Really good experience here! They were the safest restaurant I've been to in terms of COVID rules. All of the food was amazing, and although it is on the pricier side, the portions are very fair. I highly recommend the crab cakes and the creme brûlée. read more

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A chic French bistro with country charm and incredible cuisine -- what's not to love about Bistro 501? Although I'm not a Lafayette local, I travel here frequently for business and this has become my go-to for sit-down meals. Most recently, I stopped in for an early lunch during the busy Christmas shopping season. While I didn't have a reservation, I was quickly seated. The staff was very attentive, taking my order and then bringing out my meal before the dining room filled up for the big lunch rush. The menu always features seasonal and sophisticated dishes. This time I started with a cup of sugar pumpkin and wild rice soup, which was perfectly rich and creamy -- just as a French soup should be! For my main course, I ordered the humongous beet and goat cheese salad, which was well appointed with lots of other goodies like wild rice, pepitas and oranges. I added salmon, which turned out to be a full portion. The whole dish was so flavorful it could easily stand on its own, but a few touches of the creamy apple cranberry dressing put it over the top! The beautiful details -- lovely old portraits, antiques and carved wood finishings -- throughout the dining room make a spectacular backdrop for the meal. Keep in mind, this is an upscale French restaurant, so you should expect to pay a little more. But the portions are large and the overall experience is well worth it. read more

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It's not often that we Funkster four are in the same place at the same time these days, but when we are, a great meal is usually not too far away. This holiday season, that "all together" day found us in a Christmas state of mind at Bistro 501 in Lafayette, IN. Fine Dining in the home of Astronauts, Engineers, a world renowned Collegiate Music Organization (with no music degree available?!?) and a big-a$$ bass drum... who'da thunk it! On this early December evening The French inspired Bistro provided a spectacular meal and impeccable service as a Lafayette Christmas parade floated by. A table next to a warm easy burning fireplace for the evening, at least 2 1/2 hours, made way to signature cocktails, beginnings of meat and cheeses followed by delicious and beautifully presented pasta's, chops, fish and steaks accompanied by a bottle of red and a bottle of white (nod to B. Joel) from the Bistro's superb cellar. The evening was finally closed with shared desserts, in Funkster fashion, and an aromatic and rich cup of French roast, naturally from... a French press. It truly was L'Amour from first bite, just remember to have plenty of Francs on hand - even though dead presidents is easier. Will we return? Well as my good friend PePe Le Pew has said, "One nice thing eez, the game of love eez never called on account of darkness!" read more

Bistro 501 - A Bistro 501 Holiday - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Honestly food is overpriced and salty. A lot of my friends like it but I have yet to be impressed. Egg Benedict is always served COLD!

Upscale dining with reasonable prices for the food and service. The duck breast was outstanding and cooked with a special request of which the chef accommodated perfectly. Oh, and the dessert menu is awesome with the carrot cake as the best! read more

One of the great high-end classic dining experiences offering the extravagant blend of craft, quality, and variety with attention to creative and unique menu items. There is so much to enjoy here from the wonderful staff, tastefully decorated inside and out, and a traditional blend of French cuisine with American flair. I came here for my birthday for the first time with my group of four others and all enjoyed dishes from soup, duck, lobster to beef. The Burger was the surprise, easily the most Fantastic Burger I have ever had in my life. What an amazing blend of ingredients that come together for flavors making many steaks embarrassed. The duck poutine was also a stand out, amazed us all! My lobster and crab cannelloni was rich and even though the cream and ricotta took over most of the dish there was some nice flavors poking through. Good words also for the soups and boeuf bourgignon - pure delicious beef and extremely well done with very soft and tasty morsels. The drinks were also well crafted, the desserts very nice, and we will definitely be back for another celebration. read more

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Upping this to 5 stars since this has been one of our favorite and most consistent restaurants for takeout during the COVID-19 situation. We really appreciate that, unlike some other places, they've continued doing contactless curbside pickup, even after they reopened their dining room. Some of the dishes we've had and really enjoyed this summer include the pecan crusted trout, the mushroom cavatappi in marsala cream sauce, the burrata caprese salad and the french onion burger. I like that they change their menu seasonally because most other restaurants around here don't, and even great menus get boring when they've been offering the exact same food for years. It's definitely pricey for the area (entrees, especially ones containing seafood, can be $30+) but the food puts them up there among the best restaurants in greater Lafayette. read more

I had Mary cater a retirement gathering and she was incredible! She understood what I envisioned and went above and beyond to make it a welcoming, fulfilling, and celebratory once-in-a-lifetime experience! Everyone - from wait staff to cooks to bartenders - seemed like a part of the family! read more

We had a Galentine's brunch to remember!! The food was delicious and fresh. The Bloody Mary's were spicy and delectable. Service was stellar. Definitely worth the price and we will definitely return!! read more

Bistro 501 - Crepe Madam - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Epic Sunday brunch. Amazing service, ambience, and food. Best of Lafayette without a doubt.

I have been wanting to eat here for a long time. We all decided to have breakfast on a Sunday. The service was OK, our server was out late the night before because they were a little tired and spilled our coffee, twice. The atmosphere was good for the location of the restaurant but I probably won't go back. read more

Amazing dinner! Out of town from the west coast to see our son at Purdue. All of our meals were fantastic. The mediterranean salmon was outstanding. The key lime dessert was a great way to finish the meal. read more

Great service, ambiance, and good! Ask for Austin and be sure to order the duck tacos, risotto balls, and carrot cake. The owner treats you like family. What a wonderful little gem. read more

Decided on this place for an anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. The menu selections were magnificent from the delectable appetizers to the remarkable entree and wine pairings, and the decadent desserts. Would highly recommend for a nice evening out. read more

We came as a couple for Sunday morning to brunch and were amazed with the quality of the food, location, and service. We ordered pancakes and a breakfast burger and eggs Benedict, and it was all so worth it! The portions were also very satisfying compared to another location just up the street. Cannot wait to return! read more

I'd give 6 stars if I could! They have excellent food which is still affordable for a white table cloth type of restaurant, their ingredient quality is top notch and their service is also very good. That being said, what makes them stand out in Lafayette is their unmatched excellence in cocktails, especially when Breyden (I hope I spelled that right) is tending the bar that night. He has a passion for mixology and you can taste that. No matter what cocktail or spirit I threw at him so far, he has always something ready and I haven't had one bad cocktail there so far. It's my go to place for the drink after work or when I just want to socialize or try a classic cocktail I read about. The place you want to take your special someone to. And, if she drinks, order a French 75. You're welcome :) read more

It's been almost two years since I reviewed this restaurant, so I thought an update was in order, especially since today's visit was for their Sunday Brunch, which I have never tried before. I'm pleased to report that the restaurant still earns 5 stars. We visited here because they have a nice open-air patio, which is a good thing for people like me who are still not comfortable about eating indoors. Our outdoor table was very pleasant and comfortable and the service was excellent. I ate here with my wife, daughter, SIL and four-year old granddaughter. Everybody but me and my granddaughter had the Lobster Benedict and all three people who had it spoke highly of it. I'm not a lobster fan so didn't try it, but it looked nice and the portions were generous. I had the chicken and waffles and was very impressed. It came with two large and very tasty chicken tenders and a waffle that seemed perfectly cooked. The waffle came with house-made blackberry butter that was excellent. My granddaughter had a plain waffle and liked it. We all agreed that this was a restaurant we needed to return to. read more

Food was wonderful. Not a place we will eat at weekly (or monthly) price wise, but definitely go again

Keep improving restaurant. Our third time visit here and more satisfying food. New manus are unexpectedly good and genuine. The pistachio ice cream is absolutely delicious and must try item. Recommend this place and will visit again! read more

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Bistro 501 Market is simply lovely. Order at the deli then sit upstairs for the full effect. Top quality service and food. Oh, and the coffee! Yum. Try the brown sugar and cinnamon latte. read more

Bistro 501 - Chocolate cake from the market deli. - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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Our return visit to Bistro 501 after many years was absolutely fantastic. Our server Austin was a delight - jovial and properly attentive. She had the salmon and raved about it, I had the Cioppino. Being quite the Cioppino connoisseur, Bistro 501's version is simply fabulous and rivals the best I've had on the San Francisco wharf where it originated. Herbaceous, lemony and succulent with a hint of heat in the back - a real treat. We will return soon. read more

Great food and service. Highly rexommend. Food quality and variety are great for Lafayette. This is probably best food downtown.

This is definitely one of my go-to places when I want to take someone out, on a date, to impress someone professionally, or impress a family. One of the things I keep telling friends is that this place is upscale, but it is still Midwest, college town upscale. If they were in a more major city, they could charge a lot more for the things they do. And escargot aside, they food really isn't super out-there kind of strange to make anyone hesitant. Instead, they have their fresh ingredients and they are very innovative with them. Their menus are seasonal, which means some items remain but most get changed out. Unless you're a certain high level of picky, you're going to be able to eat most of the things on the menu. They do provide vegan and vegetarian options, and/or will provide a substitute of some sort. Don't be afraid to ask. My favorites are the duck, the coffee press, the chocolate torte, the creme brulee, and sometimes their cheesecake. But honestly, their isn't anything on the menu that I don't find at least decent. Kudos to the waiters, waitresses, and chefs for the delicious meals, great times, and being very accommodating when I bring friends that range from vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free dieters, and one friend who was allergic to milk. The feel of the restaurant is kinda upscale quirky? It's a cute bistro and it feels like a fancy bistro. Just with a lot of chicken decorations everywhere. This is a really good place for a light, meet-cute kind of lunch as well as a more professionally fancy dinner. Now, they also do brunch! I've actually been going for a handful of years now. I remember when the head chef was switched out, and the new one is has proven to be willing to try out a lot more different things. Before, it was very classic French. With the newer one, there has been some distinctive Asian influences on the menus. This is one of the places I recommend RESERVING EARLY FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. You're usually okay to walk in, but they get filled up really quickly through graduations, career fairs, and times Purdue has some big event (and you don't always know about those, it could be anything from an engineering competition to a reading by Margaret Atwood). On those occasions where you have people coming out, Bistro 501 is one of the restaurants most likely to be filled up, so I recommend reserving ahead of time just in case. Especially for graduation day, I recommend 6 months in advance. Recommended group sizes: 1-4. In my freshmen year, my friend did reserve a table for 6, and they had to move tables around and seat us in the middle of the room. The lay of the room isn't suited for one giant group, but it is probably doable. It's pricey enough that I wouldn't go as an everyday place to eat it. But it's god for special occasions or just as a place to take someone new. Best move is to take Connector 23 and get down there, but remember that there's a farmer's market set up right next to it on Saturdays during the warmer months. During those times, the 23 takes a slightly adjusted route. read more

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Mary is a gem. Not only has she brought fine french dining to downtown Lafayette but she is revitalizing richly historic properties with taste and charm. We did a little downtown walking tour prior to our Sunday brunch reservations and chanced on her newly opened Market & Deli next door in the former lobby of the historic Lahr Hotel. Quite surprising to walk in to find vast open space with natural light from the high atrium glass ceilings. Nice casual sandwich, coffee, and fresh market option we weren't even aware of. Got a nice little history lesson before heading next door to brunch (historic details posted on their website). Bistro 501 is elegant without being pretentious. No freezers here, everything is sourced fresh and you can taste the difference. Chef prepared food is delicious and menu varied enough to satisfy all in our large party. Hint add some "better bacon" sides to share with group. Monte Cristo's, Benedicts, special Key Lime pancakes, french onion burger and chicken sandwich main entrees were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Fresh made Hollandaise on my Salmon Benedict was some of the best I've ever had. Very pleasantly and genuinely pleased to support upscale dining like this. Surprised by some of the negative comments. This is a quality food and dining experience equal to any big city french Bistro. Quite a remarkable Yelp find and great addition to downtown Lafayette. Boiler Up! read more

Bistro 501 - Salmon Benedict - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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We made reservations for a large party, and it worked out perfectly! We had fries to start, and loved all the sauces they served with it. I ordered a sandwich with a side of Mac and cheese and they both were delicious! The restaurant is very well decorated and has a unique vibe. read more

We Went here for our 6th anniversary and it was phenomenal. Our waiter, Eric, was considerate and took great care of us. We had the calamari appetizer and it was cooked perfectly, my husband had the half chicken and I had the duck. Both dishes were absolutely delicious, highly recommend eating here, the owner was super friendly and spoke to us for a little bit which we loved and we will definitely be back. read more

Bistro 501 - Duck and Half Chicken - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

While do some work in Lafayette , Keisha and I wanted to enjoy some French food . The escargot was authentic with olive oil and pesto , dipped in a goat cheese sauce. Delicious, with quality ! The cannelloni, stuffed with lobster and blue crab had a delightful taste leaving you wondering when we could have another . The desert , caramel whiskey bread pudding wasn't overbearing with sweetness. Had the correct texture for a dessert. Sticky toffee carrot cake , had medjool dates given it a great taste . This restaurant is outstanding with the food , and service as quality in quality out ! read more

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Verdict: Give their brunch a try Location: Great! Decor: Good Food/Drink: Good Service: Good Price: Great Details: I am a little surprised that this place does not have a lot of reviews about its brunch, especially with their dollar mimosas all of February. I have heard that dinner here can be really expensive, but I really feel that their brunch is decently priced. The restaurant is right on main street in downtown lafayette, so locationwise, I don't think it gets much better than this. I went there with a group on a Sunday around 11am. The manager was very accommodating and helped me with planning out the event. They reserved the back room for the group, which is a good sized space for a small party of about 30 people. We had 2 servers for our group and they were great. Very attentive and handled the group pretty well. The only concern I had was with how early my food came out, but more on that later. Dollar mimosas was really nice with brunch. The entire group seemed to enjoy that. Based on the server's recommendation, I got the Smoked Salmon Crepe. I put in my order with the rest of my group, but my food came out about 12 minutes before everyone else got theirs. That was a bit awkward, especially with having a group with me and me being the only one that got served. I really liked the smoked salmon crepe though. Fair warning, it's going to be cold. I wasn't surprised, but I didn't know for sure. A friend of mine who got the same thing thought it was a bit salty, but I thought my dish was fairly balanced, especially with the well seasoned potatoes. I also ended up sharing a creme brûlée which was good but didn't make me feel amazing inside. Maybe I had high expectations for the dessert based on what I'd heard about this place. I'd also heard that the chicken and waffles is really good. I didn't try it myself, but a friend who got it really liked it. I also really liked that brunch here wasn't very expensive, which is what I'd expected. read more

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Is it pricey? Yes. It is worth it? Absolutely. Bistro 501 is very well put together and prepared. The cuisine is exquisite, flavorful, and super fresh. The whole staff is professional and experienced. We had the Turkish lentil soup which was slightly sweet and hardy, really delicious. The pork chop was so soft and cooked perfectly. The broccolini pasta was amazing, creamy and perfect texture with the walnut crust. Props to the chef and the owner. The place does has strange hours and is always booked so make sure to call to make a reservation even if they aren't open. You can leave a voicemail and they'll call you back. read more

Bistro 501 - Turkish Lentil Soup - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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Atmosphere...delicious cuisine...the BEST servers! I highly recommend! A delightful Lafayette destination.

I honestly wish I had pictures to do this place justice. Had a reservation there during the snow storm and the staff was very understanding and lenient of us being late. Obviously as a French restaurant they have a great variety of wine choices. Typically three course dinner. We had the shrimp tempura and Tuscan bruschetta as our first course ( exquisite !!!) for our main course we both had the pork chop ( seasonal / on temporary menu that the chef releases frequently ) and it was AMAZING. I definitely am looking forward to visiting again for brunch and during the summer time. read more

The menu looked like it would be an interesting mix of French fusion food. Items we ordered that I was initially a little unsure about ended up over delivering! That rarely happens. Excellent flavor profiles and a wonderful date night experience. So many restaurants in the Greater Lafayette area neglect acid in their meals. We were thrilled to find robust flavors here. Sides were given as much consideration as main courses. We are looking forward to dining there again! read more

Rude host. Busy on ph then would not seat us inside. Several empty tables but had to eat outside . Too hot. Not a good first experience, left and most likely won't return read more

Absolutely delicious!!!! We randomly walked in here for lunch one afternoon and were beyond surprised at how professional the staff was and how delicious the food was! Needless to say, we became a regular and became a huge fan of the menu, both lunch and dinner, trying different items every time. You must must must MUST try the sticky carrot cake! The bread pudding is a must as well. read more

This restaurant has good reviews but was a disappointment. For starters we arrived 30 minutes early and the place was half empty but the hostess would not seat us early. She claimed that they were completely booked and she couldn't seat us because others were coming soon but that was untrue. We waited 30 minutes and the tables did not fill up. We also watched over the next hour and the tables still did not fill up. Clearly the hostess was just on a power trip. As for the food itself the meal was fine enough but not worth the attitude or dishonesty about the ability to have seated us before the appointed time. Restaurants are a service business after all and customers should be treated well. Perhaps the restaurant will focus more on service and training it's front line staff how to be accommodating when space clearly permits it. read more

Wow! What a treat! Spoke with the owner at length. Lovely people, great food, great service!

Classic excellence: I have been frequenting Bistro 501 regularly for a little over a year now and it has always exceeded my expectations, last night was no exception. My fiancé and I like to sit at the bar to enjoy our meal or just a nice cocktail from the amazing bartender, Breyden. Any cocktail you order will be awesome but my favorite by far is the Dorian Mode, a bold twist on an old fashion with sweet notes of earl grey. The atmosphere is cozily lit with the soft chatter and laughter bouncing off of the walls of the intimate rooms. The staff is friendly and well-trained and it's not uncommon to see one of the owners cruising around making conversation or helping bus a table. There truly is no other contender for a place that is elegant and down-to-earth. We ordered a light dinner: steak tartare and French onion soup. The steak tartare was elegantly plated on a black stone tray and decorated with beautiful bold-tasting caper berries, arugula, toppings, and crostini on the side. The beef is always incredibly fresh and delicately seasoned with truffle salt. The French onion soup is topped with rich fragrant cheeses and features a deep savory sauce filled with croutons to soak up the flavor. In addition to the wonderful food, you can always count on a great conversation with locals you meet at the bar, as we did last night and do every time we go, which is one of the many reasons why Bistro is our go-to place downtown. read more

Bistro 501 - Excellent charcuterie board. - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

One of the nicest Lafayette establishments downtown. A lot of Purdue higher-ups come here to wine & dine potential employees or graduate students and I know our company has used them on occasion to take out customers. The vibe is intimate and they play relaxing jazz. The food is primarily french influenced. We have never had a bad experience here, and we have gone several times. I love getting a seat near the window, so you can see the city and people walking by. Their menu is seasonal, so things come and go. I was sad when they got rid of the duck breast with blueberry gastrique--they still have a duck breast, just different pairing. Their scallops are amazing and their dinner salads can't be beat. They have escargot as a starter and the presentation is beautiful. Their bread pudding & Crème Brûlèe are the best, but they also have dessert spoons that will give you a little sweetness without blowing your diet. read more

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I can not say enough good things about this place!! My girlfriend and I order the Fromage and Calamari for apps and they were delicious!! I ordered the French Onion Burger! Hands down best burger I have ever had! It was one of those burgers your savory EVERY bite! We also order the Spring Chicken and OMG YUMMMM! Every bite was amazing! We will definitely be back! Services was great, chef came out to visit and she is a total badass! I would recommend this place to anyone!! read more

Bistro 501 - Calamri Fritti - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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Have to admit, didn't expect much. After all, it's french cuisine in Indiana. I was surprised, and I will admit when I'm surprised. Food was really solid. Really nice selection of wines, and we had a great red one that kept flowing all night. Brie plate was excellent, and I don't even like brie. Steak frites were very well done, and yes, I know it's just steak+fries but they did a real nice job. My largest favorite? The "dessert by the spoon" model. Never have I seen it before, and I really hope it catches on. I submitted a photo of the menu writeup so you can check that out if you want. What a great concept, and was the perfect end to dinner. Was safe to say that none of us wanted dessert, we didn't have room, but 5 of us ordered dessert by the spoon and when you add up the cost of 5 "dessert by the spoon" selections, you just sold a dessert. Great idea there. read more

Bistro 501 - "Dessert by the Spoon" - I truly hope this concept catches on - French Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana