We had an amazing dinner there on Sunday night the food was out of this world the service was too perfection and the wine was absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much can't wait to come back read more

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Visited this place on a Friday night. They were busy and it took about 40 min to get our food. It was a cute place, intimate setting. The fettuccine with scallops, canneloni with ragu were fantastic. The risotto was under cooked. We had to send it back to get it cooked some more. We were disappointed with the experience since it was an expensive meal and we waited so long for the food. read more

New owner alert as of 5 months ago. Used to eat here whenever we were in town since they opened 2007. Menu has changed quite a bit as well. Sad to see some favorites go, such as the fries and garlic aioli and Coq Au VIN. Also the prices have skyrocketed. It one of our favorite French restaurants. No more. Could not finish my French onion soup, gnocchi or breaded pork chop. The gnocchi ($18 for the app) was a big part of why I loved this place. It didn't hold together, it broke apart and was mushy. More of a bread spread now. Also temp was not warm enough. Soup ($16) was not hot but warm. Not salty enough. Too tangy. Too much acid. Pork chop ($52) was under seasoned. They didn't season the breading or pork. Just bland. Presentation resembled what you would find at a diner. Spaghettoni was under seasoned. Quite bland. 40 cherry tomatoes and some pasta. Bread and butter was good. Service was good. Ambiance almost nonexistent. It was darker, cozier and had more French inspiration. It's lighter now, more open, and maybe it's Mediterranean style decor? It was warm and the air thick inside. Felt nice to walk outside after our meal. We skipped dessert. Will not return or recommend. read more

By far, the BEST meal that I've had this year. From the service (GREAT) to the atmosphere (warm and inviting) to the awesomely created and served food. Their French cuisine is spot on, including their Poulet Roti (SCRUMPTIOUS) and their Cannelloni Tartufi (DELICIOUS) DEFINITELY a must go when visiting Monterey, you won't be disappointed! Remember, they're not "French Fries" but rather, "Pommes Frites"! read more

New ownership!!! I used to like this place....now I LOVE it!! Although no longer traditional French bistro food, the new menu is fresh and interesting Italian. Run, don't walk, to this spot that had a much needed facelift both in looks and taste. read more

Anniversary dinner was a hit. The place is small but cute. Service was great and food was amazing. Everything was flavorful and filling. The wine list is plenty. COVID-19 didn't stop this place from shining.... just don't forget your mask. Enjoy! read more

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This place was really disappointing. We were looking forward to it due to the good reviews but while we were seated quickly (we had a reservation), service was slow and the food was bland or burnt. We had to ask for salt. The waitress seemed tired and the experience didn't feel very welcoming. We didn't receive our food until nearly forty minutes after we ordered and only after we asked about whether it would be coming soon. It also got dark while we were there and no additional light or candles were provided so our table was really dark. We left as soon as we could. It was supposed to be a special night but I wished we had eaten anywhere else, especially considering the price. read more

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As for masking, the man who seated us was unmasked. The waitress was also unmasked but the lady who bused our dishes was masked. The Delta variant now has a new strain that just emerged in the UK which has spread to thousands. We will only dine outdoors. read more

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One member of our party was not served even after the rest of us were finished with our food. They refused to take the item off the bill. No apology was offered. The food that did come was acceptable but not anything special. Definitely will not come again. read more

Attentive service along with fresh, clean, beautiful food that satisfies the palate and the soul. This is the best kept secret in Monterey. Highly recommend Bistro Moulin. read more

The food was good, but over cooked. Ordered the rib eye, medium rare and it was served medium. My daughter ordered the fresh fish and enjoyed it. The seating and overall ambiance is quite nice, lighting was just right. It was good until a little kid started banging on the table and yelling several times (parents sitting right there). The table service was outstanding. I had been a regular customer for several years, that is when we come up from Los Angeles about three or four times a year. Here is my disappointment, my brother had given me a gift card to Bistro Moulin because we would go so often. Well, with the change of ownership they choose not to honor the gift card. I really used to enjoy going there, but after this experience I will not be going back. My loyalty to Bistro Moulin meant nothing and that left a bad taste in my mouth. There are many other restaurants in Monterey, I have others where I am appreciated. read more

The food, the service, everything was incredible. Service was prompt for a rather busy night. Everything was absolutely fantastic. I had the boar ragu pasta and my wife had the short ribs. The short ribs were short tender and full of flavor. Definitely order dessert. We had the coppa limone and it was light, sweet and delicious. The restaurant has certainly leveled-up under the new ownership. read more

I have no words. We strolled in right at opening, I started the night off with the french onion soup. Hands down, the best french onion soup I've ever had. My husband ordered (and thoroughly enjoyed) the escargot. For main course, we had the gnocchi and the cannelloni. Both were served piping hot. I can't explain what happened during my first bite of gnocchi, but I had a strong urge to drop my utensils and go snorkeling in the sauce. Some places end up with a sauce so salty when they try to infuse the cheese, but not this place. I am fairly salt sensitive, I don't eat a lot of fast foods because they're too salty. Not this place. They found the perfect balance of savory, cheesy, creamy, and the exact right amount of salt, which I imagine happened when the chef cried tears of joy into a perfectly made sauce. Finally, we finished our meal with creme brulee. They brulee'd the sugar so perfectly, the crust was fairly thick, but not burnt or charred in any areas. Perfectly sweet and creamy. Honestly, I'm still thinking about this meal. read more

When we visit Monterey we make it a point to try new places.. we want to be surprised, inspired and treated to new food experiences.... . This is the second time we've tried this place and we were inspired, surprised and treated to excellent food, wonderful service and an atmosphere that transplants you to a bistro in France... though to be fair, I've never had Good this good there.... When in Monterey, treat yourself to this surprising place that will leave you inspired Ps. One of these times I'll have to remember to take a photo before it's all gone read more

Food was amazingly good, and fresh. Small family owned restaurant. Must try for yourselves! Simply delicious. Will definitely repeat. read more

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Spectacular food, warm atmosphere, and friendly staff made our dinner completely wonderful. You feel instinctively that there are real people in the kitchen cooking the menu item just for you. The server explains how the chef likes to do the lamb, and it arrives looking gorgeous and reportedly had a magnificent taste. The server adapted to our slow pace seamlessly. I also liked that my unusual (but standard for me) order of salad for desert was taken without a twitch of an eye. Of course I picked up that habit from my French Canadian grandfather, so maybe it was a natural event in this truly French restaurant. Each course had careful, unique tastes, and we left happy that we had a diner that was as beautiful as the Bay itself. Bistro Moulin was the best restaurant of our vacation. read more

We have been coming here for date nights for years! The service and food absolutely never disappoint. The carrot tapenade is the absolute best thing ever. We have been trying to recreate it at home ever since we first had it. Hopefully someday they will bottle and sell it! We will continue to be loyal customers! Make a reservation and give this place a try! read more

The owners are wonderful. They care about their customers. The food was amazing! Had a great time.

Been coming here for years our go to when in Monterey. Hasn't changed a bit still family run wonderful French country bistro food true and authentic. Cute place great food service excellent. read more

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Great french food, and warm service (even on a busy Labor Day weekend) Traditional menu items were well-executed - french onion soup had nice sweet onion flavor, salty stringy cheese; great! - fresh bread with nice texture, cold salted butter - fantastic escargot texture and flavor, butter, more raw minced garlic, herbs - beschamel gnocchi was super plump and creamy, can't get enough - osso de bucco had great rich flavor, nice texture, and the bone marrow was the very best! - duck confit was good, but texture could have been enhanced with a bit more jus or demi glace - creme brulee vanilla was outstanding, the brulee was not burnt tasting - profiteroles had great ice cream Worth the extra walk couple blocks away from the Aquarium. Enjoy here! read more

This is the place to go to for a romantic, private, homey atmosphere. We were greeted by Chef Federico (owner) who shared the evening's specials. We went with his recommendations and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed dipping fresh bread and small biscuits into olive oil from Tuscany. Our starter was French onion soup. Our main plates were peach arugula salad and the fish of the day, Alaskan halibut. We finished the night with a dessert made by his wife Sabrina (general manager). It was not on the menu but it looked like cream puffs. We also got a free sorbet In celebration of our anniversary. Everything was superb. The individualized attention at each table by this power couple was inspiring. We'd love to come back for more. read more

We had dinner on a Wednesday evening - Throughout the entire dinner it was extremely loud. The two of us couldn't hear each other talk across the table. They packed tables together like sardines. It's definitely not a quiet romantic place ( no view). For the price, the ambience was lacking and not relaxing or comfortable. - There was no complimentary bread! - The food portions were good. - The onion soup was good. 4/5. Missing the sherry which is used in the authentic French recipe. - the duck confit was very tender however the skin was soggy and not crisp as the French intended it to be. 3/5 - the seafood pasta was good 4/5. ( mussels were overcooked) With all the choices in the area, not sure I would return. read more

Had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed everything we tried! Amazing duck!! Well-selected wine list, too.

Wonderful! That's why we had to come back again. We remembered it from previous trips and so happy they are still in business. We started with French Onion soup which was delicious. Also had the Pate. Another good starter. There were so many things I wanted we had to decide which to give up. Then had the Sea Bass and Osso Bucco. (My favorite between the two was the sea bass) and now we are waiting for profiteroles. Stuffed and happy. Excellent service as well! read more

So glad we came here instead of all the other touristy restaurants that were rated best on tripadvisor. This restaurant is so cute, warm, cozy, and romantic. And the food and wine and service were amazing! We got a reservation at 8:30pm and easily found a spot to park on the street and it was free parking at that time as well. We didn't have to wait long at all before getting seated. We got some pate to start with and it was very good. I'm glad I listened to other reviews and ordered the spinach gnocchi. It was so creamy and delicious and the entree portion was huge! I definitely could not have finished by myself. My husband ordered the special which was a sea bass dish and the waitress was also nice to recommend a very nice wine to go with it. We were both very happy with our choices. The service was very good here, we were pretty much the last people in there but they did not rush us. And was excited to show us their unique cream brûlée, which we ended up ordering and it was pretty good. Very rich in flavor. Overall, an excellent experience. I highly recommend this place if you're in Monterey! read more

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Ever since Fifi's closed there's been a hole in Monterey's restaurant scene. Bistro Moulin fills that hole in spades. We've come here for two Valentine's Days in a row and have not been disappointed at all. My wife loves their Escargot and the Garlic Hazelnut butter is divine when sopped up with the house made bread. I have tried both the Terrine de Campagne and Gnocchi aux Épinards appetizers and been impressed with both. The Paté is delicious but the Gnocchi is magnificent, great flavor and melts in your mouth. Our server this year offered us an alternative to the Champagne Cocktail that my wife wanted, because they didn't serve that, so we got a Kir Royale, which has become our new favorite cocktail and went with everything else we had during the evening. My wife has had the Rouelles de Veau and Filet au Poivre and both were exceptional. I am a big Duck fan so I've had both the Confit de Canard and the special Duck Breast that they offered this year, and they were sublime. And, because we love desserts we've tried Mousse au Chocolat, Lemon Meringue Tartlet, Tiramisu, and Crème Brûlée - twice, and will do it again next time we visit. Bon appétit! read more

We absolutely love this place! This is our family go to restaurant. If we can't get in on a last minute we order for pick up and it's just as good! read more

I became a little concerned when I learned of new owners at an old favorite. That was completely unwarranted! There is an improvement in of the arrangement of the tables and a much needed freshening of the decor, some nice tweaks to the menu and the same dedication to quality food preparation. Everything we ate was exceptional. We ordered a beet salad, an appetizer of scallops that were amazing that had a brilliant combination of flavors. Sweet, smoky and textured. Duck confit (in house confited) with black lentils and vegetables was perfection We finished with an imported Italian desert that was lovely but we would have rather seen something house made on the menu. There was a nice, fairly priced wine selection Service was gracious and new owners indulged us in conversation. A perfect evening. Thank you read more

This gem of a restaurant is worth the trip every single time. The food is always exceptional, and it's a must do every time we're in the area. The restaurant is small and intimate, and the owner and staff are fantastic. Perfect date night spot! read more

Bistro Moulin - Poulet Roti Aux Herbes - seared duck Coq Au Vin - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Such wonderful food!!! Been searching for 20 (!) years for delicious French cuisine!! Had my first mouthwatering mussels on a rooftop in Nice - then again last night!! Could not have been easier- order online for curbside pickup!!! read more

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This restaurant came highly recommended by a handful of friends, one who we happened to be staying with just a few blocks away. Our group of four had a reservation for Friday night and were seated promptly. The restaurant is fairly small, so a reservation is probably a good idea. Someone immediately brought us a complimentary appetizer, caramelized carrot bruschetta. This was a lovely introduction to our meal, slightly sweet, mostly savory. They also brought us bread and butter. My honey and shared a bowl fo the French Onion Soup, which is delicious, although a bit small for the $13 price tag. For my main dish, I got the fish of the day, which was petrale sole, served over spaghetti squash, and artichokes. The fish was cooked perfectly and all ingredients worked together harmoniously. My honey and our friends were equally pleased with their main dishes, duck confit and mussels. We shared a side of brussels sprouts, which were one of the underwhelming things for me and the only thing we didn't finish. Somehow, we saved room for dessert and our table split the cheese plate and chocolate mousse. The mousse was good, although my honey makes an amazing one at home, so this makes any restaurant dish pale in comparison. The cheese plate was perfectly proportioned and balanced in flavor. I wish more restaurants would pick up on the savory final course idea because I think cheese is a great way to end a meal. Our total, including a $100 bottle of wine, came out to ~$80 per person. All things considered, while there were a couple misses, the hits were so big that they easily lock in five stars for me. read more

This little spot is really great! The food is lovely and they have a very nice wine selection. My husband and I came here several times now - the first was our anniversary. It was quaint, romantic, the staff was knowledgeable about the menu and our meal was amazing. read more

Romantic ambiance and cozy atmosphere. Service was friendly and attentive. When we called to make reservations we underestimated the head count and placed for 10 people. When we arrived, we had a party of 13. Staff was flexible and was able to accommodate the party. There was a short wait but we didn't mind at all! The girls had a round table of their own right next to us. There is a wide selection of appetizers, Hors D'oeuvres, entrees, sides and wine. We were started off with complimentary bread and some kind of carrot sauce which was nice and light. The Gratinee A Loignon (classic french onion soup "au gratin") was really good and is a must try. We also ordered the Betteraves Roties (roasted beets, petite salad, goat cheese & candied walnuts) and Escargots Au Beurre A Lail Et Aux Noisettes (escargots with garlic and hazelnut butter). Both were decent and great for sharing. I LOVED and highly recommend the Gnocchi Aux Epinards! The spinach gnocchi au gratin and parmesan cream sauce were delicious and comes out in a hot pan. Every bite was amazing and flavorful :P The Steak Bordelaise (grilled hanger steak, shallot-cabernet sauce, and pommes frites) was also delicious and was perfectly cooked medium rare. The hubby had Confit De Canard (duck confit with beluga lentils, golden beets, and petite salad). The duck was a bit dry and overall a bit too salty. read more

Bistro Moulin - Steak Bordelaise - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Adorable little restaurant 1 block away from the Aquarium. This place was recommended by my boss. We had reservations for an early dinner, but it wasn't that crowded. The place is cute, not that fancy, and the staff are super friendly. Some people brought their well-behaved kids. We were given a carrot dip and toasted baguette slices to start off. It was refreshing and something different. Bread could have been better, texture was a bit "old", but it was served warm. Can't complain too much since this was on-the-house. Our server brought water for us and we ordered. He informed us that it will take 20 minutes to cook the food. Our entrees came out faster than that, but the heads-up was a nice touch. DH got the special, which was "Joues de Porc", braised pork cheeks, brussel sprouts, caramelized onion whipped potatoes, and morel mushroom demi glace. The pork was meltingly tender and the sauce had just enough oomph to stand on its own. It is NOT over salted, like many fancy restaurants. The people who complained the food had no flavor are probably just used to super salty food. In that case, you can always order the spinach gnocchi. This is the "famous dish" that Bistro Moulin is known for. If you visit their website, you can see a video of how the chef prepares it. The gnocchi are not like the standard ones, they're larger and softer, almost paste-like. The potent sauce is definitely the highlight. It is super creamy, carefully caramelized on the top, and packed with whopping umami punch. Just don't think that you're drinking straight cheese + cream and you'll be fine. :) There is an appetizer sized version, but the dinner one is only a few dollars more. We shared a dessert, the "homemade tiramisu", which was largely house-made whipped cream with a little bit of spongy cake on the bottom. It was soaked with a small amount of liqueur. I didn't notice much of an espresso flavor. DH said, "It was fine, but not outstanding. It was not worth the money. It was mild. Needed more liqueur. Too much cream to cake ratio." Overall, a neat place to try in the heart of Monterey, that's quite different than the regular seafood spots. Food was technically difficult and executed well overall. Prices were around $18-25/entree, $10-15 for appetizers, $5-10 for desserts/coffee. If you get wine and apps, then it can really add up. If you're on a budget, I'd suggest getting an entree only, then getting your coffee/dessert/alcohol elsewhere. read more

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I absolutely love this place. The location makes is very convenient if you are at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The reality is it's a convenient place no matter what you might be doing in town, or even if you are just passing thru. The last few times I have come to town I have been able to go to dinner here, sometimes on the late side as we didn't have a reservation. I'm sort of a creature of habit, I love the mussels and fries. They are absolutely delicious. The chef is totally classic and I love to watch him cook, if you happen to be seated in the right place you can watch him run the small open kitchen. He knows his routine and it's a joy to watch. I love to watch the French chef make the french fries. They have a wonderful selection of wine but the beer is a bit limited. If you order tea they have a huge selection, they bring you the collection of about 20 to pick from. The place its totally intimate, a great place to go for a romantic date night. It also is a wonderful place for the whole family. After a long hard day on the woods or at the beach this place never fails to satisfy. Just love it. read more

Bistro Moulin - Moules-frites - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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We were in the area and saw their sign in the morning that said they would be open for happy hour at 2. We are so happy we came back! We had our 5 and 7 year old with us and they were very welcoming to us! My husband and I got to enjoy a bottle of french white wine and some delicious food. Our waitress was a joy and so happy to have us! We will be visiting again when we are in the area! read more

Bistro Moulin - Ordered the octopus over potatoes with lovely olive oil sauce. - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Came here for dinner on New Years Eve. Food is great and ambiance is intimate. We started with the escargot and highly recommend it. Service is impeccable. We will definitely come back when returning to Monterey. read more

Bistro Moulin - Escargot - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

Everything that I had here was amazing. Spinach gnocchi, duck confit, and escargot were all delicious! Also, the restaurant itself is very cozy and reminiscent of a small cafe in Paris. First of all, the escargot was seasoned richly in this sort of garlic-basil concoction and was served in the pans that are made especially for escargot (they look like small pots with holes in them...the escargot goes into the holes). The spinach gnocchi was served in a hot pan and I kid you not, it is as good as the gnocchi I've had in Italy. It is super soft and not too chewy and the cheese/sauce that it is served with is heavenly! The duck was super tender and literally fell off the bone. read more

Bistro Moulin - Spinach gnocchi - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

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Thanks for an amazing dinner! Loved celebrating 30 yrs. @Bistro moulin lovely evening together!! read more

Bistro Moulin - Thank u for an amazing dinner last night! Great service & the food thanks for helping us celebrate 30 years together - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterey, California

We tried Bistro Moulin one night on our vacation in Monterey a couple weeks ago. It was a really nice change of pace from the normal seafood/ocean focused restaurants. Everything we tried was so good!! We shared a bottle of local wine and tried the escargots to start. The garlic butter in the escargot is great to dip with the bread! My boyfriend had the cannelloni tartufi and I had the coq au vin. Both were amazing, but I was in love with the cannelloni, it's a must try. For dessert we split a lemon meringue tartlet which was a refreshing end to our meals. A great local place with a cozy ambience and friendly service, too! *Make sure to make a reservation!* read more

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