Bistro Poplar
535 Poplar St, Cambridge, MD, 21613
Bistro Poplar Menu
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Address :
535 Poplar St
Cambridge, MD, 21613 - Phone (410) 228-4884
- Website https://www.bistropoplar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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Scott R.
A standout restaurant on the Eastern Shore. The service was friendly and attentive. For starters we had the crab remoulade, onion soup, and salad--all delicious and fresh. For entrees, we had lamb chops, and shrimp creole. The shrimp creole was sublime: worthy of New Orleans.
(5)David C.
Amazing meal, amazing service- this is a wonderful place. I highly recommend coming here.
(5)John G.
The food was tremendous and the service was great (don't be fooled by the youthful appearance of the wait staff, they know what they are doing). We were a party of seven and everyone enjoyed each dish, from apps to dessert. My crab remoulade and shrimp creole were delicious.
(5)Jane S.
Easily the best restaurant in Cambridge- and as good of not better than any place on Easton or St. Michael's. French onion soup is authentic as are the croque monsieur and other french bistro favorites. and fabulous. Pommes frites are great -served hot and in generous proportions. The pastry chef is inspired-and unexpected for cambridge! The atmosphere is warm and bistro-y. Reservations are a good idea! Nice selection of wines and beer,
(5)Ahmed R.
This is a nice little restaurant in a town with not much going on. We arrived at the time of our reservation and were seated. I ordered the lamb medium rare and my wife ordered the flounder. It took over 30 minutes for our food to arrive, so not a short wait. I was looking forward to this after all the reviews I read, but my lamb was very hard and chewy. It was also seasoned WAYYY too much, that's all I could taste. The only part of my meal I liked were the potatoes which were the best thing I ate all night. I tried my wife's flounder, which was definitely better than my lamb. Considering the meal cost us over $70, I wouldn't come back. I know there may not be a lot of options in the area, but this just didn't do it for me. We live in DC and for this type of $, we have had MUCH better food so we expect better in general.
(3)Chris C.
Nice feel to the restaurant, and 'downtown' Cambridge is definitely quaint. This may come off snootish, but not my intent... I expected a charming, nice restaurant in a historic town with superlative food. I got the charming part, but the food was decidedly average; and given the price range, below expectations. The onion soup was good, but the super-grainy piece of bread placed in it, was a disconnect... it was gritty to the point of overshadowing the good soup. We ordered salmon and the NY strip au poivre. Both were bland, and devoid of any interesting flavor - the textures, and aesthetics were all in place, but nothing beyond. The salmon was a bit over cooked as well. I don't doubt it being one of the better places, but relative to my expectations, it was a good geo experience, over culinary.
(3)John F.
Traveling through and stopped in Cambridge, MD. I poked on Yelp for a decent restaurant, and settled on Bistro Poplar. What a good decision! The service was a excellent in that the crew worked together throughout the dining experience-making the service top notch. The meal was super for both my wife and I. It was prepared exactly as we requested and was presented well. I highly recommend the restaurant.
(5)Yi Z.
Some locals said this is the best restaurant in the Eastern Shore. Perhaps that is the case but dining options here are fairly limited. I'm grading on a curve today so 4 stars it is. We couldn't get a reservation at the time we wanted so we decided to take our chances with the bar seating. Luckily, there were just enough chairs for the 3 of us and the bartender/server was very friendly. We were served piping hot bread to start and it was so delicious with a touch melted butter. I went back for seconds on the bread. When our entrees came out, I was impressed by the presentation. They were just beautiful! I ordered Pan Seared Scallops with shïtakes, butternut squash purée, sage brown butter. The portion size was rather large for scallops but they scallops were ever so slightly overcooked and quite overseasoned. My mother ordered the Roasted Salmon with fennel confit, olive-caper butter and she reported that it was "ok." My stepdad had Veal Cheeks with pommes purée, red wine reduction, which he really enjoyed. Overall, I'm glad we went to Bistro Poplar. The food was sophisticated (a bit pricey) and probably the best in 30 miles.
(4)Jen T.
Love this place! Chef Ian cares about each and every detail. The service is impeccable - you feel like family when you are there. The wine list is extensive and has something for everyone. The craft cocktail menu is intriguing to say the least! My husband started with the French onion soup and moved on to the Boudin. I enjoyed the salmon with lentils very much. Both were outstanding and reasonably priced. We skipped dessert, but hope to go back soon with more room for sweets and fun drinks.
(5)Nolan S.
Fantastic restaurant. Wonderful food, drink and ambiance. two primo beers on tap and deep wine list. Suggest reservations; we ate at the bar which was fine. Comfortable bar stools and excellent service. Thomas too care of us. Fried oysters - best I have ever had. Ever. No kidding. Salmon with palak paneer - exceptional. Black sea bass with leeks and olives - also exceptional. No room for dessert. Must. Come. Back.
(5)Mike T.
I will preface this review by saying that I have easily eaten at this restaurant 20 + times. There are a lot of things I really enjoy about Bistro Poplar. The atmosphere is good, the service is fast and efficient, the presentation is always good, and I have never had a meal I did not enjoy. I have never gotten a drink that was weak, nor felt as though the staff were not invested in making sure I had a pleasant evening. I think all too often, yelp reviews focus solely on the food. The food at Bistro Poplar is excellent. But without question, my favorite part is the kind and talented people who work there. I always leave with a smile on my face, and that is why I will continue to frequent this establishment.
(5)Maeve F.
Love, love, love this place! Ariel the bartender and Sean the server are the absolute tops! Tip Ariel she is to serving like like Jesus is to walking on water.
(5)Ellen J.
Bistro Poplar is flawless. I say that honestly and without hyperbole. The interior is classic french bistro. Inviting with tons of character from the intricate tile floors to the rich velvet seats. The service is impeccable- warm and efficient but without a bunch of chatter. Wine list is top notch- 2009 burgundy for $7 a glass? Don't mind if I do (twice). The food is to. die. for. We happened to come in on tapas night (Sunday) and that was a great introduction. Basically, many of their regular menu items are there but in smaller portions and on their own instead of as a complete meal. Ranged from about $4-15. Every single one was perfect. So much so that we initially only ordered four but then ordered two more when we were done because we didn't want it to end. I'll start with the crab cake- full of giant pieces of crabmeat, no filler, delicate and perfectly balanced with the avocado and corn accompaniment. Quail was cooked to perfection, perfectly seasoned and crispy. Duck confit was appropriately tender and we requested bread to soak up the chorizo jus. Sweetbreads were perfectly seared on the outside, minimally seasoned to let the natural flavor come out, and nicely complimented with watercress. Escargot were out of the shell and tender (we wished we had more bread for the remaining garlic butter). I'm usually not one to order dessert but the list was so intriguing we ordered two (and I'm glad we did). The kaffir lime mousse cake and elderflower sorbet were both on point. Their pastry chef deserves a special shout out. If you live within a two hour radius of this place and haven't been here, you're missing out. I'd go so far as to say it's worth an overnight stay in Cambridge.
(5)Greg M.
My wife and had dinner here after spending an afternoon on Smith Island. This is one of the best meals I have had in a restaurant since relocating to the East Coast from Southern California. I think Yelp sis a bit off placing this restaurant in American (new) for cuisine. I think the preparation style is more French using local ingredients. My first comment is on the wine list. I have been to very few restaurants that hit a sweet spot of a range of Old and New world wines at very reasonable price points. Bistro Poplar should be commended, and diners should be thankful for a decent list of wine bottles for less than $50. I had the leek and bacon tart. It was very, vey nice. My wife had the onion soup, which she thoroughly enjoyed. My main course was the scallops, which were nicely done and hers was the crab cakes, which she liked almost as much the one ones she makes. Food was hot, perfectly prepared, and presented. Does not seem like much, but so many restaurants fail in these essential categories. Our service was excellent. I was also impressed with how the waitstaff addressed a snarky customer sitting next to us. Calm and professional. So, if you are the Eastern shore and find yourself passing near Cambridge, stop for a meal at Bistro Polpar, c'est tres bon.
(5)Susie S.
The best steak bites in the world! Our multi-generational family enjoyed the experience so much. From friendly service to fine ingredients and excellent execution. Salmon, corn chowder and noodles besides the steak were our favorites in tapas night!
(5)Nancy N.
This is a top notch restaurant and would be ranked as such anywhere in the world. We have eaten many meals here and are amazed that it is better each time. The food is perfection, the staff could not be more attentive and helpful and the atmosphere very European. I only wish we lived within walking distance so that we could dine here more frequently.
(5)K A.
Visited here on a work trip from nyc. One of the best meal I have had and bartender was nice. Cute atmosphere.
(5)Bill B.
This place is amazingly good! We have been fans for several years although we don't come as often from our home in St Michaels as we should. This is probably the best restaurant on the Delmarva Peninsula, certainly one of the top three.
(5)Rainer F.
After a week in Cambridge and enough visits to Jimmy and Sooks we stopped by this bistro, which is right next door. Very positive surprise. Service was outstanding. The wine list very well balanced. The appetizer of the day was a generous portion of hamachi ceviche, with sublime flavor. I had the striped bass as an entree, which was well prepared and on a bed of black rice risotto, which probably had way to many calories but was very tasty. The apple tart tartine was a bit of a disappointment with a mushy kind of thin pastry/dough that felt undercooked. By and large it is pricey but compares very well with what I would expect from a similar establishment in Boston. If you're looking for upscale fine dining in the Cambridge, MD area, I would check this place out.
(4)Joanne M.
Went to the Hyatt for a little getaway weekend in Cambridge. Based on reviews and not many choices to eat, we decided to try Bistro Poplar. What a wonderful experience it was! As other reviewers have mentioned, you could not have anyone better than Natalie to represent your business..she is so warm and inviting and makes you feel right at home. My husband had the onion soup that was just delicious. Best we ever had. I had the escargot which was tender and buttery and out of this world. For entrees I had the grouper that was cooked perfectly, served burning hot over farm fresh zucchini and squash.. Natalie recommended the lamb for my husband. Yum yum yum! This is a great little gem in a somewhat quiet little town that is looking for a resurgence. Best of all was the big hug we got from Natalie when we left!
(5)Joe R.
It does not get any better. Just sitting at the bar sipping champagne with my sweetheart, Carol Levy. The foods here are outstanding. The Chef/Owner masterfully creates dish after dish that leave you feeling......well.........just use your imagination.
(5)Andrea V.
Since buying our home outside of Cambridge in September, many have recommended this small (38 seat) restaurant. Finally had the chance to sample and savor last night while celebrating our 25th anniversary. Elegant yet casual, the limited but thoughtful menu offers something for everyone - from carnivores to vegans. The French onion soup was simple perfection. I could have made an entire meal of the roasted then pan-seared brussel sprouts. I had diver scallops with roasted butternut squash and shiitake mushrooms in sage brown butter and my husband enjoyed roasted pork with 'pommes purée' and cranberry jus. Neither of us could finish the very generous portions nor find room for dessert. Wine selection is lovely and reasonable. One note, while they serve dinner five nights a week, they are only open for lunch now (winter hours?) on Saturdays.
(5)Local T.
I had high hopes for Bistro, and I was not disappointed. Hands down, this is the best meal and eating experience you will have in Cambridge (or any of the surrounding areas for that matter). Often times these super fancy places open up and the prices do not at all reflect the meal you get. This is not the case for Bistro. The portions are almost too much at times, and you will relish every single bite. The atmosphere is amazing. The minute you walk in the door you are greeted as if you are walking into someone's home, and you feel like you've been transported somewhere far off. The decor, music, and setting are absolutely perfect. Service = amazing, and consistent. Natalie has got to be the most warm and inviting person I have ever met. The entire staff is so professional and knowledgeable you feel comfortable asking questions and getting suggestions. There are no confused looks, or answers of "uhhhh, I don't know, let me go check." They know everything about their menu, and have no issues walking you through it. Now the good stuff, the food. Oh my goodness, there really are no words. The last time we went I got the lamb over wax beans with truffled mac and cheese. Goodness. I could cut the lambchops with a fork, and wanted to cry when it was gone. The truffled mac is the best you will ever get, and it's amazing how they even knock mac and cheese out of the park. The dessert was amazing, and I'd be hard pressed to say that anything you get there will disappoint. Is it bad to say I have daydreams about that macaroni and cheese? In sum, if you're thinking about it, do it! You're never rushed, and it's worth every penny you spend. Ian is an amazing chef with incredible vision. You will be pleasantly surprised with Bistro!
(5)Ted M.
We were looking for a place for lunch yesterday while in the area and found Bistro Poplar and decided to give it a try. My wife has fairly extensive food sensitivities, so we look for restaurants that can work with her, so we usually end up at nicer places. Our food was outstanding, from the fresh soup of the day, a delicious and light shrimp bisque, and the beef bourguignon from the menu, to the specially prepared dover sole with haricot vert for my wife. The service was friendly and attentive. We are already planning our return. Bistro Poplar has a comfortable, airy and bright interior and plays nice music in the background, Madeleine Peyroux for most of our meal, one of my favorites. Highly recommended.
(5)Alan Z.
We are New Yorkers down to visit our kids on the Eastern Shore. They took us to Bistro Poplar, and what a shock! A French bistro with a modern twist, polished service in an elegant room, with delightful food. It was as good as anything we have had in a bistro setting in NY or Paris. Sweetbreads for my daughter (who has lived in Paris), escalope de veau for my wife, while I had corn-bread crusted oysters on house made brioche. They were even accommodating to my almost three year old granddaughter. The waiter told us the chef-owner studies at the CIA, and worked with Thomas Keller of Per Se fame. His skill shows. An excellent restaurant and not pricey for what you get.
(5)Sue K.
We came to the Eastern Shore to eat crab, but on Sunday night we wanted a change, and we tried the all-tapas night at Bistro Poplar. The server was especially helpful in describing the choices. After all, with tapas, you never can be sure about size. My husband and I each had two tapas, then shared a carrot-ginger sorbet. A really perfect meal. The scallops with tomato confit were especially notable.
(5)Lutra C.
I can't believe this wonderful little place hasn't been Yelped yet. There are plenty of reviews on TripAdvisor though. We ate here while taking a mini vacation at the nearby Hyatt resort. We happened upon this little gem while looking for a now nonexistent used bookstore nearby. What a great way to rescue our afternoon. We arrived just before they stopped serving lunch at 2:30. Walking up to an older building on a row of faded shops and empty storefronts I think we were expecting a little seafood dive. That would have been fine, but what we found was a very friendly feeling French style bistro with cool tile floors, light yellow walls and just enough artistic accents, prints, signs and mirrors to give a homey feel without being cluttered... What a surprise. We intended on having a light lunch. Just a little salad, maybe with some frites. But the soup of the day was gazpacho, smooth rather than chunky with a little zing of heat, the perfect choice for a 95+ summer day. Then we tried a couple of appetizers... a salad of "Baby Greens with warm goat cheese" and "Squid with Avocados." Oh and that "side" of frites came in a giant pasta bowl. Of course we had to add a couple of refreshing draft beers since it was just so hot out. And how could we resist profiteroles with ice cream and some espresso to wash it down. A pile of small indulgences resulting in a $70 "light" lunch that we nearly rolled away from. Bistro Poplar serves absolutely the best squid I have ever had. Allow me to qualify this with the fact that I have lived in Italy and Spain and this beat anything else I have had, hands down. I am referring to the appetizer described as "Squid and Avocado with crispy shallots." The dish consisted of perfectly cooked (and I mean perfectly) baby squid, avocado slices, caramelized shallots, cilantro, basil, sea salt and pepper. When I say perfectly cooked I mean that the chewiest thing I the dish was the crispy shallots. The lovely little squids were not rubbery in the slightest and had the consistency of very good deli meats, firm to the tooth but a nice chew with no bounce at all. The only sour note to our meal was the vinaigrette on the salad. The balance here was a bit off and left the dish a little too vinegary.
(4)Casey B.
Just took my parents to Bistro Poplar for their anniversary. What a good call by me. :) First up: Atmosphere. The restaurant is small, cozy, modest, and infinitely charming. It truly feels like you've stepped back into a 1930s/1940s small town cafe. The menu was seasonal and local with lots of creative, French-inspired touches. I had fresh fluke. My server told me it was from the local waters and practically off-the-fishing-line fresh. It was, no exaggeration, the best-cooked fish I've ever had. The wine list had something for everyone and every budget. And the dessert menu was so creative, every member of our party got their own--no one wanted to share theirs. The wait staff was also extremely helpful, friendly, and professional. I'd absolutely recommend calling for reservations. We had 6:30 reservations and the place quickly filled up with large parties. Loved everything about this place and would highly recommend it for a charming night out.
(5)Tim W.
This is my first time writing a review on Yelp, mostly because I haven't been to any restaurants recently that have inspired me to write one -- Bisrto Poplar in Cambridge definitely inspired me. My wife and I went to the Chesapeake Hyatt for a little R&R and realized the restaurants in the hotel left a little (a lot actually) to be desired. Luckily I had read about Bistro Poplar and called to see if we could get a table. From the minute I called, I could tell we would like the place. There were no tables available at a time that worked but Natalie offered to hold two spots for us to eat at the bar, which we prefer anyway. As soon as we walked in, Natalie greeted us with a smile and made us feel right at home. After a few minutes, we were able to sit at the bar where Billie Jo took great care of us all night. Everyone there went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. It really did feel like we were dining in someone's home -- a home where there just happened to be some of the finest food we've ever had. We started with two appetizers -- the tuna and the softshell crab -- both were incredible and highly recommended. My wife had the cod, which was cooked perfectly -- nice and light and very flavorful. I had perhaps the best dish I've ever had -- the bison ribeye au poivre. It was cooked perfectly medium rare and so tender I could almost cut it with just my fork. With sides of truffled mac & cheese and french fries, we really couldn't have asked for more...until dessert. I ordered the coconut lime cake, which was possibly one of the best desserts I have ever had. In fact, writing about it now, I'm wondering why I didn't think to order one to go.... We really didn't want the meal to end and there is no doubt we'll be heading back to Bistro Poplar the first chance we get. We can't wait to bring friends and family there. It really is a worth a trip to Cambridge just to go there. Thank you to Natalie, Billie Joe, and everyone there for creating such an incredible experience for us. We'll see you soon!
(5)Kippy P.
One of the best restaurants in Cambridge. The service is great, excellent wine selection. The food is fantastic! Everything is reasonably priced. The atmosphere is great- highly recommend
(4)H.A. T.
This was a totally unexpected surprise! Cambridge? French bistro? How exactly does that work? But it does, oh it does. It seemed like the kind of place that knew what it was doing too, so I tried the escargot, excellent, and the sweetbreads, excellent. I even had a dessert, a warm chocolate cake. The servers were helpful and attentive, yet also that no where near when you were in the middle of a bite or conversation and so it all flowed. Well worth the drive and most definitely a return trip in the future.
(5)Danielle L.
Most amazing well thought of meals and is priced accordingly. The feeling of when you are there is none other than in the moment. The art around the reatraunt all adds to the mood, even in the bathroom! Fantastic service super clean and unique dishes ;would recommend to anyone.
(5)Ron S.
What a disappointment!!. We had a mini family reunion and, based on the rave reviews, I booked an early Saturday evening reservation. The place is charming and first impressions were quite positive. The bubbly waitress recited some specials and after a while we placed our orders for food and drinks. The salads and onion soup were quite good and everyone was looking for their main courses. It took 55 minutes to get the entrees and each one was a major disappointment. We believe that there was a major problem in the kitchen. (Possibly, the chef was not there?) First, The waitress advised that the polenta was not available "because it did not come out right". The kitchen must have realized that we have waited too long and sent a complimentary bowl of fries. Unfortunately, the entrees were tasteless. The crab cakes ($32) had little or no filler but also had no taste. It was a lightly fried lump of bland crab meat . The aged steak ($37) was an uninspiring piece of meat that had no intrinsic taste or flavor and lacked any seasoning. The risotto that accompanied the scallops was a bland mush of overcooked rice with a few peas. The few deserts we tried were just OK. The following night we went to Jimmie & Sook's, a local eatery, and had a fantastic dinner (including fabulous crab cakes) that garnered raves from everyone. The cost was about half of that at the Bistro.
(2)Heike Y.
It's a bit on the pricey side but we decided to give it a try on our recent visit to Cambridge/MD. We were not disappointed! It is amazing. The restaurant makes you feel like you are in a small French bistro. It is cozy but light and airy. The service is excellent all around. When my husband pointed out, that the wine they listed was a different year from the one we received for dinner, someone immediately came to the table to explain why and apologized. The food is terrific from appetizer to desert. Personally, I would make the portions smaller but maybe I just don't eat that much. You gonna love it.
(5)Dave B.
Wow! What a good find! Hands down one of the top 5 meals in my life. My wife and I shared the country pate and it was easily the best I have ever had. It was unctuous, savory, and perfect. Paired with hot fresh bread and toast points, please don't skip this. Our entrees arrived promptly but not in a hurry. I had the leg of lamb served over coco bean gravy. It was tender and delicious. Wife had the duck confit leg over ratatouille. Both were incredibly thoughtful and most of all tasty. Dessert we had the sweet corn and blackberry crepes. Terrific end to a wonderful meal. Make a reservation and take your time. All in all an amazing experience. Staff was super professional and friendly. Check out Bistro Poplar.
(5)A N.
Terrific surprise in Cambridge, Maryland. The owner chef, who once worked at Thomas Keller's famed French Laundry, has delivered an excellent American bistro focused on local produce and meats. Our first visit, a couple of years ago, was flawless. We especially enjoyed a Bibb lettuce salad with an outstanding tarragon vinaigrette and a hearty and delicious short rib. On our most recent visit in September 2015, the Bibb salad's tarragon vinaigrette was sadly obscured by Roquefort cheese, but the end result was still delicious. Our entrees were roasted pork with meaty shiitake mushrooms and roasted lamb with coco beans and piquillo peppers. Both dishes were succulent, filling and perfectly executed. A side order of sautéed local zucchini, yellow squash and onion offered up the ripeness of late summer. Wines are thoughtfully chosen. Our soft California Zinfandel was an excellent accompaniment to our meats and an excellent value. Desserts delight at Bistro Poplar. Our first visit brought beer ice cream-- perhaps an acquired taste, but the yeasty flavor of the hops contrasted interestingly with the richness of the ice cream. On our September 15 visit, we delighted in an airy blueberry mousse cake, capped with cream and lapped with a lavender yogurt sauce. Bistro Poplar is well worth the discerning diner's time and attention.
(5)R G.
We dined here while visiting the area during the Ironman weekend. We started with lamb and falafel meatballs, which is a combination of 2 lamb meatballs and 2 falafels. The flavor was spot on, really enjoyed this! My husband had the French onion soup and he really enjoyed it too. My kids were with us and unfortunately we were in trouble there, nothing on the menu appealed to them. I was hoping to find mashed potatoes or Mac n cheese on the menu but no luck. Luckily our awesome waiter spoke to the chef and they were able to make pasta for the kids, which they really enjoyed! For main course my husband and I both had salmon, I had mine medium rare with salad. I thought the spicing and flavor was perfect -- no complaints! Very happy with our service and food. Great job Bistro Poplar!
(4)