Went on a Sunday night. Seated promptly with our reservation. The place got busy with frequent customers. Service was quick and efficient throughout the night. Loved the escargot appetizer. Both of our entrees (filet & lamb) were good. Wish the potatoes au gratin were bigger portion sized. read more

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Love this place! I think it arguably has the best ambiance of any restaurant in Louisville. The food is always delicious! Scallops were incredible. Mussels appetizer was fabulous! read more

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What a gem in a small market. The restaurant's main dining area is very French and pleasantly sophisticated without being stuffy or overcrowded. The porch overlooks the local private small plane airfield (not the jet side of the operations, which are elsewhere) and sunset was nice with a pleasant breeze. The foot was well prepared and the service was excellent. Fantastic experience. read more

What can you say about a perfect restaurant? This is a wonderful place that makes a point to make you feel special. The service is impeccable, staff are professionally friendly and you can tell ownership cares. That's the key - they aren't merely giving you a meal, they are trying to provide an experience you want to enjoy again and again. Location, service , value on TOP of divine food - again.. what more can you ask for. If you are traveling to Louisville - definitely try to grab a table. it's a gem. read more

Bistro Le Relais - Bouillabaisse with lobster, shrimp, various fish and caviar on crustini. - French Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

The service and ambiance her is top tier. The staff are so attentive. Your plates and cups are picked up right away once you are finished. The place gets a little crowded because they have lots of guest but you can still talk and drink and be happy without bumping into people and without it being too loud. They are on the pricier side but it's worth it. read more

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Louisville's oldest or at least most consistently lasting French restaurant continues to hold up versus modern competition. The art deco terminal of Bowman Field still stands out as such a unique venue. (Bowman Field is now today the oldest continuously operating airfield in the entire country, its terminal building a true art deco throwback to an ancient age of air travel.) On my most recent visit, the service was detailed and excellent. The food was everything I wanted from a multi-course French inspired meal. Le Relais remains a welcome institution of Louisville cuisine. read more

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Great service and yummy food at Le Relais! We celebrated Friday night by splitting crab cakes, chicken Milanese, and a soufflé for dessert. While the food wasn't earth shattering, it was delicious, expertly prepared, and our bill really wasn't as high as what you would expect from such a beautiful and elegant restaurant. The drinks were delicious and my Key Lime Martini stood out because it wasn't overly sweet like I typically find them. The venue is also beautiful and unique and a gem for a nice dinner or just stopping by the bar. We will be back! read more

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The bar is great. Seats12. Comfortable and elegant. Good atmosphere, food and service. read more

Summer night in early October was date date for a yummy dinner in a lightly-buzzing dining room. Dinner, as expected because it's French, was at the peak of flavor all round. The best service by Ponch made the date great! read more

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Best friend date night was a hit at Le Relais! The ambience and service were amazing. We started with the Caesar salad and the calamari. The calamari was very buttery and the breading was so crispy. The contrast with the sauces was so delicious. read more

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I got a custom framing job done for an old family portrait, and the result is breathtaking. The owner took the time to show me dozens of matting and frame options, explaining what would highlight the photo best. The craftsmanship is flawless, and it looks like a museum piece now. It's so comforting to see someone take such pride in preserving people's precious memories. read more

Haven't stopped talking about our dinner last night, but not in a good way. Le Relais had been one of our favorite restaurants. Last night was our third visit in the last few months. Ambiance excellent. Service spotty at first. Had to stop waiter to order a cocktail. FOOD? French fries were unedible. We should have sent them back. All were brown, black shriveled and greasy. Should have photographed them. The lamb was well done but not ordered that way. For the price, we were very disappointed given how great the food had been in the past. read more

Group of 11 diners for a 6 PM reservation on a Thursday for our monthly fine dining club excursion. We initially gathered on the large covered deck attached to the back of the building and adjacent to Bowman Field airport. The airplane and helicopter traffic was fascinating and quite enjoyable to watch as we started off with a cocktail and conversation at 5:30. The breeze and shaded seating made the outdoor experience much more pleasant on such a hot day of 90+ temperatures. The seating was scattered around the patio with plenty of elbow room. Decor with live potted plants was beautiful. I started with a key lime martini (Absolut vodka, fresh lime and pineapple) which was sweet, tangy, fruity, and citrusy. We eventually migrated inside to our reserved table, which consisted of 5 chairs and an L-shaped banquette to seat the remaining 6 diners. This involved a lot of sliding and scooting for the patrons seated in the middle of the long bench. Linen tablecloths, tabletop votive candles with shades, vases with greenery, water carafes, and place settings were all components for a lovely tablescape. We perused the usual menu as well as a smaller special menu featuring current seasonal dishes. A wide range of choices was featured and sounded very intriguing. I began with the grilled peach salad (mixed greens served with red onions, toasted almonds, feta cheese and grilled peaches, finished with house made vinaigrette). I learned later from one of my table mates that this was available in full and half sizes -- I wish I'd known this prior to ordering. As far as a salad goes, it was fairly nondescript, likely not a repeat for me. I selected the duck confit for my entree (hind quarter served with celeriac puree, glazed carrots and grilled bok choy with bacon lardons, finished with duck demi-glace) after a glowing recommendation by another table mate who had prior knowledge, and it was a home run. The duck was a bit salty for my taste (personal preference), but rich and flavorful. The purée was divine. Yummy yum-oh. Finally, we finished with what had been presented on the menu as a Grand Marnier soufflé, which we'd been advised we would need to order in advance of the meal. I wish I'd had the foresight over 2 hours prior to forgo this particular dessert. It was sour-tasting and we were all fairly convinced it was lemon flavored and each diner concurred there was no hint of Grand Marnier. We left almost 2/3 of it untouched, which did not solicit an inquiry from the waitstaff -- that is, if they even noticed? Yukky yuk-yuk. The restaurant is darker wood tones and decor, retro artwork and posters, a bit noisy during a fully-populated dinner service. Bathrooms are dated and could benefit from an update. Service is above average, but not to the standard expected. We waited an extremely long time between courses with little to no explanation, watched multiple other patrons arrive and depart during our 6 to 8 PM dining, had to request water glass or carafe refills a few times, and servers sometimes reached crossways in front of and over diners instead of between and choosing a straightforward route, which led to some uncomfortable encounters and concern for food landing on one's head or lap. By the time checks were settled and we landed in the parking lot, the sun was low in the sky and close to 9 PM. A 3-hour tour with a $100 price tag (plus 28% tip). I do intend to return to this restaurant in the very near future to give it another try, likely with a party of less than 6. I want to sample more dishes and perhaps take advantage of al fresco dining on the patio with the added benefit of the airport "show" during our next visit. I'll update my review at that time and determine if it's worthy to be added to our rotation. Or not. read more

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Enjoyed a date night here. Was very much looking forward to the soufflé! Unfortunately, it arrived completely deflated. Which is bizarre because the other soufflés ordered by surrounding tables were not so pathetic. I'm actually surprised that the attendant who was not our server, who brought it out to me, did not offer to make it again when I expressed my displeasure. Otherwise, my steak was cooked to my liking. The frites were delicious. My dates fish dish was good but lacked salt. The crab cake was the star of the evening; Would recommend it. Had a glass of wine. Had perused the menu online prior and was very much looking forward to an interesting glass of red, but alas, the wine menu no longer included it. Oh well. Parking is plentiful. The attire is dressy. Noise level is low. I would go back but please use more seasoning on your fish and don't let the soufflé fall in the kitchen! read more

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Ahhh, the delights of fine French food! Steak and frites? Yesss and it's stellar. Soufflé? Of course, and to die for. Light and fluffy, perfection. Herbs for brunch, Grand Marnier for dinner. Delightful. Service? White glove, very attentive. Ambiance? Romantic and upscale, views of Bowman Field and lots of dark wood, art. So nice! The hostess is lovely, she's always so accommodating and sweet. Brunch or dinner, we are never disappointed. This is one of my very favorite restaurants in Louisville. read more

LeRelais never fails us! Had a beautiful Mother's Day brunch. Food was amazing and service was great as always. Truly a Louisville treasure!

Went to Le Relaid with a friend for dinner. The background is Bowman field which allows for a unique experience and nice view of the planes. They have outside seating but we opted to sit inside. It felt like a true Paris experience because the service is slower and they don't come to your table a lot. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and able to provide a description of the various options. One complaint is that it took a week to close out my ticket. The tip charge hit my account a week after I was at the restaurant. The food was delicious. I got the Steak au Poivre ($43). Fair warning due to the peppercorns, it is peppery. The fries were thin, crunchy goodness. They needed a touch more salt. I wanted ketchup but could not find my server and he did not come back until I was basically done. read more

Friend gave us a gift certificate so we had Sunday brunch today Food was very good Service was good. Waitstaff was very attentive Ambiance was very good It was packed at noon so obviously other people like it as well We will be returning read more

Le Relais at the Bowman Field is a wonderful experience. We dined with our restaurant club this visit and had a magnificent trip. From food to service, the experience was fantastic. As there was eleven of us, the service was much slower than usual but the previous trips my wife and have had here were perfect. read more

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I really enjoy this restaurant. The food and the service are both excellent every time you go. To be honest, though, I can find good food and service at a lot of places -- here's the big Cell on this place. They have a patio that you can sit outside and watch as the small planes and different aircraft come into Bowman Field airport, which is just so super cool. Very unique place absolutely worth trying for anybody. But make sure to get out on the patio if you can because that's the best seating. read more

Rich atmosphere! Greeted warmly. We're here on a Wednesday evening so only one other couple was there. Good cocktails! As an appetizer I got French onion soup and my wife got the oysters Rockefeller. She said they were very good as was my soup. We split a Guyere salad that was ...okay...I had the Cassoulet and it was very well done, very good mix of flavors. It had a little thin sauce but it was good. My wife had the Duck Confit. She said it was good. read more

Bistro Le Relais - Cassoulet - French Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Great service, Jack. Wonderful special occasion restaurant. Get the soufflé. Drinks are strong - in a great way. read more

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I recently dined for the first time at Bistro Le Relais for a work dinner. First of all, I had no idea this lovely little place existed, and in such an unexpected location on Bowman Field. The front of house staff, from the host to the server to the busser, was efficient, pleasant, and thoughtful. Being a plant based eater, I was concerned there wouldn't be many options for me, and although the menu is entirely devoid of vegan choices, our server and the chef were happy to accommodate some modifications. I very much enjoyed the Fall Squash salad (without feta) - the fresh chopped sage and basil added a nice depth of flavor. None of the entrées are vegan, however I was able to craft my own by ordering several sides prepared with olive oil instead of butter. The ratatouille is fantastic - eggplant, peppers, onions, and squash stewed in a delicate sauce - ultimate comfort food. The sautéed Brussels sprouts stole my heart - perfectly seasoned, excellent texture. I could eat an entire bucket of them for dinner quite happily. I ordered decaf coffee during dessert, however our server made sure I was aware of the mango sorbet which is vegan. The coffee was legit - which is not typical for decaf. Overall I enjoyed the experience more than I expected. If it were just about the food I would give 4 stars, however the fact that they don't have any vegan options on the menu detracts a bit, and the pricing is slightly higher than I would prefer to pay for a salad ($13) and some veggies ($16) - even though they were delicious. If, however, you enjoy more carnivorous options and are looking for a unique view and some very tasty bistro food, definitely check it out. read more

Bistro Le Relais - Sautéed Brussels sprouts and ratatouille - French Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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The service and ambiance are always stellar and this time did not disappoint! The jazz band nights always attracts a crowd and I got the last available table! Sometimes you just want a burger and the one at LeRelais is excellent. Of course, the souffle was to die for. So glad this place is still in business! read more

The service was terrible. Waited 30 minutes to get refills. When they were passing the bread they skipped someone In our party, they were super stingy with the slices of bread. Felt like if you didn't come from money then they would ignore you on purpose. Not worth the price of the food. I got better service at Waffle House than this place and that's sad. read more

A lovely building, charming interior, it has a very 1920's vibe to it. Started off with the Escargots de Bourgogne: snails cooked in garlic herb butter. My first time having snails! They were good, but probably nothing I would order again, it was sort of a "ok I tried them" type moment My entree was the Seared Sea Scallops: champagne tarragon beurre blanc, served with ratatouille and mushroom risotto. Delicious, the scallops were the star of the show, they were huge and meaty and so delicious. For dessert I had the Crème Brûlée: vanilla bean custard topped with a layer of hard caramel. You can never go wrong with creme brulee. I guess if I had any criticism, it would be that I made the reservation because it was my birthday, and noted that. When we arrived the man greeting us asked us who made the reservation. I said I did. He then went on to say Happy Birthday to my friend! We corrected him and he then acted weird, like it was the most unusual thing to make your own reservation, and I felt like he thought we were lying or something. Then throughout the whole meal the service was excellent, but it was like any other day. I don't expect free things or a show or anything but maybe ANYTHING to note that this was a special occasion for me? Like to write happy birthday on the dessert plate or something? Anyway thats the only thing. Like I would come here again but probably not for a special occasion. read more

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The place hasn't seen a remodel in what looks like 40 years. Old old old... Tables are really squeezed in. It was much louder than I would prefer for a fine dining experience. The food was good but not that good. When you compare to the other fine dining experiences, the food is meh. Note - you will enjoy it, but not more than the next $100/person restaurant. I ordered the sea bass with brussel sprouts. Unfortunately, the brussel sprouts came out cold. They were corrected quickly, but this should not have been an issue. While the food and service are adequate, there is not value in the price. There are better fine dining restaurants in the city. read more

Great food, Great Prices, Phenomenal wait staff. Fun and unique cocktails. The Grand Marnier soufflé is worth a visit all by itself. The atmosphere is upscale but welcoming. Can't wait to visit again. read more

If you want to live out your expatriate Casablanca dreams while languishing in fields of bluegrass, you can do worse than take a trip to Bistro Le Relais. Nestled into a corner of a regional airport terminal, with walls painted a ravishing caramel mauve hue, Bistro Le Relais oozes Art Deco vibes and serves up excellent French classics in a buoyant, sophisticated atmosphere. If you are lucky there may be a musician or two on site to add some French gypsy jazz to your dining experience. If you are especially eager to live out your Casablanca craving and imagine watching your plane arrive, dine on the patio in back, facing the runways, if weather permits. Cocktails are well-executed and the wine list covers all the major French regions. We opted for a Chateauneuf-du-Pape, I believe, because that's what we do. It was excellent. I had a summer salad on special and the rack of lamb (rare, of course). Both were excellent. Kelly had the rainbow trout, which was superb. There was a Grand Marnier souffle on special, and while that was excellent I was kicking myself after seeing a nearby patron dine on the chocolate mousse, which looked amazing. Foolishly, I did not simply order another dessert. Guess I'll have to return! read more

We had a great meal with food and drinks! Everything tasted amazing, and our waiter was not only friendly but quick! Our downfall was that multiple times throughout our night, we heard a manager speak negatively to staff. She gave poor corrective criticism to bar staff next to customers which seemed rude, considering we could see how hard they were working. Overall, detracted from the experience. read more

Dinner at Bistro Le Relais in Louisville, KY was nothing short of amazing. The cocktail I had is one of the aviation themed drinks called Paper Plane. Vacherin potatoes was one of the weekly specials - creamy, aromatic Swiss cheese...need I say more? The scallops with champagne tarragon beurre blanc, ratatouille, mushroom risotto were the best, melt in your mouth scallops I have ever had. I wish I had room for dessert - next time! read more

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Enjoyed sitting at the new, beautiful bar last night. Drinks were delicious and the food was fabulous. The service was top notch and the live jazz playing in the background was great. A perfect evening! Others in my party were first timers but now big fans. Thank you, Amy for wonderful experience. read more

Great service. Delicious food. Well worth the money. Definitely a must try! The view is also super cool! read more

Bistro Le Relais - a plate of food - French Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

HEARTBROKEN I REALLY wanted to still be in love with Le Relais. For the prices they charge, the food should at least be SEASONED. The service was lukewarm at best. My water glass was empty on several occasions. I ordered soup, a meal, and a side and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM could use salt, at the least. Everyone else in the restaurant was probably 70 or over, so maybe when I'm watching my sodium I can come back. Heartbreaking downslide after my REALLY move last visit. SAVE YOUR CASH. read more

Food and service were spot on. Will definitely return. Great 'old school' environment.

I made reservations for 1 on a Wed night. Restaurant pretty full for a weeknight. The maître d' took my coat and hung it up and seated me. I ordered: Foie gras as the appetizer Half portion salmon (3oz) Grand marnier soufflé for dessert Likes: Complimentary bread and salted butter (butter was yummy) Foie gras was rich and fatty. Good on the brioche. Salmon was cooked perfectly. Soufflé was highlight of the dinner. I liked that I don't taste any alcohol (I don't like alcohol) and it was light and fluffy inside and soooo soft and pillowy. The top was sweet and crunchy. So delicious! Dislikes: Bread not warm Brussels with the salmon was a little plain. Same with the risotto underneath. I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner and will come back again to try a different appetizer and entree. read more

Because when your boyfriend's history major mom is in town, you go Art Deco. I had been lusting after Bistro Le Relais for years, so when I found out that it would be the place I finally got to meet Robert's mom, I was pretty excited. I figured that if she ended up hating me, I'd at least get a good meal. I did not get a good meal...I got an experience. Stepping into Le Relais is like stepping back into the 1920's, from the doorway to the patio, all is Art Deco (with a bit of WWII era thrown in). It was a hot day, so we ate inside, but we all thought it would be pretty darn cool to sit outside, drink cocktails, and watch the planes take off like people got to do back when air travel didn't suck. When you use the restroom, you get to go through the main waiting area of the Bowman Field terminal, which adds to the time travel/museum experience. We started with cocktails - Robert had an old fashioned that was much to boozy, but his mom had a perfectly-crafted French 75, and I had a paper plane (appropriate, I thought). My cocktail was the best, I think. I was please to see they had a champagne royal on the menu. It was the first cocktail I had in French-speaking Switzerland, and is the quintessential traditional French bistro cocktail for me. For starters, we got escargot and the Wild Chesapeake Oyster salade. The escargot were as good as any I had in Paris; earthy, but not rubbery, and drowning in garlic herb butter sauce. The salad was the highlight of the meal. My boyfriend does not like oysters, but these were crispy and savory with just a hint of ocean. The creaminess of the charred scallion dressing, the freshness of the frisée, the tartness of the tomatoes, and the sweetness of the grilled corn came together with the oysters for a salad that was perfect bite after perfect bite. For our mains, we all ordered seafood. I got the scallops, which were exceptionally tender. The leek and pea risotto was mellow and didn't overpower the scallops, and the grapefruit compote added an interesting zap of bitterness to each bite. My boyfriend's mom got the salmon, which was also perfectly cooked. The highlight of my boyfriend's meal was the trout. It was so light, so tender and moist in the middle, and so crispy around the edges. To me, trout tastes a bit like river, and while this one did too, it was also incredibly fresh - maybe even better than the trout I had at Barn 8. With his trout, he got gratin dauphinois, which is very thinly-sliced potatoes baked with onion, gruyere and other cheeses, and just insane amounts of butter. If you have the option to add this as a side just do it and don't worry about the calories. For dessert we shared a wonderful tiramisu. Our server was attentive without being pushy and gave great. Our bill was well over $100 but less than $200. It's not a cheap dinner, but I do feel like the experience you get is worth the bill, and it is slightly less expensive than some comparable restaurants in town. read more

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One of our favorite spots for fine dining in Louisville without breaking your wallet. Cool art deco atmosphere with a view of the small airport activity - on a nice evening the patio dining is lovely. Recent visit highlights included cocktails - old fashioned and French 75, which were both great. Food experience was OK, and would recommend their traditional French dishes. This is a nice place to bring out of town visitors or to have a quiet date night. read more

Great spot for a date night. Food was delicious. Atmosphere was great. Service was awesome. Highly recommend.

My wife loves French food and we've been dining at Le Relais for special occasions since 1984. This time it was for her 60th birthday. We reported this happy occasion to the owner as he seated us. First, we greatly enjoyed our meals and the service by our waiter, water server, bartender and kitchen staff was perfection. They were all attentive to their tasks, friendly and professional. We will be back, but not often because it is very expensive and many items are overpriced We return every few years because of the great service, the atmosphere and the entrées not offered anywhere else. My critique includes both good and not so good observations. The New and Old Fashion is excellent and every but as good as I make at home ($14.50). But it's too expensive by about $4. The Parisian Martini ($12) with vodka, elderberry liquor, pineapple and lemon juice was fresh and evocative (and I will be sure to credit them when I serve it to guests). And also overpriced by $2. Also, I was facing the bar and the bartender has talent and works quickly. The escargot ($18) and calamari ($14) are both excellent and worth every penny. The pomegranate gazpacho ($11) was so delicious that I obtained the ingredients from the chef to make at home. The sautéd scallops ($33) features three perfectly seared scallops on a small portion of jasmine rice flavored with a hint of ratatouille. This was really disappointing. I expect a dish that boasts ratatouille to include a good portion of visible squash and eggplant. I understand French understatement does not feature American size portions. But I've eaten ratatouille in Paris and this was a big miss. I could have forgiven this if there was a suitable serving of the rice, but it was not more than 1/2 cup. For $33, we deserve more than an appetizer and should have been served 4 scallops or a 2/3 cup each of rice and veggies. The rack of lamb ($46) featured three 3oz lamb chops (with bone) and one bone with no lamb chop topped with a amazing but overly seasoned sherry mustard jus. It was served with a three inch square of ordinary, and a bit over baked, very buttery potatoes gratin, about 5 very skinny and under cooked purple carrots sautéd in a delicious maple bourbon butter sauce, and four supposedly roasted fat green asparagus stalks that showed no signs of being roasted or elevated in any way (ordered extra for $7). The lamb was perfectly roasted to my taste. The waiter promised medium rare, but the lamb chops were superbly charred and absolutely rare inside. I am guessing that this was not intentional but I loved it. I did not love spending $46 on 9 oz of lamb. And how did a bone with no chop leave the kitchen? And I am happy with raw heated carrot in a beautifully balanced maple bourbon sauce, but why not select larger carrots or serve 7-8 on the plate? Also, most people prefer softer carrots. We finished with the Grand Marnier Soufflé. If was dreamy. Airy and orangey. I had a nice cappuccino with it. The soufflé featured a lit candle and a "Happy Birthday ". There was no other recognition by the owner of our occasion and the soufflé was on us. I did note that the place filled with obvious regulars who received due attention from the owner, but his lack of concern for us ensures that we will never view his restaurant as "our place". All in all an enjoyable dinner for $179, not counting a $40 tip, with superb service and uneven attention by the chef who has developed a very good regular menu but is not taking the time to taste the dishes or ensure appropriate portions. read more