bar and the ambiance is exquisite. Service is also impeccable. Seriously, everything is perfect! read more

This is an odd review to write, because it mostly does not concern either the food (which was overall good--though not as good as we've had in the past, ditto the wine), or the service, which was fine, as far as serving us our meal went. Our reservations were handled pleasantly and efficiently by the hostess, and our server, whom we have enjoyed being served by before, was her usual kind, attentive, professional self. Rather, it concerns the deplorable conduct of one of the nearby diners, who, single-handedly ruined our dinners last night, through his loud, crude language throughout the evening, and tedious, LOUD boasting about his opulent "lifestyle". This individual dropped dozens of "S" bombs and "F" bombs throughout the evening. He even regaled us with graphic imagery of handing his infant children in Brazil to their nanny, "when their diapers are full of s---". It was absolutely unbelievable. The more this person drank, the louder and cruder he became, such that it quickly became impossible to have a conversation that his boorish behavior did not intrude itself upon The couple in between us seemed to find him and his companion infinitely diverting, so the intermittent polite chatting that often happens between adjoining tables was, instead, replaced by a raucous party of 4, under the conversational sway of the profanity and vulgarity-spouting diner. The couple on the other side of us, however, seemed as uncomfortable as we were, commenting on it between themselves after several particularly crude outbursts. I absolutely fault BB for letting this kind of vulgar, loud language continue. If there had been open seats in another room, we would have asked to be reseated, but, given the small size of the bistro, we would have continued to hear his loud, profanity-rich remarks even at the far back. Our server undoubtedly overheard this language, and was treated to his graphic stories like the rest of us, so I think she failed miserably in her duties by not bringing this to the hostess's attention immediately. Oddly enough, the crude person was seated directly next to the hostess's station but she never once reacted. We suffered through the ordeal, rushed through our desserts. and escaped as soon as we could pay our check. I called the hostess the following day, so that I did not embarrass my guest, by calling further attention to the circus our dining experience had become, as we left the restaurant. It was a special event we were celebrating that evening, and it had already been sadly ruined by the gross conduct. The hostess told me that she had not heard anything (other than the loudness) from the crude individual, but said she would speak directly to the owner about our experience. Given that he was spewing his gross comments and language a scant two feet from her all evening, I found that more than a bit surprising, as in VERY UNLIKELY. Five days later, I have yet to receive a call from the owner, offering at least an apology, for his staff's failure to maintain a pleasant and decent atmosphere in his establishment. We have never experienced such crude behavior from another diner in any kind of restaurant before. It is the down side, perhaps, of bistro dining at such crazy close quarters (and the tables at Bar Bouchee are uncomfortably tightly jammed together), that behavior like this became both intolerable and inescapable, when the staff does not do its job to maintain minimum standards of decorum and courtesy for the benefit of its diners. The food was definitely not worth paying for, once the nonstop, gross entertainment was added to our dining experience. I would have preferred sitting next to a chain smoker, rather than downwind of Sewer Mouth, for the entire evening. We are now two displeased former customers, who have eaten there numerous times in the past, but are now not willing to risk another nasty experience like the one that we, and the couple on our left, experienced that evening. Shame on the restaurant for allowing such a circus in their bistro, with its seating crammed together like the inside of a WW II midget submarine. read more

Man the tables are right on top of one another. Did I need the glare from the next table when I tried to squeeze thru to sit on the banquette? We saw that the bar seats opened so we opted to sit there instead and yes I loved the glare from the couple as I went by again. At least I didn't have to sit next to the two frumpy old bags. Bar was a good place to sit. I could see right into the kitchen. The al la plancha hanger was terrific as was the skate. Frites just okay. Did I need the bartender talking about his life behind the bar. Really buddy just not that interested in your time in england. I'd sit at the bat again and have some really good left bank food. read more

We had the BEST meal there last night! The mussels were magic. The salad special, divine. The steak and frites, jaw-dropping (I think my husband might have teared up a bit over it). The strawberry dessert, so fresh and tasty. The waitress recommended the perfect glasses of wine and cocktail, and she was so kind and attentive during our whole meal. I love the happenin' atmosphere of this place and how perfect all the food is. It couldn't have been better! read more

The food, drinks and atmosphere is lovely. My only complaint is how our server held our drinking glasses from the rim, her fingers and palm all over it. Not appealing. read more

This dinner ended as a disappointment that colors the whole meal. It started a week ago. We made reservations for a Saturday evening, but it was for a large group and the only time was 4:30PM. At that time we were told we could come at 4:30, but would have to leave by 6:30PM as another group was going to be arriving. That was fine as we were heading to a movie. We ended up changing our plans and rescheduled for this past Saturday evening, now only 3 in our party. Our reservation was for 6:30PM. We were anticipating a classic leisurely French-type dinner, especially since the previous week they had made an issue of the 2 hour window, as if it were a bit shortened, but was that okay. We arrived on time, found another party waiting. The place was bustling. We were greeted immediately and informed the parties at our tables were leaving soon. We waited about 10 minutes, which was okay. The place has limited seating, and everything was full, including the bar. Once seated by our waitress the ordering process was smooth and uneventful. They were great about refilling our water glasses, which some restaurants are horrible at doing. We each had appetizers, an entree, and dessert, shared a bottle of wine, and coffees. The portion size was decent, and the food tasty, although my husband felt it was a bit 'greasy'. He had a Char dish, which he said the fish was great, but swimming in a butter sauce. My risotto dish was very nice. Dessert was alright, but not worth $9.50. On a side note, one of the desserts had nuts in it, but no mention of it on the menu. My husband is allergic to nuts, but fortunately they were large enough to notice and pick around, but he would not have ordered it if it had been disclosed. The main issue came at the end of the meal. The waitress took our dessert order, but never gave us a chance to order coffee. Immediately after delivering the desserts she presented the check. We requested to also have coffee, with which she whisked away the check, corrected it, and brought the bill back. We paid the bill in cash while waiting for the coffee. The bill ended up being $80 each. The waitress then came back with the coffees, and announced that the next party for our table had arrived, and they needed us to leave as soon as possible. We were flabbergasted. What added to the surprise was that we were only just at 2 hours from our reservation time, not our actual seating time. Having had the conversation the previous week, we had the impression that normally plenty of time is allotted for meals. I would think long and hard before spending that amount of money for a very noisy, crowded restaurant. The ending made the whole experience feel more as if we were being herded through the process, then enjoying the experience. read more

Despite the cool evening, we dined on the front porch under heaters which left us cozy. Our teenage sons were skeptical of bistro-fare but soon we're feasting on steak w bernaise sauce and perfectly roasted cod. Dessert of wine-soaked strawberries over pound cake, vanilla ice cream and toasted almonds was a perfect end to the meal. I can't remember the last time our family of five all agreed on a restaurant. This was it! read more

Best chicken in the world, fun French wines, and great service in a cozy French bistro

Small and very noisy -There is no way you can have a conversation, The food was good but not great as the prices would indicate. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

If you like Union League you will fall in love with this small intimate place. Amazing food and great and entertaining service. I prefer to eat at the bar , if you do as well get there early as it has only a handful of seats and fills up quickly. Food preparations are amazingly fresh ever changing and local ingredients are often utilized. Some of the best preparation of seafood in Connecticut. The mussels are a must try. read more

Seating too close to other tables. Tables have to be pulled out to be able to sit down. Limited menu. Expensive and small portions. Very noisy! Waitress dressed way to casual. Waitress thought she was going to rush us since our reservation was for 8:30. Never once did she or the owner ask us how our meal was! Yes, food did taste good. Never asked us if we wanted coffee or tea at the end. My wife and I each had two glasses of wine, our entrees, desert, plus tip came to $150.00! If I'm going to pay this kind of $ for a meal, I would expect better service, white linen table cloths, amazing food presentation, soft music, and waiters dressed more formal. read more

Never fails to disappoint--authentic French bistro food is as awesome as it is comforting; the staff is professionally trained and friendly; the ambiance...it's our favorite! read more

Have been here numerous times and it never disappoints. The service is fabulous and the food is authentic, fresh and delicious! The atmosphere is cozy and it's one of my favorite local restaurants. I definitely recommend it to family and friends! read more

This is our second time dining here and we absolutely love it! I highly recommend the roasted bone marrow and they smoked trout with salmon roe caviar. I thoroughly enjoyed the Arctic Cha and my husband enjoyed the roasted duck breast however it was a tad under done and slightly chewy. Can't wait to come back! read more

One of the finest meals we have had in the area. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and a bottle of wine. Everything was cooked perfectly and was absolutely delicious. It is quite "cozy", but as long as you're friendly, it won't bother you at all. We will definitely be back. You'll also be pleasantly surprised when you get the check...it's not cheap, but it's not expensive, and it's 100% worth every penny. read more

This is a classic small French bistro with a modern twist. Our food was just delicious. My companion had Beef Stroganoff and said it was the best he has ever tasted. We both started with the escargots, which were tender and garlicky. Our glasses of wine were very good, and well matched with our meal. The chef is one of the best around, I've heard. We sat on stools in the restuarant/bar area, but there are ground-level tables and chairs in the other part of the restaurant if you prefer. The tables are a little close, but the atmosphere is very friendly -- we struck up a short conversation with some interesting people sitting next to us. In the warm months, there are a few outside tables on the small front patio -- but you'll need to grab them by 5 p.m. -- they go quickly! read more

My favorite place to go. Very small, intimate. Authentically French. Best bartender anywhere. Food is lovely, great service. Friendly staff. Daily specials board has intriguing offerings. Beautiful al fresco space for warm weather. I cannot recommend more highly. read more

Pretentious little shoebox filled with annoying twats. Lots of wine on the menu. Precious little in the way of food.

OK, let me start by saying they have the best service and the most polite people working there. The food is great....BUT I won't be back. I ordered the Seared Cod Basquaise for $23.50 and the piece of fish was the size of my thumb. I couldn't believe it. It tasted great...all two bites but I was starved. I get that it's french but really, that's just not enough to call a meal in any country. read more

Excellent meal and service! Food quality and attention to detail was outstanding! Desserts were amazing and unique! We can't wait to go back! read more

Stopped by Bar Bouchee yesterday for dinner and was very impressed. Very small place, so make sure to make a reservation (we left at 9PM on a Thursday night and every table was still full). Atmosphere is cozy, staff friendly and accommodating, and the food was great. We had the mussels for an app, with the steak frites and scallops as entrees. Mussels were by far the best I'd ever had and would highly recommend. read more