We went to Lavendou for Restaurant Week this year, 2023 with another couple. The restaurant is decorated on point, a fun and romantic French bistro. We were met with a host with his nose in his host book. He also took a phone call before he even acknowledged us. Even then there was no smile or greeting. Once sat, we were greeted by a nice woman (not our server) and then my a nice non-English speaking Spanish woman (not our server). Finally our server shows up, another non-friendly male. When it was my turn to order, he was no help in the gluten free department. He was clueless and rude. However, the first nice woman we came across brought me some gluten free rolls about 30 minutes into our meal. Every dish we ordered was not bad, but all four of us said there was nothing to "write home about" and that we would not make the drive to dine there again. I usually give 5 stars, but I can't even give this lovely restaurant 4, as the lovely ends with the French bistro decor. :( read more

Lavendou Bistro Provincial - French Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Food: 2/5 Interior: 2.5/5 Service: 4/5 We walked in for lunch during the weekend and were seated very quickly. The servers were prompt and checked up on us throughout the meal. However, the food was not to our preferences. Here are the dishes we tried: * (2/5) Chef's Menu: Soup of the Day & Pasta Provencal - the soup was creamy and satisfying. However, the pasta was unmemorable and lacked flavor. For dessert, the cake's sponge part was dry. * (2/5) Chef's Menu: Soup of the day & Fish of the Day - nothing special for the fish. Vegetables were salty, but rice was buttery. * (1.5/5) La Truite aux Amandes (trout sauteed with almonds) - this was incredibly salty. It was difficult to eat without the rice. Overall, we did not enjoy our food. It was either too bland or salty. No plans to re-visit. read more

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Wow, I just had an amazing meal! I normally enjoy their whole French bistro in restaurant experience. Imagine being able to order gourmet French cuisine as takeout, well that's what I did tonight. Caesar salad and Sole topped with crab, outstanding! read more

I've been here a few times now for different occasions and it is one of my favorite French restaurants in Dallas. I have never had a bad meal and the waiters are always incredibly kind. The food is also perfectly cooked. I've had everything from fish to lamb and it's all delicious. read more

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My experience at Lavendou Bistró runs contrary to most reviews. I had really looked forward to coming here and somehow, the reality fell way short of my expectations. First, let me say that we had reservations here on a Saturday for lunch. The place was packed, but we were seated right away by a friendly, welcoming host. Once seated, we were able to review the options and I had decided on the Chef's Menu. This is basically a soup or salad, an entree and a desert for $23. After reading many reviews rave about the French Onion Soup, I was really looking forward to a rich, flavorful soup. It was good, but overly sweet. I've had many other French Onion soups and this is by far the sweetest I've had. For my entree, I chose the fish of the day which was a tilapia. It was seasoned fine, but was a bit over cooked. The fish was served with rice and vegetables that were delicately seasoned. There were some other minor misses like the bread being very average and the butter not being softened. Things like bread and butter are simple, but in French cuisine, those items should be outstanding. The finale of the meal was a chocolate mousse with a citrus purée at the bottom. The whipped cream served with the dish was not real and was a whipped topping instead. Pretty surprised to have seen that since it's usually the hallmark of a lesser caliber establishment. As for the service, I had mentioned that we were seated by a friendly, welcoming host. Once that handoff was completed, the waiter who served us our meal was pretty transactional, not very attentive and seemed distant the entire time. I think even just a hint of warmth from the waiter could have shifted the experience in a more positive direction. Overall, I really wanted to like this place. There seemed to be such promise but the experience and food do not commensurate with the price. More care to the food preparation and the service would need to be demonstrated for me to want to come here again. read more

My husband and I went to lavendou several years ago for a Valentine's Day fixed menu. It was just ok. We decided to give it another chance as we do like French food. Entering the restaurant , one of the waiters (who we were later told was named Pierre) was yelling at customer for skipping in a tip because the AC was out which wasn't his fault. Right in the entry of the restaurant. Not a good look - lots of arrogance here. So then the bread - the French bread - Having had actual French bread in France, we had high expectations but the French bread at Tom Thumb is way better. My husband ordered trout almandine. It was a relatively dry trout with raw almonds and some canned crab meat sprinkled on top. It was an insult to trout, crab and almonds. I ordered the grilled salmon. It was served with a tasty pesto sauce which was much needed as the salmon was quite dry. The ratatouille was unrecognizeable and both dishes served with rice. Not exactly a French side. Oh and the owner, Pascal wisked by our table many times but never stopped By and asked how things were going. He even was outside as we were leaving. Again, didn't ask how the evening was. Probably a good thing as he would have gotten an earful. We will not be returning but we are on the hunt for a good French restaurant close to Plano. read more

We just learned about this French Bistro. The food is authentic, the wait staff are amazing - attentive - really know the menu and the dishes...and spoke French! The wine menu is thorough and expansive. We sat out on the patio because it was such a beautiful evening. I recommend asking to sit in Jean Phillipe's section as you will have the most wonderful experience. The Tomato Basil soup is by far the best I have ever eaten! The small goat cheese salad sat us up for amazing dishes. The French bread is worth the dining experience alone...sorry - it is so amazing! Last point - Get the soufflé! read more

Lavendou Bistro Provincial - Chocolate Soufflé - French Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Food: Very Good Service: outstanding. Attentive, but not overly attentive that it is annoying as in the case of chain restaurants. Ambiance: outstanding. Finally, a restaurant that invests in decor and ambiance. Excited to return read more

I came here with my food group and we were all so pleased with this place. Our server Eric was just fantastic, he made great recommendations, was very attentive, and quick to go out of his way( taking out pictures). We started with the Escargots à la Bourguignonne and the Napoléon de Champignons Sauvages (mushrooms) and both were just delicious!! The escargot was my favorite of the two though, it was FULL of flavor. Next time I will order two of them for the table. For my entree I had the Canard Rôti au Cassi (duck) and once again, full of flavor. This place really knows how to season their food. I couldn't have picked a better plate. For desert we tried them all lol and my favorite was the Tarte aux Pommes (apple tart). I love this place. They knocked everything out of the park. I didn't have high expectations given that it's in a shopping center, but boy was I wrong! read more

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Long overdue review. I came here with some friends during Restaurant Week for lunch. The restaurant is really cute and has nice decor. The food was fantastic! We ordered off the restaurant week menu, and everything was plated so pretty and tasted as good as it looked. The food was authentic and a good portion for lunch. We were full by the end but couldn't resist getting some desserts to share. Overall, excellent food and service. Had a really enjoyable lunch and definitely interested in coming back to check out the afternoon tea. read more

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We went for high tea. I was delighted to have found a spot like this in Dallas, other places charge $75+ for a tea tasting, but I have to say that Lavendou Bistro was just as delicious and just as great of an experience as anywhere else I have found. We went right before heading to watch the Nutcracker, so the Christmas decorations were a perfect fit! Looking around, I think the overall ambiance of the bistro would be great as well, but going during Christmas time was wonderful! The only reason I am giving 4 starts instead of 5 is because the service was a bit slow and our waiter only checked on us as they were walking by for other errands. We didn't feel like they were rude, but maybe too busy? Would definitely come back! read more

One of the great restaurants in north Dallas. Consistently fine cuisine. Pascal and his staff are always on top of their game.

This is our go to place for special occasions. Consistently very good food and great service. Our table was ready at the reserved time. Love that you can get very good wines at reasonable prices unlike many restaurants in the Dallas area. If we lived closer we would come more often. read more

I haven't been here for 21 years and I'm so upset I haven't. Cutest French bistro that really fills you with the French vibe. Food is wonderful, my Bloody Mary was wonderful. They do tea and sandwiches, which my friends and o want to try. We will be back often going forward. read more

Wait time excessive given that we had a reservation. Dover Sole did not taste as such! Avoid this entree!! More competitive French restaurants elsewhere... read more

Amazing food & ambience. Can't wait to order a delicious Soufflé- Grand Marnier!! Service is always the best! Can't wait to return to eat one of the best meals in town! read more

Delicious! Went for lunch and cannot wait to come back for date night! Great service and great tasting food. The profiteroles are SO good. One of the owners is from France and very nice! It was fairly busy for lunch time which was nice to see. Can't wait to go back! read more

I just gave the 5 stars a week or so ago when Rafael was my waiter o the weeend and everything was perfect. Today I took my friend and we were seating in a high traffic area there were plenty of other tables but no two woman had to sit right in the middle of the traffic lane. Then my cod was not great and very small portion if I had asked which I did not and should have I would have ordered the dover sole sme price. Then to top it off my fav dessert is the pomme tart and I had told my friend about it and it came out like crap. Too much alcohol. I never in my life tasted alcohol on this dessert the waiter who was loud kept arguing with me. You don't argue to say the customer is wrong. He made such A big deal about getting permission to take it off the check neither my friend or I ate it it was gross. I was embarrassed and so disappointed I wil not be back for quite some time. I am a frequent customer but noone was paying attention to the customers today they were looking at the books, cash register or nothing. It was a bad day at Lavendou. read more

It's improved since I last reviewed them. Cute ambiance for a dinner date that feels like a family French restaurant. The staff was much friendlier than in the past. My husband and I got French onion soup to start...regretfully, it was lukewarm so kinda yuck if you're not super hungry. He filled up on the French bread and olive oil. Entrees were better than the soup, thankfully. My husband said he loved the filet of baked sole with a creamy crab topping, but he later said it might've been too rich for his belly. I had the roasted olive chicken which was great, hot and tasty. The chocolate soufflé was preordered at the beginning of the meal and we still waited a long while to have it come; it arrived well after the meal and coffee. I raised the stars because I would return and I think if I emphasize that we don't want lukewarm soup, they would make an effort. I'll let you know next time we go! read more

I hosted a party of 8 for Easter brunch. Lavendou was very busy, but we were seated shortly after our 2:00 PM reservation. The food was excellent - as usual - but the service was extraordinary in spite of how busy they were. Our lead waiter, Kostia, was attentive in all respects and led a team that took great care of us. The omni-present owner seemed to be everywhere making sure that even the slightest detail was addressed. Well done and Happy Easter to you all. read more

The hospitality and service are always outstanding at this restourante. The food was excelent. We loved our escargo with bread and wine.

Excellent French restaurant on Preston off Bush Toll Road. Cosy interior with a French touch. Rafael, our server was fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the wine list and the food. The French stew was excellent. They can be very crowded, especially on weekends, so make a reservation. Our new special occasion place. read more

This restaurant has been on my list for years. I lived so close by but would always forget. I heard it's one of Dirk's favorite restaurants. I always say yes to traditional French cuisine because escargot should be on the menu. It was my birthday and that also meant restaurant week . I've long stopped going out during that time because the prices increased and the portions shrunk a long time ago. Alas, I'm still out for an adventure. It was crowded and buzzing so you definitely want to secure a reservation. I sat at the bar waited for my table and asked for water. The bar area was overwhelmed with making drinks as the waiter impatiently asked for drinks and I was lost in the fray. After about 10 minutes of waiting and attempting to cool off, I received some water but my table was ready. Sigh. There's an open kitchen and we felt it. The heat was severe along with all the bodies. Keep the water coming!!! I ordered the escargot and lamb chops. My friend ordered steak. The escargot was mid. I've had better at smaller bistros. They were small and had more butter than snails. I made the best of it using the soft bread to get more of the savory juices. The lamb chops were perfect and paired lovely with our bottle of wine. A half bottle was plenty so I wouldn't feel waterlogged. I was surprised there was no ambient music to mask table conversation from louder tables. Unfortunately, I knew that I would be incredibly full so I declined the dessert souffle that had to be ordered at the beginning of the meal. I wouldn't mind going again without a crowd to enjoy a meal. read more

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Great atmosphere, authentic French cuisine. Cozy, intimate, lively, noisy lunch crowd filled with long time regulars. Servers are skilled, authentic and knowledgeable. Make a reservation, no matter what you order, the food will be delicious, and of course the wine, I don't live near the restaurant, but when I am in the area it's my go to, read more

Today was prolly our eighth or so visit since our first visit and review a year or so ago. All of our visits have been at lunch as we're old timers who rarely if ever dine out in the evening, and also it's a 45 minute to hour drive to here from over in the Fort Worth area. But we have never been disappointed in the food or the service. We most often go for the trout or the sole and I always start with the French onion soup. Our dishes have all always been prepared to perfection. The wine list is quite large featuring mostly French wines from various regions but with a nice selection of California and other wines. The cocktails are very nicely done and very reasonably priced. What is not to like about all this in this very warm and attractive bistro setting? read more

Lavendou Bistro Provincial is a lovely place tucked in a strip area on Preston. It's loud and bustling with people having a good time. We saw people on dates, families, and a girl's night out party while we were there. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Service was great and the courses came quickly. Shout out to the staff that took care of water, bread and butter - they were johnny-on-the-spot. We dipped the last of the butter and miraculously another dish of softened butter showed up. The pre-meal bread was deliciously addictive when you slathered on a little butter, then drizzled it with garlic olive oil. That, along with the nice glass of Riesling, was quite tasty. I was a little put off that we were seated at a small table by the register/path to bathroom and a couple of times people would walk by and I had to tuck in my elbow for fear of spilling my wine while I was trying to drink it. Wish we'd have been a little further in and will ask for that next time. My husband enjoyed the goat cheese salad and said that was the best thing of the evening for him. Loved the cheese and the dressing, in particular. I had the tomato basil soup and the flavor was delicious, it was very salty and I couldn't finish it - I usually like salty things, but it was quite a bit too much. Husband had the pork and it came with a nice slab of butter than melted onto the pork as he ate it, along with vegetables. He said a little of the pork was dry (on the ends) and didn't eat the green beans as they were quite crunchy. I had the chicken with a beer cream sauce in tagliatelle. It was OK, but I brought most of it home. I was surprised it was a little bland and there wasn't a hint of beer flavor. Pasta was a little more mushy than al dente. For dessert I had the creme caramel and it was pretty good - especially the caramel sauce. Husband had the apple tart and really liked it. It was his birthday so he got a complimentary dessert. I thought that was nice. Our server was great. Polite and there if we needed anything. We had a nice evening out at a nice, lively place and will probably come back to try some of the other dishes. read more

We were greeted at the door and they acknowledged my wife's birthday. When making the reservation, I requested a special crème brûlée for her birthday. We didn't get one. After we did not order wine, we were treated as if they thought we were eating in a place beyond our means. Not so. We were dressed appropriately and we're very polite. I wonder if they profile you when you enter. The service was very mediocre. They only came to our table when passing to other tables. It seemed they didn't care if we enjoyed ourselves or not. Not the kind of service they mention on their website. The server hung out by the bar and never ask if we needed anything or if we were enjoying ourselves. The food was good but I've had better. We were not even thanked or addressed when we left. Sad we were treated this way. I'll go to a more expensive place that can treat us with respect we deserve. I noticed that the review ratings for 1,2 and 3 almost equal the higher rankings. That must say something since they have had health violations for the last several years. read more

The food is amazing! The service is organized and quick. The atmosphere is a classic bistro feeling. We've had the escargot, French soup that are both very good. read more

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This is my go to restaurant for an upscale dinner. Their wine dinners are fun too. The pomme frites are to die for!!!!

There is a place for fusion and some of the other perhaps "newer" concepts, but sometimes I just want old school French This place is great. I had the pork dish for lunch and it is refreshing to have an actual wine reduction--in my mind real, though of course that is subjective--sauce. The vegetables, the wine, and the service were great too. Lots of elbow room to boot. Nice that they are open for lunch. Go here people. read more

This place is awesome! I came here with a friend and had the best of everything! From beginning to end this had to have been my best 4 course meal ever! Friend made us reservations for 7 pm. I've been trained "to hurry up and wait". I was there on time at 6:40 haha! I sat at the bar and had a drink while waiting. I love this bartender. He was on point with all the drinks. Impressive! He chatted with the patrons seated at the bar and kept on point with the staffs orders for the tables. This valuable time allowed me to peruse the menu. We started with a glass of Sancerre, we actually had multiple drinks as the evening progressed. This has become my favorite wine. It's a slightly sweet, dry wine, with flavors of peaches and has a floral aroma. This wine pairs well with fish. We both ordered the French Onion Soup and I have to say it was by far the best I've ever had. The cheese was so gooey and the broth was perfect. I could eat this soup everyday. It's that good. Make sure you order your desert sometime early in the meal since it's made fresh. It takes about 25 minutes to cook and they are limited on how many they make. My friend and I decided on the French Apple Tart, which comes with a scoop of ice cream. The 2nd course consisted of the Goat Cheese Salad and the Escargots! I have had an aversion to the idea of eating snails since I was a little. These were the main reason I came here with my friend. She's been eating them forever and promised I would love them. Those little booger's are delicious, she was right! Not sure why it took me so long to eat this dish. The sauce is great to use for dipping the fresh bread that is in abundance at the table! For the third course, we had fish. My friend had the salmon, I had the Tilapia. Mine was just a little on the dry side. Additional sauce would have helped with the moisture. The lemon wasn't enough. The grilled vegetables were good and seasoned perfectly. The rice was just rice. They keep the tables bused and an endless abundance of warm bread tops the table. Our waiter kept the perfect amount of time away from the table to allow us girls to visit. Our wine glasses stayed full! I think it's important to make reservations because this place is busy. We never felt rushed and we spent more then 2 hours here. Actually, closer to 3 hours. Can't wait to return! Lavendou is worth every penny! The food is that good. 30/2019 read more

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We went to Lavendou for an early Birthday dinner, and it was amazing!!! The service was outstanding. Our server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. I misplaced my receipt, and cannot remember his name, but he deserves credit for his excellent service. We had the escargot to star, which was excellent!! We then tried the spinach and goat cheese salad. It was very fresh with a yummy vinaigrette dressing. We both chose the sole fish for our entree, as I love it, and it's hard to find. It was topped with large chunks of crab and cooked to perfection with the most delicious lemon cream sauce. It was served with asparagus and boiled potatoes. I do wish the potatoes had been treated a bit differently. They were just boiled potatoes with no seasoning. Everything was exceptional! We will definitely be back!! read more

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We unfortunately experienced New Years eve dinner where we were rushed through the meal in under 45 minutes! The dinners had all been prepped on the plate in advance and you could see the chefs simply heat them back up prior to serving. Everything was drowning in sauce. to add insult, hostess kept removing chairs from our table without any type of discussion. All in all, this is a restaurant that I used to love and my family dined at often but now has clearly gone down hill and interested in quantity over quality. Cannot be recommended. read more

Have eaten here many times. The food and ambiance of Lavendou are both excellent. This visit was for lunch. I had the filet of sole accompanied by basmati rice and sautéed vegetables. All were excellent. My wife had the crepes which were also great. And I must add that the service is as good as it gets. The entire staff is attentive but not obtrusive. Love this place. Will be back again. read more

Lavendou Bistro Provincial - Crêpes au Poulet Florentine - French Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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My husband spotted this place when we were on our way to another French place, and oh my so glad we give it a try. Do not get fool by the outside plain look. When you enter to this beautiful place is another scene that will transport you. The food was truly amazing. For appetizer we got escargots and French onion soup. Escargots were a bit salty but tender and savory. French soup just outstanding. Entrees we got cod fish, chicken crepes and rosted salmon. Overall just great texture and flavor were amazing. read more

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My wife visited the restaurant for an early dinner on New Year's Eve (my birthday) and the food was great the service was great and the place had a wonderful atmosphere. We will definitely visit again. read more

Absolutely loved this restaurant. From the moment you walk in and see the art and pottery you can tell they are serious about French Bistro. And then, when our hostess, who was also our server had such a wonderful French accent, I felt we were about to encounter perfection. First off, the iced tea was perfect. Not harsh like some teas, and of course not sugared to a lack of tea flavor. Felt like there was a hint of lavender in it as well. The bread brought to the table was classic soft French with great butter or a dipping oil. My wife and I each had a bowl of the French Onion Soup. French Onion Soup is something that so many restaurants screw up with too much cheese, not enough onion, too beefy tasting, over seasoned, over cooked or over hot. The soup here was none of these. Perfect temperature, blend of flavors and topping of Gruyere cheese. For a main course, my wife had one of her favorites that has been sampled across France - Salade de Mesclum au Chèvre Chaud. This was right up there with the best, featuring crisp greens, a delicate dressing, well prepared prosciutto and of course crispy warm goat cheese. I had the Moules Marinières et Frites. The mussels were tender and meaty. The sauce was a perfect combination of cream and wine with gentle spices (I believe tarragon) and green onion. There was not a bite left when finished, and thank goodness I saved a piece of the bread for a final cleaning of the plate. The fries were cooked to perfection and adding ketchup or anything like that to them would be an insult to their flavor. For dessert we split the Crème Brûlée à la Lavande. Well prepared and fired, but I wish the lavender infusion had been a bit more pronounced. Looking forward to returning someday for dinner and a glass of wine o go with a meal, which I just didn't want to do at lunch. read more

A true gem indeed! I am so in love. French food can be too rich for me, many of the dishes in beurre blanc. I fancied Lavendou because on its website it describes its cuisine as Southern France, which is supposed to be lighter. It was and I thoroughly enjoyed every dish. We opted for the chef's terrine instead of the foie gras pate since the terrine is house made. My husband and I loved it. The duck confit, to die for. A must try. It is not always on the menu so be sure to have your server let you know about their specials for the day. Oh!!!! The lobster bisque!!! The best! Better than Capital Grille, Perry's, Table 13, etc. My trout with almonds was also divine. I just wish I had a bigger stomach so I can eat more. We left satiated and anticipating our next dinner there. read more

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Two stars for ambience. I had a very disappointing salade niçoise. I Expected seared tuna and got canned; there were no potatoes. The very strange part of this lunch was that the other people in my party ordered cooked food; their food came out a significant amount of time sooner than mine.. The waiter joked that they had to catch the tuna; he should have said they had to open the can. I've wanted to come to this restaurant for many years and really expected to love it. So Disappointed. read more

I would have given 5 stars if the service had been better. I felt invisible while I waited for my buddy to arrive. A lady in white asked me if I would like something to drink, so I ordered a glass of champagne ($13). They treat their regulars really well, which is fine, but don't forget the new-comers! My Jamaican buddy wanted to eat here, as she loves French food. I'm always up for something new & the food did not disappoint! We started with escargot (12.95) and foie gras ($23.95). I loved the texture and the taste of the escargot and the foie gras was not bad. The presentation lacked the luster shown online. My main dish was the roasted duck, which I specifically ordered to compare to a dish I had somewhere else - where it fell short on flavor & moistness. It was covered with a delicious cassis sauce (blackcurrent & spices) that was a little heavy on the pour but added so much to the flavor. The duck was moist and tasty and I enjoyed it very much! My friend ordered the rack of lamb. She shared a piece with me. I found it tough to cut off the bone and gave up after 2 bites. The flavor was good. For dessert I had the raspberry souffle, had seen many mentions in reviews about it. I was not that impressed with the flavor but the presentation was very nice. The server poured some of the raspberry sauce on it when she served it and the topping was light and very good! My friend ordered the chocolate tart and it was very good! I would like to go back sometime and enjoy their gorgeous patio. read more

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