Oddly, Atlanta is lacking compared to most other metros in French cuisine. Bistro Niko is luckily a good choice for French fare! One of my gal pals and I were driving down Peachtree on a Friday night after shoe shopping at Phipps. It was a cool summer night, the sunroof was open, and we were gabbing on about the wonderful deal we got on our shoes, when this wonderful aroma slammed our senses. I immediately turned into the driveway and made our way in. When I pulled up we had the choice of valet or self parking. I tend to shy away from valets when I can because of some horrible past experiences, so I pulled up to the parking deck. There was no signage as to rates or parking validation. That was a minus. Regardless, we parked and walked in. As a few of the posters mentioned the hostesses looked like they were going to "da club". They also seemed quite confused as to how to seat 2 people. They had a few tables available, and we asked to sit close to the patio. Between two of them, we ended up doing a loop around the restaurant until we pointed out the table. Because of the parking and the confused hostesses, I am dinging them a star. Our server was adorable and attentive. We weren't super hungry so we decided to split everything. They were very accommodating. We couldn't decide between two wines, so our server brought a tasting of both. For an appetizer, we ordered the escargot. Loved the puff pastry shell with it. They even brought us more warm bread to sop up the the yummy herb butter and olive oil sauce in the bottom of the dish. For dinner we split the steak au poivre, which melted in our mouths. For dessert, the profiteroles! Vanilla ice cream sandwiched in crispy pastry shells with a warm dark chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. I went to bed that night with a happy belly and some decked out feet. read more

The food was excellent but they tried to double the check. When we ask about the check, the waitress knew what was wrong without even looking at the ticket. Be sure and check the total. Update: We went back and had a delightful dinner, the best tip I can give is ask for the salon. It is quaint and quiet enough to chat. Trout is great and my husband loves the pizza. read more

I dined here for a business lunch and it started off on the wrong foot when I had to pay $1.50 for the valet fee ( not the tip). Annoyed, I went inside. My sour mood quickly went away. What a beautiful place. Was immediately greeted at the door and escorted to the host stand which sits across from the kitchen. I noticed how CLEAN the kitchen was and the gorgeous butcher block in the center. My business colleague showed up and we were shown to our table ( it was crowded). Since I waited tables in college, I am a tough customer - I don't think guests should have to wait long to be greeted. And I didn't! A gentleman immediately got us water and our server Jenny greeted us. One thing I should mention is I am Gluten Free. Jenny took the time to not only walk me through the menu but to triple check everything. Example - Gazpacho is usually safe, but upon double checking with the chef she let me know they use a touch of flour to thicken it. Many severs wouldn't have done that and she saved me a very painful discovery. I ended up having the special - a brisket sandwich ( sans the bread of course). It was TO DIE FOR. Perfectly seasoned, melty gruyere cheese and the SAUCE.. I think it was called maria rosa - DIVINE. I cannot remember what the dessert was called - but I devoured it. It was meringue, with toasted almonds and a vanilla bean sauce. Light, sweet and the PERFECT way to end the meal. I am a firm believer service can make or break an experience. Jenny was star quality. Our meal was an easy A and Jenny made it an A++ I cannot wait to take my fiancee back to Bistro Niko so he can taste for himself what I won't stop talking about! read more

Facing Peachtree near Piedmont (tower place complex) is bistro Niko. One of a very few French eateries in the city. Quite a large space reminiscent of FAB it's got the same high ceilings and lively crowd amid plenty of French fare. Some outdoor seating available (and if you want to hear your dining companions this may be a better option). Lively after work bar scene as well. If you're into that sort of thing. I am not but hey, that's just me. I know some of you need a stiff one after a 9-5 grind. Friendly attentive staff (I never know if they are extra friendly because I am taking photos and notes but I appreciate it nonetheless) and plenty of staff. Just what I like to see. My water glass will never want for water and my wine will flow freely. Really does anyone like a server spread too thin? This is a service industry after all. It's restaurant week and we ordered from both menus. I have to say this regular menu at Niko reads like poetry for a foodie that is completely enamoured of French cuisine. All the greats are there and then some. This more than a bistro, it's full on French food. First up is some salmon croque monsieur. This is incredibly rich. Salmon rich, cheese rich and fried in butter rich. Plan to share it and have some high acid wine with it. Good stuff but a little goes a long way. Coq au vin. Two juice fat hind quarters of a chicken. Wow. This one left me a little speechless. I haven't had a coq au vin quite this good. Dark, deeply flavored and tender as you want it. Impeccable presentation and a flavor that is far better than I expected. Full on 10 out of 10. Beef bourguignon. Luscious braised beef cheeks that came out steaming hot, full dense rich demi sauce that could be inhaled 2 feet away. I am not positive but I suspect the noodles are house made. Delicate and ideal texture for the dish. The sauce perfectly portioned so not sloppy or overly wet. The cheeks literally melt in the mouth. More tender than a short rib and the flavor was another speechless inducing moment if not several. I absolutely would have ordered it again if I had room to eat more. Baba au rhum is ok. It's very light but a bit bland. Delicious vanilla pastry cream in the center, tangy citrusy sauce (I was getting peach and kumquat but I can't confirm) . I didn't finish it. The crème brulee is excellent. Heavy cream base, good healthy vanilla flavor. That did get finished. Nice wines, atmosphere, food and service. I am absolutely returning. read more

We stopped in for lunch after doing a little holiday shopping at the "17th Floor of Tower Place". The hostess took our name and the manager escorted my wife, arm-in-arm, to an elevated banquet. The waiter quickly approached, calling us by name, that sneaky hostess! We ordered drinks and began to peruse the menu. You could be sitting in a Parisian brasserie. In fact you are, it's just in the ATL. The waitstaff, all smartly dressed in black with white aprons, are on point, seamlessly assisting each other with a little more water here and a fresh napkin there. There's a fun hustle and bustle to this place as you think that any minute, there's going to be someone "famous" walking by... Wait is that Neal Boortz at the bar? Someone's got to be driving those three Ferraris parked out front. We ordered the steak tartare with toast points and a salad rather than the frites. We also ordered the au poivre burger with frites. The tartare was excellent with a big beefy taste and just the right amount of Worcestershire, capers and a touch of anchovy. The salad was fresh and vibrant with a tart vinaigrette. The burger on a fresh brioche bun was one of the best we've had in quite sometime. It was expertly cooked to a medium rare and complimented by the peppercorn crust, gruyere cheese, mushrooms and a brandy pepper sauce. And those frites? Crispy, hot goodness. Washed down with a Quadrupel St. Bernardus ABT. 12 draft beer that was out of sight, this was a lunchtime experience that will have us returning very soon! read more

This is not your typical French restaurant, the food is Good not great, the experience is good the service is ok, be prepared to wait a while even with a reservation. Every time we went we had to wait. It's a good place to change it up once in a while but it will never be the goto place by default. read more

The service was NOT French, but the food definitely was. The scallops (Nantucket and Maine) were delectable. Possibly the best meal this girl has ever had. A wonderful place for a 10 year anniversary celebration. The bathrooms were sweet read more

First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. The food was flavorful, though parts of my entree came out at different times. I loved the decor. Valet is 2 plus tip...cheaper than self parking. The food was a but pricey but good none the less. read more

KG was our server and what an amazing job he does! From escargot to steak au poivre to our friend's birthday dessert...everything was wonderful! We had only been sitting a few moments when the manager checked on us to take our drink order before our server came over. What a fabulous night to celebrate our friend's birthday and start the weekend! read more

I just don't think I'm cut out to be French... I think this may have been the first time I had gone to have a big French dinner. I've tested the waters at small Bistros for lunch but never taken the dive into something big. This being said... we came here on a Friday night around 6:30. Not all that busy surprisingly given that it was during Restaurant week on a Friday night. The crowd did grow slowly as the the meal progressed making the room a little too loud as we were finishing up. The interior is very well done with swirls of design and imaginative lighting on the ceiling. A nice glass enclosed open kitchen welcomes you adjacent to the host stand. Service was cocky, but not bad. Something was off with him.... The food: I'm excited... beautiful restaurant, great look, feel, bathrooms... I'm good. I order the Coq Au Vin and my date the Duck a l'Orange. I can't say much other than I wasn't pleased. I know that French cuisine is all about the sauce and fat. Maybe for the first time in my life I didn't want all that. My chicken was bathing in a bowl of wine. Swimming in red wine that came half way up the bowl. The bacon strips were good, and vegetables cooked well, but the chicken was just too much. Somebody drowned this poor bird in wine and then braised the hell out of it. It was dark, too rich and so potent I couldn't finish. The A l'Orange wasn't far off. Cooked to a perfect medium yes. but so strong and bold with the excessive sauce on the plate I didn't care for the few bites I had. It was just too much. I came away whelmed... Maybe I just don't care for the idea of engulfing my food in liquid flavor as it's being served to me. Isn't that why they created soup? I don't plan on making a second trip. My dollars can find somewhere else to be spent. I think there's something more there though and I'm really hoping that I just caught the kitchen on a heavy handed night because the restaurant seems the have great potential and that's why our evening garnered three stars. Try it out, but might I suggest bringing along your chinois for the main course. read more

Excellent Service! Classic French bistro standbys served in upscale Buckhead location. My favorite dish was the "Le Grand Plat" charcuterie platter. It was huge and filled to the brim with meaty goodies like duck prosciutto, salami, pate and more and is a bargain at $19 dollars. It could be a meal by itself. For entree, had the Croque Madame which is like a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with a fried egg. Did it whisk me away to Paris? not really, but good nonetheless. Decided to be daring and ordered a cocktail for lunch. Picked the signature St. Germain with Champagne and it hit the spot. It's served in a lovely little carafe that you pour yourself. Great spot for lunch. Prices are surprisingly affordable. read more

Love Love Love the mushroom flatbread. I could eat a whole one by myself. Truly remarkable. The tomato flatbread is a star as well - must give credit where due. Of the foods I've had at Bistro Niko, only one has been any less than stellar. The only bad entree was a tuna salad, which tasted almost canned. However, the Croque Madame, Coq Au Vin, butternut squash soup, tortellini, creme brulee, and profiteroles are magnifique. (What can I say? We have a lot of client dinners at my office.) This is definitely a pricey joint, but it's worth the cost if you're having a nice date or... well, a client dinner. This is an order-the-bottle, get-a-recommendation-from-the-expert-waiter, wear-your-cloth-napkin-on-your-lap-please kind of place. No paper hats here (at least, they didn't encourage it when I tried it). All in all, Bistro Niko is a wonderful restaurant that I highly recommend. Just plan on allotting the day's (or week's) salary for your experience. read more

Bring ear protection. This is by far the loudest restaurant that I have visited. We were seated in a booth near the middle of the room and we were forced to yell at each other to hear what the other was saying. The food was fine. I had the scallops and they were great, buttery and delicious. Julie had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was not up to the Julia Child version for those who have made it. We also split an endive salad having already had an app at del frisco while waiting for our late reservation. The salad was pretty terrific, I would recommend it. Overall the dinner was fine. The restaurant was like eating on the runway at Hartsfield. read more

I really enjoyed my experience at Bistro Niko. I came with a large group of girls for a Bachelorette Party. We had dinner there before hitting the town. I liked Bistro Niko because it was a great atmosphere. Loud but not too loud and full of laughter. Some of the other buckhead life restaurants have great food but the atmosphere is a little stuffy. Drinks: The waiter took very good care of us and made really good wine recommendations. I love their wine, I had Riesling. I wish I remembered the brand but it was 9 bucks and well worth it. Apps: We all shared the mussels as an appetizer and they were delicious. Then we took our bread and dipped it in the sauce that the mussels came in. Amazing! Entree: For my meal I had the shrimp wrapped in some kind of dough. It was very good but next time I go I think I will have the scallops. Most of the girls ordered them and I tried theirs and loved it! Desert: We ordered a few Creme Brûlées to go around and it was the best I have ever had. read more

Hard to complain about a cuisine that I know so little about. Went with a group, everyone was raving and passing plates around. The Tournedos au Poivre, smoked trout and the mussels were the highlights of the night. The waiter was very patient in explaining (translating) the menu for us. This almost came as a surprise given the location, clientele and cuisine. No stereotypes here - only well prepared and presented food. For the budget minded, there is a pre selected two and three course option for about $30 a person. From it I would recommend the veal casserole (the French name slips my mind, though I am sure it sounds more impressive). Minor complaints, the mixed drinks were short for the price and the bathrooms double as meat lockers. read more

For a restaurant in a major city that is part of an elite restaurant group we were very underwhelmed by our experience at Bistro Niko. The butternut squash was delicious and the best part of our meal. The mushroom tarte (French flatbread) was soggy and sopping with cheese - no chance to enjoy what should have been a light flaky crust. We also had the mussels which were good but they were served with french fries...like we were at a fast food joint, what?! It was an insult to the mussels. Lastly we had one of the specials, a steak sandwich, which was highly touted by our waiter. It was the worst part of our meal. We didn't stick around to find out how dessert was. The atmosphere was nice (slightly upscale and not stuffy). Service was pretty good. read more

As always, my visit this weekend to Bistro Niko was nothing less than Amazing. We had the Salmon Tart as an appetizer, which was wonderfully prepared. I had the European Sea Bass as my entree. My husband had the Peppercorn Filet Medallions. Both dishes were delicious. The service has always been first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an all-around, first class dining experience. read more

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We came in for a fun date night and really enjoyed the atmosphere upon arriving. Every staff member that interacted with was lovely, especially our server Sherry. We were obsessed with her! So precious and accommodating. Thank you so much to the kitchen staff and front of house for the pleasant evening. read more

This place was for sure class class class. I definitely felt out of place. First of all, I didn't expect to be going here, thought a divey bar maybe. Second, my date was extra hot, totally undeserving. But I think I handled pretty well... food was good, service was great... a little too loud if you want to converse with your date. MUST TRY: Mussels NOTE: Dress to impress (not douchey, but classy)...this area fills amongst the higher echelon of atlanta read more

Best French restaurant in Atlanta! Great atmosphere and not so pricy! Love it! The food is ridiculously awesome. Tasty not over seasoned.

This place sounds and looks amazing but the food was sub par. A lot of easily fixable food mistakes. Might try again but its an expensive gamble being toward the higher end price range. read more

I was traveling to Atlanta and found One of THE BEST old fashions!! It was made with rye angels envy! I have had a lot of old fashions and this one is at the top!! See Shawn!! He will make this for you! Two tups of bitters and all the garnishes!!! This thing has the works!! 5 stars!! read more

Bistro Niko - Best Old Fashion ever! See Shawn!! He will make it with all the garnishes!! - French Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Another great meal at this restaurant. I've eaten lunch and dinner here many times and it's always consistent and outstanding. Started with gougeres and tuna tartare. So good. Then seafood pasta and halibut special- perfect. Wait staff was on point. As always a great meal with great service. read more

Ive dined here summer time and always opt to sit on the patio. It definitely is better to sit out. Different vibe sitting inside but not bad very comfy and peivate booth. Food was amazing as usual. Opted for the lamb chops and my date had the scallops. I can never say no to custard and their creme brulee was pretty good! read more

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Disclaimer: i only go here when the boss pays, not just because of the price, but it's just not my cup of tea when I think of lunch you know? The interior is really nice, and with the servers dressed as if this was a 5 star restaurant, it does make boost up your ego (must be why there are always so many suits here). The first time I was here I ordered the grilled chicken breast and a salad. It was nice, the meat was moist and pretty good. The second time, I ordered the burger and asked for no cheese (lactose intolerance), and although the server was very nice and even wrote it down, the burger was still served with cheese which I had to scrape off. Now, be warned that the burger was piled high which made it very hard to pick up and eat it in a dignified manner, especially in front of the boss! So I ended up cutting up the burger. The flavor was good, the temp perfect. I just wish that again, no cheese. The service is pretty much on spot. Kudos to whoever trains them because they know when to refill and clear plates. This is pretty difficult thing to always do when your clientele are usually having a business meeting over lunch. read more

Wow, what a great French restaurant! We made reservation via Yelp and received excellent service. The food was amazing, they had a pork chop on special which I had to try. It was without a doubt the best pork chop I ever had. One secret is that they soak it in a bag of water for 24 hours to make it extra juicy! My girlfriend ordered the scallops, they were cooked perfectly and had great flavor! We dabbled with some apps and bread, all of it was great. So obviously at a French restaurant you have to have some wine. Very nice selection to choose from, we landed on a French bottle from a highly regarded vineyard. Couldn't have had a better night!!! read more

Had a really excellent brunch with my family here. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, although the inside has a great atmosphere too. The decor & service was excellent & flawless. It is everything you hope it would be. We started with coffee & the three cheese plate. We also had the tartine salmon which was light & a great way to start the meal. I had the quiche with the salad, which was just the right amount of food I needed. I would recommend this place for any special occasion OR just to have a great meal with someone. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

Bistro Niko - The main dining space inside - French Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

What a terrific spot. The decor and atmosphere are rich and I love how open the place is. Love the French theming. The food is tremendous. Make sure you start with baskets, yes plural, of the Gruyere cheese puffs. The appetizers the flatbreads are terrific. We had a special one with duck prosciutto. Also loved the pork belly, a really big piece for sharing and the scallops. The beef bourguignon is made with Kobe need cheeks and is just delectable. read more

Bistro Niko - beef bourguignon - French Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This place is interesting. I've been here on a few occasions for dinner or lunch with friends and recently for a first date. The atmosphere was great. We were able to have plenty of conversation without our surroundings being too loud. The menu is a bit stuffy for my taste but we were able to stretch the evening out with wine, salad and flatbread. Our service was definitely up to par but the menu options, thr quality of the food compared to the price makes it a spot I wouldn't frequent. I went there more for a convenience factor versus taste. If you work or live near Buckhead I'd say go here for a night or happy hour at the bar. Otherwise there are far too many places to go. Much better food right down the street. read more

Came in for some drinks on a Sunday. I don't eat gluten because of a severe gluten intolerance. Only had a small snack here. All of the fried potatoes including the fries are gluten free. They also are not cooked with any other flour product as to prevent cross contamination. If you are looking for gluten free, these people have completely re did the menu. Kudos to this place for placing a small "gf" next to every single gluten free item. I was so impressed I ordered a snack at a place we came by after eating. So many choices, not just the usual salad minus croutons. Thank you so much for making it easy for us. I didn't get to eat anything important. But I plan on being back to give it a go. Just had some crispy duck potatoes. Not so crispy, but pretty incredible. Ask for Rhett at the bar, he makes a proper drink. read more

After a French brunch earlier in the day, my boyfriend thought it'd be fun for us to go all out and do a French dinner too. On a Sunday night, I'm surprised that we still had to make a reservation for 8pm, but so be it. We'll enjoy it. Unfortunately, Bistro Niko wasn't all that I thought it would be. One of our apps arrived, but the platter of oyster never came. We were about to question it but our entrees arrived. When we asked our waiter, he looked into it and said that it had been ready for some time but no one ever served it. Hm, ok. He couldn't take it off our bill unless we didn't want it. Later the manager came over to apologize, but didn't offer any comps at all. It's the least they could have done. Mushroom and Gruyere Cheese Tart: Mmm, cheese and mushrooms. Can't go wrong with it. A reminder of how much I enjoy Gruyere cheese. I'd recommend this but it is a bit heavy for 2 people unless you're really hungry. Beef Short Rib Bourguignon: This was too salty for me. Sure, the short rib falls apart, but the sauce was just too salty for me that I nearly finished the potatoes. Profiteroles: You could hardly enjoy these pastry shells since it was drenched in chocolate sauce and so much ice cream. I understand how ice cream and chocolate sauce are great, but I really wanted to enjoy the profiteroles and not get lost in the things that should enhance it. I also dislike how loud the restaurant is. I thought this place had been mentioned as an ideal date night place, but I could hardly hear my boyfriend over all the talking and clatter of dishes. Maybe you have to be sitting in one of the rooms instead of the "bistro" room. In retrospect, the service and food is pretty typical of Buckhead Life Group restaurants. I used to really enjoy Buckhead Bread (aka Corner Cafe) but service was always slow, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. My boyfriend says this place used to be better but this particular visit was just bad. read more

2.5-3. I'll round up. Bistro Niko tries hard to be something special, enlisting the white tiles ubiquitous in all the bistro-esque establishments I've seen in New York, ranging from Balthazar to Bouchon. Reds, blacks, chromes and the requisite French film posters attract the eyes, and complete the impression. Had drinks with a friend, with an order of French Onion Soup and Escargot. Fare was decent at the price, but not mindblowing. The French Onion soup was rich with cheese and bread, not overly salty nor sweet, but still lacked the heartiness that I associate with the best of the best. Escargot was also good, but not great. I'm rounding up given the dearth of competitors in Atlanta. Good French cuisine is vanishingly rare here. read more

Overall I wouldn't say this was a great experience. It wasn't terrible, and if it were not such a pricey restaurant, I'd give it a 3, but with a $100 bill, you've got to expect a little more. Our waiter seemed new; when we asked him about some of the menu items, he pretty much just read what was on the menu. Thanks, chief. I'll work my way backwards through the meal. The dessert was waaay too sugary for my taste. But, then again, I'm not really a dessert person. My entry was not bad, but again, just not bad. Given the meal price, I was hoping it would really dazzle me. I also tried the salmon spread as an appetizer. I got about 2 ketchup packets worth of spread with 3 crackers. Way to spoil me now. Now, something worth mentioning is the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon (butter grilled brioche of smoked salmon and fromage blanc). I loved this. The texture reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich, but you really taste the salmon and it's wonderful. I do like that this place is within walking distance of my condo and should I have some friends over, it wouldn't be a bad place to stop by and grab a drink. I might even spring for the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon again, but probably won't make a visit for dinner in the future. read more

This is a great restaurant for a nice lunch/dinner. It's pretty nice/fancy and there's a nice view of the open kitchen when your first walk in. I had the scallops which were great along with the apple tart for dessert. Our waitress was also nice and seemed knowledgeable of all of the different dishes. read more

The BEST CHAMPAGNE value in Atlanta Go for the patio scene, champagne and people watching. If you have to eat its decent. read more

My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were well taken care of from the time we arrived until we left. Our server was very sincere and attentive. The food was good and I look forward to visiting again to try something else and see how I like their other entrees. read more

Cool place in downtown Buckhead. Decent food and drinks.

I really like this place. However, I think they need to change the menu or add more specials. At least the entree menu. It's getting a little old. The rest of the menu is just fine. Last time I was there, about a month ago, I had the TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE* Twin Beef Tenderloins. They were seriously small! I mean like maybe I got 3 ounces of beef. They were so small that cooking them to medium was impossible. My wife had the veal, could have been the special, had to send it back because it was undercooked at first, then it came back overcooked. Main problem was it had no flavor and it was very tough. She hardly touched it and mine was too small to share. So we left hungry. I love the price of their veuve clicquot; best in Atlanta at $69. Overall I think this is a great restaurant. Great prices for what you get. Just that my last visit wasn't very good. I'll see how it goes next time. read more

Very good. All four of us shared our meals, it was all superb!! I would recommend and I will go back. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, I really liked it, lighting was a bit too bright. if they would tone it down a bit, I feel it would help. There are booths and tables. Open kitchen when you walk in near the hostess stand, bar is in the middle of restaurant. Lots of children here, but they were well behaved. Please note, Valet parking; $2.00 fee does not include tip. read more

I wish i could rate food & service separately. If I could, I'd give the food 5-stars and the service 2-stars... maybe less. The price range is high, but anything food wise will EXCEED your expectations! The kitchen has it together - they're very consistent with preparing delicious food! My tastebuds thank you! However, the "service" doesn't match up to the food. The servers clearly don't care about your dining experience - you wait FOREVER for someone to greet you; half of the time you aren't given bread; there's no 2-min. check back; the staff isn't pleasant and there's no sense of urgency. Finally, I gave up on the service and quit coming, but the food is really good so if/when I do go, I just sit at the bar or order take-out :( read more