Whoops.... there goes all my grocery money!! Now that Bistro Joe's has opened, I now have zero motivation to do any grocery shopping at all when I am at Papa Joe's. I can't help but gaze wistfully up at the second floor and wonder why I am wheeling around a shopping cart loaded with foodstuffs that will never amount to anything remotely as delightful as what that cute little restaurant can whip together given the same ingredients. The bill at the end of the day may be a few times more than what would have been rung up at the check-out counter, but it's also magnitudes tastier and also, surprisingly, the most creatively presented out of any restaurant around the D. Between the boyfriend and I, we've tried almost all of the appetizers, or "snacks" as they are labeled, off the menu. All of them were absolutely FANTASTIC, but our favorites were the shrimp and grits, peaches & diver scallops, and the foie. The salmon entree served on a charred mesquite board was devilishly tasty, and the nicoise salad was very delicious as well. The chef clearly has mad talent and has trained in some distinguished restaurants outside of this state, because all of the dishes we tried were calibers above the "New American" fare we've found in Michigan. To top it off, as if the food wasn't enough, Bistro Joe's also boasts a list of equally as creative craft cocktails and martinis to drown your sub-par cooking sorrows in. You can partake in all of this while sitting on the second floor above the produce section, overlooking the sorry masses still attempting to eek out a passable dinner and call it gourmet... while you yourself have given up. I don't know how in the world Papa Joe's snagged such a talented executive chef for Bistro Joe's, but if he (she?) starts revamping the pre-prepared food on the first floor too, the destruction of my grocery budget will be complete! read more

Unexpected - that's the best word for the experience of finding a truly fine dining establishment located above a produce market. Of course, it's not just any produce market . It's Papa Joe's. And this is, after all, Birmingham. Excellent menu with an international range of cuisines. Knowledgeable server. Sommelier at your disposal. And, most important--delicious food. Oh - about the ambience--not to worry about that, either: the decor, by the ubiquitous Ron Rea, sets a very nice tone. My co-diner and I went way overboard, ordering 2 appetizers (a Middle-East inspired eggplant spread with crispy seasoned pita chips; and an amazing raclette-stuffed crab cake); followed by an exceptional mixed seafood entree and a chicken dish with the skin cooked to crispy perfection. To top it all off, we got 2 desserts, when one would have been more than enough to saisfy us. But such desserts - how could we choose only one, when so many tantalizing options beckon? We settled on a peach-pear cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream, and a brownie. The brownie, while not exceptional, arrived with a small bottle of milk and 2 little glasses - a very nice touch. If you plan to try Bistro Joe's, I recommend that you not wait too long. There will soon be a long wait to get in. read more

Bistro Joe's offers some of the finest food you'll find in Birmingham, and probably in the whole metro area. The setting is unique, in that you are perched above Papa Joe's market, and may have a view of the produce and frantic Birminghamites down below. I'd very much recommend the mac and cheese and truffled mashed potato side dishes, as well as the truffle fries (one day, one day truffle will get old, but not today). The butter lettuce salad with, what else, truffle vinaigrette, is excellent. The paparadelle goes well with the parmesan cream sauce, and the mushrooms and fresh vegetables are sublime. Other people enjoyed the filet mignon, oysters, and a multitude of other things I didn't notice as I was shoving truffle-everything into my mouth. The creme brulee is standard, but not something worth ordering twice. The drinks list is divided into their signature cocktails and classics (e.g. sidecar), and they're well prepared. The only downside is the service. The server had the mien of a car salesman meets Guy Fieri. He was overbearing and overselling, and wouldn't let up. None of the women in our party particularly enjoyed being called sweetie or darling by him. The food spoke so well for itself, so he really didn't need to say much. read more

Stay away! Bad for families. Slow cooks. Bad food. The hostess gave us the worst seat near the cook prep. We asked to be near the window to distract our 2 year old, but she claimed she didn't have any seats there. It was 4pm and there were multiple open seats. My sons grilled cheese came out burned and had to be sent back. My wife's sliders were undercooked. My lamb sandwich was a lot of gristle. All that took 45 minutes to produce. Don't bother with this place. read more

This review is about the service... My husband and I went to the bar while we waited for our patio table. I ordered a "crafty creation" drink with basil but much to my dismay, the bartender quickly said she was "out of basil" - so I ordered her recommendation, a lychee based drink that was far too sweet. I have a sweet tooth, but a little warning would have been nice. Just as my husband and I were discussing how one would be "out of basil" at a specialty supermarket, the other bartender reached down into the fridge and pulled out a very large bag of basil leaves! Just to confirm, I asked her what drink she was making - cucumber basil. Maybe she was too tired to reach into the fridge... Then we were finally seated and met our lovely waiter. I made a mental note to ask for him the next time we were there. I erased that mental note after about 20 minutes when we realized he completely forgot to place our drink order! There we were with our soup and salad starters and still sipping water. If we were to return, it wouldn't be for dinner. If I wanted a lovely dining experience and expected to pay $16 for salad, $28 for chicken or $40+ for a steak or filet, I would go north to Eddie Merlot's, Flemings, or Capital Grille where I would be guaranteed better service!!! read more

Omg... Foie Gras amazing!! Beyond expectations, especially due to location, but overall perfect! Fantastic and knowledgeable staff,.. But biggest critique from an industry commerade .... Lose the sloppy looking aprons ... For real. Doug at the bar makes the perfect Manhattan, while Nate and Kyle on the floor def know their stuff and offer great humor along with adaptable and informative service!! read more

Felt this place was overrated and overpriced. I should have gotten the flatbread pizza like I saw at other tables that looked real good. Instead I got the shrimp, scallops grits. 3 shrimps total and 1 small scallop. What a disappointment. Asked for dessert. Saw chocolate ganache and thought it would be like a cake! Nowhere in the description did it say that it was a cupcake with ganache sprinkles and whipped cream. Go to Forest Grill or Commonwealth instead! read more

I enjoyed this restaurant very much. The ambiance was great and I really liked the unique menu items. The food was very fresh and came out in a timely manner. The only downside I have is that the restaurant is a bit expensive for what you are getting. read more

We ate dinner with another couple on April 11. We and the other couple split the tab. Upon reviewing our bank statement the next day, we learned the restaurant charged us for both tabs (as well as charged the other couple for their tab). My wife contacted the restaurant and was told by the "manager" that they would handle it - just "give them a day or two." She has followed up three times since and has been told the same thing each time. We are now taking the matter up with our bank. VERY amateurish for mediocre food. read more

Vegetarian delight!!! Lentil burger slider is super tasty, I asked for the veg of the day instead of fries, server was cool about it. 3 sliders for the dinner portion. read more

Bistro Joe's - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Bistro Joe's is a great location. The view of Woodward Ave and overlooking the market is a plus. The service is top notch (very welcoming). But because of the location and premium market pricing, I put the bar up for everything. Hey, I expect a neighborhood bar to be what it is. I expect Joe's to be what it is. The enclosed balcony is great viewing and the wall that is basically windows is great for feeling like you are outside. But the plastic around the windows was a bit tattered. I did not expect this at a Joe's establishment. This is the only reason for the rating fore decor. The food... to me was just okay. I had the ribs appetizer and found them to be something I would expect from Applebee's. My Mojito was decent... I am very picky about the Mojito. I found it not to be balanced. The liquor overpowered the other ingredients. I am willing to give it another go and if nothing else, the happy hour may be worth a look. Décor: 2.5 out of 5 (it is about the details above) Food: 3 out of 5 Drinks: 3 out of 5 Service: 4 out of 5 Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 read more

My friend and I were here for dinner during Birmingham's restaurant week. The menu is a little expensive, typical Birmingham... But during restaurant week you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert which seemed to make it more affordable. My dinner was good, I has the ahi tuna Tacushi (tacos) for appetizer, red wine braised short ribs, and tiramisu for dessert. The food was all great and wonderful. I also had their red wine sangria with dinner. The atmosphere was nice, not overly busy, nor loud. Cute place, we had a table on the window which offered a nice view of Woodward, but it was cold and breezy. The windows weren't made of glass and were not sealed well. It was a cold January evening and I kept my coat on through dinner. The main reason for the 2 stars is after dinner my friend and I were enjoying drinks and catching up. One of the busboys was cleaning the tables around us. He was carrying a full tray of glasses and bottles and he did NOT seem comfortable carrying that amount if weight! (I used to wait tables at several restaurants through my college and post college years and you must be experienced to carry what he was trying to carry) When he was approaching my table he dropped the entire tray of glasses and bottles... and a bottle of coca-cola landed right on me and it literally rained coke over my head and onto my coat and scarf. (Keep in mind I never took off my coat cuz we had a table by the cold window.) What happened next was even worse... The bus boy took his dirty tag that was was just using to wipe tables to wipe me down! I did not want that dirty rag all over my Michael Kors peacoat!! I told him to stop and he kept wiping and smearing the coat and dirty rag all over my coat, while I was wearing it! Just weird and awkward all around! Normally I would've laughed at this entire situation because I have waited tables before and I understand that things like this do happen. What bothered me was when I told him to stop he didn't stop and after this no one checked on my table. My waiter and/or a manger should've checked on me but no one did... And it's not like no one saw it happen... When he dropped the entire tray it made a crashing sound of glass breaking and everyone froze and looked over our way. Isn't this Birmingham? They're lucky I didn't make a big deal or a big scene like some people would have. read more

You might not expect much from a restaurant that is essentially inside of a market, but you can for sure expect a lot from this one. Their menu is fairly large- and they have some fantastic options, with lots of international flavors. The server we had was top notch, walking us through every step of our meal. I was just there for lunch, so didn't partake in any delicious cocktails or desserts - but based on my experience would not hesitate to come back for dinner! read more

Very poor service. It took 10 minutes sitting at the bar just to get a bar tenders attention. When we first walked in I could tell they where very under staffed. We usually just eat at the/a bar but since the bartenders seem to be struggling we decided to take a table. Again, while we where sitting at a table we where unable to get a servers attention. After asking another server if we can get some help they said they would send someone right a way. That never happened, again we asked if someone could help us and he said "no body has helped you yet". A "non server" came to our table and he said "he was sorry and would send some else again". That never happened, so in the mean time I got up from the table and walked up to the bar and ordered drinks (thinking that someone would come to the table while I was gone). I was told someone did and they said again, "nobody has helped you yet". While we where sitting at the table with the drinks I brought back to the table a "non server" came up to the table and said he would again get a server to the table and he would give us a free appetizer. We said, "since we work in the service field we where not looking for anything for free and we understand if they where under staffed or there was a just problem today". He said "that was not the case and would get someone right a way" as he brought back the appetizer. That never happened. He again came back to the table and said "he would take our orders" (time lapse, 35 to 40 minutes). We said, "it was not necessary and if it was alright we would just finish are drinks and we would leave". He assured us that if he took the order the dinner would come out right of way. I told him, "what about the rest of the people waiting for their dinner" and he said, "he didn't want to loose us as a customer", he then said "he would take care of us at another time and told us not to leave and he would be right back". Again we are not looking for anything for free and we would have not accipiter anything. Can you believe that he never came back during the time we where finishing up are drinks (5 to 7 minutes). We decided that we would give the table up and finish are last couple sips at the bar (we never touched the appetizer). While we where putting are glasses on the bar (I guess we bussed are own table too) we heard other people talking, "this was taken a long time". As we where leaving another server came up to us that we never saw before and said "he was sorry". We told him "it was OK and we might try this place again". This all happened at the end of their peak time. I never ever ever complain, but while we where sitting at Red Coat Tavern (ummmm) we just starting laughing about it. Another patron over heard us and pointed to my smart phone and said, "why don't you write a review". I told him, "why should I even waist my time". He said "people read those things, I do". On our way home my girl friend said "you should". A couple of beers later and with my laptop on my belly, here is my first review. read more

GO FOR HAPPY HOUR!!! Every time I'm back in Michigan I try to go to happy hour here! What's not to love about an extensive happy hour menu of $1 oysters, escargot, bone marrow, mussels, fries, flatbread, of course drinks, and so much more (honestly, I travel a good amount and I don't think I've ever seen such an extensive happy hour menu)! I usually go for the oysters, the escargot, and the bone marrow. The oysters taste pretty fresh! I've been for brunch once, but it wasn't as satisfying as their happy hour menu. Also, I love their tables by the windows where you can just watch the cars drive down Woodward. Also, I love how they have their own parking lot and a little cute grocery store downstairs for some shopping and conversation after the meal. read more

Bistro Joe's - oysters - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

See all

Talk about a major disappointment. My boyfriend and I tried this place for Sunday brunch and we both left majorly annoyed. The hostess was friendly and I liked that you can see a view of the specialty market downstairs which is really well done. We were seated on the patio side directly in the bright glaring sunlight so we asked to move tables. The section is decorated in lemon yellow and it is EVERYWHERE. To the point where it was way overdone and bothersome to look at. Someone should give them the message on complimentary colors because it was overkill... We came at close to 2:30 when brunch is almost over and asked to see both brunch and lunch menus. The server brought both but didn't bother to tell us that lunch is served on Sundays. Naturally we both wanted something off the lunch menu and had to pick different meals. Our server was majorly snotty and inattentive. Her timing was poor and frankly she didn't do her job. They were NOT busy and we waited too long for everything. My boyfriend and I wanted coffee but decided against it since it was $4.00 a cup. Not for a latte. Or a capuccino. For a regular cup of coffee. Can I get a big hell no to that?!? We both ordered omelets and will they were good, they weren't $15.00 a piece good. I don't mind paying a lot for food but the flavor and service needs to be on point. My omelet was brought out and I waited 5 minutes to ask my server to bring out condiments. Crappy thing is she never came so I went and asked the nice hostess. Snotty server comes nearly 5 minutes later with 2 little cups of ketchup. What I really wanted was hot sauce. I guess I'm the a**hole for wanting to eat my $15 omelet with hot sauce the way I like it because little miss thing was majorly bothered by having to get up from the table she was preping silverware at and do her job. Then of course she took entirely too long to bring the check... I am not picky with service, I'm really not but what I do expect is courteous, attentive service and I got neither. THE YELP REVIEWS ON THIS PLACE CONSISTENTLY LIST SERVICE ISSUES SO MAYBE THE MANAGERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE... There are too many good restaurants in the area to return to this one. Skip it... read more

we love coming here as it's a delicious and kid friendly brunch spot. however, the service is hit or miss from rude seating hosts to stained plates and waiters/waitresses that seem to forget your table. i wouldnt bring out of town guests here because of the inconsistent service. read more

Good food, horrible service. I've eaten here ~ 10 times and keep coming back because the food and wine are great. The service is slow. It usually takes 10 minutes for a server to come to the table and your lucky to see them when you need them. The brussel sprouts are awesome! read more

I really enjoyed Bistro Joes. I'm glad to be living in the area because I will be back. All of the food that we had was meticulously prepared. Love the concept. The wine/raw bar area is a great place to hang out while you wait for a table. I appreciate the open kitchen and the sprawling view of the grocery store. Service was attentive. read more

Very unique and inventive place. I love the atmosphere and decor! The food is good but the eccentricities of some dishes tend to give you overestimated expectations of the taste. Very hospitable. Great place for brunch, esp if you're a fan of a good bloody Mary bar! read more

This is more what I expect in a "bistro". Nice layout, simple, but good menu, lively, seats close together so you can really get down and talk. Ate out on the porch area -- nice and bright. The inside area looked great as well. Had great Steak Frites -- $26. Strip steak was delicious and cooked properly rare. Fries were thin, crispy. Good choice of wines and drinks. Service was a bit awkward. Our server was great, but seemed like they needed more people--too often food was delivered without us having the needed utensils. Hopefully this is growing pains. Otherwise, a nice time out. read more

We went to bistro joes for my birthday yesterday. I follow them on Instagram & have been several times for happy hour. We decided to try the brunch as the menu looks great. I ordered the crabby Benny & was disappointed that the portion was so small. It was good but not big enough for $16. My son ordered the Swedish crepes & he was so hungry afterwards, he had to order a side of potatoes. My husband ordered the flat bread entree which was recommended by the waitress. It was not good at all. The best entree was the skillet entree with barbecued brisket, eggs & wonderful grits topped with jalapeño corn bread that my daughter ordered. The service was so slow I had to go ask the hostess to please check on my drink. The bartender was standing talking to people & the place was very busy. When my drink finally came, I was told that he was so busy and had a list of drink orders to fill. Well then don't stand talking when your so busy!!!!! I really like the concept & their menu is good. But to be hungry afterwards is not a good sign. Also, service was soooo slow. Won't be back for brunch. Right up the block is Toast which is great with huge portions & great service read more

Bistro Joe's - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

See all

This is a fantastic restaurant. This was my first time at Bistro Joe's and I will certainly return. The only downside of this place is the price. - The food was terrific. - Our server, Rob, was very good. He knew what he was talking about and was short and to the point with his service. - The decor in the restaurant was very impressive; I sat on the heated patio that overlooks woodward. Overall, I loved it and would go and eat there every week if I could afford it. read more

Ambiance, attentive staff, inventive and tasty (and generously portioned!) food--Bistro Joe's is a hit. Our group of five thoroughly enjoyed our craft cocktails and wine, made better by delightful sommelier Phillipo; our creative, beautifully presented appetizers, salads and entrees, explained in detail by Daniel Z., who was mindful of and helpful to suggest options and modifications for the vegetarians among us; and our prime seating at the congenial maitre d's "absolute favorite table" on the snazzy patio, above the hum of Woodward Ave. And, okay, the singular rendition of "Happy Birthday," and then picking up some treasures at Papa Joe's gourmet emporium downstairs, perfectly capped a most enjoyable evening! read more

Wow...just did not expect such a limited menu and rushed service. Our food was OK but I've experienced better. There were three of us for dinner and when the bread came it was wrapped in a brown parchment paper with two slices a 1/4" thick. All we could do was laugh...the rest of the menu had the same feel. Best of Luck BJ's...could always use the upstairs later for more wine space. read more

My wife and I ate here with another couple and we had a great experience. The tuna appetizer tacos were very unique, tasted great, and we would definitely get it again. I had the filet for my entree and it was cooked perfectly. The presentation for the plate was really cool as well. All of the sides and sauce cone in little jars at the edge of the big cutting board its served on. I had the chimichuri sauce with my steak which was fantastic. Our service was great as well, I loved how our waiter brought warm towels to wipe our hands after a messy course. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is I thought the ambiance was a bit odd as it is right over the grocery store and you're overlooking it from the table we were at. Overall a great experience and well e back soon for sure. read more

Cute atmosphere and decent food. But as mentioned, worst service ever. Pompous servers, who acted as though they were doing us a favor. Brunch at this price shouldn't take 3 hours for four guests. Too many better options. read more

Always such good food when we visit- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Portions are outstanding! Drinks are divine! But the service.... ugh, it physically hurts and leaves me with such a sour taste, that only my left over food the next day can rinse from my mouth. I've been multiple times, and EVERY SINGLE time besides the first (which this waiter does not work here anymore, Mike Sadii) has been immensely worse and worse. From the waiter that blatantly lied to my face about the scones in house (because he clearly had no idea), to the waiter just last night who asked US if we wanted him to add an extra charge to the bill that he forgot to add in the first place... excuse me? Not to mention the shortness and lack of enthusiasm in his tone and demeanor. The only saving grace was the company I surrounded myself with and the delicious meal that was placed before us. It seems that they do not take the proper amount of time nor effort to train their staff, leaving them on their own far too soon. read more

Bistro Joe's - Short ribs! - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Went there for brunch and had the corned beef hash. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. My mom had the Benedict and she seemed to really enjoy it. The ambiance is really nice, I was a little surprised that it's on top of a market, but once you walk upstairs you don't notice. We sat in the patio area and service was top notch. read more

Oh. Where do I start. I'm giving this a 3 for being average for the food+decor. They have many different options. The food just misses the mark--it's not impossible to eat, but it's not something I am excited about eating. We have tried the Bistro salad (Flavorless. Was there any dressing?), the prosciutto flat bread (Can't taste the prosciutto. The balsamic glaze is ridiculously sweet. The bread? Something is just off), and the only thing we liked, the mussels. We will not be returning for any meals in the future. The only thing I'm still interested in trying is their happy hour oyster special. read more

Good menu and good food but soooo slow and nothing comes out of the kitchen correctly or at the same time. It's too bad that the slow service and incompetent kitchen ruin the restaraunt. Also, half the heaters on the balcony are broken which made for a chilly dinner:( read more

We decided to visit Bistro Joes because they took reservations. On a Sunday brunch time is crazy everywhere therefore we thought if we chose a place with reservations things would flow better. We were celebrating our friend who is a mommy to be. Our reservations were set for 12 and when we arrived they told us our table wasn't ready. It took them 30 minutes to sit us down. We sat and were missing 2 seats and our utensils. Our waitress did come right away but once we ordered drinks (mind you 2 of us ordered bloody mary bar which means a cup of vodka alone) took 25 minutes to receive all our drinks. We then asked to speak to the manager. Food arrived except the plate of the mommy which we had to ask for and it all arrived room temp. They covered our drinks. The food was good tasting but overall the experience was not a nice one. I was really disappointed. read more

Oysters are phenomenal!! So fresh n tangy, $1 each during happy hour. With some fried Brussel sprouts and sliders, yum-o

Food was bad. My medium rare steak and the asparagus was burnt. My boyfriend ordered the sea bass and said it tasted off. The chip things that came with it were also burnt. The service was also lack luster. Our waiter was no where to be found when needed and didn't even ask if everything was ok when we both essentially left our food on the plate. Entire meal was $90 which was ridiculously overpriced. Not going back. Ever. read more

Dined here with a party of 8 (6 adults and 2 kiddos) during happy hour. We ordered the ahi tuna tacushi, 2 oysters, shrimp n grits, mac n cheese, Brussel sprouts, mushroom and margherita flatbreads, cheesy onion soup, and sliders. Everything was really tasty but the soup wasn't anything special. None of us drink so they were kind enough to make us virgin mojitos which were yummy! First time here but not the last! read more

Breakfast was great. Although after bringing home cupcakes we were shocked to find they were covered in mold. Gross! read more

Bistro Joe's - Moldy cupcake anyone??? - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Quite possibly the best restaurant I've been to in the greater Detroit area. The waitstaff was attentive, professional, and quick. The food was delicious and seasonal. The deck or was trendy; it was nice to have a semi open kitchen. It was rather similar to Eataly in Chicago, however the ambience here was more upscale hipster. Will definitely repeat in the very near future. read more

I don't usually leave reviews on Yelp, but my husband and I love this place. We always come for the happy hour and order up a bunch of reasonably priced appetizers. The mussels and escargot are great. Two childhood favorites I don't find on all that many menus. Bone marrow is a fairly generous portion compared to a lot of the places around here. Sticky ribs are fabulous, too! read more

Service and good are amazing. Went there not long after they opened and everything was great, it appeared as if they were open for years. I forget what I ordered, but it was full of flavour with a great presentation. I am hoping this place stays under the radar so I do not have to wait for a reservation. read more

The ahi tacos appetizer and flat bread pizza were amazing! But I have to say the atmosphere of this place is even better! Very cozy and you get the chance to look over papa joes. Despite the latest incident that occurred here I would most defiantly be back!!! read more