Bistro Joe’s
Papa Joe's Gourmet Market,34244 Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI, 48009
Bistro Joe’s Menu
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Address :
Papa Joe's Gourmet Market,34244 Woodward Ave
Birmingham, MI, 48009 - Phone (248) 952-8017
- Website https://www.bistrojoeskitchen.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Kristie L.
Felt this place was overrated and overpriced. I should have gotten the flatbread pizza like I saw at other tables that looked real good. Instead I got the shrimp, scallops grits. 3 shrimps total and 1 small scallop. What a disappointment. Asked for dessert. Saw chocolate ganache and thought it would be like a cake! Nowhere in the description did it say that it was a cupcake with ganache sprinkles and whipped cream. Go to Forest Grill or Commonwealth instead!
(2)Laura N.
BEWARE $4 coffee. Food pricing was very reasonable for brunch but couldn't believe they charge $4 for coffee. Eggs benedict were very good in both taste and portion. Will go back to try again. Others in my group also had very positive comments about the food. Fun, upbeat location.
(4)ET K.
Wow...just did not expect such a limited menu and rushed service. Our food was OK but I've experienced better. There were three of us for dinner and when the bread came it was wrapped in a brown parchment paper with two slices a 1/4" thick. All we could do was laugh...the rest of the menu had the same feel. Best of Luck BJ's...could always use the upstairs later for more wine space.
(2)John F.
Sliders were good but nothing over the top, really the presentation of them was almost worth ordering, but as everything else seemed so tasty I would suggest trying something else. Everything we had was very good
(4)Colette M.
The menu is diverse and many things sounded wonderful. The hummus snack was some of the best hummus I have had! We had lunch on the patio and after dinner drinks at the bar. Try their watermelon mint martini!! They use all fresh ingredients. It was amazing!! Both Taleen and Nancy took very good care of us!
(5)Stuart S.
Last night was my 4th dinner and probably last time, at least for some time. Our group collectively have never experience such terrible service. The waitress was clueless as was the manager. The food as always was very good but took hours! The chef was the only competent person we spoke with. The owner should open his eyes before it's too late. Good food is not enough for longevity in this market
(1)Bileili V.
Over exceeded my expectations. I was visiting from Austin Texas so we don't get very good seafood. Naturally, when you're up north, you must have seafood. I eyed this place from across the street. We came in for happy hour and proceeded to like everything on the menu instead of ordering one large entree me and my boyfriend decided to order tapa style and indulged in a series of appetizers and small plates. The list of amazing ranges from 1.oysters 2. Tasushi (taco sushi) 3. Dates Our waiter was so friendly. I wish we had this place in Austin.
(5)tony a.
Very cool place. Been here twice now and was impressed both times. First time sat out on the enclosed balcony area with a view of Woodward and still a view into the shopping center which was nice. Second time stayed at the bar for the entire meal which worked well also. Had the Duck Duck Goose and as others have said would say very good. Second time had a 46 oz tomahawk wagyu ribeye that was prepared perfectly which has to be hard to accomplish. The appetizers are flavorful and the bourbon drinks well thought out and enjoyable, gotta love a place that infuses bourbon, gives it a little extra. Best regards, Tony
(4)Mariama R.
Not sure I have the words to describe the omelettes during brunch experience in anyway but as an "epic failure." We ordered something very simple egg white omelettes with a few choice toppings. Our omelettes arrived floating in a pool of oil. The fruits on the plate were also merrily floating in the oil. It was sad that a place that sells the freshest ingredients could not deliver a simple omelette. Very disappointed. To be fair I haven't tried any of their other dishes. But if you can't make an omelette then the kitchen is not a place for you.
(1)Lima K.
I find it bizarre that there are so many poor reviews considering this is one of our favorite restaurants. We are hardly ever disappointed here. The quality of food is amazing... There was one incident out of maybe 5 visits that one appetizer was a 3/5 instead of a 5/5. But overall we really enjoy the selection of dishes and drinks! We've also never had an issue with service.
(5)Russ C.
Real nice dining experience. Went with a group of 7 last night and we all seemed to enjoy what we ordered. I ordered the Sea bass which came with black rice that was delicious. My favorite item I had on the menu was was Mediterranean Flat Bread. It was the best flat bread I have ever had. Their staff was very friendly. Fish tacos were good as well. Definitely a spot I will return to.
(4)Elizabeth L.
I went to Bistro Joes's for the first time on a Saturday. I went with my boyfriend and we both thought everything was amazing. I prefer to have my drinks made for me but the Bloody Mary bar is the best around. My boyfriend put so many snacks in his drink I'm surprised he was able to add some juice. The coffee was so good. They bring out a caddy of sugars and warm cream. I could drink it everyday. We both ordered Benedicts and the sundried tomato magic they put on the bread is delicious. The service was great too! However, there were only a couple tables there so I'd like to try it on a busy day to check it out. We will go back for sure!
(4)Kristy M.
I went for a Father's Day brunch. I had the waffle, with the delicious berries and cream on top. Also, with a side of scrambled eggs. It was all very good. The best surprise was the fresh squeezed orange juice.... hand squeezed and no pulp. Soooo good!! There were so many other items on the menu I wanted to try. Must go back!!
(4)Michelle N.
After today's experience, it's safe to say I won't be returning anytime soon. Overpriced, disappointing, and bad service. I've noticed increasingly disappointing service ever since my first trip to bistro joes. I was hopeful bc the hostess was nice, but our waitress just kinda gave off the vibe that she had better places to be. We tried: -tuna tacushi: these come 4 to an order and are good but after trying it at mad hatter bistro, I think MHB does it better bc of a little citrus kick -truffle fries: nottttttt good.. And that's coming from someone who always orders fries. No flavor and not worth $9. Also I wish it came with a garlic aioli or something bc their ketchup, tomato mayo, and truffle emulsion were all just meh to me. -fish tacos: the best fish tacos I had in the state of Detroit.. Very pleasantly surprised. -bone marrow: not good, would not order again $75 for lunch is kinda steep esp when your waitress doesn't seem to care and the food is just mediocre.
(2)Jane K.
I've eaten at Bistro Joe's many times before and had I rated those visits in Yelp, I would have given them four or five stars. Unfortunately, today's visit was marked with several problems. I had made a reservation through the Open Table app and in the reservation I specifically asked for a quiet table, yet we were seated in the noisiest section (the center of the glassed-in area). My chair was broken and had I not managed to grab onto the edge of the table, I would have fallen to the floor. I asked two passing waitstaff for help in getting a new chair. Both said that they'd send someone. I waited and waited, standing. No one came. Finally, I moved the broken chair to an empty table and took a chair from that table back to ours. I alerted another passing waitperson that the broken chair was at the other table and should not be used. She said that she'd let someone know. Nevertheless, another patron was eventually seated on the broken chair. I hope that person didn't get hurt. The cream for our coffee arrived cold, rather than Bistro J's usual warmed cream. Not a huge issue but a disappointment pointing towards rushed or indifferent service. We had to ask for refills on coffee. When the food arrived, two out of the four diners at the table were presented with completely wrong entrees. The steak on the third person's entree was brought well done rather than medium; she was so hungry that she decided to eat it anyway however at these price points, more attention should have been paid to the doneness of meat. My omelette got cold while we waited for two new entrees to be brought in place of the wrong ones and the waitress didn't offer to replace it with a hot one. I had to ask twice for ketchup for the potatoes. One of the people in our party who asked for a side dish of grapefruit got, instead, a dish of berries. He's allergic to berries. He sent back the berries and had to wait for grapefruit. We would have ordered dessert however no one stopped by the table to ask if we wanted any. By the time a waitress did stop by, we'd waited too long and needed to get to our next destination, so we paid and left. On all of my previous visits, Bistro Joe's had excellent service and great food. Today, the service was sorely lacking.
(2)Joe Q.
Nice place with a warm ambiance. Food is plated very well. Our waiter Fernando was a pleasure to have. It was a busy day and the level of service we received was excellent. I had the lamb sandwich and split the ahi tuna tacos with my family. Both dishes were fantastic.
(4)Steven P.
Fish tacos were excellent. Friendly atmosphere, and everything seems very fresh and healthy, perhaps just because it's connected to the market downstairs. Overall a tasty meal, great prices.
(4)Katie M.
Yum yum yum! Everything I've had here has been REALLY GOOD! The fish tacos were really great - meaty, fresh fish and love the crispy taco shell - you don't see that at many places! The mussels are also great... that pesto... and the freshly toasted bread to dip in the droppings... delish! Great wine list as well. I'll come back again!
(4)Linda B.
I've been here a few times since it has been open. I'm expecting the food to be extra fresh and of great quality given that it's part of the market below. But my visit last night proved me wrong. We ordered an appetizer of a dozen oysters but they were not properly cleaned and it was pretty gross. At $36 per dozen, I'd expect them to be prepared better. Oysters at Ocean Prime cost the same but they prepared impeccably and service is always top notch. We had black grime all over our hands which stunk and was tough to remove. The smell was like stagnant water like that of a sewage pipe. The first oyster I picked up wasn't covered in that black gunk but the oyster shell was not even scrubbed a little to remove any loose bits of craggy shell which did end up in my mouth trying to slurp one down. Our waiter was nice enough but very unsure of things. He went to talk to "someone" about it but nothing was done and no apologies. Also, please be aware that if you want a Bloody Mary, it's kind of self-serve. It's a cute concept but I'd prefer someone to make my drink for me. We're not coming back.
(2)Ellen K.
Nice spot for drinks and appetizers with friends. I've been a couple times, now. Good service, good drinks, good food. Really tiny, as you can imagine: it's a little cafe area above Papa Joe's marketplace. I emphasize the word tiny. This place may be a nightmare on Friday nights at like 7. This most recent time I ordered sliders, and they were served adorably. They give you this tray. The tray has a grill pan on it with six little sliders with cheese, and then some little buckets with condiments and toppings, a bigger bucket with little buns, and one with fries. All were really good, and I had leftovers. For an appetizer, my friend and I split the spicy tuna tacushi. It's basically sushi elements in four miniature taco shells. Really good! The crunch went really nicely with the softer fish, and the ingredients tasted fresh. All in all, a good place for meeting up and chatting for awhile.
(3)Dwan B.
I came here for brunch the service was very slow. I ordered the gooey omelet with aged cheddar. No chedder it was kraft singles. I also sat at the smallest table I have ever seen in a restaurant. Barely enough room for two plates.
(2)Chris C.
We ate dinner with another couple on April 11. We and the other couple split the tab. Upon reviewing our bank statement the next day, we learned the restaurant charged us for both tabs (as well as charged the other couple for their tab). My wife contacted the restaurant and was told by the "manager" that they would handle it - just "give them a day or two." She has followed up three times since and has been told the same thing each time. We are now taking the matter up with our bank. VERY amateurish for mediocre food.
(1)Mai T.
Love this cute restaurant! Went here for a friend's last minute birthday dinner and had an awesome time. Lovely atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly service. Sangria here is awesome and dessert is a must have.
(5)Chef R.
Great Happy Hour! Kurt and Ashley are the most welcoming management team I have ever come across. They have great Mac n Cheese, French Onion Soup is killer and their Fish Tacos are a definite must. And for a special occasion, call ahead and order the Tamahawk Meal for the table. You will be glad you did!
(4)Shirley H.
My friend and I decided to stop by BJ's for an early dinner and were pleasantly surprised at the food and customer service here. If I had read the reviews prior, I don't know if we would've came. But I'm glad I didn't! We parked in the back so was a little confused on how to get up to the restaurant, since it sits up above the grocery store. The door is on the far left side of the grocery store, where you'll see a staircase that leads you straight up to the host stand. Since we came during happy hour (3-6), we were one of the few people there. We were seated right away and chose to sit in the patio. I loved the setting and feel of the patio, which was a modern/picnic feel. It was a little warm out, but they do have fans oscillating to get some cool air flowing. I can't remember our waiters name, but he was pretty attentive and recommended a few of their popular dishes. I had been craving a burger, so I decided to go with the angus sliders that came with a side of rosemary fries. My friend got the rattittioue sliders. We each got three sliders, two were enough for us, along with fries, which were delicious! They also gave us small glass cups of ketchup and for my fries, ranch. The glasses were a little annoying when trying to dip, because the glass was small to the point where you'd end up losing some fries while trying to dip it. I'm not sure if the fries are normally smaller cut, but personally think they would've been better if they were the size of mcdonalds fries. The slider itself was delicious! I forget what sauce they slather on the bun, but it absolutely made the slider! There was enough meat ratio to the bun and the bun itself was delicious as well. The only down side to our visit was the wait. I think we waited about 25 min for our order once we placed it. But have to say how impressed we were when all of the waiters and staff said goodbye and were so friendly. This would be a very cute place to come on a date/double date/girls night/or just treating yourself to delicious and expensive tasties. I will definitely be coming back with the hubs!
(4)christopher w.
Great food. Great service. They would get 5 stars if they could get the temperature on their patio to not be so darn hot!!! Also, in the early evening the sun can be really bright on the patio too. You'd think they would have solved these long running problems by now.
(4)Alice C.
It's a trendy dining establishment located atop the market. We came with a group of 8 and the waitress very attentive throughout the whole dinner. We got drinks and the server told us we could go pick out a wine we liked and buy it from the wine section which would save us some money too. They charge a $15 corking fee which is a very nice feature to have with a reasonable mark up. The wine guy in our group went as and picked out a John Anthony Napa Valley Cabernet Savignon, a nice wine indeed, at around $50. I personally went for the Sangria, and it was delicious. I loved how they had peaches and grapes (infused in the sangria by the taste of it) We got the charcuterie board and the bacon wrapped dates to share. The meats were tasty and the bacon wrapped dates are definitely good to try. The meats included truffle sausage, olives, prosciutto and other meats, served with horseradish mustard and toasted bread slices. The portion size was just right for the group to share. I got the 10z Wagyu flat iron steak medium ($28), servied with fries and the bistro salad. I swapped for roasted sweet potatoes instead of the fries. Of the 3 steaks and 1 lamp chop in our group, 3 of the meats were over cooked. The lamb was sent back because it was completely over done. The steaks were more medium well then the medium rare and medium we ordered. As steaks, they were not bad, but they were not what I was expected when I ordered Wagyu steak. The steaks were a bit tough and took effort to cut. The roasted sweet potatoes were good and the salad as well. Given the price tag, I would expect more attention to to the doness of the meat. Otherwise, it is a nice place to come to when you what a fancier than usual dinner.
(3)Frederick R.
Delicious oysters for $1!!!!!!!! That is 5 stars alone. Friendly server gave me a good beer recommendation. I only had oysters but at that price I will definitely be back. See you soon
(5)Kiyoko M.
We came here for dinner to try oysters. We placed a couple foods from menus. I highly recommend to try Tacushi! The salad was huge! I want to try other. The very good customer service. Only I could say was little bit pricey.
(4)Lisa N.
I made a mistake of coming here for Saturday brunch. Turned out to be an awesome mistake. Brunch is served on Sunday only, so I stayed to try out the Saturday lunch. The concept of the restaurant above a gourmet grocery store is ingenious! The food quality is superb! I tried the clam chowder, lamb wrap, and farmhouse burger. The portions are huge and everything tastes so fresh. Definitely a good place for lunch. I'm planning on coming back for Sunday brush!
(4)Matthew S.
Since the day this restaurant opened I've been one of its biggest fans. How can you beat $1 oysters during happy hour? The steak frites is delicious, one of the best in town. If you love bone marrow then definitely order it here as an appetizer. Great presentations, not always the best service, but I don't know what restaurant always has great service. Great wine and cocktails. Great sliders and fish specials. All the food is great in my opinion and they do an awesome brunch on the weekends. Sometimes too much truffle in the ingredients.
(5)Samantha F.
Last night, a friend and I came in for a quick dinner before we headed downtown for a play. We were seated quickly and our waiter came to the table immediately after. I was deciding between three salads (Nicoise, Bistro and Kale Barley) and asked the waiter for his recommendation. After reciting what was in each salad (sidenote: I can read the menu), he told me that the Kale Barely salad would be a poor choice because kale should not be eaten raw and we Americans are crazy for putting it in everything... I ordered the Bistro salad with chicken which ended up costing nearly $20 - a bit excessive for a regular old salad... I have a soy sauce allergy which I had not told the waiter about. before ordering After I tasted the salad, I thought there may be soy sauce in the dressing so I asked the waiter to check for me. When he came back to the table, he was giggling and told me, "he really wanted to mess with me and tell me there was soy sauce in the dressing." I was offended and told him this is not a joking manner as I am truly allergic. He still thought it was funny. It wasn't. My friend ordered the Steak Tartar which was a very large portion. She enjoyed it. She was still finishing her meal when the waiter tried to clear her plate. Don't you hate when that happens? Overall, I've found the food at Bistro Joe's to be consistently good but the service majorly lacking.
(3)Anne M.
I really wanted to like this place. I heard great reviews from friends and family, but I can't find any reason to go back. First of all, the customers fight over the heaters on the tables that face woodward. Some are too hot, some are too cold...and the wait staff is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Our server was clueless about the menu and offered little with respect to suggestions for both wine and food. Although we ordered both at the same time, our bone marrow arrived before our first round of drinks. It was overpowered with cranberries and herbs. Next we got bread. Not drinks, bread. When the "manager" finally came over to open our wine, he explained that he was having a drink at the bar and apologized for the delay. We went through two $100+ bottles with corks that crumbled before we gave up. For our entrees, I got the steak. It was decent, although the smaller portion was not the cut of meat described on the menu. Truffle mashed potatoes were good. My better half got the salmon. When he ordered, he asked if it could be cooked to temperature. The waitress said sure, so he ordered it medium. It arrived well done. Had our waitress come back to check on us, we probably would have sent it back, but she didn't. When we were finally able to flag her down, the best we could do was get the check. So disappointing
(2)Christie M.
Seriously from beginning to end, there wasn't a single thing I didn't like. Ok lie. I hated the parking lot! But seriously that was it. My hubby found this place for our 10 yr anniversary dinner. I know, I'm ashamed I didn't find it first considering I'm the Yelp person in the family. We had called ahead to book a reservation. The day of, we were running late and I phoned ahead to let them know our lateness. Everyone was so nice and understanding. We got seated overlooking Papa Joe's display of precooked food, looked really delicious! I ordered a bourbon orange. Quite yummy and shocking my lovely dinner dates. We started out with the shrimp cocktail, spicy tuna tacushi. I am in love with that tacushi! Omg! Genius! I never liked crunchy taco shells but this was different! Crispy and light and paired so well with spicy tuna. I ordered the red snapper with uh... The ball of rice that's fried? It was so good!! I ate nearly everything! Portion size was perfect! Wasn't too much that I could not make it to dessert. We had beignets to go with our cappuccinos. So good!! Love the gooey warm middle and crunchy outside of fried goodness. Must come back! I would like to beg for more front parking but that's not going to happen.
(5)Laura D.
Food was bad. My medium rare steak and the asparagus was burnt. My boyfriend ordered the sea bass and said it tasted off. The chip things that came with it were also burnt. The service was also lack luster. Our waiter was no where to be found when needed and didn't even ask if everything was ok when we both essentially left our food on the plate. Entire meal was $90 which was ridiculously overpriced. Not going back. Ever.
(1)Richard D.
I went here, I was very hung over, so, I ordered the Bloody Mary and waffles, they were exact what I needed to recovery from my hangover. The Bloody Mary was perrrrfect, and the waffles was light and crispy and hmmmm... My only qualm is that the place is too small I prefer a big bustling restaurant, but I shall return ti try the lamb.
(4)Valerie F.
Went there today with my family, a party of 6 for my sisters birthday. Everything was exceptional, the food, the service and the ambiance .. Luma is very kind and accommodating as i requested a table outside and it was ready and waiting when I arrived.. The server was amazing, wish I remembered his name, very helpful with suggestions and on top of his game. Will definitely be back! Tip: try the lamb sandwich, you will not be disappointed! Best thing ever!
(5)Dan O.
Visited this place at lunch time while on a work trip. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised. This Bistro sits over the top of a fresh food market. Very cool atmosphere. Today was a gorgeous day, so we decided to eat "outside" on their semi-enclosed balcony. I ordered fish tacos and they were fabulous. They used wood-roasted mahi mahi for the fish, a nice pico de gallo drizzled on a bed of cabbage slaw. Fresh avocado and salsa add to the awesomeness. I've read some negative comments regarding the service here, but the young lady we had today was very attentive and was always in top of things. To put a bow on our lunch, we order sugar/cinnamon beignets that were delivered nice and hot with two sauces; one chocolate and one caramel. There was just two of us, but we couldn't stop eating them all!
(4)Tacarra L.
Went for brunch with friends and sat on the patio. Overall the experience was pleasant but nothing that "blew my socks off". The brunch menu was to be expected, and the food that everyone ordered tasted good although it came out in cycles. First we received our main entrees then our sides came out. Also, I was displeased with the drink selection. Our waiter failed to mention certain drinks that weren't on the menu and never came back to refill our waters (which were served at room temperature and had a funny taste) or ask if we wanted more drinks after we ordered. Sitting on the patio was nice although there was no regulation of the air temperature. It was a cool spring day but it was very sunny. So, sitting on the patio with the "windows" closed made if feel like you were in a muggy greenhouse without ventilation. The manager (I'm assuming he was the manager as he never spoke or introduced himself) came over to open the "windows" but then allowed the other customers to close them at will. In all, the food was decent but the brunch was something you could find at any trendy restaurant serving brunch. I'd go back but wouldn't make a special trip here for brunch again.
(3)Andrew W.
Very good! We went for happy hour, had some amazing food and drinks for an unbelievable price, definitely suggest checking out happy hour on their 2nd story patio!
(5)Erin M.
I came here for the first time with my mom and sister for lunch a few days ago, not really knowing anything about the restaurant or what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised to find that for a restaurant above a grocery store, it had a nice atmosphere and enticing menu. I had the fresh catch of the day which was an herb crusted ruby trout served with couscous, zucchini and squash. The fish was cooked beautifully and the couscous was by far the best i've ever had. I would come back just for that! While i'm not much of a fan of zucchini and squash, they were julienned into the couscous and actually made quite a nice addition to it. My sister had the kale barley salad with salmon on it and it was quite generous in size and she said it was very good. Mom had the wood grilled fish tacos and let me try one and it was to die for. The fish and slaw both seemed very fresh and the sauce had a surprising yet enjoyable kick to it. While the prices are admittedly on the higher end for lunch, the food is well worth it. I look forward to coming back to Joe's and trying more!
(5)Erica C.
I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Go. I had the the grouper tacos. : O So good. Clean, Friendly staff, fast service. I went at lunch so dinner might be busier but still go. It was great.
(5)Patrick I.
This place is simply amazing! Their menu changes occasionally but you always have to get their tuna taco app. It's delicious. The butchers block is a great deal for what you get....with the lamb chops being my favorite...even better than the already tasty filet. My one caveat is that the desserts used to be more imaginative and unique compared to the papa cake they now have from downstairs. Still, for a unique dining experience during any season (their patio is heated and covered during cold months), you can't go wrong with this place :).
(5)Love S.
My friend and I were here for dinner during Birmingham's restaurant week. The menu is a little expensive, typical Birmingham... But during restaurant week you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert which seemed to make it more affordable. My dinner was good, I has the ahi tuna Tacushi (tacos) for appetizer, red wine braised short ribs, and tiramisu for dessert. The food was all great and wonderful. I also had their red wine sangria with dinner. The atmosphere was nice, not overly busy, nor loud. Cute place, we had a table on the window which offered a nice view of Woodward, but it was cold and breezy. The windows weren't made of glass and were not sealed well. It was a cold January evening and I kept my coat on through dinner. The main reason for the 2 stars is after dinner my friend and I were enjoying drinks and catching up. One of the busboys was cleaning the tables around us. He was carrying a full tray of glasses and bottles and he did NOT seem comfortable carrying that amount if weight! (I used to wait tables at several restaurants through my college and post college years and you must be experienced to carry what he was trying to carry) When he was approaching my table he dropped the entire tray of glasses and bottles... and a bottle of coca-cola landed right on me and it literally rained coke over my head and onto my coat and scarf. (Keep in mind I never took off my coat cuz we had a table by the cold window.) What happened next was even worse... The bus boy took his dirty tag that was was just using to wipe tables to wipe me down! I did not want that dirty rag all over my Michael Kors peacoat!! I told him to stop and he kept wiping and smearing the coat and dirty rag all over my coat, while I was wearing it! Just weird and awkward all around! Normally I would've laughed at this entire situation because I have waited tables before and I understand that things like this do happen. What bothered me was when I told him to stop he didn't stop and after this no one checked on my table. My waiter and/or a manger should've checked on me but no one did... And it's not like no one saw it happen... When he dropped the entire tray it made a crashing sound of glass breaking and everyone froze and looked over our way. Isn't this Birmingham? They're lucky I didn't make a big deal or a big scene like some people would have.
(2)Sara B.
Well this place is much better than I expected! I sat "outside" in what can only be descibed as a lovely little sun room. The tempurature was comfortable and the sun wasn't too bright. The decor was cute and minimal, which I appreciated. Our server was pleasant and prompt as well. To start with we ordered some truffle fries with extra herbs. I'm typically hit or miss with french fries, but these were wonderful. They were crispy, not too greasy, and were topped with fried herbs and just a little grated cheese. Yum We didn't realize it, but you also get complimentary bread and butter. The bread was crunchy on the outside and the butter had been flavored with a bit of pepper. The only thing I didn't like was that the bread was cut impossibly thin and only part way down, so you ended up squashing the loaf to try and get a piece of it off. For our main meal I had lentil soup and the kale salad. Goodness me was this good. The lentil soup had a kind of pork flavor to it, but as far as I know it was made vegetarian. It had vegetables and a small dollop of some cream to mix in. It was well balanced and very filling. The Kale salad was the star for me though. It had lots of leafy kale, reconstituted white raisins, cranberries that seemed to have been soaked in orange juice, pistacios, and some fresh grated cheese on top with what I think was a white balsamic vinegar dressing. My friend got the french onion soup and the wild mushroom flatbread. The onion soup was very flavorful with a crunch crouton, perfectly broiled cheese, and veal broth. The flatbread was delicious and topped with herbed ricotta, black truffle oil, arugala, and a mushroom medley. I waddled out with a very content (and full) belly.
(4)Corky L.
Good food but over priced and small portions. Nice wine list but half a glass for $12.00 irks me. Waiter was new and brought entree while still eating our salad. Just wish we had good restaurants like other cities. Here they're compelled to over charge just because its "Birmingham". And BTW the paper bag holding the bread is really stupid!
(3)ServiceGuru R.
Almost 5 stars but... Cute trendy d little restaurant with fabulous food, amazing drinks.but what's with the non smiling waitstaff?! Grabbed brunch here with Mr.A and while we enjoyed the food and ambiance,the waitstaff was almost comical with their somber faces. Each of them had the same blank, emotionless expression on their face. Thank God they blinked or I would have thought they were zombies. Anyhow, The food was beautifully presented, & simply delightful . We started with a charcuterie board, and before we were half way though with these tasty nibbles, our entree arrived, piping hot! The french toast is a must have...and the Korean Steak and Eggs was fantastic. au revoir
(4)Diane S.
We picked this place by reading on-line reviews and these were mixed, so we were uncertain of what to expect. We were deliciously surprised by Joe's. Great wine, great service and delicious food! Here's the thing: it's not an elegant place, very laid back in service and atmosphere but the food and drink are amazing. That's what we're about and this place suited us exactly.
(5)Bob B.
Four of us went for dinner and while the food was very imaginative, fresh and very well prepared, the service was dreadful. It took was nearly fifteen minutes before our waiter was even interested in taking our drink order. We had to ask to order starters, which were delivered in very strange intervals causing the uncomfortableness of one person having food while the others don't. We asked a for a salad to be split, but all he could muster was a bowl that was rushed to our table along with two salad plates. The food was good and all of us agreed that we genuinely enjoyed our main courses. When we were finished we had to ask to have our table cleared and probably waited another 20 minutes before catching our waiter as he ran past to express our interest in dessert. Another 15 minutes or so past until we received the single piece of cheesecake my wife ordered. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, but as our meal, which consisted of appetizers and flat bread pizzas took nearly 3 hours we left very disappointed. Having only been to Bistro Joe's this one time I'm not sure if it normally runs like this, if this was an especially busy evening or our waiter just plain sucked, but we unfortunately won't be heading back any time soon.
(2)Jessica B.
Overall, really unimpressed. The waitress was bordering rude, she was definitely apathetic. In terms of service, bare minimums were mostly met- she walked by my husband's empty water glass three or four times before filling it. The french toast was unique and tasty. The omelette was no better than a diner's omelette, and the breakfast potatoes tasted stale, as though they'd been cooked hours before and had since been sitting under a heat-lamp. We enjoyed the ambiance and the coffee was excellent.
(2)Kristin G.
So far, so good...I have to say that my initial impression was very good. The first dish I got was the Salad Salad Niçoise. This deliciously fresh salad came with barely seared (I'm guessing sushi grade) tuna, Niçoise olives, hard boiled egg, string beans, roasted potatoes. This is one fantastic salad, I recommend giving it a try. The lamb sandwich left something to be desired. It was dry. This area has far too many places doing lamb sandwiches really well to make this mistake. Maybe it was an off day because it didn't match the otherwise tasty dishes I've had here. It was disappointing none the less. I think I need to come back at dinner time. But I'm docking stars for my serious disappointment in the recent experience and what felt like phoned in lunch service. Come on, Bistro Joes- you're better than this- step it up. Show us your A game. I heard they are doing brunch...I'll be back and as critical as ever... The atmosphere itself is nice and welcoming and the staff has always been equally so.
(3)Hal N.
It's kind of a local secret! Being on the 2nd floor without much signage. (View from the restaurant level, directly onto the store floor.)
(5)Andrea H.
Amazing brunch! Eggs Benedict options are great! Great little location and convenient that you can grocery shop after!
(5)Ann W.
Bistro Joe surrounds and overlooks Papa Joe's Gourmet Market, up a flight of stairs. Groups of seats for small and large groups form a perimeter around the market. There is also seating in the enclosed patio, facing the parking lot. Later in the afternoon, the restaurant was quiet and the pace leisurely. Decorated with natural wood in a contemporary vibe, the restaurant features a creative, globally-inspired menu. Although there is a combo offering on the menu for lunch (soup/salad/sandwich), the appetizers were more interesting. The server recommended the Tacushi and I could see (taste) why. There were two versions featured. The first included fresh tuna and cilantro salad and were served in small taco-shaped shells. They were delicious. In addition to the tuna version, there is also a crab version. Sweet crab. Spicy jalapeno. Bright passion fruit foamy sauce (called espuma). Sliver of avocado. These were incredible and worked almost magically together. Next up was the French onion soup which is a weakness of mine. The broth in this version made me pause in a good way. It was sweeter than others that I've tasted, with lots of onions. The chef came by to explain that the difference was the preparation method, Lyonnaise style. I also sampled the mac and cheese with lobster. I have always thought that certain noodles, like Campanelle, are better for mac and cheese because of how they hold the sauce. Here, the noodles were coated in a delicious cheesy sauce and served with large chunks of lobster. In all, the meal was delicious and the service was stellar. The server patiently responded to questions and positively engaged with all the guests in the restaurant.
(4)Barbara W.
We went to bistro joes for my birthday yesterday. I follow them on Instagram & have been several times for happy hour. We decided to try the brunch as the menu looks great. I ordered the crabby Benny & was disappointed that the portion was so small. It was good but not big enough for $16. My son ordered the Swedish crepes & he was so hungry afterwards, he had to order a side of potatoes. My husband ordered the flat bread entree which was recommended by the waitress. It was not good at all. The best entree was the skillet entree with barbecued brisket, eggs & wonderful grits topped with jalapeño corn bread that my daughter ordered. The service was so slow I had to go ask the hostess to please check on my drink. The bartender was standing talking to people & the place was very busy. When my drink finally came, I was told that he was so busy and had a list of drink orders to fill. Well then don't stand talking when your so busy!!!!! I really like the concept & their menu is good. But to be hungry afterwards is not a good sign. Also, service was soooo slow. Won't be back for brunch. Right up the block is Toast which is great with huge portions & great service
(3)Jessica K.
Very unique and inventive place. I love the atmosphere and decor! The food is good but the eccentricities of some dishes tend to overestimate the the taste. Great place for brunch, esp if your a fan of a good bloody mary bar!
(5)Robert J.
I'm just posting a quick update to my earlier review. My wife and I went back in to Bistro Joe's. We enjoyed it more than we enjoyed our first experience. 1. Moorish Eggplant - Labne - Harissa - Boondi This is a fun one illustrating Jacques Van Staden's global concept. We're playing in Mediterranean territory here with North Africa playing a huge role. A dash of India gets thrown in. My wife and I really enjoyed that one. 2. Dates - Bacon - Almond - Tamarind We've seen and tasted dates and bacon before, but I don't recall having almond and tamarind with them. I have to say it was a great update of what could have otherwise been cliché. The tamarind really complemented the date very well. The acidity of the tamarind played really well with the sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the bacon. We've seen dates and bacon done so poorly. Thankfully, Bistro Joe's did it well. We enjoyed that one a lot. 3. Duck Duck Goose The special for the evening was the Duck Duck Goose. Duck leg confit, duck breast (roasted?), and seared foie gras were served with a waffle with a light maple syrup, spinach, mashed potatoes and a duck jus. In the waffle, IIRC, there was some mild cherry flavor and a beautiful star anise note. We thought this dish was excellent. We were really sold on Bistro Joe's after this dish. We'll be back for more.
(4)Keisha F.
I'm from out of town, stumbled upon this gem. The brunch here is INCREDIBLE, service could be a littler better. Overall food is amazing!!!
(4)Nikki B.
My first experience here was when they first opened. The service was awful. Took forever to order, forever to get a drink refill, and even longer for the food to be delivered. The food was so-so. We ordered the watermelon with cheese appetizer, truffle fries, and a salad. It wasn't anything to rave about. My second experience, service was better. Food was still so-so. We ordered the truffle fries again, takushi ( tuna sushi tacos) which were awesome, and a burger. We didn't realize the burger came with a mountain of fries, so when we asked our waitress if the truffle fries or soup was recommended, she recommended truffle fries, even knowing after I ordered my burger... So we were unhappy about the mountain of fries and the manager came right over and took the truffle fries off our bill, which was unnecessary but very nice. Needless to say, we probably won't be back... but hey, at least we tried it again!
(3)Timothy W.
Absolutely delicious! The deconstructed beef tartar was to die for! Moving on to the tuna appetizer which was light, fresh and the shell was perfectly crisp. And the grand finale, flaming tamahawk! Perfectly grilled and amazing sides. Can't get enough of this place. Will be back as much as possible to go through the entire eclectic menu!
(5)Josh H.
Haven't been to Joe's in several months, thought we'd give in another shot. Not to say that I was disappointed, I just think the place has so much potential and just falls short on the details. The brussel sprouts, and the mac n cheese both left us wishing we'd chosen differently. Again, not bad, just not something I'd go back for. The spinach bleu salad was very solid, nice balance. The flat bread was good, but underwhelming...I wish it was bigger. The crust made it good, which is necessary because the toppings were scant. Server was a nice guy, but not too good with remembering details. We'll try again some day, but no hurry for us.
(3)Adam O.
This place is the locational equivalent of crack for a food lover. If having a world class market at your fingertips isn't enough to satisfy, walk up the stairs to find a totally relaxing ambience and a place putting out some seriosuly delicious and ambitious food. Love the look of the place. Love the wine list (get the Kunde Cab and thank me). Menu is excellent and it's truly hard to pick. We went for lunch and had the hummus to start while I followed with the excellent lamb sandwich and she had the nicoise. Both were truly excellent. Service and decor are top notch. If any food market in the country is putting out a better restaurant let me know and I'll book my flight now. They're running this place already like one of Birmingham's finest. I'll be back, and a lot.
(4)Rick N.
Disappointed with the service both times we've gone. The oysters during happy hour were tasty and a good deal. Otherwise we probably won't go back.
(3)M P.
Went to brunch with dear hubby today First happy moment: they serve Real Tea (camellia sinensis, black tea, with caffeine, thank you very much) in *porcelain* *teapots*. Tea drinkers will nod happily, as I did. Thank you, no battered tin cooler-offers, no spacey herbal stuff (though it's available for those who like it) Real tea, in a real pot. Nice. They brought hubby's pancakes with Real Butter and Real Maple Syrup (noticing a theme here? We did.) Then they brought my Dutch baby - oops, a little singed on the top. The waitress noticed, and said she'd take it back to have it remade. While that was in progress, the *manager* noticed I had no food, and HE promised to have it remade. Both chef and manager promised not to charge us for my breakfast. The new version was absolutely perfect. And THEN, they brought out a plate of crab-cake egg Benedict, just because they wanted me to try it, and I guess to be overwhelmed with plates once the food came out. Ooooh, swoon, that crab cake was the best I've tasted in Michigan, ever. OMG. Hollandaise right on target, and the egg was perfectly poached, I could tell. And then as we were ready to leave, Yet One More Dutch Baby came out .. I guess they thought I might still be hungry. !!! Not possible. So - good tea in pots, good coffee, prompt friendly service, a kitchen that fixes its oops promptly and lavishly, great food, and a manager who checked on things without hovering. Oh, we'll be back, yes we will.
(5)Mise Lee P.
Foie gras was perfect. Escargot was perfect. The charcuterie was delicious, this place is a dream for a foodie like me! Lots of different textures and tastes. I took out my closest friends and family for a celebration dinner and was pleasantly surprised at the total bill at the end of the night. The atmosphere was trendy but laid back. Go there and try a bunch of little apps before committing to an entree!
(4)Valerie G.
You might not expect much from a restaurant that is essentially inside of a market, but you can for sure expect a lot from this one. Their menu is fairly large- and they have some fantastic options, with lots of international flavors. The server we had was top notch, walking us through every step of our meal. I was just there for lunch, so didn't partake in any delicious cocktails or desserts - but based on my experience would not hesitate to come back for dinner!
(4)Haroun K.
Bistro Joe's offers some of the finest food you'll find in Birmingham, and probably in the whole metro area. The setting is unique, in that you are perched above Papa Joe's market, and may have a view of the produce and frantic Birminghamites down below. I'd very much recommend the mac and cheese and truffled mashed potato side dishes, as well as the truffle fries (one day, one day truffle will get old, but not today). The butter lettuce salad with, what else, truffle vinaigrette, is excellent. The paparadelle goes well with the parmesan cream sauce, and the mushrooms and fresh vegetables are sublime. Other people enjoyed the filet mignon, oysters, and a multitude of other things I didn't notice as I was shoving truffle-everything into my mouth. The creme brulee is standard, but not something worth ordering twice. The drinks list is divided into their signature cocktails and classics (e.g. sidecar), and they're well prepared. The only downside is the service. The server had the mien of a car salesman meets Guy Fieri. He was overbearing and overselling, and wouldn't let up. None of the women in our party particularly enjoyed being called sweetie or darling by him. The food spoke so well for itself, so he really didn't need to say much.
(5)Adrienne D.
Enjoyed the trendy atmosphere and the woodward view The food was decent The berry basil cocktail tasted a bit like cough syrup
(4)Regina B.
Bistro Joe's is a newer restaurant on top of Papa Joe's grocery store. Although smaller, the inside is very trendy and nice. I've gone twice and have sat on the end with the large windows facing Woodward both times. I like being able to look outside at all the cars going by. Gives it a more "downtown" feel. I mean as much downtown as you can get in the suburbs of Michigan! The food is great! I've never had anything I didn't enjoy. The first time I had the brick chicken, which is amazing and the second time a kale salad which was a large portion and tasted great. It's a little pricey, but worth it!
(5)Becky F.
The lentil sliders were excellent. It's hard to find so many gluten free and vegetarian options anywhere else, and I appreciated the clear labeling of the menu.
(5)E R.
The food (escargot, tacushi and steak tartar) and device get 5 stars. The hard plastic chairs get 1 star I will not return because if the uncomfortable seating.
(4)Linda H.
Brunch was wonderful, Service was outstanding; we will be going back as soon as we can
(5)AndrewSumi G.
Quite possibly the best restaurant I've been to in the greater Detroit area. The waitstaff was attentive, professional, and quick. The food was delicious and seasonal. The deck or was trendy; it was nice to have a semi open kitchen. It was rather similar to Eataly in Chicago, however the ambience here was more upscale hipster. Will definitely repeat in the very near future.
(5)None E.
Simply amazing! Perfect place to take a date to. We tried the spicy tuna tacos and snails for appetizers (amazing). Shared a pork chops stuffed with brie for main course. Need less to say it was amazing.
(5)Kaitlyn B.
Went here for Valentines day. Prices are great for the type of service, quality, and size of meal you receive! The BF and I both went with a huge steak, I believe it was a NY Strip. Cooked perfectly medium, as requested. Unique set up in that with all steaks, you choose the cut of meat, temp, and then pick 3 sides and 1 sauce, out of 4 categories of choices. I went with a kale tabouleh salad (amazing), roasted brussel sprouts (literally the best I've ever had... the BF even raved about them and he hates most veggies), and fingerling potatoes. One of the most enjoyable meals. Shared a ginger pear martini... very different, good, and quite strong. Learned they have a decent looking happy hour and reverse happy hour that i will definitely be checking out in the near future. Meal was under $40 pp, and for a drink, amazing steak and amazing sides, i count this as a win for nice night out.
(5)David A.
Always on point. Food fresh well executed good price. Happy hour is stupid good price. Nice innovation. Cocktails are well done
(5)Ilene D.
Happy Hour!!! 3 spicy Tuna Tacos were delicious!!! The mini taco shells with the fresh Ahi just Perfect! Puréed Pear Martini just right. Yes I'll have another. Oysters were plump and delicious with perfect dipping sauces, what a deal for a buck each! Mac N Cheese was creamy, smooth and mouth watering. Just the right amount for a happy hour bite! I almost hesitated to do a review because I want to keep it a secret!!
(5)Karina K.
We had dinner here with about 15 people, the set up and accommodations were great! The atmosphere and decor were cool. The service though was very slow, I mean very slow. For appetizers we got the crab jalapeño tacos and raw tuna tacos, the tuna was better but crab was still very interesting and flavorful. Husband got the filet, asked for it medium plus, I think if came more of a medium rare-medium, but it was a thick cut of meat. But coming from a Morton's girl, it was in fact pretty darn good. I ordered the Osso buco, it had a white wine and caper sauce which was awesome. It was very tender and flavorful. They do have a pretty good kids menu, my son ordered pizza and fries. The pizza had a bunch of different kinds of stronger cheeses on it so he didn't really like it, but I thought it was good. We will be back sometime though when we have more time for dessert!!
(4)Vida H.
The server & food was excellent...great taste, fresh ingredients, nice presentation however, it's a little pricey and the owner? seemed to treat us a little differently than most of the other customers! I didn't feel comfortable with that and for this reason I probably wouldn't go again!
(3)Larry A.
Been here twice. Good food, good service. I especially like the Kale Salad, which can be ordered with salmon or shrimp or chicken or in my vegetarian wife's case, lentil slider patties. You would think you could pick out a bottle from the huge selection at Papa Joes and pay a corkage fee, but no, that is not allowed. Apparently they are two separate operations, and they don't allow it. A shame, as that is popular in San Francisco at places like Plumpjack Cafe, and would be fun and different for wine lovers here in the D.
(4)Aisha S.
I ordered the filet mignon with sides of truffle mashed potatoes, spinach, tomato cucumber salad, and chimichurri. Obviously if you add truffle oil to anything it will be amazing, and it was. The chimichurri was also a highlight and the steak was cooked perfectly. I also tried the beef ribs, which were very tender. The waiter told us he'd be disappointed if we didn't order it and we were happy not to disappoint. Besides the great food, another draw is the set up of the restaurant. Looking down on the first floor market makes the environment feel warm and the food feel fresh- I think their ingredients do come fresh from the market. Bistro Joe's is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in the area.
(4)T J.
Went yesterday to celebrate a birthday. Wow! Where do I start. Well, from the start. When I called to make reservations the staff was very friendly and helpful. I found this to be true even upon arrival. I'll tell the truth the drink menu is what led me to this place. And it did not disappoint! Drinks were creative and delicious (or at least our first 2 rounds. The same drinks at the end of dinner were not mixed well. Waitress said it was a new bartender. Maybe they need more practice. Drastic difference from the first. I had to send mine back which I hate to do. But the waitress was apologetic. No worries) The food was great! Excellent presentation and quite tasty! So why not 5 stars. The drink problem as mentioned above and the bill was a little confusing. The tip was included but it was not pointed out on the bill. I.e a gratuity line. You only noticed if you paid by credit card or asked. This should be more obvious. Again a simple gratuity line with amount listed would help. All in all I would go back again and again! And I definitely would recommend! Cute and quaint! Love it!
(4)Jenica A.
We went for the Tomahawk steak. The food tasted decent though the flaming table side production was a mess. We did get the steak medium well, the outside was burnt to a crisp and inedible and the bone which is the best part was burnt to a crisp. It may be unusual to get this steak medium well though the chef should have butterflied it as it took a hour to get food and it wasn't that busy. Our waitress seemed scared with the whole table side production..
(2)Chelsea A.
Unfortunately, things have changed at Bj's. New manager. Different brownies. The entrees are still way over the top with ingredients. When something says "Mediterranean style" you imagine a few olives and tomatoes, some artichoke hearts... Not the full list of every ingredient used in a given cuisine. Tomato salad has like eight types of tomato, three sauces, two cheeses, onions, dill, fennel and more. Eyeyeyeyeye. The sliders are very good, the sauce they serve with them is fab. The meat and cheese boards are good and the drinks and service remain awesome. Sorry to be a Debbie downer but it's just what's happening. Shame on you Bistro Joes, for eliminating those amazing brownies and replacing them with flavorless, seemingly frozen brownie bites. Tsk tak tsk. Ill be back for cocktails and snacks, and if the entrees shape up ill report it.
(3)Shaun P.
What a fantastic concept to incorporate this beautiful bistro into a specialty market. This place delivers on ambiance, service and most importantly food, The design and layout was well conceived and makes everything flow. Simple, modern and rustic feel to the bistro brings a comfortable and relaxed setting. The food on this visit was the showcase which I feel delivers on price, creativity and taste. The appetizers or small plates I enjoyed were the Moorish Eggplant and Spicy Tuna "Tachushi". The eggplant appetizer reminded me an of zesty Coponata with a Middle Eastern flare. The Spicy Tuna appetizer was very simple, it consisted of tacos filled with the tuna and finished with a comparable spicy mayo sauce but delivered on quality and flavor. The dinners selected were the Lamb sandwich and the special for sunday which was the Lobster risotto. The sandwich was a wrap with shaved lamb and wonderful tart yogurt sauce which complimented the lamb. The sandwich was also served with a generous portion of french fries. The sandwich was utterly fantastic the only problem the meat was not generous for the price. Finally, the last entree was the risotto. It was served with a fantastic presentation which look to be crock with a lid which was removed at the time of service. The dish was rustic and had pieces of lobster and looked beautifully prepared. The bad part was the risotto was extremely salty to the point we could not enjoy it. The experience was so perfect that we overlooked the heavy hand of salt. I hope they stay the course with this concept. The prices are fair and the wine list is solid but the prices are the real star. When things are going good sometimes restaurants want to raise prices to maximize the bottom dollar and change directions and get overly creative. If they just stay the course I think this place will be a hot spot for a while.
(5)Kelly H.
Service was great, food amazing, ambience a bit odd, but we sat and since my friend does not particularly care for "fancy" restaurants this was a good fit for the evening.
(4)Robin S.
Not great. Too bad. I really wanted it to be good since it's so close to home. Sorry but we won't be back.
(2)John H.
Really great find!! Excellent food and service. The wait staff and manager (Kurt) were very personable and went the extra mile to make us feel at home, including the chef making a personal trip into Papa Joe's for a requested food item. And while we thought being co-located with papa Joe's would feel pedestrian, ironically it was quite charming. 2 thumbs up from all 5 of us and definitely going back. We need more good, casual, fun restaurants like this in the area. Well done!
(5)Katie M.
Cute atmosphere and decent food. But as mentioned, worst service ever. Pompous servers, who acted as though they were doing us a favor. Brunch at this price shouldn't take 3 hours for four guests. Too many better options.
(2)Deb D.
Enjoyed Sunday brunch with friends and each of us thought the menu offered plenty of options, the food was excellent, creatively presented (not the usual eggs tossed onto a plate) the portions were generous and the coffee was delicious though slightly pricey - $4.00 for a cup of coffee? Unpretentious, upbeat atmosphere - will definitely go back.
(4)Julia M.
Talk about a major disappointment. My boyfriend and I tried this place for Sunday brunch and we both left majorly annoyed. The hostess was friendly and I liked that you can see a view of the specialty market downstairs which is really well done. We were seated on the patio side directly in the bright glaring sunlight so we asked to move tables. The section is decorated in lemon yellow and it is EVERYWHERE. To the point where it was way overdone and bothersome to look at. Someone should give them the message on complimentary colors because it was overkill... We came at close to 2:30 when brunch is almost over and asked to see both brunch and lunch menus. The server brought both but didn't bother to tell us that lunch is served on Sundays. Naturally we both wanted something off the lunch menu and had to pick different meals. Our server was majorly snotty and inattentive. Her timing was poor and frankly she didn't do her job. They were NOT busy and we waited too long for everything. My boyfriend and I wanted coffee but decided against it since it was $4.00 a cup. Not for a latte. Or a capuccino. For a regular cup of coffee. Can I get a big hell no to that?!? We both ordered omelets and will they were good, they weren't $15.00 a piece good. I don't mind paying a lot for food but the flavor and service needs to be on point. My omelet was brought out and I waited 5 minutes to ask my server to bring out condiments. Crappy thing is she never came so I went and asked the nice hostess. Snotty server comes nearly 5 minutes later with 2 little cups of ketchup. What I really wanted was hot sauce. I guess I'm the a**hole for wanting to eat my $15 omelet with hot sauce the way I like it because little miss thing was majorly bothered by having to get up from the table she was preping silverware at and do her job. Then of course she took entirely too long to bring the check... I am not picky with service, I'm really not but what I do expect is courteous, attentive service and I got neither. THE YELP REVIEWS ON THIS PLACE CONSISTENTLY LIST SERVICE ISSUES SO MAYBE THE MANAGERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE... There are too many good restaurants in the area to return to this one. Skip it...
(1)David D.
excellent selection and extremely professional service. My go-to restaurant in B'ham
(4)Catherine H.
Have only been here for lunch, bit have enjoyed my meal every time. I usually have the lemonade to drink, which can be inconsistently prepared, some days sweet others watery. My favorite item is the lamb pittas and truffle fries - super delicious!
(4)Erin L.
I was excited to eat here. We had the tuna tacos for an appetizer. The tuna was not fresh. I don't think it was sushi grade tuna. Also, we had angus sliders and a flatbread. The angus sliders patties didn't seem fresh and the fries were cut so thin and just drenched in oil. Actually, that was one of the worst fries that i ever had.
(1)Amy Z.
We had a great dinner!!! Love the atmosphere, menu and service. To start we had chicken wings and tuna tacos- both outstanding. For main course, I had the salmon and my husband had the filet. What we really loved, besides the taste, was presentation. Totally unique!!! Our server was very attentive and we really enjoyed everything about the place!
(5)Donna D.
My girlfriend suggested Bistro Joe's as she'd been there before and loved it. I had no preconceived notions and was pleasantly surprised upon entering. I loved the layout, the beautiful bar, the designer touches and the view down to Papa Joe's Gourmet Market. However, we were seated in the outer area overlooking the parking lot & Woodward. We (and several others seated near us) had to repeatedly ask that the space heaters be turned off. Hopefully, they can place them on timers so that they only run to take the chill off. The prices are kind of high for the relaxed, laid-back ambiance, but the menu selections were very enticing. The spicy Tuna Tucashi was a delish way to start. Both my friend and I ordered the Sea Bass special. Unfortunately, it was served in searing hot skillets and no one mentioned that to us. My friend immediately burnt her finger and I immediately burnt my arm reaching for my glass of wine. We were brought two huge bags of ice and some lemon slices to cool our burns and we were apologized to by that evening's manager. The delicate sea bass continued to cook and become overdone in the skillet and the forbidden rice and tiny asparagus pieces were getting crispy. We returned those entrees for the halibut. As we had just both been burned, we never expected our halibut to arrive in searing hot, cast iron bowls, but they did!! The fish was cooked perfectly, but it did continue to cook in the bowl. We ordered a second bottle of the Phelps Pinot Noir, but could only be given a glass to share as they had no more bottles. They gave us this glass "on the house." While my friend was enjoying her creme brulee and I my McCallan single malt, I was hit in the head from behind by a busboy carrying a tray of dirty dishes. Although he apologized profusely, I was very upset by the entire experience. I guess our server didn't want to come back to our table and she had someone else drop off and pick up the bill. I intend to try Bistro Joe's again, but will specify that my reservation be for an interior seat and not one out on the perimeter of the building. I will pray that the service is better. And I will make certain to order something that does not come in a blazing hot, cast iron vessel.
(2)C M.
Exceptional service and food. Dishes consumed: 1. Starters: compressed watermelon with balsamic and cheese and the scallop app (watermelon was meh, we've all seen this before; scallop was perfectly executed) 2. Entrees: salmon and seafood pasta (the pasta was well done, the starch was perfect, the seafood cooked impeccably but the cream-based sauce was a little on the rich side, I was glad to trade off my dish mid way through with the wifey; the salmon dish was also cooked to perfection, no complaints with this one). The atmosphere is the "loud" version (i.e., constant techno music with people speaking loudly over the din); you get it. Will return.
(5)B R.
I want to like this place but I can't. Although the menu seems interesting and the food actually tastes good - it's the terrible service! 2 1/2 hours on a weeknight for dinner??? I felt like I was trapped in one of those Food Channel shows where they try to turn around failing restaurants. Never again.
(1)LB D.
Went to brunch today. First time there...could not have been more hurt and disappointed! There are no words to express how this server perfored his job today. YES THERE ARE... but I did not want this to be about race, maybe is was, however... I ordered a drink from the menu and he brought me something completely different and told me what I had ordered was not on the menu...until i showed him. His excuse was it was a brand new menu (OH HOT OFF THE PRESSES JUST TO STUMP YOU TODAY) So 15 minutes later he brought a version of what I ordered without confirming which one I asked for. Okay....it was close enough and had liquor, but strike one. We started to ask about a few things on the menu and he excused himself to go to another table to "get them started" as he put it. So we wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. I polightly ask another server for our server. Another 10 minutes goes by he comes back to the table and the first thing out of his mouth was "I didn't know you were ready to order you should have said something. Meanwhile that other table had received their food. Yeeeep, strike two. So, by now I'm wondering if this is 1950 and Ns ain't allowed to be served here. I ask him if he has a problem serving us. He asked me did I want another server. If he had a problem serving me and that was the policy ...why are you asking. He takes our order. The Manager walks by twice sizing me up then comes back to ask if everything is fine. Apparently he believes that our server is one of his best. Really? Really? Really? I ordered the corned beef skillet. When our food came why was my food so hard I could not put the fork in it. I'm so glad they didn't mess with my children's food. Just sayin! Strike THREE! I HAD ENOUGH. Do you know the Manager actually tried to tell me that it was prepared correctly. Okay now I'm ignorant and I don't know what overcooked corned beef looks like and roasted potatoes where the potatoe is as hard as the skillet it came in and even the over easy egg was overcooked. WTH! I polightly asked him to remove that dish. He kept asking me if i wanted it prepared over or something else... If what was brought out the first time was prepared correctly do i really want them to try again.... and should I really take a chance and order anything else and have some unknown or unseen surprise in my food. I think not! As it happens they were smart enough to not charge me for my food and he even got a tip for not being an ass to my children. If their goal was to ruin my experience so I would never come back. CONGRATS!!! One star because it's next too Moosejaw....
(1)Melad A.
Amazing service and food, every time I leave from there I feel full and happy lol. They have a great and unique apps. And the same goes for there entrees especially their fish dishes. I wish they had beignet all the time, sometimes their dessert can be bought from their market.
(5)Tiffanie S.
Omg... Foie Gras amazing!! Beyond expectations, especially due to location, but overall perfect! Fantastic and knowledgeable staff,.. But biggest critique from an industry commerade .... Lose the sloppy looking aprons ... For real. Doug at the bar makes the perfect Manhattan, while Nate and Kyle on the floor def know their stuff and offer great humor along with adaptable and informative service!!
(5)Caroline C.
Whoops.... there goes all my grocery money!! Now that Bistro Joe's has opened, I now have zero motivation to do any grocery shopping at all when I am at Papa Joe's. I can't help but gaze wistfully up at the second floor and wonder why I am wheeling around a shopping cart loaded with foodstuffs that will never amount to anything remotely as delightful as what that cute little restaurant can whip together given the same ingredients. The bill at the end of the day may be a few times more than what would have been rung up at the check-out counter, but it's also magnitudes tastier and also, surprisingly, the most creatively presented out of any restaurant around the D. Between the boyfriend and I, we've tried almost all of the appetizers, or "snacks" as they are labeled, off the menu. All of them were absolutely FANTASTIC, but our favorites were the shrimp and grits, peaches & diver scallops, and the foie. The salmon entree served on a charred mesquite board was devilishly tasty, and the nicoise salad was very delicious as well. The chef clearly has mad talent and has trained in some distinguished restaurants outside of this state, because all of the dishes we tried were calibers above the "New American" fare we've found in Michigan. To top it off, as if the food wasn't enough, Bistro Joe's also boasts a list of equally as creative craft cocktails and martinis to drown your sub-par cooking sorrows in. You can partake in all of this while sitting on the second floor above the produce section, overlooking the sorry masses still attempting to eek out a passable dinner and call it gourmet... while you yourself have given up. I don't know how in the world Papa Joe's snagged such a talented executive chef for Bistro Joe's, but if he (she?) starts revamping the pre-prepared food on the first floor too, the destruction of my grocery budget will be complete!
(5)Kellie H.
The ahi tacos appetizer and flat bread pizza were amazing! But I have to say the atmosphere of this place is even better! Very cozy and you get the chance to look over papa joes. Despite the latest incident that occurred here I would most defiantly be back!!!
(5)Stephen M.
This is more what I expect in a "bistro". Nice layout, simple, but good menu, lively, seats close together so you can really get down and talk. Ate out on the porch area -- nice and bright. The inside area looked great as well. Had great Steak Frites -- $26. Strip steak was delicious and cooked properly rare. Fries were thin, crispy. Good choice of wines and drinks. Service was a bit awkward. Our server was great, but seemed like they needed more people--too often food was delivered without us having the needed utensils. Hopefully this is growing pains. Otherwise, a nice time out.
(4)Mark B.
I ordered the garlic shrimp (linguini I think) and as luck would have it I got called away. I hurriedly asked to make it to go and thirty minutes later I was eating it in my vehicle. Not only was it still warm it was excellent. The prongs were good size and cooked perfectly.
(4)Samantha B.
This review is about the service... My husband and I went to the bar while we waited for our patio table. I ordered a "crafty creation" drink with basil but much to my dismay, the bartender quickly said she was "out of basil" - so I ordered her recommendation, a lychee based drink that was far too sweet. I have a sweet tooth, but a little warning would have been nice. Just as my husband and I were discussing how one would be "out of basil" at a specialty supermarket, the other bartender reached down into the fridge and pulled out a very large bag of basil leaves! Just to confirm, I asked her what drink she was making - cucumber basil. Maybe she was too tired to reach into the fridge... Then we were finally seated and met our lovely waiter. I made a mental note to ask for him the next time we were there. I erased that mental note after about 20 minutes when we realized he completely forgot to place our drink order! There we were with our soup and salad starters and still sipping water. If we were to return, it wouldn't be for dinner. If I wanted a lovely dining experience and expected to pay $16 for salad, $28 for chicken or $40+ for a steak or filet, I would go north to Eddie Merlot's, Flemings, or Capital Grille where I would be guaranteed better service!!!
(2)Miriam I.
Unexpected - that's the best word for the experience of finding a truly fine dining establishment located above a produce market. Of course, it's not just any produce market . It's Papa Joe's. And this is, after all, Birmingham. Excellent menu with an international range of cuisines. Knowledgeable server. Sommelier at your disposal. And, most important--delicious food. Oh - about the ambience--not to worry about that, either: the decor, by the ubiquitous Ron Rea, sets a very nice tone. My co-diner and I went way overboard, ordering 2 appetizers (a Middle-East inspired eggplant spread with crispy seasoned pita chips; and an amazing raclette-stuffed crab cake); followed by an exceptional mixed seafood entree and a chicken dish with the skin cooked to crispy perfection. To top it all off, we got 2 desserts, when one would have been more than enough to saisfy us. But such desserts - how could we choose only one, when so many tantalizing options beckon? We settled on a peach-pear cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream, and a brownie. The brownie, while not exceptional, arrived with a small bottle of milk and 2 little glasses - a very nice touch. If you plan to try Bistro Joe's, I recommend that you not wait too long. There will soon be a long wait to get in.
(5)Emily D.
I really enjoyed Bistro Joes. I'm glad to be living in the area because I will be back. All of the food that we had was meticulously prepared. Love the concept. The wine/raw bar area is a great place to hang out while you wait for a table. I appreciate the open kitchen and the sprawling view of the grocery store. Service was attentive.
(4)Liston R.
Absolutely awesome dinner and great location. Hope to be back soon.
(5)Kelly S.
I've been twice now. Once was in the summer after they just opened. I figured all of the mishaps (hot patio, like can't breathe, rude hostess, slow service, etc) had been all worked out for my 2nd visit. I was mistaken. Why is this hostess, who is the first person you see so incredibly rude? My husband wanted to leave, but I talked him into staying. We ordered a couple apps, a salad and a flatbread. The appetizer that I cannot get out of my head - Tacushi, it was amazing. The hummus was ok, I'm not a fan of curry spice, so I didn't care for, but my husband liked it. The salad (Bistro) with chicken was ok, the chicken was so blackened that it was overpowering the taste/flavors of the rest of the salad. The flatbread? Oh, I have no idea how that tastes because we had to cancel our order since it took AN HOUR to get a flatbread out to us. So, in the end, service is STILL slow and the hostess is STILL rude.
(2)Emil N.
Service and good are amazing. Went there not long after they opened and everything was great, it appeared as if they were open for years. I forget what I ordered, but it was full of flavour with a great presentation. I am hoping this place stays under the radar so I do not have to wait for a reservation.
(5)Ann B.
Perhaps my experience suffered from high expectations. On the other hand, when your server introduces herself as "your culinary tour guide" and prices run up to $42 for an a la carte entree, the place is making a claim to mindbending epicurean delight. Instead, the food is OK and really expensive. The atmosphere is a bit clattery and casual for the prices. The service is not unfriendly, but perhaps inadvertently comes off as arrogant, as the restaurant lacks concern for any dietary restrictions and exudes an attitude that anyone who doesn't stand in awe of the food on offer must be a rube. There's a sense that the customer might not be good enough for the food. Everything we had was composed of excellent ingredients, prepared with time and care. The results were fine. Not inspired, not original or surprising, not brilliant combinations of fresh ingredients. Just fine. My spinach salad was typical. It had pork belly on it. The pork belly was lovely. The spinach was fresh. And together, they were spinach and pork belly. Not an inspired culinary synergy, but a fine $16 first course spinach salad with quality pork belly. If the prices or the attitude were more in line, it might be a place to try a second time. Instead, we left discussing the many other local restaurants that were better in terms of food, price, atmosphere, and/or service. (I'm charitably sticking with three stars, which Yelp calls "A-OK". Two stars was "Meh", which was pretty much exactly how I felt as I left.)
(3)Cyndi S.
Ambiance, attentive staff, inventive and tasty (and generously portioned!) food--Bistro Joe's is a hit. Our group of five thoroughly enjoyed our craft cocktails and wine, made better by delightful sommelier Phillipo; our creative, beautifully presented appetizers, salads and entrees, explained in detail by Daniel Z., who was mindful of and helpful to suggest options and modifications for the vegetarians among us; and our prime seating at the congenial maitre d's "absolute favorite table" on the snazzy patio, above the hum of Woodward Ave. And, okay, the singular rendition of "Happy Birthday," and then picking up some treasures at Papa Joe's gourmet emporium downstairs, perfectly capped a most enjoyable evening!
(5)E K.
Went a few times twice for lunch, once for dinner and once for apps at the Bar. First time for lunch had the scallop shrimp & grits. It was very well prepared nice portion size and the best of ingredients nice large shrimp and scallops. It's a dish you usually only get in the south so I was glad to see it on a menu in Michigan. Had lunch at the bar the second time the bar stools are very comfortable. This time I had a featured Duck salad with Sliced Duck Breast on top of Confit with a Spinach and Blue Cheese Salad. Perfect portion size for lunch and every bite was enjoyed. The duck breast was cooked perfectly. Went once for dinner and had the Foie Gras and Lobster Escargot for appetizers. The Foie Gras is awesome went back to have it again at the bar. Also that night we split the nightly special for wednesday night weekly special which was the bourbon pig. It was a great dish which besides the bacon wrapped pork it also was served with pork belly and even a spring roll was on the plate among other things. Also had the steak tar tare one night it was served really need in a jar that you mix together the ingredients yourself and the bread is served on the side. Very nice place inside and a very creative menu. Service was great on all visits.
(4)Marilyn D.
We went with another couple to try Bistro Joe's. Although the food was good, not great but good, the noise level was so loud conversation was impossible. Also sitting out on the porch heaters are used and they are either too hot or too cold. Tables are squeezed in so tight, getting in and out of your chair is a challenge. I suggest the heaters be hung a little higher so they are not so obvious and that some kind of sound absorbing material be added to the ceiling. If I were to go back , which I do not intend to do, I would insist on sitting inside the restaurant and not on the porch.
(1)Jill L.
I went for lunch and they were very disorganized. I had to place both my food and drink order twice because they seem to have difficulty deciding which server was taking care of us. The food, when it did arrive was quite good actually. May try again but not in the near future.
(3)Sandra R.
I REALLY don't want foodies to learn of Bistro Joes....because once they do, I fear getting in will be difficult! The food, menu & service are all superb. You would not know that they're still in "soft opening" stage. I expected some stumbles with something...but not even a small misstep. The menu is sophisticated, but not intimidating, with often a surprising mix of ingedients to a dish. The servings are bountiful and all are presented in a singular, often delightful, manner. The platter and food almost become an art installation at times! The only thing I find wanting is a permament table reserved just for me!
(5)Elisa S.
Have to say that the food is good but the service is a real turn off! Wait person didn't know items are the menu had changed and things ordered were totally different than described on menu. They were out of many items on a Saturday night. They have a total market downstairs. Run down and get some peach necter.. Waitress was totally clueless and the henna on her hand was totally off putting. Looked like a disease, not very appetizing. Manager tried to help the situation and then the chef came over to try to help. Nothing could save the meal. What a disaster!! We paid good money for a horrible experience.
(1)R M.
The ambience and food were very good. However our party was very disappointed with the service. We made reservations 7 weeks in advance for the chefs table and upon arriving at the restaurant we were told that the chefs table was given to a party of 11 since those were the only seats available. The manager apologized and said he would cover drinks and appetizers for their error but never told our server. When I asked our server the manager told him that only drinks would be covered. Our drinks took almost 15 minutes to arrive. All the food was excellent but one of the steaks was over cooked and the server forgot the salad and soup for one of the orders. The flatbread was soggy and could not be picked up without breaking - they remade it but the issue wasn't solved. The server also never asked us if we wanted any dessert. Packaging of leftovers was sloppy - flatbread was stacked and smashed into one box. I would go back for the good and drinks but the service and management needs much improvement.
(3)Charles B.
I don't mean to be too harsh with just two stars, because it was not a terrible meal, but meh, I've definitely had better. I mean, it was enjoyable enough, but for the money they're charging, just to name two better options, go to Forest Grill just up the road, which isn't much if at all more expensive and a definite cut better. Or The Root out in White Lake, which is cheaper and a cut better. I could name more but you get the point. Yes, the ingredients are interesting and quality, and the menu is not dull, but was my flatbread pizza really that special? And $42 for a fish entree may be fine, if my socks fall off after I eat it. Also, I'm middle aged -- driving loud music isn't my idea of good ambiance. The service was both awkward and pretentious -- don't tell me you're going to be my culinary tour guide unless you really mean it, and don't have a long discussion with me about an ingredient I'm trying to avoid and then let me order a dish with that ingredient sprinkled on top. And don't serve me brutally over-cooked frites!
(2)Rob M.
Are you kidding me? How many stars did this place receive? My wife & I tried this place based on positive reviews and thought it would be fun prior to shopping. After eating here my prevailing thought is that it can't be the same place. I had the lamb sandwich & fires, my wife had the fish taco's. The place was pretty empty but it took a long time for the food to arrive. When it did arrive my fries were overcooked and ice cold. The lamb meat in my sandwich was dry & tough. My wife said her fish taco's were just OK, "nothing she would return for or order again". The service from the waitress was extremely poor and inexcusable. It was not busy so I am not sure why we were neglected. She dropped off the food, replaced my cold fires, and never returned until we were finished with our meal. There is nothing worse from a waitperson at a restaurant trying to save his/her tip with terrible service during your meal & when they bring the bill try to make up for it with a BIG smile and "Thank you". The only positive at Bistro Joe's is the atmosphere. It is nice and fun to watch the people shopping in the market below. Unless you happened to be shopping & are absolutely famished do yourself a favor and skip this place. I would not return if someone offered to pay for my meal.
(1)C B.
Been there three times for brunch, lunch and dinner. BJs has a fabulous atmosphere, attractive and interesting both inside the main dining overlooking the market and on the balcony facing Woodward. The menu is well conceived and varied with both traditional and innovative bistro fare. The food is exceptionally well prepared both in presentation and taste. In our view, among the best in the Detroit area for upscale, casual bistro fare. The beef tatare is extraordinary and the mussels preparation is an excellent and heartier version of the traditional preparation. My only complaint is the wine selection which is very good but the pours are modest and the by the glass pricing way way too high. They also have a nice selection of reserve wines by the glass but again way overpriced. Service has been very to good to great on all three occasions, This is now on our list of favorite and soon to be regular spots.
(4)Bradley S.
We decided to get to the restaurant early to avoid the lines associated with a new restaurant, and even though the place was not full, were told it would still be a 10-15 minute wait. Deciding to go to the bar, we order two cocktails, where both bartenders had no experience making the drinks we ordered. Mine was made wrong and used the wrong ingredients, and the other was not delivered because they did not have the bar stocked correctly (took 20 minutes to get right ingredients to bar, by then we were already seated). We get seated outside, and on a warmer night, it was pretty toasty, the outside fans did very little and made a lot of people uncomfortable. The waitress then had a mishap and spilled one of our drinks onto the table and luckily barely missed the group. I ordered the sliders, which came out blood red and barely cooked, so they had to be sent back. Overall, just a poor poor night for Bistro Joes and un-luckily for us we had to partake in it.
(2)Carol G.
There is really nothing to compare Bistro Joe's to in this area, particularly when it comes to their extremely inventive menu. Sure, they are a little disorganized, but they are still new. Very pricey, however, and I'm not sure it's quite THAT good. Apparently, their menu items rely heavily on the food that is sold in the market on the first level. Fun, but they are missing an opportunity. For instance, we ordered the fromagerie plate and really enjoyed it. In fact, if they would have told us, "By the way, this is XYZ cheese and it's available downstairs," we would have purchased it. Same with the wine. But there was no mention of the market or encouragement to visit. One other observation: when people walk by your table, the floor shakes, and not just a little - a lot. It's a unsettling to be diining on a balcony overlooking a lower floor and feel as if you are about to come crashing down!
(4)