The Bistro
413 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH, 45202
The Bistro Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
413 Vine St
Cincinnati, OH, 45202 - Phone (513) 621-1465
- Website https://bistrocincinnati.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual, Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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R H.
Excellent. Great meal in a casual place. - you'd be fine in jeans or a suit here. The trout and tuna were top notch.
(5)Jessica X.
I think we had the worst waitress ever. I had to ask for bread, which came after our main course. She didn't know the names of the two lagers that they serve and was a bit slow with just about everything, including the check. Very sad.
(3)Alicia G.
We realized we had over half an hour before our next event and that we were hungry, thus we happily stumbled into The Bistro. I appreciated the relaxed yet classy (and interesting) atmosphere. The wait staff was friendly and competent, and the menu was original. My only complaint is that it was way over air-conditioned. I recommend wearing long pants and bringing a jacket. I hope someone who works there reads this and turns the flipping thermostat up. On to the food: we ordered three appetizers, which was more than enough food for us. The duck fat fries were tasty (though my husband prefers the ones at Senate), the terrine was interesting (particularly with the red pepper relish), and the lobster salad was inspired (I loved the candied hazelnuts). If we had more time we would have ordered the roasted bone marrow. I should also mention that The Bistro makes every effort to use local produce--combined with a great menu and cozy vibe, this makes The Bistro a stand out place for me, though the positive effects of eating local food is undercut by massively overusing air conditioning.
(4)Lauren A.
While in town for a wedding, my boyfriend and I asked the hotel staff where to get a great vegan meal. They mentioned The Bistro and I was immediately sold when they said that they served only locally grown goods and that the chef was incredibly accomodating to vegan and vegetarian fare. We walked into a charming space with tons of fun murals (puns of their dishes like Brick Chicken and Butter Tart) and paintings decorating the walls. Our waiter was super friendly and even brought me some oil and vinegar to dip my bread in instead of butter. The bread was an amazing rosemary foccacia. BF ended up getting the Cuban sandwich and the chef whipped up an amazing salad of arugula, marinated veggies and an lemon almond couscous for me. Out. Of. This. World. I ordered a 1/2 press coffee and we shared the homemade nutter butters for dessert (on the waiter's recommendation that they were one of the few desserts I could have). It was so refreshing to find an amazing restaurant that was knowledgable about vegan/vegetarian fare with locally grown ingredients to boot! Best meal we had all weekend and we will *definitely* return.
(5)Lynn V.
solid! i ordered the brick chicken. delicious. juicy and salty and flavor-y. and i liked the farrow salad the chicken sat atop. and had a glass of the malbec. delicious! i also got the apple and endive salad. it was good, but would have benefited (i think) from more endive and less apple: it was pieces of endive in an apple salad. but the flavor was really nice and mustardy/vinegary. the service was great. my server knew the menu inside and out, and could answer another patron's questions about the recent changes at the restaurant (new ownership?). she was attentive but not in yo face. delicious food, local, interesting... solid new american menu.
(4)James W.
The menu looks great on paper ... I was surprised to see both marrow and sweet breads on a menu in the Midwest! Unfortunately reality did not match expectations. The bone marrow was apparently ham or pork, and way undercooked ... The brick chicken with farro was drowning in oil (which tasted a little rancid) and the pot de creme was apparently made with Swiss Miss. They have the right idea here but the execution is sorely lacking...
(2)Meredith B.
My parents and I stopped in here for dinner pretty late on a Saturday night (after 9 pm). We mostly just needed a quick bite, but wanted something a little nicer than your average fare. We stumbled into the warm and aptly named Bistro. Casually elegant, I enjoyed the atmosphere very much. Sipping a glass of great but expensive wine while I perused the menu, I decided on their soup of the day (roasted squash, as I recall), and a bowl of mussels with a side of fries. My mom got the heirloom tomato salad and dad had the burger. The soup was all right - good flavor, but odd consistency. Too thick to be called soup, it seemed more like "squash puree." Or baby food. The taste was pleasant but the texture was not what we expected. My mussels were fair as well - well cooked, and the broth had mostly nice flavor but was a bit salty. A good, large portion for the price. The side of fries was enormous. Massive. I don't even know if two people could finish them as a side dish. We barely made a dent. They were good, but not what I expected when I saw "duck fat fries" on the menu. I hoped for something a little more...perfect? Decadent? And mom's salad was shockingly small. I know appetizers at nice restaurants are often tiny, but this was just....minuscule. Which would've been okay, except the waitress knew Mom that the salad was the only thing Mom ordered, and it seems like it would've been nice for her to go "by the way, it's tiny." All in all - pretty decent stuff, well presented. All the dishes had good qualities, and things to be desired. I think it'd be worth a try if you are in the area, just order carefully and you might get more hits than misses!
(3)Dui N.
I was visiting Cincinnati for a few days. I didn't know where to go eat and I was cheated by the Hilton's hotel concierge which gave us terrible recommendation to another restaurant within the walking distance of the Hotel. I learned the lesson from the previous night and instead ask couple guys from the valet parking just outside the hotel. They recommended "Bistro", conveniently just about 50 yard away. I was skeptical due to the bad experience of the previous night. But then upon reading the Bistro's menu, It seem rustic and simple, and yet descriptive in term of the Ingredients. This menu gives me a hint of some kind of decent food I am about to eat. Our party was 6, we ordered Onion Soup, Veggie Lasagna, Hamburger with duck fat fries special of the day Salmon mushroom risotto and Coffee Rub Duck Breast. The food was outstanding compare to San Francisco Bay area which is where we live. I had the Duck, the breast was pan fry to perfection. Classic duck breast dish, and the seasoning was right on the spot, just enough, the breast was tender, moist, the skin was scrips, all the fat rendered completely due to the cross cut on the skin. 10/10. I did not taste any of the other dish, but judging from look of satisfaction from all of my friends face, their clean plate and a few offer to lick the dish, tell me they have enjoy the meal as much as I did. The server was outstanding, quick, and attentive. 10/10 to who ever he was with the pony tail. I forgot his name, which was same on me. Overall experience was great, would definitely come back if Cincy ever cross my road.
(5)Mike S.
Roasted bone marrow??? Coffee rubbed duck breast??? Sounds crazy! I got the fillet and it was incredible except so so salty! I thought I was going to have some kind or blood pressure emergency after eating it! Butter and salt ruined a great fillet! Also, I asked for the lobster bisque and there was no lobster! just the bisque.
(2)Mike S.
Certain to be one of my favorite spots. If your not looking for this place you'll walk right by it but that maybe due to the construction going on around it. Stopped by for lunch with wife and really enjoyed the food not to mention we got a free order of duck fat fry's for checking in via FourSquare! YES! It's touted as a "French" food place but they had a cuban sandwich on the menu -odd but it was delicious. Food was good, fairly prices, service was prompt and personable. I hope the place stays open as we were the only one's there for about 30 mins before a few others arrived. Go check it out and get your free duck fat fries! Quack!
(4)Jessica S.
Man, I really want to love The Bistro. Local food with a seasonally-inspired menu? Should be a total win in my book; unfortunately, it fell short in so many ways. On a Sunday night it was pretty barren inside, only two tables with patrons and one person at the bar. We were greeted nicely by the hostess and seated quickly. The menu is small (which I like) as was the drink list (surprising to me). We were told that two of the beers on the list of drafts were not available, which was nice to be told of in advance. My mother ordered some wine, but we were told they were out of that wine. She asked for another, which they were out of as well. Eventually she found one she wanted to order. All together, the four of us ordered steak tartare, bone marrow, and two onion soups for starters. My onion soup was very good - not too salty, not overwhelmingly cheesy, and almost sweet. Very good. My boyfriend's steak tartare tasted like pure black pepper; though something our entire table normally enjoys, we barely ate half of it. My mom enjoyed her bone marrow though. My lamb shank entree was very, very good; my mother also enjoyed her salmon entree, as did my boyfriend and his burger (though it was more medium-well than medium-rare). My father's medium-rare burger was well-done to the point that even the waiter said, "Wow, that wasn't even close," before apologizing and taking it away. By the time my dad's burger arrived, the rest of us were nearly done with our meals. Furthermore, although I've heard nothing but great things about the duck fat fries, everyone at our table agreed that they were far too salty. I absolutely loved the nutter butter "fondue" dessert and my boyfriend loved his brownie dessert. Honestly, the desserts were the highlight of the evening! We also ordered coffee, which was nicely presented in a French press (my favorite way to brew coffee). The waiter definitely, definitely messed up when he didn't decant the wine... at all. My mom had bitter wine grit on the bottom of her glass, too, because the waiter improperly poured the very last drop from the bottle into her glass, which a waiter should know NOT to do with that kind of wine. My mom wasn't happy having a bitter, gritty taste in her mouth when we left. Honestly, I enjoyed my meal, but given that everyone else at my table had something wrong with some part (or multiple parts) of their meals I can't give them a good rating and I probably won't be back, except for maybe a beer or their desserts. (On a side note, while we were waiting for our dessert, a couple who was seated near us apparently disliked their entrees so much that they sent them back, got up and left very angrily. They came back after about 5 minutes to finish their glasses of wine at the bar, but then left for good soonafter. I'd never seen anything like that before!)
(3)Kate C.
Sometimes there's nothing like a cold beer. Even better if that beer is good. The Bistro offers a great assortment of draft imports and microbrews, drawing a big bar crowd for Half Price Draft Night all day long on Mondays. I was tickled to try a refreshing white beer with great citrus undertones and another darker, hefty beer. If beer isn't your thing, you might want to check out The Bistro for half price wine night, offering diners great discounts on full bottles. And if you only want to grab a quick bite, be sure to swing by before 6:30 pm to take advantage of the restaurant's happy hour menu - complete with a curry poutine dish. Delish!
(4)Alex S.
Ah The Bistro, which was Jean-Ro's Bistro and is now The Bistro minus Jean-Ro. I never went there back when the big man himself owned it, but I figured it was still worth trying. The raves are still review and it's a landmark of our Cincinnati area. Let's get eatin' The concept of The Bistro is local. Local food, local cuisine choices, local local. It almost seems like they want you to feel this food is coming right off the farm and onto your plate. While that's not exactly the way I felt, I appreciated the effort. The décor in the place is wonderful and funky. Bits of Americana spread everywhere, with old ads for food and crazy artwork on the walls. It was very nice to just sit there and enjoy it while sipping a glass of wine. The food was good, not unbelievably amazing, but not terrible either. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I came for lunch, where I could have gotten a very fresh sandwich for about half of what I paid for dinner. It was tasty, it just didn't blow me away for the prices they were charging. It also took forever to get our food. My gal and I started with soup and salad and it never came. We waited at least half an hour for our first course. Very strange. After that, everything came out nicely. I'm not sure if they wanted us to drink more wine while waiting for the meal or if there was confusion in the kitchen or what, but it did take a long time. And our waiter never apologized ... or even mentioned it, to tell you the truth, so I'm not sure if that's just the norm. So three stars. Not terrible but not amazing either. Still, I'm sure I will be back sometime though and try it again ... maybe for lunch.
(3)Melissa C.
The brick chicken almost garnered The Bistro five stars all by itself. Hands down the best chicken I've had at a restaurant anywhere. Juicy, flavorful, tender... I usually avoid chicken because it's so standard and can be so bland, but I wanted something light--and I was thoroughly impressed. Even without the skin (I let my dining companion have mine), the meat was packed with flavor. The farro salad (a warm wheat-grain-pastaish dish) served underneath, however, I could take or leave. It needed salt in a bad way (we had to ask for salt--there were no shakers on any of the tables). As others have mentioned, the service can be a bit pokey. It wasn't inattentive, but be sure to mention if you're in a rush. I would definitely return for a visit next time I'm in Cinci--many of their other menu items look absolutely delicious and unique. And who can resist a place with a butter prostitute painted on the mirrored wall?
(4)Deborah H.
This place has a great vibe-the art is fun and at times unexpected. We had onion soup and then a lentil smoked salmon salad that was unexpected and delicious. Good wine by glass list and lots of beer on tap (micro and big names) and bottles. Good service.
(4)Chris B.
I go here for lunch with my dad when we are downtown and I love all of there food. A bottle of sparkling lemonade to start is a good way to go. As well as a soup with one of their succulent entreés. For dessert, there are many pleasing options to have you wanting to come back. Reservations are recommended, sometimes busy at lunch. Check it out, I hope you like it as much as I did.
(4)Angela C.
Ah, the Bistro, I finally made it into the doors. Great space with exposed brick and some funky sort of country-home art on the walls. This is a great place for a nicer dinner date or a small group. The service was nice, but be ready to have a... leisurely meal. This is probably not the place to grab a quick bite. But if you do decide to grab a bite, you won't be disappointed. All the dishes sound like strange combinations but are so very delicious, and the presentation was lovely. We loved the pork confit appetizer. The onion soup is pretty standard but good, and the husband's burger was pretty perfect. I had the lobster salad, which looked small but was filled with hearty chunks of lobster and ended up being very filling. We ordered the pot de creme dessert- heavenly, but you really need 4 people to eat it all, and that chocolately goodness should not go to waste! All in all, great beer and wine list and a unique selection of food makes for a very nice dining experience. I will have to try out the happy hour menu next!
(4)Kristan H.
My boyfriend and I have been here 3 times -- the first 2 times about two years ago, when it was still owned by Jean Robert's organization, and the third time tonight, after the transition -- and we were very pleased all 3 times. The food is excellent. Tonight we shared a charcuterie plate, my boyfriend had the ribs, and I had the scallops. Then we shared the artisan cheese plate for dessert. Everything was delicious and perfectly paired, particularly my scallops and risotto. Our server was also very good -- friendly, knowledgeable (we asked a lot of questions), and attentive. I love the French decor/posters, and the noise level was good ("busy" but not loud). In all, I definitely recommend this place for a nice evening out. Being right down the street from Fountain Square is nice too!
(5)Kim J.
We loved this place. We had read about it and then I sort of stumbled upon it during a lunch break. We came back for dinner. We had a wonderful, flaming waitron, Jared. He definately took great care of us. We started with the appetizer special, which was this special mushroom, that was grilled (i think), it was huge, the size of your fist and really meaty and delicious. For my entree, I had the sauteed trout with hazelnut beurre noisette and pumpkin flan. It was incredible. It was one of those dishes where you simply savor each bite as the flavor is so incredible. My sister got another fish dish, another special, again, it had scallops so I couldn't try it. We split the fries, cause they looked so yummy going by. They were! For dessert, Jared recommened the Pot de Creme, which Jared said is "sex in a cup", again, superb! We loved it, would recommend it highly and go there again and again. It's one of those places with great food, good service and it's not too snobby!!
(5)Johnny B.
Cincinnati is truly lucky to have a star like Jean Robert de Cavel. He's the type of guy who gives me hope that downtown Cincy can reach it's full potential one day. His cute little Bistro right off Fountain Square is a great stop for anyone in the area. The atmosphere is fun, the service great, and the food exceptional. The place actually makes you want to come downtown.
(5)jed p.
Food was excellent. The Sea Bass with mixed greens was excellent, the Fried Green were a little on not so good. But great place, great vibe, great food.
(4)Marcie M.
For our celebratory dinner to congratulate our friend (and fellow Yelper) Christine R. on her 4:05 finish in the Flying Pigs marathon, we chose Bistro Jean-Ro for our group of 7. There was a nice selection of choices on the menu and our server was extremely helpful in making our decisions easier. Most of my party got the short ribs, which looked DELISH. I partook in the special of the evening, a bowl full of penne wheat pasta with a chicken confit in a garlic creme sauce w/aspargus and carrots. It was VERY good. I also had the warm goat cheese salad which came with a side of roasted beats, which I was nervous about. It turned out incredible. I'm glad I went outside my comfort zone and landed on that salad! It was soooo good and a great light way to start the meal. The others partook in sweet potato and pear soup, which looked heavy but delicious. I was jealous, but glad I didn't get it and totally ruin my diet. :) I got a lemon drop martini which was overpriced and small so I might have stuck with wine next time, but other than that, I have no complaints. However, I was underwhelmed with the choices on the dessert menu, so we went elsewhere. The restaurant is covered in beautiful mirrors with clever food related sayings listed on them and lots of clean lined photography for decor. The atmosphere is very romantic and I would recommend this for a couple going on a date (or even getting engaged) and groups looking for a nice balance of variety, that this Americanized modern cuisine offers! YUM YUM!
(4)Katherine M.
closed in August 2011. Another restaurant that closed here to make me go cry.
(5)Beth M.
Bistro Jean-Ro is absolutely superb. My husband and I went last week I can't say enough good things about the food. We started with some appetizers, the steak tartar and the chestnut gnocchi. Both were awesome. If I had to be picky, I would say more garnish on the steak tartar. For entrees, I had the coq au vin and my husband the pan seared scallops with foie gras, mushroom risotto and lemon confit. The coq au vin was amazing. The chicken so moist and flavorful. The scallops were cooked perfect and the risotto married perfect with the lemon confit. Again if I had to be critical, there weren't any vegetables served with, which I don't understand. The restaurant itself is wonderful inside. A nice bar, decent wine selection, and a quiet atmosphere. Our waiter was a little flighty at hte beginning, but he made up for it by the end. I can't recommend this place enough. Oh and the price? Not too bad at $90 (not including tip) for 1 cocktail, 1 glass of wine, 2 apps and 2 entrees!
(5)Kraemer L.
The service here is horrible. I tried to schedule a party here and called no less than 5 times. I was told I'd be called back but that never materialized. If a place can't take reservations I wonder if they can mange to order fresh fish.
(1)Sarah F.
Very disappointing dining experience at The Bistro last night (writing this as an "update" to my review of Jean-Ro Bistro, but to be clear, except for the physical location, there is no resemblance). Service failed at literally every point and the food, while not a complete failure, was not nearly enough to make up for the disastrous service experience. How did you fail, The Bistro, oh let me count the ways: 1. Took waiter forever to acknowledge us, even longer to take our dinner orders and an astronomically long time to come back with a wine recommendation. 2. When ordering, server did not write down orders; apparently didn't hear my husband's first course soup order the first time around and repeated back a bibb salad for his first course. At our puzzled looks, explained "that's what I say instead of I didn't hear you." Also came back 20 minutes later and re-confirmed our orders, never a good sign. 3. Orders either didn't get put right in or there was some other kind of mix-up because we waited almost 2 hours for our entrees. No apologies or explanations. The table right next to us who were seated 30 minutes after we arrived, finished their food before ours arrived (one of their entrees was the same as ours). 4. Lobster bisque was horrendous--tasted like dirty lobster stock without any of the usual richness or creaminess, not to mention pieces of actual lobster. Left it alone after 2 bites; server had abandoned us yet again so couldn't tell him I was dissatisfied until a good 20 minutes later. At which point, he took it away without offering to bring me anything else. 5. Manager came by at the end of the meal to ask us if everything had been "wonderful" and which point I politely told her that I didn't care for the bisque and the timing of the meal was seriously off. She explained that they were a person short, but didn't apologize or offer anything at all to make up for it. 6. When the server brought the check, it was incorrect (he had charged us for the more expensive 3-course prix fixed option vs. the 2 courses each we actually ordered). When he brought it out again, it didn't have the $50 gift certificate taken off that we gave him and we were charged for the awful bisque I didn't eat. At least he had a sense of humor when he remarked, "you'd think it was my first night, ever. At least it can't get any worse from here." To be completely fair, I have to say that my husband's onion soup that we ended up sharing was quite good, as was his charcoal steak (tastes like a campfire!) that I snagged a few bites of. My trout was very simply prepared, but fresh and good, although the greens that came with it were so bitter as to be inedible. I understand that hectic nights at restaurants happen, but better communication from our server and some type of acknowledgement on the part of the manager would have gone a long way into maybe turning this "eek" into an "a-ok".
(1)Jenny H.
I came here for lunch. Their French onion soup was pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but good. I also had their Croque Madame- very filling, and pretty good, the egg is what's key to the sandwich, not as crispy as it should have been. I got the pot de creme for dessert- it just tasted like hard chocolate mousse in a cup. It's OK.
(3)Michelle L.
As I was searching for the underground railroad on and working on location. I decided to dine out alone and explore downtown Cincinnati. What fun! I happened upon this place after seeing the review on yelp and not putting the two together. It hadn't sounded so inviting from the reviews, but the look and feel when you walk into Jean-Ro is exactly that. Warm and inviting, and even as a solo diner, I felt like I had friends. The hostess, the wait staff, the bartender, everyone was a pleasure. I love split pea soup, so I was a little disappointed with how runny it was. I'm not a split pea soup expert, but I do like mine a bit thicker. However, I did have the pork tenderloin with a delish dijonaise and peppered crust special, broccoli was excellent as well! My favorite perk however, was one not on the menu but made special I believe for ladies... next to the tables on the wall, they had purse hooks. A bit higher up they had it for coats as well, but I thought to myself, they sure are clever... If the pace was faster, and the service a bit more rushed, you could actually believe you were in a Parisian bistro. Although I like them just the way they are.
(4)Bea D.
I had no Jean-Ro expectations since I did not ever visit the prior establishment. I went on a Sunday evening. There were only a few other table of patrons. That was great because we received adequate attention, and the noise level was pleasant. I do like the idea of sourcing locally - ok frankly I love it. I did feel like the menu was somewhat limited. I am not sure if this was due to the seasonality of local fare or a conscious choice of the chef. Sunday night was half price bottle of wine night. Great! The onion soup was quite good. The trout was OK and the mussels were OK. I couldn't find my dream entree on this menu, which obviously changes often; however dessert was a treat. The service was good, but a bit stuffy. I felt a bit like an American in Paris. All in all is was an OK experience, and the desert was the highlight.
(3)Alexandra K.
Some may remember Jean Robert de Cavel from the former Maisonette Restaurant downtown. He was the last chef there before they closed down. Afterwards he ventured out to continue five star dining for Cincinnatians. When you walk in, you are greeted by a concierge that is the archetype of a French concierge who is at a very certain age and is extremely hospitable. The atmosphere of the restaurant is divine. The dining room is bright and cheerful. There are all sorts of French memorabilia on the walls such as old posters and things signed by Julia Childs. At the back of the restaurant is a banquette and above it is a large mirror strip at the top of the wall. It's a very practical mirror because it allows you to see all that are passing behind you. The service is beyond excellent. The waiters are all decked out in black and white uniforms. All of the plates say the name of the restaurant and when you are served it is always facing up. They serve on the left and pick up on the right just as they should. The food is also fabulous. The croque monsieur was great and the onion soup is to die for! If you are looking for a great lunch french bistro option while downtown and don't want to pay the 5 star prices, then check out this adorable Bistro!
(5)Lizbeth T.
My friend and I decided to try The Bistro on Friday night, and we didn't know what kind of wait to expect so we made a reservation. I'm not sure if business is just slow, or if the combination of other events in and around downtown that night kept people outside, but we were led to our table and discovered that we were at one of only 3 tables with diners at 7:30pm. No matter, we proceeded to enjoy an excellent meal with service that left only one thing to desire: water. No, we never got water. Admittedly, we ordered a bottle of wine immediately and completely failed to notice that no one ever brought water to our table. Actually, we noticed when we were finished with our meals and starting to feel the effects of the tasty and reasonably priced Oregon pinot grigio we'd split. I won't go on about the water, but it's just strange at a U.S. restaurant not to at least be asked if you'd like water. And my headache the next morning made me really regret not noticing earlier. Aside from that, our experience was great. Many reviewers here have commented that the menu is small. It is nicely limited, but featured at least 6 starters and probably 8 or 9 entrees, plus two specials. More than enough for the average eater to have to choose from two or three tempting choices. We started with the arancini, one big, fried ball with rice and mushrooms inside. Really creamy and flavorful, and surprisingly easy to share. My friend ordered one of two fish specials for the evening; the branzino. She loved it, and the bite I stole was delicious. I tried the strip steak, which was definitely big enough for two adults to share and served the amazing duck fat fries as a side. It had a nice, smokey charcoal flavor and was served to my specifications. Again though, it might have been better shared because it's a lot of beef. We left completely satisfied with food and drink, and while The Bistro is not exactly a cheap night out, the final tally came in well under "special occasion." Great for a date night, entertaining a client, or when your parents are in town.
(4)Abbey S.
I came here the first night I was in Ohio because I was drawn in by the "local fare" idea of this place. I mean, if I'm going to try something in Ohio, I might as well get food grown locally. The waitress was super nice and I appreciated her attentiveness. I got the charcoal steak with duck fat fries. The steak was cooked very rare which I like... and I was impressed that it wasn't bloody. I usually prefer my steak rare but the blood is what puts me off. I got a beautifully cut piece of meat and a side of fries and aioli. The meal, was good but didn't blow me away as I was hoping. Since it took them a while to get my entree out (unsure why) the waitress offered me a free dessert (how could I say no?) and I opted for the pot de creme. This blew me away. It was UNBELIEVABLE. I could not stop eating this cup of delicious chocolately goodness! It pains me to even think I could have missed out on this. It's a must have for dessert. Overall, I had a great first meal experience in Ohio thanks to great service and food!
(4)Shawna K.
Seeking out somewhere new for lunch downtown, brought us to The Bistro this afternoon. It is conveniently located to Fountain Square and has a very eclectic environment inside. With cartoony pic's on the wall including Green Eggs and Ham and lime green paint, not sure what vibe they are going for, but somehow it works. After noticing all their craft beers on tap, we each opted for a beer(Yes at lunch on a Wednesday!) and Jeremy, our server, gave us samples of quite a few since we were unfamiliar. They do have bud light in case you are not a craft beer person and they let us know that all drafts are half off all day Monday and all bottles of wine are half price on Sunday. Tucking that newfound knowledge away for the future! Okay, bypassing the soup app, and on to the main course. The manager personally delivered our lunches and boldly stated,"Here is the best burger you will ever eat!" Pretty confident statement! My quiche didn't get quite the fanfare, but when you see the burger you will understand. Seriously, the bistro burger looked amazing and I finally had to steal a bite. I'm sure the hubs was noticing the lust in my eyes! IT IS the best burger we've both ever ate!! Don't want to ruin it in my description, but somehow what ever they put on there with the bacon, caramelized onion, and homemade roll, just worked. If you are looking for a quick lunch to get back to the office, I don't recommend The Bistro as it was about 1 hour before we even got our food. Fries were cold too, but the hot , fresh fries they brought us were as good as recommended. Also, a $65 lunch for two can't be a daily habit. Pretty steep for lunch, but if you are looking for a splurge lunch spot, I recommend The Bistro.
(4)Alex C.
This review is based on entirely two things. A) The duck fat fries. 2) Bar service. Every so often just after lunch I find myself with an urge insatiable except for these blessed taters fried in duck fat (allegedly not horrible for you) and seasoned with parmesan, parsley, salt and, apparently, crack. I cannot resist the siren song - which also makes me thirsty. Bar service has been hit or miss. When the bar has more people than the restaurant, the lone tender usually struggles to keep up. Otherwise, I've found service here very, very good. The deep knowledge of libations, quick wit and playful banter are generally appreciated. Except this visit: I was the only at the bar and the keeper I'd not met. I asked specifically if he could make my drink. He said yes, and disappointed by serving not my drink. It was decent enough and I could see where he may have misheard me, so I kept it. Being the only patron on the bar area, he went from polite conversation into depths of his life story. For a moment I thought I was the bartender. Fortunately, fiddling with my phone and disinterested "uh-huh"s freed me to focus on those oh.so .good fries. For which I will return, even if he's the only one there.
(3)Joshua M.
Good food. Good host. Great bartender. Horrible service. We waited forever for bread, no water refills, no wine service during dinner, food had obviously been sitting for quite a while before we received it. The food was good but the abhorrent service pretty much negated that. The restaurant was nowhere near busy enough to justify that kind of neglect. Disappointing. On another note, the decor is ridiculous and incongruous with the ambiance and pricing. This place has potential, that much is clear, but they're pretty much a miss for the time being.
(2)Michele W.
When traveling on business, rarely do I go to the same place two nights during the trip, much less two nights in a row. The Bistro, however, was a fantastic exception. When a friend came from Columbus for a visit, I knew I had to go back to share the experience. The service was genuinely friendly, the decor cheery, and I loved that there was plenty of room to move around between tables. And, oh, the food! The bone marrow starter and main course of sweetbreads over spaetzle with brussels sprouts rocked my dining world! Reasonably priced bottles of wine and yummy desserts were a bonus. Plus, the food is locally sourced, organic, and sustainable. This warmed my little Californian heart to no end. If I return to Cincinnati, this will definitely be me go-to place.
(4)Josh O.
I figured I would use my Groupon for The Bistro last night, so we headed that way for an early'ish dinner. The Bistro is decorated awesomely. I love all of the different paintings and the color and lighting scheme works great. We got the appetizer of the day, which was kind of a pork confit and was paired with apples and a fig jam. I got a burger on brioche and topped with candied bacon and white cheddar. It was cooked perfectly and quite tasty. She got mussels, which she said were very good. They have a pretty extensive wine list and a good set of draft beers, all of which are half off on Mondays. The service was spot on; no overly attentive, but was there when we needed him. The Bistro definitely does not disappoint. I'd really like to get over there for a few drinks on Monday night some time.
(4)Marisa D.
I just want to say, it says not kid friendly, but they do have high chairs. I called ahead to see. My 10 month old son had a great time & ate it all, so do not be deterred by that Yelp item. I hadn't been here in a few years. We went for my birthday, it was a Monday lunch. Everything was EXCELLENT! We had quiche of the day (sausage), duck fat fries, the most amazing French Onion soup EVER and an enormous pot du creme au chocolate. So tasty, and nice portion sizes. Service was excellent as well. Lunch was nice because it's wasn't crazy & we weren't rushed. Plus it's a better time for my baby too. I will return for sure, definitely sooner than later.
(5)Agent T.
I've decided against ever using yelp in the city I live in, I just hate the yelp affect. That said, cities I visit are fair game. JeanRo bistro... wow, I mean who would imagine a place like this in a city like Cincinatti. No offense, Ohio, but when I think food, I don't think of you fondly.... JeanRo had great service, food was fresh, and high value. I had the steak tartare, which is hand cut, not ground. It's filet mignon, not top sirloin... for 12 bucks!!! As a big of Les Halles in NYC, this placed definitely measured up in the tartare department. We also samples the gnocchi, fresh, flavorful, delicious. I requested foie gras... 4 ounces, 8 bucks... are you kidding? It's not even on the menu. I have a feeling the sous chef quoted it in error, but who cares! only downside is the bread... the meal would have been perfect with a nice crusty baguette... oh well. brynn was equal parts hot, awesome, and entertaining.... great hostess/manager on duty.. best of all, I appreciate honesty, and I love people who tell me what to stay away from on the menu... half price draft beers all day on monday.... great selection. Cincy... I'm thinking this place is more fitting in the east village in new york... :). here's to good food and good company. j.
(5)Matthew C.
Date night courtesy of Groupon. So how well did we do on the cheap? Pretty decent but probably wouldn't have been so happy if it hadn't been half off. We started with the onion soup and roasted beet salad. Soup was good but according to Sarah who knows more about french onion, was nothing to write home about. The roasted beet salad was tasty but very overpriced even if you account for local/organic. A couple ounces of beet and a tablespoon of goat cheese does not a 12 bone app make. For entree we split the charcoal NY strip. It was plated individually for us which was nice and I don't think there was a "sharing fee" which is refreshing at a trendy restaurant. Steak was cooked med rare as requested and sliced when served. Lovely presentation. Duck fat fries I was looking forward to but sadly were way over salted. Other people seem to like them so I'll hope it was a bad batch. I inquired what kind of smoked salt they used to season the steak and was told it didn't have smoked salt on it and that it was seared then finished on wood chips in a charcoal oven. When I looked disbelievingly at the server he pulled another server over to confirm. I'm pretty sure they were misinformed because I know smoked salt when I taste it (which i did taste earlier at lunch when I seasoned some scallops with it) It is distinctive and could not possibly be replicated buy sitting on some wood chips for a couple minutes. You would have had to smoke that thing all day to taste like a campfire and it wouldn't be med rare. ... sorry for the rant I'd say the place had three very solvable issues that would help bump it up to 4 stars -food descriptions both spoken and written overly verbose and elaborate descriptions of specials. I find if someone is describing a very rehearsed or overly flattering speech on the food it is a total turn off. Especially if they don't mention the price, which is bad restaurant etiquette. The place wants to brand itself as local, but half of the descriptions just put the word local in front. "Where" is your local herbed butter from? which part is local the herbs or the butter? Name the farm. (i did notice too late that they had polenta from Carriage House Farm corn, whould have tried that.) -using food runners. I dislike the practice of a person who didn't take your order delivering food or drink. Especially when they put the wrong drink inf front of the wrong person which happened here. it is easily fixed but is also easily avoided. I wasn't busy, there is no reason your waiter would not serve you your whole meal. -updating website. The menu online was updated like 9 month ago. Which is sad since it should be easy to do and for a place that wants to be about local product and in season they should be using the website to add a level involvement to the food. Show off the producers you use and advertise seasonal dishes.
(3)Kris L.
Cool setting, smalish bar. I went there because of the Yelp reviews and it holds the crowd after work for drinks to be sure. You will see local professionals there after work as well as out of towners. I went for appetizers and had the fois gras mousse with basil leaves and toast and it was ok, just ok. It was very hard and very small and you had to dig it out of its little dish with a knife, weird. Nice staff, reasonable wine, I would recomend trying The Bistro when in the downtown and I will again next time.
(2)Lauren W.
Dear Bistro Jean-Ro, I'm sorry for calling you JeanRo Bistro. You know I'm not good with names. I'm so glad we found you! You made our New Years' Eve so amazing; I wish we could have stayed all night! Alright, seriously now. This restaurant is exactly what Cincinnati needs. Don't let the exterior fool you (blanketed in scaffolding during our visit), this small restaurant packs a big punch. This place gives you exactly what you should expect from a "bistro" and more. Jean-Robert's French-inspired bistro menu is simple without being mundane and elegant without being pretentious. We really do need more places like this in Cincinnati! The dishes that stood out that night were the tenderloin and the pork chop. The tenderloin was easily the best steak I've had in this town to date, cooked to perfection. The pork chop - you could slice through it like butter. That night it was served with a maple beurre blanc and sweet potato gnocchi... and I hope that it'll be plated the same way when I return! The gnocchi were absolutely exquisite in flavor and texture - the perfect accompaniment to the chop. Everyone had dessert, and they were all amazing. Especially the meringues with almonds and vanilla sauce... and I don't normally like meringue! I highly recommend that you try it. It was light enough to enjoy, even on top of heavy meal. I'm so happy that they're open for lunch too because I can't wait to go back!
(5)Dan M.
I had one of the best meals of my life at this place. I had a groupon, so I tagged along with two friends. Since my groupon was for $40, I decided to order an appetizer in addition to drinks and an entree. The beer selection was a little lopsided towards light beers - which is surprising because I visited in winter. Nevertheless, I tried two and both were quite good. I started with the chicken and waffles. None of the ingredients sounds like you'd want to eat it with any of the others, but when you put it all together, it's a fantastic experience. I ordered duck breast for my entree. I like duck a lot, and I've had my fair share, both good and bad. This meat is some of the best I've had in my life. It was perfectly cooked and the sauce it was in was tangy and salty with a little sweet. I hate greens, but I sopped up the sauce with them and happily gorged myself. My friends' entrees were also very good - lamb shank and NY strip. You shouldn't be coming here for a steak though. The prices at this place are totally reasonable for the quality of food prepared. I wish I could give it six stars. Bottom Line: I will come back, and I'll bring new people with me to spread the love.
(5)Hot Mama J.
beautiful restaurant. Tragically dynamite fries fried in duck fat (free when you check in on foursquare). lovely pinot. I had dinner and lunch the next day. The chicken was superb. Unfortunately I can't recall what I had for dinner because it put me in a delicious food coma. I found this place on yelp as I was on business trip and I'm so glad I did. Right across the street from the Westin Hotel
(4)Meredith H.
Went here for my husband's birthday, based at least partially on yelp reviews. Happened to show up on their half off beers night for the bar. They also had one of my favorite winter beers on tap (anchor steam christmas ale), so major plus. The food overall was a solid 3.5 stars, but I'm giving a 3 for overall experience. I think our waiter was having a bad night, but often forgot about us or things we requested (upon seating, my napkin was damp so I asked for another.... 20 minutes and a bus boy later I finally got one). My husband and I each had a soup to start because it was freezing outside. Both were very good.. Main courses were sweetbreads (me) and the duck breast (my husband). While the sweatbreads were good, the plate needed some more variation... they were served with soft polenta (which I looooove) but it was overall too much mush on my plate. Also, sweetbreads should probably be more of an appetizer than entree. For me, it was just a bit too much for a main course. The husband's duck breast was seriously the largest I've ever seen in my life. Cooked well, not overdone, and good seasoning. Overall we were pleased but will likely try a new unknown before returning to the Bistro.
(3)Jack R.
I had been to Bistro when it was called JeanRo Bistro, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. (Fantastic duck, great service!) So, for a recent anniversary I took my girlfriend to Bistro (minus the JeanRo). While the interior had a pretty hip look about it and the staff was friendly, all of the items I ordered seriously missed the mark. I had Lobster Bisque and Duck. The Lobster bisque had almost no flavor. It was watery, boring, and completely underwhelming. My girlfriend had the Onion Soup, which was delicious. For dinner, she had a Lamb Shank, which again was delicious. However, my Duck was so incredibly salty that it was barely edible. I am truly easy to please in terms of food, and this may actually have been the first meal in my life that I considered sending back to the kitchen. Overall, this was by far the worst dining experience I've had in Cincinnati within a respectable restaurant-- I would highly recommend skipping Bistro and giving one of the many other similar restaurants in town a try. (Such as Honey, The Rookwood, or Local 127)
(1)Omeed S.
As a Californian I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to good food. I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm cranky to be couped up in a hotel room during the week for work. Fortunately Jean-Ro satisfies my craving for good food among my limited options in downtown Cincinnati. The specials are generally very good, and you can never fail with the Steak Frites. If you have some real cajones go for the pork chop. It's huge and it never fails to satisfy. Pick something that pairs well with a red wine, because you cant pass up on the Apex. Its the best $30 bottle you'll ever order in a restaurant, says all of my teammates/coworkers (some real wine-buffs in this group). Only 4 stars because of a bad experience with some duck served too raw (not too rare--I like rare--I'm talkin that purplish raw color that you never want plated meat to appear!). The killer was that when I sent it back, the same damn chopped up piece of meat was replated ultra-well and served on the side was the bite i spit out! BLECH. Oh and don't let the waiting staff bull$h!t you about drink pairings -- they don't hold back. Nevertheless, Jean-Ro is our Cincinnati go-to when we want a relaxing and satisfying meal.
(4)Deann M.
After circling several blocks around the Westin in Fountain Square, we discovered Jeanro hidden behind construction. It was actually on the hotel's recommended restaurants list, but after seeing what some of those looked like, we crumpled up the paper list and tossed it out. But, Jeanro looked legit. Zagat rated (yeah, I know, means little to me...but it did mean something), pleasant looking patrons (who for some reason looked like they'd enjoy a good meal) and a fully stocked bar - good enough for us - SOLD! The experience overall was pleasant. Great waitstaff and AWESOME beer - try the Michigan Dragon something (12% alcohol) or the local Over the Rhine beers. Tasty! The food was yummy - but nothing to write home about. The waitress recommended the mussels which I got, but wouldn't get again. It was good, don't get me wrong...just wasn't anything special. I think the Cliff House's mussels are way better. The ground beef steak "JeanRo" - openface burger with an over easy egg on it, looked delicious ...but maybe it's because I'm a carnivore. Both came with frites would is always a good thing. Overall, nice experience, casual, warm and a good meal and good drinks. Definitely recommend a visit if you're in downtown Cincinnati and sick of the city's chili craze.
(4)Christoffer M.
Classic French food. Vintage/kitschy decor brings warm, casual ambience and escape from the urban American gridlock feel. Pot de crme is extravagant and heavenly. The food, as is often the case with French cuisine, is indulgent and sometimes excessively rich, especially desserts, which tend to be a tad too creamy or sweet. The wine list is smart, and the beer offerings are also select. Service tends to be excellent. I can't say that I've ever been disappointed by JeanRo. I can't say I've ever been ecstatic either. It's not that it's mediocre; it's that I have high standards for anything from Jean-Robert de Cavel. The dishes here are classic French bistro food - steak frites, coq au vin, moules marinieres - and all are delectable. Nothing ingenious, nothing new (unless you're un nouveau to les aliments francais), everything good. What makes JeanRo worth a trip is this consistency. You can expect good service. You can expect well prepared rich food. You can expect good beers and wines. And as long as you don't expect the perfection of Pigall's, you'll definitely have a good time. Which is exactly the point of this place. It's willing to be a little excessive (read: heavy food, not inexpensive) and thus it's worth a special trip. We had a "high rollers' night" here, and all of us felt like a part of haute couture.
(4)dale d.
A wonderful place for lunch or dinner. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is wonderful, bright and full of life. I started with the Gazpacho, and it was fantastic. For my main entree and enjoyed the Roasted Cornish Hen with Spinach Salad, Caramelized Pearl Onions and Lardons. Yum, yum, yum. I'm not one for dessert, but the Chocolate Mousse looked too good to pass up, and it was outstanding. Wine to try: Tour de Moulin Fronsac, Bordeaux, France 2003
(4)Rebecca J.
I really like this place especially late (meaning 9 pm on monday). The service is not good and I let that go it is French. Think authentic. The food is good and if you are a late eater like me you won't be dining alone.
(4)Brandon A.
Not as good as it once was.
(2)Dawn G.
Jean-Ro is one of the four John Robert restaurants in the Cincinnati area. The French bistro has walls adorned with European prints including one by the French painter, Dilley--an ancestral connection of whom I have a print in my own home, near where we were seated signaling what I hoped would be an auspicious start! We started with a charcuterie plate of pate, aged meats, and crunchy croutons served with deeply browned sweet onions, pickles, dainty olives. Wonderful! Stacy ordered the trout almondine which I thought was fantastic, though as a non-fan of citrus, she was not thrilled with the curls of lemon zest atop the fish. I tried the lamb shank which was tender and delicious and served with a rich gravy. Their beer selection was superb for this small restaurant and included over 20 different bottled and draft choices. As beer lovers who enjoy seeking out local restaurant/breweries--and finding none locally, we were more than satisfied by all of the beer choices the good local restaurants have in stock! We enjoyed our meal very much, and for the price, I thought the food was better than expected.
(4)Matthew D.
Everything's right about the place from the get-go. An unassuming storefront location (albeit in the prime downtown restaurant zone), a tidy and well-attended bar immediately to your right upon arrival, and a comfortable, modestly-decorated dining room. Service: friendly, efficient. Menu: short, focus on bistro basics. I had: warm, crusty white rolls with whipped butter, a delicious (but small, a few bites), potato gnochi and vegetables appetizer from the specials menu -- just a few bites, really, but just delicious, the profoundly simple and unadorned Bibb salad, and the halibut -- a simple and correctly-dimensioned piece of fish, cooked just right, on top of an onion-led savory with a brown-butter sauce. All at a very defensible (if not cheap) price point.
(4)Steve K.
Jean Ro always promises a great meal. For the money, it is some of the highest quality food you will find in Cincy, in a laid back environment.
(5)Heather J.
I was really excited about "Fancy Lunch Day" as we like to call it but was left a bit disappointed. The atmosphere was nice but the food was just so-so - and for a $30 lunch - it better be awesome. The quiche had a burned crust and not much seasoning and the fries were cold. The side of mushrooms was very good - I added it to the quiche. The biggest disappointment was the pot de creme. It was incredibly inconsistent - the top was "harder" and the bottom was much creamier - but it all had a granular taste - something I wasn't expecting. Money better spent at Nada or The Cincinnatian.
(2)Brian G.
I had a great french style burger there. Really nice atmosphere, and the closest thing you can get to the real french onion soup this side of the pond.
(5)Max L.
Maybe not quite as good as when jean Robert was running it but well worth it. I've been going here regularly since 2004 and it remains one of my go to dinner choices.
(4)bumpers k.
I don't know how Cincy landed this jewel. Both lunch and dinner offer very solid service and a menu you'll fall in love with. I like to get a champange split and sit at the bar with some pate and escargot. I know there are other related establishments in town but i can't miss the chance to dine here.
(4)John B.
Came here late on a Friday. My wife had the duck (outstanding), I had a steak (cooked very rare, just the way I like it, and prepared with wood chips, which gave it a great smoky flavor). Service was excellent, great beers (Troeg Nugget Nectar that night) on tap. I like it better than when it was a Jean-Robert restaurant. We'll be back.
(4)Shayna B.
My husband and I have dined at the Bistro twice. We are not local and were visiting the Cincinnati are on two occasions and had dinner at the Bistro both times. The first was accidental, we decided to go for a walk and have dinner at the first restaurant we stumbled upon. So The Bistro it was, and it was a remarkable experience! My husband had the strip and duck fat fries, and the steak was cooked to perfection and there are no words to describe the fries!! I had the rack of lamb and it was a perfect mid-rare. The service was prompt and courteous. The manager brought us free desserts due to "the long wait time," (we waited twenty minutes at most, which I feel is an acceptable wait time) The dessert tray included the black pepper panna cota that was perhaps the loveliest combination of flavors I have ever had. The second time, which was last month was equally outstanding! We were actually nervous about going back because sometimes when you have a dining experience that is so great, the second time around it is disappointing because you have overly exaggerated that experience in your memory. That was not the case at The Bistro. We were met at the door with a smile and seated promptly. We got two appetizers, the roasted bone marrow and the Elvis chicken and waffle (which was a special that night that consisted of bacon gelato, a fried chicken leg, a waffle and a peanut maple sauce (was hesitant about this but it was actually very good). I had the strip as the entre this time around and it was utter perfection! My husband had the sweet breads and they were delish! We will definitely be going back to The Bistro and I will recommend this restaurant to anyone for a date, or just a nice dinner in a lovely, relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Kristine S.
This was an excellent restaurant. Highly recommend the nicoise salad. Unfortunately I couldn't afford a main course due to being on the company dime.
(4)Sarah A.
This place is OK. I was really turned off by our extremely rude waiter. He was so condescending to some of the others I was dining with it was hard to enjoy the experience. Authentic food AND authentic service.
(3)Jennifer H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. If you're a fine diner and you've been to Cincinnati, you've heard of Jean Robert and his various establishments, but Jean Ro's is my favorite. It's the closest thing to a French bistro you can find in the Midwest and it's nice to have Jean Robert's exquisite culinary talents without the price tag of his fancier places. A great stop if you happen to be downtown or even a good reason to head in that direction.
(5)