I ordered food to go, so I understand that it is not quite as good as eating in. Unfortunately my French onion soup was completely bland and tasted similar to dirty sink water. The duck breast consisted of rice that was 2 minutes undercooked a sauce that had no flavor at all and duck breast that was 5 minutes overcooked. There wasn't even a shade of pink to it. Unfortunately I have tried this restaurant on three separate occasions, and have been disappointed each time. There are much better options that will also be cheaper. This is my last time visiting Bistro9. read more

Was craving French food, and made a same day reservation through yelp! I wish there was a cocktail menu because I never know what drink to order, but the meal was amazing! Also, I think their website said there was happy hour on the weekend, but I didn't see any happy hour menu when seated? Quail risotto was my favorite. I'd like to come back to try their flatbread pizza. Got: - perfect storm (serves 2-4) - grilled quail risotto - escargot - apple tart read more

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Dinner was just lovely. We were seated at the outside patio and enjoyed a great meal. My wife loved her Nicoise salad and friends raved about the short ribs. My beef was cooked to perfection. We had a nice bottle of Decoy Cabernet which everyone enjoyed. Dessert we shared Profiteroles and coffee! Superb service and food! Kudos to Bistro 09! read more

BISTR09 - Profiteroles were a great finish to a fine meal! - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I'm conflicted. While my meal wasn't particularly good or bad my friends loved theirs. This is relatively new and so there is no cocktail menu but that's also good bc then you can ask the bar for anything you want. I had a pineapple daiquiri and it was delicious! Friends had the duck confit which they thought was delicious. Someone else ordered the special which was veal tomahawk and I'm told by her it was rather raw and needed a few more seconds in the oven I had the bouillabaisse which wasn't good or bad. It had salmon shrimp and mussels. The broth tasted like tomato soup cooked in seafood. The highlight was their French bread. This was amazingly soft on the inside and crunchy in the outside. We asked for so many refills As for appetizers we got Fried oyster - not a big hit. Too much carrots... Made it a bit sweet Musses in a cream sauce - the sauce was delicious. The mussels were really plump. Too plump for my liking but if you like big mussels then you'll love this! Pear Gorgonzola salad was delicious!!! I love this combination whether it's toasted over bread in the oven or on a bed of salad. Fries with truffle oil. Omg so good. I love truffle ooo. These fries were also delicious! They were lightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. For dessert I had the cheesecake. See picture. It was good! Tart and sweet As for service - or waiter was very nice and attentive. read more

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Excellent restaurant! The service was awesome and everything we ordered was delicious. Will definitely be returning!

The #1 Draft Pick Year after Year! There is not one thing in their menu that does not taste amazing. The service feels like a Michelin-rated restaurant. It has a warm and welcoming feel as soon as you walk in. Their special occasion Prix Fixe is always amazing, regardless of which holiday. You get an incredible meal, and then you have no dishes to do, nor did you have to do shopping or prepare. You just get a menu full of absolutely amazing choices for all steps of a custom meal. The bar is extensive. The art on the walls is all handmade by the Chef of Bistr09. You'll be blown away by his talent in the kitchen and also by his amazing talent at being an artist as a hobby. The food is just consistently spectacular. I've even eaten food I wouldn't normally eat anywhere else. You can guarantee you are going to have a great meal and evening or brunch or special holiday brunch or dinner if you have Bistr09 on your calendar. Their wine menu is superb even though their House wine offerings are already fantastic. If you want privacy, then you just have to ask for it. If you want to be near the really booked up table and be around your fellow neighbors and foodies, then ask to be near them. It's a 7-Star Experience from walking in to the bread and the FRITES and shrimp appetizer. The Bibb Salad is highly recommended. Frequently, the first time you're met at the table, you might find out that some specific key menu item "was just flown in today." That is about as farm-to-table that a foodie loves to get! The owner and his wife are such wonderful souls and kind people. Regulars eventually just end up being good friends with the owners of Bistr09 because they're just warm and kind people. If I could pick one restaurant, and if it could only be one for the rest of my life: Bistr09, I'll marry your many menus and atmosphere and plenty of alternating artwork, because going there is a special treat that I almost regret giving Bistr09 a nice review because I don't want the whole city finding out about this special place. At lunch, parking is difficult. At dinner, you can park much closer in a very nice lot once business hours for their neighbors have come to an end. I would eat there every day if I knew it wouldn't cause me to put on weight. Try to tip in cash no matter where you eat. If you tip on cards, the restaurant will have to take taxes off the tip when all is said and done. Plus, nowadays people rarely receive anything in cash, so it actually makes the person that served you your meal extremely happy not to have to report a cash tip. If you were in those shoes, you'd be wanting cash instead too. Treat Bistr09 like family, and they will return the favor to you. Don't just try them for dinner. Try them all the time. It's almost a dare to see if anything tastes bad. So far, Bistr09 has hit the bullseye every single time and not a single miss on meals, drinks, bread, art placement and the art itself, on service quality and welcoming Dedicated Staff that are extremely LOYAL to the owner and also to every customer that is treated equally to all the other ones there. They can even do off-site catering, which from Damien, the chef and artist, that would be an amazing experience and a treat to remember. He is just that good in the kitchen that I hope to see Bistr09 thrive. Due to staff loyalty, it's nice to go to a place where someone besides your guests at the table will remember your name and say hello after only 2 or 3 visits. Some complain about the money. If your worry is money, you shouldn't really be eating out anywhere. Live below your means. If you can spare the extra $8 on trying something new, just do it, and you'll have no regrets. Instead you'll be saying, "I'm so glad that this is where I'm eating today/tonight and later this week for a special absolutely delicious brunch. You've really got to have it, even if it's the only thing you eat because you're not that hungry: you must have their crème brûlée otherwise you're missing out on definitely is one of the very best parts of being at that restaurant. I could go on for days writing about how much I love this place, so I'll save you your time and just say: "You must try this place for its food and for the warm atmosphere and artwork at least one time in your life!" If I had 5 days to live, you better believe every meal is going to come from Bistr09. So keep it secret that this is really the best restaurant... ...in all of San Antonio! Winners based on experience: #1 The Crème Brûlée #2 The French Fries #3 THE DOVER SOLE #4 The Braised Short rib #5 Bibb & Basil Salad (ask for extra dressing on the side!) #6 The Tempura Shrimp (x3) #7 The Escargots If you only plan to go one-time, then order #1 through #7 in whatever order you wish to have them. Perhaps créme brûlée would be a nice surprise-break between numbers #4 and #5. Then your belly will feel 100 By the time you're done with whatever you decide, you'll be happy, warm & full! read more

BISTR09 - Braised Shortrib melts like M&Ms hit by sunshine! ...Bistr09 takes delicious and makes it DELICACY! - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Actually ZERO stars. For health reasons, I dine outside at restaurants. I was attracted to Bistr09's Restaurant Week menu. I made reservations for their outside space 3 days in advance for a Thursday night. The first call 3 hours before my reservation time informed me that the entire outside space had been reserved for a large party. I explained the need based on health reasons and the representative said they would accommodate me. One hour before my reservation time the manager called me to let me know that the entire outside space was taken. I went elsewhere for dinner. Don't take reservations unless you have space! read more

This is a charming French bistro that seems to do good business, so I would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The server was very attentive and good about clearing plates and recommending the best way to situate everything on the table. All of the food was delicious and just the right amount to be satisfying without leaving one feeling stuffed. The complimentary bread had a nice crunchy crust and very soft crumb. read more

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Third visit here proved just as great as the first two. Amazing service thanks to Jason, our server, and wonderful food. We did the Restaurant Week Menu and it was just as good as the regular menu. The four stars were only because they only had one space heater for the patio on a 48* evening. We haven't eaten inside since COVID. Brrrr. read more

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The customer service, the quality and quantity of the food, and the price. They were all perfect today and my family agreed. Phillip was our server and he was exceptional. Thanks for the experience! read more

BISTR09 - Chicken dish, just delish! Seriously you must try it. - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Wonderful New Year's Eve dinner. I had the duck breast and my husband had the Sea Bass. Both really great. Our server was hard working. Busy, but we never went without refill on our drinks. Served us very well. The vibe in there on NYE was very festive. read more

Tried this place out during restaurant week and the food was amazing. One of my favorite things about this place is the pace of the way the food comes you don't feel rushed at all your able to enjoy each part of the meal and everything was timed perfectly and honestly everything we had was amazing. Great food, service and the place is super cute too. Wish i could remember our servers name but he was the bartender and he did a great job(: read more

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My favorite restaurant in San Antonio. Culinary excellence and the most profession service. The waiters are each and all -Quintessential gentlemen. Love this place. read more

Best. Experience. Ever. Everything about this place is wonderful! I have been here twice and will certainly be back. Both times my amazing server was Phillip. He made me a delicious sangria and was overall a delight! Everything I have tried so far was perfect in all aspects: presentation, portion size, and taste! Also it was easy to make reservations online on their website. read more

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I will start by saying the food was outstanding. Absolutely delicious, beautifully plated, perfect temperature. They have an impressive wine list, a very friendly and attentive bar tender that several times got out of the bar to come check on our table. For that, I am very satisfied with this restaurant. Also, the decoration is very pleasing to the eyes. I do wish I had gotten better service, I think our server was more attentive with another large party of regulars, which made my experience less enjoyable, because one expects top notch service when dining in a restaurant such as this. Overall, it was a pleasant dinner, and I might return to enjoy their wonderful food. read more

BISTR09 - Duck confit - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Came here for a friends birthday on a Sunday. It was actually pretty quiet. The service was okay, but our waiter didn't know the specials and hovered over us. The food was VERY underwhelming for the price. They are known for their "truffles", but they weren't any big deal and kinda soggy. Two menu items were their acclaimed dishes that the three of us were not impressed with--flavorless and chicken was dry. For a $130 lunch...we would have been better off at a chain restaurant. In the end, the waiter didn't bring a birthday dessert to our friend, which is usually pretty standard for a high-end fried house bistro Not going back. read more

BISTR09 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Everything was great beginning and end, but not the most important part: the middle. I ordered the Bouillabaisse thinking it was going to be like the first pic with the white sauce but instead it was the second pic: seafood stew. There was nothing savory about this dish at all: all the seafood tasted boiled and overcooked and the stew tasted like mere seafood broth. I'm normally not this picky, but at an elite 5 star restaurant and paying $120 for 2 people you kind of expect your main entree to be better than your local Mexican joint. To top things off, our waitress, in the nicest and most respectful manner yes, but even so raised an objection that the plate was meant to be a stew..... Let me express how uneasy it is for me to come into a 5 star restaurant and not like something, then to try to express my concerns in the most respectful manner, only to see my server go in defense of their dish over my concerns. Well anyways, they SOLD me some Rissotto to at least make it more of a dish than a stew. That made it edible so I could a at least finish it. Yes, I get it: I ordered the wrong dish/stew! And I take full responsibility. But the sad truth is unless someone gIves me another gift card, I'm not coming back over there ever again. Everything else was fascinating! But that one dish just spoiled everything. And by spoiled I mean my tummy is feeling a tad uneasy right now 8 hours later, but let me stop right there. In reply to manager's message: Thanks for writing back, and I do apologize for giving criticism. But no, I told you already I'm not coming back unless someone else treats me. I hope I'm not being too critical but that platonic seafood stew is not 5 start caliber and it ruined the whole night for me. Your server never even offered to take the plate back, and you're not doing much to reconcile this besides your blanket statement. That's pretty much it for me. read more

BISTR09 - Bouillabaisse and Spaghetti Carbonara. - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Frankly I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, because it was restaurant week. My wife and I ate there the during the restaurant weeks event. I ordered from the event menu as well as escargot which was just ok. I ordered the beef stroganoff, kind of an odd item for a French theme restaurant but it's something I really like so that's what I chose. I've had this dish many times from restaurants to Army mess halls to hamburger helper. one consistent thing I've always found is egg noodles. This was served believe it or not on spaghetti, and it was almost completely dry, just awful. I could not finish it. I did not choose to take it home. Restaurant week I believe is designed to promote restaurants so that they can build future business. Frankly, if you're not gonna do it right don't do it at all. read more

The food was good but the service left a lot to be desired. We ordered the duck confit, and the mahi mahi both were well prepared and had good flavor. The confit was very good and I would recommend. The service was lackluster. Our waiter hardly knew the menu and could not tell us what the main courses were paired with. We had to repeatedly ask for condiments and I had to pull a butter knife off another table after waiting several minutes and could get the waiter's attention. Overall, the poor service was too much to overcome. Disappointed. read more

Jan 2022 Food just not good regardless of price. With the exception of the muscles appetizer which was very good. Being pricey makes it worse. Staff was great. Duck confit had no flavor. Not sure how you even get there with duck. Tasted like baked, unseasoned dark chicken. Potatoes au gratin was cold and very salty. Even warm would be nowhere close to being as good as my wife's. Creme brulee was not good. I doubt I have ever not finished a dessert in my entire life. I did not finish this. read more

Run by well respected husband and wife, this oasis from our chain restaurant induced scene sheds light upon a cuisine far deeper that first seen. Traditional French honored skills coupled by exquisite personable service in an endearing atmosphere makes this restaurant stand alone. One is not "taught" French cuisine it's a craft built upon decades of learning and here is where the lamb is separated from the shank. Our table of 4 requested the bar side for its lively atmosphere. Noise is a buzz but conducting a business conversation was easy to hear and speak with privacy. A slightly more serene dining room is adjacent to the bar with a wall separating the two. Comfortable chairs and sizable tables made our 3 hour taste of marvels pleasant. Not that 3 hours are needed as the kitchen and staff will move seamlessly even if an hour is all you have. For starters we had the Escargots Comme D'habitude $12 served with as much baguette needed to soak up the butter! The Spinach with bacon vinaigrette $12 was crisp, cold spinach with a light vinaigrette , wanted to order a 2nd! Tonight they offered a broiled oyster appetizer which were plump as a down pillow and toasted cheese atop to perfection. The Foie Gras Pate $24..., well I licked the board on which it was presented. Smooth texture with perfect accompaniments. Our entrées Quai & Parmesan Risotto $28, juicy, medium rare and a burst of flavor. The Duck Confit $28 was moist and left you reminiscing for the last bite as you will want more. Finally the reason we came again was for the Dover Sole Meunière $54. Out of this world, fresh, moist and bursting with flavor! Do excuse me for side stepping the roasted potatoes and garden fresh vegetables and substitute fries with French mustard. Lastly we started with a mixture of cocktails then moved to a Devine bottle of Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc $55. Little dry and our favorite, not found in stores. Bought a second bottle to take home! Please help support locally own restaurants such as Bistro9 and I promise you will not be disappointed. read more

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This restaurant is worth every penny. They opened their doors as soon as it was possible and they fed my family during the February snowstorm. My family didn't have power or food, so having a hot and delicious meal meant more than I can put into words. Their staff is so friendly and the food quality is exceptional. Their cocktails are made from scratch, quality ingredients. I can't say enough good things about this place. No matter if it's brunch or dinner, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Elegant, delicious, upscale, and reasonably priced for the quality. Monday nights wine bottles are half off! Good for date night or a business meeting where you want to actually be able to hear. It's tucked away in a hard to find spot off Broadway, which is perhaps why more people don't know about it. read more

Restaurant week menu, the customer service (Brian G) was top notch, and food was fantastic. We had the lobster bisque, the portobello & brie tart. The main course was duck breast in a rhubarb sauce, and monkfish curry. Dessert was chocolate napoleon & raspberry Charlotte. Everything was done to perfection. This is why love restaurant week, amazing discoveries. read more

Nice find in the snooty '09 zip code. Ambiance is nice but the noise level is unbearable. It was near impossible to have a conversation at our table. Menu is focused and concise, focusing on traditional French. Wine menu is equally focused and deliciously French. Service is very good. Food presentation is very nice. Everything was spot on. Prices are reasonable. Very nice. read more

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I have been coming to this hidden gem for years. The ambiance, cuisine and service are bar none. read more

BISTR09 - Lobster Lasagna - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We were very excited to get a new restaurant in the neighborhood, especially one that we can walk to. We were pleased to get into the soft opening. Everything beyond this was a real let down. I'm not going to knock the staff since it was their soft opening and they were still learning the systems. Let's start with the reception. We arrived early figuring we would just hang out at the bar before our 7:30 reservation. When we arrived no one would acknowledge us. So we moved to the bar for our drink and let the bar tender know we were there early for our 7:30 reservation. After sitting at the bar for 10 minutes they seated us early. Again, we sat at our table with empty wine glasses for 15 minutes before we could flag down a waiter and ask if someone could help us. He was nice enough and ended up taking our table because no one knew who's section we were in. Next the food, I ordered the pork and husband ordered the beef ribs. Presentation was uninspired. My fries literally came in a water cup you would keep in your bathroom for brushing your teeth. A little piece of wax paper would have gone a long way to serve the fries in the cup, not to mention they were cold. The owners of the bistro have made a name for themselves as top notch chefs and we expected to be inspired. The icing on the cake was that the owner was there the whole time. She was hanging out at the bar drinking and socializing. Not once did she come by and ask how our meal was nor was she on the line making sure her new staff knew how to properly garnish the plates. read more

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Five star quality food. I had the soup special which was a celery soup. Nothing like Campbell' s cream of celery. It tasted great. Then I had the Duck with orange sauce, a French classic. The sauce was thick and sweet. It came with fresh steamed vegetables that were a nice change from fried vegetables. An excellent meal, a little expensive but worth it. read more

So, Christian and I had the best dinner ever with a dear friend of his-And chef Vatel did not disappoint!! The menu is incredible-There is so much variety- not withstanding everything we ordered was cooked to taste and better than that! Our pictures do not do it justice. Our service was impeccable and their gracious service was Bar none. Richard Was our server and I Want to give him props for being elegant, sophisticated and knowledgeable. . PS we left out the foie gras because we were animals when we ate it. Also please order a delicious martini not Heavy, not regular, but extra light when it comes to olive juiceAnd request titos straight up. read more

BISTR09 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Last night we celebrated a the birthday of friend. Our party of 8 sat outside as we requested - they called earlier in the day to confirm outside seating. There were several daily specials as well as their regular menu. Their regular menu gets tweaked seasonally. For a starter/daily special I had clam chowder. It was not the traditional creamy style soup, but it was a delicious broth based soup with the clams served still in the shell. A had steak fries as my entree. My steak was cooked perfectly and the frites were made to order. Service was great and I will return. read more

Always the best experience ever. I love the food here. It's always consistent and the best French Bistro in San Antonio!!

Ordered to go. Hostess was very kind and helpful over the phone. Arrived to pickup my food and there was some confusion. The waiters that originally helped me (I believe they were serving people outside) were ultimately rude. The waiter that helped seemed offended that I mentioned that my meal was paid for over the phone in advance. He threw his arms up. Very odd reaction. I understood that he needed to confirm, and I had no problem with that. I had to come back to get a receipt and the waitress, that helped originally, literally rolled her eyes and sighed when I requested to see my invoice. The waiter that actually had my receipt was great. Food was decent, but not great (ordered 2 prix fix meals: paella was bland, enjoyed the coq au vin). The flourless chocolate cake tasted like mug cake lol. Floating island was good. The actual restaurant wasn't too crowded, so indoor dining seems possible/safe. There's definitely an A team and a B team. There are too many excellent and unemployed individuals (2/2 pandemic) in the service industry for a restaurant like this to have such inferior staff interacting with patrons. Hopefully they get it together. read more

It was my first time here and definitely my last. The restaurant itself was very nicely decorated and all we wanted was an after dinner drink. We ordered two top shelf margaritas which were definitely lacking, especially since we had just come from Paloma Blanca who served a far superior margarita. A much needed shot of tequila was ordered for said margarita which did improve it. But finding out that one shot was fifteen dollars, the same price as the margarita along with a six dollar (?) margarita charge was just too much. While the staff we encountered was very nice, this pricing is quite off putting. If I want to eat French food, I'll go to Mon Chou Chou. And order wine. read more

The food is always spot on perfect. Whether you want very traditional French or one of the chef's spin on a classic it will always be delightful. The service is impeccable and the full bar is a great place to relax after work. read more

la nourriture était bonne mais c'est TOUT le service est déplorable et pas sympas. le 14 juillet on s'attendait à des trucs fun mm pas la musique est française i asked the waiter "deux croques monsieur" he says oh I don't speak French..... it's the menu andouille ! personne ne parle français d'ailleurs à part le chef déçu!!! read more

It's gone downhill. Drinks were horrible and food was mediocre. Great location and ambience, but expect more. read more

Ok So let's start with the fact that they really are taking in consideration all measures of Covid The food is astronomical. Every time I thought it couldn't be better -it surpassed my thoughts. all the sudden... you see Lisa, the chef owner, breeze through- it was magic. She's so charming. Every bite, no joke -was delicious and the experience was fantastic! If you want to have a date night- you should go here! There is a great place to enjoy each other safely ! read more

There are so many ways I can say Bistr09 is amazing! I know I'm a little late in my praise but they made my birthday dinner so fun! From the special menu to the speciality drink, to taking care to make it a spectacular experience! Thank you so much Bistr09! read more

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Tucked away, almost a secret for the folks of Alamo Heights, this is a nice alternative to the Target-like atmosphere of Paloma Blanca. Quiet. Romantic. Great bar. Nice design. Parking. French brasserie in a comfortable, classic menu. This place should be packed to the rafters all of the time, but I'm thankful it isn't. It's a bit of an in-the-know spot. Best Hot Toddy in town. Better than Bohanan's Bar. Solid steak frites and escargot. Any fish I've had was always cooked perfectly. Effortless wait staff who are genuine and engaged. It's as simple as saying just go here. read more

My girlfriend and I came here for an early dinner. Our server, Phillip, was absolutely wonderful! He was very knowledgeable about the menu and wines and had recommendations that paired perfectly together. I had fish and it was very good. I'll definitely be back and I will recommend this restaurant to friends. read more