Everything is perfect! From the decor, to the menu, to the chef who came to our table to personally apologize for our appetizer taking 'too long' to come out (in his opinion). The duck appetizer was TO DIE FOR. One of the most delicious dishes I've ever had. I would have waited years to eat that, so the chef needn't worry about us waiting a few extra minutes. I will definitely be going back! My only tip to patrons would be to make a reservation. The night I dined there it was packed, but, I being the compulsive planner I am, luckily had a reservation :)
(5)
Eric F.
Food alright. Service...never really feel like the hostess and waitstaff wants us there. We keep trying to make it work but always leave disappointed with the service. We dropped a pretty penny...treat us like we are paying customers.
(2)
Mike M.
This jewel of downtown is the perfect location with the perfect vibe and menu for a business lunch or a nice dinner with friends or family. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. Love the salads, the fish items have been fresh and well prepared, and service has been spot on. They seem really glad you're there. I'm a sucker for the gumbo, a small but luscious cup with big shrimp, spicy sausage, and fried okra. Yummy. Prices are reasonable for a downtown white table cloth eatery. My only complaint is that they're closed on Monday's. Try it, you'll like it.
(5)
Thomas C.
Ok food, slow/uninspired service in a charming downtown location Ambience/Service: We came for Valentines Day given all the good reviews on Yelp. We had our reservation but still had to wait given diners staying longer than expected. Nevertheless, we were given a nice corner area which was intimate. Our waitress was particularly slow and did not really seem to be as attentive as other quality establishments in the area. Drinks, orders, and food took some time to arrive. Solid 2 stars. Food: I'm usually pretty good about taking pictures of my food but the food simply looked and tasted ok. The look of each plate reminded me of what you'd get at a 3 star hotel restaurant - a bit dated with nothing particularly interesting. I recall getting the fried tomato as an app but to be frank, I can't even recall my entree. We ended with beignets (seeing that nearly every table had ordered it) and they were heavy and far too sweet for either of our tastes. My girlfriend also does not recall what she had. Overall the food wasn't terrible but it was not memorable - at all. 3 stars. Overall: On the outside, the restaurant looked promising but with 3 star food and 2 star service, I doubt I'll be back again.
(2)
Tomas H.
The evening was a success due to Tom Saab personally taking care of our table - recommending the beautiful wine to our delicious entrees. Did I mention the entrees were delicious? Especially the duck!! If you're in the neighborhood - give them a try. It means ALOT when the owner takes the time to personally takes an interest with each table to engage the guests and ensure their satisfaction. I'll see you next week!
(4)
Nicholas N.
A little pricey but you get what you pay for sometimes. I had the none marrow. Excellent. We also had the escargot and they were great. I think chez fon fon does them better but they were great. We had the charcuterie plate which was yummy. The entrees were the soft shell crab which was great and the snapper which I thought was slightly undercooked but my lady loved it.
(4)
Keita S.
The service is very friendly.
(4)
Cat S.
This place was perfect- Great cocktail menu, wonderful service, and spectacular food. French/Cajun style with a really great music playlist in the background. Not too loud to hold a conversation. This would be a great date/double date venue. Not a late night place so don't expect to walk in at 9pm as they will be closed. We tried apps- Gumbo, Frito Misto, Pork Belly app, BLT salad dinner- Grouper, Quail (awesome), and Rabbit Prices comparable to Bottega MDR. They take reservations although it was not very busy at all for walk-ins and are open for lunch. (closed on Mondays) Small seating area but it looked like there was a place for group dining upstairs. Quick valet also. All was wonderful and we will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Lori T.
Bistro 218 is a beautiful white table cloth restaurant. From the exposed brick to the glossed flaked floor, It is an enchanting environment. I am curious to sit in the loft area when we go back. Lunch crowd varied from business people to folks coming for a good lunch. Definitely on the upscale side; I am glad I dressed up for the occasion. The wait staff are generally attentive. Only had to ask for coffee refill twice, but in fairness I will drink a lot of coffee when it is hot and fresh and as delicious as this was. My lunch consisted of a perfectly prepared burger with blue cheese melted on top, string fries, and beignets to finish. The burger was ample in size and delicious. I was unable to finish it all. The beignets were not cafe du monde, but what beignets are? Our friend ordered a vegetable plate~chef's choice. Not on the menu however, staff did not hesitate to offer it. Good company and delicious.
(4)
Becky E.
Fabulous meal. Snapper was perfectly seared. Blue corn grits were creamy and smooth. Loved the French Martini. Great service. We will return for dinner again.
(5)
Teresa M.
Outstanding service. Phenomenal food. Perfect bar tending. I would recommend this restaurant for entertaining clients or a romantic evening out. Boudin balls, charcuterie, crab cakes, veal, dessert...can't go wrong here.
(5)
Preston L.
This was my first visit to bistro 218. Love the Valet parking for dinner. Food and service is second to none. The grilled grouper was fantastic. I will be back. Preston Lawley
(5)
Lana Pat F.
My daughters were at Bistro 218 on March 15, 2014. Let's just put it simply most of the evening was a disappointment, starting with our table not being ready to our experience in the bar before finally getting seated. Main fish courses were good, Frito Misto appetizer was a mixed bag and the others fair. Even though some of the courses were comped I prefer great food and better service that I pay for than mediocre food and down right lousy service. I will not go back.
(2)
Bill T.
We tried it for lunch. The gumbo is excellent, good rue, lots of crawfish, andouille and shrimp. Both of us had the seafood crepes which were wonderful, although it was a cold day and they cooled rapidly on the plate. I suspect in the future this will be served on warmed plates on a chilly rainy day like today. Good servers, attentive but not overly so. We will definitely be going back.
(4)
Natasha S.
We went here for restaurant week and I am glad I tried it. The ambiance of this place is great and the service is spectacular. The server went out and beyond to make the experience great. We went with a group of six and I think everyone truly enjoyed the experience. We had a market for appetizer, which I didn't think was good at all. It was baby arugula, sliver queen corn and red potatoes tossed with shallot vinaigrette. The dressing was the problem as there was no seasoning or flavor at all. While the salad wasn't good, I wasn't disappointed with the meal at all. I ordered the char-grilled Gulf Redfish with an orange fennel salad and organic blue corn grits. O-M-G. Sooooo good. The meal also came with a Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee as dessert. The creme brulee was topped with summer berry compote. Warm, sweet, yummy goodness. Just the right way to finish off the meal. The experience was fab. Will go back for sure!
(4)
Julie M.
I love Bistro 218! I've dined at the restaurant twice in the past few months and have amazing experiences both times so I decided to share my experiences. All of the dishes I've had have been exquisite. The ambiance at the restaurant is nice for a date out on the town or a work dinner. The service is memorable. The servers are very knowledgeable about wine and the individual dishes. The chef proprietor, Tom, is personable and ensured that my group had a great dinner! I'd definitely recommend Bistro 218!
(5)
Hazel C.
Always happy to see more going on downtown so had high hopes for this place. Server told us about cocktail special that I went for. Was served in a wine goblet instead of a martini glass which was OK with me, but the temperature was rather luke warm by the time it hit our table and the price was kinda high at $12 which I wasn't aware of until I got the bill. The gumbo was full of flavor and highly recommend you try. The steak was cooked as ordered. Server was friendly but seemed a bit green, probably because they haven't been open long. Didn't plan on spending over $40 for a lunch so may save this place for dinner next time.
(3)
Lauren S.
Had high hopes for this place, so I took my dad for bday on a Friday lunch service. The tables are not intimate, but the atmosphere is quaint enough. Our server may have been the only one in the restaurant because he was entirely too busy to see about us. We may have been the only table not to get the cold bread until I asked at the end of the meal; I could not get salt, pepper or hot sauce for a full 20 minutes after I got my meal, which was at least 25 minutes after we ordered - not good timing for a business lunch but would have been excusable with excellent cuisine. Not the case here. The salad I ordered was unimpressive and full of olives, which was not mentioned on the menu and happen to be my nemesis. The seafood gumbo was not made that same day, and not flavorful enough to keep over til the next day. My dad got the chicken, which he said was fine but came with nothing on the side for the size and price of the lunch meal. Please go across the street to Cafe DuPont for a truly fancy lunch worth every dime that has stood the test of time.
(2)
Carrie H.
This place was so underwhelming! I think I fell asleep at the bar upstairs. The food and service lacked creativity and energy. Cute decor in cool location but totally dead on a big Thursday night.
(2)
Jake B.
I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to lobster bisque, but they do it right at Bistro 218, complete with a surprising amount of lobster meat. I had flounder for dinner, and it was completely wonderful. Served over a bed of blue corn grits, with some green beans and a nice lemon sauce, it was quite enjoyable. But my favorite part of the dish were the spears of fried okra. Rare is the cook that can do okra right, but Bistro 218 does it the best! I tried the vegetable risotto with gulf shrimp, and it was quite nice as well. So was the duroc pork chop I tasted. The restaurant is very nice, very "classic bistro" in style. The service was good, and the staff was pleasant and very accommodating to our large group. They make a really nice Manhattan, too!
(5)
Jacob W.
Everything about our dining experience was excellent. Nothing but praise, but I am concentrating on the specialty cocktails, they were my favorite part. First, the Absinthe Minded Martini. This was my first time trying absinthe and I was surprised how smooth it was, because I've heard it has quite a strong taste. They did a marvelous job crafting this drink and I highly recommend it. Next we got the French Martini, which contained Chambord. The flavor was outstanding, and in my opinion has to be in the top 3 best tasting cocktails I've ever had. I can't really describe it, just try it. And for desert, I ordered the Kaluah Egg Nog and enjoyed every second of it. This is what egg nog should taste like. Stellar job crafting this drink. And the beignets were great too.
(5)
Augusto R.
I had a very late lunch. Got to Bistro 218 and they were closed since it was 3pm. Lucky me, the chef said he would be happy to cook for me, JUST ME!!! So here I am yelping from an empty restaurant that accommodated me in the nicest way possible. I am so very impressed with their service but then the food arrived and boy it is very good!!!!!
(5)
Victoria V.
Lacking in ambience, but my friend loved the fresh crab. Salad seemed uninspired. However, they are very nice! Great butter.
(3)
Tommy M.
I've been here a few times, mostly for lunch, and once for a private event. The atmosphere is nice. The building has been renovated, and the façade has been restored to match the look of when it was built. The floor is the original tile. What's been added is nice without feeling stuffy. A full bar has recently been constructed upstairs, built partly from lumber reclaimed from other parts of the building. The head chef, Tommy, has put together a menu of dishes that are accessible but not generic. Thought is put into the presentation of the food without it being showy. The wait staff is always accommodating. Recommended!
(5)
Jim N.
First of all, let me warn you --there may be repeat superlatives contained within this review. I cannot get enough of this place. The Maitre de, David is gracious and knowlegeable, our sommalier, Micah, was very helpful and our server, Tracy or Terry did a wonderful job. The food was exellent. My party ordered the flank steak and two roasted chckens. All three were cooked to perfection and the pomme frites were soooo good! Attenion of servers was appreciated, food was delicious, and it was all complemented by the fact so many amazing people were dining at the same locale -it seemed every turn we made, we ran into another group of friends and aquaintances. For dessert, we had the creme brule --not being adventurous, but boy were we rewarded with the BEST I've ever had. We were surprised by how much less it cost for this wonderful dinner, excellent service, and ambience --than say Brio (not that they are even in the same league as 218 -Brio just costs more). So far, I've been back three times in less than two weeks. LOVE IT!!
(5)
Brandon S.
Our waitress was excellent. The food was amazing. I tried the Rabbit. I highly recommend by the way... The absinthe mixed drinks and martinis are very strong and very tasty. The chef has set the bar very high with his menu and staff... I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Wolfgang P.
This is one of my favorite downtown restaurants. It is not one that I can afford to eat out everyday but I do try and eat there every week! In my opinion the steak frites is the best most economical option on the menu for both dinner and lunch. The stakes are always perfect the frites are delicious and usually more than I can eat and it comes with a nice little simple salad. At the price that it is at I do not feel guilty indulging in a glass of wine or dessert.
(5)
ben h.
Great Burger at a fair price. Be careful with all the other choices or you could end up with a very expensive lunch. Service is good during lunch. Dinner is a tad inconsistent. Great one time then not so great the next. The are playing in the deep end and need to improve their game to compete with the other restaurants in this price range.
(3)
Mike W.
This past Friday we wanted to try one of the downtown Birmingham restaurants before a concert at the Alys Stephens Center. What a great experience at Bistro 218! The menu is printed daily highlighting fresh and seasonal ingredients with and an emphasis on fresh seafood. The staff is well trained with an excellent understanding of the menu and wine list and the owner was constantly in the dining room checking on the guests. Bistro 218 is located in the conversion of an old retail space located on 20th Street in the heart of Downtown. The high ceilings and exposed brick gives the restaurant an inviting atmosphere and great "feel" that would be hard to duplicate. We will definitely be back and look forward to our next experience at Bistro 218.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Erin B.
Everything is perfect! From the decor, to the menu, to the chef who came to our table to personally apologize for our appetizer taking 'too long' to come out (in his opinion). The duck appetizer was TO DIE FOR. One of the most delicious dishes I've ever had. I would have waited years to eat that, so the chef needn't worry about us waiting a few extra minutes. I will definitely be going back! My only tip to patrons would be to make a reservation. The night I dined there it was packed, but, I being the compulsive planner I am, luckily had a reservation :)
(5)Eric F.
Food alright. Service...never really feel like the hostess and waitstaff wants us there. We keep trying to make it work but always leave disappointed with the service. We dropped a pretty penny...treat us like we are paying customers.
(2)Mike M.
This jewel of downtown is the perfect location with the perfect vibe and menu for a business lunch or a nice dinner with friends or family. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. Love the salads, the fish items have been fresh and well prepared, and service has been spot on. They seem really glad you're there. I'm a sucker for the gumbo, a small but luscious cup with big shrimp, spicy sausage, and fried okra. Yummy. Prices are reasonable for a downtown white table cloth eatery. My only complaint is that they're closed on Monday's. Try it, you'll like it.
(5)Thomas C.
Ok food, slow/uninspired service in a charming downtown location Ambience/Service: We came for Valentines Day given all the good reviews on Yelp. We had our reservation but still had to wait given diners staying longer than expected. Nevertheless, we were given a nice corner area which was intimate. Our waitress was particularly slow and did not really seem to be as attentive as other quality establishments in the area. Drinks, orders, and food took some time to arrive. Solid 2 stars. Food: I'm usually pretty good about taking pictures of my food but the food simply looked and tasted ok. The look of each plate reminded me of what you'd get at a 3 star hotel restaurant - a bit dated with nothing particularly interesting. I recall getting the fried tomato as an app but to be frank, I can't even recall my entree. We ended with beignets (seeing that nearly every table had ordered it) and they were heavy and far too sweet for either of our tastes. My girlfriend also does not recall what she had. Overall the food wasn't terrible but it was not memorable - at all. 3 stars. Overall: On the outside, the restaurant looked promising but with 3 star food and 2 star service, I doubt I'll be back again.
(2)Tomas H.
The evening was a success due to Tom Saab personally taking care of our table - recommending the beautiful wine to our delicious entrees. Did I mention the entrees were delicious? Especially the duck!! If you're in the neighborhood - give them a try. It means ALOT when the owner takes the time to personally takes an interest with each table to engage the guests and ensure their satisfaction. I'll see you next week!
(4)Nicholas N.
A little pricey but you get what you pay for sometimes. I had the none marrow. Excellent. We also had the escargot and they were great. I think chez fon fon does them better but they were great. We had the charcuterie plate which was yummy. The entrees were the soft shell crab which was great and the snapper which I thought was slightly undercooked but my lady loved it.
(4)Keita S.
The service is very friendly.
(4)Cat S.
This place was perfect- Great cocktail menu, wonderful service, and spectacular food. French/Cajun style with a really great music playlist in the background. Not too loud to hold a conversation. This would be a great date/double date venue. Not a late night place so don't expect to walk in at 9pm as they will be closed. We tried apps- Gumbo, Frito Misto, Pork Belly app, BLT salad dinner- Grouper, Quail (awesome), and Rabbit Prices comparable to Bottega MDR. They take reservations although it was not very busy at all for walk-ins and are open for lunch. (closed on Mondays) Small seating area but it looked like there was a place for group dining upstairs. Quick valet also. All was wonderful and we will definitely be back soon!
(5)Lori T.
Bistro 218 is a beautiful white table cloth restaurant. From the exposed brick to the glossed flaked floor, It is an enchanting environment. I am curious to sit in the loft area when we go back. Lunch crowd varied from business people to folks coming for a good lunch. Definitely on the upscale side; I am glad I dressed up for the occasion. The wait staff are generally attentive. Only had to ask for coffee refill twice, but in fairness I will drink a lot of coffee when it is hot and fresh and as delicious as this was. My lunch consisted of a perfectly prepared burger with blue cheese melted on top, string fries, and beignets to finish. The burger was ample in size and delicious. I was unable to finish it all. The beignets were not cafe du monde, but what beignets are? Our friend ordered a vegetable plate~chef's choice. Not on the menu however, staff did not hesitate to offer it. Good company and delicious.
(4)Becky E.
Fabulous meal. Snapper was perfectly seared. Blue corn grits were creamy and smooth. Loved the French Martini. Great service. We will return for dinner again.
(5)Teresa M.
Outstanding service. Phenomenal food. Perfect bar tending. I would recommend this restaurant for entertaining clients or a romantic evening out. Boudin balls, charcuterie, crab cakes, veal, dessert...can't go wrong here.
(5)Preston L.
This was my first visit to bistro 218. Love the Valet parking for dinner. Food and service is second to none. The grilled grouper was fantastic. I will be back. Preston Lawley
(5)Lana Pat F.
My daughters were at Bistro 218 on March 15, 2014. Let's just put it simply most of the evening was a disappointment, starting with our table not being ready to our experience in the bar before finally getting seated. Main fish courses were good, Frito Misto appetizer was a mixed bag and the others fair. Even though some of the courses were comped I prefer great food and better service that I pay for than mediocre food and down right lousy service. I will not go back.
(2)Bill T.
We tried it for lunch. The gumbo is excellent, good rue, lots of crawfish, andouille and shrimp. Both of us had the seafood crepes which were wonderful, although it was a cold day and they cooled rapidly on the plate. I suspect in the future this will be served on warmed plates on a chilly rainy day like today. Good servers, attentive but not overly so. We will definitely be going back.
(4)Natasha S.
We went here for restaurant week and I am glad I tried it. The ambiance of this place is great and the service is spectacular. The server went out and beyond to make the experience great. We went with a group of six and I think everyone truly enjoyed the experience. We had a market for appetizer, which I didn't think was good at all. It was baby arugula, sliver queen corn and red potatoes tossed with shallot vinaigrette. The dressing was the problem as there was no seasoning or flavor at all. While the salad wasn't good, I wasn't disappointed with the meal at all. I ordered the char-grilled Gulf Redfish with an orange fennel salad and organic blue corn grits. O-M-G. Sooooo good. The meal also came with a Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee as dessert. The creme brulee was topped with summer berry compote. Warm, sweet, yummy goodness. Just the right way to finish off the meal. The experience was fab. Will go back for sure!
(4)Julie M.
I love Bistro 218! I've dined at the restaurant twice in the past few months and have amazing experiences both times so I decided to share my experiences. All of the dishes I've had have been exquisite. The ambiance at the restaurant is nice for a date out on the town or a work dinner. The service is memorable. The servers are very knowledgeable about wine and the individual dishes. The chef proprietor, Tom, is personable and ensured that my group had a great dinner! I'd definitely recommend Bistro 218!
(5)Hazel C.
Always happy to see more going on downtown so had high hopes for this place. Server told us about cocktail special that I went for. Was served in a wine goblet instead of a martini glass which was OK with me, but the temperature was rather luke warm by the time it hit our table and the price was kinda high at $12 which I wasn't aware of until I got the bill. The gumbo was full of flavor and highly recommend you try. The steak was cooked as ordered. Server was friendly but seemed a bit green, probably because they haven't been open long. Didn't plan on spending over $40 for a lunch so may save this place for dinner next time.
(3)Lauren S.
Had high hopes for this place, so I took my dad for bday on a Friday lunch service. The tables are not intimate, but the atmosphere is quaint enough. Our server may have been the only one in the restaurant because he was entirely too busy to see about us. We may have been the only table not to get the cold bread until I asked at the end of the meal; I could not get salt, pepper or hot sauce for a full 20 minutes after I got my meal, which was at least 25 minutes after we ordered - not good timing for a business lunch but would have been excusable with excellent cuisine. Not the case here. The salad I ordered was unimpressive and full of olives, which was not mentioned on the menu and happen to be my nemesis. The seafood gumbo was not made that same day, and not flavorful enough to keep over til the next day. My dad got the chicken, which he said was fine but came with nothing on the side for the size and price of the lunch meal. Please go across the street to Cafe DuPont for a truly fancy lunch worth every dime that has stood the test of time.
(2)Carrie H.
This place was so underwhelming! I think I fell asleep at the bar upstairs. The food and service lacked creativity and energy. Cute decor in cool location but totally dead on a big Thursday night.
(2)Jake B.
I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to lobster bisque, but they do it right at Bistro 218, complete with a surprising amount of lobster meat. I had flounder for dinner, and it was completely wonderful. Served over a bed of blue corn grits, with some green beans and a nice lemon sauce, it was quite enjoyable. But my favorite part of the dish were the spears of fried okra. Rare is the cook that can do okra right, but Bistro 218 does it the best! I tried the vegetable risotto with gulf shrimp, and it was quite nice as well. So was the duroc pork chop I tasted. The restaurant is very nice, very "classic bistro" in style. The service was good, and the staff was pleasant and very accommodating to our large group. They make a really nice Manhattan, too!
(5)Jacob W.
Everything about our dining experience was excellent. Nothing but praise, but I am concentrating on the specialty cocktails, they were my favorite part. First, the Absinthe Minded Martini. This was my first time trying absinthe and I was surprised how smooth it was, because I've heard it has quite a strong taste. They did a marvelous job crafting this drink and I highly recommend it. Next we got the French Martini, which contained Chambord. The flavor was outstanding, and in my opinion has to be in the top 3 best tasting cocktails I've ever had. I can't really describe it, just try it. And for desert, I ordered the Kaluah Egg Nog and enjoyed every second of it. This is what egg nog should taste like. Stellar job crafting this drink. And the beignets were great too.
(5)Augusto R.
I had a very late lunch. Got to Bistro 218 and they were closed since it was 3pm. Lucky me, the chef said he would be happy to cook for me, JUST ME!!! So here I am yelping from an empty restaurant that accommodated me in the nicest way possible. I am so very impressed with their service but then the food arrived and boy it is very good!!!!!
(5)Victoria V.
Lacking in ambience, but my friend loved the fresh crab. Salad seemed uninspired. However, they are very nice! Great butter.
(3)Tommy M.
I've been here a few times, mostly for lunch, and once for a private event. The atmosphere is nice. The building has been renovated, and the façade has been restored to match the look of when it was built. The floor is the original tile. What's been added is nice without feeling stuffy. A full bar has recently been constructed upstairs, built partly from lumber reclaimed from other parts of the building. The head chef, Tommy, has put together a menu of dishes that are accessible but not generic. Thought is put into the presentation of the food without it being showy. The wait staff is always accommodating. Recommended!
(5)Jim N.
First of all, let me warn you --there may be repeat superlatives contained within this review. I cannot get enough of this place. The Maitre de, David is gracious and knowlegeable, our sommalier, Micah, was very helpful and our server, Tracy or Terry did a wonderful job. The food was exellent. My party ordered the flank steak and two roasted chckens. All three were cooked to perfection and the pomme frites were soooo good! Attenion of servers was appreciated, food was delicious, and it was all complemented by the fact so many amazing people were dining at the same locale -it seemed every turn we made, we ran into another group of friends and aquaintances. For dessert, we had the creme brule --not being adventurous, but boy were we rewarded with the BEST I've ever had. We were surprised by how much less it cost for this wonderful dinner, excellent service, and ambience --than say Brio (not that they are even in the same league as 218 -Brio just costs more). So far, I've been back three times in less than two weeks. LOVE IT!!
(5)Brandon S.
Our waitress was excellent. The food was amazing. I tried the Rabbit. I highly recommend by the way... The absinthe mixed drinks and martinis are very strong and very tasty. The chef has set the bar very high with his menu and staff... I will definitely be returning.
(5)Wolfgang P.
This is one of my favorite downtown restaurants. It is not one that I can afford to eat out everyday but I do try and eat there every week! In my opinion the steak frites is the best most economical option on the menu for both dinner and lunch. The stakes are always perfect the frites are delicious and usually more than I can eat and it comes with a nice little simple salad. At the price that it is at I do not feel guilty indulging in a glass of wine or dessert.
(5)ben h.
Great Burger at a fair price. Be careful with all the other choices or you could end up with a very expensive lunch. Service is good during lunch. Dinner is a tad inconsistent. Great one time then not so great the next. The are playing in the deep end and need to improve their game to compete with the other restaurants in this price range.
(3)Mike W.
This past Friday we wanted to try one of the downtown Birmingham restaurants before a concert at the Alys Stephens Center. What a great experience at Bistro 218! The menu is printed daily highlighting fresh and seasonal ingredients with and an emphasis on fresh seafood. The staff is well trained with an excellent understanding of the menu and wine list and the owner was constantly in the dining room checking on the guests. Bistro 218 is located in the conversion of an old retail space located on 20th Street in the heart of Downtown. The high ceilings and exposed brick gives the restaurant an inviting atmosphere and great "feel" that would be hard to duplicate. We will definitely be back and look forward to our next experience at Bistro 218.
(5)