While the staff was very nice and service was good, the food was just ok. This was a very nice restaurant, but not as amazing as I had hoped after reading some of the other reviews. I tried the crab cakes (very good, especially with the aoli) but found quite a few pieces of shell in mine. I had the salmon special of the night. The salmon was cooked perfectly, the wasabi creme fresche had absolutely no taste and added nothing to the dish. The pickled cucumbers were an interesting taste, but again added nothing to the salmon. I ended up with a nicely cooked piece of fish and some mixed veggies. Again, nicely cooked but nothing amazing. There was nothing "wrong" with this restaurant, there was just nothing that I left wanting to come back and have again, and for the price I was hoping for something a little worth a return visit. Only other note, the crowd here was definitely older. My husband and I are in our 30's and we were the youngest by at least ten years other than the couple next to us.
(3)
Mopsie B.
First, a question: I assume that the owners realize that it ought to be "Bonne Femme" and not "Bon Femme" in order to be grammatically correct French? That said, my friend and I were in town for Valpo homecoming and were looking for a cute spot for a drink and an appetizer. The bar area was very inviting- candlelit and next to the window and the bartender had a very professional and friendly attitude. She also mixed a very competent cocktail! We tried the flatbread and found it to be above average with extremely fresh and delicious goat cheese (I don't even like cheese and this was good!)...All of the staff were gracious and thanked us for stopping in. I took a card and will definitely be back for lunch or dinner! Also, I have to say that the prices were quite reasonable for the quality. Yay, Valpo!
(4)
jen w.
Gosh, I really want to love this place. I used to frequent the original Femme in Merrillville and loved it. I have tried the Valpo location over the years about 6 times. I wasn't super thrilled the first few times, but to be fair I figured I was measuring it against the old Femme. I have not gone for a long time, but then recently someone I bumped into said they had just gone and had a great meal there! So away we went, to rediscover this place. I love a well crafted cocktail and always order a Bourbon Collins as a test of sorts. It is a super easy old school cocktail with minimal ingredients, and is in every manual (if they have to cheat and look). But you wouldn't believe how some place can really fail in making it. Femme failed. They didn't know what it was. They actually asked me for the ingredients rather than looking it up. Who doesn't have a smart phone at the ready these days? Hubby ordered a French 75 which is a fairly common. classic gin cocktail topped with Champagne. Again...fail. Not off to a great start. They did not serve a bread basket which was one of the highlights I remembered. No more bread and butter at Bon Femme? I ordered the grilled shrimp appetizer, and beet salad. The shrimp was rubbery, and thankfully there was not much of them. The salad dressing was lovely but there was about 5 small pieces of beet on the whole plate. What I imagined was freshly roasted beets, sliced. And freshly sliced orange sections. What I received was 5 pieces of what tasted like canned julienne beets and canned mandarins on bagged spring mix. Husband had the crab ragoons for an appetizer. He said they were "alright". This is a dish he always orders if available, so he is comparing to many other of the same. He ordered the stuffed chicken as an entree. It was flavorful, and well seasoned, but dry. We left feeling like we had wasted a perfectly good date night. I will try again, but it will be a while. Maybe in winter when I have just had a really great Xcountry ski and need a good bowl of soup and (hopefully!) some bread. Cheers!
(2)
Bob B.
Always a pick when we want a nice meal! Very consistent quality in service, food and atmosphere. Grouper is excellent. Warm pear salad is a favorite of my wife's. Never had a bad meal or experience.
(4)
Sarah S.
Great food, I would recommend trying the French Onion Soup!
(5)
Casey B.
Delicious place! Amazing quality food, great service, and an overall wonderful experience. I have had lunch and dinner here a few times, and each time I was very satisfied.I always have a hard time finding quality restaurants, but this place is amazing quality. I love the fact they grow their own fresh herbs too, it adds to the charm of the place. Stop by, it really is delicious.
(5)
Lexi G.
Woof. Well my daddy really smells good coming home from this place. The few doggy bags he has brought home and that I broke into tasted super yummy. I remember him raving for months afterwards after eating a shrimp risotto with asparagus. This place is known for two things over anything; french onion soup and their duck. Their quice is great. The total opposite of Pikk's. If you order something common you can expect it to be common. Order something on the cheaper end it isn't going to taste great. Daddy loves this place! if you want to dress up and act like you are in a fancy city eatery, you will totally fit in. If you want to go casual you wont be at all uncomfy. Unfortuantely I am a pup and I wont be able to go in but it sure is worth eating at.
(5)
Carrie B.
I don't make it back to Valpo very often anymore, but when I do I always appreciate the small independent restaurants to choose from. This place is great! My mom and I were seated immediately, by one of the nicest people I've ever encountered. Not only was the service amazing, the food was delicious. I ordered the lunch special which was a grilled chicken breast with guacamole with a side of the freshest vegetables. My mom had a warm pear salad, which was also amazing. All around it was a great dining experience and I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)
Jennifer K.
this isn't the ol' hippy Bon Femme from Merrillville... you know, the one that wreaked of patchouli & quiche? this Bon Femme has gone upper-scale! Have been there a few times now, and no matter what we order- it's fantastic. I've had their Filet Mignon sandwhich for lunch, and a variety of offerings for dinner. By far, my favorite item is their Tuna Tartar appetizer... it is to die for!!! Tender chunks of sashimi grade tuna, capers, avocado and a special sauce. dressing. Honestly, I could just order a few of those for "dinner" and leave happy! It's a very quaint environment with amazing food!
(5)
Sara B.
I was there for lunch a couple weeks ago and had no complaints at all. It's a nicer restaurant but we were dressed fairly casual for lunch and no one blinked an eye. There was a mixture of clients in the restaurant. Business men in suits, ladies who lunch looking fab and a whole table of people in jeans and sweatshirts. The restaurant is very pretty and the waitress we had was very pleasant. The food was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed their dishes. I had butternut squash soup and a Proscuitto Caprese sandwich and I ate every bit of it even though the portion was large. Their fries were very tasty. I can't wait to go back. The only reaason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it was my first time and I went during a slow period of lunch. I look forward to going back and giving it 5 stars next time.
(4)
S W.
Little pricey, but delicious food and comforting setting. Great service. Indoor/outdoor dining. Had the grilled shrimp cocktail and grouper fish sandwich. Both were excellent.
(4)
Deb K.
Walked out of there. Hostess seated us and said that the waitress would be right out. We wanted to seat at a particular table but he said no that table was held for 4 guests. It was 4 in the afternoon and no one was there. He then sat another table and when the waitress came out waited on that table first. Poor service, rude and did not care. Seems customer service is last on their list. I WOULD NOT EAT THERE AGAIN. BEWARE PEOPLE ONLY SEEM TO WRITE GOOD REVIEWS.
(2)
Dillon D.
This is the best of the best in Valparaiso. Keith and his team get it right every time. The menu has many great selections and the wine list is outstanding. A casual lunch is always fun and you can expect a packed restaurant on the weekend dinners. We recently had Bon Femme cater a holiday party in our home for 15 and it was outstanding. The guests couldn't stop commenting how great the food was and I will be using them again very soon. Get this on your list as it is worth the drive from any distance. I am glad that it is only a few miles from my home and my Chicago guests are always amazed by the experience at Bon Femme.......
(5)
Karma K.
We took a day trip, and this is where we stopped for dinner. We went on a Thursday evening and they feature a $5 menu!!! The food was amazing - starting off with warm freshly baked bread, and the desserts were heavenly. Great service too by a friendly and cute staff. What a discovery! We'll be back. :)
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Meghan M.
While the staff was very nice and service was good, the food was just ok. This was a very nice restaurant, but not as amazing as I had hoped after reading some of the other reviews. I tried the crab cakes (very good, especially with the aoli) but found quite a few pieces of shell in mine. I had the salmon special of the night. The salmon was cooked perfectly, the wasabi creme fresche had absolutely no taste and added nothing to the dish. The pickled cucumbers were an interesting taste, but again added nothing to the salmon. I ended up with a nicely cooked piece of fish and some mixed veggies. Again, nicely cooked but nothing amazing. There was nothing "wrong" with this restaurant, there was just nothing that I left wanting to come back and have again, and for the price I was hoping for something a little worth a return visit. Only other note, the crowd here was definitely older. My husband and I are in our 30's and we were the youngest by at least ten years other than the couple next to us.
(3)Mopsie B.
First, a question: I assume that the owners realize that it ought to be "Bonne Femme" and not "Bon Femme" in order to be grammatically correct French? That said, my friend and I were in town for Valpo homecoming and were looking for a cute spot for a drink and an appetizer. The bar area was very inviting- candlelit and next to the window and the bartender had a very professional and friendly attitude. She also mixed a very competent cocktail! We tried the flatbread and found it to be above average with extremely fresh and delicious goat cheese (I don't even like cheese and this was good!)...All of the staff were gracious and thanked us for stopping in. I took a card and will definitely be back for lunch or dinner! Also, I have to say that the prices were quite reasonable for the quality. Yay, Valpo!
(4)jen w.
Gosh, I really want to love this place. I used to frequent the original Femme in Merrillville and loved it. I have tried the Valpo location over the years about 6 times. I wasn't super thrilled the first few times, but to be fair I figured I was measuring it against the old Femme. I have not gone for a long time, but then recently someone I bumped into said they had just gone and had a great meal there! So away we went, to rediscover this place. I love a well crafted cocktail and always order a Bourbon Collins as a test of sorts. It is a super easy old school cocktail with minimal ingredients, and is in every manual (if they have to cheat and look). But you wouldn't believe how some place can really fail in making it. Femme failed. They didn't know what it was. They actually asked me for the ingredients rather than looking it up. Who doesn't have a smart phone at the ready these days? Hubby ordered a French 75 which is a fairly common. classic gin cocktail topped with Champagne. Again...fail. Not off to a great start. They did not serve a bread basket which was one of the highlights I remembered. No more bread and butter at Bon Femme? I ordered the grilled shrimp appetizer, and beet salad. The shrimp was rubbery, and thankfully there was not much of them. The salad dressing was lovely but there was about 5 small pieces of beet on the whole plate. What I imagined was freshly roasted beets, sliced. And freshly sliced orange sections. What I received was 5 pieces of what tasted like canned julienne beets and canned mandarins on bagged spring mix. Husband had the crab ragoons for an appetizer. He said they were "alright". This is a dish he always orders if available, so he is comparing to many other of the same. He ordered the stuffed chicken as an entree. It was flavorful, and well seasoned, but dry. We left feeling like we had wasted a perfectly good date night. I will try again, but it will be a while. Maybe in winter when I have just had a really great Xcountry ski and need a good bowl of soup and (hopefully!) some bread. Cheers!
(2)Bob B.
Always a pick when we want a nice meal! Very consistent quality in service, food and atmosphere. Grouper is excellent. Warm pear salad is a favorite of my wife's. Never had a bad meal or experience.
(4)Sarah S.
Great food, I would recommend trying the French Onion Soup!
(5)Casey B.
Delicious place! Amazing quality food, great service, and an overall wonderful experience. I have had lunch and dinner here a few times, and each time I was very satisfied.I always have a hard time finding quality restaurants, but this place is amazing quality. I love the fact they grow their own fresh herbs too, it adds to the charm of the place. Stop by, it really is delicious.
(5)Lexi G.
Woof. Well my daddy really smells good coming home from this place. The few doggy bags he has brought home and that I broke into tasted super yummy. I remember him raving for months afterwards after eating a shrimp risotto with asparagus. This place is known for two things over anything; french onion soup and their duck. Their quice is great. The total opposite of Pikk's. If you order something common you can expect it to be common. Order something on the cheaper end it isn't going to taste great. Daddy loves this place! if you want to dress up and act like you are in a fancy city eatery, you will totally fit in. If you want to go casual you wont be at all uncomfy. Unfortuantely I am a pup and I wont be able to go in but it sure is worth eating at.
(5)Carrie B.
I don't make it back to Valpo very often anymore, but when I do I always appreciate the small independent restaurants to choose from. This place is great! My mom and I were seated immediately, by one of the nicest people I've ever encountered. Not only was the service amazing, the food was delicious. I ordered the lunch special which was a grilled chicken breast with guacamole with a side of the freshest vegetables. My mom had a warm pear salad, which was also amazing. All around it was a great dining experience and I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)Jennifer K.
this isn't the ol' hippy Bon Femme from Merrillville... you know, the one that wreaked of patchouli & quiche? this Bon Femme has gone upper-scale! Have been there a few times now, and no matter what we order- it's fantastic. I've had their Filet Mignon sandwhich for lunch, and a variety of offerings for dinner. By far, my favorite item is their Tuna Tartar appetizer... it is to die for!!! Tender chunks of sashimi grade tuna, capers, avocado and a special sauce. dressing. Honestly, I could just order a few of those for "dinner" and leave happy! It's a very quaint environment with amazing food!
(5)Sara B.
I was there for lunch a couple weeks ago and had no complaints at all. It's a nicer restaurant but we were dressed fairly casual for lunch and no one blinked an eye. There was a mixture of clients in the restaurant. Business men in suits, ladies who lunch looking fab and a whole table of people in jeans and sweatshirts. The restaurant is very pretty and the waitress we had was very pleasant. The food was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed their dishes. I had butternut squash soup and a Proscuitto Caprese sandwich and I ate every bit of it even though the portion was large. Their fries were very tasty. I can't wait to go back. The only reaason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it was my first time and I went during a slow period of lunch. I look forward to going back and giving it 5 stars next time.
(4)S W.
Little pricey, but delicious food and comforting setting. Great service. Indoor/outdoor dining. Had the grilled shrimp cocktail and grouper fish sandwich. Both were excellent.
(4)Deb K.
Walked out of there. Hostess seated us and said that the waitress would be right out. We wanted to seat at a particular table but he said no that table was held for 4 guests. It was 4 in the afternoon and no one was there. He then sat another table and when the waitress came out waited on that table first. Poor service, rude and did not care. Seems customer service is last on their list. I WOULD NOT EAT THERE AGAIN. BEWARE PEOPLE ONLY SEEM TO WRITE GOOD REVIEWS.
(2)Dillon D.
This is the best of the best in Valparaiso. Keith and his team get it right every time. The menu has many great selections and the wine list is outstanding. A casual lunch is always fun and you can expect a packed restaurant on the weekend dinners. We recently had Bon Femme cater a holiday party in our home for 15 and it was outstanding. The guests couldn't stop commenting how great the food was and I will be using them again very soon. Get this on your list as it is worth the drive from any distance. I am glad that it is only a few miles from my home and my Chicago guests are always amazed by the experience at Bon Femme.......
(5)Karma K.
We took a day trip, and this is where we stopped for dinner. We went on a Thursday evening and they feature a $5 menu!!! The food was amazing - starting off with warm freshly baked bread, and the desserts were heavenly. Great service too by a friendly and cute staff. What a discovery! We'll be back. :)
(5)