I liked the restaurant a lot, but I have two remarks: first, they organized the table in such was that the couple was seated facing the room (one next to the other rather than facing each other). That, to me is weird and it seemed that we were observing the other people in the restaurant. Second, me and my friend were chatting and took a while to select the wine, so they sent over the sommelier that was a little snotty for my taste. Buddy, an italian and a portuguese can select wine that you wouldn't even know about...Anyway, food was really good and we had complimentary marshmallows to accompany the desert (really great lavender beignets and hot chocolate). I loved the foie gras (could be a little bigger) and the seared prawns. The duck breast was fantastic. Thumbs up for the nice place. read more

My wife and I came to Boston from Philadelphia on May 4 to visit our good friends and celebrate our 5th anniversary. Our only agenda was to eat at Bistro du Midi and Craigie on Main. In hind-sight we should have eaten both meals at du Midi. I am not going to trash the other restaurant on this review, but the food at du Midi is far, far superior, and much more affordable. The value difference is unmeasurable. Save your money and dine here, you won't be disappointed. The food, the presentation, the service all impeccable. Finally a restaurant that gets it. Serves great food through skill and technique. Here in Philadelphia and apparently in Boston, chefs are trying too hard to be different with off beat ingredients without the proper knowledge of their use. It was refreshing to have an incredible meal executed to perfection. From the greeting at the door until we got our coat check back the experience was the gold standard of how a restaurant should be run. Don't think of not dining here if you are in the area. We would travel back again in an instant. Food A+. Service A+. Ambiance A. The only reason not an A+ was a weird hum that cuts on and off in the Dining room. Air conditioner maybe. Otherwise. Perfection. Can't say enough. read more

Unbelievable food, beautiful view and great service! The cocktails are delicious, especially the Midi 75 (a French 75 with rose champagne). I only deducted one star because the waiter brought me the wrong entree, but he was very nice and apologetic about it. read more

Excellent. Very nice space, the staff was attentive and devoted to making our meal a great experience. Fluke salad, monk fish, black bass were all delicious and fairly priced. Even though it was restaurant week, the staff never missed a beat and really impressed. This is a special place. read more

Well worth a visit to bistro du midi. Prices reasonable and food excellent.

Having grown up in Paris, I am pretty picky when it comes to restaurants, especially those that call themselves French. But Bistro du Midi is amazing. Plus: The food is always good, whether you eat brunch or dinner. Dinner is more of a high-end experience, whereas brunch is more laid back. It all depends what kind of meal you are looking for, but in either case you won't be disappointed. I have had salads, fruit plates, soups, fishes, meats, desserts, croque madame etc. and have never had a complaint. Plus: The service is impeccable. Very professional without being pretentious. What I like is also the pace of dinner. It is quick enough that you don't sit there wondering whether you have been forgotten, but not to the extent that you feel rushed. Plus: They have valet parking, which is very convenient. When I left, they had brought my car up front and heated. Since it was freezing outside, I appreciated the extra effort. read more

Dined at Bistro Du Midi last night with friends. The service was excellent and atmosphere comfortable. The beet salad was delicious however was quite disappointed by the Bouillabaisse. It was quite flavorful but they used a small amount of fish. My husband had the said reaction to it. It was as if they ran out of it and they were trying to make it work. It is a rich sauce, I understand but not sure why they skimped on the fish. read more

Great Place. A bit noisy if you're looking for a quiet spot.. and I wouldn't go there a lot because it's pricey, but it is definitely worth it as a treat. read more

I give this spot a 4.5 out of 5 only because it was a little too expensive. The decor and charm of the restaurant can't be beat. The view is over looking the Boston the Commons, if you are lucky enough to have seats by the window. The staff is knowledgeable of both food, wine, and their pairings. If the waiter can't answer a question you have they will track down the right information immediately. We started the meal with a half dozen oysters from Duxbury and Cotuit. The Cotuit oyster were exceptional. We had the seared duck breast (highly recommended) and the Bouillabaisse ( A seafood stew). Both of the meals are worth going back for, although as stated before the meal is very expensive. The restaurant is romantic, a perfect place for "date night". You can take a late night stroll through the Commons after to complete your romantic evening. read more

The food was fit for a foodie with an expansive wine list and staff willing to help make our dinner a wonderful experience.

Sadly, I must post a very mixed review. The service was attentive and competent. The view from the windows overlooking the Common is lovely. The cinnamon beignets were delicious. Unfortunately, the accolades stop there. The room is very, very loud. My entree (duck breast) arrived cold and while they replaced it without question, my husband's food sat there getting cold while we waited for mine to reappear. Very awkward and uncomfortable. At this price point, everything should be perfect. I feel insulted. And the valet service was remarkably slow. read more

The restaurant was nearly deserted--still, the waitress was impatient for us to order and could barely be persuaded to part with bread and breadsticks (the breadsticks were great--and we each got one). The entrees came out at different times. There were shells in the fish soup, and one of the main courses came out cold. Dinner for four with appetizers and wine but no dessert: almost $300 before the tip. read more

I've been here twice with my boyfriend, it's been a pleasure on both occasions. Cozy, quiet, modern upstairs with a bar on the lower level.

Lovely. Excellent service from the minute we stepped in the door. The attention to detail and level of quality is extremely high. Exceptional. read more

Very bad experience. We had to wait too long for the main course (while the starters were not great at all...). After asking several times for the food we cancelled the order and went to a different restaurant to get a better kitchen flavour... read more

I stopped back for lunch this past week and was equally impressed by their lunch menu (though I opted for the burger and fries.) Since I was a little hesitant to dine by myself, I sat at the bar. Fortunately, I recognized the bartender from last time, Jeff. He put me at ease by discussing their extensive wine list and was very funny and attentive throughout lunch. I was also very pleased with the burger. I have discovered my new favorite restaurant and bartender in Boston! read more

Nice atmosphere, great food. Good wine list. Great for a date or a case of the munchies. Not very wallet friendly, but not overpriced. Only critiques would be the decor needs some warmth and the music was overwhelming. Too loud and loungey..Need someting more bistro like. Theres fantastic french music out there, and its nicer to have good background tunes without having to scream at each other to be heard. Less is more. If youre going alone, sit by a window, it is quite fun to watch the valet parking scenario. Big shots show off their luxury trucks and sports guzzlers, some have drivers, some have trophy wives. Watch a rich old dude pull up with a hot 20 something year old blonde...very entertaining! Who needs the movies? read more

Dined Jan. 17. Comfortable, warm, and low-key room-- lovely fireplace and beautiful view of the public garden. It was a cozy and friendly atmosphere. Food and service were excellent- wild boar ragu and lamb shank were both perfect for a cold winter night. And in total agreement with those who praise the fried artichokes. We'll definitely go back! read more

i was excited to try bistro du midi, but was a little disappointed. the food was pretty good, the service was good, but they told me my reservation was at 7:30 on the phone, and then we we got there they said it was for 8:00. Not a big deal, but it wasn't totally accurate. overall, it was okay. read more

Went to Bistro du Midi to celebrate a 50th birthday and it was fantastic!!! The service was wonderful, the food outstanding.

Probably the best meal I've had in my life. The dessert menu is incredible, with the passion-fruit parfait being a highlight. Excellent.

ok, so here's my feeling: I may be just insecure but I felt that when I came here in the spring, I wasn't " high class" enough for the place, and they didn't treat me the way i felt they should have . now I would never go back to this place, it's my own feelings but at the same time I feel that you all need to know that those scallops were the bomb dot com!!!!!!! read more

I went out with a lady friend of mine, and it was definitely classy. The waiters were nice and polite, and the food was definitely delicious. I would not say that this is my favorite restaurant in Boston, because I have seen better places, but it is close to Boston Common, Newbury Street, Chinatown, and other downtown areas. So I do definitely recommend it for those who want to have a nice evening out. If there is one thing that I did not like too much about the restaurant, it was the brightness level. I had 8:30pm reservation, and when I went in, it was rather dark to a point where I could not really distinguish the proper color of the food. It was not too bothersome, yet a bit brighter light would be better. My waiter was very nice and polite, yet he could not really keep with it till the very end. I wanted to have a little chat with him while making the payment to thank him for his service and the pleasant evening. However, as soon as I made the payment, he walked away while I was talking. I do understand that he must have been busy, because there were a lot of people, but walking away when someone is talking is flat-out rude. Bistro Du Midi does not deserve 5 stars. Maybe 4, or 4.5. While it does have the class of a five-star restaurant, attention to each customer, especially during a busy time, gets rather disappointing. The food is definitely delicious, but it is not five-star delicious. Did I like Bistro Du Midi? Definitely! Will I go back? Absolutely! Will I have the same expectations as I had last night? Not entirely. read more

Good service, great good, and convenient location. This is my second time eating French cuisine in Canada and this didn't fail to impress me at all! I went here for my birthday on a date with my girlfriend, and I really enjoyed myself :) read more

When we arrive at 6 p.m. there were only a couple of other tables occupied. This was a business dinner. The waiter, host and sommelier hovered over us to the point of distraction. Felt very rushed. Switched waiters after menu and wine list was presented. Repeated various notes about menu & wine list and kept asking us of the former waiter had mentioned specials etc. (He hadn't) Several times our (business) conversations were interrupted in an effort to rush us along. Waiter was very nervous and managed to splash wine on two out of three of us. The service became a running joke during our meal. This was all too bad because the food was very good if over-priced. Felt like all staff were trainees. Boston has many fine restaurants with excellent service so no need to return. read more

This is our favorite restaurant, my wife and I. They have good service, and everything that I tried from the menu is fantastic! A little pricey, but for me it's worth it. read more

Dining here was the most pleasant experience I've had in a long time. I started with market greens and it was astounding- yes, a salad was astounding. Following was a gorgeous, simple dish of roasted salmon with veggies and fingerlings and white raisins in some kind of broth I'm not even sure what it was but I don't even care it was also astounding. My boyfriend, who is a French international student, instantly got a taste of home and with the steak frites he ordered. He became nostalgic and told me it has been a year since he had really good, authentic steak frites. The chocolate souffle at the end made us both cry. OK, I know we sound a little dramatic but that thing is so good if it doesn't make you cry, you don't have a soul. Our server Olga was absolutely lovely and very friendly. She was perfectly attentive, but not overbearing and I always appreciate that balance. Meanwhile we were seated before the open terrace with a view of the park and sidewalk and enjoyed people-watching all evening. It was a wonderful night! read more

went here last night for restaurant week. ate all of my beignets, and ate all of my friends beignets. that's all i have to say.

I am an extremely picky, detail oriented person. Almost to an annoying degree. I've worked in the restaurant industry closely with a well respected chef, and tend to notice small lapses in presentation, creativity, texture, consistency. See? Kind of annoying :) and I must say I was impressed with this restaurant. And not just with the food, although I did want to dive into the polenta and swim around. The staff are attentive, without hovering, and ALL well informed. This includes the junior server filling your water glass. Also there was a couple next to us clearly on a first date, and he had brought her a stunning floral arrangement. The upstairs host took the flowers and put them in water during their dinner, then repackaged them in their original lovely wrapping when the couple left. This is the way things should work. Fabulous experience, with superior food and service. Beautiful location. Lush ambience, it feels like your in someone's home. Very nicely done. read more

Knowing I'd be going to Boston for a business trip, I checked yelp for some restaurants that I had to try. I made a reservation for Friday at this place and could not wait! I had NEVER had French food before, but the photos and menu made it look amazing.... and it was. Ray was our waiter and he took the time to explain a few of the different wines on the menu so that I got my earthy red and my friend got her sweet white. We started with the Tuna Tartare and it was so fresh and clean tasting. I had the duck for dinner and I savored every bite. It was so good that as I write this I am craving it. My friend had a bolognese like pasta that she really enjoyed. Dessert was Grand Marnier souffle ( Do NOT miss out on ordering a souffle, do it as soon as you sit down) and my friend and I devoured... I mean savored it. So warm and light! I also had a glass of sherry per Ray's recommendations and it was a lovely after dinner drink. Very sweet and perfect for sipping. The atmosphere was lovely and we had a window table with a view of Boston Commons. I will definitely be back next time I am in Boston. read more

Remarkable. What comes out of the kitchen is golden and prepared to perfection. Why only 3 stars? Well, it doesnt feel French at all. This is an high-end American restaurant with a couple of traditional and very well prepared French (more like Mediterranean) dishes. Putting up french posters and having marble bistro tables doesnt suffice to create a French feel (at least not for a french person like me). Where was my baguette bon sang!!!?? (I got Italian Grissini and basil focaccia bread ) Where is my waiter that isn't dictating the menu but describing the food with personal adoration? Where was the French accent? It looks and tastes French but there is no real French vibe in here. The wait staff is perfect, dictates and recommends perfectly, no soul, no connection, a complete lack of "je ne sais quoi" which makes places like Petit Bistro Robert and La voile still on the top of my chart. I would come here again becasue the food was excellent. I wouldn't come here for an authentic French experience. read more

Went to dinner there last night (4 people). The food is outstanding, and the prices are quite fair for Boston. The main problem is the attitude of the staff. I asked the waiter what single malt scotches they had. He did not know , so I finally asked if he could check after I asked about 3 different scotches. He never returned (apparently he was only the drink "getter" not our waiter. Eight to ten minutes later, a maitre d' stopped by and he asked if we were all set with our drinks. Two of my companions had not received their wine yet, and I mentioned that I had asked about scotches, and that I never found out. I said that I would go to the bar with him so that he did not have to write down the names. They only had 3 single malts, a small number for such a good restaurant. I said that I was surprised by the small number. This 25 year old "suit" rudely tells me that "Scotch is a winter drink" and that is why they do not have many! WHAT? This boy and the other "drink getter' need some serious training in how to be efficient and cordial, and the staff as a whole need an attitude adjustment! Service is secondary to food, but it enters into the equation of whether one returns. At leats it does for me and for most people that I know. read more

Came here last Friday night with my parents and it did not disappoint! While I have been to this restaurant before, I had never dined downstairs in the more casual setting. Surprisingly, I think I actually preferred the relaxed atmosphere downstairs to the sometimes stuffy atmosphere of the upstairs restaurant. From my understanding, the menu is the same on both floors, with the cafe menu included as well downstairs. We ordered the Spanish octopus & smoked mussels marinated in lobster jus to start. It was absolutely devine! My mom had never had grilled octopus before and immediately fell in love. For entrees, my Dad and I both ordered the Codfish with native clams, potato crisp, citronelle 'chowder.' According to my Dad, this item has been on their menu for years and is one of their big staple dinner items! My mom ordered the Salmon off the cafe menu which she thoroughly enjoyed. Since the dinner was so fantastic, we decided ti splurge and order one dessert to share. Though I was dying to try the Earl Grey & Elderflower soufflé, the item takes 25 minutes to prepare so we ordered the Meyer lemon meringue pie with almond shortbread, raspberry mousse. While I typically hate lemon desserts and meringue. I have to say this dessert was pretty outstanding. Overall, a wonderful night with top-notch service, ambiance, company and food! read more

We loved our bay window-side table, and the overall ambiance of the restaurant was elegant, relaxed and warm. My Refashioned cocktail was inventive, though slightly sweeter than I would have liked and very slow to arrive. Our food was delicious. Roast brussel sprouts with mushrooms and balsamic over a chickpea spread was savory and rich. Celery root soup was creamy and comforting. Oysters were presented nicely and the large market salad was lightly dressed and complex with a good variety of greens and vegetables. Monkfish was moist and nicely complimented by the rich mushroom veal jos. The duck was savory and flavorful. Two saffron seafood bouillabaisse dishes were good, and came with gruyere cheese, toast points and a garlic garnish. The only reason they disappointed was because our waiter oversold it as "flamboyant," which it was not. Inconsistent and sloppy service slightly marred our celebratory dinner, but management worked hard to rectify the situation once they became aware. With food this good, we would definitely return and hope for the level service the food and venue deserve. read more

I had my anniversary dinner here. The ambience was perfect for the occasion. Right next to the park. It was actually snowing quite a bit that night and the lighting decorations outside our window made the evening seem even more romantic for the occasion. We ordered cocktail drinks that were strong but delicious and got us very excited for our meals. (I apologize I'm writing this from memory so I don't remember the names) I got the lamb and he got the duck. My meal was heavy and the portion was gigantic! Clearly my bf and I ordered the wrong dish for one another so we ended up stealing bites off of each others plates. The lamb was so soft the meat literally just fell off the bone and the duck....oh my...I couldn't stop stealing the duck. The ambience was something worth noting. The restaurant was large but felt intimate. The service was great! Overall I made the right choice for the evening :) read more

yes! i am a fan. what a beautiful restaurant. the restaurant feels somewhat like being in someones beautiful home. the service was outstanding and the host was amazingly friendly, charming and accommodating. my girlfriends and i had a great evening there. we enjoyed our meals and our cocktails. definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. read more

Absolutely the worst services I have ever received, upon arriving to the restaurant which seemed like a high end restaurant, and ordering alcoholic drinks, I got refused to get served, which was understandable as I look young, however normally as you present your passport most places would serve you, this was not the case with Bistro Du Midi , the manager stated that he can only serve alcohol "to American passports holders" which is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Not only was he one of the most unpleasant people I have encountered, he was completely incompetent and knew nothing about the regulations. I believe that a manager is suppose to be more professional at his job. Furthermore I then overlooked the racism of the service Ive received and decided to order a Cesare salad but without chicken, after having to wait for half an hour, my Cesare salad consisted of just leafs and sauce. Absolutely ridiculous . BEWARE IF YOU ARE A YOUNG LOOKING ASIAN TOURIST , you might get treated badly. read more

Went here for lunch yesterday. It's still clearly in the shakedown phase, and I hope it will get better. The food was mixed: bread good, soup good, chopped salad overly oily. Menu for lunch was EXTREMELY abbreviated, maybe five choices each for appetizer and main dish, and more of a summer menu than winter (I love a salade nicoise as much as the next gal, but not in December). Our waiter told us he was in training, but the poor thing was TOTALLY out of his league--didn't know what was in any of the dishes, couldn't pronounce the food, and came across as very nervous. Add to that the fact that the outside door opens right into the dining room (we ate downstairs, I think that was the only space open for lunch) so there's a constant cold draft, and you have a less-than-optimal experience. With so many lunch choices in the area, I'm not sure I'll be back. For my money, go to La Voile instead! read more

We went last evening for dinner. It was good. Overall, the service was excellent. Our waiter, for example, was very professional. The sommelier and manager were a bit over the top, but I guess they think that's part of their "value added." The appetizers and dessert were excellent. The entrees...meh. I had the rack of lamb, my partner the daube. I mean, good, but too meat heavy, not enough balance on the plate. If we didn't order side salad and veg and potato, we would have left with sour stomachs. And I know they are trying to also attract a young crowd, but the music sounds too Newbury Street hair salon for what's supposed to be a reasonably high-end, European-style dining experience. Lastly, the dining room is generally low key and well appointed, but no table cloth is for me a bit of a turn-off. I feel as if I'm eating in a cocktail lounge after a while. And it was an hour and a quarter after we sat down that our entrees appeared. Too long. So overall, we were reasonably satisfied in getting our money's worth, but the experience was "just OK." For (American-style) French bistro in Boston, for the moment I guess I'll stick with Petit Robert and Aquitaine. read more

i am definetly returning to these restaurant. the fried artichokes are excellent. the squash ravioli are amazing. my husband got the duck and it was delicious. the hazelnut cake was beyond expectations. read more