We chose The Bistro in St. Michaels to celebrate my wife's birthday, and the entire experience was outstanding from start to finish. Making the reservation was pleasant and seamless. We arrived a bit early and were seated immediately, which set the tone for a relaxed and welcoming evening. We started with the baked oysters, foie gras and bone marrow appetizers--both were absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared. For dinner, my wife had the sword fish, I had the veal chop, and my son had the seafood gumbo. Each dish was incredible, cooked perfectly, and full of flavor. We finished the night with the crème brûlée, which was prepared to perfection and was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. The entire staff was A+ across the board, including owner/exec chef Doug and his lovely wife Jenn, who clearly care deeply about both the food and the guest experience. Don't let the quaint town of St. Michaels fool you--this gem is absolutely worth the visit. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Chef Doug - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

The atmosphere is great and on the night we dined it was bustling. I ordered the cream of crab soup which I thought would be a safe selection as it's billed as one of their signature dishes. Unfortunately, it was lack luster; more shell than crab and mostly devoid of flavor. I'll admit that being from the lowcountry I have a high bar for crab soup and this didn't come close to meeting it. The truffle fries were delicious and it was fun to sit at the bar and watch the kitchen action. Our waiter was attentive but when the bill arrived we had been charged for drinks we didn't order. This is not as uncommon in tourist towns as one would hope. I lived in Nantucket long enough to always go over the bill with a careful eye. read more

A spot like this really makes me wish Yelp had a 6 star option. It's truly just that great. We came to Saint Michael's for my birthday weekend and while Saint Michael's is already so special to us (we got engaged here :) ) this time, our dining experience left NO NOTES!!! We heard rave reviews on this spot and I'm so glad we booked it. The host Jen (and I believe part-owner) was splendid and hospitable. She even gave us a champagne toast for my birthday! Our server was lovely and was very attentive and prompt. Even the water they serve here is too notch (Filete frizzante water from Italy btw- never had it before and it knocked my socks off!!!) I ordered the peartini and it was perfect just marvelous with real pear juice and a tart note. I also had the Frenchtini and that was delicious with chambord (raspberry liqueur). My husband enjoyed a French cab sav that was oaky and paired lovely with our meal. We ordered the bone marrow appetizer. Very popular because right after our order it sold out at 7pm! Very yummy and the only negative I could think of is that I needed MORE of it with the charred baguette. So yummy I was dipping bread into the bone to soak up all the goodness. We split a cup of the cream of crab and it was a flavor unlike I've ever had- just the right notches of sweet and full of crab lumps. VERY VERY good, I'd bathe in it tbh. We both othered the steak frites with a crab cake. The crab cake was full of lump crab and seasoned perfectly. Melt in your mouth delicious. The steak was seared to a light crunch carmelized perfection and very juicy and medium rare inside. The butter on top was a total hit and tied it together in the most luxurious mouth feel possible. I upgraded to the truffle fries for my entree and the fries were so beautifully crunchy and thin!!! Absolutely awesome meal. We were so full we couldn't fathom dessert. I can't wait to return. The ambiance was so cozy but fully reserved so please book ahead! read more

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The food, service, and atmosphere were all outstanding. Traveling from Omaha, Nebraska, we've had the opportunity to dine at many great places, and this was by far the best restaurant we experienced in St. Michaels. If you're only going to choose one restaurant during your visit, make it this one. The patio is an excellent option, offering a relaxed and enjoyable setting that perfectly complements the dining experience. If you're lucky, you will get Jamie as your server. Highly recommended. read more

If you want a quality local dinner, walk into Bistro St. Michaels. Owned by the chef and his culinary-trained wife, Bistro St. Michael's entire staff creates a great dining experience. With a 6pm reservation on a Tuesday, I was sat at the chef's counter where I got to see the magic happen. Not very hungry, I ordered their popular cream of crab soup and the Hearts of Romaine salad. Since I was eyeing the scallops, the server added a few on the side of my salad. Each dish was very good. The soup was creamy and came with quality crab. The salad was perfect with the pepper grinded on top and the peppercorn dressing. I could eat that everyday. The drink menu is impressive. If you enjoy sweet and refreshing, try the Peartini. For my main, the server brought a unique white wine that paired nicely with the scallops. Overall, Bistro was a great experience from excellent service to impressive food to the local atmosphere. read more

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What a beautifully curated and delicious experience! The chefs counter dining experience was amazing, watching the precision and detail of the back of house was so enjoyable. All the team members we interacted with were lovely and knowledgeable. Their small but mighty menu was the true star, steak frites out of this world. Would highly recommend for any special occasions or intimate date night. Cheers! read more

I had great meal. Three courses with wonderful service. The food what little was served was excellent! But "little" is the key word! One small piece of bread, two pieces of excellent duck (about ten bites), a wonderful cherry cobbler with a few flakes (no exaggeration) of pastry shell. For reference, I am quite slim and I eat little...I left hungry after three courses. Shrinkflation has hit this restaurant hard. Smaller than many other French restaurant. I summary you will enjoy the food and the ambience but you might stop at McDonald's on your way home to satisfy your stomach and not abuse your wallet any more. Alternatively you night want to order double. Counterpoint the crab cake special was more generous. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Yummy and tiny duck - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Easily the best meal I've had in St. Michaels was here. I highly recommend sitting at the chef's counter--it really added to the experience. The staff was attentive, kind, and on point the entire evening. We went with a few off-menu specials: fried green tomato, scallops with house-made pasta, and veal ribeye. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Cocktails and appetizers were just as strong, unique and well-executed. Doug and Jenn, the owners, made us feel genuinely welcome and gave great menu recommendations. Every staff member we met was super conversational, professional and friendly, and they made us feel welcomed. I'll definitely be back every time I am in town!!! I'm already thinking about hosting a private event here. The outdoor patio space with bistro lights looked like a great setup for it, and I've got a birthday coming up. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Scallops and House Made Pasta Special - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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Bistro St Michaels is an amazing restaurant with a cozy and chic vibe! For dinner last night, my wife ordered the foie gras appetizer, followed by the duck breast entrée. I had the chopped wedge salad and the New York strip, medium rare with french fries (Steak Frites on the menu). Everything was prepared exquisitely. Our waiter, Peter told us that the french fries were the best he has ever had, and that they consistently received rave reviews. He wasn't exaggerating! They were unbelievable. And the steak was great too as was the duck. And let's not forget the dark chocolate mousse for dessert! Unbelievable! Owner Jen was on site and involved with her staff all evening making sure every guest had a great time. The restaurant was very busy for Monday night, but every single staff member hustled and worked together seamlessly! Incredible experience, incredible food. We will be back! read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Duck Breast, Brussel Sprouts with Polenta - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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Just had the pear terrine and baked oysters as a starter. Wife had the Duck and I had the Veal Chop special. I eat at a lot of great restaurants and this was one of my top meals of the year. Everything was seasoned well and to temperature. Our Waiter Peter was on point. Kitchen was getting a little backed up on one of the busiest days of the year ( oyster fest) and he was very attentive despite the fact that they delay was nominal. We sat upstairs. Had plenty of room and the ambient noise was very tolerable. Not overly loud. Also the temperature of the restaurant was good. My wife normally complains about them being too cool, but the second floor was warm and cozy. Loved this place. read more

Delightful French restaurant is relaxing St Michael's Meal Quality: started off the meal by ordering a bottle of Domaine Girault Le Grand Moulin Sancerre wine, which was aromatic and well suited for my meal. Ordered a most wonderful Cream of Crab soup which is now my all-time favorite! It was simply perfect! Followed it up with my entree of Pan Seared Scallops which perfectly prepared with pine nuts, diced carrots, and radishes! Then there was dessert, which was Creme Brulee and a Framboise Tart with ice cream which I paired with a a delicious Sauternes wine, which goes so well with most desserts! The dessert pairing was marvelous and throughly enjoyed! Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: Enjoyed a table on the front porch in relaxing town of St Michael's Service: Service was decent and attentive RATINGS: Meal Quality: 5 Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: 5 Service: 4 read more

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After a day on the water, we ended our evening at the Bistro. Service was very good, and we were able to get seated without a reservation. They have a nice patio area outside where furry friends can join you for a meal. Roasted Bone Marrow: it was okay. I think the chimichurri masked a lot of the flavor. Shrimp & Grits: shrimp was huge and cooked perfectly, but was a little salty. on the other hand, the grits were not seasoned at all and it was bland. Seafood Gumbo: good portions of seafood Braised Short Rib: probably our favorite dish of the night. fork-tender and delicious! We will most definitely return if we visit St. Michael's again. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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What an amazing and delicious experience! Saint Michael's is just a charming little area to visit and then when you happen upon the bistro that just puts the whole experience over the top. The service was amazing Jayne great care of us. Her recommendations were amazing on what to order. The wine selections were on point . Would highly recommend. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - These are the crabcakes and there's a little bacon sauce and yes, everything is better with bacon. Oh and definitely get the bread pudding. - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Came for our anniversary and sat at the chef's counter at the recommendation of someone. (Make reservations online. Very easy to navigate!). Excellent recommendation as we could see what the whole team was doing from the chefs to the expeditors. Very professional, clean, and organized team. Everyone knew where to be, when, and what to do. French onion soup was amazing. Planned on having the short rib sandwich, based on another recommendation, (on the happy hour menu) but ended up having the rockfish special. Very fresh and unique. We ended up going back a week later for the short rib sandwich...and the French onion soup, again. Short rib sandwich was a little dry but we'll try it again. The soup is one of our favorites. Not too salty. In addition, on our second visit, I asked if they had a pumpkin martini. One of the owners said no but she quickly put something together. My wife enjoyed it! Thank you, thank you!! Great costume service, food, and environment! I have been recommending Bistro to many of my bar customers, at Harrison's Harbour Lights, so I had to try it for myself. Now it's one of our favorites in town! Well done Bistro team! read more

We were celebrating and this restaurant was recommended to us. We got a reservation for a place at the chefs table area by the kitchen. That was a great choice for anyone that loves the vibe of the kitchen. Our server Char was absolutely wonderful. My husband and I request a vegan menu and Char found out exactly what was vegan or vegan optional. We got the winter vegetable risotto, butternut bisque (no dairy), crispy mushrooms, and pommes frites. Everything was delicious! They do seasonal cooking well! We will be back! We got a late night reservation so we also got a glimpse of the kitchen turn down. Professional kitchen for sure! Must try in St. Michaels. The staff were all awesome! read more

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Fantastic meal in great atmosphere. Had the seafood gumbo which had just the right amount of heat and tons of seafood. First time there and will definitely make it a stop the next time I visit St. Michael's. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

What a cool place in this little town. We loved and loved the food. Service is amazing too.

Ambiance and service are top notch. Food was beautiful and delicious, but the portion of our meal was too small for the price ($29) and not enough for my husband. We had the vegetable terrine. I suppose we needed to order an appetizer and salad too. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Vegetable Terrine - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

We are still raving about this lovely spot with delicious food and superb service.we had a reservation for 4 at 5:30 and our booth was ready and Jake would be taking care of us. Our friends took advantage of the fresh soft shell special and hubby so enjoyed the seafood gumbo. I chose the filler less crab cakes and the were outstanding! Our wine was cold and cocktails were perfect. We are adding this sweet spot to our must do the next time in St Michael's! read more

Always first class service combined with great food and cocktails. Oysters grilled and fried are a must. The Veal Chop is exceptional. Bread Pudding a great way of finishing your dining experience. A hidden gem, if near St. Michael's a must go to. Bistro competes as one of the, if not the top restaurant on the Eastern Shore. read more

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Don't let the owner deter you from seeing issues they have. Our guests had to move tables around to accompany our own party. One guest even didn't feel well half way through the meal from the food they ate. Bistros is a small fish in a small pond who acts like they're the only shop in town. Condescending, arrogant, and down right rude. I would highly recommend eating literally anywhere else. read more

Had a wonderful anniversary dinner with friends last night. My favorite was the braised short ribs with and outstanding side of duck fat potato pave. Others in our party had a tasty seafood gumbo, mushroom risotto and chicken roulade. This was followed by bread pudding and chocolate mousse, both delicious. Jennifer, one of the owners, sent over a celebratory glass of champagne for everyone at the table; that was greatly appreciated. The service was impeccable and Doug runs a well orchestrated kitchen. read more

Service and dinner was excellent! Cream Brûlée was just ok. Will definitely go back!!

Service, atmosphere, delicious wild oysters and quality of whole meal. The menu was varied and innovative.

Bistro St. Michaels is a great restaurant. No doubt. The quality of the food is outstanding. Cream of crab soup had the most intense flavor of any I've ever had; it was, however, a little thick for my taste. My main course was red snapper with mussels in a spicy lobster sauce. Omg divine! I used my bread to get every delicious drop of that sauce. My spouse had the scallops and he reports that they were excellent! Of course, he didn't leave even a crumb on his plate so I kinda knew what he thought before he said anything. The waiter Alex was friendly and lively. We have been to Bistro St. Michaels a number of times and they have managed to keep the quality high over the years. It's like the grande dame of St. Michaels - you cannot go wrong here! Highly recommend a meal here!!! read more

St. Michael's is a small quiet town on a Tuesday evening, even (surprisingly?) in July. We rolled in for one overnight getaway and left our B&b in search of cocktails. Popped into this place for a quick martini, intending to head to another seafood place for dinner, but the vibe at the "chef's table" (the bar overlooking the open kitchen/serving area) enticed us - a couple of self-proclaimed foodies - to cancel our other reservation and stay for dinner. SO GLAD we did! Peter- our bartender and server - gave us the best recs all evening. From martinis to wine to entrees to dessert, he guided us like a familiar friend and we weren't ever disappointed. We think they "squeezed us in" amid a full complement of reservations but we never felt as if we weren't completely welcome. We left delighted and full and so happy we stumbled onto this gem. We are already plotting our return. read more

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Great food and charming atmosphere. We enjoyed the gumbo and lobster gnocchi. Wonderful!

It was pricey. But it was very delicious. The profiteroles were particularly good and the braised short ribs were amazing. read more

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First time here. Foie gras, gumbo and short ribs were surprisingly good. Wine list is also very good. Service in back was perfect. Hostess seemed a bit bitter at having to seat another customer but she made it happen. read more

Visited this quaint restaurant a few times during trips to St. Michaels and the food is always excellent. The gumbo was a perfect composition of seafood, sausage, basmati, and spice. And the halibut (on special) was perfectly prepared-- makes you want to have halibut every day if possible. The service was extraordinary -- everyone is exceptionally kind and attentive. Tip-- can be hard to get a table but be open up to the bar seating with view of the open kitchen. Can be fun watching the chefs in action. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Seafood Gumbo - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Great service. I & two others had the Tao Tog fish special which was awesome. A friend had the short ribs which she said was delicious. Another friend had the risotto which she thoroughly enjoyed. We would definitely return when back in town. read more

The service was incredible, the food exquisite, and the ambiance had a sweet charm to it. We ate here for our ten year wedding anniversary, and our server helped make it special from start to end--even with a complimentary champagne toast. The crab cakes were delicious! Husband got the steak frites and loved it. The chef there caters at the Oaks Waterfront, where we stayed, and we got to try other dishes from him. It was all excellently prepared and so flavorful. read more

What a gem we found while visiting St. Michael's. The server was kind, knowledgeable and attentive. The food was unique and delicious. I am gluten free and there were several very good choices. We ordered the shrimp and grits for an appetizer and the crab cakes and short ribs for dinner. They were each delicious! We also had the best margaritas- a blackberry margarita. My husband was not a big fan of his dessert, which the waiter took off of the bill unexpectedly. The atmosphere was quite and charming. There are only a few tables inside and out so a reservation would be wise. It was pricey, but we were celebrating our anniversary so we felt it was worth every penny. We will definitely be returning. read more

Wow, just had the best meal ever here. I started with the cream of crab soup and it was heavenly and gone in one minute. My husband had the mussels and seriously wanted to drink the broth. My seafood gumbo was incredible as was his etouffe! We left full and happy! read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Gumbo - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Food and service were soooo good! All 4 of us enjoyed immensely. Desserts were great as well!

100% delicious 100% of the time. We are locals and love the Bistro. Ask for the Chef's table where you can watch the magic happen. The oysters are special raw or baked they are worth a try! You won't regret your decision to visit, unless it's March when they are closed. :) read more

Our experience at Bistro was fantastic. We were lucky to get a spot on the books last minute and we were welcomed and treated like regulars! The service was impeccable, professional, and prompt. We greatly enjoyed the Rumskey Old Fashioned, the mussels were cooked in the best broth we've ever tasted, and the redfish special entree was amazing! Will definitely plan to return to try more of the delicious looking items next trip! read more

Bistro St. Michaels - Redfish with corn and tomato risotto (special entree) - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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Solid three star restaurant. Our server was engaging and knew the menu. The food was fresh and well prepared. I had the baked oysters and enjoyed the oyster soup as well. The veal chop was a delight. Although we made reservations, I will say the seats were not the best but we would return. read more

Bistro St. Michaels - The veal chop - French Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Hostess needs some customer service training as they don't know how to communicate with waiting customers. Food was ok but didn't find it a good value for the price. This is my second visit and probably won't return. read more

Came here for dinner after a wine tasting at Old Brick Inn-so maybe wasn't in the best shape! During Covid, they have both seating indoors, and outdoors on the front porch and in the side under a tent with heaters. They texted asking my preference--I said outside, and it was comfortable even though the temp was in the '50s. Fall has shown up. It was also a nice romantic ambiance with twinkle lights! For apps, we had the shrimp and grits (small portion but very tasty) and foie gras--also small (as it always is) and delicious. For dinner we the braised short rib and seared scallops. Both were tasty although I wish there were more sauce with short rib (a little dry), and that the scallops would have been on something more interesting than tiny diced carrots. Still, overall it was a very nice experience and glad to see a restaurant taking such precaution and making the best of all the limitations. read more