I had a business lunch at this classic French restaurant. The large room is comfortable and very typical of the old brasseries in Paris, though, due to high ceilings or the lack of partitioning, the noise level is high. The service is very efficient and professionnal. We shared a delicious flat bread with mushrooms and trufle oil and I had the duck confit, which was tender and served on a bed of salade frisee. The bathrooms are nice with their painted tiles.
(4)
Gabriel B.
Great atmosphere, service and food. You really feel immersed into a early 20th century parisian cafe, with the stained glasses, dimmed lights and the typical black and white waiters garments. The menu covers well the internationally known part of the french cuisine: croque monsieur, escargot, steak frites, duck confit, creme brulee, but goes beyond to offer some interesting variations, like the horseradish cod with moroccoan couscous. Highly recommended for business dinner, romance or just an unplanned bite if you are around buckhead.
(4)
David S.
Google maps was not quite right to get us there but every thing else was very good. We split a large appetizer of mussels that were excellent. Rose wine went well with them. For entrees my wife had scallops while I had the veal. Dessert was the Profiteroles. Also excellent The only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(4)
Aaron B.
The worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. The environment was uninviting, everyone working had a scowl on their face, our server didn't even ask if we wanted a drink, the Au Poivre Burger was slimy and disgusting and it took more then 5min for them to bring ketchup when requested. The manager stopped by to ask how everything was but with no sincerity or personality. If I could give less then one star I would.
(1)
Ali S.
for a fancy restaurant the portions are quite decent chicken paillard was delicious as was their house rose wine also had the seafood pasta. could have been a little more al dente, but also goo. have yet to try their deserts. great service. has a modern kitcheny feel
(4)
s a.
The food was good. The drinks were ok. A friend and I both ordered Bloody Marys, and they were served in 2 completely different glasses. Hers was almost twice as big. The service left much to be desired. Everything was super slow. We arrived at 1230 and didn't leave until 245. That is a bit much. Lastly, the valet is friendly but not the speediest.
(3)
chestnutt C.
OK, so we were here just for lunch. But what a lunch it was! If you like typical Parisian neighborhood food, you will adore Bistro Niko. Steak Tartare to weep for. All that was missing was a raw egg on top. (Next time I'll ask for one). Frites in perfection. A Croque Madam exquisitely prepared. A Cafe au Lait to die for. Our waiter, James, was knowledgeable and professional. We will return for foie gras in the evening, and more. Why did we not know about Bistro Niko? It's not Paris but it's pretty darn close!
(5)
L T.
I had lunch there on 9/11 with a coworker of mine who was in military uniform. Not only was the food simply delicious, the owner came out and offered to cover the cost of my coworkers meal and thanked him for his military service. This was truly the highlight if my visit to Georgia. Wonderful service and great atmosphere!
(5)
Saira K.
I chose this place for a celebratory dinner, expecting a memorable experience. Their signature dish, the scallops, were full of sand and grit. I gave the dish back, starved, and waited for a replacement. The second time, there was again sand in the scallops. Annoyed at having waited 45 minutes to eat, I told my server that I would skip the entree and just have dessert. He brought out the dessert and then a bill for $51.00 and another bill for $8.50. I was shocked! The manager, Vladimir, was embarrassed and apologized profusely. I had eaten nothing - the very first bite of scallops in both cases had sand - not even my dessert yet, and I was being charged $60!! Vladimir cancelled the 8.50 for dessert. The $51 was a pending charge on my card for a week before it was cancelled. My server was inattentive, and there is no excuse for how much I was charged. I am glad, though, that I spoke with the manager, who seemed to be a nice guy. I am really disappointed - people around me were eating their food, enjoying, and my server was giving a lot of attention to the other table he was serving (they had 8 men in their party, while I was dining alone, and I resent that I was not given the attention and service that I deserve). I read the other reviews here about good service and feel upset that this respect was not there for me, but speaking to the manager was all right - he really seemed embarrassed.
(2)
Christina K.
Disclaimer: i only go here when the boss pays, not just because of the price, but it's just not my cup of tea when I think of lunch you know? The interior is really nice, and with the servers dressed as if this was a 5 star restaurant, it does make boost up your ego (must be why there are always so many suits here). The first time I was here I ordered the grilled chicken breast and a salad. It was nice, the meat was moist and pretty good. The second time, I ordered the burger and asked for no cheese (lactose intolerance), and although the server was very nice and even wrote it down, the burger was still served with cheese which I had to scrape off. Now, be warned that the burger was piled high which made it very hard to pick up and eat it in a dignified manner, especially in front of the boss! So I ended up cutting up the burger. The flavor was good, the temp perfect. I just wish that again, no cheese. The service is pretty much on spot. Kudos to whoever trains them because they know when to refill and clear plates. This is pretty difficult thing to always do when your clientele are usually having a business meeting over lunch.
(3)
Julee D.
Loved the ambiance, food, and wine. My favorite dishes include the prosciutto flat bread pizza, mussels, and creme brulee. I do recommend making a reservation because it is quite popular. We were there on a Thursday night and there was also quite a scene at the bar. Full of young, well dressed professionals there enjoying drinks and apps.
(4)
Brittany F.
Ambiance was nice, and we sat outside on a pretty day. Food was lackluster, which was disappointing. We had hoped for some delicious food before heading to an anticipated concert. Although I've had hits and misses here, this was a miss. Undercooked fish and slow service. We will try again though -- worth another try!
(3)
CAScuba Y.
Revisit after 4 months. This time got sat not in the little fine dining room but in the big room, actually next to the bar on a nice tiny booth by the window. Like it but the service was provided by the bartender, so it was a little hit or miss in between when I need something. The oyster was quite fine, taste of ocean, love it. The pastry snail also pretty awesome. Since Dante down the hatch is now closed, I am less motivated go out to Buckeye. I use to love a meal here and then head over the next block for some fine jazz
(4)
Nick B.
The food and service both outstanding and price was reasonable. I had sole- perfect and fits my criteria of ordering a dish we would never do at home. My wife had shrimp scallop calamari noodles also great. Shared scallop appetizer endive salad and meringue caramel dessert all a treat. Only drawback is noise level in large but beautiful room but next time in Atlanta will definitely go back
(4)
Kristy V.
This restaurant was recommended by a colleague (a local) as well as the hotel. The atmosphere was quite nice and sophisticated, with the option of indoor or outdoor dining. That said, the tables outside are teeny, so we opted to sit inside at a high-top near the bar. We enjoyed 2 appetizers, both of which I'd highly recommend: SEPIA PROVENCAL A LA PLANCHA - Similar to Calamari, tomato brulee, basil and olive oil puree, bread crumbs. The way the waitress described the "similar to calamari" thing made me nervous, but I'm glad that I went ahead. It is a variety of grilled squid, served on a nice thick slice of grilled, marinated tomato, and it was really yummy. Small portion. SALADE DE BETTERAVES - Pickled Baby Beets, Goat Cheese mâche lettuce, vinaigrette. Simply delicious. Very small portion. We tasted one wine that we actually sent back - Cab Sauv, Vin de Pays '09. It was far too acidic tasting. We ended up enjoying the Malbec, Mendoza '09 instead. I ordered the Coq au Vin which was amazing. It's a very complex dish, with several different flavours, and it's a classic. Much enjoyed. My friend ordered the Pâtes aux Fruits de Mer. Basically what happened was that we were having quite an intense conversation, the food arrived, and we were both speechless. I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, the food was delicious and my friend felt the same. The service was really good, but not over the top, which is the only reason that I haven't given them 5 stars.
(4)
Joel T.
The interior of the restaurant is fantastic, it hits all of the correct notes for a Parisian bistro. I was promptly seated and greated by my waiter but the service was not timely for the entire meal. Wine was delivered to the table very late and the bread came after my entree had arrived. My steak frites, while prepared perfectly, were under seasoned. This has all the makings of an excellent restaurant but the execution is a bit lacking.
(3)
Tara D.
Came here during a trip with friends because it was close to our hotel. Food was very good. We ordered Chicken Paillard, Salmon Beurre Rouche, and Seafood Pasta. We also shared Escargot and Gruyere Puffs and the Chocolate Sundae. No major complaints and we cleaned our plates. We came during happy hour on a Thursday and the bar scene was very vibrant. I would visit again.
(4)
Shawn L.
Bistro Niko is an interesting cafe in Buckhead, I'd almost say that the Park Slope hipsters moved south and decided to congregate here. The food is good, the service is very good and it's a nice place for a meal. I had the mussels and they were delicious, followed by the Beef Bourguignon on egg noodles which was sadly, a bit bland. The dish had a lot of potential, but lacked anything that made it stand out, including basic seasonings like salt and/or pepper, even adding salt didn't make it any better. Desert was ìle flotent, a delightful meringue with toasted, candied almonds on an almond creme anglaise. Wonderful! Prices were not bad, a meal without alcohol was about $44. Oh, and they need to serve more of their wonderful rustic bread with the mussels!
(4)
Jane E.
My friend was aching for some food on our way to Lenox and looked over and decided to stop at the first place he saw... it just so happened to be Bistro Niko. We pulled up, valet service. Walked in, and were greeted by two girls who asked if we had a reservation, we had none. It was early evening on a weekday so we were easily able to get a table. I wanted to sit on the patio at first (since that's what initially drew us in to eating there), but it was a hot Atlanta day and their patio doesn't have AC or fans, so we sat inside. Finally sit, and we take it all in.... y'all this place is really really pretty and nice! Very clean French restaurant with white table cloths....they sat us in one of the really nice big curved elevated comfy booths ( I guess we looked kinda important, lol). Most others were just sat at the table, hehehe... Server came over, told us about all the specials. He was polite and knowledgeable. I forgot the appetizer we got, it was good. My friend ordered one of the specials, and I got a salmon dish... I believe ESCALOPE DE SAUMON. While the place itself was lovely, the food was very pretty, but lacked flavor to me. Each of the items on the plate was plain and unflavored on its own (this fish, the greens, the sauce), but even when eaten all together it still didn't give me fireworks. I watch alot of Top Chef and stuff so I know different countries have different styles of cooking, I guess traditional french cuisine has very simple flavors? And don't use seasonings or spices to add flavors to the food? And don't use alot of other ingredients to add flavor to the food? Idk point is the flood isn't that flavorful. Even with the food not being that good, this place was such an unexpected delight! Many people dress up going here, we just randomly stopped in so we just had on nice, but non-fancy clothes (I think I had on a sweater, pants, and loafers and I think he was in business casual since he had just gotten off of work), I sorta expected them to be snooty, but they were nice from beginning to end. Bistro Niko exceeds its name, it doesn't seem like a simple bistro, but perhaps all the Bistros are this fancy in Paris, idk b/c I havent' been (yet). I loved how clean it was.... the atmosphere of this place is excellent. So while it probably deserves a 3 for the lackluster food, the atmosphere and overall experience makes up for it, so for now they get a four in my book :) All in all I will be coming back for breakfast one of these days... Random Note: Oh, and there bathrooms are pretty, but different from most... there's no girl/guy bathroom, there's about 5-6 individual "water rooms" and everyone, male and female have to wait in a line. They're quite nice inside, spacious, paitnings on the wall, nice lighting, but for the ladies there's no, "let me go to the restroom really quick to touch up makeup of fix something
(4)
Stephany V.
I really love this place and it's quickly becoming a big favorite in ATL. The scallops are DREAMY!! And those little cheese puffs before dinner...I could make a meal out of them. On our last visit we were seated in the bar area and our table was too small for four people. We were very cramped. The lighting was so low I had to use the light from my phone to see the menu. But the service and food are always tres bien!
(4)
Daisy B.
Nice French bistro atmosphere, sharp service and well-prepared food. The after-work bar scene is hopping with an over-35 crowd. It's a great place to go for a drink in Buckhead and not feel like the oldest person in the room. They were very accomodating in preparing gluten-free items (as are most Buckhead Life restaurants).
Dined here last night for "date night" with the fiance. We loved it. The restaurant is set up nice, the staff is friendly and they have complimentary valet. For our drinks, I had the Trois martini. It was yummy. VERY weak for a martini, but tasty. The fiance had his standard crown and coke. We started off with the mussels for our appetizer. It was absolutely delicious! The garlic cream sauce was soooo yummy! The mussels were a little on the small side but the sauce definitely made up for it. I had the seared scallops as my entree. There were eight scallops served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes in a cream sauce with a slight citrus accent. There were also a few stalks of asparagus as garnish. The scallops were seared to perfection and absolutely mouth watering! My fiance had the peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin. I'm not a big fan of peppercorns so I wasn't a big fan of this dish. However, peppercorns aside, the cut of beef was very good. The meat was flavorful, juicy and tender! For dessert we had the creme brulee and the sorbets. The creme brulee was good. The sorbets were ok, I've definitely had better. Can't wait to dine here again!
(4)
Georgia L.
Love the atmosphere, and the food is really some of the best French food in Atlanta. Their oysters are super fresh and the hanger Steak is really delish. We really love to come here and have an intimate dinner.
(5)
Sophia S.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. The website says they don't open until 11:30, but they were open and happy to seat us at 11:15am. We started with the cheese plate. It came with 3 cheeses (1 goat, 1 brie, and 1 other), apricot preserves, pistachio crums, and thinly sliced toasted cinnamon raisin bread. We also ate this with the warm, fresh bread that they brought to the table. I loved everything! The Croque Madame was a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with cheese and an egg. This was incredible, my fiance was in love with it. The side of duck potatoes were probably my favorite part of the whole meal. The waitress recommended the nicoise salad. It was a huge portion. I brought the leftovers home and it made a full dinner. My fiance said the espresso was nothing special. This brunch was great, it left me wanting to come back and try Bistro Niko for dinner.
(4)
Mick D.
Pricey. But good. The service was excellent. These folks know that crossed silverware on the plate means you're done. And the food was decent. The oysters, mussels, and the flatbreads were downright good. However, I'm wanting to try a sandwich next time. They're cheaper, and sound just as delicious as some of the way more expensive entrees. The atmosphere was good. Staff wasn't at all stuffy, and we quickly made friends with our servers. Wine recommendations were spot on. And we had a good time, even as we laughed at having to take out the occasional fruit-fly instigator.
This is the second time we have eaten here. The food and service are excellent! The French Onion soup was very good.
(5)
Holy Guacamole M.
I wish i could rate food & service separately. If I could, I'd give the food 5-stars and the service 2-stars... maybe less. The price range is high, but anything food wise will EXCEED your expectations! The kitchen has it together - they're very consistent with preparing delicious food! My tastebuds thank you! However, the "service" doesn't match up to the food. The servers clearly don't care about your dining experience - you wait FOREVER for someone to greet you; half of the time you aren't given bread; there's no 2-min. check back; the staff isn't pleasant and there's no sense of urgency. Finally, I gave up on the service and quit coming, but the food is really good so if/when I do go, I just sit at the bar or order take-out :(
This place is terrible do not go . Don't waste your time or money!!! I just left there. They told us the wait was 30 min we ended up waiting 50 min. While we waited we had a glass of wine. And we kept asking and checking in with the front desk. After one drink. We noticed many people around us that got there after us were being seated. We checked in again and they gave us the same excuse. There was even a girl who made reservations and still waited went to find the manager and in front of us this was unacceptable! It us dont waste your time!
(1)
Sheila G.
Absolutely LOVE the patio- the most authentic european style patio I have seen outside of Europe! The staff is all incredibly well-informed of the menu items and pair the food well with appropriate drinks. I had my first Moscow Mule there and I LOVED it! I also love ALL the tarts under the appetizers and usually get all 3 when my girlfriends and I just want a light dinner and drinks before going out. I don't understand why people have given poor reviews over service, every time we go we have a different server and each experience has been better than the last. If you go, ask for Ashley! She is well-informed and more than accommodating- she truly makes dining out a great experience. Brunch was a little disappointing only because dinners were so superb. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, it just wasn't filling. The plates were small, but this might be my own problem- coming from an XXL America viewpoint- it might be a strategic Euro-tactic they were aiming for :)
(5)
D S.
Oddly, Atlanta is lacking compared to most other metros in French cuisine. Bistro Niko is luckily a good choice for French fare! One of my gal pals and I were driving down Peachtree on a Friday night after shoe shopping at Phipps. It was a cool summer night, the sunroof was open, and we were gabbing on about the wonderful deal we got on our shoes, when this wonderful aroma slammed our senses. I immediately turned into the driveway and made our way in. When I pulled up we had the choice of valet or self parking. I tend to shy away from valets when I can because of some horrible past experiences, so I pulled up to the parking deck. There was no signage as to rates or parking validation. That was a minus. Regardless, we parked and walked in. As a few of the posters mentioned the hostesses looked like they were going to "da club". They also seemed quite confused as to how to seat 2 people. They had a few tables available, and we asked to sit close to the patio. Between two of them, we ended up doing a loop around the restaurant until we pointed out the table. Because of the parking and the confused hostesses, I am dinging them a star. Our server was adorable and attentive. We weren't super hungry so we decided to split everything. They were very accommodating. We couldn't decide between two wines, so our server brought a tasting of both. For an appetizer, we ordered the escargot. Loved the puff pastry shell with it. They even brought us more warm bread to sop up the the yummy herb butter and olive oil sauce in the bottom of the dish. For dinner we split the steak au poivre, which melted in our mouths. For dessert, the profiteroles! Vanilla ice cream sandwiched in crispy pastry shells with a warm dark chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. I went to bed that night with a happy belly and some decked out feet.
(4)
Stephanie H.
In Atlanta for work and chose this place based on the reviews and the fact I could walk from my hotel. I sat at the bar. Service wasn't fantastic but that seems to be the case when you're dining alone. The server when she did arrive was nice and had a great wind recommendation. Great Malbec. The steak frites was yummy although the fries weren't great. Seemed like standard fries and a bit greasy tasting. Mesclun salad was ok. Atmosphere is odd. The restaurant is fancy and the bar has an eclectic crowd.
(3)
Ashley S.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! When you walk in you are just taken back at how adorable this place is. The service was also excellent. Still water in large glass bottle on the table just keeps it even more classy lol. Can't wait to go back for lunch AGAIN and also to try dinner and brunch! I gotta try the Croque Monsieur, Escargot appetizer, & the prosiutto goat cheese arugula pizza (more of a flat bread you share at the table as appetizer) PROS: great look, Croque Monsieur Au Salmon was sooo yummy and light, Gigot D'Agneau (lamb sandwich) was absolutely AMAZING & highly recommend it, & Confit De Canard was a wonderfully cooked duck although a small dish. CONS: There are NONE. If I had to think of one though it would be the high pricing on lunch items that aren't sandwiches. YOU NEED TO GO!!!!
(5)
Andrea C.
Bistro Niko's food is delicious. The Kitchen does an outstanding job!!! However, the service and Atomosphere are Sorry as Hell!! The restaurant experience is like being at a French Denny's. The Restaurant seems to pride itself on being severly understaffed. Wait Staff is responsible for everything that happens with table service. No bussers, no food runners, no back up personnel. The waiter at our dinner was MIA and absentee. Basics were not addressed by our waiter. He did not ask guests about a drink order, other than the wine that was served with water. No follow acftivity after service of food items was addressed, and the Bathrooms were dirty and disgusting. The Atomosphere was loud and noisy, and there was a line for the bathrooms like being at a club. I do not know if I would return based on the service and the Atomosphere, even though the food was delicious...
(1)
Dean D.
I had a solo meal at the bar last night. the drinks were fine. the French Onion soup was creamy and excellent, highly recommend it. I had a caq au vin, the traditional french dish that should be simmering for hours not made to order. The dish look like it was a hybrid. the chicken was moist and tender but could have used more flavor. Price seemed to be right for the meal but the entree I had was a little off. I would give it another shot because all other aspects of the meal were fine and I love French cuisine.
(3)
Erica D.
Want to catch high speed ferrari chases down peachtree with a front row view? Well guess what... this is your place, and yes I have seen this happen here. Food is great their little salmon sandwich things (i now forget what they are called) quite possibly melt in your mouth. Must like buttah though or it will make you sick. Patio is elevated and provides great tourist watching. Happy hour inside gets back, get there before 5. Single ladies on the prowl ration is 10:1 in your favor. Worth checking out if you are looking to mingle. Bartenders knowledgeable on wine and super friendly. Must check out.
(4)
Eric N.
Dinner here last year with Ali was decent (fish was perfectly cooked and oysters were just right), so I was rather disappointed by a recent lunch. My son and I arrived around 3pm on Sunday and we were pleased that they were open. The Beer, Leffe and Hefe Weis, was on tap, cold, refreshing and promptly served. That and the fact that they had the football game on television were the positives in what would be a sea of negatives. We asked about the Foie Gras and were told that in addition to the Faux (fake) version there was also the real deal with ham hock bits--in my book, the real deal is the Alsation variety made only from geese. Based on the description from our server, the menu should have referred to it as duck pate. We decided to start with the Parma ham with blue cheese on flat bread (kind of a thin crust pizza), steak tartare and the salmon croque monsieur. The tartare was made with beef (unfortunately), came with no egg yolk, no sauce, no pickle, no onion, and was was off color in places. We made it edible with lots of dijon, pepper and salt. The salmon croque was soggy, cheesy, cold and bland. The parma ham thing was tasteless despite what looked like blue cheese. It was the lesser of three evils. Our main dishes were the haddock with cous cous in lieu of the polenta and the shrimp with salad. The shrimp were deep fried?! WTF--if you deep fry, mention it on the menu or when ordering. The shrimp had been left in the oil or under a heat light until it was somewhere north of vulcanized rubber--what a waste of good fish. The haddock was not edible. It was over cooked and too salty. I have never complained about too much salt ever (I love salt), but this dish was so salty that I felt nauseous. This was one of the rare times I have left a meal only partially eaten. The people at the bar were fun and familiar, but the bartender kept mixing up the Leffe and Hefe and did not seem to have much of clue about what drinks would suit the food or any concern about whether we liked the food. The Beaujolais Nouveau should have been poured out. It had been left in a lame looking mini keg for over a week and tasted like a combination of a cleaning fluid and vinegar. Kudos to the bartender for having the sense to warn us that it might be off and suggesting that we try a sample first. That said, he should have thrown it out. My guess is that the regular chef was not on duty and/or the owner just does not care. Either way I will not be back and I suggest that if you are looking for real French food avoid the disappointment that is Bistro Niko.
(1)
Barbara K.
Came early for dinner. Quiet just until we were leaving. Rather loud once restaurant full. Wine & beer selection great. Had the Seafood Tagliatelle Pasta - highly recommend. Not very impressed with the Gougeres as others has posted.
(5)
Brittiany M.
Yummy! Great service... I love that there are French servers in the restaurant. Very LOUD in the restaurant during lunch time- unsure about dinner. Valet is a must :) but it is always worth it except at Shout on the weekends. Try the truffle pizza! Very great
(4)
Alison B.
First visit tonight , a completely impromptu one, as Bistro Niko looked so warm and inviting as I drove by on this cold and wintry evening after I finished up a late appointment with my nearby accountant. I was solo so I sat at the bar and enjoyed a very reasonably priced ($8) flute of sparkling French rose- not actual Champagne, so much cheaper- hooray! Started with the cheese plate which was supposed to feature Humboldt Fog, a wonderful California slightly aged goat cheese with a layer of ash, plus buttery St Andre triple creme cow's milk cheese and Petit Basque, a semi hard French sheep's milk cheese... all favorites of mine! Unfortunately, when the cheese plate arrived - with relatively minimal accompaniments of a couple of crisp rounds of pecan raisin bread and a fruit chutney along with some pistachio crumbs - the Humboldt Fog was no where to be found and the kitchen had substituted a piece of raclette- yes, the same Swiss cheese which is supposed to be served grilled and ooey gooey soft on a special segmented grill with cornichon pickles, almost like individual trays of fondue. Do not try to fool this girl when it comes to cheese! I may not know shoes as well as some others, but I *know* cheese! So, the cheese plate was 2/3rds delicious, especially as I really enjoyed the fruit accompaniment with the St Andre, but raclette was a poor substitute for Humboldt Fog and I probably would not have ordered the $12 cheese plate had I known that in advance. It's a small matter, I know, but important to me. I also tried a small side mixed green salad with vinaigrette- simple and nice overall, and the pommes frites which were hot, crispy and appropriately salted. Restaurant has a classic upscale brasserie feel and service was great! I will be back to check out the entrees (pretty reasonably priced in high teens for the most part) next as the steak frites are calling my name! PS: One negative: the valet service sucks! It is complimentary, but they were no where to be seen when I pulled in and waited a few minutes, so I pulled in to garage and then had to pay $8 to park- aaargh.
(4)
Shel F.
Delicious. Our waiter was wonderful. His recommendations spot on. This will be a must do when in Atlanta.
(5)
David F.
A nicely designed restaurant...loud bar area. For a French restaurant the wine list was pretty poor. A few decent selections but I would have expected to see some older Bordeaux and burgundy vintages. On the food side I went with a selection of apps. The fried oyster special was great. Delicately fried and the batter didn't overpower the oyster. The beet salad...ehh beets had no taste. Steak tar tar was pretty good, had a good tang Pork belly app was well prepared and worth ordering again.
(3)
Dan C.
Probably could be 5 stars, if the brunch special (crab cakes with a poached egg) wasn't so darn salty. The decor, service, and price beat expectations. The mussels (mussels for brunch, duh) and dessert were absolutely amazing. Main dish just didn't have enough flavor as it was overwhelmed by the saltiness. Loved sitting outside and enjoying the weather. It was a nice vibrant place with conversation everywhere. Annoyance part was some jackwad honking their horn at the stoplight nonstop--not Niko's fault. dmo out.
(4)
b h.
thoroughly mediocre; great setting, but food and svc do not rise to the occasion steak fries are NOT "frites"
(2)
Hannah S.
My family and I dined at Bistro Niko on a Sunday night this summer. It was a great atmosphere and we enjoyed looking into the kitchen and seeing the fresh breads and meats in the window like a real french market. Our server was very personable but the actual service wasn't extraordinary. It was more than 30 minutes before we even had a chance to order our appetizers Overall we enjoyed our food but we didn't feel like it should be deemed one of the best restaurants in buckhead. My trout was great, as were the mussels and white bean soup, but I just wasn't blown away. A random tip: you can park in the parking deck at the restaurant for an hourly rate, or you can pay the valet $2.00 plus tip (which turns out to be the same amount). The young man at the valet station was incredibly eager and polite so I recommend putting your four or five dollars into the pocket of a hard-working college student rather than a garage machine.
(4)
John R.
Service was excellent-Caitlin was my server. Food: Escargot- good, not very hot at arrival. Special entree- Striped Bass- very good flavor and cooked properly. Not very warm at arrival. Coffee- very good! Noisy restaurant.
(3)
John M.
Well this was a bittersweet experience. My issues were more from a service aspect more than anything. Our first encounter on our date night was the hostess. Both hostesses couldn't have been more inappropriately dressed. Honestly they were dressed more as cocktail waitresses at the pink pony than hostesses of a classy French restaurant. Each time they passed out table we were worried they may trip from their 8" heels and t-shirt sleeves they converted into dresses. Next was the 20 minute wait for our server to come to the table to take our drink order. I thought since it was 6:45pm and our server only had 3 tables that we would be in and out. Not only was he totally clueless on the wine menu, he screwed up our appetizer order as well as our drink order. I can understand that he may not have heard it, seeing as how this was the loudest restaurant I have ever been in. Overall, the scallops were okay, very gritty, but the mussels saved the day. We were going to order dessert but honestly the whole dinner took almost two hours and we were just so anxious to get going. He slid the check on the table and didn't even thank us for dining....I would've thought he may have, given our $218 bill. I would consider drinks here sometime at the bar but honestly they need to maybe pay some better attention to the candidates that apply here.
(2)
DJ V.
Its a nice fancy place to go to. Love the decor there, food is good. However, if you want a romantic and quiet restaurant then this is not the place to be. Every time I have gone it was very loud in there.
(4)
Lindsay S.
Fantastic food and service- best quiche and French onion soup I've ever had!
(4)
Pace C.
Could not have gone better. I reserved an early dinner for my wife's birthday and noted that she is a vegetarian. BN was very accommodating and made our dining experience feel special. Our server was great, offered good suggestions and the food was terrific. The mussels are super tasty and you should ask for more of their delicious bread to soak up their sauce. They brought a nice dessert out. Topped it of with a coffee. The restaurant is very nice, but you can go smart casual in attire.
(5)
Ed V.
Great onion soup. Have had scallops, tenderloin and chicken here at various times, all great. My second favorite BLG restaurant to Pricci.
(4)
Aaron D.
Service was okay. Coffee maker broke so took a while. Forgot to give us menus. Food came out quickly. Food was flavorful but so greasy ingot a stomach ache. Had the herb omelet. Thankfully I substituted a salad for the hash browns, or it would have been even greasier. Classiest aspect were the bathrooms. Overall was good enough but I wouldn't go back here soon.
(3)
Kendall B.
Wonderful! Service was exceptional. Was giving Bistro Niko one more chance after an anniversary dinner was a total disaster with the service. Sat outside. Note: the outside tables are very small. Actually the whole area out there is kind of small. Only two for dinner out there per table unless you start pulling up tables. Then you have two round tables together. Food was just wonderful. The escargo is just beyond delicious. Will be back! Oh, and they let us cork our own wine!
(5)
Kevin J.
Swanky swanky with a whole lot of waiting. I believe the restaurant got our reservation time wrong as all of my notes said 7pm and they had us down for 7:30. Oh well. We arrived around 6:45 and waited at the bar. The hostess said our table would be ready around 7:30. 7:40 came, and 7:50 came. I figured it was time to have a little check-in to make sure we weren't overlooked. The hostess said they could seat us now and to bring the entire party back up to the front stand. Huh - I thought the whole idea of waiting at the bar was for them to come and get us. Maybe I'm high-maintenance but I was hoping we'd be treated with respect as business professionals waiting to spend hundreds at their restaurant. The food was good. Not amazing, not stellar, but a notch above good. Would I go back, yes. Would I clarify my reservation time, hell yes, and will I make sure they come find us? Hopefully next time.
(3)
Lesa T.
Very good. All four of us shared our meals, it was all superb!! I would recommend and I will go back. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, I really liked it, lighting was a bit too bright. if they would tone it down a bit, I feel it would help. There are booths and tables. Open kitchen when you walk in near the hostess stand, bar is in the middle of restaurant. Lots of children here, but they were well behaved. Please note, Valet parking; $2.00 fee does not include tip.
(4)
Belinda S.
I have been several times over the past few years and like most Buckhead Life restaurant it is quickly losing its appeal. My sister and I decided to go in without a reservation around 730 on a Saturday. We were told there was a 45 minute wait, we asked about the wait for the patio and were told it would also be 45 minutes. We said we would wait and without leaving the hostess stand we were instantly taken to the patio that was practically empty except for 2 or 3 other couples, odd , no? We ordered a couples apps, salads, and our entrees and everything came out really staggered. I had to beg for my entree which came out 10 minutes after my sisters, hers came out cold. Take it or leave it.
(3)
Lauren P.
Kevin P. has taken me on some pretty great dates. In our three years together we've hit up the best places in town: Chops, One Midtown Kitchen, Hal's, Horseraddish Grill, Two Urban Licks, just to name a few. Friday's date night at Bistro Niko was right up there. Y'all, it was truly a five star date. Star 1: We knew it was going to be a great date when we pulled up next to a bright red Ferrari Spider. For those of you who know my gear-head man y'all know it made his night. I told him if he ever got a Ferrari I'd buy red lipstick and nail polish to match the color of the car. He laughed and we proceeded into Bistro Niko. The restaurant space has a serious wow factor. We walked in and I was immediately impressed with the open kitchen. The smells wafting out of the space were divine. Thankfully we'd made a reservation and were promptly seated. Star 2: somehow we got the best table in the place! We were seated in one of the sumptuous booths facing out into the restaurant. Perhaps it was one of the tables reserved for Open Table reservations, or we looked that damn good, perhaps we just got lucky; either way, we had an awesome place to enjoy our meal. Star 3: greeted within one minute by our fabulous server. She was great. I loved the Syrah she recommended, our wine and waters were never empty, and had great menu selections she highlighted for us to help narrow down our food decision. Star 4: "OH-MY-GOD-THIS-IS-SO-GOOD!" was all I could keep saying. First we had the escargot. The escargot were exactly how I like them: tender, flavorful, swimming in butter and covered with flaky pastry puffs. Then we tackled the mussels in the most fabulous broth ever. Despite what I've read from other reviews, the mussels were pretty big and tasted fresh. They came with warm, crusty bread: perfect for dipping in the broth or noshing on with butter. We skipped the salads to save room for our entrees and I'm very glad we did. The scallops were the best I ever had. Pan-fried with that golden crust, swimming in a butter-wine-lemon sauce complimented by tender asparagus and cherry tomatoes over a potato puree. I can't tell you how many times I said awesome during this meal. Kevin P. had the skate wing which we learned is wholly-roasted in the oven for 13 minutes, then deboned and finished by frying in a pan. I've never had skate until this evening. Now I'm officially a fan. Kevin P. even ate the spinach served alongside the skate which he said was "not bad." This is a really high compliment from my husband when it comes to leafy greens. We finished our meal by sharing the decadent chocolate cake laced with bourbon and orange flavors. Star 5: the ambiance of Bistro Niko. In some reviews you'll read that it's loud in the restaurant (which is true) but awesome if you're on a date. You can say almost anything to your partner and it won't be heard by the table next to you due to the dim roar. The restaurant itself is designed for conversation. The architecture is great, especially the accents on the ceiling and walls. It was cool to see the variety of people: tourists, businessmen, kids going to prom, other couples on dates. Bistro Niko is building a solid reputation with the ATL and it's well deserved. I close saying this: if you really want to wow your lady, take her to Bistro Niko. Seriously it was one of my top 10 dates ever.
(5)
Jeff W.
I really like this place. However, I think they need to change the menu or add more specials. At least the entree menu. It's getting a little old. The rest of the menu is just fine. Last time I was there, about a month ago, I had the TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE* Twin Beef Tenderloins. They were seriously small! I mean like maybe I got 3 ounces of beef. They were so small that cooking them to medium was impossible. My wife had the veal, could have been the special, had to send it back because it was undercooked at first, then it came back overcooked. Main problem was it had no flavor and it was very tough. She hardly touched it and mine was too small to share. So we left hungry. I love the price of their veuve clicquot; best in Atlanta at $69. Overall I think this is a great restaurant. Great prices for what you get. Just that my last visit wasn't very good. I'll see how it goes next time.
(4)
Julie C.
Again, this is one of those times where I could use a half star. But, I'm typing this with an upset stomach that I think is the direct result of some bistro niko sole (which was not worth this GI distress), so perhaps 2 stars is just right. Meh. Yep. I have to pay 1.50 to valet? I am cheap, yes, and I don't mind letting the valet get the other .50 cents, but I would really appreciate it if the valet would at least keep a couple of quarters in hand....I mean, you snatch up my 2 bucks, my car door is wide open, it's misting out, and you're going to tell me that you'll be right back with my change? I am asshole enough to wait for it too...but in honor of the 4th, I didn't. Still. Come on. Oh. Yeah. The food. Grossly overpriced. I mean, it wasn't that the prices were so outrageous, it was that the food quality, and taste didn't match up. I actually thought the serving sizes were fine, but I'd rather a little more yummy over just a little more. We, in true pig fashion, had drinks (initially tasty moscow mule...on first sip it was gingery, then it just tasted cold and coppery), a beet salad (just get a jar from publix, your own goat chese and some little weeds from the side of the road and save the 10 bucks), some gruyere cheese puff bites....yum, just not really hot, and some foie gras terrine with chunks of delicious pork shoulder, and a smidge of overly nutmeg-ed apples, and more of the aforementioned weeds (okay, it was mache). Everything was okay...nothing that would have me running back for sure. Busboy service was lovely, lots of swooping in to refill our glasses and keep the uncouth tap water we ordered flowing. Waiter on the other hand...very absent and distracted. We were about finished with our third appetizer by the time he realized we still had menus and no entree ordered. Friend got the steak frites...and I should have too (he has no bellyache). How can you mess steak frites up? His fries were yummy, the maitre d' hotel (?) butter was yummy...and his steak looked good. My sole was salty (probably to hide the rottenness that has caused my upset stomach), and the polenta was so weirdly tasteless that it could have been styrofoam. The tomato lobster broth was more salt, but I did enjoy the three cherry tomatoes that came with. So there. My bitter, bistro niko review. I actually sorta liked the design, cheesy disney french that it was, and the patio looked mega fun...but not in the rampant georgia humidity. IF i were to return, I would maybe try one of the sandwiches....they sounded quite yummy, and I saw some lovely burgers coming out....but really, should I be getting a burger from bistro niko? Seems odd.
(2)
Jack H.
The last two visits in the fall of 2012 have been truly impressive. The evening begins nicely with professional car-valet service. Both times we had a table for four. The servers are top notch. My lovely bride had the endive salad and the sea scallops, while I ordered the beet salad and the filet of sole. For dessert, the profiteroles (choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, and almonds) were delicious. They have a very hot bartender and an even hotter hostess. Excellent floor management. The ambience is loud and animated. This is a 4.5 star restaurant. One more dinner at this level and I would give it a 5.
(4)
Wayne K.
Very upscale... Great Food!
(4)
Liz K.
Thought I would love the place, but sadly I didn't. I have been waiting to check this place out, and finally when it was said and done. I was just a little more than disappointed. My server first off, seemed a little rude at first. As the night progressed his mood lifted up. Maybe because he realized my friend & I were ordering more? WHO KNOWS. But his attitude was not pleasant at all to be around. Left my friend to do the ordering... We ordered the cheese puffs-- which did not seem cheesy at all. Just puffy full of air, like a cloud. Was I eating a cloud in a form of a carbohydrate? Also ordered the en courte, which was suppose to be carpaccio... but my friend ordered the wrong thing (sadface.) It was a really greasy mini sandwich with a super salty piece of salmon in between. And entree, we had some sort of seafood pasta dish where they lacked in the seafood part. Service was slow in the beginning, and not to mention rude. After that I didn't care about my experience anymore.
(3)
Mujeed M.
Dined last night, enjoyed the patio and city view, The service became better as the evening continued, the staff was friendly, The Food was Delicious, very impressive seasoned well, though the place was crowded, the meal was prepared without rushing my order, very good presentation. I will continue to dine with Bistro Niko!
(4)
deborah r.
Always good, anything and everything on the menu, service, atmosphere, consistency never disappointed.
(4)
Ferdinand H.
2.5-3. I'll round up. Bistro Niko tries hard to be something special, enlisting the white tiles ubiquitous in all the bistro-esque establishments I've seen in New York, ranging from Balthazar to Bouchon. Reds, blacks, chromes and the requisite French film posters attract the eyes, and complete the impression. Had drinks with a friend, with an order of French Onion Soup and Escargot. Fare was decent at the price, but not mindblowing. The French Onion soup was rich with cheese and bread, not overly salty nor sweet, but still lacked the heartiness that I associate with the best of the best. Escargot was also good, but not great. I'm rounding up given the dearth of competitors in Atlanta. Good French cuisine is vanishingly rare here.
(3)
Jie Y.
Food: 4, starters are impressive. Main plates are average Service: 5 Atmosphere:4.5
(4)
Anthony Z.
Very loud. Hardly any mixed drinks. The food was nothing special.
(2)
Reagan M.
Carol gets 1 star and Brent gets 5. Thus the restaurant gets a 3. My food was amazing - the onion soup and the shrimp in the puff pastry. Awesome. Boyfriends strip was overcooked and cold. Oops. Carol at the bar where we ate leaves a lot to be desired. She seemed angry and hungover. But Brent was fabulous. Too bad they have to work together! This was our second trip to bistro niko and overall will not be back. Save your money for something better, there are better places all around!
(3)
Mary Jo S.
Atmosphere: pleasant enough. Business travel so I sat at the bar. Food: ok I read the reviews and was excited! Taste: A+ Value: F. I know in America we are used to oversized portions but this place goes to extreme in the opposite direction. $10 for a beet salad with 3 slices if beet is absurd. $22 for 6 baby scallops as an entree is robbery. I actually left this place and bought a snack at the hotel. Not impressed and pissed I believed the hype!
(3)
Matt T.
Good grief! Really great food for a reasonable price. Ordered the duck and the French onion soup. By far the best duck and soup I have ever had. Plus the view sitting street side and enjoying such fantastic food was a complete package. Will be back next time I am in the area.
(5)
Megan C.
Upon return to Bistro Niko, I hereby change my rating to 4 stars. Much better the second time around! I loved the Caviar, my martini, and my dinner-pasta with scallops. YUM!
(4)
Jennifer L.
Bistro Niko might as well be called "mussels and naughty bread" - and there is NO shame in dipping that crusty baguette into the garlic sauce those mussels have been simmering in! I'm not even a mussel person, but these little delights are too good to pass up. Yummo. Great patio- sometimes there is live music on the weekend. Good date night and people watching spot!
(4)
Stacy K.
Not a bad experience overall, just not my type of place. Food was good, the mushroom flatbread was very rich but delicious. Also had the cheese puffs, very satisfying. My favorite item that we had was the herbed goat cheese ravioli. The ratatouille with it was a reason I may go back!
(3)
Chris R.
Great Steak TarTare and they will double up the duck confit app for an entree. Great wine list and nice comfortable bar... Almost cougar free.
(4)
Shay H.
This restaurant is beautiful inside, food was really excellent. The duck confit was delicious, and though just an appetizer the portion was still very large. Service was good.
I did not have high expectations for this place due to being part of Buckhead Life Group, I've been to a number of places and was underwhelmed! Bistro Niko changed everything for me! I love everything about it! The decor, the kitchen is amazing, I want to recreate a smaller version and put it in my house! This reminds me of a place that if your out on Lake Lanier all day boating and you need a good meal on the way home, come here and indulge in the appetizers. Pate, Mushroom Pizza, Cheese Puffs, French Onion Soup and of course the Mussels were amazing! The Skate entree was perfect. Puff Pastry dessert was perfect! Noise level way to high! Server tried really hard to do a good job but failed in that department. The management should spend more time training the staff.
(4)
Ross P.
Great Service, loved the decor excellent brunch options and great mimosas! Valet flat 2.00 rate.
(4)
Victoria H.
Server was fantastic. Food was disappointing. It was ok; just not enough flavor or excitement. Bland French food. Will never be back.
(3)
Muath A.
good food, quick service and nice staff
(5)
Stephanie A.
Facing Peachtree near Piedmont (tower place complex) is bistro Niko. One of a very few French eateries in the city. Quite a large space reminiscent of FAB it's got the same high ceilings and lively crowd amid plenty of French fare. Some outdoor seating available (and if you want to hear your dining companions this may be a better option). Lively after work bar scene as well. If you're into that sort of thing. I am not but hey, that's just me. I know some of you need a stiff one after a 9-5 grind. Friendly attentive staff (I never know if they are extra friendly because I am taking photos and notes but I appreciate it nonetheless) and plenty of staff. Just what I like to see. My water glass will never want for water and my wine will flow freely. Really does anyone like a server spread too thin? This is a service industry after all. It's restaurant week and we ordered from both menus. I have to say this regular menu at Niko reads like poetry for a foodie that is completely enamoured of French cuisine. All the greats are there and then some. This more than a bistro, it's full on French food. First up is some salmon croque monsieur. This is incredibly rich. Salmon rich, cheese rich and fried in butter rich. Plan to share it and have some high acid wine with it. Good stuff but a little goes a long way. Coq au vin. Two juice fat hind quarters of a chicken. Wow. This one left me a little speechless. I haven't had a coq au vin quite this good. Dark, deeply flavored and tender as you want it. Impeccable presentation and a flavor that is far better than I expected. Full on 10 out of 10. Beef bourguignon. Luscious braised beef cheeks that came out steaming hot, full dense rich demi sauce that could be inhaled 2 feet away. I am not positive but I suspect the noodles are house made. Delicate and ideal texture for the dish. The sauce perfectly portioned so not sloppy or overly wet. The cheeks literally melt in the mouth. More tender than a short rib and the flavor was another speechless inducing moment if not several. I absolutely would have ordered it again if I had room to eat more. Baba au rhum is ok. It's very light but a bit bland. Delicious vanilla pastry cream in the center, tangy citrusy sauce (I was getting peach and kumquat but I can't confirm) . I didn't finish it. The crème brulee is excellent. Heavy cream base, good healthy vanilla flavor. That did get finished. Nice wines, atmosphere, food and service. I am absolutely returning.
(4)
Alexander D.
This is my second time here and I genuinely enjoyed it. Great service! I think the portions should be a little bit bigger, but aside from that i found the place to be amazing!
(5)
Kye B.
Not much that needs be said except that my experience was quick, (which is what I needed) tasty (which is what I desired) and had a courteous and charming staff (which is what I always enjoy). Menu seemed interesting, felt kinda soda-shop-ish, and if you're in the mood for that...then this is the place!
(3)
ash r.
Romantic French restaurant. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent service. Excellent food. The confit de Conard was very tasty. It was one of the best dishes i have ever had. The duck was cooked to perfect. My girlfriend had the RAIE AU BEURRE NOIR. This dish was very delicious as well. The waiter was able to answer questions very knowledgeable and provide prompt service. I went during the lunch service so the prices were very reasonable.
(5)
Rob F.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a great experience. It wasn't terrible, and if it were not such a pricey restaurant, I'd give it a 3, but with a $100 bill, you've got to expect a little more. Our waiter seemed new; when we asked him about some of the menu items, he pretty much just read what was on the menu. Thanks, chief. I'll work my way backwards through the meal. The dessert was waaay too sugary for my taste. But, then again, I'm not really a dessert person. My entry was not bad, but again, just not bad. Given the meal price, I was hoping it would really dazzle me. I also tried the salmon spread as an appetizer. I got about 2 ketchup packets worth of spread with 3 crackers. Way to spoil me now. Now, something worth mentioning is the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon (butter grilled brioche of smoked salmon and fromage blanc). I loved this. The texture reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich, but you really taste the salmon and it's wonderful. I do like that this place is within walking distance of my condo and should I have some friends over, it wouldn't be a bad place to stop by and grab a drink. I might even spring for the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon again, but probably won't make a visit for dinner in the future.
(2)
J F.
Every time I visit this restaurant the service is always slow as a month of Sundays. It takes too long for someone to arrive at my table. I am literally looking around the restaurant for the waiter. It takes forever for your bread to arrive. Today my party was serviced by an Asian guy and it was the same experience...long wait for drinks and bread, no personality, no introduction. There were only about 5 tables full in the restaurant while we were dining; hence there was really no excuse for the service to be this poor. In addition to this the hostess is rarely pleasant...no greeting upon arrival or departure. I am a great tipper - 30% - 40% of the check, however the service is lacking severely and I don't see the value here. Though I thoroughly enjoy the food, the service experience is so unacceptable I can't say that I will return.
(1)
Mike D.
Really good, top notch food and service for both lunch and dinner. Very consistent over 3 visits. Great for a date, an office outing, or out of town guests. Great place to sit outside and enjoy a meal.
(4)
Gus P.
Excellent restaurant! A bit pricey, but the food is great. I definitely recommend and would go back.
(5)
James B.
Professional staff, good food, nice decor. Suitable for a dinner date or business meeting.
(3)
Gina b.
Squash Soup...To die for. Service was amazing however we were there early on a Sunday evening so don't know about when it's busy. Dinner was ok. Not great, but good and hearty. Portions will fill you up. Dinner for 2 with Apps and a couple of drinks will run you about $100. Was pissed that they didn't validate parking, paid $8. Valet for $1.50.
(4)
Leanne E.
I dined on a Thursday evening, which happened to be the same night as some sort of corporate shin-dig. Parking is by Valet and costs $2, but the attendants are courteous and prompt. The inside of the restaurant is lovely. White subway tile and lace curtains gave it a nice classy feel. This place does NOT serve sweet tea, but unlike Houston's, will provide you with a generous serving of simple syrup. We started with the white bean soup and the cheese puffs. It was a chilly and windy evening, so dipping the cheese puffs into the soup was great, perhaps my favorite part. It was warm and thus warmed the soul. That soup is excellent. For an entree, my sweetie chose the Steak and Frites, which was prepared well and a good hearty man pleaser. I chose the mushroom and guyre tart, which was tasty. It was thin, crispy, cheesy goodness. This joint tends to be a bit loud and the bar is crowded, but they have a magician! They are pricy, so be alert. $92 for two drinks and the items mentioned above.
(3)
William Z.
A little taste of a Parisian brasserie. Their aile de raie is very good and selection of oysters with good Sauvignon great!
(4)
Annie T.
Bistro Niko suffers from what a lot of high potential restaurants suffer from: namely, the inability to step beyond "stereotype". It encapsulated everything that a french hip bistro "should" be if you were to think of every possible "french" thing you could have in a french restaurant... but all of that would never really be there. Case of the trying too hard? It's sort of like when you are making Chardonnay and keep the wine so air tight that it turns brown because there wasn't that .01% of oxygen in fermentation. Service slip-ups: - Our server was very adamant about trying to push the champagne. It was a bit confusing. - Our server said that Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was a California wine, when WV is in Oregon. Maybe a little more education around the wine list would be good. - In general, the servers need to work on their "there but not there" presence. It was very obvious when the servers wanted to advance the dinner, and that can be very invasive to the dining experience. Service highlights: - Our server was very willing to provide samples of the wine selections to purchase by bottle. (I would expect that, but not all restaurants will be so generous if not available by the glass) We ordered... mussels, salmon spread, and I ordered the roasted chicken with pomme frittes. Mussels were very good. Generous with the dipping sauce also. Rivals Plouf in San Francisco, as one of our Atlanta-based friends said. Roast chicken breast was dry but the dark meat was tender enough. There was a flakiness to the dark meat that I couldn't quite get and it was difficult to get the meat off in slices - was very flaky. Fries were well made. Overall, there is potential for Niko to become a true french bistro dining experience. The food sampling I had was overall 3.5 but downgraded to a 3 given the lack of value. It's very loud inside. Be prepared to speak at your highest conversation voice. If I were going on a date, it'd be a GREAT place to have a bowl of mussels, an order of pomme frittes, and a bottle of sauvingon blanc as dinner.
(3)
Carla M.
We recently had a company dinner there and it was my first time dining. I absolutely loved the ambiance, food and beverages. We were attended by two waiters and we were only a party of three so all of our orders came very fast and our cocktails were replenished quickly.
(4)
Josephine I.
You walked in, and you felt like you are somewhere in the 1940's of a France not-too-shabby ballroom. I went with the boy during the restaurant week. I had the 3 course menu, but my boy decided to exclude himself. I ordered the coq au vin for the entree. A baguette with smoke salmon for the first course, and a creme brulee for dessert. 1. Baguette with smoke salmon- It was actually pretty good in all seriousness. The smoke salmon is combined with cream to make it very creamy. The baguette is sliced thinly, and it is toasted. Good combination. 2. Coq Au Vin (Chicken in wine)- It honestly was OK. It was a bit bland for my coq au vin. It was good, but it was not a " WOW that is delicious". I downed it though. 3. Creme Brulee- Can you go wrong with a creme brulee? Overall, the service was OK. The wine that we got was pretty good. Pretty good dinner, somewhat lack in the excitement of the tastebuds.
(3)
Nic K.
I come here a lot since it's right by my work. It's the easiest place to go with clients that doesn't require a whole lot of walking in pointy, 4-inch stilettos. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here before. The restaurant is always crowded no matter what day or time you go. I like to rag on Buckhead Life since all their other restaurants are very 80's with their decor. Bistro is nicely done. They did get docked a point today. I was having lunch with a client today, and I ordered the Deux Plats (oui, oui). I ordered the white bean soup as my starter (J'adore ca!). The server did a bit of a faux pas. He asked if he should split my soup into two bowls so I could share it with my lunch guest. MY soup. Mine! I proceeded to give him the stank eye. I couldn't say no otherwise I'd look like a donkey. Before I could grumble a yes, my lunch guest spoke up and said, "Absolutely!" I wanted to be like, "No way, back off!" But, this was a work meeting so I had to maintain professionalism. My white bean soup was delicious. I just wish I had more of it....
(4)
Allison C.
First Ask for a table in Belinda's section. She is fantastic.
(4)
Alexis R.
Love Love Love the mushroom flatbread. I could eat a whole one by myself. Truly remarkable. The tomato flatbread is a star as well - must give credit where due. Of the foods I've had at Bistro Niko, only one has been any less than stellar. The only bad entree was a tuna salad, which tasted almost canned. However, the Croque Madame, Coq Au Vin, butternut squash soup, tortellini, creme brulee, and profiteroles are magnifique. (What can I say? We have a lot of client dinners at my office.) This is definitely a pricey joint, but it's worth the cost if you're having a nice date or... well, a client dinner. This is an order-the-bottle, get-a-recommendation-from-the-expert-waiter, wear-your-cloth-napkin-on-your-lap-please kind of place. No paper hats here (at least, they didn't encourage it when I tried it). All in all, Bistro Niko is a wonderful restaurant that I highly recommend. Just plan on allotting the day's (or week's) salary for your experience.
(4)
Scott A.
Went to Bistro Niko recently and it was phenomenal! Everything was on point from the flowers I had ordered beforehand to the very end. We had eaten there once before almost two years ago and we decided to come back. (Disguised a marriage proposal as a "date-night".) They were accommodating every step of the way with some added accoutrements that were not prompted in ANY way! She had the Prosciutto Tarte w/ a salad while I had the Steak Frites, salad also. Everything came out exactly when we wanted, glasses were filled, and management came by to check on things every so often (without being intrusive). Couldn't have asked for a better experience and we'll DEFINITELY be going back. Absolute MUST if you're ever in Atlanta!
(5)
Michael P.
Food is above average, tad overpriced for the quality. But you are paying for the atmosphere. Great vibe, very trendy. I was probably a bit underdressed. Business casual is more appropriate.
(4)
Toni D.
Just came from Bistro Niko and had a fabulous time. Mary and her partner at the bar were wonderful and delightful company. The Food was Fabulous and nicely presented. we met a lowly new friend - Trey - who was visiting from Tampa. He is a Somelier and was full of wonderful knowledge. WE will definitely go again. Toni Dore
(5)
Emily P.
Amazing food. Loved the steak poivre I ordered, done to perfection. Had a bit too much peppers on it though. I ordered the frissee (sp?) salad, but I wasn't a big fan of the egg on top of it, although the dressing was delish!
(4)
Wade G.
It was just OK. Service was fine. Main Dining room is crazy crazy loud so if you have someone who is hard of hearing def sit outside or in the small dining room, which is unfortunately rather blah. Some people in my group liked their food but to others it was overworked, over seasoned, and just not memorable in a good way. I had the veal and thought it was quite good. Duck confit appetizer is great. Those who had steak and fries were most unimpressed. It just did not have the right fries and seasoning. I would try again though. The bar is great.
(3)
Karen T.
The overall menu and food was fantastic here. I'd say the scallops is a must, but we didn't care too much for the pork belly. I'd also recommend the escargot and charcuterie platter.
(5)
Anne A.
Ate dinner here with a friend. The service was excellent. We had fantastic appetizers, the Gruyere puffs and a scallops dish. I had the Coq Au Vin which I can never seem to pass up. My friend had a Hanger steak special I think. Both were very good. The portions were actually more than I expected, but not too much. We still had room for dessert: one of the sundaes. Cocktails and wine. All of this food and the final price was much less than we had expected. The only thing I didn't like was the noise level. Even before the restaurant filled completely, it was quite loud. I don't understand why nice restaurants in particular don't control the acoustics. It doesn't take that much and makes for a more pleasant dinner when you don't have to yell at your dinner companions or your server. If it weren't for the noise I would give it a five.
(4)
Angela S.
2nd visit ~ had a friend request to go her for her birthday. Service was great and they did have the French music playing but not loud enough to hear it in the dinning room. Food was much better this time. I had informed them of her birthday and they had her a little cake without be prompted ~ YEA great service. I am moving the rating up to 4 at this time. I would still like to see more traditional French ~ less Americanized version of it? Thanks... Old Post 1st visit ~I gave it 3 stars Great atmosphere, needs a little French music playing in the back ground. Many of the French dishes I would think would be on the menu are not on the menu. Everything we had was "Just okay" The French Fries ~ need work frozen run of the mill not like you would get in France for sure. I wanted to love this place but just did not happen for me....sorry !
(4)
Ashley K.
My mom and I came to Bistro Niko while on a long weekend trip to Atlanta. The restaurant was right near our hotel, which was nice. We had reservations - which was good because it was a Friday night and extremely crowded. Our waiter was prompt, at first, but that changed throughout the meal. I ordered steak - medium. And the waiter asked, if I meant medium-rare and I said, no I meant what I said - medium. I thought it was a little weird but didn't think much of it. When my steak came out - it was not even medium-rare, it was just rare. So, I called the waiter over and asked to send it back. I hate to do this, but when you are paying so much for a steak, it should be right. So I said, this isn't medium, it very rare and his reply was, well that's the French way. Okay. I get it. I'm in a French restaurant. But. I am in a French restaurant in Atlanta. Not in France. Furthermore, isn't the customer always right? Not what ordered, no need for the attitude. It took about 15 minutes for the steak to come back out. My mom was already done with her meal. It was very frustrating. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was good. So that was redeeming at least. It was also very loud in the restaurant. I feel like my experience at Bistro Niko was just an unfortunate one, I would come here again and hope that my experience was just a fluke, because I really wanted to like it - but the waiter's attitude was just unbelievable to me.
(3)
Alan R.
Eating out even more than usual due to kitchen being remodeled.Hope contractors stay on budget because I am clearly over.We always start with the oysters here and they are always fresh and they rotate the specials. Next I always get the pate and then either fish or skirt steak. This time I did the steak and fries and they were cooked just right and fresh fries. Dont care what our senate says as they tend to know nothing, I love the french style of fries..Thank you , you guys always deliver fresh and best to my table. i tend to order the same from my regular places and love to be given the same quality each visit.
(5)
Kat G.
Rule No. 1 - at least one person at the table must order one of the chef's specials. Seriously. They have never let me down. The food here is carefully chosen and really well done. I recommend the trout, the seafood pasta and the salmon, though from what I've seen, you really can't go wrong. Oh, and if you're ordering a drink, they do a really lovely French 75!
(5)
Kay D.
Service was excellent. Dinner was good, although not over the top. Seafood pasta was very good, Haddock fish special was extremely oily. Beware, we did not valet park but used the garage because it was raining. The restaurant does not validate for parking. On top of an already expensive meal, we had a huge parking bill when we departed. $12 for 2.5 hrs. I won't be going back!
(2)
Phillip C.
We have been here three times and they have delivered each time. Very happy with the service. The food here is excellent. I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. I like the open kitchen. My most memorable dish that I had here was a special. It was trout served on a bed of polenta. I didn't give this a full 5 because the bar is a little on the small side and is always packed when we go.
(4)
Matt C.
tried this place recently for dinner. pretty decent spot. decor and vibe are definitely parisian, and menu has some pretty good stuff.. however, i think i'd recommend bistro niko more as an 'appetizer and glass of wine/cocktail' type of place, as opposed to a dinner destination, as the entrees we tried were not particularly outstanding. their mussels are great and fresh, however the broth is super buttery/creamy which tastes delicious, but obviously loaded with fat. but hey, if you're dining out, what's the use in getting healthy stuff, right? for the entree, i tried the twin beef tenderloins au poivre. they were well cooked, but flavors were nothing special. the side of frites we got, however, were very good.
(3)
Nikita m.
Very good place.I went for a conference this past weekend and made the reservatin in person for the next day after eating in a nearby restaurant . The Salmon w red wine was very good close to outstanding. I was expecting some side dishes with the fish so I mentioned it to the waiter and he kindly suggest a salad that make a perfect combination for a light meal. I felt so happy after an ugly test that forgot all about it. i felt sorry that I did not ask for dessert at least to go. Love this place ,full of people and you are able to eat outside also.
(5)
Andrew M.
On the pricey side, but it's a great place to bring a date. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Even though the it was an intimate setting, the noise level made it hard to hear the conversations at my own table.
(4)
Hector M.
Very impressed with quality and service at this place. I had the Tagliatelle Pasta, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Calamari, cherry tomatoes,white wine cream and it was perfectly executed. Delicious french bread, good wine selection, attentive service, fab patio. Do stop by.
(4)
MaGom P.
Extremely dissapointed. If you ever had a dinner in a real french restaurant, this is not even close. I would not recommend this restaurant for a special date with your spouse or girlfriend. Place is extremely loud and the worst, I expend part of my time fighting with a fly.
(3)
Adam E.
We took a small "staycation" a few weekends ago and decided to try Bistro Niko. I'd call our experience good, not great. I ordered one of the specials, a fish. It was cooked nicely, but not alot of flavor. My wife is a vegetarian and the chef prepared a special vegetable plate, but there aren't many vegetarian options on the menu. The best part was the drinks. I'd highly suggest the Moscow Mule.
(4)
Drew M.
Great place to talk about credit default swap spreads and opportunities in the leveraged loan market. The atmosphere is lively and fun and the food was great. Great oysters and great beef tenderloin.
(4)
Ian W.
Second visit. Eating solo on biz trip. Place was packed at 8 pm during the middle of the week. Got a seat pretty quick. Started with the white bean soup followed with a trout entree. Bistro Niko never disappoints. Food can be on the rich side. Decent draft beer selection to wash it down with. Will be back.
(4)
Robert S.
I am going to put as much thought and energy into this review as Bistro Niko put into making their food flavorful - very little. Despite the menus potential to be amazing (Country Pate, "Faux" Gras Terrine, pork rillettes, salmon rillettes. tartar) it is exactly what one would expect from a Buckhead Life restaurant - safe, boring and merely adequate. The food certainly did not offend me, but it is not going to make me come back either. The charcuterie appetizer with pork rillettes, chicken liver mousse, country pate, salami and prosciutto lacked flavor - how they managed to do that is beyond me. The lamb sandwich I had also lacked flavor. The only thing that reminded me that lamb was even on that sandwich was the texture - short of that, it could have been anything in between those two pieces of bread. Other than that, the food was "great!" In short, the food was about as exciting and interesting as watching a game of checkers between two mimes. Ultimately, the fact that Bistro Niko was "flat" should not have surprised me because, time and time again, every visit to a Buckhead Life restaurant yields more or less the same story - jejune food that is never outstanding nor offensive, "themed" environment, adequate service and prices that normally won't break the bank (albeit expensive for what you get). I guess that is why the restaurant group is successful, it refuses to take chances. Bistro Niko is absolutely no exception to this rule. Other than the food, I would be remiss if I did not give two quick words on parking before concluding - absolute nightmare. The valet situation at this restaurant is about as organized as a goat rodeo. You will wait in utter confusion both to bring your car in and to leave. The valet seems to service several different businesses and is completely understaffed. If you are in a rush at lunch, good luck. Although I have gone way to much in depth on a restaurant that has none, I have a few final remarks to round out this review - If you are in Buckhead and on an expense account, go for it, you won't be wowed or disappointed, you will just be. If you are paying for the meal yourself and really want exciting and flavorful food, save your money for somewhere else or just give it to me. If you are looking for safe food sold at relatively decent prices in a sterile environment, this may be the place for you. It is not for me.
(2)
Rudy K.
Not really used to writing reviews more or less used to cooking and tasting the dishes I make at work, so let me start. Apps: I had Gary's meat plate the Faux Gras was amazing smooth and so good I was sneaking the ramikin under the table so I could lick it clean. The cured meats were really really top notch the pate was seasoned with salt perfect but could use a bit more bite from pate spice. The Escargots were mind blowing the snails I ate first and then used the puff pastry to mop up the delicious sauce. The main course I had was the Coq au Vin which was a upgrade over any culinary student attempt of this classic. It was updated dressed up and given enough love to make you realize why coq au vin is a classic in the first place. The service was polished and efficient the managers walked around and made sure everything and everyone was okay. The kitchen got the food out like a well oiled machine.
(5)
Alison B.
Awesome for brunch. My husband and I didn't want a big fancy buffet brunch, just a nice, delicious, quiet, delicious meal. This was perfect.
(4)
Claire C.
Nice atmosphere and good food (try the traditionally french "Croque Monsieur" et "Croque Madame") but it all didn't feel very french. Coming from a french speaker - the food was a little too American for me. The service was great though, except for their horrendous French accents.
(3)
Alicia T.
Another great meal at Bistro Niko! The Mussels are a must...Love it!!!
(4)
Sara R.
I've been twice for dinner. The food is OK, not spectacular. The service is really disappointing on both visits. The bar service was good. I don't get the attitude of the servers. It was as if we were lucky to be there. Shouldn't that be the other way around. I hope they get this worked out. The restaurant and menu looks like its trying to be like Balthazar in NYC. Bistro Niko, you have a long way to go.
(3)
E B.
I have been no fewer than twenty times. lunch, dinner, and drinks....... The food can swing from good to bad depending on the visit, but for some reason I keep coming back............................. After much thought, I decided that I like the place for the simple reason that it is an easy place to grab a bite, people watch, and have a great drink at the bar. The bartenders are excellent. I also keep coming to see if "SAM" is still there, because I am hoping he leaves to go take up reins at Panos again. So I sit here a fan for the whole experience and not always the food.
Had the Coquilles St. Jacques, which were magnificent. Best ever! Good wine stowed on the table in a cute little clear plastic wine tote. Interesting atmosphere--people having fun. Very loud, but we were late enough that after awhile a lot of people left and it became tolerable. The food and service were outstanding. Authentic French bistro with subway tile, hall windows to kitchen, Toulouse-Lautrec type posters, other interesting artwork. Someone has put a lot of $$$ in the decor. Would go again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Stu G.
While we lack budget-friendly, mass-appeal french options in Atlanta, this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of unique options on the menu to get you started. Don't miss the wine to cut all the rich, meat-influenced fatty options. Some delicious apps and mains to choose from. Meat and frites... mmm.
(4)
Lisa A.
Restaurant was extremely noisy. The drinks are quite small for the price. I ordered two martinis and both times the glases were half full. Keep in mind,they wanted 12.00 a drink. The pork cutlet was plain and was missing a lot of flavor. The steak tartare was about the only item that I tought was good. It is as good as the Pano's and Paul's version.
(2)
Kimberly W.
Champagne, mussels, beautifully cooked escargot, a wonderful selection of oysters, a truly affordable caviar , the much missed Brandad, sturdy soups and interesting salads followed by traditional french entrees with some interesting twists. I've had everything on the menu and while some entrees lack religious fervor they are all very competent with some soaring to great heights (french fries cooked in duck fat). And then there is the lovely atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)
c d.
Great scene, great service, great food. The mussels are the best quality and biggest I've ever had. The steak tartare is amazing, as is the charcuterie plate. My ONLY complaint is a lack of "diet friendly" foods for someone watching their weight. Also the area by the bar is always drafty (which of a wind-tunnel effect). I wish they would close the doors to the patio. Regardless, bring a sweater if you intend to spend much time by the bar.
(4)
Anup M.
We went to their Sunday brunch. I had their roasted pork and my wife had the duck confi. We loved both dishes. The service was great and the ambiance was excellent. The only thing we didn't like was the foie gras. We prefer the foie gras to be warm instead of being cold.
(5)
Cindy S.
Anyplace I can get Caviar, Oysters on the half shell, escargot & Great wine at a solid price get's a thumbs up from me! Great time and friendly service!
(4)
Clare D.
First time at Bistro Niko today. Had the mussels, which were amazing!!! A small order of them with bread to sop up the heavenly broth is a full lunch. The lamb sandwich was also excellent, and the prices were reasonable, especially considering the neighborhood. My eating companion said the Eggs Norwegian (brunch menu) were good, but not as good as the lamb. Will be back! Great atmosphere, too.
(5)
Philip H.
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and effecient service. It's now one of my choices in the ATL.. Great spot
(4)
Roy H.
Our first visit was 5 star. He has really captured the French bistro vibe. The only downside would be the noise level in the main dining area, fortunately we were seated in the parlor. Escargot was superb! Very deep menu, so subsequent visits will be necessary. The price points for the entrees is very encouraging!
(5)
John H.
I had dinner here for the first time for a good friend's birthday. First off as soon as you walk in the resturant you can tell this place gives off an aura of class and elegance. The waiter we had was very patient and explained everything we asked in detail. Since the menu was mostly in French we had lots of questions. We started off with the Mussels in a garlic cream sauce. The sauce was probably the best sauce I've ever tasted. I kept asking for more bread so that I could dip it into the sauce. I highly recommend ording the Mussels on your next expedition to Bistro Niko if you haven't already. We also order some kind of fried pork rolls but after trying the mussels everything else failed miserably in comparison. I ordered the special which was the large pork chop and my fiancee order the seafood pasta. Unfortunately when the entrees came out I tried my friends tenderloin and my pork chop didn't seem as appetizing anymore. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as flavorful and tender as the tenderlon. Once again I ordered the wrong thing. As far as pork chops go though they were still pretty good. I also tried the seafood pasta and it was to die for. Remember how much I loved the garlic cream sauce that came with the mussels? Well that was the sauce they used for the pasta as well. When my waiter even felt the slightest hint of displeasure of my own entree he immediately tried to take it back and bring me something else. He truly made me feel that my happiness and my experiance there came before anything else. He exceeded my expectations on great customer service. Finally we had the creme brulle for desert and it topped off the evening creamy and sweet. So in a nutshell, The food was amazing, the atmosphere and decor was everything I expect a 5 star resturant to be, and the service was phenominal. If you love French food then this is the place to go and if you never had French food before this is the place you want to base your first opinion on. - Good Eats
(5)
ralston a.
After many visits to Paris, I have to disagree with some of the other reviews. I found the food very much french and the service attentive without being intrusive. Those who felt the service lacking were perhaps expecting the typical american style wait staff of 'and how are we this evening' which I find annoying and hypocritical - if you think the waiter really cares about how your evening is past the point of their tip, you are sadly mistaken. In France, wait staffing is taken as a serious career and I think this is the goal of Niko to have the wait staff take their job seriously and not just as a college kid trying to earn spending money. The food was good- I had escargot, shepherd's pie and coq au vin and 2 desserts. All were exceptional and every bit as good as those dishes I have eaten in France.
(5)
Trey N.
I usually do not eat a place like this but I was not let down. I only gave 3 stars because of Price mainly. The staff was friendly and helpful explaining the menu. The atmosphere was fancy, intimate, trendy. Great place for a date or to take a client. I had the Cod with mash potatoes and It was amazing. Would give 4 stars if it was a little cheaper. Still nice place.
(3)
Eric C.
Every single thing that we ordered tonight was extraordinarily excellent. Chicken tortellini appetizer was outstanding. Burger was good and juicy. Scallops were cooked perfectly and delicious. The orange cream sorbet is just ridiculously good. Our server Joey was very friendly and an excellent waiter. This is one of the best meals that we have ever had!
(5)
Brandy L.
1 word Buckhead Life Group(Chef Pano ) another gr8 Hot Atl hot spot Tois martini Fantastic along w/Vodka Chambord & the food is good too! ; )
(4)
H V.
cool looking Italian restaurant, food was just OK, nothing to brag about. our Waiter was not friendly nor helpful.
(3)
Michael B.
Ok. I have heard that French foodies enjoy - maybe I am not a French foodie. Great for groups bc it is energetic. Great to walk through the entrance and feel as if you are walking through the kitchen in Paris. Very loud (i.e., not a romatic spot). The mussels were good. Had read poor service reviews, but ours was good - attentive and knowledgeable. Our server in the bar (where we waited for our table) was very pleasant and welcoming. Having said that, the table next to ours (with a different server) got what appeared to be very poor service.
(3)
Mike M.
The Frau and I had a wonderful dinner last night. Our table was ready promptly on time and Phil, our waitperson was extremely helpful. Besides the great food, the service was top shelf. We will be back!
(4)
ADAM V.
Ok, short review here on this one. I have been to bistro nikko three times as I work right across the street. This is a very nice addition to the neighborhood. Now, this may sound a bit odd but hands down the french onion soup is the best ive ever had. It is just wonderful, thick not watery. Just great, if you go try it as a starter or it could be your entire meal for lunch.
(4)
L N.
This place is so delicious! Every time I come here I get the onion soup and fill up before I can eat my entree. That soup is so good! Last time I split the boeuf bourguignon with someone and we both loved it. We had the chocolate molten cake with pistachio flavoring for dessert and it was also very good. I've had the croque monsieur there as well. Not the best I have ever had but the frites that come with it (fried in duck fat) were really really good. They apparently do brunch here too which I have never tried but the menu looks really good.
(4)
Juliet C.
I was there about happy hour and ate at the bar, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was European and sophisticated, but casual enough to feel comfortable. The food was fabulous, I had the French Onion Soup and the Shrimp Crevettes, both delicious. I totally recommend it. Just pricey!
(4)
Johnston O.
We went to Bistro Niko a few weeks back and had an excellent experience. The mussels and steak frites were both nearly perfect. The duck was very good, but a little unremarkable. I really liked the atmosphere as well, very reminiscent of a French brasserie. Will definitely be back.
(4)
wow b.
went here for birthday...mussels were fantastic. I liked everything we had but the pork belly...dry and chewy. my friends said they hated it but everyone's plate was empty...go figure. very chaotic and loud. so don't expect great service...the food is affordable and good portions.
(3)
Natasha S.
So i love the overall atmosphere of this restaurant. It's so pretty, and I love the ceilings. I ended up going here for lunch one day.. it was a very slow day with only a few people in the restaurant but the service seemed really slow for my liking. The food was pretty good, but a little too cheesy.. I'd maybe give it one more try. Not a huge fan of the parking situation.
(3)
Liz S.
First of all its a beautiful restaurant. I very much enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was excellent. Very attentive servers and the manager stopped by a couple times to ask how our meal was. The food was wonderful. For main course we had the beef bourguignon which was outstanding. Tender meat in a delicious sauce, almost wanted to lick the plate. Overall a great restaurant that I highly reccommend.
(5)
Linda M.
We went for our wedding anniversary with another couple. The decor and atmosphere are nice enough, even though it is pretty noisy. BUT the food was far, far, below what my husband and I expected. We each ordered an appetizer and 1 of the 2 were okay. But each of us ordered different entrees and none of us cared for them. Although the service was fine, I certainly will not go back. Both my husband and I felt our dishes were mexican dishes made to look french. We will stick with La Petite Maison in Sandy Springs.
(1)
I I.
I went last night (yes the night of the big snow storm) and the place was about half empty when I arrived at 7 pm. It picked up a bit by the time I left at 9. I was not impressed with the wait staff and the attention they provided us. Also, I felt rushed even though the place was not busy. The mussels were unreal and that is the only reason I am giving them two stars. The wine list was not bad but they should widen the selection to cover other known brands. One positive thing, the pricing was very reasonable. Now onto the worst part of the night.....I ordered the filet medallions which came highly recommend by our wait staff. It was overcook to a point of being well-done as well as it was cold when it was served. It should have been cooked to the point of medium rare like the chef recommends, in their defense they offered to cook another one but I was so hungry I did not want to wait. With all of the other great places to dine in Atlanta I doubt this place will stay in business unless something dramatically changes.
(1)
Vincent D.
yum yum yum. beef tenderloins were amazing... so is the creme brulee
(4)
John M.
Like so many places before it, Bistro Niko is the new hot spot. A place people must go when in Buckhead whether to eat, or just enjoy a drink and people watch at the bar. I hope it lives up to the hype for a long time- we'll see. The location is great for the business traveler since it is so close to many great hotels. I stay at the Intercontiental across the street and it is such an easy walk. The area is clean, shiny, new, and safe. The outdoor patio at Bistro Niko is inviting so long as the temperature is cool. Inside the restaurant the lighting is soft, seating comfortable. Tables are spaced apart nicely, several booths around the outer perimeter and all are comfortable The noise level has never been an issue- just right to carry on a good conversation. The decor predictably a little above average. The service has always been very good especially at the bar where there is a constant buzz of activity. Oh, and did I mention the food? I have not had a bad thing on the menu. The mushroom pizza is different, tasty a very good selection. Love the scallops - my personal fave. So, go to Bistro Niko, you will enjoy the location, decor, crowd, food and drink. Especially with friends-greta energy. Very welcoming.
(4)
Crystal G.
This place is like a taste of French heaven. Really, it's that good. I go here each time I come to Atlanta.
(5)
Louise D.
Absolutely fabulous! First, the food is great and well worth the money. This is probably the best place for a meal in the Atlanta area. The service was excellent and we know the next time we go there we are going to make sure and ask for Stewart Barnes again! This man makes you feel comfortable and allows you time to absorb the menu. Mr. Barnes is very knowledgeable in flavors and made us an excellent wine suggestion. There are not too many servers that I would call professional, however, if you are lucky enough to have Stewart service your table you will ask for him each and every time you go back; everyone else just pales in comparison. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relevant to the type food served here however it can get a little loud in the dining room. The food is fabulous and worth asking if you can compliment the chef. This is a restaurant in the Atlanta area that does not miss on one single thing. Thank you Mr. Stewart Barnes for a great dining experience and I will be back and will ask for you!
(5)
Ken P.
It is not easy to take a foreign cuisine to another country. About 1/2 of the things which French people regularly eat simply do not appeal to most Americans (think pig's feet, calf's head, head cheese, blood pudding, tripe, kidneys, sweetbreads, liver, cold jellied meats, chitterling sausages, wild hare, sea snails, rouget, grainy & strong tasting fish soup, etc.). There are Tex-Mex restaurants in Paris, but they are no more authentic than Bistro Niko is a real French dining establishment, as in France. Compromises to satisfy local tastes (such as New Orleans' Chinese restaurants that offer bread pudding) are always necessary, if one wants to stay in business and Bistro Niko follows suit. People in Atlanta may think they want to go to a real French restaurant, but, in fact, most are going to want to eat like Americans do, no matter where they are. For example, a number of the other reviewers have indicated that they ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer (typical in the USA), rather than after the main course, as is always done in France. When the late Gilbert Le Coze came to the USA from Paris and opened Le Bernardin in NY (before opening Brassserie Le Coze in Atlanta) he expressed shock at the way Americans ordered their meals. He commented that he sold more green salads daily in NY than he would in a month in Paris. I, too, wonder about people going to a fine restaurant, with a skilled and inventive chef, and ordering an ordinary dish like a green salad. Why not also order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? I also wonder about naming this place "Bistro." It looks like a large and beautiful brasserie, not at all like a bistro (usually a small and modest Mom & Pop operation, such as Au Rendezvous), minus the main two food items which are always found in real brasseries, plateau de fruits de mer (large cold shellfish platters) and choucroute garni (a huge dish of assorted pork cuts and sausages with sauerkraut). I know that Bistro Niko shied away from offering shellfish platters because they are very expensive and it wanted to be moderately priced. A large one, for two people, will cost $100-150 in Paris, but you can get one nearly as good at Chops (or its Lobster Bar) for about 1/2 as much. Most Americans think of sauerkraut dishes as German and would not expect them in French restaurants. In fact, however, brasseries, which means beer halls in French, first came to Paris in the 1870s-1880s, after France lost Alsace (on the French-German border) in the Franco-Prussian War. A number of Alsatian restaurant owners fled to Paris and set up shop there, bringing beer and somewhat Germanic food with them. Bistro Niko is more of a copy of Balthazaar in NYC than it is of anything in France. It is also sort of an American's idea of a "best of France" mix of dishes which are actually found not just in one type of establishment, such as a brasserie, but also in cafes, restaurants, bistros, and in 3 or 4 different regions in France. For example, it has a Croque Madame, a simple short-order cooking item usually found in modest cafes and never in places which serve serious food (just as hot dogs are not served in serious USA restaurants); boeuf bourgogne and coq au vin from Burgundy; raclette from the Alps; Tarte Flambee from Alsace, etc., as well as some dishes which are not really French, such as mussels (which are uncommon in Paris, except at the two branches of Leon de Bruxelles, a Belgian chain), white bean soup (not a French dish, but apparently adopted because it was very popular at Brasserie Le Coze), etc. Snails are common in France, but I have never experienced them there made either with Pernod or puff pastry. Despite its very justified failure to be authentically French, Bistro Niko has some very good dishes (especially the terrines, pates, pork rilletes, the frisee salad, and the two Burgundy dishes mentioned above) and I like it.
(4)
Lisa S.
Beautiful restaurant. They are very nice greeting you at the door and you are seated promptly at the time of your reservation. However, we had not been seated 10 minutes and our waitress had asked us 5 times if we were ready to order. We had just picked up drinks at the bar and had not even sipped them yet. Finally to get her off our backs, we ordered the flambee pizza with lardons and onion. Delicious, crisp crust. As soon as that arrived, she was back again asking for orders. One guest had the sole which was delcious as was the steak au pouive. The palliard pork was good and very different. Another guest wanted to try the croque monsier to see if it was like they have them in Paris. Unfortunatly not. Too little ham, to bland of a sauce. The other thing is the french fires. Not double fried, as boring as McDonalds. There was also inconsistency in the drinks. Some made even with different ingredients. Profiteroles were delicious though. Overall, it was okay but needs work. They shouldn't try to rush you out so quickly. Definitely a happening spot though.
(3)
Jules B.
French soup was delicious ! Coq au vin was ok. Kind of tough & chewy. Citrus pie was soso. Too Noisy to talk.
(2)
Bonnie M.
This establishment is a solid choice for French food and the service and quality is always consistent. As others have stated, the restaurant has no acoustics and is quite noisy! There are some dishes that I would rate as 3 stars and others that I would consider 5... hence the 4 stars. Here are my must trys: gruyere cheese puffs and foie gras terrine (best when eaten together with the puffs!), beouf bourginone (fantastic), the flat breads are pretty good, and the Chocolat Sundae, Creme Brulee, or Profiteroles for dessert!
(4)
Marty J.
Bistro Niko is one of my favorite restaurants that is on the nicer side. It was good enough for me to chose for my birthday dinner with the fam. I've eaten dinner there 3 or 4 times and haven't been disappointed yet so I recommend all of the dishes that I place in my review. Non food related, the hostesses are attractive but not very friendly. As another Yelper stated, you can't really blame them because you'd be unhappy too if you had to wear a bridesmaid dress to work everyday. I usually don't care about the decor of a restaurant, but the decor is actually pretty cool and adds to the restaurant experience. I haven't been to Paris, but I feel like I have now. On to the important food related stuff. Things I've tried (translated from French to English): Apps * A multitude of tartes - These are flat bread pizzas. I've tried most of them and they are crunchy and delicious. * French onion soup - very rich and almost a meal in itself * Mussels - I've never had the mussels, but my mom is a huge fan. Mains * Shrimp - The shrimp comes wrapped in a light, fluffy, and crispy pastry. I like to think of it as upscale shrimp style pig-in-a-blanket (I'm sure the chef just cringed at that). * Scallops - Similar to pan fried scallops you'd get at other nice restaurants, only tastier. * Croque Madame - I was actually surprised at how delicious this was as I was not expecting much. Take a ham and cheese sandwich, make it super awesome so that it can be served at an upscale restaurant, and then throw a fried egg on top. Expect to spend about $20 per entree. The wine and beer selection is quality. Next time I go, I'd like to go halfsies with someone on the Croque Madame and Shrimps-in-a-blanket.
(4)
Pavan B.
When you enter ..makes you feel u've landed into 1960 Paris , bold red retro interiors. Food is good and great selection of wines . There Steak pom fries is probably one of the best in town . I am going back there soon
Excellent service!!!!! 5 stars for the hostess, valet, waitress, food. The skate wing was incredible, mussels - mmmmm, lamb shank tender and delicious. Complimentary birthday profiteroles - just sheer perfection! I loved everything about this beautiful restaurant. Manager was very attentive - I'll be back.
(5)
Will W.
Creme Brule' was excellent. Mussels were OK. I won't order then the next time though. Lightly Fried Shrimp were good but the accompanying Cole Slaw was skippable. They almost overcharged us on the Two Plate lunch so double check your bill.
(3)
E K.
Went here for dinner on Christmas Eve and was disappointed that there was barely any holiday decorations. Decor is always very attractive, though. The food was outstanding. I had the beef bourguignoin which was so tender that not only did I not need a knife, I didn't even have to chew it, it just melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were like a creamy, buttery desert. Valet parking and service were efficient and prompt. Will return often.
(4)
Gio D.
Good French place for a night out. The food was good and the ambiance was very nice. We started out with the flat breab pizza which was fairly heavy because of the cheese so be prepared to leave half of it if you're ordering for two (great starter for four). For our entres we had the Coq au Vin and the fillet mignon twin steaks. The Coq au Vin was much better than the steaks. The steaks were good but overwhelmed by the pepercorn on top. As you bit into the steak, you mostly tasted peppercorn with a hint of steak. No biggie through as all you had to do was scrape the peppercorn off the top and all was good again. For desert we had a brioche type cake that was really good soaked in run.
(4)
Jessica L.
I LOVE the coq au vin here. and I always get at least a dozen of oysters every time. The atmosphere is great, although it may get loud at times. I especially love the dimmed lighting. The waiters are always attentive and make sure the water glasses are never empty.
(5)
Lisa M.
First time visiting and very impressed. Half of our party was late for the reservation, but it was no biggie and the staff was very nice about it. Our server, Miguel, was awesome...friendly, funny, and great at his job. I had the trois plats including mesclun salad, coq au vin, and creme brulee. Each course was amazingly good and I felt $30 was a very reasonable price for three courses of fantastic food with generous portions. I would definitely recommend Bistro Niko to friends and plan to visit again.
(5)
Andrea P.
For a restaurant in a major city that is part of an elite restaurant group we were very underwhelmed by our experience at Bistro Niko. The butternut squash was delicious and the best part of our meal. The mushroom tarte (French flatbread) was soggy and sopping with cheese - no chance to enjoy what should have been a light flaky crust. We also had the mussels which were good but they were served with french fries...like we were at a fast food joint, what?! It was an insult to the mussels. Lastly we had one of the specials, a steak sandwich, which was highly touted by our waiter. It was the worst part of our meal. We didn't stick around to find out how dessert was. The atmosphere was nice (slightly upscale and not stuffy). Service was pretty good.
(3)
Art V.
Generally a pretty good meal. Restaurant is among the loudest in Atlanta. One needs to nearly shout to be heard. Only major gripe is the portion size of the entrees. VERY small. They try to mask the size by serving entrees on very small plates. I ordered skate. The portion was 4 to 5oz at best. The same entree at the same price at Atlanta Fish Market offers double the portion, at least. The french fries were uninteresting supermarket quality. Good creme brulee. Glad to see that they have instructed the hostesses to refrain from dressing like hookers.
(3)
Maria S.
I met a couple here for dinner one night. Food was alright, the variety of the menu was lacking. The cheese plate and meat plate were the only good thing, and the wine. We did not have any trouble with the service. I thought it was over priced and over rated. Better places to eat in the ATL.
(2)
Ruksana H.
Was here for my French group meet-up and they had the little room up front reserved for us. Great service, great atmosphere, even the chef came over and said hello! I had some soup, pizza and mussels - all flavorful and delicious. The wines were fantastic, aptly paired by our wait staff with the food. I want to take some friends back and have a fun time soon. :)
(5)
Joe R.
Food is excellent. Ambiance is excellent. It is a bit loud but keeps the atmosphere lively. Great date night or celebrate a special occasion.
(5)
Jeff K.
Are you kidding me? This place is dirt cheap for the food they serve. The bistro is very nicely decorated. The wait staff were very competent and efficient. The food was nothing but excellent. You get all that for a price of um....pizza. Granted, it might be some expensive pizza, but still......pizza. We had about 10 people in the party. The escargot we shared were very good. The Crispy duck was excellent bordering exception. For the entree, I had a chef's special pork chop. That was excellent as well. The pork was nicly done. It was cooked, but it stayed nice and tender. We shared several desserts afterwards. I can't say any of them were memberable, but I do remember them being good:)
(4)
DubR R.
This place was for sure class class class. I definitely felt out of place. First of all, I didn't expect to be going here, thought a divey bar maybe. Second, my date was extra hot, totally undeserving. But I think I handled pretty well... food was good, service was great... a little too loud if you want to converse with your date. MUST TRY: Mussels NOTE: Dress to impress (not douchey, but classy)...this area fills amongst the higher echelon of atlanta
(3)
Amber S.
I love Bistro Niko. The food is out of this world. The location is wonderful. The patio can be really lovely certain times of year (most times in Atlanta). Try most anything, but seafood is particularly good here. The wine list is excellent. I would give it 5 stars, but the bartenders were rude to us here for no good reason a few times, so I can't dish out all 5. I think it's because the party next to us was a bit unruly, but we were not, and it was a real downer.
(4)
Tran N.
Went here for my Bday...Bon Appetit! It was busy on a Tues! Yikes! Service was great (waiter was even French LOL) Great setting, nice patio area, good food =D. Items are reasonably priced. Had the escargot, chz balls, & salmon spread for apps. Not a fan of the escargot, but the chz balls were amazing! Kept popping them like potato chips. Had the duck breast on red cabbage-it was delicious and surprisingly sweet. The lamb shank was huge compared to other restaurants lamb shank portion. Scallops on mash presented oddly (like brains on mash) but was also divine. Great wine menu, even beer menu. I think the beer was a bit pricey though. Overall great experience and c'est bon diner!
Great atmosphere, amazing service. We share the cheese platter very tasty. I got the lamb shank, first time eating lamb, maybe I don't like lamb but I wasn't crazy about it, beans were very good. He got the rib eye, loved it so much he ate until he was miserable. Chocolate sundae for the dessert very good!! Wine was perfect, we have different tastes and the waiter selected a great wine we both enjoyed. We had a gift card and are glad toga be gone, don't know if we would have eaten here otherwise. If went back I would order something different, I just don't think I'm a lamb fan but I wanted to order something different.
(4)
David W.
Last review for the day. Went here on a Sunday night and it was not busy at all. have been here for lunch and really enjoyed it. Atmosphere is great. Truly in the french bistro style. Service for Buckhead life was sub par. very surprising as this is something they do well. We started off with a raclette with pickled mushrooms. Very yummy indeed. I had duck and the wife had a pasta dish. My duck was super tender and her pasta was good. Vino was reasonable and they do have some good buys in there. My reasons for 3 stars. They try too hard in there to be French. They are not! The food, although good, was Americanized French. Not a bad thing, but just not true to the style. The People: Its buckhead, and that is all I can really say. We had two gift cards to use. the waiter swore that only one was running through and the other had to be used. I knew we had never used them before and tried to have him run it again. He came back and told me it did not work. Ok, not going to make a big scene about it there. I called corporate on Monday and it was eventually taken care of. In the end, this was all that mattered, but I felt like he was worried about his tip. I always tip off the bill prior to any gift cards or coupons. Will i go back? Yes I will try them again, but there are so many stellar restaurants in Atlanta that I do not think this will be my go to spot.
(3)
Mary N.
I got the trout- really really tasty (a lot of butter). Service was impeccable, our waitress was amazing. Bathrooms were the only downside: community style. I don't like going after boys. Yuck.
(3)
John M.
I arrived on a Tuesday night after getting off a plane. The place was loud and crowded which told me it must be a pretty good place to eat. I had to wait for a table for a few minutes. When I was seated, I had the steak frites with a peppercorn sauce. It was by far the best I have ever tasted. It had a hint or orange, and I would bet that it is made with a splash or Grande Marnier. The outdoor seating area is the place to sit if you have great weather and want to watch everyone going by. I would go there again the next time I go to Atlanta.
(5)
Lauren M.
Only ever eaten at the bar here during happy hour, but they have the best mussels I've had in atlanta. usually a fun scene too!
(5)
Luckie D.
The BEST CHAMPAGNE value in Atlanta Go for the patio scene, champagne and people watching. If you have to eat its decent.
(4)
Christian H.
The food: The food is pretty good and fairly inexpensive for an upscale restaurant. You can get an entree for around $15-$20 on average. I would recommend the beef cheeks. The Service: Our server did a good job and was very attentive. He recommended my wife a glass of wine which she loved. I have no complaints. The Atmosphere: Like I said, it is a fairly upscale place so the decor and ambiance is pretty nice. However, it was fairly loud and there were actually a lot of people sitting at the bar area, which didn't bother us, but I could see how this could annoy some people. Overall: Recommended. I would go back.
Ok, so I may very well be the only person in Buckhead who is not in love with Bistro Nikko. I work close, so I have given it three valiant efforts in the last couple of months. Now let me say first-I love their space! Perfectly decorated, I love that you can see right into the kitchen, and a fabulous spot for lunch al'fresco or a great espresso while watching Peachtree Street drive by. Visit #1 Croque Monsieur. Grilled ham sandwich with gruyere cheese and a scrumptious cheese sauce all over it. Now I first had this in Paris and it happens to be one of my all time favorite meals. So I may be jaded, clinging to some memory of enjoying this in a cafe by the Eiffel tower as a young, blossoming young lady...but Bistro Niko's version left me wanting much more. Safe to say, I can make this one at home with a recipe I found on the food network. I only finished 1/2 of it. Not because it's big, but if I'm going to eat THAT many calories...I want it to be the best I've ever had. Visit#2 Coquille St. Jacques Aux Sorrel (sea scallops). Eh...... that pretty much sums it up. Just eh, nothing more or less. Visit #3 Tarte Aux Champignons Mushrooms, gruyere & fontina cheese flatbread. This had real potential. I am a mushroom lover, but the overwhelming mushroom flavor made me gag a little! lol But the cheese was awesome, so safe to say that if I go back, I'll order this without the mushrooms, and have a great meal. On this trip, my girlfriends had a chicken liver salad and really raved about it. But my Sweet Southern mother forced too many fried chicken livers down this little blondie at Sunday lunches, so I'm ok with never having them again. EVEN if they are good for my iron, Mom! We also had desert this visit and it was amazing! It was little chocolate something, similiar to a molten cake....but 100 times better. So I'm still just 'Eh' in my reviews of BN. Although, I think I'll try it for dinner the next visit and give it one more shot to show me what most everyone else is loving. Au revoir, mon amour! xo
(2)
Jacqueline P.
I love the ambiance of this place from the patio to the bar and the tables inside. This would be a great destination for a date or just hanging out with friends. I would not recommend a business meeting simply because it tends to get loud at times. For appetizers, our group had the mussels, escargot and the specialty melted cheese. The mussels were cooked perfectly. The escargot had the right amount of garlic and butter mix. But the best by far, at least for me, was the cheese!! For the main course, I had the twin beef tenderloin with sauteed spinach and cream brandied mushrooms. Although the tenderloin was indeed very tender, the pepper was overpowering. If you have this dish, I'd ask them to lighten up on the pepper. In all honesty, the tenderloin would have been fine without the pepper at all. Other people in my group had the trout and another, the Coq Au Vin. Both said their entrees left much to be desired. For dessert, I had the creme brulee. It was one of the best I've had in the city. I'd recommend coming for appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks, but I'd probably skip the entrees if I were you.
(3)
Michael M.
Food was ok. Service was bad. They're incapable of managing their dining room. And, upon their failure to seat us until nearly 40 minutes past our reservation time, they failed to acknowledge their shortcomings. Obviously, they feel the remainder of the dining experience would have made the wait worth it. It didn't. We won't be back. I'm sure there are places in Buckhead with equally, if not better, food and ambiance that will actually value you as a customer. This restaurant fails and expects you to thank them for their trouble in having you dine there. Keep looking. There are better places out there.
Slipped in here during a business trip for a spur of the moment dinner since my hotel (the Doubletreet) was just a stone's throw away. It was a Thursday evening and quite crowded with about a 30 minute wait. I was told that dining was available at the bar and I made my way over and found a perch at the end of the railing opposite the actual bar. Unfortunately for the couple on the other side where they had a few cozy booth seats, I sat facing them and though I couldn't hear the conversation over the general din of the restaurant, I'm sure they would have rather preferred not to have the third wheel. A friendly and courteous server waited on me the entire evening. I started with a basket of the cheese balls which were mediocre - the ones at Fogo are substantially better. I pared these with a half-dozen oysters which were fresh and tasty. Dinner was the Crevettes en Feuille de Brique - Georgia shrimp crisped in thin pastry, lemon aioli, celeriac remoulade. OR in simple term - fried shrimp with slaw. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the pastry light and crisp. The aioli and remoulade missed the mark and was a bit more like a slaw. I did wash the meal down with a bit of red and finished the night with a coffee and a ridiculous slice of pie. It was good - but not great.
(3)
Ali S.
I just returned from my experience at Bistro Niko & felt the need to yelp about it. Admittedly, I wasn't too enthused about going because I was set on trying Craft Atlanta since my L.A. experience was so good. However, I did have high hopes because of the rave reviews I read on yelp. This place is not terrible but the 2-Star rating pretty much hits the nail on the head: "Meh. I've experienced better." What I ate: Escargots 'en croute' -- The escargot was my favorite of the three because it's difficult to mess up tons of butter, garlic, & snails, but I wouldn't even rank it in the top 10 escargot dishes I've had (although, it's leaps & bounds better than the escargot served by Alex Reznik at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was). The escargot dish is not covered in a puff pastry and then baked, instead, each serving has a tiny little puff pastry on it. Boo. Tartare de boeuf -- this dish was so underwhelming that there's really nothing to write about. There was no flavor (not even notes or hints) to describe the experience. Plainly, this was milquetoast. Skip this and order a glass of wine or something instead. Moules 'Gilbert' -- I must preface this by saying that I am not a fan of mussels. I ordered them simply because my best friend highly recommended them. Again, I was underwhelmed. I felt that the "sauce" it was steamed in was too salty and lacked any sophisticated mix of flavors. I tasted salt & butter. Again, both things I love...but I can get that sort of thing at Cracker Barrel. Truite mi fume amandine -- my sister order this GA trout dish which actually looked quite lovely and smelled uniquely savory with a hint of smoke. The skin looked to be just crispy enough and the fish itself was slightly buttery and even less flaky. However, it was undercooked and she was immediately turned off by it. She didn't even send it back, her appetite was gone. Tournedos au poivre -- my tenderloin was thoroughly overcooked even though I had an extensive conversation with our server about how I enjoy my steak just shy of rare. The flavor, if I had to use a single word to use, was salty....again. All in all, I would've preferred to have the trout as opposed to the beef tenderloin. Although I love creme brulee and thought I'd try it here, I was so disappointed in everything that I had tried that I just asked for the check and skipped dessert. The Interior: The restaurant itself is actually quite beautiful. It has a manufactured charm to it but if you have enough of a buzz, there's a really nice vibe in there. My favorite part is the exposed kitchen in the front and the tiny little oyster display. That portion of the restaurant is covered in white tile and I love that look. It reminds a bit of Lobster Bar. The food is not "terrible" but I would never recommend it to a 'foodie.' At the risk of sounding pretentious, you may enjoy the food here if you haven't experienced authentic French cuisine but to me this was like the Cheesecake Factory version of French Laundry. The price, if you enjoy what you're eating, is very reasonable. Although I, personally, feel like I didn't get what I paid for, I recognize that the ingredients they're using are priced appropriately. I may (emphasis) return here to drink some wine on the patio but I certainly won't be ordering anything from the kitchen again. NOTE: I don't know if this was a one-time thing or a perpetual issue but today, 8/15/10, the restaurant was literally infested with fruit flies. More than anything, it was just really annoying. Our server apologized about the issue and said they were trying to "take care of it" but I didn't expect anything more than an acknowledgment that there were a bunch of fruit flies around. Just thought I'd let you know if you were thinking about going for dinner tonight.
(2)
Matt M.
This place is great. We stopped in for dinner on our first night of stay in Buckhead. It was about 9 PM and the restaurant was still full. The first thing I noticed was the fully open, well lit kitchen. That kitchen was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare. I understand why now. The menu is extremely varied. You can get pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, burgers or even a grilled cheese. My boss got the french onion soup and I wanted to eat the bowl when she was done. It looked SO good. I wish I had ordered it. I might go back one night this week. The service was fantastic. Our server Robbie was friendly, personable, easy to talk to and knew the menu and restaurant extremely well. He has a passion not only for his industry, but for this restaurant and its sister establishments. I wish he were a bartender so I could go back and just chat with him the whole night. He was great. As others have indicated the ambiance is pretty classy. After a day of flying cross country I was wearing jeans a t-shirt and a hat and felt a bit out of place in the dining room. Maybe I would have been more comfortable on the patio. Regardless, the staff never made me feel uncomfortable and were friendly and attentive. I would and will visit again. I think I'd like to try out one of the pizza's or a steak!
(4)
Chris Z.
This place was good, not great. I tried the escargot, mussels, and cheese plate as appetizers. The mussels were tremendous. The cheese plate was decent. The escargot was average. For dinner I had the skate wing. I've never tried it before. The oil it was pan fried in was a bit heavy so I really don't know what the true flavor of the meat tasted like. Service was awesome. Dinnerware was swapped in and out between courses. Drinks were always full. Prices were reasonable for white tablecloth service. The average entree price was $20.
(4)
Jeff B.
I'll be back again. I loved the food and presentation. I will make this one of my stops while in Atlanta.
(4)
Casey G.
I work in the building where Bistro Niko sits, so I find myself coming here often...mostly for lunch, but have been for dinner as well. As far as service is concerned, I would say its as good as it gets in Atlanta. But if you're looking for a quick lunch where you're in and out in less than 45 minutes- this is not the place. I always sit outside, so I'm not sure what it's like inside. Love the cheese plate, the salmon and the wine list. When someone else is paying, definitely suggest Bistro Niko :)
(5)
Shawanda M.
I LOVED this place! Went here for a birthday/pre Valentine's day dinner & was amazed. The food was delish as were the cocktails. beforehand, I emailed the manager to see if we could have champagne at our table waiting since we were celebrating and he promptly responded to me that it wasn't a problem. Bonus points. Our waitress was sweet and the atmosphere was amazing. Everything we had was flavorful and visually appealing. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Michelle D.
Fresh, Fun & French! I recently took a trip to Atlanta to spend my birthday with friends and family. The trip itself was great because I got to see my friends from back East which also included my college roommate and mother. Happy times! I had not quite decided on where I was going to have my official dinner party so I started looking upon my arrival. I decided I was not going to do the standard steakhouse, seafood, etc; all of those I can get about anywhere or cook myself. I decided on French. The few times I have had French cuisine I was pleased. As I look through my fav reservation site I came across several options in various locations. My favorite part of the greater Atlanta area is Buckhead so based on the location, reviews and menu I selected Bistro Niko. We arrived and we were are pleased with the initial feel of the place. It was trendy yet still managed to be upscale and not stuffy, perfect. We were able to combine fine dining and fun. Our waiter was a genuine Frenchman with a great attitude and very attentive. My friend had trouble seeing the menu and our waiter brought out a box of assorted reading glasses for him to choose from so he could read the menu. We ordered wine and appetizers to begin; the wine was kept chill in a bag full of ice vs the standard silver bucket; I liked the idea and will be using for my own parties. The main courses we ordered were all perfect. My mother had trouble deciding on her meal and the waiter helped her decided (very patient) and also told her if she was not satisfied to simply raise her hand and he would remove it and let her order something else. He was a gem. When her food came out he was so curious as to her response he stood away but kept and eye on her to see her reaction after the first bite. Sure enough ass soon as she bit and swallowed he was right there to see what she thought. She loved it. The other patrons around us were also very nice and chatty; in a good way. And everyone looked good. For entertainment Dwight from Atlanta Housewives was there in all his glory dressed like Prince taking pics with whomever asked. I decided it was my birthday and I looked way more fab than he did so if any pictures were getting taken w him it would be because he wanted to take a pic with me. ;-) At the end of our dinner I was presented with a really cute birthday cream puff ice-cream thingy w a candle. It was really yum and enough to be shared among the three of us. Unfortunately one of my friends had an allergic reaction to something in her food and lost her voice and was a bit swollen. But when she went to the restroom she ran into Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I told here she should have asked him for his opinion...that way we could also see if he was a real doctor, LOL. Overall I had fun, food was good, atmosphere great, service excellent. When I go back to Atlanta I will dine here again. Almost forgot, the prices are really good for what you receive.
(5)
Memie B.
great food and service
(4)
Des D.
Great French food? No. But for a bistro it fits the bill - godd mixture of staples, low cost wine list, nice bar buzz, nice looking location, good service.
(4)
Kathryn K.
Let me confess, the night we went, we were with a friend of the Owner so this may have biased my experience, but I'm a sucker for customer service so here goes. It has been a while since I have been to a restaurant in Atlanta that has lived up to the hype that surrounds it. Bistro Niko completely delivers. The Bar scene was very lively with beautiful people of all ages. The restaurant was a scene out of Gigi (anyone get that reference?) Because we were with "Friend of..." we let him order and all I know is I saw a mushroom pizza, skate, Mussels,steak tartare, lamb shank, salmon, and some other things and EVERYTHING was delicious. This was the first time since I have been to Paris that I actually felt like I was transported back to a French Restaurant. It is noisy, but it is also fabulous people watching. In fact my girlfriends and I will be there this Saturday!
(5)
Keitha D.
Absolutely LOVED this place. Walked in and was immediately transported to Paris. I visited Bistro Niko as a part of the Buckhead Life Groups' Summer Dine Around Program and my boyfriend refused to go with me so I took a girlfriend of mine :-) We had a blast and even took her one year old with us. It was amazing and suprisingly kid friendly. I had the scallops for dinner and she had the skate wing. Both were amazing! Tender, flavorful and sizeable portions. We also shared a desert of the Cafe Caramel sundae. I can't say enough about this restaurant. I will definitely be back and this time will bring the Mister.
(5)
B. C.
Food was good, staff was excellent, but for the price I would pick a dozen places in Atlanta over this. If you're in the area though, it could be worth stopping by for a glass of wine and the mushroom flat bread pizza.
(3)
Ben D.
Quick French food synopsis: Butter, butter, butter, cream, butter. For Americanized French food, this place is decent. Orange duck and skate wing are pretty good, the dessert is great. No gripe with the service. Of the Buckhead Life Restaurants, this place is low on the list (Kyma!).
(3)
Shelley H.
I simply came for drinks after work and Brent and Tommy behind the bar were Rock-stars. The whole lounge area was packed and these guys made terrific dirty Hendrick's Gin Martinis. They were definitely doing something right.
(4)
Kim P.
the menu seemed very Tuscan. and the staff did a really good job of making it feel like a classy French experience. the dining room was fairly empty on saturday night around 8pm so i kinda wondered what was up. here's what was up: most people go for drinks and an appetizer and sit out on the patio! it was truely a lovely patio. theres a cute bar, a cute patio, and a spacious dining area. note: they seemed very conservative on the drinks. they were ONLY $8.50, i realize... but still.
(4)
Tim E.
Giving it a three because there is no 3.5. Service was slow to start out, but then attentive. Main reason to lean to 3 is ordered steak frites. A. It wasn't a hanger steak like the menu said, but mainly B. the steak was waaaay too salty. Smothered in tenderizer I guess.
(3)
Paul S.
I just don't think I'm cut out to be French... I think this may have been the first time I had gone to have a big French dinner. I've tested the waters at small Bistros for lunch but never taken the dive into something big. This being said... we came here on a Friday night around 6:30. Not all that busy surprisingly given that it was during Restaurant week on a Friday night. The crowd did grow slowly as the the meal progressed making the room a little too loud as we were finishing up. The interior is very well done with swirls of design and imaginative lighting on the ceiling. A nice glass enclosed open kitchen welcomes you adjacent to the host stand. Service was cocky, but not bad. Something was off with him.... The food: I'm excited... beautiful restaurant, great look, feel, bathrooms... I'm good. I order the Coq Au Vin and my date the Duck a l'Orange. I can't say much other than I wasn't pleased. I know that French cuisine is all about the sauce and fat. Maybe for the first time in my life I didn't want all that. My chicken was bathing in a bowl of wine. Swimming in red wine that came half way up the bowl. The bacon strips were good, and vegetables cooked well, but the chicken was just too much. Somebody drowned this poor bird in wine and then braised the hell out of it. It was dark, too rich and so potent I couldn't finish. The A l'Orange wasn't far off. Cooked to a perfect medium yes. but so strong and bold with the excessive sauce on the plate I didn't care for the few bites I had. It was just too much. I came away whelmed... Maybe I just don't care for the idea of engulfing my food in liquid flavor as it's being served to me. Isn't that why they created soup? I don't plan on making a second trip. My dollars can find somewhere else to be spent. I think there's something more there though and I'm really hoping that I just caught the kitchen on a heavy handed night because the restaurant seems the have great potential and that's why our evening garnered three stars. Try it out, but might I suggest bringing along your chinois for the main course.
(3)
Ebby V.
We made a last minute reservation here. I personally think the atmosphere here is better than the Paris restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made spot on suggestions. My wife and I started our dinner with 2oz tin of mock caviar (its caviar with additions) and escargo with a puff pastry. Both were quite tasty, and not overpowering. I had the skate wing which was good but better than my wife's cod. The portions were appropriately sized and filling. I enjoyed the chocolate cake with a 20year port and hand in hand was tasty and memorable. My wife enjoyed the lemon mousse. I think the food by itself is not overstated but well done but together with the atmosphere this is a must attend restaurant if you are looking for something more than standard.
(4)
Colman R.
I had the grilled thinly pounded chicken breast with asparagus, tomatoes, and vinaigrette! Awesome dish and service. 30 minute wait on a Saturday night was not bad at all. Waited in bar area. Had a great time!
Let's talk Meuniere Sauce. Seriously. Can we all agree that it starts with browned butter and includes lemon and parsley? Personally, I think the addition of a few capers is necessary to take it over the top. My love affair with this sauce started in Paris a couple of decades ago. That's back when I thought that French chefs were the beginning and end of great food. That was before I realized that they just began with better ingredients - say, for instance, a chicken that hadn't been tortured into obesity only to be slaughtered before it learned proper English grammar. (But that's another story.) I've searched the United States high and low for something that would send me back to those early memories of Paris. Finally found it, too - at Galatoires in New Orleans. But not in Atlanta. And so it was with more than a little trepidation that I ordered the Trout Meuniere at Bistro Niko - another of the Buckhead Life Group family. I hereby declare that this restaurant offers the best Meuniere Sauce east of New Orleans and west of Paris. Granted, there must be 2 or 3 restaurants whose sauce I have not yet tested - so Yelpers, bring it on! I'm ready for an all-out food war on this subject! As my friends know, I never award 5 stars to a restaurant on my first visit, requiring at least 3 consecutive experiences that transport. I want to break the rule this time, but I won't - insuring that I'll now have to visit Bistro Niko at least two more times. Guess what I'll be ordering??? Oh, and the pommes frites weren't too slouchy either. RECOMMENDED: For anyone who likes serious French bistro food. And all Meuniere-iacs like me.
(4)
Twanda E.
Ok ok! I had the lamb sandwich and now I am a fan.
(4)
Jennifer S.
What a beautiful place that makes you feel like you are in a Parisian cafe! The food was great - I really enjoyed the croque monsieur with pommes frites! The service was good and the atmosphere was great!
(4)
Chloe M.
Not really impressed with the food. Dishes were okay in taste but won't really make you go "wow". Apps: "Faux" Gras Mousse was okay. Was waiting for more bitterness but the berry jelly topping tempered it. The grilled bread that accompanied it was jaw-breaking -- very hard and chewy. Escargot was good. You can really taste the pernod in the sauce. Oysters on the half shell were very fresh but shucked poorly. Lots of small bits of shell in them. What a turn-off. Mains: Boeuf Bourguignon was made with beef cheeks. Very tender. Reduction sauce is very bold and strong. Very rich dish. Sole was highly recommended by our server. Weak, weak, weak. The fillets were steamed then placed on top of some puree instead of cooking them with it. Result is bland fish. Do NOT ever get this. Lamb Shank was the winner that evening, although, Murphy's version is better. The meat was fork-and-fall-of-the-bone-tender with the sweetish reduction sauce and lemony couscous making it quite tasty. Dessert: My sister, a dessertaholic, got the Molten Chocolate cake. Although executed well, I didn't particularly like the coconut creme inside. I personally prefer just plain chocolate sauce inside but the coconut (not indicated on the menu) just threw me off. More of an "older people" destination. Service was impeccable. Food was just so-so.
(3)
Malika B.
I visited Bistro Niko during Buckhead Restaurant Week. So, this review is somewhat more of a first impression. Having had many mediocre meals lately, and many more where the chef had a heavy hand with the salt, I wondered if Bistro Niko, one the newest editions to the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group would live up to the reputation that the Group has always exuded. I waited until just a couple days before said Restaurant week began to make my reservation at Bistro Niko, believing I could easily snag one in this sad economy. I was floored to see that Bistro Niko in Buckhead was full almost every night and I was lucky to get a reservation for 6:30 pm on Tuesday. As we entered the restaurant from what seemed like the rear, we passed by the open kitchen. I watched as staff hussled to get dishes out of the kitchen and to the diners in the full and vibrant dining room. As the name would suggest, Bistro Niko is a French Restaurant and most of the menu is in French with English translation, a tactic I don't much care for. Really - who is reading the French? So, our server, Corey brought us the menu and told us about some specials which went right over my head as I was fixated on the restaurant week menu. When we asked him about Bistro Niko's special menu, I braced for the friendly smile on his face to disappear as he learned we were only there for the Prix Fixe menu, but it never did. He graciously pointed to a small square space on the bottom of the menu where Bistro Niko's Prix Fixe menu is. Turns out, you can always get a 3 course meal here, it will just cost you about 5 bucks more than during restaurant week. I was a little disappointed that the menu was somewhat different than the one posted online. There were no piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and potatoes, or Veal Osso Bucco, or Coq Au Vin, to be had. But all was not lost. One of the managers even came over to explain to us that they change out the 3-course menu quite frequently. Very nice touch. So, we ordered the rabbit ravioli and smoked salmon sammies. Yeah, that's not their official name, but you get the idea. Both were excellent choices, each with its own distinct flavor. And at around $10- $11 per appetizer, a superb deal. Corey even made sure to leave the broth of the pasta as he could see we were sopping it up with our bread. For entrees, we ordered the duck breast and the shrimp in fried wontons. The duck was tender and juicy. I expected it to be a bit more dried out but it wasn't at all. The outside could have been a tad more crispy but that's my only criticism. As for the shrimp, this was the highlight of the evening. It seems simple shrimp with fried wontons I know. By the way, that's not the proper menu term either, I just can't think of what it is. It was crispy and delicious. And the lemon aioli that came with it was the perfect accompaniment for dabbing our shrimp wontons. As our dinner was nearing the end, I looked around at the packed dining room. I assumed it was incredibly busy due to the Buckhead Restaurant week, but when I inquired with Corey, he said no, it's just always like that. Perhaps it is a reflection of the very reasonable menu pricing. Although Bistro Niko looks all fancy pants inside, most menu items are under $20 and many appetizers under $10. Or then again, maybe it is just the well-seasoned food, not overloaded with salt and other unnecessary seasonings. Oh, and the service? Still outstanding like I've come to know at all the Buckhead Life Restaurants. Our server, Corey was helpful, friendly and extremely efficient. He was jovial and could interact with us, but left us alone to enjoy our dinner. All in all and great experience. Definitely go check this place out. Now.
(4)
Tiila N.
This is one of the best French restaurant in Atlanta. I was there 2 weeks ago and we had a great experience. The decor is very elegant, great open kitchen and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Located in the heart of Buckhead and complementary valet. For appetizer we had the wild mushroom tart ( a hybrid between a pizza and flat bread), very flavorful. I had the sear sea scallop(the scallop was slightly bigger than a quarter) with garlic mashed potato garnish with a light citrus sauce. All of the flavor complement each other and the presentation was done very tastefully. My boyfriend had the lamb shank with raisin and diced apples. We felt that the lamb was lacking flavor but it was not bad. If you like French cuisine you must try this place.
(4)
Matt t.
I will not attempt to replicate some of the thoughtful and well-written reviews on this property. Niko is a great destination for after dinner drinks and a place to be seen and observe. Good Beers a proper wine selection and great bar area further supports the fact that this is a after-work destination. What it is not is a good restaurant. The appetizers and salads are moderately priced but as many have notes somehow are devoid of actual flavor. It was as if I were eating with nose plugs not able to sense, smell or taste. It was the absolute first time that I ate fish that was mushy, thin and obviously overcooked. I was given a sauce bowl with a few carrots, a pickled onion, I think a potato in a red broth that looked like cream whisked in Campbell's tomato soup without the sodium. Somebody's leftovers maybe? I like the Buckhead Group's properties but this was just strange, devoid of flavor foo in a Brassiere gone..well..without soul or seasoning.
(2)
G C.
Went for dinner with work colleagues, shared a variety of apps, all delicious. Got the lamb shank special, which was fantastic. Didn't do dessert. Great atmosphere, service, really enjoyed it.
(3)
Debbie L.
First and foremost, food is top-notch and for the area, well-priced. You can also have lunch most days til 5 PM (great option for those of us who like to eat late lunches - why is it that all the good Atlanta restaurants stop serving lunch at 2:30 PM) - or an early dinner (5 PM), if that's your thing (it's mine). Later diners will often encounter a wait - reservations strongly recommended. Seafood dishes are consistently fresh and well-prepared (trout, skate wing & scallops are all solid choices - mussels are awesome). Wine choices are good and well priced for a decent pour. Cons: Service can come with a bit of an attitude - so, it's Buckhead but still...bread is almost always cold - why is that - it's good bread so stick it in the oven for a few minutes - makes a difference. Of all the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group restaurants, this is probably my favorite. Still wish it would lose its attitude and seem grateful (or at least somewhat pleased) that I'm there and willing to spend good $$ and tip well - but it mostly seems like an accommodation for a distant relative you wish would leave sooner - and I'm nice J Management seems sullen and foreboding (I notice these things) - kitchen staff seems fine-tuned and well oiled, and that's why I return - the food and the wine and mostly, for the kitchen staff - hats off to you and my very heartfelt thanks!!
(4)
Roseann S.
loved it!!
(5)
Jin D.
I drive past Bistro Niko all the time and I seriously have no idea why it took me so long to dine here. We did dinner Friday night and the place was packed, always a good sign. Our table wasn't quite ready so we placed ourselves at the bar (naturally). They do a fantastic French 75 here, very crisp; however, do note they are $13 a pop so it adds up when you have a few with your meal. I love the fact that while the restaurant feels very spacious thanks to the open floor plan, but it's cozy at each table. The atmosphere was lively compare to other BLRG restaurants, which are more traditional (or stuffy). Our waiter greeted us right as we sat down and made a few menu recommendations. We started our meal with the chilled pork shoulder spread and French onion soup. Both were amazing. The pork shoulder spread was seasoned to perfection and the French onion soup, really the best I've ever had (mostly thanks to the giant piece of gruyere on top, mmmm). Friend got the Pailiard de Poulet, which was the perfect dish if you want something light. I, on the other hand, decided on a hearty steak with green peppercorn sauce. However, when the dish got to the table, I was a bit surprised because it was sitting on a plate full of mushroom sauce (I'm allergic). I suppose it was my mistake for not asking but then again it doesn't say anything about mushroom in the dish on the menu. The manager offered to take the dish back for a do-over, but it came back out 2 minutes later it was obvious they just re-plated it without the sauce. Doesn't solve the problem because the bottom of my steak still has mushroom sauce on it. I did not like that because allergy is a serious issue and they just cut corners. I ended up just eating a small piece from the top and gave the rest for my friend to take home. The piece I did have was tasty, the peppercorn sauce has a strong kick so make a note if you can't handle spicy. Desert is a must at any French restaurant. We shared an order of chocolate terrine which was just the right amount of sweetness. Despite the steak incident. I loved everything else I had and service was fantastic. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Jeff M.
I love the location and the actual space itself. Modern, spacious, chic, and makes you feel like you're in France. The service was good too, although at times annoyingly intrusive (and I have a high tolerance). The food was not on par with the surroundings. I started with the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon: this was actually a very simple dish, where the salmon stood through. This was actually the best part of the meal. The Confit de Canard, with frisee salad, and crisped duck potatoes was very plain to me, bland even. I knew I was eating duck, but I couldn't taste it. Then the Baba au rhum was the complete opposite: so rich, almost too busy and confusing, that it was difficult to enjoy let alone finish. I really, really wanted to like this place. For setting alone? Yes. For food alone? Not quite. There, it falls short.
(3)
Linda C.
Went with my husband for a nice dinner, but the noise level was unbelievable so we asked to be moved. Our original waiter was super nice, our second waiter was less than friendly which made us regret moving from the noisy area (near the bar). Second waiter brought me the wrong salad, but I just ate it and tried not to cause any more problems. My husband enjoyed his entree, I decided to skip an entree and order dessert because I'm usually too full to enjoy a dessert. My husband also ordered dessert so I could try two different things. I have to admit, both were delicious. Will give it another try the next time we are in the area.
(4)
L P.
I never thought I'd see an île flottante on a dessert menu outside of France, much less in Atlanta. Bistro Niko has spectacularly dispelled that notion and we should all be happier for it. The confit de canard, poussin rôti, fresh huîtres... classic French bistro items at proper French portions and justified prices. The main dining room is everything from an old-timey Paris film with its yellowish glow, dark wood panels, tiled floor and red accents. The bread is crusty and soft. The wine menu leaves no French wine behind, with everything from Bordeaux to Rhône to Languedoc, all perfectly aged by 2 years or more. This isn't a modern or innovative restaurant. You won't find any celery-foam-infused this or port-wine-reduced that. This is a classic French bistro: you take it for what it is or you can just go to La Madelaine's instead.
(4)
Scott F.
Another great restaurant brought to you by the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Bistro Niko is a cozy french spot hidden in an office building. Exciting menu, with so many Parisian favorites from the Charcuterie to the fresh pasta dishes and amazing seafood and desserts, It's certain to charm and please!
(5)
jim b.
We thought it was really good. Wife and I got the $25 price fixe deal, similar to reviews below. We had 7:00pm reservation on a Sunday, and the restaurant was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full. Was no problem getting a table. The valet service was fine. Appetizers: salmon sammies, oxtail kreplach things. Both were delicious. Wife not into salmon so much, so I had three of them. Yum! Entrees: duck breast, shrimp wontons. Both were really good, decent portion sizes. The duck sat on some kind of cabbage, sweet/sour/au jus type sauce. Very tasty. One thing I noticed: I'm fine with medium-rare duck (which is how it's served), but the portions near the edge, where it was closer to medium, were actually more tender. Some meats actually get a little more tender closer to medium. Next time I might request it that way. But it was still delicious. The shrimp were also very good, and sat on some kind of horseradish slaw that was tasty. Desserts: we got one of each. One was a spongecake soaked in at least 2+ ounces of potent rum. Highly potent. Watch out if you're not into rum. The other had two cookies and a little ceramic cup of cold custard. The custard was addictive. I also had a coffee, which was a high quality brew. The meal also comes with frequently replenished bread and butter, thus it's impossible to leave still hungry. The space itself is an attractive looking mix of retro+modern. Next time, I'd request a window booth. Downside? The service was excellent. Too excellent! I don't need a water refill or table crumb squeegee every 4 minutes! Please--give us some alone time! I also wouldn't have minded if the butter was not so cold and hard. Easier to spread when it's closer to room temp. The waiter/crumb squeegee man/water boy did a good job though. It was a nice evening out, and we may get back over here sometime.
(5)
Dan C.
Hard to complain about a cuisine that I know so little about. Went with a group, everyone was raving and passing plates around. The Tournedos au Poivre, smoked trout and the mussels were the highlights of the night. The waiter was very patient in explaining (translating) the menu for us. This almost came as a surprise given the location, clientele and cuisine. No stereotypes here - only well prepared and presented food. For the budget minded, there is a pre selected two and three course option for about $30 a person. From it I would recommend the veal casserole (the French name slips my mind, though I am sure it sounds more impressive). Minor complaints, the mixed drinks were short for the price and the bathrooms double as meat lockers.
(4)
Richard N.
The food was good. The bartenders are not going to win any personality contests, very little interaction customers. Barely saw them smile and did not feel welcomed. Would I return?? Tough question as there are sooo many great restaurants in the area, probably not.
(3)
Mandy C.
Went for a family birthday dinner and was appalled by the service. Our waiter was constantly rushing us even when we asked for more time. We started with cocktails and told him we'd like to order bottles of wine to follow. He filled my wine glass before I was even half-way done with my martini. Then he tried to top off my wine before I had taken one sip, martini still in hand. He tried to snatch up all of our plates while we were clearly still eating. Rushed every decision, bumped into us, reached across us, and was even a little bit rude (did I mention that he'd been working there for 15 years?! Inexcusable). To top it off, the food just wasn't all that great for the price. Probably would have had a better experience had our waiter been different, but I won't be returning to find out.
(2)
Kyle P.
Absolute top notch joint. Extremely friendly staff, crowded bar but the bartender still took our drink orders quick. Crowd is cool; this place just smells terrific! The mussels and sauce were top notch, caviare was so-so, flatbread was dank, good duck, etc. Overall food was a 4 but everything else was a 5. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Sohen G.
We were there for my bday and thought it was an amazing experierice. My husband is French and he's not that easily pleased but man did he lick the plate clean! He had the duck appetizer and some veal special and I had oysters on the half and sea scallops. All were really great! Definitely be back!
(5)
Nichole K.
I wasn't blown out of this world, but I was definitely impressed. Loved the atmosphere. Appetizers were delicious. We had the Escargot 'en Service was amazing. Wine - better yet. My entree, skate, was delicious. Will return, possibly one of the better Buckhead Life Group Restaurants I've been too.
(4)
Josh G.
Been to France twice and apart from one boulangrie near Notre Dame, this is the best French food I've had. Some of the reviews have knocked it on price. I understand that, but kickass french cuisine costs money...everywhere in the world.
(5)
Elisha G.
Bistro Niko is great! My Husband and I ate there Saturday night with two other couples and we all really enjoyed it. We started out with the mussels...which were very tasty. I enjoyed dipping my bread into the delicious mussel's white wine sauce. I had the scallops for dinner and they were good. But, my Husband had the cape cod skate wing and it was fantastic. The waiter said the skate was the best dish on the menu and I believe him. The layout of the restaurant is ok...feels a bit cold and crammed in. The dining room was packed with a wait. You would never know there was a recession. Our service was excellent and everyone had a great time. We had great company, delicious food, and tasty booze...how could it be bad?
Excellent service--very attentive and professional. Beautiful atmosphere--really reminded me of being in a large bistro in Paris. Delectable food--started with a Tarte Au Saumon (Salmon Flatbread) that was toasted to perfection, then had a Croque Madame (Ham/Cheese sandwich with an egg over easy on top) and it was better than the one I had in Paris last year. Finished with a great cup of coffee and a baba au rhum. Sure this is a French restaurant and with that comes quality over quantity. So if you are a fan of "all you can eat" restaurants and don't care about good tasting quality food this is not the place for you. However if you prefer to have a smaller (but absolutely adequate) but delectable meal this is a must-visit. I will definitely come back! I am rarely so complementary --but Niko deserves such praise.
(5)
Colin B.
The food was fantastic. We had the Escargot for an appetizer, and in our party, one had the skate wing, one had the lamb, and two of us had the Boeuf Bourguignon. All were wonderful. The service, however, while prompt (almost too prompt - we felt a bit rushed) was extremely condescending. Our server seemed to think it ridiculous that we did not properly pronounce the French terms on the menu, and went out of his way to correct us repeatedly. Bottom line, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it was an overall enjoyable experience.
(3)
Allen M.
There's actually a place in Atlanta where you can get a proper hangar steak with fries and a Leffe. Neat.
(4)
Bridget J.
My husband and I had dinner last night and the food was beyond excellent. It was stupendous! This was the quickest meal we had served in our history of restaurant hopping. It came out in in 10 minutes flat, no joke! I had the Seafood Bouillabaisse, my husband had the Lamb Chops with their version of mashed taters and asparagus. The chops were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of char for added flavor. The taters were good and need a touch of salt but that's to be expected since most of us like our taters different. The bouillabaisse was surprisingly different and tasty. The difference was the broth base was red bell pepper instead of tomato. A very tasty change from the norm. I liked the consistency which made it great for sopping the crouton stick. The waiter was very helpful and suggested drinks from the menu. We had a lovely time and will visit again.
(5)
Eric T.
Late review. Went here for a friends birthday dinner. Good thing we got a reservation since it was pretty packed that night if memory serves me correctly. You get a real classy vibe from this place. It's upscale for sure. Valet parking, an FYI for those who don't know. It's one of the finer establishments in Buckhead. The restaurant has a vintage decor reminding me of 20s era design elements and art direction. Large size dining space with a multitude of seating arrangements for a lot of people. Don't let the size fool you, it does get packed! Bistro Niko can be described as French cuisine with some local elements added to it (link below to all menus). The menu does change from time to time, just a heads up. The taste for the dishes I ordered were unique, I didn't expect a strong butter taste so that was a bit different. Took some getting used to, but I enjoyed ot overall. Check out the menu ahead of time or ask the waiter/waitresses for recommendations if you are unsure on what to get. They do have a mean creme brulee here, you got to try that! This place puts quality and effort into all its dishes and I can commend that. They have a very well trained staff who are professional and accommoding to their guests. Bistro Niko is a real intimate and classy restaurant that makes you feel right at home as soon as you walk in. My Recommendations: -creme brulee Menu: mobile.dudamobile.com/si… Hours: -Lunch: Mon - Sat, 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. -Dinner: Sun - Thurs, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. -Brunch: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Still solid. First - if you go about 2pm on a weekday, you will be able to get a lovely booth for a long lunch. I was looking for quite long, ie 3+ hours since it was with my darling and loquacious Godmother and for my b'day, and made sure to pick a spot without a lunch-before-dinner close. Quick recap: Hangar steak still my fave, and it's very generous (ie, we both got it and I took home what amounted to an entire entree since each of us ate half of ours). Not as big of a fan of the salmon rillette as I was- bit more fishy tasting (though I hate to give that cliche description) and definitely more chunky rather than spreadable. Great haricots verts - I mean, green beans. Sauteed in garlic and olive oil/butter but not greasy. Amazing profiteroles - a dessert I love but do not order often, and it was a complimentary b'day treat! Perfectly soft-ish pastry, shaved almonds along with the chocolate drizzle, delicious vanilla ice cream holding it all together. Pretty space, quiet at the right time, good for a group in the separate room, classily hopping at the bar at the right time of day - really, what's better for a French bistro in a Southern city? Je ne pense beaucoup. (Yeah, I had to look up the tense since my AP French is a little rusty).
(4)
Lawrence C.
Either my memories were fonder, or this restaurant is ratcheting down a notch, as I can only award three stars to my dinner earlier this week. This has always been a favorite of ours, a short walking distance in our old neighborhood, so we were eager to return when we visited Atlanta again. My wife and I each started with the Endive salad, $11. This was served with candied pecans or walnuts and blue cheese (my wife opted for goat's feta cheese). For my main, I knew what I wanted before arrival...the Paillard de poulet (chicken paillard), which was as plentiful as I expected, yet lacked the crispness and texture that I desired (see photo). Flavors were good, and at $19 a good value. An excellent St. Peter's Porter beer @ $9.00 was a worthy complement. My wife had a bowl of the white bean soup, $9, which was also flavorful. Service was very spotty...and coupled with the noisy environment, as befitting a bistro (dignified pub for us yanks), can only yield a solid 3 stars.
(3)
Qiaoyi X.
Everything is picture perfect. But wait, we're not eating with eyes. Essentially, it depends on my palate, and it's a 3-star. Okay, 4-star then. The restaurant is grand with beautiful paintings, a kitchen you can observe from outside and people dress nicely. Even the bathrooms are fancier than most of the restaurants I've been to. We went inside after saturday 2-hour hiking. Imaging we're wearing sweat pants and t-shirts, and everyone else dressed up... Yes, I felt under-dressed and embarrassed. Anyway, we still sat down and ordered food. The Grand Platter is an assembly of lots of appetizers. Salamis, chicken liver terrine, au cognac and pickles. I love chicken liver terrine, while my friends were fond of au cognac. For the entree, the portion size is not consistent. If you get shrimps and scallops, you need to order desert. If you order cheaper materials like ducks and beef, you will feel full. My crisped duck confit seems a favorite on table, but it was not that great to me. Yes, duck legs are tender, but the juice is somewhat salty. I still favor Au Rendez-Vous. Dessert is tarte au Citron, which is still too sweet for me. There's a valet parking in front of the door, $2 for parking, and tips($). You can also choose to park yourself. Bistro Niko tried hard to be a fantastic French restaurant, but the dishes are not so authentic and tasty. I am a little disappointed.
(4)
Keo S.
This place is over-hyped and maybe does well because of all the travelers and hotels in the area. It's nice to have a patio, but that's the main upside to this place. Really poor service - who doesn't know how to poor a beer - basically our server - straight in the middle of the glass creating the largest "head" I've ever seen - he did it twice and I had to stop him from pouring my 3rd beer and basically asked him if he's ever had beer before. Anyway, that was really annoying, also forgot my friend's wine order for 10 mins, and the food was just meh from there. Flat bread - greasy and salty, charcuterie board - hard to mess that up, but it was just ok. Net net - there are so many better places to eat right there so you have a plethora of options
(1)
Alex P.
More visits, more of a mess and they are about to lose my business. It's a beautiful restaurant, but lacks some very fundamental details that you would expect when spending this kind of money. Here is my breakdown: - reservations are a complete mess. On two occasions, we had to wait over 30 min to be seated, given that we already had a reservation. What a joke! - on multiple occasions, they forgot to bring our appetizers. Seriously, your managers apologies and a free dessert do not fix the problem. I just want good service! - food is excellent. I love the Horseradish Crusted Cod, the veal, their chicken dishes and scallops. Really I have yet to try something I don't like on the menu. - on the a recent occasion, we were midway through eating the appetizer and they already bring our main course out. Timing needs to be better guys. - their "wine buckets" a plastic sacks, that look extremely out of place at an establishment of this level - found a piece of hair in our food, unacceptable. They tried to remedy by bringing some desserts. My expectation would have been, the table eats for free in such a situation. They need to be punished for these trivial cleanliness issues.
(2)
Charles S.
A Miami friend was in town. She is a foodie. Whenever I am in Miami she always takes me to the hottest places with the best food -- and she treats, or more accurately her employer does. (This is a business, not a social relationship.) So when Pat was in ATL for #CNN35, I made a reservation @ Niko's. On the terrace. The food could not have been better. Pat was in heaven: "This gazpacho is just like in Barcelona." No kidding. And she loved the thin salmon, barely grilled and covered with arugula and bit of sauce. Niko's was the perfect choice for Foodie Pat. Suggestion to Niko: ceiling fans on the terrace. And the tony, round bistro table were pretty, but weren't large enough for two sets of dinner plates, bread plate, glasses, etc.
(5)
Adam G.
Parisian inspired faire without pretension. Charcuterie plates did not disappoint! Mussels and French bread to die for. Reasonable wine prices (value but nice selection!) are something I look for when considering restaurants. Waiters recommended Coppola's Directors Cut and it was an excellent bottle for $42.00. I ordered the Rib Eye pomme frites (fries) on special and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare. Excellent cut of meat. My wife ordered the haddock special and loved it. Attentive staff and friendly bartenders. This place is bustling with diners and energy for a reason. Bravo. I will be coming back a 3rd time.
Strolling around the downtown area we visited this place on a whim. This is the real French experience, wine galore. We started off with some Blue Point oysters. They were delicious, but there was less juice than I would expect for a place with multiple selection of oysters, but that's just me being picky. For an entree I order the Foroe Island Salmon that comes with a side of quinoa. When it came out the salmon topped the quionoa and sauce for a masterful centerpiece. I removed a bit of salmon and mixed it with the quinoa sauce and man, was that delicious. Smaller portions then I am use too, but that just made me savor the moment longer. For dessert we got the banana sundae and creme brule. Both were good and out of the two I would recommend the banana sundae.
(5)
Natasha R.
Got in late for work this place hit the spot. Nice ambiance and s 5 min walk from Doubletree or Marriott. The trout was perfect and served on green beans. The tomato flatbread was great too. Everything tastes very fresh.
(4)
Pam C.
Enjoyed dining at the bar. Started with the white bean soup. Good, but not great. It was served pureed, I dont know why but thought it would be chunkcy...didnt take away from the flavor, of course. Then had the crispy duck salad with frisee, and potatoes. Very good. Solid, but not awesome. Valet is $2, gratuity not included.
Came in for some drinks on a Sunday. I don't eat gluten because of a severe gluten intolerance. Only had a small snack here. All of the fried potatoes including the fries are gluten free. They also are not cooked with any other flour product as to prevent cross contamination. If you are looking for gluten free, these people have completely re did the menu. Kudos to this place for placing a small "gf" next to every single gluten free item. I was so impressed I ordered a snack at a place we came by after eating. So many choices, not just the usual salad minus croutons. Thank you so much for making it easy for us. I didn't get to eat anything important. But I plan on being back to give it a go. Just had some crispy duck potatoes. Not so crispy, but pretty incredible. Ask for Rhett at the bar, he makes a proper drink.
(5)
Andrew D.
This establishment remains a favorite of mine. Though perhaps a tad staid having been open for 5 years now, it is still consistent in service, fare, and value. I come here for Seafood, and traditional French offerings. The Seafood is all outstanding, I very much enjoy sharing a large pot of mussels to start along with either the Steak Tartar or the duck leg to start. As for Entrees I prefer the Salmon, Lemon Sole with capers and spinach, or the European Seabass. I also love their seafood pasta in heavy cream. On the lighter side the Georgia Shrimp in wrapping and the Scallops are both great lighter entrees. I have tried both their bar steak, and their Strip Steak. Both left me underwhelmed. For brunch I have had their burger which is good, but nothing amazing. I should likely try the Lamb burger at some point. Desert wise the plays are their Apple Tart, the Rhum Desert or there is another one which is very light and very good. I find the Creme Brule mediocre at best and the few tmes i had it I was always disappointed that it came out with a crisp warm top. The Profiteroles are also a disappointment in my book. Bistro used to have the most likely bar scene in Atlanta when it opened. Thursday-Saturday it is still quite lively. They do have one or two small, non-intrusive TVs at the bar, so a game in the background it nice. The wine list is very approachable with a number of basic French Pinot Noirs and Malbecs at very reasonable prices. I usually drink Piper Heidsieck while dining and finish with a nice Port to accompany desert.
(5)
Semra E.
Had a really excellent brunch with my family here. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, although the inside has a great atmosphere too. The decor & service was excellent & flawless. It is everything you hope it would be. We started with coffee & the three cheese plate. We also had the tartine salmon which was light & a great way to start the meal. I had the quiche with the salad, which was just the right amount of food I needed. I would recommend this place for any special occasion OR just to have a great meal with someone. Can't wait for my next visit.
(4)
Dave L.
Me and my friends come here often for the perfectly seasoned burgers and cold beers. Patio seating is a must to enjoy the outdoor frenzy of Buckhead life and to discuss deep meaning of life itself... Food is a bit pricy here, but you are paying for the ambiance and great food. I'd give them five stars, but recently the burger patties has become a bit hmmmm 'hammered down' versus the plump and juicy. Overall a excellent place to hang out and chill!
A faultless evening. Really great food, impeccable service, well chosen wine. We really cannot wait to go back there. As for the food - caprese salad was just right, the escargot were very good, but unwound have preferred not to have had them in Pernod. Then wifey had skate wing, which she compared to a very good lobster, while I had one of the specials, a rib eye. Again, excellent!
(5)
James L.
Ahhhhhh.... Where to start. Where to start. I have been here many times and enjoy my little trip to Paris'. The atmosphere is full of life and energy. If you come for lunch plan on seeing business meetings and girl friends out to lunch drinking rose'. Come to niko at dinner and you get a much better Feeling of what this place is about. The drinks and food are exceptional, I have not had a bad item on the menu. Service staff is always accommodating. In Atlanta and need a fix of French cuisine and atmosphere... Come to bistro Niko. Update: 3/18/2015 If you are wrestling between steak au poivre and beauf go with the steak au poivre. The Beauf was very gelatinous tasting (even with Kobe beef) my son got steak au poivre 8.5 out of 10.
(4)
Quinn V.
We made a reservation via open table for a Friday date night. We were promptly seated at a booth with a window view. Complimentary sparkling water was served along with slightly warm French bread. I almost shouted no gas! (as in gazeuse) when it was offered. But since it was offered, and we were feeling nostalgic... Appetizers: --mussels (nothing special, a little lackluster. But the creamy buttery sauce made a great dipping sauce with the bread.) --good foise gras Entrees: --seafood pasta: I misread or misunderstood the description. I thought it would be more of marinara or herbs base type of pasta. Instead, it was a creamy, alfredo-like base, which in general I am not a big fan of. Usually it will feel too rich after a few bite. Much to my surprise, it was good. It was nicely flavored, not too rich. --steak It was overall a savory, moist, & just the right color of pink-medium rare piece of steak. We especially like the sauce that goes with it. The only drawback was the saltiness. If only a pinch of salt was held back it would have been perfectly seasoned. It goes well with a glass of red wine. Nice ambience and romantic setting.
(4)
Cherise J.
Their valet service is terrible. I absolutely think it's hideous to have folks waiting FOREVER to get their cars parked and then mandate a charge for it. Someone needs to change this process immediately!! The service and the food was on point. We go seated pretty quickly and I must say that our server was very professional. I wish I got his name so you can ask for him when you go, but he's an older gentlemen with a foreign accent. He literally could be an ambassador for this restaurant. The way he described their menu items was incredible. I ended up ordering stuff I hadn't planned on ordering!! The french onion soup was a little more chunky than what it should have been, but the manager corrected that. The beef bourguignon was spectacular. If you order one of the non-fried chicken entrees, you may want to ask if they can go light on the seasoning because some of those entrees might be a little more salty than what you would want. All in all, this was a very good experience. If they can lower the noise level, it'll be perfect, but it's certainly good enough to come back.
(4)
Daniel B.
Bistro Niko is a higher-end French restaurant in Buckhead. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (Buckhead Diner, Chops, Pricci, etc.), I surmise it's been one of the group's more successful restaurants since it's opening in late 2009 for a couple reasons: (1) almost every time I drive past it, the patio is slammed, (2) Dine Around cards for this restaurant, while they do exist, seem to be rare. Located on the ground level of a high-rise building not too far from Lenox Square Mall, Bistro Niko is grand and chic. Along with the aforementioned outdoor patio, which faces Peachtree, there are two dining areas inside. The coolest thing about this restaurant's design is the open kitchen situated next to the entrance. One of the dining rooms sits across from the kitchen. It's smaller, quieter, and more intimate. The large dining room has high, elaborate-designed French ceilings and light fixtures, a mixture of small-to-large booth and table seating, and a bar. Traditional yet stylish French art and decor fills the space. It feels a bit magical, like the world of Hugo or something. Note it can get quite loud in the big dining room. While many of my friends and fellow Yelpers have raved about this restaurant, I don't have the same feelings. Simply put, the food doesn't knock my socks off and service is inconsistent. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I was expecting Bistro Niko to blow me away like Kyma or Veni Vidi Vici, two excellent Buckhead Life restaurants. Instead, it's let me down like Atlanta Fish Market. French cuisine is supposed to be among the best in the world, so one would expect Bistro Niko to bring it. Charcuterie (meats, cheeses), chicken, steak, duck, lamb chops, and seafood (raw oysters, mussels) make up a big part of the menu. Most appetizers are about $10-12 each and entrees are about $20-30+ each. I've tried the following: Escargots "en croute" - garlic butter, puff pastry Mussels "Le Coze" - white wine, shallots, cream & parsley 12-ounce ribeye with Cafe de Paris butter (made of 23 herbs) and fries Monk fish with spinach, fennel, mashed potatoes, and Parmesan cream sauce Creme Brulee a la Vanille - vanilla custard, hard caramel crust Profiteroles - choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, almonds The escargots (snails) and mussels are delicious. Each dish comes in two sizes. If sharing, I recommend ordering a dozen escargots and/or a small order of mussels for every 2-3 people. The escargots are soaked in a super rich, garlic butter sauce. I'm convinced the only reason the puff pastry exists is to help offset the heaviness of the butter. The butter is so tasty I like to dip the table bread into it. The escargots themselves are fresh and plump. Each escargot has its own compartment on the serving platter and this version of escargots is probably the oiliest one I've had yet. I could do without the breading, but with that much butter... maybe not. Like the escargots, the mussels are also quite fresh. There's no fishy or briny taste, though you may occasionally run into bit of shell. The white wine and cream sauce is light, yet full of flavor. It's yet another fine sauce to dip bread into. The thinly sliced and cooked shallots are delicate and provide additional texture. Both the ribeye and the monk fish are specials not available on the regular menu. I like having my steaks cooked medium to retain some of the meat's juiciness and flavor. The ribeye was sort of a letdown because, while nice, thick, and hearty, it was still a bit too tough, despite the meat being slightly pink throughout. I do like the generous portion size. I'm not sure what's up with the Cafe de Paris butter. It's made out of 23 herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It doesn't taste like butter, but more like a coarse, mustardy condiment. Perhaps most of the "butter" part has melted into the ribeye by the time it hits the table, but even so, it didn't taste like it. The ribeye is accompanied with a side of plain, thick French fries, which aren't bad. The monk fish is a white fish that's light and subtle in flavor. This dish is creamy because of the mashed potatoes and Parmesan cream sauce. The sauce provides good flavor for the fish and gives the cooked spinach a creamed effect. The mashed potatoes are soft and savory. A bit of fennel sprouts are placed atop the fish. This is a basic dish with not a lot of pizzazz or wow factor. Not that a dish needs that to be good, but I was expecting more out of monk fish. Consider splitting the desserts with others. The creme brulee is a nice dessert. Smooth, sweet, and delectable. I'm not a fan of the profiteroles because of the choux pastry. It's bland, soggy, and lifeless. Maybe the profiteroles I had sat out too long and the ice cream melted into the dough. The ice cream and chocolate is fine, though. While the servers are friendly, service can be painstakingly slow. Valet is $2 (gratuity not included).
(3)
Nicholas B.
I love this place! One of the first restaurants I visited after moving to Atlanta and had an awesome experience. Food was great, expensive, but not for the quality. Drinks were reasonable and the staff was on point. If I had a 6th star, bistro niko would get it.
(5)
M.E. K.
My favorite restaurant in town. Just keeps getting better every time I visit. Their mussels have a reputation for a reason. I've had better profiteroles though.
(5)
Mary Beth L.
This place is so so good. Love the skate wings, baba au rhum and the bar is lovely as well. Great patio for this time of year. You really can't go wrong. The only thing I don't love is the noise level.
(4)
Kristin B.
Consistently underwhelming and overpriced for what it is. My most recent and most disappointing visit was for brunch. I refuse to wait for meals, so restaurants with reservations are a must for brunch in Atlanta where the meal is basically a sport or religion with the level of fervor with which Atlantans approach it. Needing a restaurant in Buckhead, Bistro Niko fit the bill for a 12:30 brunch on a Sunday. Shockingly, when we arrived, there were literally only two other tables occupied in this cavernous (and gorgeous) restaurant. They have recreated the French bistro feel perfectly, minus the fact that it is at least three times larger than any bistro I've ever dined at in France. The service, as it is at all Buckhead Life restaurants, was fantastic. But the food was just average at best. A pastry basket to start had only two different items in it (though two of each), which kind of defeats the point of a pastry basket, which I see as an opportunity to sample a variety of items. And $12 for four small croissants (without even any jam for them) seemed like quite the rip-off. Moving onto entrees, my salad Nicoise was large, but had little flavor, and the tuna was in teeny tiny little flakes and mixed into the pre-dressed salad greens. It made it hard to get much protein out of the meal, since I could only finish about the half the salad. Check any picture on google images, and you'll see that generally the tuna is in slices, big chunks, or at least sort of plated in a bigger clump. Bistro Niko's preparation essentially made the salad taste like tuna flavored lettuce. All in all? There's a reason this spot is empty at brunch. With so many good new restaurants springing up all over this city, Buckhead Life is going to have to up their game.
(3)
Deniz G.
I have definitely expected better. From service, to cleanliness, to decor, all the way to the food. Starting off, our server was nowhere to be found from the moment we got the waters for a solid 20 minutes, until we were ready to order the drinks, appetizers and entree all together. The drinks came after the bread and butter, which came after the appetizers. The order of all these seemed a little awkward. The coq de vin was very salty, and the creme brulee was soft on top, at room temperature. As I said, even though it wasn't totally terrible, there are probably much better alternatives for this price range all over town. The most ridiculous of all was the fruit fly that was hovering our heads, indoors. A disgusting experience to be honest, and most definitely disappointing if you think about the classiness they are trying to present. I will not go back.
(2)
Meredith R.
If you're deciding upon a 'splurge' restaurant, your expectations may fall short here. Bistro Niko is indeed pretty ... but you can't eat ambience. Food that was hyped by other reviewers, tasted ordinary to us. Gougeres? Nothing-with-nothing cheese balls. Beef bourgeon, a bit fatty. Loup de mer, could have been any number of white, flakey fish. Two thumbs up for the scallops: sweet and cooked just right. The best salad on the table was endive. (There are two kinds; choose the smooth, not frisee.) Mesclun salad had no pizazz and the beet goat cheese salad had plenty of beets, but a mere whiff of cheese. (C'mon!) The best dessert was the cheese plate. The others -- profiteroles and a banana sundae -- comme ci comme ca. I can't comment on the wine list, since we've gotten in the habit of bringing what we like from home. Corkage fee here is $15 per bottle. I'm a big fan of Kyma (also part of the Buckhead Life chain); Bistro Niko can't compare.
(3)
Lori M.
This place is interesting. I've been here on a few occasions for dinner or lunch with friends and recently for a first date. The atmosphere was great. We were able to have plenty of conversation without our surroundings being too loud. The menu is a bit stuffy for my taste but we were able to stretch the evening out with wine, salad and flatbread. Our service was definitely up to par but the menu options, thr quality of the food compared to the price makes it a spot I wouldn't frequent. I went there more for a convenience factor versus taste. If you work or live near Buckhead I'd say go here for a night or happy hour at the bar. Otherwise there are far too many places to go. Much better food right down the street.
(3)
Teresa Z.
Foods are OK. We tried 6 courses, i only like the scallops. The thing I really don't like is that it was crowded and noisy. If u want romantic date, don't go there. I have to talk very loud to make me heard. I don't think it worths the price i paid, which was $50 per person without any drink.
Complimentary valet in Buckhead! Can't hate that. I have been meaning to come here for years. I was here for lunch. We had the pate and salmon rillette to start. Both were excellent. The Pate was the smoothest I have ever had. I ordered the scallops... ohs my gosh. So good. The pomme puree was so good, probably half butter.' So many scallops too. So many. Our server could have been better, more attentive... but the food. My floating island was a perfect dessert to end the meal. All around wonderful food.
(5)
Maryam H.
Incredible spot! I am not too familiar with the Buckhead area of Atlanta, but I enjoyed this place for a recent lunch with clients. We started with a flat bread pizza and assortment of pates and meats. Both incredibly delicious, however if you are not into surprise pates then stay away-I for one find the texture a little suspect but really enjoyed the entire selection (which was sizable). Next, I shared an order of escargot with friend, incredible! But to be honest, I don't have anything to compare it to too, but I thought the puff pastry on top of the baked escargot really complimented what seemed like a light pesto. A little on the oily side, but delicious and an interesting combination nonetheless. For my main course, I went with the trout, and it was PERFECT. Moist and not fishy at all, and a HUGE order that came ontop capers and string beens with mashed potatoes on the side. I wasn't able to finish the order. My accompanying party ordered the duck, mussels, and scallops and I heard only raves. My favorite part of this restaurant is the ambiance and atmosphere, the service could have been better, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the displaced parisian attempts that so many bistro's flood you with. The decor was charming and restrooms were clean- always a good sign. Would love to go back and try another meal that wasn't so heavy in order to give this bistro another star...
(4)
Alexandra S.
I've been here twice and everything has been excellent! Probably the best French food in the city. I recommend all of these that I've had so far: endive salad, foie gras (seared a perfect MR with a berry compote and mini brioche), mussels, escargot (with a perfect garlic and herb butter and puff pastry), trout (cooked perfectly with the skin browned but with moist flesh, toasted almonds, green beans and fingerling potatoes and brown butter) scallops (cooked a perfect MR with a divine sauce, asparagus and the best creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes, profiteroles and le flotante (which is soft baked meringue, crème anglaise, almonds, caramel). And the service is excellent as well. I can't wait to go back!
I honestly can't recall if I've thrown a review for bistro niko out there to date, but after several visits i have some pretty finalized opinions 1. the atmosphere is trendy french. Think Anis (cafe french) but with the nightlife feeling you are looking for on a weekend. 2. Open table/other reservation sites will show this restaurant booked at all hours. Once it said the only open table was at 9:30p and instead we walked in at 7:30/8 isn and were taken immediately to a seat. Keep in mind that huge waiting lines done typically build up at places you have to valet just to get in. 3. The menu has improved since they opened. There were more than several choices i was interested in, vs. the first visit where i ordered a salad though I love french food. 4. The menu is GOOD! on our last visit I ordered the salmon spread, the lobster bisque and the scallops. Previously I had ordered the mussels as well. One thing to keep in mind. please expect your meal to be prepared with A TON OF BUTTER. don't get me wrong... who doesn't love the taste of butter. However, this is to the level that when you take the first bite you think "OH MY GOD IM IN HEAVEN" and then three hours later you lay in bed while your food is settling and thing "OH MY GOD IM IN HELL" in short - rich flavor, delicious, no need for reservation, "night out atmosphere"
(4)
Nay P.
Not a big fan of French food but it was pouring rain, so we stopped in to check it out. Our server (Travis aka Leroy) was great and made us feel welcomed. Extra plus he was tall, handsome and generous. I ordered the lamb chops and they were wonderful. Cooked to perfection and very juicy. My coworkers ordered the Coq Au Vin and Salmon, which I taste tested and those dishes were also great. Menu has alot of options. The crowd is mature and very well dressed. Seemed to be coming in after work. The bathrooms were separated and very nicely decorated. Weird point but I like when restaurants have nice bathrooms. Very close to the Buckhead Marta.
(4)
Michelle K.
I'm a huge fan of Bistro Niko. It's located a few minutes from where I work so it's nice to come here for lunch or happy hour. Our favorite lunch choice is the croque monsieur. Everything from the perfectly toasted bread to the melted cheese is fantastic. I'm a huge fan of their fries as well. The service here is always stellar and my water glass is rarely empty since they are very attentive here. I've been here for happy hour as well and it definitely gets pretty busy between 5-7pm in the bar area. Everything about this restaurant makes you want to come back for future visits. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and the staff is always courteous. I've yet to try their dinner menu but it's one of my favorite places to visit for lunch during the week. The service is efficient so you can be in and out within an hour if you're familiar with the menu and know exactly what you're ordering.
(4)
Nick G.
Wow, what a great French restaurant! We made reservation via Yelp and received excellent service. The food was amazing, they had a pork chop on special which I had to try. It was without a doubt the best pork chop I ever had. One secret is that they soak it in a bag of water for 24 hours to make it extra juicy! My girlfriend ordered the scallops, they were cooked perfectly and had great flavor! We dabbled with some apps and bread, all of it was great. So obviously at a French restaurant you have to have some wine. Very nice selection to choose from, we landed on a French bottle from a highly regarded vineyard. Couldn't have had a better night!!!
(5)
Scott P.
Bistro Niko, as you probably know from the other couple hundred reviews here, is a French restaurant and part of the Buckhead Life Group of restaurants, a group of restaurants known for their quality of food and service. I use the ultimate card that they offer and usually charge it every winter as they usually have some offer then to discount the charging of the card. So I'm very familiar, I suppose you can say a fan of the group. So my bias leans that I'm going to enjoy my experience every time, and typically they do not disappoint. Bistro Niko does not disappoint. I'm not sure everyone that comes in gets a waiter with a French accent but that's sure a bonus to set the scene - additionally adding bonus points for being animated, friendly, and knowing the menu. Secondly, in the service he was prompt and attentive to our needs and I'd give this a 5 star on service. One thing that I appreciated is that we decided to do 3 apps and share a main course. The waiter did not even hesitate that this was an ok plan by him. In order of greatness, the Pork Belly was fantastic, the lamb confit was crispy skinned and oh so juicy and tender inside, and the scallops - calamari app was our least fav. Not that it wasn't done well, but I'm not a huge fan of French as I usually find that at times it can be a bit bland (I like spice) and I would say the app was a bit on the bland side. We shared the pork chop, it was probably the thickest cut of pork chop I've seen in my life. Cooked to perfection, grill marks perfectly laid on the outside and tender in the middle, this dish I would do over again if I go back. The ambiance is really nice, it's not a typical French upscale interior, it has a mix of subway style flair, open court, and fine dinning. The only drawback is the noise level. Having done the patio for breakfast on one occasion I found the patio to also be inviting, as you can watch the busy street and people go by while getting that fine dining feel. Also, to speak of the breakfast, the eggs benedict is divine! I will be back.
(4)
Chlo L.
I have to admit, I was expecting a little bit more from this place with all the fantastic reviews... but I guess we've been spoiled by french restaurants from DC, St. Maartin, & Paris. We came here for a little family dinner before leaving town. We got the steak frites, st jaques scallops, salmon, & beef bourguignon. I've had better bourguignon from american restaurants. I would have ordered my usual - duck breast, but they didn't have any rice. :( The only things that lived up to our expectations were the scallops, drinks, and the service. This was our first time here, but Mark made us feel like we were regulars. It got a bit crowded by the bar though, so expect it if you're coming around 6 or 7. I highly recommend the Ti Punch!
(3)
B H.
4 ish stars for Sunday brunch. Our party enjoyed Eggs Benedict, cappuccinos, fresh oj. Prices were reasonable at ab 70 w tax for 3. Roomy, trendy, French atmosphere, with lots of windows & patio options. Great jazz trio when we were there. Seemed kid friendly as well.
What's not to love this place is perfect from our wonderful server Veronica to the very attentive waiters the dessert was impeccable wonderful creme brulee just love this place
(5)
Karly G.
I really wanted to like this place because it's within walking distance for a quick lunch and I love French food. But my palate is denying me of it. :( The interior is beautiful and great patio seating with view of the chaotic Buckhead traffic. The service is stellar and the price is reasonable. But I can't get over the food. We order the croque muensier salmon (basically smoked salmon sandwiched between slices of lightly toasted brioche). Although I love the combination, the look of it was missing that ooompf to want me to love it. For my entree, I had the Coq Au Vin - chicken braised in red wine and mushrooms. According to the waitress, the chicken has been marinating in the red wine for 3 days. It was just ok. Nothing overly exciting about it either. I have to say that the most exciting dish of the entire meal was the bread and butter. That's one of the best French bread I've had in a long time and you can't go wrong with butter. Yum! All in all it was ok. I probably won't be back for awhile.
(3)
Mary B.
I love this place! Great trout meunière . Mwaw is always a fan of French bistros:) This is my Atlanta haunt. Always a little Noisy maybe because it is soooo popular! A must if u r in the hood!
(5)
Ellen R.
I've only been here once. Had a business lunch and were pressed for time. The host had us seated and let our server know we had a time constraint. Our server provided us with a complimentary mushroom flatbread pizza for an appetizer and let us know that medium well or well done burgers would take around 15-20 minutes to help guide our decisions so that we would be able to have a quick lunch. I ordered the Niçoise salad (light and delicious). After delivering our meals, out server asked if we'd like him to bring the check since he knew we were in a bit of a rush. I was very pleased with my meal, enjoyed the lovely interior decorating, and was very happy with the attentive customer service.
(5)
Dee K.
Disclaimer- I have been here 3 times in last 1 month but only for lunch. So this review is for lunch only. My husband and I like French food. Escargot's here are perfect... Obviously not if you wanna kiss your date until and unless your date also decided to dig in and stink of garlic. But taste amazing and I loved them. Pasta was great- they also had a Chilean Sea bass which was perfectly cooked. Mussels are yummy and make sure to keep room for lots of bread if you like broth. Deserts are heavenly and the bartender was my husband's favorite show piece to watch. She was pretty and knew her drinks well.... So I didn't mind him watching her- cause I knew he was coming home with me ;-)
(5)
Mike M.
What a terrific spot. The decor and atmosphere are rich and I love how open the place is. Love the French theming. The food is tremendous. Make sure you start with baskets, yes plural, of the Gruyere cheese puffs. The appetizers the flatbreads are terrific. We had a special one with duck prosciutto. Also loved the pork belly, a really big piece for sharing and the scallops. The beef bourguignon is made with Kobe need cheeks and is just delectable.
(5)
Eric D.
Looking forward to this place for some time. Very nice and very authentic as a French bistro. Food wasnt stellar but was good. I have an Au Pouvire which lacked real seasoning. I'd go again and try something else.
(3)
Reid S.
Took the wife here for an early Mother's Day dinner. It was a remarkable experience. We enjoyed the snails under pastry, cheese app and some blue points to get started. With a few martinis and glasses of wine thrown in there we were ready for dinner. Time was taken and we were not rushed by the staff at all. Vic was our server and knew when to be there and when to give us space to enjoy our evening. The duck breast arrived right on queue and took out very breadth away. It was a perfect perfect blend of crisp and succulence. The best I've ever enjoyed. Thank you chef. Desert was a caramel ice cream Sunday. The food, the experience and the service demand the 5 stars I awarded this meal. Thank you to all who helped make this meal a memory.
(5)
Sc M.
Excellent food and ambience. My daughter wanted to go to a french restaurant. We ended up at this fabulous place in Buckhead. Located 1 minute from the marta rail. Tried the duck and the peppercorn crusted mushroom burger. The burger was the best i have ever eaten. Packed with flavor and crusted. The sauce had very fine slivers of mushroom. Every bite made you want more. Literallly melted in your mouth.White bean soup was stellar. Duck was small but tasty. Sampling of cheeses for an appetizer is a good idea (small portions but flavorful). Service was superior.
(5)
Ian S.
The place was packed so I expected this to be great. Escargot was overly heavy on the garlic do the puff pastry was absolutely essential. Maybe they were carrying to people trying to impress their fate with how wordly they ate without actually tasting the annals. Beef bourguignon was ok, but dry without the slow cooked goodness one would expect. The service, panned by other Yelpers, was very good. Attentive and personal. That gave this back a star.
(3)
Mona K.
And again ... Bisto Nikko is on point... Man, I need to start getting a discount for the amount of time I go there !!
I have been in the mood to try the slightly ostentatious, but fun Buckhead Life Restaurants. It makes sense given that I live in Brookhaven about 5 minutes away. Came here on a Saturday night with my better half. Executed the mandatory valet parking. Now waiting 30 minutes to be seated with a reservation is not the best way to kick of the evening, but I I'll cut them slack, because of how popular this place is. Still I noticed some folks without reservations that were acting shady trying to get a table, and possibly succeeding, but whatever. Looking around I noticed a lot of customers eating steak and fries. Did they forget they are at a French restaurant and not Outback Steakhouse? There are plenty of quintessential French items to choose from on the menu. Anyway, I enjoyed the faux gras and wasn't impressed by the beef bourguignon. My significant other said her trout had too much butter. The service was great and very accommodating. Very inexpensive for a fancy restaurant. Looking forward to trying Bistro Nico again.
(3)
Shaye B.
This is a trendy fun place - great for happy hours or just a boozy meal in general. The food is hit or miss. Some of the items are creative, some are bland. Price wise it is average. I think you get what you pay for - lamb chops are cheaper than other restaurants here, but you can taste that $5 difference. The restaurant is surprisingly very large, which I typically do not like. I think larger restaurants tend to lack in environment - however Bistro Niko is very well done inside and the valet is great for how large of a place it is. The patio or that front section of the restaurant is the place to be - the people watching is fantastic. You have all sorts of people who are meeting for drinks and/or a meal. I think this place is a great price point for a trendy fun meal where you want to drink. Also, if I were ever looking to have a private event at a restaurant this place would be on my short list.
(4)
Keith B.
Good Food should be Better This was our first time to Bistro Niko. The dining room is beautiful and feels like a bistro in Paris (or at least as Americans think one should look.) Due to a nearby commitment, it was most logical for us to have an early dinner at 4:30pm. That was fortunate since we were able to order from the less expensive lunch menu. We thought that the 3 course "les formules" menu for each of the three of us was good value and would let us try lots of different things. The appetizers of white bean soup and the mesclun salad were nice but nothing special. The croquet "Monsieur" au salmon, however, was probably the best thing we ate. For the entrees we had a nice "shrimp en brique" and a duck confit. Again, good but nothing special. The "chicken paillard" had a slightly rubbery texture. For dessert we had the crème brulee which, again, was good but not great. The baba au rhum was excellent. The service was attentive and pleasant. While we enjoyed almost everything, only a couple of things rose to the level of very good or better. I wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
(4)
Ryan L.
Great French bistro. We had a dozen oysters and they were very fresh. Really fantastic french onion soup. Sea bass was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were delicious. Service was tight. If I wasn't such a food snob, I'd give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving those for the super memorable occasions. ;)
(4)
Erica J.
As always, my visit this weekend to Bistro Niko was nothing less than Amazing. We had the Salmon Tart as an appetizer, which was wonderfully prepared. I had the European Sea Bass as my entree. My husband had the Peppercorn Filet Medallions. Both dishes were delicious. The service has always been first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an all-around, first class dining experience.
(5)
Anna S.
Very nice French restaurant. Delicious brunch. Good environment for a conversation, too. They even had Alieve for my headache. Very unique was the fact that our reservation was for 2:15 pm, but we cane after Buckhead Church service around 12:40 pm. We asked if we could be accommodated, and they did take us in. Service was great! Indoor and outdoor sitting available. Diverse menu selection. Unfortunately, we had no place for dessert. Overall, Very pleased!
(5)
Laura N.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta! I love coming here for dates, business lunches, and dinner with friends and family. It is a gorgeous restaurant with excellent food and outstanding service all the time. My favorite things to order at Bistro Niko are: - smoked salmon tarte - herb goat cheese ravioli with ratatouille - scallops St. Jacques - seafood tagliatelle pasta - profiteroles I have never had a bad meal here. Everything is pretty good, although I do find the chocolate waffles to be a bit underwhelming in their presentation. Valet parking is $2 + tip.
(5)
Allen P.
Food and service are always excellent. Deserts and appetizers seem to be way better than actually entrees here, although the scallops are perfect. Beautiful restaurant with nice staff. Nothing to complain about.
(4)
Eric B.
I came here for lunch with a business partner and while I loved the location, patio, atmosphere, and dining room, the food was just so-so. We ordered something from every section of the menu and some things were amazing and others we didn't finish. I will admit, it very well could be that I just am not a huge fan of true authentic French food, which this all was. But either way I just was not very satisfied at the end of the meal for what we spent. I would be open to coming back for dinner and trying it again to see if there's something I missed, but Im not chomping at the bit to do so.
(3)
Jonathan P.
Came here for our wedding anniversary and had a great time. They were very accomodating when I moved the reservation from 6pm to 7pm same day. The staff was very nice and attentive and the food was excellent. Minor nitpick re 4 stars vs 5: asked our server for more information on the pate vs the terrine. He really didn't have any idea but had another server come answer my question. Was very nice and service was great throughout the meal, but a server at a French restaurant should have an answer to that question. Will definitely be going back. I highly recommend the lamb shank.
(4)
Grace C.
Had the Escargots, Classic Tuna Tartare, and Maine Scallops. Everything was delicious. It was my first time having escargot and it definitely won't be my last. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the buttery flavor was to die for. The fresh bread they serve is also amazing. I will definitely be back. One of the best meals I have ever had.
One of my favorites in Buckhead! Have to come back many times to get the Duck again, a rare thing for me - one who normally avoid having the same thing. If you like flavorful French food, don't sit outside though - those tables are truly bistro style and too small for any serious dinning.
(5)
Stephanie M.
The wine list is French if your not certain ask, otherwise "bubbles" are always fun and we all know what those are. Duck Confit Salad - Oh my, I've had this on more than one occasion and enjoy it every time. Leg and thigh come on a bed of Fri see lettuce with a few roasted potato's. The sauce I can't figure out but it compliments the the bitter from the lettuce and you want to run your fork full of duck/juices and potato's in it. The duck is tender your knife is only needed for manners. Caviar - If it is there on the menu well... um I may have to take a second glance and maybe even order it. The house version is a blend, it is priced friendly gentlemen you can breath & girls we can afford it. While it is not Beluga it is tasty and a conversation piece. It is served with small puffed toasts and comes in a 2 oz. or 4 oz. can on shaved ice. Tuna Tartar - The flavor is there simple and clean with a touch of red onion. I wanted to like it but the texture threw me off, never having this before just didn't appreciate what they were trying to do. Boeuf Bourguignon - Is a simmered dish with beef braised in red wine with a touch of vegetables on top of noodles is hearty but not heavy. Coquille St. Jacque - Scallops were perfect on a puree with a bit of asparagus and a light sauce. Crevettes Brique-T - Shrimp that are wrapped, crisped then placed over a slaw that has horseradish in it ? Not being a fan of "slaw" I was a bit skeptical at first but found the twist on this interesting and tasty. A two and three course "Pre Fix" menu is also available.
(4)
Brenda M.
My babe brought me here for a family night out. The ambiance was great our waiter was funny and the cocktails were tasty! Overall I give this place a four but I must say I've had way better french food before. It wasn't disappointing but it was just missing that certain genuine french flavor I was expecting in my mouth. I had the steak and frites medium-rare which tasted good but didn't look that appetizing for such a high scaled restaurant. One dish I do recommend is the scallops entree. Best cooked scallops I've had. They were cooked to perfection. The cocktail drinks were also very tasty. Would recommend to try it out at least once ;)
(4)
Amy H.
Wish I could do a 3.5 star. I felt a little mixed on this place. First, this is a gorgeous place, loved the atmosphere and it was PACKED. Wine list is FANTASTIC, but the glasses are expensive and I am pretty sure I got half a normal glass of wine. Finished it in about 4 sips. Had the cheese puffs for a starter they were eh. Not worth 7 bucks and not made freshly either. Escargot was my next and it was great! First time having it so cannot compare to any place else. It was buttery, and earthy and I was a big fan. Veal for dinner and it was OK. Nothing special. I probably should have gotten something more french? My friend had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC, and my other friend had the Coq Au Vin which was also very tasty. Creme breulee was not fantastic but not bad either. I thought it would be OVER the top. I prefer Alon's Bakery Creme breulee. Def come here to experience this place but not sure if I would come back.
(3)
Jonathan S.
I love this place, the decor and the ambiance are on point. It kinda looks like an old bank. We had the pan roasted duck and the veal. Both were delicious. The escargot is whatever. I will say the crowd seemed a bit older. This is a place for the OG suspender wearers and silicone injectors.
(4)
Serena B.
Love this place!!! Great beer on tap, osters and seafood! Leg of lamb is beautiful! Escargot and puffed pastry are my heart!!!!
(5)
Vonda D.
I had a gift card to Bistro Niko so a friend of mine and I decided to use it. So glad I did! We split a flatbread pizza and it was amazing! It was also filling, which I was surprised by. I got a chocolate sundae and it was different, but so good! I need to go back and try an entree!
(4)
Yuki M.
We go bistro nico sometimes. We like the duck and shrimp on the menu here! But my favorite is profiteroles!!! It's so yummy ;") If you don't know what to order dessert pls try it!!
(5)
Jim J.
Another great dinner here. I wish I could come here every couple of weeks. My only comment this time was that service was slow once we received our order. We just sat and sat waiting for dessert menus. And waited a long time for dessert to arrive after ordering. Same issue in getting our check, and then return of check and credit card. A couple of managers even came by during the meal to make sure things were okay (I suspect they knew things were backlogged somewhere). Not going to let that stop me from coming. I love this place, the food, the atmosphere, the friendly hostesses. Think it was just an off night for a short period of time.
(4)
Renee K.
I came here after walking around looking for somewhere to eat during my business travels. I decided to sit at the bar and really enjoyed my meal. I order the trout dish which was truly good. I highly recommend the dish. The service at the bar was so-so. One of the employees was great, the other not so much. The menu has a lot to offer, and they had a pretty decent wine offering.
(3)
Mercedes C.
My friend and I had a great dinner at Bistro Niko last night. The bartender, I think his name was Dave, was terrific!!! I had a dirty martini at the bar before dinner. And had a nice glass of Pinot Noir with dinner. Thanks new bartender friend!! Now for the ambiance, it was lovely. Not too loud, beautiful atmosphere. Next, the food, I wish I could add a picture but I tore into my lamb chops as soon as I got them. After grace of course lol......the mashed potatoes were awesome as were the fingering potatoes. The lamb chops were cooked just right and tender. Bistro Niko is a favorite on my list from now on!!!!!!
(5)
Mindy W.
This French dining experience was more like a bar/lounge scene. Extremely loud even at7:30pm on a.Monday.
(3)
Renee T.
Their French Onion Soup is to die for!! It is the perfect FOS. It tastes slow cooked until it becomes sublime. The flavors are layered and complex and it has the perfect amount of everything. Eat this when you go there. Everything else is fantastic too. Service on point.
(5)
H. M.
I've eaten at Bistro Nike at least a dozen times and every single time I have had to swat fruit flies away from me. Get an exterminator, it's gross!
(3)
Tye T.
This place is absolutely amazing. Kayjee (sp?) provided the best service that I have experienced in an Atlanta restaurant. We started the with mussels and calamari as the appetizer. Both were delicious but the mussels were a clear winner. My boyfriend had the steak au poivre and I had the duck, both were excellent. The steak was tender and the duck was perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Han L.
And so I have become a Francophile. Jk. This place has an lovely ambiance; it had me at HELLLO! I love the vintage French feel; cigarette machine, posters, vintage tiles, servers' uniforms. It's so beautifully French! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I came here for lunch but definitely want to return for dinner. There are other wonderful French restaurants in town, but Bistro Niko has the ideal French appeal. It's classy and not whimsical. The clean lines and shapes makes it refined, but not austere. It's still a welcoming space. gahhhh, I like it so much! Bistro Niko has a lovely outdoor seating area. There aren't much pedestrian traffic, but it was nice to enjoy the fall weather. However, one downside was a pesky fly that eventually drowned in my friend's glass of water. Sucker! The lunch menu is quite big. My friend ordered the scallops and I decided on the duck. For an additional $4, you can add an other duck leg to the order. I did not opt for that, regretfully. There was a generous amount of scallops on my dear friend's dish. It sits atop pureed potatoes, and a nice creamy sauce. MY dish was the bomb diggity. The best duck EVER. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that was it was fried in its own fat, but it was light and crispy. The duck was so tender. oooh baby. soo good. I highly recommend this dish for lunch and to order an additional leg for the extra $4 dollars. DO IT MAN! The servers are very helpful and attentive. I may have been mesmerized by my server's sweet accent. Don't park in the lot. Bistro Niko doesn't validate parking. Valet parking costs $2, but it will end up being cheaper than garage parking, even with tip included.
(4)
Angie E.
My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were well taken care of from the time we arrived until we left. Our server was very sincere and attentive. The food was good and I look forward to visiting again to try something else and see how I like their other entrees.
(4)
Sue G.
The food was excellent but they tried to double the check. When we ask about the check, the waitress knew what was wrong without even looking at the ticket. Be sure and check the total. Update: We went back and had a delightful dinner, the best tip I can give is ask for the salon. It is quaint and quiet enough to chat. Trout is great and my husband loves the pizza.
I'm a big fan of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, and Bistro Niko was on my list of places to try for a long time. Finally got a chance to eat here for my 25th birthday with my friend, and it lived up to my expectations. Bistro Niko serves French cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice restaurant. What caught my eye was the $25 for two plates (deux plats), where you can choose one of three appetizers (salmon croque monsieur, white bean soup, or salad with dijon vinaigrette) and one of three entrees (haddock, chicken in wine sauce - coq au vin, or shrimp in puff pastry). I ended up ordering the salmon croque monsieur, which came with 4 pieces of what looked like a perfectly buttered grilled cheese with slices of smoked salmon inside. The texture was heavenly and was a great start to the meal. As the entree, I ordered the coq au vin, which was very flavorful from the wine reduction and the chicken meat literally fell off the bone because it was so tender. My friend started with the white bean soup which was sooo flavorful - I think the truffles enhanced what would have been an already good white bean soup. For her entree, she ordered the Haddock Provencal, which was so good that it blew my mind. The fish itself was so tender and the ratatouille veggies added good flavor without being overwhelming. The polenta was alright, but I wish I ordered the Haddock - I could eat that forever. Next time, I think I would order the $29.95 three plates with the mesclun salad, shrimp puff pastry, and creme brulee dessert. Can't wait to come again! [45 of 100]
(4)
Michelle M.
Excellent food, I eat here frequently for business lunches. The service is always excellent and it always impresses. My current favorite is the chicken paillard, though everything I have tasted is delicious, and I've been here about 12 times in the past 6 months. My only suggestion for a large group or business meeting would be to request the dining room on the side, which I do, because it's generally really loud in the main dining room. See you soon BN.
(5)
Jon P.
Went here for a date on a Buckhead Life gift card. First off, the patio is awesome - which is why we chose this restaurant to begin with. We sat outside and saw all sorts of interesting people / things driving and walking by on Peachtree Road. Also the service was very good and we never waited on anything that we didn't want to and were always well taken care of. With the food I have mixed emotions. It was no doubt good - but it was not as good as other Buckhead Life restaurants I have been to and not as good as the price tag may suggest. With that said, we tried to go as French as we possibly could with our selections and started out with the faux gras, which was massive. Between two of us we managed to take down the fancy feast sized patty and while it was delicious it was entirely too much for a first timer. We then got two different meals that were both fish. I don't remember what the GF ordered but I had the salmon with capers and it was pretty good. Overall it was good food and good drinks but I probably would not go back if I had to foot the bill.
(3)
Frank M.
We eat there from time to time including last night. I made my reservation for 6 two days prior. I wanted 7 to 7:30PM. Phone receptionist was insistent that I choose 6:45 or 8:30 as the closest to my preference. I chose 6:45PM. This was a very slow night for them-- beginning of Memorial Day weekend. The place was never over a third full the entire time we were there. When we arrived there seemed to be more staff than patrons. Two things. Why hassle me and be so inflexible about my arrival time request? They should have just said yes. But, I think it was a control thing with the receptionist. Her attitude was, we're Bistro Niko, and you only get to come when you say we can even if you're the only one coming. With all the staff standing around, do you think we received prompt attention? We sat there for 10 min right next to a staff station before are drink order was taken. During this time the staff was careful about not making eye contact with me. God forbid I would ask for something. This is not even close to the service offered in France. That said, our food was very good. We had the raw oysters too. Excellent.
(3)
Jim B.
Poor experience. As a former server I'm usually pretty lenient on them but mine was terrible. No greeting no check up, added literally nothing. Never even told me his name. I was also given dirty silverware. Best part of my meal was the frisee salad which was above average but my trout was just eh. String beans and fingerling potatoes (all 3 of the little guys) were swimming in oil. I am an out of town business traveler but I have to imagine there are plenty of better options in Buckhead.
(2)
Sylvia Z.
After complaining to Buckhead Life management, they were amazing. They agreed that our experience was not satisfactory, and have bent over backwards to make it up to us. We will be dining at another Buckhead Life restaurant later this month, and I am confident that our experience will be completely different.
(5)
Tiff H.
Came here for happy hour, which my team manager deemed as "class field trip" that was much needed. He treated us all to drinks, although I made sure not to drink too much on an empty stomach... I got a vodka tonic and nursed it while alcohol flowed all over the place... We got some small appetizers as well, and I was glad I was sober to enjoy them, unlike the rest of my team. Gougères Light were AMAZING. fluffy and hot and chewy. perfection. i couldn't stop eating Oysters: i'm not a fan but I think my team really enjoyed these on the rocks! Smoked Salmon tarte: wished i had eaten more of this... this was rocking. I think we ordered one more appetizer of some sort, similar to a bruschetta, but I can't remember... I definitely want to come here again... If only my manager would be paying for that, too!
(5)
Glenn T.
Our server was quite nice. We felt sorry for her, trapped as she was in the restaurant equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle: a kitchen with no fire control, a slow bar, and expectant diners. The fairly priced foie gras wasn't treated as fairly in return, the first presentation charred to the point of bitterness, the second actually cold on the inside. No Goldilocks we, a shot at "just right" wasn't happening. Beef bourginon was remarkably dry and the scallops far, far overcooked. Wine by the glass arrived too late to enjoy with either course. Too bad because the room is charming, the location convenient, and the concept attractive. There are times when faux French is just the ticket but it fell short on this trip.
(2)
Lynn E.
Sometimes you need night in Paris at a bistro... Bistro Niko is your Atlanta escape to cafe life -- and it's right on Peachtree. Service is spot on. The menu has ample section and hey you're not cooking. On a recent evening we had the divine White Bean soup (a must - velvety smooth, perfectly seasoned and creamy delicious, the mesculan salad (chilled to perfection), the trout and the duck. A lovely evening was enjoyed. We didn't order dessert by the options were VERY tempting.
(3)
Donald L.
Bring ear protection. This is by far the loudest restaurant that I have visited. We were seated in a booth near the middle of the room and we were forced to yell at each other to hear what the other was saying. The food was fine. I had the scallops and they were great, buttery and delicious. Julie had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was not up to the Julia Child version for those who have made it. We also split an endive salad having already had an app at del frisco while waiting for our late reservation. The salad was pretty terrific, I would recommend it. Overall the dinner was fine. The restaurant was like eating on the runway at Hartsfield.
(3)
Chris C.
We just happened to walk by this restaurant by our hotel and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised. Nice ambience, great waitstaff, and delicious food. We tried smoked salmon flatbread, mushroom and cheese flatbread, endive salad, roasted duck, escargot, and of course a few glasses of mimosas :)...all great, full of flavor, and nice portion sizes.
Nice, but if you are going to serve raw oysters, you should have crackers and hot sauce. For the price of those suckers, a few crackers should be provided. They had neither. What has the world come to? I won't be there again just because I found it insane.
(3)
K W.
The St Germaine cocktail was lovely. Light, bright and quite tasty. Actually that was the best part of the meal. The bread was fresh but not warm and the butter was cold and hard to spread. The white bean soup tasted as though the entire salt shaker had been dropped in the bowl. The trout almandine was bland. The green beans in butter sauce was the second best part of the meal the meal was ok but definitely not worth the $40. Meh.
(2)
Greg M.
I've been to this area on business trips several times in the last few months and this is by far my favorite, My last meal there was perfect- the special was maui-mahi roasted with a delicate lemon/caper sauce- I've been trying to duplicate it at home with partial success. The wine list is the high point (along with the food), the cocktails tend to be Vodka based which doesn't interest me as much. Though I did have a really great rum drink (that I've also been trying to recreate). I hope to come back.
(4)
Jo H.
This is a very good restaurant but their coed bathrooms are appalling. There is no choice between ladies or gentlemen, just the next available stall. The floors were wet and dirty, I won't be going back because of this arrangement. Too bad, because the food is good.
(3)
Quality K.
Good Food, great service and excellent atmosphere. Food and beverage definitely worth paying for.
(5)
Sara B.
This is my second time at Bistro Niko, and I love it. If you're wondering if this is good choice, yes it is! And it's a good choice for the culinary adventurous to the meek (like myself). This time I had gougeres, the french onion soup, and roasted chicken. It was all completely amazing! I had part of creme brulee, profiteroles, and the baba au rhum. I'd say the profiteroles is best option. If morbid obesity and bankruptcy wouldn't be right around the corner, I'd be going every night.
(5)
Lee M.
Subpar service and: "My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter." My wife and I visited on a surprisingly busy Thursday evening. The bar at Bistro Niko seems to be a very popular happy hour spot. I'll start with the positives, the food at Bistro Niko is very good. It's not especially creative and I thought it was all heavy on the butter. But it's classy French cafe style. My wife and I both ordered cocktails to start, a Martini for me (gin, not too dry, up, with a twist), a French 76, a concoction of lemon, vodka, champagne and hibiscus, for her. These were both stellar. I can understand the popularity of the bar. (Side note: I'm usually hesitant to order a Martini out, since usually I'll get a glass of cold watery vodka at best and asked "What flavor? Our choco-rasba-tinis are delish" at worst. But Bistro Niko delivered the goods). For appetizers we tried the gougeres and a fried oyster appetizer. The gougeres tasted exactly like Cheezits, in a good way. They were light, puffy and rich. They'd go great with a cold Lager. The oysters were the best thing all night. Among the best fried oysters I have ever had, perfectly crispy and salty outside, creamy and sweet inside. They were accompanied by some interesting pickles and a nice remoulade. For entrees we ordered the lamb chops and skate wing. I was pleased with both, but not particularly impressed. Both were technically excellent; proper doneness, nice color on the outside, and well seasoned. The accompaniments were forgettable. The entrees were good, but there was nothing special about them, I could have gotten the same dish at any number of restaurants around town (mostly less expensive places) Bland, slightly undercooked fingerling potatoes with both, average creamed spinach with the skate and decent Brussels' sprouts with the lamb. My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter. (It's French, what did I expect?) The desserts were all standard French sweets. We got cream puffs, called "profiteroles" on the menu. They were good, but so are the ones in the freezer section of your local Kroger. I was pretty disappointed in Bistro Niko's service. In my past experiences with the Buckhead Life Group I've been mostly impressed with the quality of service, but Bistro Niko isn't up to par. Our server was friendly and helpful. I think he just had too many tables, I counted at least seven that he was serving, one was a party of eight. In this quality of restaurant, with the individualized attention and service required, seven is too many tables. Taking custom drink orders, discussing the wine list, describing specials all take time. So, while he was excellent when he was at our table the visits were too few and too far between. Because of that, the timing of our meal was all off, we waited quite a while with no drinks at the beginning of the meal. When we finally received our cocktails, we were nearly done with them before the appetizers arrived. Then the entrees came before we'd really had a chance to eat the appetizers. Once the entrees were cleared, the wait for dessert menus was noticeably lengthy. A few specific notes of poor service: When I ordered my cocktail the server looked at me and said "Charles Dickens?" and then just stared at me for an awkward moment waiting for me to get the joke ("Olive er twist?"). I guess I should have heard that one before. When he brought our entrees, the runner said to my wife "hot plate". What they say in a $6 Mexican restaurant. For a $30 entree, at least give me a "Ma'am this plate is very warm, please be careful", or better yet, re-plate it after it comes out of the salamander so it's not an issue. One instance, our water carafe was empty, so the busser grabbed the one of the adjacent table to fill our glasses. I just found this odd. If something is set on your table their is a sense of ownership over it. I know at 99% of casual restaurants we're all being filled from the same pitcher and yes it was just water and it's free... But he wouldn't have taken the bread basket off the adjacent table to refill ours. Also, we were offered sparkling or still water, how was he to know that we didn't have still and they sparkling or vice-versa? The final thing that irked me was that we had a Buckhead Life gift card with a large balance on it. Well more than enough to cover the full meal. However, Bistro Niko wouldn't put the tax or tip on the card. I was thinking maybe this is a law that I'm not aware of? But thinking back I've had gift cards to Chili's, etc, and this has never been an issue before. I didn't mind having to pay the tax and tip, but I'm sure the person who gave it to me expected to be giving me a nice meal (or two), not part of a meal and an obligation for $50 in tax and tip.
(2)
Vlad H.
Go eat there! It's good, decent place, but falls a notch short of excellent. Bistro Niko is a French-oriented restaurant. Yesterday was our third or fourth visit there. We had wine, two appetizers and shared an entree. All were good, but each had a little flaw that merited taking away one star. Wine by the glass. It was good. We are not experts on good wine, but quite good at detecting the bad one. These days with good wine being so available, it's no surprise that wine of great quality and diversity is served at a place like Bistro Niko. What was surprising though, is very stingy amount of wine poured in grotesquely small glasses. It makes you feel like a giant with oversized hands. We understand that wine is a profit center, but simply because Buckhead crowd is well-off, it does not make ethical to rip patrons off this way. C'mon, Niko. This was just a bit weird. Escargots appetizer. It's above average, possibly even best in town. The only spoiler was pieces of a shell or something alike present in one of mollusks, unpleasantly crunching on my teeth. Pork belly appetizer. The good news - it was truly outstanding. The bad news, it was not a pork belly. It was a piece of heavenly pork meat with everything around it being great. But a pork belly is mostly a piece of fat. It's tricky to cook and unusual for the US. It's a challenge for a chef to make it well and make it popular, and Niko's chef cheated. The result is great but not a real pork belly. Beef Bourguignon entree. It was good, but the sauce was a bit overpowering and while some pieced of beef (kobe) were perfect, some were dry. Better consistency is expected from Niko. The pasta that was a part of the dish almost steals the show. It was so unexpectedly good, it was in a league of its own. Overall, I will eat at Niko again and recommend others. At the same time Niko needs to improve in a few areas.
(4)
Patrick L.
The skate wing had a really unique texture and I've never seen it on a menu before. I'm glad I ordered it but don't think I could do it agin ... skates are too graceful and my daugthers like em. It's like eating a monkey. In the end, if you like clarified butter you will freaking love this place. I think my beer had butter on it. A bit pricey but not a bad choice if you have a corporate card.
(3)
Jody B.
Happened upon it on a quick trip to Atlanta near our hotel- great decor a noisy bustling room. Cheese puff apps were adorable and scrumptious. We had- chicken paillard which was great, croque Monsieur, also good, duck- hubby says may be the best he's had- and roasted chicken- yummy. Service was attentive but not overnebearing- really fine meal!!
(4)
V T.
Think I'm going to start briefly listing things that best describe the rating v/s tell the whole story. Mussels app - mussels had not been washed and were filled with grit. Thought I chipped my tooth before realizing it was the dirt from the mussels. Snails were ok - but when compiled with mussel dish became lackluster. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon were both at LEAST 2 days old. Chicken was dry as a bone and both dishes had mushrooms that were burned / black. Butter noodles cooked in saltless water / flavorless. Dessert was good - and helped to improve the taste left by the other dishes. Server was quality. Felt bad he had to serve that garbage to people.
(2)
Joseph L.
Great Lunch and Great Service. A good place to stop by during lunch hour to pickup a quick bite to eat.
(5)
Wendy D.
The food and service were great! I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 for a few small (but significant to me) reasons. We went late--30-45 min before closing. The music was too loud, the bread was sour dough instead of French baguette (why would a French restaurant not have french bread?), the mussels were slightly undercooked (slimy), and the valet left without telling me how to retrieve my car--and the restaurant sent me to the wrong security desk to retrieve my keys when I asked where my car was. Had the valet TOLD me he was about to leave, I'd have either self-parked or asked how to retrieve my car and tipped him 5 bucks upfront. Ok, I'll quit whining and get to the food: The Chateaubriand was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I was excited I could order it for one. The potatoes were sliced thinly with butter, egg, and cream. Yum! My hubby had coq au vin (he raved about it) and salmon croque monsieurs as his starter. He loved everything he had. It was an affordable meal at $75 (no alcohol). Just wish the bread and mussels were better, and that I didn't have to play hunt and find for my car in 40 degree weather (my coat was of course in the car). LoL
(3)
Tejal P.
This is our Sunday Brunch Spot... the bartenders are awesome. Tommy and Ranilya make the best drinks!
(5)
Hilary O.
After a day working through lunch, my colleague and I were looking for a good local eat near our hotel in Buckhead. This is probably the longest I've ever taken to decide on what to order - the menu was well balanced with unique appetizers, small plates, and a plethora of seafood and steak dishes for dinner. Thankfully out waiter was very patient and helpful. Great atmosphere and even better food!
(4)
Jessica B.
The food here was good! Overpriced, but I was still impressed with the presentation and overall quality of food. The atmosphere was very nice, it did give you that Paris feel. The reason that Bistro Niko gets 3 stars from me is because of the service. Our server must have walked right past our table 6 times and didn't even glance our direction. Even holding up our credit card, ready to pay, nothing! We ended up letting a manager know and he was the one to close us out. We asked for our dessert to go for obvious reasons. Not only did the manager not comp any of our meal for the terrible service, our crème brulee was tossed into a box, face down. By the time we got home it looked like old baby food. We originally went here with a gift card and I must say we won't be back. For that price, the food and the service better be outstanding! There are too many other wonderful places to eat in Atlanta!
(3)
Jake R.
amazing duck, amazing food!!
(5)
Mebin J.
A nicely designed restaurant with little ambience. I really don't know what is the real hype behind this , it's just a French restaurant that's it. The food was good ,but the ambience really not that great. It's really ddnt make me to comeback again,looks like my first time here is my last time. Good - nice restaurant design , classy upscale location , French food. Bad - ambience didn't come to my expectation -just feel like a regular restaurant , then may be valet parking, poor wine list for a French restaurant.
(3)
Ashley M.
This place definitely lives up to the hype. My boyfriend and I started off with the Gougeres (light gruyere cheese puffs) and the Herb Goat Cheese Ravioli. The cheese puffs literally melt in your mouth-- they were so delicious I couldn't stop popping those heavenly little bites! The goat cheese ravioli was also delicious, but I would highly recommend the puffs. For my meal, I had the Scallops St. Jacques (sauteed sea scallops, asparagus, white wine nage, pomme puree). It was a most excellent dish! I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally finished every bite of my dish and was just a tad short of licking my plate clean. Definitely can't wait to go back! The only cons for this place seem to be the noise level (oddly loud and not intimate) and the service was not particularly stellar. Otherwise, this would be a perfect review!
(4)
Mark C.
So the team at buckhead life made it right. I won't go into the details other than to say Niko handled the matter personally, quickly, and WAY beyond what I would have expected.
(5)
Michael B.
I'm a little bit biased due to the convenience factor since this place is about a 30 second walk from my house, but I'm generally tough to please when it comes to French food... Atmosphere - It really has the feel of a French bistro (if only it were 1/2 the size and the ceilings were about 5 feet lower). It is always VERY loud in the main dining room, especially for dinner, but even the lunch time crowd seems to generate a lot of noise. So make sure to ask to sit in the somewhat secluded/private room by the hostess stand if you want to have a conversation. In the evenings, especially weekends, beware of the cougars. Lots of them patrolling the bar so beware. Food - As I mentioned, I'm normally tough to please when it comes to French food, but they know what they're doing here. Some of my favorites here include: Beef Tartare, Duck, Mashed Potatoes (these are a MUST try here) and the absolutely must have Bouef Bourguignon. They also, in my opinion, make the best Moscow Mule in the city so if you want a nice refreshing beverage this is the one to get. Service - This has always been hit and miss here. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Some of the waiters are just plain weird, others unfriendly, and some are ok. Not being, picky, the service really is enough of an issue to cost Niko a star. All in all though, a good place and fairly inexpensive considering the quality of the food.
(4)
Saba E.
Wow! I was here with my family for a lovely Friday night dinner. We started off with an order of blue-something oysters but they accidentally brought us puff pastry escargot! Yum! Then they brought us the right order but no one was bothered by the delicious appetizers. Our entrees were an absolute delight! Altogether we had a coq au vin, peppercorn crusted steak, some fancy chicken dish, halibut, and a fantastic trout. Even though our tummies were content, the lovely posters of Paris forced our hands to dessert and espresso. We indulged in profiteroles and sorbet. We went home happy, tummies content, and satisfied to have discovered a gem in Atlanta. And, btw, the service was attentive and very professional. They were discrete and conscientious of all allergies. I have a great new place to attend when I return!
(5)
Amit M.
I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the expertise with which different dishes were executed.
(5)
Xo X.
If I could have given this place a -1 I would but the lowest available score is one star , so, by God's good grace they will attain this score. Service -TERRIBLE. Waiter was condescending and apparently did nto know he was a WAITER. Water was not offered. When I finally asked for some water, he poured it in the cups and one cup was 1/2 full and the other was , I kid you not, 1/4 full. It was strange. Then I looked in the cup only to see little stringy "dust" particles or something floatin in the water!!!! Further, there were no napkins on the table at seating. Barely checked on the table. Lastly, the wait time was TERRIBLE considering there was a minimal amount of people in the establishment at the time! Im so disappointed Food - ok they can get 1 star for mediocre. We ordered steak tartare and I am aware of the meaning of tartare but I was not impressed with the portion or presentation. My sister ordered a sandwich and the tosated bread was saturated in butter. I understand this is the South but nonetheless, it is still a FRENCH restaurant so I expect French food not with a southern touch. In summation, if you have never been to France or are ok with mediocre - feel free to dine here. If your waiter is a short, dark haired gentleman who looks very furry - good luck!
(1)
Shayla C.
First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. The food was flavorful, though parts of my entree came out at different times. I loved the decor. Valet is 2 plus tip...cheaper than self parking. The food was a but pricey but good none the less.
We went on a visit to Atlanta after several people recommended and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is warm, service is wonderful and the food amazing.We decided to have a few appetizers and tried the mixed green salad, the charcuterie platter that was fantastic, the mussels and the duck confit.the food was all amazing but the duck confit was outstanding, a definite must try. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience is the area.
(5)
Regina Q.
I didn't like the dish I ordered. Had just come back from Paris and was still in french food mode so we came here. I ordered steak frites and the steak was soo dry and tasted kind of off. I didn't finish it. It's cool looking inside but I'm not interested in trying the other dishes. Seems like a tourist trap.
(2)
Kellie N.
A great way to spend New Years Eve for dinner. They menu was great, the food was amazing and the service really stood out. The desserts were not my favorite...but the food...wow, the food was so amazing! The seafood dishes are so fresh and the sauces are light and perfect!
(4)
Jola Z.
This is my fave restaurant in Atlanta! Whenever I go there I am amazed. I usually order scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and onion soup, but if I try something new- I am never disappointed. This place made me love scallops and so far I have not tried better scallops anywhere else. Even if you are not sure if you like scallops, just try them there and you will love them. All the people working there are amazing, I like Katerina a lot as my waitress. It's more fancy, so make sure you dress nicely. I don't have even one bad thing I could say about this place. Enjoy :)
(5)
David K.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience. Everything from my duck sausage appetizer, to my trout entree, to my citrus tarte dessert. I thought that the entire experience was fantastic. The place was clean, active, and my waitress was extremely attentive.
(5)
Bridget J.
My husband and I had dinner last night and the food was beyond excellent. It was stupendous! This was the quickest meal we had served in our history of restaurant hopping. It came out in in 10 minutes flat, no joke! I had the Seafood Bouillabaisse, my husband had the Lamb Chops with their version of mashed taters and asparagus. The chops were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of char for added flavor. The taters were good and need a touch of salt but that's to be expected since most of us like our taters different. The bouillabaisse was surprisingly different and tasty. The difference was the broth base was red bell pepper instead of tomato. A very tasty change from the norm. I liked the consistency which made it great for sopping the crouton stick. The waiter was very helpful and suggested drinks from the menu. We had a lovely time and will visit again.
(5)
Eric T.
Late review. Went here for a friends birthday dinner. Good thing we got a reservation since it was pretty packed that night if memory serves me correctly. You get a real classy vibe from this place. It's upscale for sure. Valet parking, an FYI for those who don't know. It's one of the finer establishments in Buckhead. The restaurant has a vintage decor reminding me of 20s era design elements and art direction. Large size dining space with a multitude of seating arrangements for a lot of people. Don't let the size fool you, it does get packed! Bistro Niko can be described as French cuisine with some local elements added to it (link below to all menus). The menu does change from time to time, just a heads up. The taste for the dishes I ordered were unique, I didn't expect a strong butter taste so that was a bit different. Took some getting used to, but I enjoyed ot overall. Check out the menu ahead of time or ask the waiter/waitresses for recommendations if you are unsure on what to get. They do have a mean creme brulee here, you got to try that! This place puts quality and effort into all its dishes and I can commend that. They have a very well trained staff who are professional and accommoding to their guests. Bistro Niko is a real intimate and classy restaurant that makes you feel right at home as soon as you walk in. My Recommendations: -creme brulee Menu: mobile.dudamobile.com/si… Hours: -Lunch: Mon - Sat, 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. -Dinner: Sun - Thurs, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. -Brunch: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(4)
Linda C.
Went with my husband for a nice dinner, but the noise level was unbelievable so we asked to be moved. Our original waiter was super nice, our second waiter was less than friendly which made us regret moving from the noisy area (near the bar). Second waiter brought me the wrong salad, but I just ate it and tried not to cause any more problems. My husband enjoyed his entree, I decided to skip an entree and order dessert because I'm usually too full to enjoy a dessert. My husband also ordered dessert so I could try two different things. I have to admit, both were delicious. Will give it another try the next time we are in the area.
(4)
Daniel B.
Bistro Niko is a higher-end French restaurant in Buckhead. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (Buckhead Diner, Chops, Pricci, etc.), I surmise it's been one of the group's more successful restaurants since it's opening in late 2009 for a couple reasons: (1) almost every time I drive past it, the patio is slammed, (2) Dine Around cards for this restaurant, while they do exist, seem to be rare. Located on the ground level of a high-rise building not too far from Lenox Square Mall, Bistro Niko is grand and chic. Along with the aforementioned outdoor patio, which faces Peachtree, there are two dining areas inside. The coolest thing about this restaurant's design is the open kitchen situated next to the entrance. One of the dining rooms sits across from the kitchen. It's smaller, quieter, and more intimate. The large dining room has high, elaborate-designed French ceilings and light fixtures, a mixture of small-to-large booth and table seating, and a bar. Traditional yet stylish French art and decor fills the space. It feels a bit magical, like the world of Hugo or something. Note it can get quite loud in the big dining room. While many of my friends and fellow Yelpers have raved about this restaurant, I don't have the same feelings. Simply put, the food doesn't knock my socks off and service is inconsistent. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I was expecting Bistro Niko to blow me away like Kyma or Veni Vidi Vici, two excellent Buckhead Life restaurants. Instead, it's let me down like Atlanta Fish Market. French cuisine is supposed to be among the best in the world, so one would expect Bistro Niko to bring it. Charcuterie (meats, cheeses), chicken, steak, duck, lamb chops, and seafood (raw oysters, mussels) make up a big part of the menu. Most appetizers are about $10-12 each and entrees are about $20-30+ each. I've tried the following: Escargots "en croute" - garlic butter, puff pastry Mussels "Le Coze" - white wine, shallots, cream & parsley 12-ounce ribeye with Cafe de Paris butter (made of 23 herbs) and fries Monk fish with spinach, fennel, mashed potatoes, and Parmesan cream sauce Creme Brulee a la Vanille - vanilla custard, hard caramel crust Profiteroles - choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, almonds The escargots (snails) and mussels are delicious. Each dish comes in two sizes. If sharing, I recommend ordering a dozen escargots and/or a small order of mussels for every 2-3 people. The escargots are soaked in a super rich, garlic butter sauce. I'm convinced the only reason the puff pastry exists is to help offset the heaviness of the butter. The butter is so tasty I like to dip the table bread into it. The escargots themselves are fresh and plump. Each escargot has its own compartment on the serving platter and this version of escargots is probably the oiliest one I've had yet. I could do without the breading, but with that much butter... maybe not. Like the escargots, the mussels are also quite fresh. There's no fishy or briny taste, though you may occasionally run into bit of shell. The white wine and cream sauce is light, yet full of flavor. It's yet another fine sauce to dip bread into. The thinly sliced and cooked shallots are delicate and provide additional texture. Both the ribeye and the monk fish are specials not available on the regular menu. I like having my steaks cooked medium to retain some of the meat's juiciness and flavor. The ribeye was sort of a letdown because, while nice, thick, and hearty, it was still a bit too tough, despite the meat being slightly pink throughout. I do like the generous portion size. I'm not sure what's up with the Cafe de Paris butter. It's made out of 23 herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It doesn't taste like butter, but more like a coarse, mustardy condiment. Perhaps most of the "butter" part has melted into the ribeye by the time it hits the table, but even so, it didn't taste like it. The ribeye is accompanied with a side of plain, thick French fries, which aren't bad. The monk fish is a white fish that's light and subtle in flavor. This dish is creamy because of the mashed potatoes and Parmesan cream sauce. The sauce provides good flavor for the fish and gives the cooked spinach a creamed effect. The mashed potatoes are soft and savory. A bit of fennel sprouts are placed atop the fish. This is a basic dish with not a lot of pizzazz or wow factor. Not that a dish needs that to be good, but I was expecting more out of monk fish. Consider splitting the desserts with others. The creme brulee is a nice dessert. Smooth, sweet, and delectable. I'm not a fan of the profiteroles because of the choux pastry. It's bland, soggy, and lifeless. Maybe the profiteroles I had sat out too long and the ice cream melted into the dough. The ice cream and chocolate is fine, though. While the servers are friendly, service can be painstakingly slow. Valet is $2 (gratuity not included).
(3)
Nicholas B.
I love this place! One of the first restaurants I visited after moving to Atlanta and had an awesome experience. Food was great, expensive, but not for the quality. Drinks were reasonable and the staff was on point. If I had a 6th star, bistro niko would get it.
(5)
Carrie Neal W.
Still solid. First - if you go about 2pm on a weekday, you will be able to get a lovely booth for a long lunch. I was looking for quite long, ie 3+ hours since it was with my darling and loquacious Godmother and for my b'day, and made sure to pick a spot without a lunch-before-dinner close. Quick recap: Hangar steak still my fave, and it's very generous (ie, we both got it and I took home what amounted to an entire entree since each of us ate half of ours). Not as big of a fan of the salmon rillette as I was- bit more fishy tasting (though I hate to give that cliche description) and definitely more chunky rather than spreadable. Great haricots verts - I mean, green beans. Sauteed in garlic and olive oil/butter but not greasy. Amazing profiteroles - a dessert I love but do not order often, and it was a complimentary b'day treat! Perfectly soft-ish pastry, shaved almonds along with the chocolate drizzle, delicious vanilla ice cream holding it all together. Pretty space, quiet at the right time, good for a group in the separate room, classily hopping at the bar at the right time of day - really, what's better for a French bistro in a Southern city? Je ne pense beaucoup. (Yeah, I had to look up the tense since my AP French is a little rusty).
(4)
Lawrence C.
Either my memories were fonder, or this restaurant is ratcheting down a notch, as I can only award three stars to my dinner earlier this week. This has always been a favorite of ours, a short walking distance in our old neighborhood, so we were eager to return when we visited Atlanta again. My wife and I each started with the Endive salad, $11. This was served with candied pecans or walnuts and blue cheese (my wife opted for goat's feta cheese). For my main, I knew what I wanted before arrival...the Paillard de poulet (chicken paillard), which was as plentiful as I expected, yet lacked the crispness and texture that I desired (see photo). Flavors were good, and at $19 a good value. An excellent St. Peter's Porter beer @ $9.00 was a worthy complement. My wife had a bowl of the white bean soup, $9, which was also flavorful. Service was very spotty...and coupled with the noisy environment, as befitting a bistro (dignified pub for us yanks), can only yield a solid 3 stars.
(3)
Qiaoyi X.
Everything is picture perfect. But wait, we're not eating with eyes. Essentially, it depends on my palate, and it's a 3-star. Okay, 4-star then. The restaurant is grand with beautiful paintings, a kitchen you can observe from outside and people dress nicely. Even the bathrooms are fancier than most of the restaurants I've been to. We went inside after saturday 2-hour hiking. Imaging we're wearing sweat pants and t-shirts, and everyone else dressed up... Yes, I felt under-dressed and embarrassed. Anyway, we still sat down and ordered food. The Grand Platter is an assembly of lots of appetizers. Salamis, chicken liver terrine, au cognac and pickles. I love chicken liver terrine, while my friends were fond of au cognac. For the entree, the portion size is not consistent. If you get shrimps and scallops, you need to order desert. If you order cheaper materials like ducks and beef, you will feel full. My crisped duck confit seems a favorite on table, but it was not that great to me. Yes, duck legs are tender, but the juice is somewhat salty. I still favor Au Rendez-Vous. Dessert is tarte au Citron, which is still too sweet for me. There's a valet parking in front of the door, $2 for parking, and tips($). You can also choose to park yourself. Bistro Niko tried hard to be a fantastic French restaurant, but the dishes are not so authentic and tasty. I am a little disappointed.
(4)
Keo S.
This place is over-hyped and maybe does well because of all the travelers and hotels in the area. It's nice to have a patio, but that's the main upside to this place. Really poor service - who doesn't know how to poor a beer - basically our server - straight in the middle of the glass creating the largest "head" I've ever seen - he did it twice and I had to stop him from pouring my 3rd beer and basically asked him if he's ever had beer before. Anyway, that was really annoying, also forgot my friend's wine order for 10 mins, and the food was just meh from there. Flat bread - greasy and salty, charcuterie board - hard to mess that up, but it was just ok. Net net - there are so many better places to eat right there so you have a plethora of options
(1)
Alex P.
More visits, more of a mess and they are about to lose my business. It's a beautiful restaurant, but lacks some very fundamental details that you would expect when spending this kind of money. Here is my breakdown: - reservations are a complete mess. On two occasions, we had to wait over 30 min to be seated, given that we already had a reservation. What a joke! - on multiple occasions, they forgot to bring our appetizers. Seriously, your managers apologies and a free dessert do not fix the problem. I just want good service! - food is excellent. I love the Horseradish Crusted Cod, the veal, their chicken dishes and scallops. Really I have yet to try something I don't like on the menu. - on the a recent occasion, we were midway through eating the appetizer and they already bring our main course out. Timing needs to be better guys. - their "wine buckets" a plastic sacks, that look extremely out of place at an establishment of this level - found a piece of hair in our food, unacceptable. They tried to remedy by bringing some desserts. My expectation would have been, the table eats for free in such a situation. They need to be punished for these trivial cleanliness issues.
(2)
Charles S.
A Miami friend was in town. She is a foodie. Whenever I am in Miami she always takes me to the hottest places with the best food -- and she treats, or more accurately her employer does. (This is a business, not a social relationship.) So when Pat was in ATL for #CNN35, I made a reservation @ Niko's. On the terrace. The food could not have been better. Pat was in heaven: "This gazpacho is just like in Barcelona." No kidding. And she loved the thin salmon, barely grilled and covered with arugula and bit of sauce. Niko's was the perfect choice for Foodie Pat. Suggestion to Niko: ceiling fans on the terrace. And the tony, round bistro table were pretty, but weren't large enough for two sets of dinner plates, bread plate, glasses, etc.
(5)
Adam G.
Parisian inspired faire without pretension. Charcuterie plates did not disappoint! Mussels and French bread to die for. Reasonable wine prices (value but nice selection!) are something I look for when considering restaurants. Waiters recommended Coppola's Directors Cut and it was an excellent bottle for $42.00. I ordered the Rib Eye pomme frites (fries) on special and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare. Excellent cut of meat. My wife ordered the haddock special and loved it. Attentive staff and friendly bartenders. This place is bustling with diners and energy for a reason. Bravo. I will be coming back a 3rd time.
Strolling around the downtown area we visited this place on a whim. This is the real French experience, wine galore. We started off with some Blue Point oysters. They were delicious, but there was less juice than I would expect for a place with multiple selection of oysters, but that's just me being picky. For an entree I order the Foroe Island Salmon that comes with a side of quinoa. When it came out the salmon topped the quionoa and sauce for a masterful centerpiece. I removed a bit of salmon and mixed it with the quinoa sauce and man, was that delicious. Smaller portions then I am use too, but that just made me savor the moment longer. For dessert we got the banana sundae and creme brule. Both were good and out of the two I would recommend the banana sundae.
(5)
Natasha R.
Got in late for work this place hit the spot. Nice ambiance and s 5 min walk from Doubletree or Marriott. The trout was perfect and served on green beans. The tomato flatbread was great too. Everything tastes very fresh.
(4)
Pam C.
Enjoyed dining at the bar. Started with the white bean soup. Good, but not great. It was served pureed, I dont know why but thought it would be chunkcy...didnt take away from the flavor, of course. Then had the crispy duck salad with frisee, and potatoes. Very good. Solid, but not awesome. Valet is $2, gratuity not included.
Came in for some drinks on a Sunday. I don't eat gluten because of a severe gluten intolerance. Only had a small snack here. All of the fried potatoes including the fries are gluten free. They also are not cooked with any other flour product as to prevent cross contamination. If you are looking for gluten free, these people have completely re did the menu. Kudos to this place for placing a small "gf" next to every single gluten free item. I was so impressed I ordered a snack at a place we came by after eating. So many choices, not just the usual salad minus croutons. Thank you so much for making it easy for us. I didn't get to eat anything important. But I plan on being back to give it a go. Just had some crispy duck potatoes. Not so crispy, but pretty incredible. Ask for Rhett at the bar, he makes a proper drink.
(5)
Andrew D.
This establishment remains a favorite of mine. Though perhaps a tad staid having been open for 5 years now, it is still consistent in service, fare, and value. I come here for Seafood, and traditional French offerings. The Seafood is all outstanding, I very much enjoy sharing a large pot of mussels to start along with either the Steak Tartar or the duck leg to start. As for Entrees I prefer the Salmon, Lemon Sole with capers and spinach, or the European Seabass. I also love their seafood pasta in heavy cream. On the lighter side the Georgia Shrimp in wrapping and the Scallops are both great lighter entrees. I have tried both their bar steak, and their Strip Steak. Both left me underwhelmed. For brunch I have had their burger which is good, but nothing amazing. I should likely try the Lamb burger at some point. Desert wise the plays are their Apple Tart, the Rhum Desert or there is another one which is very light and very good. I find the Creme Brule mediocre at best and the few tmes i had it I was always disappointed that it came out with a crisp warm top. The Profiteroles are also a disappointment in my book. Bistro used to have the most likely bar scene in Atlanta when it opened. Thursday-Saturday it is still quite lively. They do have one or two small, non-intrusive TVs at the bar, so a game in the background it nice. The wine list is very approachable with a number of basic French Pinot Noirs and Malbecs at very reasonable prices. I usually drink Piper Heidsieck while dining and finish with a nice Port to accompany desert.
(5)
Semra E.
Had a really excellent brunch with my family here. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, although the inside has a great atmosphere too. The decor & service was excellent & flawless. It is everything you hope it would be. We started with coffee & the three cheese plate. We also had the tartine salmon which was light & a great way to start the meal. I had the quiche with the salad, which was just the right amount of food I needed. I would recommend this place for any special occasion OR just to have a great meal with someone. Can't wait for my next visit.
(4)
Dave L.
Me and my friends come here often for the perfectly seasoned burgers and cold beers. Patio seating is a must to enjoy the outdoor frenzy of Buckhead life and to discuss deep meaning of life itself... Food is a bit pricy here, but you are paying for the ambiance and great food. I'd give them five stars, but recently the burger patties has become a bit hmmmm 'hammered down' versus the plump and juicy. Overall a excellent place to hang out and chill!
A faultless evening. Really great food, impeccable service, well chosen wine. We really cannot wait to go back there. As for the food - caprese salad was just right, the escargot were very good, but unwound have preferred not to have had them in Pernod. Then wifey had skate wing, which she compared to a very good lobster, while I had one of the specials, a rib eye. Again, excellent!
(5)
James L.
Ahhhhhh.... Where to start. Where to start. I have been here many times and enjoy my little trip to Paris'. The atmosphere is full of life and energy. If you come for lunch plan on seeing business meetings and girl friends out to lunch drinking rose'. Come to niko at dinner and you get a much better Feeling of what this place is about. The drinks and food are exceptional, I have not had a bad item on the menu. Service staff is always accommodating. In Atlanta and need a fix of French cuisine and atmosphere... Come to bistro Niko. Update: 3/18/2015 If you are wrestling between steak au poivre and beauf go with the steak au poivre. The Beauf was very gelatinous tasting (even with Kobe beef) my son got steak au poivre 8.5 out of 10.
(4)
M.E. K.
My favorite restaurant in town. Just keeps getting better every time I visit. Their mussels have a reputation for a reason. I've had better profiteroles though.
(5)
Mary Beth L.
This place is so so good. Love the skate wings, baba au rhum and the bar is lovely as well. Great patio for this time of year. You really can't go wrong. The only thing I don't love is the noise level.
(4)
Lori M.
This place is interesting. I've been here on a few occasions for dinner or lunch with friends and recently for a first date. The atmosphere was great. We were able to have plenty of conversation without our surroundings being too loud. The menu is a bit stuffy for my taste but we were able to stretch the evening out with wine, salad and flatbread. Our service was definitely up to par but the menu options, thr quality of the food compared to the price makes it a spot I wouldn't frequent. I went there more for a convenience factor versus taste. If you work or live near Buckhead I'd say go here for a night or happy hour at the bar. Otherwise there are far too many places to go. Much better food right down the street.
(3)
Kristin B.
Consistently underwhelming and overpriced for what it is. My most recent and most disappointing visit was for brunch. I refuse to wait for meals, so restaurants with reservations are a must for brunch in Atlanta where the meal is basically a sport or religion with the level of fervor with which Atlantans approach it. Needing a restaurant in Buckhead, Bistro Niko fit the bill for a 12:30 brunch on a Sunday. Shockingly, when we arrived, there were literally only two other tables occupied in this cavernous (and gorgeous) restaurant. They have recreated the French bistro feel perfectly, minus the fact that it is at least three times larger than any bistro I've ever dined at in France. The service, as it is at all Buckhead Life restaurants, was fantastic. But the food was just average at best. A pastry basket to start had only two different items in it (though two of each), which kind of defeats the point of a pastry basket, which I see as an opportunity to sample a variety of items. And $12 for four small croissants (without even any jam for them) seemed like quite the rip-off. Moving onto entrees, my salad Nicoise was large, but had little flavor, and the tuna was in teeny tiny little flakes and mixed into the pre-dressed salad greens. It made it hard to get much protein out of the meal, since I could only finish about the half the salad. Check any picture on google images, and you'll see that generally the tuna is in slices, big chunks, or at least sort of plated in a bigger clump. Bistro Niko's preparation essentially made the salad taste like tuna flavored lettuce. All in all? There's a reason this spot is empty at brunch. With so many good new restaurants springing up all over this city, Buckhead Life is going to have to up their game.
(3)
Deniz G.
I have definitely expected better. From service, to cleanliness, to decor, all the way to the food. Starting off, our server was nowhere to be found from the moment we got the waters for a solid 20 minutes, until we were ready to order the drinks, appetizers and entree all together. The drinks came after the bread and butter, which came after the appetizers. The order of all these seemed a little awkward. The coq de vin was very salty, and the creme brulee was soft on top, at room temperature. As I said, even though it wasn't totally terrible, there are probably much better alternatives for this price range all over town. The most ridiculous of all was the fruit fly that was hovering our heads, indoors. A disgusting experience to be honest, and most definitely disappointing if you think about the classiness they are trying to present. I will not go back.
(2)
Meredith R.
If you're deciding upon a 'splurge' restaurant, your expectations may fall short here. Bistro Niko is indeed pretty ... but you can't eat ambience. Food that was hyped by other reviewers, tasted ordinary to us. Gougeres? Nothing-with-nothing cheese balls. Beef bourgeon, a bit fatty. Loup de mer, could have been any number of white, flakey fish. Two thumbs up for the scallops: sweet and cooked just right. The best salad on the table was endive. (There are two kinds; choose the smooth, not frisee.) Mesclun salad had no pizazz and the beet goat cheese salad had plenty of beets, but a mere whiff of cheese. (C'mon!) The best dessert was the cheese plate. The others -- profiteroles and a banana sundae -- comme ci comme ca. I can't comment on the wine list, since we've gotten in the habit of bringing what we like from home. Corkage fee here is $15 per bottle. I'm a big fan of Kyma (also part of the Buckhead Life chain); Bistro Niko can't compare.
(3)
Teresa Z.
Foods are OK. We tried 6 courses, i only like the scallops. The thing I really don't like is that it was crowded and noisy. If u want romantic date, don't go there. I have to talk very loud to make me heard. I don't think it worths the price i paid, which was $50 per person without any drink.
Complimentary valet in Buckhead! Can't hate that. I have been meaning to come here for years. I was here for lunch. We had the pate and salmon rillette to start. Both were excellent. The Pate was the smoothest I have ever had. I ordered the scallops... ohs my gosh. So good. The pomme puree was so good, probably half butter.' So many scallops too. So many. Our server could have been better, more attentive... but the food. My floating island was a perfect dessert to end the meal. All around wonderful food.
(5)
Maryam H.
Incredible spot! I am not too familiar with the Buckhead area of Atlanta, but I enjoyed this place for a recent lunch with clients. We started with a flat bread pizza and assortment of pates and meats. Both incredibly delicious, however if you are not into surprise pates then stay away-I for one find the texture a little suspect but really enjoyed the entire selection (which was sizable). Next, I shared an order of escargot with friend, incredible! But to be honest, I don't have anything to compare it to too, but I thought the puff pastry on top of the baked escargot really complimented what seemed like a light pesto. A little on the oily side, but delicious and an interesting combination nonetheless. For my main course, I went with the trout, and it was PERFECT. Moist and not fishy at all, and a HUGE order that came ontop capers and string beens with mashed potatoes on the side. I wasn't able to finish the order. My accompanying party ordered the duck, mussels, and scallops and I heard only raves. My favorite part of this restaurant is the ambiance and atmosphere, the service could have been better, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the displaced parisian attempts that so many bistro's flood you with. The decor was charming and restrooms were clean- always a good sign. Would love to go back and try another meal that wasn't so heavy in order to give this bistro another star...
(4)
Alexandra S.
I've been here twice and everything has been excellent! Probably the best French food in the city. I recommend all of these that I've had so far: endive salad, foie gras (seared a perfect MR with a berry compote and mini brioche), mussels, escargot (with a perfect garlic and herb butter and puff pastry), trout (cooked perfectly with the skin browned but with moist flesh, toasted almonds, green beans and fingerling potatoes and brown butter) scallops (cooked a perfect MR with a divine sauce, asparagus and the best creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes, profiteroles and le flotante (which is soft baked meringue, crème anglaise, almonds, caramel). And the service is excellent as well. I can't wait to go back!
I honestly can't recall if I've thrown a review for bistro niko out there to date, but after several visits i have some pretty finalized opinions 1. the atmosphere is trendy french. Think Anis (cafe french) but with the nightlife feeling you are looking for on a weekend. 2. Open table/other reservation sites will show this restaurant booked at all hours. Once it said the only open table was at 9:30p and instead we walked in at 7:30/8 isn and were taken immediately to a seat. Keep in mind that huge waiting lines done typically build up at places you have to valet just to get in. 3. The menu has improved since they opened. There were more than several choices i was interested in, vs. the first visit where i ordered a salad though I love french food. 4. The menu is GOOD! on our last visit I ordered the salmon spread, the lobster bisque and the scallops. Previously I had ordered the mussels as well. One thing to keep in mind. please expect your meal to be prepared with A TON OF BUTTER. don't get me wrong... who doesn't love the taste of butter. However, this is to the level that when you take the first bite you think "OH MY GOD IM IN HEAVEN" and then three hours later you lay in bed while your food is settling and thing "OH MY GOD IM IN HELL" in short - rich flavor, delicious, no need for reservation, "night out atmosphere"
(4)
Nay P.
Not a big fan of French food but it was pouring rain, so we stopped in to check it out. Our server (Travis aka Leroy) was great and made us feel welcomed. Extra plus he was tall, handsome and generous. I ordered the lamb chops and they were wonderful. Cooked to perfection and very juicy. My coworkers ordered the Coq Au Vin and Salmon, which I taste tested and those dishes were also great. Menu has alot of options. The crowd is mature and very well dressed. Seemed to be coming in after work. The bathrooms were separated and very nicely decorated. Weird point but I like when restaurants have nice bathrooms. Very close to the Buckhead Marta.
(4)
Michelle K.
I'm a huge fan of Bistro Niko. It's located a few minutes from where I work so it's nice to come here for lunch or happy hour. Our favorite lunch choice is the croque monsieur. Everything from the perfectly toasted bread to the melted cheese is fantastic. I'm a huge fan of their fries as well. The service here is always stellar and my water glass is rarely empty since they are very attentive here. I've been here for happy hour as well and it definitely gets pretty busy between 5-7pm in the bar area. Everything about this restaurant makes you want to come back for future visits. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and the staff is always courteous. I've yet to try their dinner menu but it's one of my favorite places to visit for lunch during the week. The service is efficient so you can be in and out within an hour if you're familiar with the menu and know exactly what you're ordering.
(4)
Nick G.
Wow, what a great French restaurant! We made reservation via Yelp and received excellent service. The food was amazing, they had a pork chop on special which I had to try. It was without a doubt the best pork chop I ever had. One secret is that they soak it in a bag of water for 24 hours to make it extra juicy! My girlfriend ordered the scallops, they were cooked perfectly and had great flavor! We dabbled with some apps and bread, all of it was great. So obviously at a French restaurant you have to have some wine. Very nice selection to choose from, we landed on a French bottle from a highly regarded vineyard. Couldn't have had a better night!!!
Bistro Niko, as you probably know from the other couple hundred reviews here, is a French restaurant and part of the Buckhead Life Group of restaurants, a group of restaurants known for their quality of food and service. I use the ultimate card that they offer and usually charge it every winter as they usually have some offer then to discount the charging of the card. So I'm very familiar, I suppose you can say a fan of the group. So my bias leans that I'm going to enjoy my experience every time, and typically they do not disappoint. Bistro Niko does not disappoint. I'm not sure everyone that comes in gets a waiter with a French accent but that's sure a bonus to set the scene - additionally adding bonus points for being animated, friendly, and knowing the menu. Secondly, in the service he was prompt and attentive to our needs and I'd give this a 5 star on service. One thing that I appreciated is that we decided to do 3 apps and share a main course. The waiter did not even hesitate that this was an ok plan by him. In order of greatness, the Pork Belly was fantastic, the lamb confit was crispy skinned and oh so juicy and tender inside, and the scallops - calamari app was our least fav. Not that it wasn't done well, but I'm not a huge fan of French as I usually find that at times it can be a bit bland (I like spice) and I would say the app was a bit on the bland side. We shared the pork chop, it was probably the thickest cut of pork chop I've seen in my life. Cooked to perfection, grill marks perfectly laid on the outside and tender in the middle, this dish I would do over again if I go back. The ambiance is really nice, it's not a typical French upscale interior, it has a mix of subway style flair, open court, and fine dinning. The only drawback is the noise level. Having done the patio for breakfast on one occasion I found the patio to also be inviting, as you can watch the busy street and people go by while getting that fine dining feel. Also, to speak of the breakfast, the eggs benedict is divine! I will be back.
(4)
Chlo L.
I have to admit, I was expecting a little bit more from this place with all the fantastic reviews... but I guess we've been spoiled by french restaurants from DC, St. Maartin, & Paris. We came here for a little family dinner before leaving town. We got the steak frites, st jaques scallops, salmon, & beef bourguignon. I've had better bourguignon from american restaurants. I would have ordered my usual - duck breast, but they didn't have any rice. :( The only things that lived up to our expectations were the scallops, drinks, and the service. This was our first time here, but Mark made us feel like we were regulars. It got a bit crowded by the bar though, so expect it if you're coming around 6 or 7. I highly recommend the Ti Punch!
(3)
B H.
4 ish stars for Sunday brunch. Our party enjoyed Eggs Benedict, cappuccinos, fresh oj. Prices were reasonable at ab 70 w tax for 3. Roomy, trendy, French atmosphere, with lots of windows & patio options. Great jazz trio when we were there. Seemed kid friendly as well.
(5)
Jessica J.
Great atmosphere, amazing service. We share the cheese platter very tasty. I got the lamb shank, first time eating lamb, maybe I don't like lamb but I wasn't crazy about it, beans were very good. He got the rib eye, loved it so much he ate until he was miserable. Chocolate sundae for the dessert very good!! Wine was perfect, we have different tastes and the waiter selected a great wine we both enjoyed. We had a gift card and are glad toga be gone, don't know if we would have eaten here otherwise. If went back I would order something different, I just don't think I'm a lamb fan but I wanted to order something different.
What's not to love this place is perfect from our wonderful server Veronica to the very attentive waiters the dessert was impeccable wonderful creme brulee just love this place
(5)
Karly G.
I really wanted to like this place because it's within walking distance for a quick lunch and I love French food. But my palate is denying me of it. :( The interior is beautiful and great patio seating with view of the chaotic Buckhead traffic. The service is stellar and the price is reasonable. But I can't get over the food. We order the croque muensier salmon (basically smoked salmon sandwiched between slices of lightly toasted brioche). Although I love the combination, the look of it was missing that ooompf to want me to love it. For my entree, I had the Coq Au Vin - chicken braised in red wine and mushrooms. According to the waitress, the chicken has been marinating in the red wine for 3 days. It was just ok. Nothing overly exciting about it either. I have to say that the most exciting dish of the entire meal was the bread and butter. That's one of the best French bread I've had in a long time and you can't go wrong with butter. Yum! All in all it was ok. I probably won't be back for awhile.
(3)
Mary B.
I love this place! Great trout meunière . Mwaw is always a fan of French bistros:) This is my Atlanta haunt. Always a little Noisy maybe because it is soooo popular! A must if u r in the hood!
(5)
Ellen R.
I've only been here once. Had a business lunch and were pressed for time. The host had us seated and let our server know we had a time constraint. Our server provided us with a complimentary mushroom flatbread pizza for an appetizer and let us know that medium well or well done burgers would take around 15-20 minutes to help guide our decisions so that we would be able to have a quick lunch. I ordered the Niçoise salad (light and delicious). After delivering our meals, out server asked if we'd like him to bring the check since he knew we were in a bit of a rush. I was very pleased with my meal, enjoyed the lovely interior decorating, and was very happy with the attentive customer service.
(5)
Dee K.
Disclaimer- I have been here 3 times in last 1 month but only for lunch. So this review is for lunch only. My husband and I like French food. Escargot's here are perfect... Obviously not if you wanna kiss your date until and unless your date also decided to dig in and stink of garlic. But taste amazing and I loved them. Pasta was great- they also had a Chilean Sea bass which was perfectly cooked. Mussels are yummy and make sure to keep room for lots of bread if you like broth. Deserts are heavenly and the bartender was my husband's favorite show piece to watch. She was pretty and knew her drinks well.... So I didn't mind him watching her- cause I knew he was coming home with me ;-)
(5)
Mike M.
What a terrific spot. The decor and atmosphere are rich and I love how open the place is. Love the French theming. The food is tremendous. Make sure you start with baskets, yes plural, of the Gruyere cheese puffs. The appetizers the flatbreads are terrific. We had a special one with duck prosciutto. Also loved the pork belly, a really big piece for sharing and the scallops. The beef bourguignon is made with Kobe need cheeks and is just delectable.
(5)
Eric D.
Looking forward to this place for some time. Very nice and very authentic as a French bistro. Food wasnt stellar but was good. I have an Au Pouvire which lacked real seasoning. I'd go again and try something else.
(3)
Reid S.
Took the wife here for an early Mother's Day dinner. It was a remarkable experience. We enjoyed the snails under pastry, cheese app and some blue points to get started. With a few martinis and glasses of wine thrown in there we were ready for dinner. Time was taken and we were not rushed by the staff at all. Vic was our server and knew when to be there and when to give us space to enjoy our evening. The duck breast arrived right on queue and took out very breadth away. It was a perfect perfect blend of crisp and succulence. The best I've ever enjoyed. Thank you chef. Desert was a caramel ice cream Sunday. The food, the experience and the service demand the 5 stars I awarded this meal. Thank you to all who helped make this meal a memory.
(5)
Sc M.
Excellent food and ambience. My daughter wanted to go to a french restaurant. We ended up at this fabulous place in Buckhead. Located 1 minute from the marta rail. Tried the duck and the peppercorn crusted mushroom burger. The burger was the best i have ever eaten. Packed with flavor and crusted. The sauce had very fine slivers of mushroom. Every bite made you want more. Literallly melted in your mouth.White bean soup was stellar. Duck was small but tasty. Sampling of cheeses for an appetizer is a good idea (small portions but flavorful). Service was superior.
(5)
Ian S.
The place was packed so I expected this to be great. Escargot was overly heavy on the garlic do the puff pastry was absolutely essential. Maybe they were carrying to people trying to impress their fate with how wordly they ate without actually tasting the annals. Beef bourguignon was ok, but dry without the slow cooked goodness one would expect. The service, panned by other Yelpers, was very good. Attentive and personal. That gave this back a star.
(3)
Mona K.
And again ... Bisto Nikko is on point... Man, I need to start getting a discount for the amount of time I go there !!
I have been in the mood to try the slightly ostentatious, but fun Buckhead Life Restaurants. It makes sense given that I live in Brookhaven about 5 minutes away. Came here on a Saturday night with my better half. Executed the mandatory valet parking. Now waiting 30 minutes to be seated with a reservation is not the best way to kick of the evening, but I I'll cut them slack, because of how popular this place is. Still I noticed some folks without reservations that were acting shady trying to get a table, and possibly succeeding, but whatever. Looking around I noticed a lot of customers eating steak and fries. Did they forget they are at a French restaurant and not Outback Steakhouse? There are plenty of quintessential French items to choose from on the menu. Anyway, I enjoyed the faux gras and wasn't impressed by the beef bourguignon. My significant other said her trout had too much butter. The service was great and very accommodating. Very inexpensive for a fancy restaurant. Looking forward to trying Bistro Nico again.
(3)
Shaye B.
This is a trendy fun place - great for happy hours or just a boozy meal in general. The food is hit or miss. Some of the items are creative, some are bland. Price wise it is average. I think you get what you pay for - lamb chops are cheaper than other restaurants here, but you can taste that $5 difference. The restaurant is surprisingly very large, which I typically do not like. I think larger restaurants tend to lack in environment - however Bistro Niko is very well done inside and the valet is great for how large of a place it is. The patio or that front section of the restaurant is the place to be - the people watching is fantastic. You have all sorts of people who are meeting for drinks and/or a meal. I think this place is a great price point for a trendy fun meal where you want to drink. Also, if I were ever looking to have a private event at a restaurant this place would be on my short list.
(4)
Eric B.
I came here for lunch with a business partner and while I loved the location, patio, atmosphere, and dining room, the food was just so-so. We ordered something from every section of the menu and some things were amazing and others we didn't finish. I will admit, it very well could be that I just am not a huge fan of true authentic French food, which this all was. But either way I just was not very satisfied at the end of the meal for what we spent. I would be open to coming back for dinner and trying it again to see if there's something I missed, but Im not chomping at the bit to do so.
(3)
Keith B.
Good Food should be Better This was our first time to Bistro Niko. The dining room is beautiful and feels like a bistro in Paris (or at least as Americans think one should look.) Due to a nearby commitment, it was most logical for us to have an early dinner at 4:30pm. That was fortunate since we were able to order from the less expensive lunch menu. We thought that the 3 course "les formules" menu for each of the three of us was good value and would let us try lots of different things. The appetizers of white bean soup and the mesclun salad were nice but nothing special. The croquet "Monsieur" au salmon, however, was probably the best thing we ate. For the entrees we had a nice "shrimp en brique" and a duck confit. Again, good but nothing special. The "chicken paillard" had a slightly rubbery texture. For dessert we had the crème brulee which, again, was good but not great. The baba au rhum was excellent. The service was attentive and pleasant. While we enjoyed almost everything, only a couple of things rose to the level of very good or better. I wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
(4)
Ryan L.
Great French bistro. We had a dozen oysters and they were very fresh. Really fantastic french onion soup. Sea bass was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were delicious. Service was tight. If I wasn't such a food snob, I'd give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving those for the super memorable occasions. ;)
(4)
Erica J.
As always, my visit this weekend to Bistro Niko was nothing less than Amazing. We had the Salmon Tart as an appetizer, which was wonderfully prepared. I had the European Sea Bass as my entree. My husband had the Peppercorn Filet Medallions. Both dishes were delicious. The service has always been first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an all-around, first class dining experience.
(5)
Anna S.
Very nice French restaurant. Delicious brunch. Good environment for a conversation, too. They even had Alieve for my headache. Very unique was the fact that our reservation was for 2:15 pm, but we cane after Buckhead Church service around 12:40 pm. We asked if we could be accommodated, and they did take us in. Service was great! Indoor and outdoor sitting available. Diverse menu selection. Unfortunately, we had no place for dessert. Overall, Very pleased!
(5)
Laura N.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta! I love coming here for dates, business lunches, and dinner with friends and family. It is a gorgeous restaurant with excellent food and outstanding service all the time. My favorite things to order at Bistro Niko are: - smoked salmon tarte - herb goat cheese ravioli with ratatouille - scallops St. Jacques - seafood tagliatelle pasta - profiteroles I have never had a bad meal here. Everything is pretty good, although I do find the chocolate waffles to be a bit underwhelming in their presentation. Valet parking is $2 + tip.
(5)
Allen P.
Food and service are always excellent. Deserts and appetizers seem to be way better than actually entrees here, although the scallops are perfect. Beautiful restaurant with nice staff. Nothing to complain about.
(4)
Jonathan P.
Came here for our wedding anniversary and had a great time. They were very accomodating when I moved the reservation from 6pm to 7pm same day. The staff was very nice and attentive and the food was excellent. Minor nitpick re 4 stars vs 5: asked our server for more information on the pate vs the terrine. He really didn't have any idea but had another server come answer my question. Was very nice and service was great throughout the meal, but a server at a French restaurant should have an answer to that question. Will definitely be going back. I highly recommend the lamb shank.
(4)
Grace C.
Had the Escargots, Classic Tuna Tartare, and Maine Scallops. Everything was delicious. It was my first time having escargot and it definitely won't be my last. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the buttery flavor was to die for. The fresh bread they serve is also amazing. I will definitely be back. One of the best meals I have ever had.
One of my favorites in Buckhead! Have to come back many times to get the Duck again, a rare thing for me - one who normally avoid having the same thing. If you like flavorful French food, don't sit outside though - those tables are truly bistro style and too small for any serious dinning.
(5)
Stephanie M.
The wine list is French if your not certain ask, otherwise "bubbles" are always fun and we all know what those are. Duck Confit Salad - Oh my, I've had this on more than one occasion and enjoy it every time. Leg and thigh come on a bed of Fri see lettuce with a few roasted potato's. The sauce I can't figure out but it compliments the the bitter from the lettuce and you want to run your fork full of duck/juices and potato's in it. The duck is tender your knife is only needed for manners. Caviar - If it is there on the menu well... um I may have to take a second glance and maybe even order it. The house version is a blend, it is priced friendly gentlemen you can breath & girls we can afford it. While it is not Beluga it is tasty and a conversation piece. It is served with small puffed toasts and comes in a 2 oz. or 4 oz. can on shaved ice. Tuna Tartar - The flavor is there simple and clean with a touch of red onion. I wanted to like it but the texture threw me off, never having this before just didn't appreciate what they were trying to do. Boeuf Bourguignon - Is a simmered dish with beef braised in red wine with a touch of vegetables on top of noodles is hearty but not heavy. Coquille St. Jacque - Scallops were perfect on a puree with a bit of asparagus and a light sauce. Crevettes Brique-T - Shrimp that are wrapped, crisped then placed over a slaw that has horseradish in it ? Not being a fan of "slaw" I was a bit skeptical at first but found the twist on this interesting and tasty. A two and three course "Pre Fix" menu is also available.
(4)
Brenda M.
My babe brought me here for a family night out. The ambiance was great our waiter was funny and the cocktails were tasty! Overall I give this place a four but I must say I've had way better french food before. It wasn't disappointing but it was just missing that certain genuine french flavor I was expecting in my mouth. I had the steak and frites medium-rare which tasted good but didn't look that appetizing for such a high scaled restaurant. One dish I do recommend is the scallops entree. Best cooked scallops I've had. They were cooked to perfection. The cocktail drinks were also very tasty. Would recommend to try it out at least once ;)
(4)
Amy H.
Wish I could do a 3.5 star. I felt a little mixed on this place. First, this is a gorgeous place, loved the atmosphere and it was PACKED. Wine list is FANTASTIC, but the glasses are expensive and I am pretty sure I got half a normal glass of wine. Finished it in about 4 sips. Had the cheese puffs for a starter they were eh. Not worth 7 bucks and not made freshly either. Escargot was my next and it was great! First time having it so cannot compare to any place else. It was buttery, and earthy and I was a big fan. Veal for dinner and it was OK. Nothing special. I probably should have gotten something more french? My friend had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC, and my other friend had the Coq Au Vin which was also very tasty. Creme breulee was not fantastic but not bad either. I thought it would be OVER the top. I prefer Alon's Bakery Creme breulee. Def come here to experience this place but not sure if I would come back.
(3)
Jonathan S.
I love this place, the decor and the ambiance are on point. It kinda looks like an old bank. We had the pan roasted duck and the veal. Both were delicious. The escargot is whatever. I will say the crowd seemed a bit older. This is a place for the OG suspender wearers and silicone injectors.
(4)
Serena B.
Love this place!!! Great beer on tap, osters and seafood! Leg of lamb is beautiful! Escargot and puffed pastry are my heart!!!!
(5)
Vonda D.
I had a gift card to Bistro Niko so a friend of mine and I decided to use it. So glad I did! We split a flatbread pizza and it was amazing! It was also filling, which I was surprised by. I got a chocolate sundae and it was different, but so good! I need to go back and try an entree!
(4)
Yuki M.
We go bistro nico sometimes. We like the duck and shrimp on the menu here! But my favorite is profiteroles!!! It's so yummy ;") If you don't know what to order dessert pls try it!!
(5)
Jim J.
Another great dinner here. I wish I could come here every couple of weeks. My only comment this time was that service was slow once we received our order. We just sat and sat waiting for dessert menus. And waited a long time for dessert to arrive after ordering. Same issue in getting our check, and then return of check and credit card. A couple of managers even came by during the meal to make sure things were okay (I suspect they knew things were backlogged somewhere). Not going to let that stop me from coming. I love this place, the food, the atmosphere, the friendly hostesses. Think it was just an off night for a short period of time.
(4)
Renee K.
I came here after walking around looking for somewhere to eat during my business travels. I decided to sit at the bar and really enjoyed my meal. I order the trout dish which was truly good. I highly recommend the dish. The service at the bar was so-so. One of the employees was great, the other not so much. The menu has a lot to offer, and they had a pretty decent wine offering.
(3)
Mercedes C.
My friend and I had a great dinner at Bistro Niko last night. The bartender, I think his name was Dave, was terrific!!! I had a dirty martini at the bar before dinner. And had a nice glass of Pinot Noir with dinner. Thanks new bartender friend!! Now for the ambiance, it was lovely. Not too loud, beautiful atmosphere. Next, the food, I wish I could add a picture but I tore into my lamb chops as soon as I got them. After grace of course lol......the mashed potatoes were awesome as were the fingering potatoes. The lamb chops were cooked just right and tender. Bistro Niko is a favorite on my list from now on!!!!!!
(5)
Mindy W.
This French dining experience was more like a bar/lounge scene. Extremely loud even at7:30pm on a.Monday.
(3)
Renee T.
Their French Onion Soup is to die for!! It is the perfect FOS. It tastes slow cooked until it becomes sublime. The flavors are layered and complex and it has the perfect amount of everything. Eat this when you go there. Everything else is fantastic too. Service on point.
(5)
H. M.
I've eaten at Bistro Nike at least a dozen times and every single time I have had to swat fruit flies away from me. Get an exterminator, it's gross!
(3)
Tye T.
This place is absolutely amazing. Kayjee (sp?) provided the best service that I have experienced in an Atlanta restaurant. We started the with mussels and calamari as the appetizer. Both were delicious but the mussels were a clear winner. My boyfriend had the steak au poivre and I had the duck, both were excellent. The steak was tender and the duck was perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Quinn V.
We made a reservation via open table for a Friday date night. We were promptly seated at a booth with a window view. Complimentary sparkling water was served along with slightly warm French bread. I almost shouted no gas! (as in gazeuse) when it was offered. But since it was offered, and we were feeling nostalgic... Appetizers: --mussels (nothing special, a little lackluster. But the creamy buttery sauce made a great dipping sauce with the bread.) --good foise gras Entrees: --seafood pasta: I misread or misunderstood the description. I thought it would be more of marinara or herbs base type of pasta. Instead, it was a creamy, alfredo-like base, which in general I am not a big fan of. Usually it will feel too rich after a few bite. Much to my surprise, it was good. It was nicely flavored, not too rich. --steak It was overall a savory, moist, & just the right color of pink-medium rare piece of steak. We especially like the sauce that goes with it. The only drawback was the saltiness. If only a pinch of salt was held back it would have been perfectly seasoned. It goes well with a glass of red wine. Nice ambience and romantic setting.
(4)
Cherise J.
Their valet service is terrible. I absolutely think it's hideous to have folks waiting FOREVER to get their cars parked and then mandate a charge for it. Someone needs to change this process immediately!! The service and the food was on point. We go seated pretty quickly and I must say that our server was very professional. I wish I got his name so you can ask for him when you go, but he's an older gentlemen with a foreign accent. He literally could be an ambassador for this restaurant. The way he described their menu items was incredible. I ended up ordering stuff I hadn't planned on ordering!! The french onion soup was a little more chunky than what it should have been, but the manager corrected that. The beef bourguignon was spectacular. If you order one of the non-fried chicken entrees, you may want to ask if they can go light on the seasoning because some of those entrees might be a little more salty than what you would want. All in all, this was a very good experience. If they can lower the noise level, it'll be perfect, but it's certainly good enough to come back.
(4)
Greg M.
I've been to this area on business trips several times in the last few months and this is by far my favorite, My last meal there was perfect- the special was maui-mahi roasted with a delicate lemon/caper sauce- I've been trying to duplicate it at home with partial success. The wine list is the high point (along with the food), the cocktails tend to be Vodka based which doesn't interest me as much. Though I did have a really great rum drink (that I've also been trying to recreate). I hope to come back.
(4)
Han L.
And so I have become a Francophile. Jk. This place has an lovely ambiance; it had me at HELLLO! I love the vintage French feel; cigarette machine, posters, vintage tiles, servers' uniforms. It's so beautifully French! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I came here for lunch but definitely want to return for dinner. There are other wonderful French restaurants in town, but Bistro Niko has the ideal French appeal. It's classy and not whimsical. The clean lines and shapes makes it refined, but not austere. It's still a welcoming space. gahhhh, I like it so much! Bistro Niko has a lovely outdoor seating area. There aren't much pedestrian traffic, but it was nice to enjoy the fall weather. However, one downside was a pesky fly that eventually drowned in my friend's glass of water. Sucker! The lunch menu is quite big. My friend ordered the scallops and I decided on the duck. For an additional $4, you can add an other duck leg to the order. I did not opt for that, regretfully. There was a generous amount of scallops on my dear friend's dish. It sits atop pureed potatoes, and a nice creamy sauce. MY dish was the bomb diggity. The best duck EVER. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that was it was fried in its own fat, but it was light and crispy. The duck was so tender. oooh baby. soo good. I highly recommend this dish for lunch and to order an additional leg for the extra $4 dollars. DO IT MAN! The servers are very helpful and attentive. I may have been mesmerized by my server's sweet accent. Don't park in the lot. Bistro Niko doesn't validate parking. Valet parking costs $2, but it will end up being cheaper than garage parking, even with tip included.
(4)
Angie E.
My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were well taken care of from the time we arrived until we left. Our server was very sincere and attentive. The food was good and I look forward to visiting again to try something else and see how I like their other entrees.
(4)
Sue G.
The food was excellent but they tried to double the check. When we ask about the check, the waitress knew what was wrong without even looking at the ticket. Be sure and check the total. Update: We went back and had a delightful dinner, the best tip I can give is ask for the salon. It is quaint and quiet enough to chat. Trout is great and my husband loves the pizza.
I'm a big fan of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, and Bistro Niko was on my list of places to try for a long time. Finally got a chance to eat here for my 25th birthday with my friend, and it lived up to my expectations. Bistro Niko serves French cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice restaurant. What caught my eye was the $25 for two plates (deux plats), where you can choose one of three appetizers (salmon croque monsieur, white bean soup, or salad with dijon vinaigrette) and one of three entrees (haddock, chicken in wine sauce - coq au vin, or shrimp in puff pastry). I ended up ordering the salmon croque monsieur, which came with 4 pieces of what looked like a perfectly buttered grilled cheese with slices of smoked salmon inside. The texture was heavenly and was a great start to the meal. As the entree, I ordered the coq au vin, which was very flavorful from the wine reduction and the chicken meat literally fell off the bone because it was so tender. My friend started with the white bean soup which was sooo flavorful - I think the truffles enhanced what would have been an already good white bean soup. For her entree, she ordered the Haddock Provencal, which was so good that it blew my mind. The fish itself was so tender and the ratatouille veggies added good flavor without being overwhelming. The polenta was alright, but I wish I ordered the Haddock - I could eat that forever. Next time, I think I would order the $29.95 three plates with the mesclun salad, shrimp puff pastry, and creme brulee dessert. Can't wait to come again! [45 of 100]
(4)
Michelle M.
Excellent food, I eat here frequently for business lunches. The service is always excellent and it always impresses. My current favorite is the chicken paillard, though everything I have tasted is delicious, and I've been here about 12 times in the past 6 months. My only suggestion for a large group or business meeting would be to request the dining room on the side, which I do, because it's generally really loud in the main dining room. See you soon BN.
(5)
Jon P.
Went here for a date on a Buckhead Life gift card. First off, the patio is awesome - which is why we chose this restaurant to begin with. We sat outside and saw all sorts of interesting people / things driving and walking by on Peachtree Road. Also the service was very good and we never waited on anything that we didn't want to and were always well taken care of. With the food I have mixed emotions. It was no doubt good - but it was not as good as other Buckhead Life restaurants I have been to and not as good as the price tag may suggest. With that said, we tried to go as French as we possibly could with our selections and started out with the faux gras, which was massive. Between two of us we managed to take down the fancy feast sized patty and while it was delicious it was entirely too much for a first timer. We then got two different meals that were both fish. I don't remember what the GF ordered but I had the salmon with capers and it was pretty good. Overall it was good food and good drinks but I probably would not go back if I had to foot the bill.
(3)
Frank M.
We eat there from time to time including last night. I made my reservation for 6 two days prior. I wanted 7 to 7:30PM. Phone receptionist was insistent that I choose 6:45 or 8:30 as the closest to my preference. I chose 6:45PM. This was a very slow night for them-- beginning of Memorial Day weekend. The place was never over a third full the entire time we were there. When we arrived there seemed to be more staff than patrons. Two things. Why hassle me and be so inflexible about my arrival time request? They should have just said yes. But, I think it was a control thing with the receptionist. Her attitude was, we're Bistro Niko, and you only get to come when you say we can even if you're the only one coming. With all the staff standing around, do you think we received prompt attention? We sat there for 10 min right next to a staff station before are drink order was taken. During this time the staff was careful about not making eye contact with me. God forbid I would ask for something. This is not even close to the service offered in France. That said, our food was very good. We had the raw oysters too. Excellent.
(3)
Jim B.
Poor experience. As a former server I'm usually pretty lenient on them but mine was terrible. No greeting no check up, added literally nothing. Never even told me his name. I was also given dirty silverware. Best part of my meal was the frisee salad which was above average but my trout was just eh. String beans and fingerling potatoes (all 3 of the little guys) were swimming in oil. I am an out of town business traveler but I have to imagine there are plenty of better options in Buckhead.
(2)
Sylvia Z.
After complaining to Buckhead Life management, they were amazing. They agreed that our experience was not satisfactory, and have bent over backwards to make it up to us. We will be dining at another Buckhead Life restaurant later this month, and I am confident that our experience will be completely different.
(5)
Tiff H.
Came here for happy hour, which my team manager deemed as "class field trip" that was much needed. He treated us all to drinks, although I made sure not to drink too much on an empty stomach... I got a vodka tonic and nursed it while alcohol flowed all over the place... We got some small appetizers as well, and I was glad I was sober to enjoy them, unlike the rest of my team. Gougères Light were AMAZING. fluffy and hot and chewy. perfection. i couldn't stop eating Oysters: i'm not a fan but I think my team really enjoyed these on the rocks! Smoked Salmon tarte: wished i had eaten more of this... this was rocking. I think we ordered one more appetizer of some sort, similar to a bruschetta, but I can't remember... I definitely want to come here again... If only my manager would be paying for that, too!
(5)
K W.
The St Germaine cocktail was lovely. Light, bright and quite tasty. Actually that was the best part of the meal. The bread was fresh but not warm and the butter was cold and hard to spread. The white bean soup tasted as though the entire salt shaker had been dropped in the bowl. The trout almandine was bland. The green beans in butter sauce was the second best part of the meal the meal was ok but definitely not worth the $40. Meh.
(2)
Glenn T.
Our server was quite nice. We felt sorry for her, trapped as she was in the restaurant equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle: a kitchen with no fire control, a slow bar, and expectant diners. The fairly priced foie gras wasn't treated as fairly in return, the first presentation charred to the point of bitterness, the second actually cold on the inside. No Goldilocks we, a shot at "just right" wasn't happening. Beef bourginon was remarkably dry and the scallops far, far overcooked. Wine by the glass arrived too late to enjoy with either course. Too bad because the room is charming, the location convenient, and the concept attractive. There are times when faux French is just the ticket but it fell short on this trip.
(2)
Lynn E.
Sometimes you need night in Paris at a bistro... Bistro Niko is your Atlanta escape to cafe life -- and it's right on Peachtree. Service is spot on. The menu has ample section and hey you're not cooking. On a recent evening we had the divine White Bean soup (a must - velvety smooth, perfectly seasoned and creamy delicious, the mesculan salad (chilled to perfection), the trout and the duck. A lovely evening was enjoyed. We didn't order dessert by the options were VERY tempting.
(3)
Donald L.
Bring ear protection. This is by far the loudest restaurant that I have visited. We were seated in a booth near the middle of the room and we were forced to yell at each other to hear what the other was saying. The food was fine. I had the scallops and they were great, buttery and delicious. Julie had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was not up to the Julia Child version for those who have made it. We also split an endive salad having already had an app at del frisco while waiting for our late reservation. The salad was pretty terrific, I would recommend it. Overall the dinner was fine. The restaurant was like eating on the runway at Hartsfield.
(3)
Chris C.
We just happened to walk by this restaurant by our hotel and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised. Nice ambience, great waitstaff, and delicious food. We tried smoked salmon flatbread, mushroom and cheese flatbread, endive salad, roasted duck, escargot, and of course a few glasses of mimosas :)...all great, full of flavor, and nice portion sizes.
Nice, but if you are going to serve raw oysters, you should have crackers and hot sauce. For the price of those suckers, a few crackers should be provided. They had neither. What has the world come to? I won't be there again just because I found it insane.
(3)
Vlad H.
Go eat there! It's good, decent place, but falls a notch short of excellent. Bistro Niko is a French-oriented restaurant. Yesterday was our third or fourth visit there. We had wine, two appetizers and shared an entree. All were good, but each had a little flaw that merited taking away one star. Wine by the glass. It was good. We are not experts on good wine, but quite good at detecting the bad one. These days with good wine being so available, it's no surprise that wine of great quality and diversity is served at a place like Bistro Niko. What was surprising though, is very stingy amount of wine poured in grotesquely small glasses. It makes you feel like a giant with oversized hands. We understand that wine is a profit center, but simply because Buckhead crowd is well-off, it does not make ethical to rip patrons off this way. C'mon, Niko. This was just a bit weird. Escargots appetizer. It's above average, possibly even best in town. The only spoiler was pieces of a shell or something alike present in one of mollusks, unpleasantly crunching on my teeth. Pork belly appetizer. The good news - it was truly outstanding. The bad news, it was not a pork belly. It was a piece of heavenly pork meat with everything around it being great. But a pork belly is mostly a piece of fat. It's tricky to cook and unusual for the US. It's a challenge for a chef to make it well and make it popular, and Niko's chef cheated. The result is great but not a real pork belly. Beef Bourguignon entree. It was good, but the sauce was a bit overpowering and while some pieced of beef (kobe) were perfect, some were dry. Better consistency is expected from Niko. The pasta that was a part of the dish almost steals the show. It was so unexpectedly good, it was in a league of its own. Overall, I will eat at Niko again and recommend others. At the same time Niko needs to improve in a few areas.
(4)
Patrick L.
The skate wing had a really unique texture and I've never seen it on a menu before. I'm glad I ordered it but don't think I could do it agin ... skates are too graceful and my daugthers like em. It's like eating a monkey. In the end, if you like clarified butter you will freaking love this place. I think my beer had butter on it. A bit pricey but not a bad choice if you have a corporate card.
(3)
Jody B.
Happened upon it on a quick trip to Atlanta near our hotel- great decor a noisy bustling room. Cheese puff apps were adorable and scrumptious. We had- chicken paillard which was great, croque Monsieur, also good, duck- hubby says may be the best he's had- and roasted chicken- yummy. Service was attentive but not overnebearing- really fine meal!!
(4)
V T.
Think I'm going to start briefly listing things that best describe the rating v/s tell the whole story. Mussels app - mussels had not been washed and were filled with grit. Thought I chipped my tooth before realizing it was the dirt from the mussels. Snails were ok - but when compiled with mussel dish became lackluster. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon were both at LEAST 2 days old. Chicken was dry as a bone and both dishes had mushrooms that were burned / black. Butter noodles cooked in saltless water / flavorless. Dessert was good - and helped to improve the taste left by the other dishes. Server was quality. Felt bad he had to serve that garbage to people.
(2)
Joseph L.
Great Lunch and Great Service. A good place to stop by during lunch hour to pickup a quick bite to eat.
(5)
Wendy D.
The food and service were great! I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 for a few small (but significant to me) reasons. We went late--30-45 min before closing. The music was too loud, the bread was sour dough instead of French baguette (why would a French restaurant not have french bread?), the mussels were slightly undercooked (slimy), and the valet left without telling me how to retrieve my car--and the restaurant sent me to the wrong security desk to retrieve my keys when I asked where my car was. Had the valet TOLD me he was about to leave, I'd have either self-parked or asked how to retrieve my car and tipped him 5 bucks upfront. Ok, I'll quit whining and get to the food: The Chateaubriand was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I was excited I could order it for one. The potatoes were sliced thinly with butter, egg, and cream. Yum! My hubby had coq au vin (he raved about it) and salmon croque monsieurs as his starter. He loved everything he had. It was an affordable meal at $75 (no alcohol). Just wish the bread and mussels were better, and that I didn't have to play hunt and find for my car in 40 degree weather (my coat was of course in the car). LoL
(3)
Tejal P.
This is our Sunday Brunch Spot... the bartenders are awesome. Tommy and Ranilya make the best drinks!
(5)
Hilary O.
After a day working through lunch, my colleague and I were looking for a good local eat near our hotel in Buckhead. This is probably the longest I've ever taken to decide on what to order - the menu was well balanced with unique appetizers, small plates, and a plethora of seafood and steak dishes for dinner. Thankfully out waiter was very patient and helpful. Great atmosphere and even better food!
(4)
Jessica B.
The food here was good! Overpriced, but I was still impressed with the presentation and overall quality of food. The atmosphere was very nice, it did give you that Paris feel. The reason that Bistro Niko gets 3 stars from me is because of the service. Our server must have walked right past our table 6 times and didn't even glance our direction. Even holding up our credit card, ready to pay, nothing! We ended up letting a manager know and he was the one to close us out. We asked for our dessert to go for obvious reasons. Not only did the manager not comp any of our meal for the terrible service, our crème brulee was tossed into a box, face down. By the time we got home it looked like old baby food. We originally went here with a gift card and I must say we won't be back. For that price, the food and the service better be outstanding! There are too many other wonderful places to eat in Atlanta!
(3)
Jake R.
amazing duck, amazing food!!
(5)
Mebin J.
A nicely designed restaurant with little ambience. I really don't know what is the real hype behind this , it's just a French restaurant that's it. The food was good ,but the ambience really not that great. It's really ddnt make me to comeback again,looks like my first time here is my last time. Good - nice restaurant design , classy upscale location , French food. Bad - ambience didn't come to my expectation -just feel like a regular restaurant , then may be valet parking, poor wine list for a French restaurant.
(3)
Ashley M.
This place definitely lives up to the hype. My boyfriend and I started off with the Gougeres (light gruyere cheese puffs) and the Herb Goat Cheese Ravioli. The cheese puffs literally melt in your mouth-- they were so delicious I couldn't stop popping those heavenly little bites! The goat cheese ravioli was also delicious, but I would highly recommend the puffs. For my meal, I had the Scallops St. Jacques (sauteed sea scallops, asparagus, white wine nage, pomme puree). It was a most excellent dish! I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally finished every bite of my dish and was just a tad short of licking my plate clean. Definitely can't wait to go back! The only cons for this place seem to be the noise level (oddly loud and not intimate) and the service was not particularly stellar. Otherwise, this would be a perfect review!
(4)
Mark C.
So the team at buckhead life made it right. I won't go into the details other than to say Niko handled the matter personally, quickly, and WAY beyond what I would have expected.
(5)
Michael B.
I'm a little bit biased due to the convenience factor since this place is about a 30 second walk from my house, but I'm generally tough to please when it comes to French food... Atmosphere - It really has the feel of a French bistro (if only it were 1/2 the size and the ceilings were about 5 feet lower). It is always VERY loud in the main dining room, especially for dinner, but even the lunch time crowd seems to generate a lot of noise. So make sure to ask to sit in the somewhat secluded/private room by the hostess stand if you want to have a conversation. In the evenings, especially weekends, beware of the cougars. Lots of them patrolling the bar so beware. Food - As I mentioned, I'm normally tough to please when it comes to French food, but they know what they're doing here. Some of my favorites here include: Beef Tartare, Duck, Mashed Potatoes (these are a MUST try here) and the absolutely must have Bouef Bourguignon. They also, in my opinion, make the best Moscow Mule in the city so if you want a nice refreshing beverage this is the one to get. Service - This has always been hit and miss here. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Some of the waiters are just plain weird, others unfriendly, and some are ok. Not being, picky, the service really is enough of an issue to cost Niko a star. All in all though, a good place and fairly inexpensive considering the quality of the food.
(4)
Saba E.
Wow! I was here with my family for a lovely Friday night dinner. We started off with an order of blue-something oysters but they accidentally brought us puff pastry escargot! Yum! Then they brought us the right order but no one was bothered by the delicious appetizers. Our entrees were an absolute delight! Altogether we had a coq au vin, peppercorn crusted steak, some fancy chicken dish, halibut, and a fantastic trout. Even though our tummies were content, the lovely posters of Paris forced our hands to dessert and espresso. We indulged in profiteroles and sorbet. We went home happy, tummies content, and satisfied to have discovered a gem in Atlanta. And, btw, the service was attentive and very professional. They were discrete and conscientious of all allergies. I have a great new place to attend when I return!
(5)
Amit M.
I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the expertise with which different dishes were executed.
(5)
Jo H.
This is a very good restaurant but their coed bathrooms are appalling. There is no choice between ladies or gentlemen, just the next available stall. The floors were wet and dirty, I won't be going back because of this arrangement. Too bad, because the food is good.
(3)
Quality K.
Good Food, great service and excellent atmosphere. Food and beverage definitely worth paying for.
(5)
Sara B.
This is my second time at Bistro Niko, and I love it. If you're wondering if this is good choice, yes it is! And it's a good choice for the culinary adventurous to the meek (like myself). This time I had gougeres, the french onion soup, and roasted chicken. It was all completely amazing! I had part of creme brulee, profiteroles, and the baba au rhum. I'd say the profiteroles is best option. If morbid obesity and bankruptcy wouldn't be right around the corner, I'd be going every night.
(5)
Gabriel B.
Great atmosphere, service and food. You really feel immersed into a early 20th century parisian cafe, with the stained glasses, dimmed lights and the typical black and white waiters garments. The menu covers well the internationally known part of the french cuisine: croque monsieur, escargot, steak frites, duck confit, creme brulee, but goes beyond to offer some interesting variations, like the horseradish cod with moroccoan couscous. Highly recommended for business dinner, romance or just an unplanned bite if you are around buckhead.
(4)
David S.
Google maps was not quite right to get us there but every thing else was very good. We split a large appetizer of mussels that were excellent. Rose wine went well with them. For entrees my wife had scallops while I had the veal. Dessert was the Profiteroles. Also excellent The only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(4)
Aaron B.
The worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. The environment was uninviting, everyone working had a scowl on their face, our server didn't even ask if we wanted a drink, the Au Poivre Burger was slimy and disgusting and it took more then 5min for them to bring ketchup when requested. The manager stopped by to ask how everything was but with no sincerity or personality. If I could give less then one star I would.
(1)
Ali S.
for a fancy restaurant the portions are quite decent chicken paillard was delicious as was their house rose wine also had the seafood pasta. could have been a little more al dente, but also goo. have yet to try their deserts. great service. has a modern kitcheny feel
(4)
s a.
The food was good. The drinks were ok. A friend and I both ordered Bloody Marys, and they were served in 2 completely different glasses. Hers was almost twice as big. The service left much to be desired. Everything was super slow. We arrived at 1230 and didn't leave until 245. That is a bit much. Lastly, the valet is friendly but not the speediest.
(3)
chestnutt C.
OK, so we were here just for lunch. But what a lunch it was! If you like typical Parisian neighborhood food, you will adore Bistro Niko. Steak Tartare to weep for. All that was missing was a raw egg on top. (Next time I'll ask for one). Frites in perfection. A Croque Madam exquisitely prepared. A Cafe au Lait to die for. Our waiter, James, was knowledgeable and professional. We will return for foie gras in the evening, and more. Why did we not know about Bistro Niko? It's not Paris but it's pretty darn close!
(5)
L T.
I had lunch there on 9/11 with a coworker of mine who was in military uniform. Not only was the food simply delicious, the owner came out and offered to cover the cost of my coworkers meal and thanked him for his military service. This was truly the highlight if my visit to Georgia. Wonderful service and great atmosphere!
(5)
Saira K.
I chose this place for a celebratory dinner, expecting a memorable experience. Their signature dish, the scallops, were full of sand and grit. I gave the dish back, starved, and waited for a replacement. The second time, there was again sand in the scallops. Annoyed at having waited 45 minutes to eat, I told my server that I would skip the entree and just have dessert. He brought out the dessert and then a bill for $51.00 and another bill for $8.50. I was shocked! The manager, Vladimir, was embarrassed and apologized profusely. I had eaten nothing - the very first bite of scallops in both cases had sand - not even my dessert yet, and I was being charged $60!! Vladimir cancelled the 8.50 for dessert. The $51 was a pending charge on my card for a week before it was cancelled. My server was inattentive, and there is no excuse for how much I was charged. I am glad, though, that I spoke with the manager, who seemed to be a nice guy. I am really disappointed - people around me were eating their food, enjoying, and my server was giving a lot of attention to the other table he was serving (they had 8 men in their party, while I was dining alone, and I resent that I was not given the attention and service that I deserve). I read the other reviews here about good service and feel upset that this respect was not there for me, but speaking to the manager was all right - he really seemed embarrassed.
(2)
Christina K.
Disclaimer: i only go here when the boss pays, not just because of the price, but it's just not my cup of tea when I think of lunch you know? The interior is really nice, and with the servers dressed as if this was a 5 star restaurant, it does make boost up your ego (must be why there are always so many suits here). The first time I was here I ordered the grilled chicken breast and a salad. It was nice, the meat was moist and pretty good. The second time, I ordered the burger and asked for no cheese (lactose intolerance), and although the server was very nice and even wrote it down, the burger was still served with cheese which I had to scrape off. Now, be warned that the burger was piled high which made it very hard to pick up and eat it in a dignified manner, especially in front of the boss! So I ended up cutting up the burger. The flavor was good, the temp perfect. I just wish that again, no cheese. The service is pretty much on spot. Kudos to whoever trains them because they know when to refill and clear plates. This is pretty difficult thing to always do when your clientele are usually having a business meeting over lunch.
(3)
Julee D.
Loved the ambiance, food, and wine. My favorite dishes include the prosciutto flat bread pizza, mussels, and creme brulee. I do recommend making a reservation because it is quite popular. We were there on a Thursday night and there was also quite a scene at the bar. Full of young, well dressed professionals there enjoying drinks and apps.
(4)
Brittany F.
Ambiance was nice, and we sat outside on a pretty day. Food was lackluster, which was disappointing. We had hoped for some delicious food before heading to an anticipated concert. Although I've had hits and misses here, this was a miss. Undercooked fish and slow service. We will try again though -- worth another try!
(3)
CAScuba Y.
Revisit after 4 months. This time got sat not in the little fine dining room but in the big room, actually next to the bar on a nice tiny booth by the window. Like it but the service was provided by the bartender, so it was a little hit or miss in between when I need something. The oyster was quite fine, taste of ocean, love it. The pastry snail also pretty awesome. Since Dante down the hatch is now closed, I am less motivated go out to Buckeye. I use to love a meal here and then head over the next block for some fine jazz
(4)
Kristy V.
This restaurant was recommended by a colleague (a local) as well as the hotel. The atmosphere was quite nice and sophisticated, with the option of indoor or outdoor dining. That said, the tables outside are teeny, so we opted to sit inside at a high-top near the bar. We enjoyed 2 appetizers, both of which I'd highly recommend: SEPIA PROVENCAL A LA PLANCHA - Similar to Calamari, tomato brulee, basil and olive oil puree, bread crumbs. The way the waitress described the "similar to calamari" thing made me nervous, but I'm glad that I went ahead. It is a variety of grilled squid, served on a nice thick slice of grilled, marinated tomato, and it was really yummy. Small portion. SALADE DE BETTERAVES - Pickled Baby Beets, Goat Cheese mâche lettuce, vinaigrette. Simply delicious. Very small portion. We tasted one wine that we actually sent back - Cab Sauv, Vin de Pays '09. It was far too acidic tasting. We ended up enjoying the Malbec, Mendoza '09 instead. I ordered the Coq au Vin which was amazing. It's a very complex dish, with several different flavours, and it's a classic. Much enjoyed. My friend ordered the Pâtes aux Fruits de Mer. Basically what happened was that we were having quite an intense conversation, the food arrived, and we were both speechless. I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, the food was delicious and my friend felt the same. The service was really good, but not over the top, which is the only reason that I haven't given them 5 stars.
(4)
Joel T.
The interior of the restaurant is fantastic, it hits all of the correct notes for a Parisian bistro. I was promptly seated and greated by my waiter but the service was not timely for the entire meal. Wine was delivered to the table very late and the bread came after my entree had arrived. My steak frites, while prepared perfectly, were under seasoned. This has all the makings of an excellent restaurant but the execution is a bit lacking.
(3)
Tara D.
Came here during a trip with friends because it was close to our hotel. Food was very good. We ordered Chicken Paillard, Salmon Beurre Rouche, and Seafood Pasta. We also shared Escargot and Gruyere Puffs and the Chocolate Sundae. No major complaints and we cleaned our plates. We came during happy hour on a Thursday and the bar scene was very vibrant. I would visit again.
(4)
Shawn L.
Bistro Niko is an interesting cafe in Buckhead, I'd almost say that the Park Slope hipsters moved south and decided to congregate here. The food is good, the service is very good and it's a nice place for a meal. I had the mussels and they were delicious, followed by the Beef Bourguignon on egg noodles which was sadly, a bit bland. The dish had a lot of potential, but lacked anything that made it stand out, including basic seasonings like salt and/or pepper, even adding salt didn't make it any better. Desert was ìle flotent, a delightful meringue with toasted, candied almonds on an almond creme anglaise. Wonderful! Prices were not bad, a meal without alcohol was about $44. Oh, and they need to serve more of their wonderful rustic bread with the mussels!
(4)
Nick B.
The food and service both outstanding and price was reasonable. I had sole- perfect and fits my criteria of ordering a dish we would never do at home. My wife had shrimp scallop calamari noodles also great. Shared scallop appetizer endive salad and meringue caramel dessert all a treat. Only drawback is noise level in large but beautiful room but next time in Atlanta will definitely go back
Dined here last night for "date night" with the fiance. We loved it. The restaurant is set up nice, the staff is friendly and they have complimentary valet. For our drinks, I had the Trois martini. It was yummy. VERY weak for a martini, but tasty. The fiance had his standard crown and coke. We started off with the mussels for our appetizer. It was absolutely delicious! The garlic cream sauce was soooo yummy! The mussels were a little on the small side but the sauce definitely made up for it. I had the seared scallops as my entree. There were eight scallops served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes in a cream sauce with a slight citrus accent. There were also a few stalks of asparagus as garnish. The scallops were seared to perfection and absolutely mouth watering! My fiance had the peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin. I'm not a big fan of peppercorns so I wasn't a big fan of this dish. However, peppercorns aside, the cut of beef was very good. The meat was flavorful, juicy and tender! For dessert we had the creme brulee and the sorbets. The creme brulee was good. The sorbets were ok, I've definitely had better. Can't wait to dine here again!
(4)
Jane E.
My friend was aching for some food on our way to Lenox and looked over and decided to stop at the first place he saw... it just so happened to be Bistro Niko. We pulled up, valet service. Walked in, and were greeted by two girls who asked if we had a reservation, we had none. It was early evening on a weekday so we were easily able to get a table. I wanted to sit on the patio at first (since that's what initially drew us in to eating there), but it was a hot Atlanta day and their patio doesn't have AC or fans, so we sat inside. Finally sit, and we take it all in.... y'all this place is really really pretty and nice! Very clean French restaurant with white table cloths....they sat us in one of the really nice big curved elevated comfy booths ( I guess we looked kinda important, lol). Most others were just sat at the table, hehehe... Server came over, told us about all the specials. He was polite and knowledgeable. I forgot the appetizer we got, it was good. My friend ordered one of the specials, and I got a salmon dish... I believe ESCALOPE DE SAUMON. While the place itself was lovely, the food was very pretty, but lacked flavor to me. Each of the items on the plate was plain and unflavored on its own (this fish, the greens, the sauce), but even when eaten all together it still didn't give me fireworks. I watch alot of Top Chef and stuff so I know different countries have different styles of cooking, I guess traditional french cuisine has very simple flavors? And don't use seasonings or spices to add flavors to the food? And don't use alot of other ingredients to add flavor to the food? Idk point is the flood isn't that flavorful. Even with the food not being that good, this place was such an unexpected delight! Many people dress up going here, we just randomly stopped in so we just had on nice, but non-fancy clothes (I think I had on a sweater, pants, and loafers and I think he was in business casual since he had just gotten off of work), I sorta expected them to be snooty, but they were nice from beginning to end. Bistro Niko exceeds its name, it doesn't seem like a simple bistro, but perhaps all the Bistros are this fancy in Paris, idk b/c I havent' been (yet). I loved how clean it was.... the atmosphere of this place is excellent. So while it probably deserves a 3 for the lackluster food, the atmosphere and overall experience makes up for it, so for now they get a four in my book :) All in all I will be coming back for breakfast one of these days... Random Note: Oh, and there bathrooms are pretty, but different from most... there's no girl/guy bathroom, there's about 5-6 individual "water rooms" and everyone, male and female have to wait in a line. They're quite nice inside, spacious, paitnings on the wall, nice lighting, but for the ladies there's no, "let me go to the restroom really quick to touch up makeup of fix something
(4)
Stephany V.
I really love this place and it's quickly becoming a big favorite in ATL. The scallops are DREAMY!! And those little cheese puffs before dinner...I could make a meal out of them. On our last visit we were seated in the bar area and our table was too small for four people. We were very cramped. The lighting was so low I had to use the light from my phone to see the menu. But the service and food are always tres bien!
(4)
Daisy B.
Nice French bistro atmosphere, sharp service and well-prepared food. The after-work bar scene is hopping with an over-35 crowd. It's a great place to go for a drink in Buckhead and not feel like the oldest person in the room. They were very accomodating in preparing gluten-free items (as are most Buckhead Life restaurants).
(4)
Georgia L.
Love the atmosphere, and the food is really some of the best French food in Atlanta. Their oysters are super fresh and the hanger Steak is really delish. We really love to come here and have an intimate dinner.
(5)
Sophia S.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. The website says they don't open until 11:30, but they were open and happy to seat us at 11:15am. We started with the cheese plate. It came with 3 cheeses (1 goat, 1 brie, and 1 other), apricot preserves, pistachio crums, and thinly sliced toasted cinnamon raisin bread. We also ate this with the warm, fresh bread that they brought to the table. I loved everything! The Croque Madame was a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with cheese and an egg. This was incredible, my fiance was in love with it. The side of duck potatoes were probably my favorite part of the whole meal. The waitress recommended the nicoise salad. It was a huge portion. I brought the leftovers home and it made a full dinner. My fiance said the espresso was nothing special. This brunch was great, it left me wanting to come back and try Bistro Niko for dinner.
This is the second time we have eaten here. The food and service are excellent! The French Onion soup was very good.
(5)
Barbara K.
Came early for dinner. Quiet just until we were leaving. Rather loud once restaurant full. Wine & beer selection great. Had the Seafood Tagliatelle Pasta - highly recommend. Not very impressed with the Gougeres as others has posted.
(5)
Wayne K.
Very upscale... Great Food!
(4)
Holy Guacamole M.
I wish i could rate food & service separately. If I could, I'd give the food 5-stars and the service 2-stars... maybe less. The price range is high, but anything food wise will EXCEED your expectations! The kitchen has it together - they're very consistent with preparing delicious food! My tastebuds thank you! However, the "service" doesn't match up to the food. The servers clearly don't care about your dining experience - you wait FOREVER for someone to greet you; half of the time you aren't given bread; there's no 2-min. check back; the staff isn't pleasant and there's no sense of urgency. Finally, I gave up on the service and quit coming, but the food is really good so if/when I do go, I just sit at the bar or order take-out :(
This place is terrible do not go . Don't waste your time or money!!! I just left there. They told us the wait was 30 min we ended up waiting 50 min. While we waited we had a glass of wine. And we kept asking and checking in with the front desk. After one drink. We noticed many people around us that got there after us were being seated. We checked in again and they gave us the same excuse. There was even a girl who made reservations and still waited went to find the manager and in front of us this was unacceptable! It us dont waste your time!
(1)
Sheila G.
Absolutely LOVE the patio- the most authentic european style patio I have seen outside of Europe! The staff is all incredibly well-informed of the menu items and pair the food well with appropriate drinks. I had my first Moscow Mule there and I LOVED it! I also love ALL the tarts under the appetizers and usually get all 3 when my girlfriends and I just want a light dinner and drinks before going out. I don't understand why people have given poor reviews over service, every time we go we have a different server and each experience has been better than the last. If you go, ask for Ashley! She is well-informed and more than accommodating- she truly makes dining out a great experience. Brunch was a little disappointing only because dinners were so superb. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, it just wasn't filling. The plates were small, but this might be my own problem- coming from an XXL America viewpoint- it might be a strategic Euro-tactic they were aiming for :)
(5)
Mick D.
Pricey. But good. The service was excellent. These folks know that crossed silverware on the plate means you're done. And the food was decent. The oysters, mussels, and the flatbreads were downright good. However, I'm wanting to try a sandwich next time. They're cheaper, and sound just as delicious as some of the way more expensive entrees. The atmosphere was good. Staff wasn't at all stuffy, and we quickly made friends with our servers. Wine recommendations were spot on. And we had a good time, even as we laughed at having to take out the occasional fruit-fly instigator.
(3)
D S.
Oddly, Atlanta is lacking compared to most other metros in French cuisine. Bistro Niko is luckily a good choice for French fare! One of my gal pals and I were driving down Peachtree on a Friday night after shoe shopping at Phipps. It was a cool summer night, the sunroof was open, and we were gabbing on about the wonderful deal we got on our shoes, when this wonderful aroma slammed our senses. I immediately turned into the driveway and made our way in. When I pulled up we had the choice of valet or self parking. I tend to shy away from valets when I can because of some horrible past experiences, so I pulled up to the parking deck. There was no signage as to rates or parking validation. That was a minus. Regardless, we parked and walked in. As a few of the posters mentioned the hostesses looked like they were going to "da club". They also seemed quite confused as to how to seat 2 people. They had a few tables available, and we asked to sit close to the patio. Between two of them, we ended up doing a loop around the restaurant until we pointed out the table. Because of the parking and the confused hostesses, I am dinging them a star. Our server was adorable and attentive. We weren't super hungry so we decided to split everything. They were very accommodating. We couldn't decide between two wines, so our server brought a tasting of both. For an appetizer, we ordered the escargot. Loved the puff pastry shell with it. They even brought us more warm bread to sop up the the yummy herb butter and olive oil sauce in the bottom of the dish. For dinner we split the steak au poivre, which melted in our mouths. For dessert, the profiteroles! Vanilla ice cream sandwiched in crispy pastry shells with a warm dark chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. I went to bed that night with a happy belly and some decked out feet.
(4)
Stephanie H.
In Atlanta for work and chose this place based on the reviews and the fact I could walk from my hotel. I sat at the bar. Service wasn't fantastic but that seems to be the case when you're dining alone. The server when she did arrive was nice and had a great wind recommendation. Great Malbec. The steak frites was yummy although the fries weren't great. Seemed like standard fries and a bit greasy tasting. Mesclun salad was ok. Atmosphere is odd. The restaurant is fancy and the bar has an eclectic crowd.
(3)
Ashley S.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! When you walk in you are just taken back at how adorable this place is. The service was also excellent. Still water in large glass bottle on the table just keeps it even more classy lol. Can't wait to go back for lunch AGAIN and also to try dinner and brunch! I gotta try the Croque Monsieur, Escargot appetizer, & the prosiutto goat cheese arugula pizza (more of a flat bread you share at the table as appetizer) PROS: great look, Croque Monsieur Au Salmon was sooo yummy and light, Gigot D'Agneau (lamb sandwich) was absolutely AMAZING & highly recommend it, & Confit De Canard was a wonderfully cooked duck although a small dish. CONS: There are NONE. If I had to think of one though it would be the high pricing on lunch items that aren't sandwiches. YOU NEED TO GO!!!!
(5)
Andrea C.
Bistro Niko's food is delicious. The Kitchen does an outstanding job!!! However, the service and Atomosphere are Sorry as Hell!! The restaurant experience is like being at a French Denny's. The Restaurant seems to pride itself on being severly understaffed. Wait Staff is responsible for everything that happens with table service. No bussers, no food runners, no back up personnel. The waiter at our dinner was MIA and absentee. Basics were not addressed by our waiter. He did not ask guests about a drink order, other than the wine that was served with water. No follow acftivity after service of food items was addressed, and the Bathrooms were dirty and disgusting. The Atomosphere was loud and noisy, and there was a line for the bathrooms like being at a club. I do not know if I would return based on the service and the Atomosphere, even though the food was delicious...
(1)
Eric N.
Dinner here last year with Ali was decent (fish was perfectly cooked and oysters were just right), so I was rather disappointed by a recent lunch. My son and I arrived around 3pm on Sunday and we were pleased that they were open. The Beer, Leffe and Hefe Weis, was on tap, cold, refreshing and promptly served. That and the fact that they had the football game on television were the positives in what would be a sea of negatives. We asked about the Foie Gras and were told that in addition to the Faux (fake) version there was also the real deal with ham hock bits--in my book, the real deal is the Alsation variety made only from geese. Based on the description from our server, the menu should have referred to it as duck pate. We decided to start with the Parma ham with blue cheese on flat bread (kind of a thin crust pizza), steak tartare and the salmon croque monsieur. The tartare was made with beef (unfortunately), came with no egg yolk, no sauce, no pickle, no onion, and was was off color in places. We made it edible with lots of dijon, pepper and salt. The salmon croque was soggy, cheesy, cold and bland. The parma ham thing was tasteless despite what looked like blue cheese. It was the lesser of three evils. Our main dishes were the haddock with cous cous in lieu of the polenta and the shrimp with salad. The shrimp were deep fried?! WTF--if you deep fry, mention it on the menu or when ordering. The shrimp had been left in the oil or under a heat light until it was somewhere north of vulcanized rubber--what a waste of good fish. The haddock was not edible. It was over cooked and too salty. I have never complained about too much salt ever (I love salt), but this dish was so salty that I felt nauseous. This was one of the rare times I have left a meal only partially eaten. The people at the bar were fun and familiar, but the bartender kept mixing up the Leffe and Hefe and did not seem to have much of clue about what drinks would suit the food or any concern about whether we liked the food. The Beaujolais Nouveau should have been poured out. It had been left in a lame looking mini keg for over a week and tasted like a combination of a cleaning fluid and vinegar. Kudos to the bartender for having the sense to warn us that it might be off and suggesting that we try a sample first. That said, he should have thrown it out. My guess is that the regular chef was not on duty and/or the owner just does not care. Either way I will not be back and I suggest that if you are looking for real French food avoid the disappointment that is Bistro Niko.
(1)
Alison B.
First visit tonight , a completely impromptu one, as Bistro Niko looked so warm and inviting as I drove by on this cold and wintry evening after I finished up a late appointment with my nearby accountant. I was solo so I sat at the bar and enjoyed a very reasonably priced ($8) flute of sparkling French rose- not actual Champagne, so much cheaper- hooray! Started with the cheese plate which was supposed to feature Humboldt Fog, a wonderful California slightly aged goat cheese with a layer of ash, plus buttery St Andre triple creme cow's milk cheese and Petit Basque, a semi hard French sheep's milk cheese... all favorites of mine! Unfortunately, when the cheese plate arrived - with relatively minimal accompaniments of a couple of crisp rounds of pecan raisin bread and a fruit chutney along with some pistachio crumbs - the Humboldt Fog was no where to be found and the kitchen had substituted a piece of raclette- yes, the same Swiss cheese which is supposed to be served grilled and ooey gooey soft on a special segmented grill with cornichon pickles, almost like individual trays of fondue. Do not try to fool this girl when it comes to cheese! I may not know shoes as well as some others, but I *know* cheese! So, the cheese plate was 2/3rds delicious, especially as I really enjoyed the fruit accompaniment with the St Andre, but raclette was a poor substitute for Humboldt Fog and I probably would not have ordered the $12 cheese plate had I known that in advance. It's a small matter, I know, but important to me. I also tried a small side mixed green salad with vinaigrette- simple and nice overall, and the pommes frites which were hot, crispy and appropriately salted. Restaurant has a classic upscale brasserie feel and service was great! I will be back to check out the entrees (pretty reasonably priced in high teens for the most part) next as the steak frites are calling my name! PS: One negative: the valet service sucks! It is complimentary, but they were no where to be seen when I pulled in and waited a few minutes, so I pulled in to garage and then had to pay $8 to park- aaargh.
(4)
Shel F.
Delicious. Our waiter was wonderful. His recommendations spot on. This will be a must do when in Atlanta.
(5)
David F.
A nicely designed restaurant...loud bar area. For a French restaurant the wine list was pretty poor. A few decent selections but I would have expected to see some older Bordeaux and burgundy vintages. On the food side I went with a selection of apps. The fried oyster special was great. Delicately fried and the batter didn't overpower the oyster. The beet salad...ehh beets had no taste. Steak tar tar was pretty good, had a good tang Pork belly app was well prepared and worth ordering again.
(3)
Dan C.
Probably could be 5 stars, if the brunch special (crab cakes with a poached egg) wasn't so darn salty. The decor, service, and price beat expectations. The mussels (mussels for brunch, duh) and dessert were absolutely amazing. Main dish just didn't have enough flavor as it was overwhelmed by the saltiness. Loved sitting outside and enjoying the weather. It was a nice vibrant place with conversation everywhere. Annoyance part was some jackwad honking their horn at the stoplight nonstop--not Niko's fault. dmo out.
(4)
b h.
thoroughly mediocre; great setting, but food and svc do not rise to the occasion steak fries are NOT "frites"
(2)
Brittiany M.
Yummy! Great service... I love that there are French servers in the restaurant. Very LOUD in the restaurant during lunch time- unsure about dinner. Valet is a must :) but it is always worth it except at Shout on the weekends. Try the truffle pizza! Very great
(4)
Dean D.
I had a solo meal at the bar last night. the drinks were fine. the French Onion soup was creamy and excellent, highly recommend it. I had a caq au vin, the traditional french dish that should be simmering for hours not made to order. The dish look like it was a hybrid. the chicken was moist and tender but could have used more flavor. Price seemed to be right for the meal but the entree I had was a little off. I would give it another shot because all other aspects of the meal were fine and I love French cuisine.
(3)
Erica D.
Want to catch high speed ferrari chases down peachtree with a front row view? Well guess what... this is your place, and yes I have seen this happen here. Food is great their little salmon sandwich things (i now forget what they are called) quite possibly melt in your mouth. Must like buttah though or it will make you sick. Patio is elevated and provides great tourist watching. Happy hour inside gets back, get there before 5. Single ladies on the prowl ration is 10:1 in your favor. Worth checking out if you are looking to mingle. Bartenders knowledgeable on wine and super friendly. Must check out.
(4)
Hannah S.
My family and I dined at Bistro Niko on a Sunday night this summer. It was a great atmosphere and we enjoyed looking into the kitchen and seeing the fresh breads and meats in the window like a real french market. Our server was very personable but the actual service wasn't extraordinary. It was more than 30 minutes before we even had a chance to order our appetizers Overall we enjoyed our food but we didn't feel like it should be deemed one of the best restaurants in buckhead. My trout was great, as were the mussels and white bean soup, but I just wasn't blown away. A random tip: you can park in the parking deck at the restaurant for an hourly rate, or you can pay the valet $2.00 plus tip (which turns out to be the same amount). The young man at the valet station was incredibly eager and polite so I recommend putting your four or five dollars into the pocket of a hard-working college student rather than a garage machine.
(4)
John R.
Service was excellent-Caitlin was my server. Food: Escargot- good, not very hot at arrival. Special entree- Striped Bass- very good flavor and cooked properly. Not very warm at arrival. Coffee- very good! Noisy restaurant.
(3)
Jack H.
The last two visits in the fall of 2012 have been truly impressive. The evening begins nicely with professional car-valet service. Both times we had a table for four. The servers are top notch. My lovely bride had the endive salad and the sea scallops, while I ordered the beet salad and the filet of sole. For dessert, the profiteroles (choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, and almonds) were delicious. They have a very hot bartender and an even hotter hostess. Excellent floor management. The ambience is loud and animated. This is a 4.5 star restaurant. One more dinner at this level and I would give it a 5.
(4)
John M.
Well this was a bittersweet experience. My issues were more from a service aspect more than anything. Our first encounter on our date night was the hostess. Both hostesses couldn't have been more inappropriately dressed. Honestly they were dressed more as cocktail waitresses at the pink pony than hostesses of a classy French restaurant. Each time they passed out table we were worried they may trip from their 8" heels and t-shirt sleeves they converted into dresses. Next was the 20 minute wait for our server to come to the table to take our drink order. I thought since it was 6:45pm and our server only had 3 tables that we would be in and out. Not only was he totally clueless on the wine menu, he screwed up our appetizer order as well as our drink order. I can understand that he may not have heard it, seeing as how this was the loudest restaurant I have ever been in. Overall, the scallops were okay, very gritty, but the mussels saved the day. We were going to order dessert but honestly the whole dinner took almost two hours and we were just so anxious to get going. He slid the check on the table and didn't even thank us for dining....I would've thought he may have, given our $218 bill. I would consider drinks here sometime at the bar but honestly they need to maybe pay some better attention to the candidates that apply here.
(2)
DJ V.
Its a nice fancy place to go to. Love the decor there, food is good. However, if you want a romantic and quiet restaurant then this is not the place to be. Every time I have gone it was very loud in there.
(4)
Lindsay S.
Fantastic food and service- best quiche and French onion soup I've ever had!
(4)
Lee M.
Subpar service and: "My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter." My wife and I visited on a surprisingly busy Thursday evening. The bar at Bistro Niko seems to be a very popular happy hour spot. I'll start with the positives, the food at Bistro Niko is very good. It's not especially creative and I thought it was all heavy on the butter. But it's classy French cafe style. My wife and I both ordered cocktails to start, a Martini for me (gin, not too dry, up, with a twist), a French 76, a concoction of lemon, vodka, champagne and hibiscus, for her. These were both stellar. I can understand the popularity of the bar. (Side note: I'm usually hesitant to order a Martini out, since usually I'll get a glass of cold watery vodka at best and asked "What flavor? Our choco-rasba-tinis are delish" at worst. But Bistro Niko delivered the goods). For appetizers we tried the gougeres and a fried oyster appetizer. The gougeres tasted exactly like Cheezits, in a good way. They were light, puffy and rich. They'd go great with a cold Lager. The oysters were the best thing all night. Among the best fried oysters I have ever had, perfectly crispy and salty outside, creamy and sweet inside. They were accompanied by some interesting pickles and a nice remoulade. For entrees we ordered the lamb chops and skate wing. I was pleased with both, but not particularly impressed. Both were technically excellent; proper doneness, nice color on the outside, and well seasoned. The accompaniments were forgettable. The entrees were good, but there was nothing special about them, I could have gotten the same dish at any number of restaurants around town (mostly less expensive places) Bland, slightly undercooked fingerling potatoes with both, average creamed spinach with the skate and decent Brussels' sprouts with the lamb. My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter. (It's French, what did I expect?) The desserts were all standard French sweets. We got cream puffs, called "profiteroles" on the menu. They were good, but so are the ones in the freezer section of your local Kroger. I was pretty disappointed in Bistro Niko's service. In my past experiences with the Buckhead Life Group I've been mostly impressed with the quality of service, but Bistro Niko isn't up to par. Our server was friendly and helpful. I think he just had too many tables, I counted at least seven that he was serving, one was a party of eight. In this quality of restaurant, with the individualized attention and service required, seven is too many tables. Taking custom drink orders, discussing the wine list, describing specials all take time. So, while he was excellent when he was at our table the visits were too few and too far between. Because of that, the timing of our meal was all off, we waited quite a while with no drinks at the beginning of the meal. When we finally received our cocktails, we were nearly done with them before the appetizers arrived. Then the entrees came before we'd really had a chance to eat the appetizers. Once the entrees were cleared, the wait for dessert menus was noticeably lengthy. A few specific notes of poor service: When I ordered my cocktail the server looked at me and said "Charles Dickens?" and then just stared at me for an awkward moment waiting for me to get the joke ("Olive er twist?"). I guess I should have heard that one before. When he brought our entrees, the runner said to my wife "hot plate". What they say in a $6 Mexican restaurant. For a $30 entree, at least give me a "Ma'am this plate is very warm, please be careful", or better yet, re-plate it after it comes out of the salamander so it's not an issue. One instance, our water carafe was empty, so the busser grabbed the one of the adjacent table to fill our glasses. I just found this odd. If something is set on your table their is a sense of ownership over it. I know at 99% of casual restaurants we're all being filled from the same pitcher and yes it was just water and it's free... But he wouldn't have taken the bread basket off the adjacent table to refill ours. Also, we were offered sparkling or still water, how was he to know that we didn't have still and they sparkling or vice-versa? The final thing that irked me was that we had a Buckhead Life gift card with a large balance on it. Well more than enough to cover the full meal. However, Bistro Niko wouldn't put the tax or tip on the card. I was thinking maybe this is a law that I'm not aware of? But thinking back I've had gift cards to Chili's, etc, and this has never been an issue before. I didn't mind having to pay the tax and tip, but I'm sure the person who gave it to me expected to be giving me a nice meal (or two), not part of a meal and an obligation for $50 in tax and tip.
(2)
Xo X.
If I could have given this place a -1 I would but the lowest available score is one star , so, by God's good grace they will attain this score. Service -TERRIBLE. Waiter was condescending and apparently did nto know he was a WAITER. Water was not offered. When I finally asked for some water, he poured it in the cups and one cup was 1/2 full and the other was , I kid you not, 1/4 full. It was strange. Then I looked in the cup only to see little stringy "dust" particles or something floatin in the water!!!! Further, there were no napkins on the table at seating. Barely checked on the table. Lastly, the wait time was TERRIBLE considering there was a minimal amount of people in the establishment at the time! Im so disappointed Food - ok they can get 1 star for mediocre. We ordered steak tartare and I am aware of the meaning of tartare but I was not impressed with the portion or presentation. My sister ordered a sandwich and the tosated bread was saturated in butter. I understand this is the South but nonetheless, it is still a FRENCH restaurant so I expect French food not with a southern touch. In summation, if you have never been to France or are ok with mediocre - feel free to dine here. If your waiter is a short, dark haired gentleman who looks very furry - good luck!
(1)
Shayla C.
First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. The food was flavorful, though parts of my entree came out at different times. I loved the decor. Valet is 2 plus tip...cheaper than self parking. The food was a but pricey but good none the less.
We went on a visit to Atlanta after several people recommended and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is warm, service is wonderful and the food amazing.We decided to have a few appetizers and tried the mixed green salad, the charcuterie platter that was fantastic, the mussels and the duck confit.the food was all amazing but the duck confit was outstanding, a definite must try. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience is the area.
(5)
Regina Q.
I didn't like the dish I ordered. Had just come back from Paris and was still in french food mode so we came here. I ordered steak frites and the steak was soo dry and tasted kind of off. I didn't finish it. It's cool looking inside but I'm not interested in trying the other dishes. Seems like a tourist trap.
(2)
Kellie N.
A great way to spend New Years Eve for dinner. They menu was great, the food was amazing and the service really stood out. The desserts were not my favorite...but the food...wow, the food was so amazing! The seafood dishes are so fresh and the sauces are light and perfect!
(4)
Jola Z.
This is my fave restaurant in Atlanta! Whenever I go there I am amazed. I usually order scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and onion soup, but if I try something new- I am never disappointed. This place made me love scallops and so far I have not tried better scallops anywhere else. Even if you are not sure if you like scallops, just try them there and you will love them. All the people working there are amazing, I like Katerina a lot as my waitress. It's more fancy, so make sure you dress nicely. I don't have even one bad thing I could say about this place. Enjoy :)
(5)
David K.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience. Everything from my duck sausage appetizer, to my trout entree, to my citrus tarte dessert. I thought that the entire experience was fantastic. The place was clean, active, and my waitress was extremely attentive.
(5)
Valerie T.
I had a business lunch at this classic French restaurant. The large room is comfortable and very typical of the old brasseries in Paris, though, due to high ceilings or the lack of partitioning, the noise level is high. The service is very efficient and professionnal. We shared a delicious flat bread with mushrooms and trufle oil and I had the duck confit, which was tender and served on a bed of salade frisee. The bathrooms are nice with their painted tiles.
(4)
Liz K.
Thought I would love the place, but sadly I didn't. I have been waiting to check this place out, and finally when it was said and done. I was just a little more than disappointed. My server first off, seemed a little rude at first. As the night progressed his mood lifted up. Maybe because he realized my friend & I were ordering more? WHO KNOWS. But his attitude was not pleasant at all to be around. Left my friend to do the ordering... We ordered the cheese puffs-- which did not seem cheesy at all. Just puffy full of air, like a cloud. Was I eating a cloud in a form of a carbohydrate? Also ordered the en courte, which was suppose to be carpaccio... but my friend ordered the wrong thing (sadface.) It was a really greasy mini sandwich with a super salty piece of salmon in between. And entree, we had some sort of seafood pasta dish where they lacked in the seafood part. Service was slow in the beginning, and not to mention rude. After that I didn't care about my experience anymore.
(3)
Mujeed M.
Dined last night, enjoyed the patio and city view, The service became better as the evening continued, the staff was friendly, The Food was Delicious, very impressive seasoned well, though the place was crowded, the meal was prepared without rushing my order, very good presentation. I will continue to dine with Bistro Niko!
(4)
deborah r.
Always good, anything and everything on the menu, service, atmosphere, consistency never disappointed.
(4)
Ferdinand H.
2.5-3. I'll round up. Bistro Niko tries hard to be something special, enlisting the white tiles ubiquitous in all the bistro-esque establishments I've seen in New York, ranging from Balthazar to Bouchon. Reds, blacks, chromes and the requisite French film posters attract the eyes, and complete the impression. Had drinks with a friend, with an order of French Onion Soup and Escargot. Fare was decent at the price, but not mindblowing. The French Onion soup was rich with cheese and bread, not overly salty nor sweet, but still lacked the heartiness that I associate with the best of the best. Escargot was also good, but not great. I'm rounding up given the dearth of competitors in Atlanta. Good French cuisine is vanishingly rare here.
(3)
Jie Y.
Food: 4, starters are impressive. Main plates are average Service: 5 Atmosphere:4.5
(4)
Anthony Z.
Very loud. Hardly any mixed drinks. The food was nothing special.
(2)
Reagan M.
Carol gets 1 star and Brent gets 5. Thus the restaurant gets a 3. My food was amazing - the onion soup and the shrimp in the puff pastry. Awesome. Boyfriends strip was overcooked and cold. Oops. Carol at the bar where we ate leaves a lot to be desired. She seemed angry and hungover. But Brent was fabulous. Too bad they have to work together! This was our second trip to bistro niko and overall will not be back. Save your money for something better, there are better places all around!
(3)
Mary Jo S.
Atmosphere: pleasant enough. Business travel so I sat at the bar. Food: ok I read the reviews and was excited! Taste: A+ Value: F. I know in America we are used to oversized portions but this place goes to extreme in the opposite direction. $10 for a beet salad with 3 slices if beet is absurd. $22 for 6 baby scallops as an entree is robbery. I actually left this place and bought a snack at the hotel. Not impressed and pissed I believed the hype!
(3)
Matt T.
Good grief! Really great food for a reasonable price. Ordered the duck and the French onion soup. By far the best duck and soup I have ever had. Plus the view sitting street side and enjoying such fantastic food was a complete package. Will be back next time I am in the area.
(5)
Megan C.
Upon return to Bistro Niko, I hereby change my rating to 4 stars. Much better the second time around! I loved the Caviar, my martini, and my dinner-pasta with scallops. YUM!
(4)
Jennifer L.
Bistro Niko might as well be called "mussels and naughty bread" - and there is NO shame in dipping that crusty baguette into the garlic sauce those mussels have been simmering in! I'm not even a mussel person, but these little delights are too good to pass up. Yummo. Great patio- sometimes there is live music on the weekend. Good date night and people watching spot!
I did not have high expectations for this place due to being part of Buckhead Life Group, I've been to a number of places and was underwhelmed! Bistro Niko changed everything for me! I love everything about it! The decor, the kitchen is amazing, I want to recreate a smaller version and put it in my house! This reminds me of a place that if your out on Lake Lanier all day boating and you need a good meal on the way home, come here and indulge in the appetizers. Pate, Mushroom Pizza, Cheese Puffs, French Onion Soup and of course the Mussels were amazing! The Skate entree was perfect. Puff Pastry dessert was perfect! Noise level way to high! Server tried really hard to do a good job but failed in that department. The management should spend more time training the staff.
(4)
Ross P.
Great Service, loved the decor excellent brunch options and great mimosas! Valet flat 2.00 rate.
(4)
Victoria H.
Server was fantastic. Food was disappointing. It was ok; just not enough flavor or excitement. Bland French food. Will never be back.
(3)
Muath A.
good food, quick service and nice staff
(5)
Stacy K.
Not a bad experience overall, just not my type of place. Food was good, the mushroom flatbread was very rich but delicious. Also had the cheese puffs, very satisfying. My favorite item that we had was the herbed goat cheese ravioli. The ratatouille with it was a reason I may go back!
(3)
Chris R.
Great Steak TarTare and they will double up the duck confit app for an entree. Great wine list and nice comfortable bar... Almost cougar free.
(4)
Shay H.
This restaurant is beautiful inside, food was really excellent. The duck confit was delicious, and though just an appetizer the portion was still very large. Service was good.
(4)
Rob F.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a great experience. It wasn't terrible, and if it were not such a pricey restaurant, I'd give it a 3, but with a $100 bill, you've got to expect a little more. Our waiter seemed new; when we asked him about some of the menu items, he pretty much just read what was on the menu. Thanks, chief. I'll work my way backwards through the meal. The dessert was waaay too sugary for my taste. But, then again, I'm not really a dessert person. My entry was not bad, but again, just not bad. Given the meal price, I was hoping it would really dazzle me. I also tried the salmon spread as an appetizer. I got about 2 ketchup packets worth of spread with 3 crackers. Way to spoil me now. Now, something worth mentioning is the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon (butter grilled brioche of smoked salmon and fromage blanc). I loved this. The texture reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich, but you really taste the salmon and it's wonderful. I do like that this place is within walking distance of my condo and should I have some friends over, it wouldn't be a bad place to stop by and grab a drink. I might even spring for the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon again, but probably won't make a visit for dinner in the future.
(2)
Stephanie A.
Facing Peachtree near Piedmont (tower place complex) is bistro Niko. One of a very few French eateries in the city. Quite a large space reminiscent of FAB it's got the same high ceilings and lively crowd amid plenty of French fare. Some outdoor seating available (and if you want to hear your dining companions this may be a better option). Lively after work bar scene as well. If you're into that sort of thing. I am not but hey, that's just me. I know some of you need a stiff one after a 9-5 grind. Friendly attentive staff (I never know if they are extra friendly because I am taking photos and notes but I appreciate it nonetheless) and plenty of staff. Just what I like to see. My water glass will never want for water and my wine will flow freely. Really does anyone like a server spread too thin? This is a service industry after all. It's restaurant week and we ordered from both menus. I have to say this regular menu at Niko reads like poetry for a foodie that is completely enamoured of French cuisine. All the greats are there and then some. This more than a bistro, it's full on French food. First up is some salmon croque monsieur. This is incredibly rich. Salmon rich, cheese rich and fried in butter rich. Plan to share it and have some high acid wine with it. Good stuff but a little goes a long way. Coq au vin. Two juice fat hind quarters of a chicken. Wow. This one left me a little speechless. I haven't had a coq au vin quite this good. Dark, deeply flavored and tender as you want it. Impeccable presentation and a flavor that is far better than I expected. Full on 10 out of 10. Beef bourguignon. Luscious braised beef cheeks that came out steaming hot, full dense rich demi sauce that could be inhaled 2 feet away. I am not positive but I suspect the noodles are house made. Delicate and ideal texture for the dish. The sauce perfectly portioned so not sloppy or overly wet. The cheeks literally melt in the mouth. More tender than a short rib and the flavor was another speechless inducing moment if not several. I absolutely would have ordered it again if I had room to eat more. Baba au rhum is ok. It's very light but a bit bland. Delicious vanilla pastry cream in the center, tangy citrusy sauce (I was getting peach and kumquat but I can't confirm) . I didn't finish it. The crème brulee is excellent. Heavy cream base, good healthy vanilla flavor. That did get finished. Nice wines, atmosphere, food and service. I am absolutely returning.
(4)
Alexander D.
This is my second time here and I genuinely enjoyed it. Great service! I think the portions should be a little bit bigger, but aside from that i found the place to be amazing!
(5)
Kye B.
Not much that needs be said except that my experience was quick, (which is what I needed) tasty (which is what I desired) and had a courteous and charming staff (which is what I always enjoy). Menu seemed interesting, felt kinda soda-shop-ish, and if you're in the mood for that...then this is the place!
(3)
ash r.
Romantic French restaurant. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent service. Excellent food. The confit de Conard was very tasty. It was one of the best dishes i have ever had. The duck was cooked to perfect. My girlfriend had the RAIE AU BEURRE NOIR. This dish was very delicious as well. The waiter was able to answer questions very knowledgeable and provide prompt service. I went during the lunch service so the prices were very reasonable.
(5)
J F.
Every time I visit this restaurant the service is always slow as a month of Sundays. It takes too long for someone to arrive at my table. I am literally looking around the restaurant for the waiter. It takes forever for your bread to arrive. Today my party was serviced by an Asian guy and it was the same experience...long wait for drinks and bread, no personality, no introduction. There were only about 5 tables full in the restaurant while we were dining; hence there was really no excuse for the service to be this poor. In addition to this the hostess is rarely pleasant...no greeting upon arrival or departure. I am a great tipper - 30% - 40% of the check, however the service is lacking severely and I don't see the value here. Though I thoroughly enjoy the food, the service experience is so unacceptable I can't say that I will return.
(1)
Mike D.
Really good, top notch food and service for both lunch and dinner. Very consistent over 3 visits. Great for a date, an office outing, or out of town guests. Great place to sit outside and enjoy a meal.
(4)
Gus P.
Excellent restaurant! A bit pricey, but the food is great. I definitely recommend and would go back.
(5)
James B.
Professional staff, good food, nice decor. Suitable for a dinner date or business meeting.
(3)
Leanne E.
I dined on a Thursday evening, which happened to be the same night as some sort of corporate shin-dig. Parking is by Valet and costs $2, but the attendants are courteous and prompt. The inside of the restaurant is lovely. White subway tile and lace curtains gave it a nice classy feel. This place does NOT serve sweet tea, but unlike Houston's, will provide you with a generous serving of simple syrup. We started with the white bean soup and the cheese puffs. It was a chilly and windy evening, so dipping the cheese puffs into the soup was great, perhaps my favorite part. It was warm and thus warmed the soul. That soup is excellent. For an entree, my sweetie chose the Steak and Frites, which was prepared well and a good hearty man pleaser. I chose the mushroom and guyre tart, which was tasty. It was thin, crispy, cheesy goodness. This joint tends to be a bit loud and the bar is crowded, but they have a magician! They are pricy, so be alert. $92 for two drinks and the items mentioned above.
(3)
William Z.
A little taste of a Parisian brasserie. Their aile de raie is very good and selection of oysters with good Sauvignon great!
(4)
Toni D.
Just came from Bistro Niko and had a fabulous time. Mary and her partner at the bar were wonderful and delightful company. The Food was Fabulous and nicely presented. we met a lowly new friend - Trey - who was visiting from Tampa. He is a Somelier and was full of wonderful knowledge. WE will definitely go again. Toni Dore
(5)
Emily P.
Amazing food. Loved the steak poivre I ordered, done to perfection. Had a bit too much peppers on it though. I ordered the frissee (sp?) salad, but I wasn't a big fan of the egg on top of it, although the dressing was delish!
(4)
Annie T.
Bistro Niko suffers from what a lot of high potential restaurants suffer from: namely, the inability to step beyond "stereotype". It encapsulated everything that a french hip bistro "should" be if you were to think of every possible "french" thing you could have in a french restaurant... but all of that would never really be there. Case of the trying too hard? It's sort of like when you are making Chardonnay and keep the wine so air tight that it turns brown because there wasn't that .01% of oxygen in fermentation. Service slip-ups: - Our server was very adamant about trying to push the champagne. It was a bit confusing. - Our server said that Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was a California wine, when WV is in Oregon. Maybe a little more education around the wine list would be good. - In general, the servers need to work on their "there but not there" presence. It was very obvious when the servers wanted to advance the dinner, and that can be very invasive to the dining experience. Service highlights: - Our server was very willing to provide samples of the wine selections to purchase by bottle. (I would expect that, but not all restaurants will be so generous if not available by the glass) We ordered... mussels, salmon spread, and I ordered the roasted chicken with pomme frittes. Mussels were very good. Generous with the dipping sauce also. Rivals Plouf in San Francisco, as one of our Atlanta-based friends said. Roast chicken breast was dry but the dark meat was tender enough. There was a flakiness to the dark meat that I couldn't quite get and it was difficult to get the meat off in slices - was very flaky. Fries were well made. Overall, there is potential for Niko to become a true french bistro dining experience. The food sampling I had was overall 3.5 but downgraded to a 3 given the lack of value. It's very loud inside. Be prepared to speak at your highest conversation voice. If I were going on a date, it'd be a GREAT place to have a bowl of mussels, an order of pomme frittes, and a bottle of sauvingon blanc as dinner.
(3)
Carla M.
We recently had a company dinner there and it was my first time dining. I absolutely loved the ambiance, food and beverages. We were attended by two waiters and we were only a party of three so all of our orders came very fast and our cocktails were replenished quickly.
(4)
Josephine I.
You walked in, and you felt like you are somewhere in the 1940's of a France not-too-shabby ballroom. I went with the boy during the restaurant week. I had the 3 course menu, but my boy decided to exclude himself. I ordered the coq au vin for the entree. A baguette with smoke salmon for the first course, and a creme brulee for dessert. 1. Baguette with smoke salmon- It was actually pretty good in all seriousness. The smoke salmon is combined with cream to make it very creamy. The baguette is sliced thinly, and it is toasted. Good combination. 2. Coq Au Vin (Chicken in wine)- It honestly was OK. It was a bit bland for my coq au vin. It was good, but it was not a " WOW that is delicious". I downed it though. 3. Creme Brulee- Can you go wrong with a creme brulee? Overall, the service was OK. The wine that we got was pretty good. Pretty good dinner, somewhat lack in the excitement of the tastebuds.
(3)
Nic K.
I come here a lot since it's right by my work. It's the easiest place to go with clients that doesn't require a whole lot of walking in pointy, 4-inch stilettos. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here before. The restaurant is always crowded no matter what day or time you go. I like to rag on Buckhead Life since all their other restaurants are very 80's with their decor. Bistro is nicely done. They did get docked a point today. I was having lunch with a client today, and I ordered the Deux Plats (oui, oui). I ordered the white bean soup as my starter (J'adore ca!). The server did a bit of a faux pas. He asked if he should split my soup into two bowls so I could share it with my lunch guest. MY soup. Mine! I proceeded to give him the stank eye. I couldn't say no otherwise I'd look like a donkey. Before I could grumble a yes, my lunch guest spoke up and said, "Absolutely!" I wanted to be like, "No way, back off!" But, this was a work meeting so I had to maintain professionalism. My white bean soup was delicious. I just wish I had more of it....
(4)
Allison C.
First Ask for a table in Belinda's section. She is fantastic.
(4)
Alexis R.
Love Love Love the mushroom flatbread. I could eat a whole one by myself. Truly remarkable. The tomato flatbread is a star as well - must give credit where due. Of the foods I've had at Bistro Niko, only one has been any less than stellar. The only bad entree was a tuna salad, which tasted almost canned. However, the Croque Madame, Coq Au Vin, butternut squash soup, tortellini, creme brulee, and profiteroles are magnifique. (What can I say? We have a lot of client dinners at my office.) This is definitely a pricey joint, but it's worth the cost if you're having a nice date or... well, a client dinner. This is an order-the-bottle, get-a-recommendation-from-the-expert-waiter, wear-your-cloth-napkin-on-your-lap-please kind of place. No paper hats here (at least, they didn't encourage it when I tried it). All in all, Bistro Niko is a wonderful restaurant that I highly recommend. Just plan on allotting the day's (or week's) salary for your experience.
(4)
Scott A.
Went to Bistro Niko recently and it was phenomenal! Everything was on point from the flowers I had ordered beforehand to the very end. We had eaten there once before almost two years ago and we decided to come back. (Disguised a marriage proposal as a "date-night".) They were accommodating every step of the way with some added accoutrements that were not prompted in ANY way! She had the Prosciutto Tarte w/ a salad while I had the Steak Frites, salad also. Everything came out exactly when we wanted, glasses were filled, and management came by to check on things every so often (without being intrusive). Couldn't have asked for a better experience and we'll DEFINITELY be going back. Absolute MUST if you're ever in Atlanta!
(5)
Michael P.
Food is above average, tad overpriced for the quality. But you are paying for the atmosphere. Great vibe, very trendy. I was probably a bit underdressed. Business casual is more appropriate.
(4)
Wade G.
It was just OK. Service was fine. Main Dining room is crazy crazy loud so if you have someone who is hard of hearing def sit outside or in the small dining room, which is unfortunately rather blah. Some people in my group liked their food but to others it was overworked, over seasoned, and just not memorable in a good way. I had the veal and thought it was quite good. Duck confit appetizer is great. Those who had steak and fries were most unimpressed. It just did not have the right fries and seasoning. I would try again though. The bar is great.
(3)
Karen T.
The overall menu and food was fantastic here. I'd say the scallops is a must, but we didn't care too much for the pork belly. I'd also recommend the escargot and charcuterie platter.
(5)
Anne A.
Ate dinner here with a friend. The service was excellent. We had fantastic appetizers, the Gruyere puffs and a scallops dish. I had the Coq Au Vin which I can never seem to pass up. My friend had a Hanger steak special I think. Both were very good. The portions were actually more than I expected, but not too much. We still had room for dessert: one of the sundaes. Cocktails and wine. All of this food and the final price was much less than we had expected. The only thing I didn't like was the noise level. Even before the restaurant filled completely, it was quite loud. I don't understand why nice restaurants in particular don't control the acoustics. It doesn't take that much and makes for a more pleasant dinner when you don't have to yell at your dinner companions or your server. If it weren't for the noise I would give it a five.
(4)
Jules B.
French soup was delicious ! Coq au vin was ok. Kind of tough & chewy. Citrus pie was soso. Too Noisy to talk.
(2)
Andrea P.
For a restaurant in a major city that is part of an elite restaurant group we were very underwhelmed by our experience at Bistro Niko. The butternut squash was delicious and the best part of our meal. The mushroom tarte (French flatbread) was soggy and sopping with cheese - no chance to enjoy what should have been a light flaky crust. We also had the mussels which were good but they were served with french fries...like we were at a fast food joint, what?! It was an insult to the mussels. Lastly we had one of the specials, a steak sandwich, which was highly touted by our waiter. It was the worst part of our meal. We didn't stick around to find out how dessert was. The atmosphere was nice (slightly upscale and not stuffy). Service was pretty good.
(3)
Art V.
Generally a pretty good meal. Restaurant is among the loudest in Atlanta. One needs to nearly shout to be heard. Only major gripe is the portion size of the entrees. VERY small. They try to mask the size by serving entrees on very small plates. I ordered skate. The portion was 4 to 5oz at best. The same entree at the same price at Atlanta Fish Market offers double the portion, at least. The french fries were uninteresting supermarket quality. Good creme brulee. Glad to see that they have instructed the hostesses to refrain from dressing like hookers.
(3)
Maria S.
I met a couple here for dinner one night. Food was alright, the variety of the menu was lacking. The cheese plate and meat plate were the only good thing, and the wine. We did not have any trouble with the service. I thought it was over priced and over rated. Better places to eat in the ATL.
(2)
Ruksana H.
Was here for my French group meet-up and they had the little room up front reserved for us. Great service, great atmosphere, even the chef came over and said hello! I had some soup, pizza and mussels - all flavorful and delicious. The wines were fantastic, aptly paired by our wait staff with the food. I want to take some friends back and have a fun time soon. :)
(5)
Joe R.
Food is excellent. Ambiance is excellent. It is a bit loud but keeps the atmosphere lively. Great date night or celebrate a special occasion.
(5)
Jeff K.
Are you kidding me? This place is dirt cheap for the food they serve. The bistro is very nicely decorated. The wait staff were very competent and efficient. The food was nothing but excellent. You get all that for a price of um....pizza. Granted, it might be some expensive pizza, but still......pizza. We had about 10 people in the party. The escargot we shared were very good. The Crispy duck was excellent bordering exception. For the entree, I had a chef's special pork chop. That was excellent as well. The pork was nicly done. It was cooked, but it stayed nice and tender. We shared several desserts afterwards. I can't say any of them were memberable, but I do remember them being good:)
(4)
DubR R.
This place was for sure class class class. I definitely felt out of place. First of all, I didn't expect to be going here, thought a divey bar maybe. Second, my date was extra hot, totally undeserving. But I think I handled pretty well... food was good, service was great... a little too loud if you want to converse with your date. MUST TRY: Mussels NOTE: Dress to impress (not douchey, but classy)...this area fills amongst the higher echelon of atlanta
(3)
Christian H.
The food: The food is pretty good and fairly inexpensive for an upscale restaurant. You can get an entree for around $15-$20 on average. I would recommend the beef cheeks. The Service: Our server did a good job and was very attentive. He recommended my wife a glass of wine which she loved. I have no complaints. The Atmosphere: Like I said, it is a fairly upscale place so the decor and ambiance is pretty nice. However, it was fairly loud and there were actually a lot of people sitting at the bar area, which didn't bother us, but I could see how this could annoy some people. Overall: Recommended. I would go back.
I LOVED this place! Went here for a birthday/pre Valentine's day dinner & was amazed. The food was delish as were the cocktails. beforehand, I emailed the manager to see if we could have champagne at our table waiting since we were celebrating and he promptly responded to me that it wasn't a problem. Bonus points. Our waitress was sweet and the atmosphere was amazing. Everything we had was flavorful and visually appealing. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
David W.
Last review for the day. Went here on a Sunday night and it was not busy at all. have been here for lunch and really enjoyed it. Atmosphere is great. Truly in the french bistro style. Service for Buckhead life was sub par. very surprising as this is something they do well. We started off with a raclette with pickled mushrooms. Very yummy indeed. I had duck and the wife had a pasta dish. My duck was super tender and her pasta was good. Vino was reasonable and they do have some good buys in there. My reasons for 3 stars. They try too hard in there to be French. They are not! The food, although good, was Americanized French. Not a bad thing, but just not true to the style. The People: Its buckhead, and that is all I can really say. We had two gift cards to use. the waiter swore that only one was running through and the other had to be used. I knew we had never used them before and tried to have him run it again. He came back and told me it did not work. Ok, not going to make a big scene about it there. I called corporate on Monday and it was eventually taken care of. In the end, this was all that mattered, but I felt like he was worried about his tip. I always tip off the bill prior to any gift cards or coupons. Will i go back? Yes I will try them again, but there are so many stellar restaurants in Atlanta that I do not think this will be my go to spot.
(3)
Mary N.
I got the trout- really really tasty (a lot of butter). Service was impeccable, our waitress was amazing. Bathrooms were the only downside: community style. I don't like going after boys. Yuck.
(3)
John M.
I arrived on a Tuesday night after getting off a plane. The place was loud and crowded which told me it must be a pretty good place to eat. I had to wait for a table for a few minutes. When I was seated, I had the steak frites with a peppercorn sauce. It was by far the best I have ever tasted. It had a hint or orange, and I would bet that it is made with a splash or Grande Marnier. The outdoor seating area is the place to sit if you have great weather and want to watch everyone going by. I would go there again the next time I go to Atlanta.
(5)
Lauren M.
Only ever eaten at the bar here during happy hour, but they have the best mussels I've had in atlanta. usually a fun scene too!
(5)
Luckie D.
The BEST CHAMPAGNE value in Atlanta Go for the patio scene, champagne and people watching. If you have to eat its decent.
(4)
Casey G.
I work in the building where Bistro Niko sits, so I find myself coming here often...mostly for lunch, but have been for dinner as well. As far as service is concerned, I would say its as good as it gets in Atlanta. But if you're looking for a quick lunch where you're in and out in less than 45 minutes- this is not the place. I always sit outside, so I'm not sure what it's like inside. Love the cheese plate, the salmon and the wine list. When someone else is paying, definitely suggest Bistro Niko :)
Ok, so I may very well be the only person in Buckhead who is not in love with Bistro Nikko. I work close, so I have given it three valiant efforts in the last couple of months. Now let me say first-I love their space! Perfectly decorated, I love that you can see right into the kitchen, and a fabulous spot for lunch al'fresco or a great espresso while watching Peachtree Street drive by. Visit #1 Croque Monsieur. Grilled ham sandwich with gruyere cheese and a scrumptious cheese sauce all over it. Now I first had this in Paris and it happens to be one of my all time favorite meals. So I may be jaded, clinging to some memory of enjoying this in a cafe by the Eiffel tower as a young, blossoming young lady...but Bistro Niko's version left me wanting much more. Safe to say, I can make this one at home with a recipe I found on the food network. I only finished 1/2 of it. Not because it's big, but if I'm going to eat THAT many calories...I want it to be the best I've ever had. Visit#2 Coquille St. Jacques Aux Sorrel (sea scallops). Eh...... that pretty much sums it up. Just eh, nothing more or less. Visit #3 Tarte Aux Champignons Mushrooms, gruyere & fontina cheese flatbread. This had real potential. I am a mushroom lover, but the overwhelming mushroom flavor made me gag a little! lol But the cheese was awesome, so safe to say that if I go back, I'll order this without the mushrooms, and have a great meal. On this trip, my girlfriends had a chicken liver salad and really raved about it. But my Sweet Southern mother forced too many fried chicken livers down this little blondie at Sunday lunches, so I'm ok with never having them again. EVEN if they are good for my iron, Mom! We also had desert this visit and it was amazing! It was little chocolate something, similiar to a molten cake....but 100 times better. So I'm still just 'Eh' in my reviews of BN. Although, I think I'll try it for dinner the next visit and give it one more shot to show me what most everyone else is loving. Au revoir, mon amour! xo
(2)
Jacqueline P.
I love the ambiance of this place from the patio to the bar and the tables inside. This would be a great destination for a date or just hanging out with friends. I would not recommend a business meeting simply because it tends to get loud at times. For appetizers, our group had the mussels, escargot and the specialty melted cheese. The mussels were cooked perfectly. The escargot had the right amount of garlic and butter mix. But the best by far, at least for me, was the cheese!! For the main course, I had the twin beef tenderloin with sauteed spinach and cream brandied mushrooms. Although the tenderloin was indeed very tender, the pepper was overpowering. If you have this dish, I'd ask them to lighten up on the pepper. In all honesty, the tenderloin would have been fine without the pepper at all. Other people in my group had the trout and another, the Coq Au Vin. Both said their entrees left much to be desired. For dessert, I had the creme brulee. It was one of the best I've had in the city. I'd recommend coming for appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks, but I'd probably skip the entrees if I were you.
(3)
Michael M.
Food was ok. Service was bad. They're incapable of managing their dining room. And, upon their failure to seat us until nearly 40 minutes past our reservation time, they failed to acknowledge their shortcomings. Obviously, they feel the remainder of the dining experience would have made the wait worth it. It didn't. We won't be back. I'm sure there are places in Buckhead with equally, if not better, food and ambiance that will actually value you as a customer. This restaurant fails and expects you to thank them for their trouble in having you dine there. Keep looking. There are better places out there.
Slipped in here during a business trip for a spur of the moment dinner since my hotel (the Doubletreet) was just a stone's throw away. It was a Thursday evening and quite crowded with about a 30 minute wait. I was told that dining was available at the bar and I made my way over and found a perch at the end of the railing opposite the actual bar. Unfortunately for the couple on the other side where they had a few cozy booth seats, I sat facing them and though I couldn't hear the conversation over the general din of the restaurant, I'm sure they would have rather preferred not to have the third wheel. A friendly and courteous server waited on me the entire evening. I started with a basket of the cheese balls which were mediocre - the ones at Fogo are substantially better. I pared these with a half-dozen oysters which were fresh and tasty. Dinner was the Crevettes en Feuille de Brique - Georgia shrimp crisped in thin pastry, lemon aioli, celeriac remoulade. OR in simple term - fried shrimp with slaw. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the pastry light and crisp. The aioli and remoulade missed the mark and was a bit more like a slaw. I did wash the meal down with a bit of red and finished the night with a coffee and a ridiculous slice of pie. It was good - but not great.
(3)
Ali S.
I just returned from my experience at Bistro Niko & felt the need to yelp about it. Admittedly, I wasn't too enthused about going because I was set on trying Craft Atlanta since my L.A. experience was so good. However, I did have high hopes because of the rave reviews I read on yelp. This place is not terrible but the 2-Star rating pretty much hits the nail on the head: "Meh. I've experienced better." What I ate: Escargots 'en croute' -- The escargot was my favorite of the three because it's difficult to mess up tons of butter, garlic, & snails, but I wouldn't even rank it in the top 10 escargot dishes I've had (although, it's leaps & bounds better than the escargot served by Alex Reznik at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was). The escargot dish is not covered in a puff pastry and then baked, instead, each serving has a tiny little puff pastry on it. Boo. Tartare de boeuf -- this dish was so underwhelming that there's really nothing to write about. There was no flavor (not even notes or hints) to describe the experience. Plainly, this was milquetoast. Skip this and order a glass of wine or something instead. Moules 'Gilbert' -- I must preface this by saying that I am not a fan of mussels. I ordered them simply because my best friend highly recommended them. Again, I was underwhelmed. I felt that the "sauce" it was steamed in was too salty and lacked any sophisticated mix of flavors. I tasted salt & butter. Again, both things I love...but I can get that sort of thing at Cracker Barrel. Truite mi fume amandine -- my sister order this GA trout dish which actually looked quite lovely and smelled uniquely savory with a hint of smoke. The skin looked to be just crispy enough and the fish itself was slightly buttery and even less flaky. However, it was undercooked and she was immediately turned off by it. She didn't even send it back, her appetite was gone. Tournedos au poivre -- my tenderloin was thoroughly overcooked even though I had an extensive conversation with our server about how I enjoy my steak just shy of rare. The flavor, if I had to use a single word to use, was salty....again. All in all, I would've preferred to have the trout as opposed to the beef tenderloin. Although I love creme brulee and thought I'd try it here, I was so disappointed in everything that I had tried that I just asked for the check and skipped dessert. The Interior: The restaurant itself is actually quite beautiful. It has a manufactured charm to it but if you have enough of a buzz, there's a really nice vibe in there. My favorite part is the exposed kitchen in the front and the tiny little oyster display. That portion of the restaurant is covered in white tile and I love that look. It reminds a bit of Lobster Bar. The food is not "terrible" but I would never recommend it to a 'foodie.' At the risk of sounding pretentious, you may enjoy the food here if you haven't experienced authentic French cuisine but to me this was like the Cheesecake Factory version of French Laundry. The price, if you enjoy what you're eating, is very reasonable. Although I, personally, feel like I didn't get what I paid for, I recognize that the ingredients they're using are priced appropriately. I may (emphasis) return here to drink some wine on the patio but I certainly won't be ordering anything from the kitchen again. NOTE: I don't know if this was a one-time thing or a perpetual issue but today, 8/15/10, the restaurant was literally infested with fruit flies. More than anything, it was just really annoying. Our server apologized about the issue and said they were trying to "take care of it" but I didn't expect anything more than an acknowledgment that there were a bunch of fruit flies around. Just thought I'd let you know if you were thinking about going for dinner tonight.
(2)
Matt M.
This place is great. We stopped in for dinner on our first night of stay in Buckhead. It was about 9 PM and the restaurant was still full. The first thing I noticed was the fully open, well lit kitchen. That kitchen was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare. I understand why now. The menu is extremely varied. You can get pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, burgers or even a grilled cheese. My boss got the french onion soup and I wanted to eat the bowl when she was done. It looked SO good. I wish I had ordered it. I might go back one night this week. The service was fantastic. Our server Robbie was friendly, personable, easy to talk to and knew the menu and restaurant extremely well. He has a passion not only for his industry, but for this restaurant and its sister establishments. I wish he were a bartender so I could go back and just chat with him the whole night. He was great. As others have indicated the ambiance is pretty classy. After a day of flying cross country I was wearing jeans a t-shirt and a hat and felt a bit out of place in the dining room. Maybe I would have been more comfortable on the patio. Regardless, the staff never made me feel uncomfortable and were friendly and attentive. I would and will visit again. I think I'd like to try out one of the pizza's or a steak!
(4)
Chris Z.
This place was good, not great. I tried the escargot, mussels, and cheese plate as appetizers. The mussels were tremendous. The cheese plate was decent. The escargot was average. For dinner I had the skate wing. I've never tried it before. The oil it was pan fried in was a bit heavy so I really don't know what the true flavor of the meat tasted like. Service was awesome. Dinnerware was swapped in and out between courses. Drinks were always full. Prices were reasonable for white tablecloth service. The average entree price was $20.
(4)
Jeff B.
I'll be back again. I loved the food and presentation. I will make this one of my stops while in Atlanta.
(4)
Amber S.
I love Bistro Niko. The food is out of this world. The location is wonderful. The patio can be really lovely certain times of year (most times in Atlanta). Try most anything, but seafood is particularly good here. The wine list is excellent. I would give it 5 stars, but the bartenders were rude to us here for no good reason a few times, so I can't dish out all 5. I think it's because the party next to us was a bit unruly, but we were not, and it was a real downer.
(4)
Tran N.
Went here for my Bday...Bon Appetit! It was busy on a Tues! Yikes! Service was great (waiter was even French LOL) Great setting, nice patio area, good food =D. Items are reasonably priced. Had the escargot, chz balls, & salmon spread for apps. Not a fan of the escargot, but the chz balls were amazing! Kept popping them like potato chips. Had the duck breast on red cabbage-it was delicious and surprisingly sweet. The lamb shank was huge compared to other restaurants lamb shank portion. Scallops on mash presented oddly (like brains on mash) but was also divine. Great wine menu, even beer menu. I think the beer was a bit pricey though. Overall great experience and c'est bon diner!
(4)
Michelle D.
Fresh, Fun & French! I recently took a trip to Atlanta to spend my birthday with friends and family. The trip itself was great because I got to see my friends from back East which also included my college roommate and mother. Happy times! I had not quite decided on where I was going to have my official dinner party so I started looking upon my arrival. I decided I was not going to do the standard steakhouse, seafood, etc; all of those I can get about anywhere or cook myself. I decided on French. The few times I have had French cuisine I was pleased. As I look through my fav reservation site I came across several options in various locations. My favorite part of the greater Atlanta area is Buckhead so based on the location, reviews and menu I selected Bistro Niko. We arrived and we were are pleased with the initial feel of the place. It was trendy yet still managed to be upscale and not stuffy, perfect. We were able to combine fine dining and fun. Our waiter was a genuine Frenchman with a great attitude and very attentive. My friend had trouble seeing the menu and our waiter brought out a box of assorted reading glasses for him to choose from so he could read the menu. We ordered wine and appetizers to begin; the wine was kept chill in a bag full of ice vs the standard silver bucket; I liked the idea and will be using for my own parties. The main courses we ordered were all perfect. My mother had trouble deciding on her meal and the waiter helped her decided (very patient) and also told her if she was not satisfied to simply raise her hand and he would remove it and let her order something else. He was a gem. When her food came out he was so curious as to her response he stood away but kept and eye on her to see her reaction after the first bite. Sure enough ass soon as she bit and swallowed he was right there to see what she thought. She loved it. The other patrons around us were also very nice and chatty; in a good way. And everyone looked good. For entertainment Dwight from Atlanta Housewives was there in all his glory dressed like Prince taking pics with whomever asked. I decided it was my birthday and I looked way more fab than he did so if any pictures were getting taken w him it would be because he wanted to take a pic with me. ;-) At the end of our dinner I was presented with a really cute birthday cream puff ice-cream thingy w a candle. It was really yum and enough to be shared among the three of us. Unfortunately one of my friends had an allergic reaction to something in her food and lost her voice and was a bit swollen. But when she went to the restroom she ran into Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I told here she should have asked him for his opinion...that way we could also see if he was a real doctor, LOL. Overall I had fun, food was good, atmosphere great, service excellent. When I go back to Atlanta I will dine here again. Almost forgot, the prices are really good for what you receive.
(5)
Memie B.
great food and service
(4)
Des D.
Great French food? No. But for a bistro it fits the bill - godd mixture of staples, low cost wine list, nice bar buzz, nice looking location, good service.
(4)
Kathryn K.
Let me confess, the night we went, we were with a friend of the Owner so this may have biased my experience, but I'm a sucker for customer service so here goes. It has been a while since I have been to a restaurant in Atlanta that has lived up to the hype that surrounds it. Bistro Niko completely delivers. The Bar scene was very lively with beautiful people of all ages. The restaurant was a scene out of Gigi (anyone get that reference?) Because we were with "Friend of..." we let him order and all I know is I saw a mushroom pizza, skate, Mussels,steak tartare, lamb shank, salmon, and some other things and EVERYTHING was delicious. This was the first time since I have been to Paris that I actually felt like I was transported back to a French Restaurant. It is noisy, but it is also fabulous people watching. In fact my girlfriends and I will be there this Saturday!
(5)
Keitha D.
Absolutely LOVED this place. Walked in and was immediately transported to Paris. I visited Bistro Niko as a part of the Buckhead Life Groups' Summer Dine Around Program and my boyfriend refused to go with me so I took a girlfriend of mine :-) We had a blast and even took her one year old with us. It was amazing and suprisingly kid friendly. I had the scallops for dinner and she had the skate wing. Both were amazing! Tender, flavorful and sizeable portions. We also shared a desert of the Cafe Caramel sundae. I can't say enough about this restaurant. I will definitely be back and this time will bring the Mister.
(5)
B. C.
Food was good, staff was excellent, but for the price I would pick a dozen places in Atlanta over this. If you're in the area though, it could be worth stopping by for a glass of wine and the mushroom flat bread pizza.
(3)
Ben D.
Quick French food synopsis: Butter, butter, butter, cream, butter. For Americanized French food, this place is decent. Orange duck and skate wing are pretty good, the dessert is great. No gripe with the service. Of the Buckhead Life Restaurants, this place is low on the list (Kyma!).
(3)
Shelley H.
I simply came for drinks after work and Brent and Tommy behind the bar were Rock-stars. The whole lounge area was packed and these guys made terrific dirty Hendrick's Gin Martinis. They were definitely doing something right.
(4)
Kim P.
the menu seemed very Tuscan. and the staff did a really good job of making it feel like a classy French experience. the dining room was fairly empty on saturday night around 8pm so i kinda wondered what was up. here's what was up: most people go for drinks and an appetizer and sit out on the patio! it was truely a lovely patio. theres a cute bar, a cute patio, and a spacious dining area. note: they seemed very conservative on the drinks. they were ONLY $8.50, i realize... but still.
(4)
Tim E.
Giving it a three because there is no 3.5. Service was slow to start out, but then attentive. Main reason to lean to 3 is ordered steak frites. A. It wasn't a hanger steak like the menu said, but mainly B. the steak was waaaay too salty. Smothered in tenderizer I guess.
(3)
Paul S.
I just don't think I'm cut out to be French... I think this may have been the first time I had gone to have a big French dinner. I've tested the waters at small Bistros for lunch but never taken the dive into something big. This being said... we came here on a Friday night around 6:30. Not all that busy surprisingly given that it was during Restaurant week on a Friday night. The crowd did grow slowly as the the meal progressed making the room a little too loud as we were finishing up. The interior is very well done with swirls of design and imaginative lighting on the ceiling. A nice glass enclosed open kitchen welcomes you adjacent to the host stand. Service was cocky, but not bad. Something was off with him.... The food: I'm excited... beautiful restaurant, great look, feel, bathrooms... I'm good. I order the Coq Au Vin and my date the Duck a l'Orange. I can't say much other than I wasn't pleased. I know that French cuisine is all about the sauce and fat. Maybe for the first time in my life I didn't want all that. My chicken was bathing in a bowl of wine. Swimming in red wine that came half way up the bowl. The bacon strips were good, and vegetables cooked well, but the chicken was just too much. Somebody drowned this poor bird in wine and then braised the hell out of it. It was dark, too rich and so potent I couldn't finish. The A l'Orange wasn't far off. Cooked to a perfect medium yes. but so strong and bold with the excessive sauce on the plate I didn't care for the few bites I had. It was just too much. I came away whelmed... Maybe I just don't care for the idea of engulfing my food in liquid flavor as it's being served to me. Isn't that why they created soup? I don't plan on making a second trip. My dollars can find somewhere else to be spent. I think there's something more there though and I'm really hoping that I just caught the kitchen on a heavy handed night because the restaurant seems the have great potential and that's why our evening garnered three stars. Try it out, but might I suggest bringing along your chinois for the main course.
(3)
Ebby V.
We made a last minute reservation here. I personally think the atmosphere here is better than the Paris restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made spot on suggestions. My wife and I started our dinner with 2oz tin of mock caviar (its caviar with additions) and escargo with a puff pastry. Both were quite tasty, and not overpowering. I had the skate wing which was good but better than my wife's cod. The portions were appropriately sized and filling. I enjoyed the chocolate cake with a 20year port and hand in hand was tasty and memorable. My wife enjoyed the lemon mousse. I think the food by itself is not overstated but well done but together with the atmosphere this is a must attend restaurant if you are looking for something more than standard.
(4)
Colman R.
I had the grilled thinly pounded chicken breast with asparagus, tomatoes, and vinaigrette! Awesome dish and service. 30 minute wait on a Saturday night was not bad at all. Waited in bar area. Had a great time!
Let's talk Meuniere Sauce. Seriously. Can we all agree that it starts with browned butter and includes lemon and parsley? Personally, I think the addition of a few capers is necessary to take it over the top. My love affair with this sauce started in Paris a couple of decades ago. That's back when I thought that French chefs were the beginning and end of great food. That was before I realized that they just began with better ingredients - say, for instance, a chicken that hadn't been tortured into obesity only to be slaughtered before it learned proper English grammar. (But that's another story.) I've searched the United States high and low for something that would send me back to those early memories of Paris. Finally found it, too - at Galatoires in New Orleans. But not in Atlanta. And so it was with more than a little trepidation that I ordered the Trout Meuniere at Bistro Niko - another of the Buckhead Life Group family. I hereby declare that this restaurant offers the best Meuniere Sauce east of New Orleans and west of Paris. Granted, there must be 2 or 3 restaurants whose sauce I have not yet tested - so Yelpers, bring it on! I'm ready for an all-out food war on this subject! As my friends know, I never award 5 stars to a restaurant on my first visit, requiring at least 3 consecutive experiences that transport. I want to break the rule this time, but I won't - insuring that I'll now have to visit Bistro Niko at least two more times. Guess what I'll be ordering??? Oh, and the pommes frites weren't too slouchy either. RECOMMENDED: For anyone who likes serious French bistro food. And all Meuniere-iacs like me.
(4)
Twanda E.
Ok ok! I had the lamb sandwich and now I am a fan.
(4)
Jennifer S.
What a beautiful place that makes you feel like you are in a Parisian cafe! The food was great - I really enjoyed the croque monsieur with pommes frites! The service was good and the atmosphere was great!
(4)
Chloe M.
Not really impressed with the food. Dishes were okay in taste but won't really make you go "wow". Apps: "Faux" Gras Mousse was okay. Was waiting for more bitterness but the berry jelly topping tempered it. The grilled bread that accompanied it was jaw-breaking -- very hard and chewy. Escargot was good. You can really taste the pernod in the sauce. Oysters on the half shell were very fresh but shucked poorly. Lots of small bits of shell in them. What a turn-off. Mains: Boeuf Bourguignon was made with beef cheeks. Very tender. Reduction sauce is very bold and strong. Very rich dish. Sole was highly recommended by our server. Weak, weak, weak. The fillets were steamed then placed on top of some puree instead of cooking them with it. Result is bland fish. Do NOT ever get this. Lamb Shank was the winner that evening, although, Murphy's version is better. The meat was fork-and-fall-of-the-bone-tender with the sweetish reduction sauce and lemony couscous making it quite tasty. Dessert: My sister, a dessertaholic, got the Molten Chocolate cake. Although executed well, I didn't particularly like the coconut creme inside. I personally prefer just plain chocolate sauce inside but the coconut (not indicated on the menu) just threw me off. More of an "older people" destination. Service was impeccable. Food was just so-so.
(3)
Malika B.
I visited Bistro Niko during Buckhead Restaurant Week. So, this review is somewhat more of a first impression. Having had many mediocre meals lately, and many more where the chef had a heavy hand with the salt, I wondered if Bistro Niko, one the newest editions to the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group would live up to the reputation that the Group has always exuded. I waited until just a couple days before said Restaurant week began to make my reservation at Bistro Niko, believing I could easily snag one in this sad economy. I was floored to see that Bistro Niko in Buckhead was full almost every night and I was lucky to get a reservation for 6:30 pm on Tuesday. As we entered the restaurant from what seemed like the rear, we passed by the open kitchen. I watched as staff hussled to get dishes out of the kitchen and to the diners in the full and vibrant dining room. As the name would suggest, Bistro Niko is a French Restaurant and most of the menu is in French with English translation, a tactic I don't much care for. Really - who is reading the French? So, our server, Corey brought us the menu and told us about some specials which went right over my head as I was fixated on the restaurant week menu. When we asked him about Bistro Niko's special menu, I braced for the friendly smile on his face to disappear as he learned we were only there for the Prix Fixe menu, but it never did. He graciously pointed to a small square space on the bottom of the menu where Bistro Niko's Prix Fixe menu is. Turns out, you can always get a 3 course meal here, it will just cost you about 5 bucks more than during restaurant week. I was a little disappointed that the menu was somewhat different than the one posted online. There were no piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and potatoes, or Veal Osso Bucco, or Coq Au Vin, to be had. But all was not lost. One of the managers even came over to explain to us that they change out the 3-course menu quite frequently. Very nice touch. So, we ordered the rabbit ravioli and smoked salmon sammies. Yeah, that's not their official name, but you get the idea. Both were excellent choices, each with its own distinct flavor. And at around $10- $11 per appetizer, a superb deal. Corey even made sure to leave the broth of the pasta as he could see we were sopping it up with our bread. For entrees, we ordered the duck breast and the shrimp in fried wontons. The duck was tender and juicy. I expected it to be a bit more dried out but it wasn't at all. The outside could have been a tad more crispy but that's my only criticism. As for the shrimp, this was the highlight of the evening. It seems simple shrimp with fried wontons I know. By the way, that's not the proper menu term either, I just can't think of what it is. It was crispy and delicious. And the lemon aioli that came with it was the perfect accompaniment for dabbing our shrimp wontons. As our dinner was nearing the end, I looked around at the packed dining room. I assumed it was incredibly busy due to the Buckhead Restaurant week, but when I inquired with Corey, he said no, it's just always like that. Perhaps it is a reflection of the very reasonable menu pricing. Although Bistro Niko looks all fancy pants inside, most menu items are under $20 and many appetizers under $10. Or then again, maybe it is just the well-seasoned food, not overloaded with salt and other unnecessary seasonings. Oh, and the service? Still outstanding like I've come to know at all the Buckhead Life Restaurants. Our server, Corey was helpful, friendly and extremely efficient. He was jovial and could interact with us, but left us alone to enjoy our dinner. All in all and great experience. Definitely go check this place out. Now.
(4)
Tiila N.
This is one of the best French restaurant in Atlanta. I was there 2 weeks ago and we had a great experience. The decor is very elegant, great open kitchen and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Located in the heart of Buckhead and complementary valet. For appetizer we had the wild mushroom tart ( a hybrid between a pizza and flat bread), very flavorful. I had the sear sea scallop(the scallop was slightly bigger than a quarter) with garlic mashed potato garnish with a light citrus sauce. All of the flavor complement each other and the presentation was done very tastefully. My boyfriend had the lamb shank with raisin and diced apples. We felt that the lamb was lacking flavor but it was not bad. If you like French cuisine you must try this place.
(4)
Matt t.
I will not attempt to replicate some of the thoughtful and well-written reviews on this property. Niko is a great destination for after dinner drinks and a place to be seen and observe. Good Beers a proper wine selection and great bar area further supports the fact that this is a after-work destination. What it is not is a good restaurant. The appetizers and salads are moderately priced but as many have notes somehow are devoid of actual flavor. It was as if I were eating with nose plugs not able to sense, smell or taste. It was the absolute first time that I ate fish that was mushy, thin and obviously overcooked. I was given a sauce bowl with a few carrots, a pickled onion, I think a potato in a red broth that looked like cream whisked in Campbell's tomato soup without the sodium. Somebody's leftovers maybe? I like the Buckhead Group's properties but this was just strange, devoid of flavor foo in a Brassiere gone..well..without soul or seasoning.
(2)
G C.
Went for dinner with work colleagues, shared a variety of apps, all delicious. Got the lamb shank special, which was fantastic. Didn't do dessert. Great atmosphere, service, really enjoyed it.
(3)
Bonnie M.
This establishment is a solid choice for French food and the service and quality is always consistent. As others have stated, the restaurant has no acoustics and is quite noisy! There are some dishes that I would rate as 3 stars and others that I would consider 5... hence the 4 stars. Here are my must trys: gruyere cheese puffs and foie gras terrine (best when eaten together with the puffs!), beouf bourginone (fantastic), the flat breads are pretty good, and the Chocolat Sundae, Creme Brulee, or Profiteroles for dessert!
(4)
E K.
Went here for dinner on Christmas Eve and was disappointed that there was barely any holiday decorations. Decor is always very attractive, though. The food was outstanding. I had the beef bourguignoin which was so tender that not only did I not need a knife, I didn't even have to chew it, it just melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were like a creamy, buttery desert. Valet parking and service were efficient and prompt. Will return often.
(4)
Marty J.
Bistro Niko is one of my favorite restaurants that is on the nicer side. It was good enough for me to chose for my birthday dinner with the fam. I've eaten dinner there 3 or 4 times and haven't been disappointed yet so I recommend all of the dishes that I place in my review. Non food related, the hostesses are attractive but not very friendly. As another Yelper stated, you can't really blame them because you'd be unhappy too if you had to wear a bridesmaid dress to work everyday. I usually don't care about the decor of a restaurant, but the decor is actually pretty cool and adds to the restaurant experience. I haven't been to Paris, but I feel like I have now. On to the important food related stuff. Things I've tried (translated from French to English): Apps * A multitude of tartes - These are flat bread pizzas. I've tried most of them and they are crunchy and delicious. * French onion soup - very rich and almost a meal in itself * Mussels - I've never had the mussels, but my mom is a huge fan. Mains * Shrimp - The shrimp comes wrapped in a light, fluffy, and crispy pastry. I like to think of it as upscale shrimp style pig-in-a-blanket (I'm sure the chef just cringed at that). * Scallops - Similar to pan fried scallops you'd get at other nice restaurants, only tastier. * Croque Madame - I was actually surprised at how delicious this was as I was not expecting much. Take a ham and cheese sandwich, make it super awesome so that it can be served at an upscale restaurant, and then throw a fried egg on top. Expect to spend about $20 per entree. The wine and beer selection is quality. Next time I go, I'd like to go halfsies with someone on the Croque Madame and Shrimps-in-a-blanket.
(4)
Pavan B.
When you enter ..makes you feel u've landed into 1960 Paris , bold red retro interiors. Food is good and great selection of wines . There Steak pom fries is probably one of the best in town . I am going back there soon
Excellent service!!!!! 5 stars for the hostess, valet, waitress, food. The skate wing was incredible, mussels - mmmmm, lamb shank tender and delicious. Complimentary birthday profiteroles - just sheer perfection! I loved everything about this beautiful restaurant. Manager was very attentive - I'll be back.
(5)
Will W.
Creme Brule' was excellent. Mussels were OK. I won't order then the next time though. Lightly Fried Shrimp were good but the accompanying Cole Slaw was skippable. They almost overcharged us on the Two Plate lunch so double check your bill.
(3)
Gio D.
Good French place for a night out. The food was good and the ambiance was very nice. We started out with the flat breab pizza which was fairly heavy because of the cheese so be prepared to leave half of it if you're ordering for two (great starter for four). For our entres we had the Coq au Vin and the fillet mignon twin steaks. The Coq au Vin was much better than the steaks. The steaks were good but overwhelmed by the pepercorn on top. As you bit into the steak, you mostly tasted peppercorn with a hint of steak. No biggie through as all you had to do was scrape the peppercorn off the top and all was good again. For desert we had a brioche type cake that was really good soaked in run.
(4)
Jessica L.
I LOVE the coq au vin here. and I always get at least a dozen of oysters every time. The atmosphere is great, although it may get loud at times. I especially love the dimmed lighting. The waiters are always attentive and make sure the water glasses are never empty.
(5)
Lisa M.
First time visiting and very impressed. Half of our party was late for the reservation, but it was no biggie and the staff was very nice about it. Our server, Miguel, was awesome...friendly, funny, and great at his job. I had the trois plats including mesclun salad, coq au vin, and creme brulee. Each course was amazingly good and I felt $30 was a very reasonable price for three courses of fantastic food with generous portions. I would definitely recommend Bistro Niko to friends and plan to visit again.
(5)
Kyle P.
Absolute top notch joint. Extremely friendly staff, crowded bar but the bartender still took our drink orders quick. Crowd is cool; this place just smells terrific! The mussels and sauce were top notch, caviare was so-so, flatbread was dank, good duck, etc. Overall food was a 4 but everything else was a 5. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Sohen G.
We were there for my bday and thought it was an amazing experierice. My husband is French and he's not that easily pleased but man did he lick the plate clean! He had the duck appetizer and some veal special and I had oysters on the half and sea scallops. All were really great! Definitely be back!
(5)
Nichole K.
I wasn't blown out of this world, but I was definitely impressed. Loved the atmosphere. Appetizers were delicious. We had the Escargot 'en Service was amazing. Wine - better yet. My entree, skate, was delicious. Will return, possibly one of the better Buckhead Life Group Restaurants I've been too.
(4)
Josh G.
Been to France twice and apart from one boulangrie near Notre Dame, this is the best French food I've had. Some of the reviews have knocked it on price. I understand that, but kickass french cuisine costs money...everywhere in the world.
(5)
Elisha G.
Bistro Niko is great! My Husband and I ate there Saturday night with two other couples and we all really enjoyed it. We started out with the mussels...which were very tasty. I enjoyed dipping my bread into the delicious mussel's white wine sauce. I had the scallops for dinner and they were good. But, my Husband had the cape cod skate wing and it was fantastic. The waiter said the skate was the best dish on the menu and I believe him. The layout of the restaurant is ok...feels a bit cold and crammed in. The dining room was packed with a wait. You would never know there was a recession. Our service was excellent and everyone had a great time. We had great company, delicious food, and tasty booze...how could it be bad?
Excellent service--very attentive and professional. Beautiful atmosphere--really reminded me of being in a large bistro in Paris. Delectable food--started with a Tarte Au Saumon (Salmon Flatbread) that was toasted to perfection, then had a Croque Madame (Ham/Cheese sandwich with an egg over easy on top) and it was better than the one I had in Paris last year. Finished with a great cup of coffee and a baba au rhum. Sure this is a French restaurant and with that comes quality over quantity. So if you are a fan of "all you can eat" restaurants and don't care about good tasting quality food this is not the place for you. However if you prefer to have a smaller (but absolutely adequate) but delectable meal this is a must-visit. I will definitely come back! I am rarely so complementary --but Niko deserves such praise.
(5)
Colin B.
The food was fantastic. We had the Escargot for an appetizer, and in our party, one had the skate wing, one had the lamb, and two of us had the Boeuf Bourguignon. All were wonderful. The service, however, while prompt (almost too prompt - we felt a bit rushed) was extremely condescending. Our server seemed to think it ridiculous that we did not properly pronounce the French terms on the menu, and went out of his way to correct us repeatedly. Bottom line, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it was an overall enjoyable experience.
(3)
Allen M.
There's actually a place in Atlanta where you can get a proper hangar steak with fries and a Leffe. Neat.
(4)
Gina b.
Squash Soup...To die for. Service was amazing however we were there early on a Sunday evening so don't know about when it's busy. Dinner was ok. Not great, but good and hearty. Portions will fill you up. Dinner for 2 with Apps and a couple of drinks will run you about $100. Was pissed that they didn't validate parking, paid $8. Valet for $1.50.
(4)
Angela S.
2nd visit ~ had a friend request to go her for her birthday. Service was great and they did have the French music playing but not loud enough to hear it in the dinning room. Food was much better this time. I had informed them of her birthday and they had her a little cake without be prompted ~ YEA great service. I am moving the rating up to 4 at this time. I would still like to see more traditional French ~ less Americanized version of it? Thanks... Old Post 1st visit ~I gave it 3 stars Great atmosphere, needs a little French music playing in the back ground. Many of the French dishes I would think would be on the menu are not on the menu. Everything we had was "Just okay" The French Fries ~ need work frozen run of the mill not like you would get in France for sure. I wanted to love this place but just did not happen for me....sorry !
(4)
Ashley K.
My mom and I came to Bistro Niko while on a long weekend trip to Atlanta. The restaurant was right near our hotel, which was nice. We had reservations - which was good because it was a Friday night and extremely crowded. Our waiter was prompt, at first, but that changed throughout the meal. I ordered steak - medium. And the waiter asked, if I meant medium-rare and I said, no I meant what I said - medium. I thought it was a little weird but didn't think much of it. When my steak came out - it was not even medium-rare, it was just rare. So, I called the waiter over and asked to send it back. I hate to do this, but when you are paying so much for a steak, it should be right. So I said, this isn't medium, it very rare and his reply was, well that's the French way. Okay. I get it. I'm in a French restaurant. But. I am in a French restaurant in Atlanta. Not in France. Furthermore, isn't the customer always right? Not what ordered, no need for the attitude. It took about 15 minutes for the steak to come back out. My mom was already done with her meal. It was very frustrating. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was good. So that was redeeming at least. It was also very loud in the restaurant. I feel like my experience at Bistro Niko was just an unfortunate one, I would come here again and hope that my experience was just a fluke, because I really wanted to like it - but the waiter's attitude was just unbelievable to me.
(3)
Alan R.
Eating out even more than usual due to kitchen being remodeled.Hope contractors stay on budget because I am clearly over.We always start with the oysters here and they are always fresh and they rotate the specials. Next I always get the pate and then either fish or skirt steak. This time I did the steak and fries and they were cooked just right and fresh fries. Dont care what our senate says as they tend to know nothing, I love the french style of fries..Thank you , you guys always deliver fresh and best to my table. i tend to order the same from my regular places and love to be given the same quality each visit.
(5)
Kat G.
Rule No. 1 - at least one person at the table must order one of the chef's specials. Seriously. They have never let me down. The food here is carefully chosen and really well done. I recommend the trout, the seafood pasta and the salmon, though from what I've seen, you really can't go wrong. Oh, and if you're ordering a drink, they do a really lovely French 75!
(5)
Kay D.
Service was excellent. Dinner was good, although not over the top. Seafood pasta was very good, Haddock fish special was extremely oily. Beware, we did not valet park but used the garage because it was raining. The restaurant does not validate for parking. On top of an already expensive meal, we had a huge parking bill when we departed. $12 for 2.5 hrs. I won't be going back!
(2)
Phillip C.
We have been here three times and they have delivered each time. Very happy with the service. The food here is excellent. I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. I like the open kitchen. My most memorable dish that I had here was a special. It was trout served on a bed of polenta. I didn't give this a full 5 because the bar is a little on the small side and is always packed when we go.
(4)
Matt C.
tried this place recently for dinner. pretty decent spot. decor and vibe are definitely parisian, and menu has some pretty good stuff.. however, i think i'd recommend bistro niko more as an 'appetizer and glass of wine/cocktail' type of place, as opposed to a dinner destination, as the entrees we tried were not particularly outstanding. their mussels are great and fresh, however the broth is super buttery/creamy which tastes delicious, but obviously loaded with fat. but hey, if you're dining out, what's the use in getting healthy stuff, right? for the entree, i tried the twin beef tenderloins au poivre. they were well cooked, but flavors were nothing special. the side of frites we got, however, were very good.
(3)
Nikita m.
Very good place.I went for a conference this past weekend and made the reservatin in person for the next day after eating in a nearby restaurant . The Salmon w red wine was very good close to outstanding. I was expecting some side dishes with the fish so I mentioned it to the waiter and he kindly suggest a salad that make a perfect combination for a light meal. I felt so happy after an ugly test that forgot all about it. i felt sorry that I did not ask for dessert at least to go. Love this place ,full of people and you are able to eat outside also.
(5)
Andrew M.
On the pricey side, but it's a great place to bring a date. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Even though the it was an intimate setting, the noise level made it hard to hear the conversations at my own table.
(4)
Hector M.
Very impressed with quality and service at this place. I had the Tagliatelle Pasta, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Calamari, cherry tomatoes,white wine cream and it was perfectly executed. Delicious french bread, good wine selection, attentive service, fab patio. Do stop by.
(4)
MaGom P.
Extremely dissapointed. If you ever had a dinner in a real french restaurant, this is not even close. I would not recommend this restaurant for a special date with your spouse or girlfriend. Place is extremely loud and the worst, I expend part of my time fighting with a fly.
(3)
Adam E.
We took a small "staycation" a few weekends ago and decided to try Bistro Niko. I'd call our experience good, not great. I ordered one of the specials, a fish. It was cooked nicely, but not alot of flavor. My wife is a vegetarian and the chef prepared a special vegetable plate, but there aren't many vegetarian options on the menu. The best part was the drinks. I'd highly suggest the Moscow Mule.
(4)
Drew M.
Great place to talk about credit default swap spreads and opportunities in the leveraged loan market. The atmosphere is lively and fun and the food was great. Great oysters and great beef tenderloin.
(4)
Ian W.
Second visit. Eating solo on biz trip. Place was packed at 8 pm during the middle of the week. Got a seat pretty quick. Started with the white bean soup followed with a trout entree. Bistro Niko never disappoints. Food can be on the rich side. Decent draft beer selection to wash it down with. Will be back.
(4)
Robert S.
I am going to put as much thought and energy into this review as Bistro Niko put into making their food flavorful - very little. Despite the menus potential to be amazing (Country Pate, "Faux" Gras Terrine, pork rillettes, salmon rillettes. tartar) it is exactly what one would expect from a Buckhead Life restaurant - safe, boring and merely adequate. The food certainly did not offend me, but it is not going to make me come back either. The charcuterie appetizer with pork rillettes, chicken liver mousse, country pate, salami and prosciutto lacked flavor - how they managed to do that is beyond me. The lamb sandwich I had also lacked flavor. The only thing that reminded me that lamb was even on that sandwich was the texture - short of that, it could have been anything in between those two pieces of bread. Other than that, the food was "great!" In short, the food was about as exciting and interesting as watching a game of checkers between two mimes. Ultimately, the fact that Bistro Niko was "flat" should not have surprised me because, time and time again, every visit to a Buckhead Life restaurant yields more or less the same story - jejune food that is never outstanding nor offensive, "themed" environment, adequate service and prices that normally won't break the bank (albeit expensive for what you get). I guess that is why the restaurant group is successful, it refuses to take chances. Bistro Niko is absolutely no exception to this rule. Other than the food, I would be remiss if I did not give two quick words on parking before concluding - absolute nightmare. The valet situation at this restaurant is about as organized as a goat rodeo. You will wait in utter confusion both to bring your car in and to leave. The valet seems to service several different businesses and is completely understaffed. If you are in a rush at lunch, good luck. Although I have gone way to much in depth on a restaurant that has none, I have a few final remarks to round out this review - If you are in Buckhead and on an expense account, go for it, you won't be wowed or disappointed, you will just be. If you are paying for the meal yourself and really want exciting and flavorful food, save your money for somewhere else or just give it to me. If you are looking for safe food sold at relatively decent prices in a sterile environment, this may be the place for you. It is not for me.
(2)
Rudy K.
Not really used to writing reviews more or less used to cooking and tasting the dishes I make at work, so let me start. Apps: I had Gary's meat plate the Faux Gras was amazing smooth and so good I was sneaking the ramikin under the table so I could lick it clean. The cured meats were really really top notch the pate was seasoned with salt perfect but could use a bit more bite from pate spice. The Escargots were mind blowing the snails I ate first and then used the puff pastry to mop up the delicious sauce. The main course I had was the Coq au Vin which was a upgrade over any culinary student attempt of this classic. It was updated dressed up and given enough love to make you realize why coq au vin is a classic in the first place. The service was polished and efficient the managers walked around and made sure everything and everyone was okay. The kitchen got the food out like a well oiled machine.
(5)
Alison B.
Awesome for brunch. My husband and I didn't want a big fancy buffet brunch, just a nice, delicious, quiet, delicious meal. This was perfect.
(4)
Claire C.
Nice atmosphere and good food (try the traditionally french "Croque Monsieur" et "Croque Madame") but it all didn't feel very french. Coming from a french speaker - the food was a little too American for me. The service was great though, except for their horrendous French accents.
(3)
Alicia T.
Another great meal at Bistro Niko! The Mussels are a must...Love it!!!
(4)
Sara R.
I've been twice for dinner. The food is OK, not spectacular. The service is really disappointing on both visits. The bar service was good. I don't get the attitude of the servers. It was as if we were lucky to be there. Shouldn't that be the other way around. I hope they get this worked out. The restaurant and menu looks like its trying to be like Balthazar in NYC. Bistro Niko, you have a long way to go.
(3)
E B.
I have been no fewer than twenty times. lunch, dinner, and drinks....... The food can swing from good to bad depending on the visit, but for some reason I keep coming back............................. After much thought, I decided that I like the place for the simple reason that it is an easy place to grab a bite, people watch, and have a great drink at the bar. The bartenders are excellent. I also keep coming to see if "SAM" is still there, because I am hoping he leaves to go take up reins at Panos again. So I sit here a fan for the whole experience and not always the food.
Had the Coquilles St. Jacques, which were magnificent. Best ever! Good wine stowed on the table in a cute little clear plastic wine tote. Interesting atmosphere--people having fun. Very loud, but we were late enough that after awhile a lot of people left and it became tolerable. The food and service were outstanding. Authentic French bistro with subway tile, hall windows to kitchen, Toulouse-Lautrec type posters, other interesting artwork. Someone has put a lot of $$$ in the decor. Would go again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Stu G.
While we lack budget-friendly, mass-appeal french options in Atlanta, this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of unique options on the menu to get you started. Don't miss the wine to cut all the rich, meat-influenced fatty options. Some delicious apps and mains to choose from. Meat and frites... mmm.
(4)
Lisa A.
Restaurant was extremely noisy. The drinks are quite small for the price. I ordered two martinis and both times the glases were half full. Keep in mind,they wanted 12.00 a drink. The pork cutlet was plain and was missing a lot of flavor. The steak tartare was about the only item that I tought was good. It is as good as the Pano's and Paul's version.
(2)
Kimberly W.
Champagne, mussels, beautifully cooked escargot, a wonderful selection of oysters, a truly affordable caviar , the much missed Brandad, sturdy soups and interesting salads followed by traditional french entrees with some interesting twists. I've had everything on the menu and while some entrees lack religious fervor they are all very competent with some soaring to great heights (french fries cooked in duck fat). And then there is the lovely atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)
c d.
Great scene, great service, great food. The mussels are the best quality and biggest I've ever had. The steak tartare is amazing, as is the charcuterie plate. My ONLY complaint is a lack of "diet friendly" foods for someone watching their weight. Also the area by the bar is always drafty (which of a wind-tunnel effect). I wish they would close the doors to the patio. Regardless, bring a sweater if you intend to spend much time by the bar.
(4)
Anup M.
We went to their Sunday brunch. I had their roasted pork and my wife had the duck confi. We loved both dishes. The service was great and the ambiance was excellent. The only thing we didn't like was the foie gras. We prefer the foie gras to be warm instead of being cold.
(5)
Cindy S.
Anyplace I can get Caviar, Oysters on the half shell, escargot & Great wine at a solid price get's a thumbs up from me! Great time and friendly service!
(4)
Clare D.
First time at Bistro Niko today. Had the mussels, which were amazing!!! A small order of them with bread to sop up the heavenly broth is a full lunch. The lamb sandwich was also excellent, and the prices were reasonable, especially considering the neighborhood. My eating companion said the Eggs Norwegian (brunch menu) were good, but not as good as the lamb. Will be back! Great atmosphere, too.
(5)
Philip H.
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and effecient service. It's now one of my choices in the ATL.. Great spot
(4)
Roy H.
Our first visit was 5 star. He has really captured the French bistro vibe. The only downside would be the noise level in the main dining area, fortunately we were seated in the parlor. Escargot was superb! Very deep menu, so subsequent visits will be necessary. The price points for the entrees is very encouraging!
(5)
John H.
I had dinner here for the first time for a good friend's birthday. First off as soon as you walk in the resturant you can tell this place gives off an aura of class and elegance. The waiter we had was very patient and explained everything we asked in detail. Since the menu was mostly in French we had lots of questions. We started off with the Mussels in a garlic cream sauce. The sauce was probably the best sauce I've ever tasted. I kept asking for more bread so that I could dip it into the sauce. I highly recommend ording the Mussels on your next expedition to Bistro Niko if you haven't already. We also order some kind of fried pork rolls but after trying the mussels everything else failed miserably in comparison. I ordered the special which was the large pork chop and my fiancee order the seafood pasta. Unfortunately when the entrees came out I tried my friends tenderloin and my pork chop didn't seem as appetizing anymore. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as flavorful and tender as the tenderlon. Once again I ordered the wrong thing. As far as pork chops go though they were still pretty good. I also tried the seafood pasta and it was to die for. Remember how much I loved the garlic cream sauce that came with the mussels? Well that was the sauce they used for the pasta as well. When my waiter even felt the slightest hint of displeasure of my own entree he immediately tried to take it back and bring me something else. He truly made me feel that my happiness and my experiance there came before anything else. He exceeded my expectations on great customer service. Finally we had the creme brulle for desert and it topped off the evening creamy and sweet. So in a nutshell, The food was amazing, the atmosphere and decor was everything I expect a 5 star resturant to be, and the service was phenominal. If you love French food then this is the place to go and if you never had French food before this is the place you want to base your first opinion on. - Good Eats
(5)
ralston a.
After many visits to Paris, I have to disagree with some of the other reviews. I found the food very much french and the service attentive without being intrusive. Those who felt the service lacking were perhaps expecting the typical american style wait staff of 'and how are we this evening' which I find annoying and hypocritical - if you think the waiter really cares about how your evening is past the point of their tip, you are sadly mistaken. In France, wait staffing is taken as a serious career and I think this is the goal of Niko to have the wait staff take their job seriously and not just as a college kid trying to earn spending money. The food was good- I had escargot, shepherd's pie and coq au vin and 2 desserts. All were exceptional and every bit as good as those dishes I have eaten in France.
(5)
Trey N.
I usually do not eat a place like this but I was not let down. I only gave 3 stars because of Price mainly. The staff was friendly and helpful explaining the menu. The atmosphere was fancy, intimate, trendy. Great place for a date or to take a client. I had the Cod with mash potatoes and It was amazing. Would give 4 stars if it was a little cheaper. Still nice place.
(3)
Eric C.
Every single thing that we ordered tonight was extraordinarily excellent. Chicken tortellini appetizer was outstanding. Burger was good and juicy. Scallops were cooked perfectly and delicious. The orange cream sorbet is just ridiculously good. Our server Joey was very friendly and an excellent waiter. This is one of the best meals that we have ever had!
(5)
Brandy L.
1 word Buckhead Life Group(Chef Pano ) another gr8 Hot Atl hot spot Tois martini Fantastic along w/Vodka Chambord & the food is good too! ; )
(4)
H V.
cool looking Italian restaurant, food was just OK, nothing to brag about. our Waiter was not friendly nor helpful.
(3)
Michael B.
Ok. I have heard that French foodies enjoy - maybe I am not a French foodie. Great for groups bc it is energetic. Great to walk through the entrance and feel as if you are walking through the kitchen in Paris. Very loud (i.e., not a romatic spot). The mussels were good. Had read poor service reviews, but ours was good - attentive and knowledgeable. Our server in the bar (where we waited for our table) was very pleasant and welcoming. Having said that, the table next to ours (with a different server) got what appeared to be very poor service.
(3)
Mike M.
The Frau and I had a wonderful dinner last night. Our table was ready promptly on time and Phil, our waitperson was extremely helpful. Besides the great food, the service was top shelf. We will be back!
(4)
Debbie L.
First and foremost, food is top-notch and for the area, well-priced. You can also have lunch most days til 5 PM (great option for those of us who like to eat late lunches - why is it that all the good Atlanta restaurants stop serving lunch at 2:30 PM) - or an early dinner (5 PM), if that's your thing (it's mine). Later diners will often encounter a wait - reservations strongly recommended. Seafood dishes are consistently fresh and well-prepared (trout, skate wing & scallops are all solid choices - mussels are awesome). Wine choices are good and well priced for a decent pour. Cons: Service can come with a bit of an attitude - so, it's Buckhead but still...bread is almost always cold - why is that - it's good bread so stick it in the oven for a few minutes - makes a difference. Of all the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group restaurants, this is probably my favorite. Still wish it would lose its attitude and seem grateful (or at least somewhat pleased) that I'm there and willing to spend good $$ and tip well - but it mostly seems like an accommodation for a distant relative you wish would leave sooner - and I'm nice J Management seems sullen and foreboding (I notice these things) - kitchen staff seems fine-tuned and well oiled, and that's why I return - the food and the wine and mostly, for the kitchen staff - hats off to you and my very heartfelt thanks!!
(4)
Roseann S.
loved it!!
(5)
Natasha S.
So i love the overall atmosphere of this restaurant. It's so pretty, and I love the ceilings. I ended up going here for lunch one day.. it was a very slow day with only a few people in the restaurant but the service seemed really slow for my liking. The food was pretty good, but a little too cheesy.. I'd maybe give it one more try. Not a huge fan of the parking situation.
(3)
Jin D.
I drive past Bistro Niko all the time and I seriously have no idea why it took me so long to dine here. We did dinner Friday night and the place was packed, always a good sign. Our table wasn't quite ready so we placed ourselves at the bar (naturally). They do a fantastic French 75 here, very crisp; however, do note they are $13 a pop so it adds up when you have a few with your meal. I love the fact that while the restaurant feels very spacious thanks to the open floor plan, but it's cozy at each table. The atmosphere was lively compare to other BLRG restaurants, which are more traditional (or stuffy). Our waiter greeted us right as we sat down and made a few menu recommendations. We started our meal with the chilled pork shoulder spread and French onion soup. Both were amazing. The pork shoulder spread was seasoned to perfection and the French onion soup, really the best I've ever had (mostly thanks to the giant piece of gruyere on top, mmmm). Friend got the Pailiard de Poulet, which was the perfect dish if you want something light. I, on the other hand, decided on a hearty steak with green peppercorn sauce. However, when the dish got to the table, I was a bit surprised because it was sitting on a plate full of mushroom sauce (I'm allergic). I suppose it was my mistake for not asking but then again it doesn't say anything about mushroom in the dish on the menu. The manager offered to take the dish back for a do-over, but it came back out 2 minutes later it was obvious they just re-plated it without the sauce. Doesn't solve the problem because the bottom of my steak still has mushroom sauce on it. I did not like that because allergy is a serious issue and they just cut corners. I ended up just eating a small piece from the top and gave the rest for my friend to take home. The piece I did have was tasty, the peppercorn sauce has a strong kick so make a note if you can't handle spicy. Desert is a must at any French restaurant. We shared an order of chocolate terrine which was just the right amount of sweetness. Despite the steak incident. I loved everything else I had and service was fantastic. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Jeff M.
I love the location and the actual space itself. Modern, spacious, chic, and makes you feel like you're in France. The service was good too, although at times annoyingly intrusive (and I have a high tolerance). The food was not on par with the surroundings. I started with the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon: this was actually a very simple dish, where the salmon stood through. This was actually the best part of the meal. The Confit de Canard, with frisee salad, and crisped duck potatoes was very plain to me, bland even. I knew I was eating duck, but I couldn't taste it. Then the Baba au rhum was the complete opposite: so rich, almost too busy and confusing, that it was difficult to enjoy let alone finish. I really, really wanted to like this place. For setting alone? Yes. For food alone? Not quite. There, it falls short.
(3)
Johnston O.
We went to Bistro Niko a few weeks back and had an excellent experience. The mussels and steak frites were both nearly perfect. The duck was very good, but a little unremarkable. I really liked the atmosphere as well, very reminiscent of a French brasserie. Will definitely be back.
(4)
wow b.
went here for birthday...mussels were fantastic. I liked everything we had but the pork belly...dry and chewy. my friends said they hated it but everyone's plate was empty...go figure. very chaotic and loud. so don't expect great service...the food is affordable and good portions.
(3)
L P.
I never thought I'd see an île flottante on a dessert menu outside of France, much less in Atlanta. Bistro Niko has spectacularly dispelled that notion and we should all be happier for it. The confit de canard, poussin rôti, fresh huîtres... classic French bistro items at proper French portions and justified prices. The main dining room is everything from an old-timey Paris film with its yellowish glow, dark wood panels, tiled floor and red accents. The bread is crusty and soft. The wine menu leaves no French wine behind, with everything from Bordeaux to Rhône to Languedoc, all perfectly aged by 2 years or more. This isn't a modern or innovative restaurant. You won't find any celery-foam-infused this or port-wine-reduced that. This is a classic French bistro: you take it for what it is or you can just go to La Madelaine's instead.
(4)
Scott F.
Another great restaurant brought to you by the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Bistro Niko is a cozy french spot hidden in an office building. Exciting menu, with so many Parisian favorites from the Charcuterie to the fresh pasta dishes and amazing seafood and desserts, It's certain to charm and please!
(5)
jim b.
We thought it was really good. Wife and I got the $25 price fixe deal, similar to reviews below. We had 7:00pm reservation on a Sunday, and the restaurant was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full. Was no problem getting a table. The valet service was fine. Appetizers: salmon sammies, oxtail kreplach things. Both were delicious. Wife not into salmon so much, so I had three of them. Yum! Entrees: duck breast, shrimp wontons. Both were really good, decent portion sizes. The duck sat on some kind of cabbage, sweet/sour/au jus type sauce. Very tasty. One thing I noticed: I'm fine with medium-rare duck (which is how it's served), but the portions near the edge, where it was closer to medium, were actually more tender. Some meats actually get a little more tender closer to medium. Next time I might request it that way. But it was still delicious. The shrimp were also very good, and sat on some kind of horseradish slaw that was tasty. Desserts: we got one of each. One was a spongecake soaked in at least 2+ ounces of potent rum. Highly potent. Watch out if you're not into rum. The other had two cookies and a little ceramic cup of cold custard. The custard was addictive. I also had a coffee, which was a high quality brew. The meal also comes with frequently replenished bread and butter, thus it's impossible to leave still hungry. The space itself is an attractive looking mix of retro+modern. Next time, I'd request a window booth. Downside? The service was excellent. Too excellent! I don't need a water refill or table crumb squeegee every 4 minutes! Please--give us some alone time! I also wouldn't have minded if the butter was not so cold and hard. Easier to spread when it's closer to room temp. The waiter/crumb squeegee man/water boy did a good job though. It was a nice evening out, and we may get back over here sometime.
(5)
Dan C.
Hard to complain about a cuisine that I know so little about. Went with a group, everyone was raving and passing plates around. The Tournedos au Poivre, smoked trout and the mussels were the highlights of the night. The waiter was very patient in explaining (translating) the menu for us. This almost came as a surprise given the location, clientele and cuisine. No stereotypes here - only well prepared and presented food. For the budget minded, there is a pre selected two and three course option for about $30 a person. From it I would recommend the veal casserole (the French name slips my mind, though I am sure it sounds more impressive). Minor complaints, the mixed drinks were short for the price and the bathrooms double as meat lockers.
(4)
Richard N.
The food was good. The bartenders are not going to win any personality contests, very little interaction customers. Barely saw them smile and did not feel welcomed. Would I return?? Tough question as there are sooo many great restaurants in the area, probably not.
(3)
Mandy C.
Went for a family birthday dinner and was appalled by the service. Our waiter was constantly rushing us even when we asked for more time. We started with cocktails and told him we'd like to order bottles of wine to follow. He filled my wine glass before I was even half-way done with my martini. Then he tried to top off my wine before I had taken one sip, martini still in hand. He tried to snatch up all of our plates while we were clearly still eating. Rushed every decision, bumped into us, reached across us, and was even a little bit rude (did I mention that he'd been working there for 15 years?! Inexcusable). To top it off, the food just wasn't all that great for the price. Probably would have had a better experience had our waiter been different, but I won't be returning to find out.
(2)
ADAM V.
Ok, short review here on this one. I have been to bistro nikko three times as I work right across the street. This is a very nice addition to the neighborhood. Now, this may sound a bit odd but hands down the french onion soup is the best ive ever had. It is just wonderful, thick not watery. Just great, if you go try it as a starter or it could be your entire meal for lunch.
(4)
L N.
This place is so delicious! Every time I come here I get the onion soup and fill up before I can eat my entree. That soup is so good! Last time I split the boeuf bourguignon with someone and we both loved it. We had the chocolate molten cake with pistachio flavoring for dessert and it was also very good. I've had the croque monsieur there as well. Not the best I have ever had but the frites that come with it (fried in duck fat) were really really good. They apparently do brunch here too which I have never tried but the menu looks really good.
(4)
Juliet C.
I was there about happy hour and ate at the bar, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was European and sophisticated, but casual enough to feel comfortable. The food was fabulous, I had the French Onion Soup and the Shrimp Crevettes, both delicious. I totally recommend it. Just pricey!
(4)
Liz S.
First of all its a beautiful restaurant. I very much enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was excellent. Very attentive servers and the manager stopped by a couple times to ask how our meal was. The food was wonderful. For main course we had the beef bourguignon which was outstanding. Tender meat in a delicious sauce, almost wanted to lick the plate. Overall a great restaurant that I highly reccommend.
(5)
Linda M.
We went for our wedding anniversary with another couple. The decor and atmosphere are nice enough, even though it is pretty noisy. BUT the food was far, far, below what my husband and I expected. We each ordered an appetizer and 1 of the 2 were okay. But each of us ordered different entrees and none of us cared for them. Although the service was fine, I certainly will not go back. Both my husband and I felt our dishes were mexican dishes made to look french. We will stick with La Petite Maison in Sandy Springs.
(1)
I I.
I went last night (yes the night of the big snow storm) and the place was about half empty when I arrived at 7 pm. It picked up a bit by the time I left at 9. I was not impressed with the wait staff and the attention they provided us. Also, I felt rushed even though the place was not busy. The mussels were unreal and that is the only reason I am giving them two stars. The wine list was not bad but they should widen the selection to cover other known brands. One positive thing, the pricing was very reasonable. Now onto the worst part of the night.....I ordered the filet medallions which came highly recommend by our wait staff. It was overcook to a point of being well-done as well as it was cold when it was served. It should have been cooked to the point of medium rare like the chef recommends, in their defense they offered to cook another one but I was so hungry I did not want to wait. With all of the other great places to dine in Atlanta I doubt this place will stay in business unless something dramatically changes.
(1)
Vincent D.
yum yum yum. beef tenderloins were amazing... so is the creme brulee
(4)
John M.
Like so many places before it, Bistro Niko is the new hot spot. A place people must go when in Buckhead whether to eat, or just enjoy a drink and people watch at the bar. I hope it lives up to the hype for a long time- we'll see. The location is great for the business traveler since it is so close to many great hotels. I stay at the Intercontiental across the street and it is such an easy walk. The area is clean, shiny, new, and safe. The outdoor patio at Bistro Niko is inviting so long as the temperature is cool. Inside the restaurant the lighting is soft, seating comfortable. Tables are spaced apart nicely, several booths around the outer perimeter and all are comfortable The noise level has never been an issue- just right to carry on a good conversation. The decor predictably a little above average. The service has always been very good especially at the bar where there is a constant buzz of activity. Oh, and did I mention the food? I have not had a bad thing on the menu. The mushroom pizza is different, tasty a very good selection. Love the scallops - my personal fave. So, go to Bistro Niko, you will enjoy the location, decor, crowd, food and drink. Especially with friends-greta energy. Very welcoming.
(4)
Crystal G.
This place is like a taste of French heaven. Really, it's that good. I go here each time I come to Atlanta.
(5)
Louise D.
Absolutely fabulous! First, the food is great and well worth the money. This is probably the best place for a meal in the Atlanta area. The service was excellent and we know the next time we go there we are going to make sure and ask for Stewart Barnes again! This man makes you feel comfortable and allows you time to absorb the menu. Mr. Barnes is very knowledgeable in flavors and made us an excellent wine suggestion. There are not too many servers that I would call professional, however, if you are lucky enough to have Stewart service your table you will ask for him each and every time you go back; everyone else just pales in comparison. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relevant to the type food served here however it can get a little loud in the dining room. The food is fabulous and worth asking if you can compliment the chef. This is a restaurant in the Atlanta area that does not miss on one single thing. Thank you Mr. Stewart Barnes for a great dining experience and I will be back and will ask for you!
(5)
Lisa S.
Beautiful restaurant. They are very nice greeting you at the door and you are seated promptly at the time of your reservation. However, we had not been seated 10 minutes and our waitress had asked us 5 times if we were ready to order. We had just picked up drinks at the bar and had not even sipped them yet. Finally to get her off our backs, we ordered the flambee pizza with lardons and onion. Delicious, crisp crust. As soon as that arrived, she was back again asking for orders. One guest had the sole which was delcious as was the steak au pouive. The palliard pork was good and very different. Another guest wanted to try the croque monsier to see if it was like they have them in Paris. Unfortunatly not. Too little ham, to bland of a sauce. The other thing is the french fires. Not double fried, as boring as McDonalds. There was also inconsistency in the drinks. Some made even with different ingredients. Profiteroles were delicious though. Overall, it was okay but needs work. They shouldn't try to rush you out so quickly. Definitely a happening spot though.
(3)
Pace C.
Could not have gone better. I reserved an early dinner for my wife's birthday and noted that she is a vegetarian. BN was very accommodating and made our dining experience feel special. Our server was great, offered good suggestions and the food was terrific. The mussels are super tasty and you should ask for more of their delicious bread to soak up their sauce. They brought a nice dessert out. Topped it of with a coffee. The restaurant is very nice, but you can go smart casual in attire.
(5)
Ed V.
Great onion soup. Have had scallops, tenderloin and chicken here at various times, all great. My second favorite BLG restaurant to Pricci.
(4)
Aaron D.
Service was okay. Coffee maker broke so took a while. Forgot to give us menus. Food came out quickly. Food was flavorful but so greasy ingot a stomach ache. Had the herb omelet. Thankfully I substituted a salad for the hash browns, or it would have been even greasier. Classiest aspect were the bathrooms. Overall was good enough but I wouldn't go back here soon.
(3)
Ken P.
It is not easy to take a foreign cuisine to another country. About 1/2 of the things which French people regularly eat simply do not appeal to most Americans (think pig's feet, calf's head, head cheese, blood pudding, tripe, kidneys, sweetbreads, liver, cold jellied meats, chitterling sausages, wild hare, sea snails, rouget, grainy & strong tasting fish soup, etc.). There are Tex-Mex restaurants in Paris, but they are no more authentic than Bistro Niko is a real French dining establishment, as in France. Compromises to satisfy local tastes (such as New Orleans' Chinese restaurants that offer bread pudding) are always necessary, if one wants to stay in business and Bistro Niko follows suit. People in Atlanta may think they want to go to a real French restaurant, but, in fact, most are going to want to eat like Americans do, no matter where they are. For example, a number of the other reviewers have indicated that they ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer (typical in the USA), rather than after the main course, as is always done in France. When the late Gilbert Le Coze came to the USA from Paris and opened Le Bernardin in NY (before opening Brassserie Le Coze in Atlanta) he expressed shock at the way Americans ordered their meals. He commented that he sold more green salads daily in NY than he would in a month in Paris. I, too, wonder about people going to a fine restaurant, with a skilled and inventive chef, and ordering an ordinary dish like a green salad. Why not also order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? I also wonder about naming this place "Bistro." It looks like a large and beautiful brasserie, not at all like a bistro (usually a small and modest Mom & Pop operation, such as Au Rendezvous), minus the main two food items which are always found in real brasseries, plateau de fruits de mer (large cold shellfish platters) and choucroute garni (a huge dish of assorted pork cuts and sausages with sauerkraut). I know that Bistro Niko shied away from offering shellfish platters because they are very expensive and it wanted to be moderately priced. A large one, for two people, will cost $100-150 in Paris, but you can get one nearly as good at Chops (or its Lobster Bar) for about 1/2 as much. Most Americans think of sauerkraut dishes as German and would not expect them in French restaurants. In fact, however, brasseries, which means beer halls in French, first came to Paris in the 1870s-1880s, after France lost Alsace (on the French-German border) in the Franco-Prussian War. A number of Alsatian restaurant owners fled to Paris and set up shop there, bringing beer and somewhat Germanic food with them. Bistro Niko is more of a copy of Balthazaar in NYC than it is of anything in France. It is also sort of an American's idea of a "best of France" mix of dishes which are actually found not just in one type of establishment, such as a brasserie, but also in cafes, restaurants, bistros, and in 3 or 4 different regions in France. For example, it has a Croque Madame, a simple short-order cooking item usually found in modest cafes and never in places which serve serious food (just as hot dogs are not served in serious USA restaurants); boeuf bourgogne and coq au vin from Burgundy; raclette from the Alps; Tarte Flambee from Alsace, etc., as well as some dishes which are not really French, such as mussels (which are uncommon in Paris, except at the two branches of Leon de Bruxelles, a Belgian chain), white bean soup (not a French dish, but apparently adopted because it was very popular at Brasserie Le Coze), etc. Snails are common in France, but I have never experienced them there made either with Pernod or puff pastry. Despite its very justified failure to be authentically French, Bistro Niko has some very good dishes (especially the terrines, pates, pork rilletes, the frisee salad, and the two Burgundy dishes mentioned above) and I like it.
(4)
Kendall B.
Wonderful! Service was exceptional. Was giving Bistro Niko one more chance after an anniversary dinner was a total disaster with the service. Sat outside. Note: the outside tables are very small. Actually the whole area out there is kind of small. Only two for dinner out there per table unless you start pulling up tables. Then you have two round tables together. Food was just wonderful. The escargo is just beyond delicious. Will be back! Oh, and they let us cork our own wine!
(5)
Kevin J.
Swanky swanky with a whole lot of waiting. I believe the restaurant got our reservation time wrong as all of my notes said 7pm and they had us down for 7:30. Oh well. We arrived around 6:45 and waited at the bar. The hostess said our table would be ready around 7:30. 7:40 came, and 7:50 came. I figured it was time to have a little check-in to make sure we weren't overlooked. The hostess said they could seat us now and to bring the entire party back up to the front stand. Huh - I thought the whole idea of waiting at the bar was for them to come and get us. Maybe I'm high-maintenance but I was hoping we'd be treated with respect as business professionals waiting to spend hundreds at their restaurant. The food was good. Not amazing, not stellar, but a notch above good. Would I go back, yes. Would I clarify my reservation time, hell yes, and will I make sure they come find us? Hopefully next time.
(3)
Lesa T.
Very good. All four of us shared our meals, it was all superb!! I would recommend and I will go back. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, I really liked it, lighting was a bit too bright. if they would tone it down a bit, I feel it would help. There are booths and tables. Open kitchen when you walk in near the hostess stand, bar is in the middle of restaurant. Lots of children here, but they were well behaved. Please note, Valet parking; $2.00 fee does not include tip.
(4)
Belinda S.
I have been several times over the past few years and like most Buckhead Life restaurant it is quickly losing its appeal. My sister and I decided to go in without a reservation around 730 on a Saturday. We were told there was a 45 minute wait, we asked about the wait for the patio and were told it would also be 45 minutes. We said we would wait and without leaving the hostess stand we were instantly taken to the patio that was practically empty except for 2 or 3 other couples, odd , no? We ordered a couples apps, salads, and our entrees and everything came out really staggered. I had to beg for my entree which came out 10 minutes after my sisters, hers came out cold. Take it or leave it.
(3)
Lauren P.
Kevin P. has taken me on some pretty great dates. In our three years together we've hit up the best places in town: Chops, One Midtown Kitchen, Hal's, Horseraddish Grill, Two Urban Licks, just to name a few. Friday's date night at Bistro Niko was right up there. Y'all, it was truly a five star date. Star 1: We knew it was going to be a great date when we pulled up next to a bright red Ferrari Spider. For those of you who know my gear-head man y'all know it made his night. I told him if he ever got a Ferrari I'd buy red lipstick and nail polish to match the color of the car. He laughed and we proceeded into Bistro Niko. The restaurant space has a serious wow factor. We walked in and I was immediately impressed with the open kitchen. The smells wafting out of the space were divine. Thankfully we'd made a reservation and were promptly seated. Star 2: somehow we got the best table in the place! We were seated in one of the sumptuous booths facing out into the restaurant. Perhaps it was one of the tables reserved for Open Table reservations, or we looked that damn good, perhaps we just got lucky; either way, we had an awesome place to enjoy our meal. Star 3: greeted within one minute by our fabulous server. She was great. I loved the Syrah she recommended, our wine and waters were never empty, and had great menu selections she highlighted for us to help narrow down our food decision. Star 4: "OH-MY-GOD-THIS-IS-SO-GOOD!" was all I could keep saying. First we had the escargot. The escargot were exactly how I like them: tender, flavorful, swimming in butter and covered with flaky pastry puffs. Then we tackled the mussels in the most fabulous broth ever. Despite what I've read from other reviews, the mussels were pretty big and tasted fresh. They came with warm, crusty bread: perfect for dipping in the broth or noshing on with butter. We skipped the salads to save room for our entrees and I'm very glad we did. The scallops were the best I ever had. Pan-fried with that golden crust, swimming in a butter-wine-lemon sauce complimented by tender asparagus and cherry tomatoes over a potato puree. I can't tell you how many times I said awesome during this meal. Kevin P. had the skate wing which we learned is wholly-roasted in the oven for 13 minutes, then deboned and finished by frying in a pan. I've never had skate until this evening. Now I'm officially a fan. Kevin P. even ate the spinach served alongside the skate which he said was "not bad." This is a really high compliment from my husband when it comes to leafy greens. We finished our meal by sharing the decadent chocolate cake laced with bourbon and orange flavors. Star 5: the ambiance of Bistro Niko. In some reviews you'll read that it's loud in the restaurant (which is true) but awesome if you're on a date. You can say almost anything to your partner and it won't be heard by the table next to you due to the dim roar. The restaurant itself is designed for conversation. The architecture is great, especially the accents on the ceiling and walls. It was cool to see the variety of people: tourists, businessmen, kids going to prom, other couples on dates. Bistro Niko is building a solid reputation with the ATL and it's well deserved. I close saying this: if you really want to wow your lady, take her to Bistro Niko. Seriously it was one of my top 10 dates ever.
(5)
Jeff W.
I really like this place. However, I think they need to change the menu or add more specials. At least the entree menu. It's getting a little old. The rest of the menu is just fine. Last time I was there, about a month ago, I had the TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE* Twin Beef Tenderloins. They were seriously small! I mean like maybe I got 3 ounces of beef. They were so small that cooking them to medium was impossible. My wife had the veal, could have been the special, had to send it back because it was undercooked at first, then it came back overcooked. Main problem was it had no flavor and it was very tough. She hardly touched it and mine was too small to share. So we left hungry. I love the price of their veuve clicquot; best in Atlanta at $69. Overall I think this is a great restaurant. Great prices for what you get. Just that my last visit wasn't very good. I'll see how it goes next time.
(4)
Julie C.
Again, this is one of those times where I could use a half star. But, I'm typing this with an upset stomach that I think is the direct result of some bistro niko sole (which was not worth this GI distress), so perhaps 2 stars is just right. Meh. Yep. I have to pay 1.50 to valet? I am cheap, yes, and I don't mind letting the valet get the other .50 cents, but I would really appreciate it if the valet would at least keep a couple of quarters in hand....I mean, you snatch up my 2 bucks, my car door is wide open, it's misting out, and you're going to tell me that you'll be right back with my change? I am asshole enough to wait for it too...but in honor of the 4th, I didn't. Still. Come on. Oh. Yeah. The food. Grossly overpriced. I mean, it wasn't that the prices were so outrageous, it was that the food quality, and taste didn't match up. I actually thought the serving sizes were fine, but I'd rather a little more yummy over just a little more. We, in true pig fashion, had drinks (initially tasty moscow mule...on first sip it was gingery, then it just tasted cold and coppery), a beet salad (just get a jar from publix, your own goat chese and some little weeds from the side of the road and save the 10 bucks), some gruyere cheese puff bites....yum, just not really hot, and some foie gras terrine with chunks of delicious pork shoulder, and a smidge of overly nutmeg-ed apples, and more of the aforementioned weeds (okay, it was mache). Everything was okay...nothing that would have me running back for sure. Busboy service was lovely, lots of swooping in to refill our glasses and keep the uncouth tap water we ordered flowing. Waiter on the other hand...very absent and distracted. We were about finished with our third appetizer by the time he realized we still had menus and no entree ordered. Friend got the steak frites...and I should have too (he has no bellyache). How can you mess steak frites up? His fries were yummy, the maitre d' hotel (?) butter was yummy...and his steak looked good. My sole was salty (probably to hide the rottenness that has caused my upset stomach), and the polenta was so weirdly tasteless that it could have been styrofoam. The tomato lobster broth was more salt, but I did enjoy the three cherry tomatoes that came with. So there. My bitter, bistro niko review. I actually sorta liked the design, cheesy disney french that it was, and the patio looked mega fun...but not in the rampant georgia humidity. IF i were to return, I would maybe try one of the sandwiches....they sounded quite yummy, and I saw some lovely burgers coming out....but really, should I be getting a burger from bistro niko? Seems odd.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Valerie T.
I had a business lunch at this classic French restaurant. The large room is comfortable and very typical of the old brasseries in Paris, though, due to high ceilings or the lack of partitioning, the noise level is high. The service is very efficient and professionnal. We shared a delicious flat bread with mushrooms and trufle oil and I had the duck confit, which was tender and served on a bed of salade frisee. The bathrooms are nice with their painted tiles.
(4)Gabriel B.
Great atmosphere, service and food. You really feel immersed into a early 20th century parisian cafe, with the stained glasses, dimmed lights and the typical black and white waiters garments. The menu covers well the internationally known part of the french cuisine: croque monsieur, escargot, steak frites, duck confit, creme brulee, but goes beyond to offer some interesting variations, like the horseradish cod with moroccoan couscous. Highly recommended for business dinner, romance or just an unplanned bite if you are around buckhead.
(4)David S.
Google maps was not quite right to get us there but every thing else was very good. We split a large appetizer of mussels that were excellent. Rose wine went well with them. For entrees my wife had scallops while I had the veal. Dessert was the Profiteroles. Also excellent The only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(4)Aaron B.
The worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. The environment was uninviting, everyone working had a scowl on their face, our server didn't even ask if we wanted a drink, the Au Poivre Burger was slimy and disgusting and it took more then 5min for them to bring ketchup when requested. The manager stopped by to ask how everything was but with no sincerity or personality. If I could give less then one star I would.
(1)Ali S.
for a fancy restaurant the portions are quite decent chicken paillard was delicious as was their house rose wine also had the seafood pasta. could have been a little more al dente, but also goo. have yet to try their deserts. great service. has a modern kitcheny feel
(4)s a.
The food was good. The drinks were ok. A friend and I both ordered Bloody Marys, and they were served in 2 completely different glasses. Hers was almost twice as big. The service left much to be desired. Everything was super slow. We arrived at 1230 and didn't leave until 245. That is a bit much. Lastly, the valet is friendly but not the speediest.
(3)chestnutt C.
OK, so we were here just for lunch. But what a lunch it was! If you like typical Parisian neighborhood food, you will adore Bistro Niko. Steak Tartare to weep for. All that was missing was a raw egg on top. (Next time I'll ask for one). Frites in perfection. A Croque Madam exquisitely prepared. A Cafe au Lait to die for. Our waiter, James, was knowledgeable and professional. We will return for foie gras in the evening, and more. Why did we not know about Bistro Niko? It's not Paris but it's pretty darn close!
(5)L T.
I had lunch there on 9/11 with a coworker of mine who was in military uniform. Not only was the food simply delicious, the owner came out and offered to cover the cost of my coworkers meal and thanked him for his military service. This was truly the highlight if my visit to Georgia. Wonderful service and great atmosphere!
(5)Saira K.
I chose this place for a celebratory dinner, expecting a memorable experience. Their signature dish, the scallops, were full of sand and grit. I gave the dish back, starved, and waited for a replacement. The second time, there was again sand in the scallops. Annoyed at having waited 45 minutes to eat, I told my server that I would skip the entree and just have dessert. He brought out the dessert and then a bill for $51.00 and another bill for $8.50. I was shocked! The manager, Vladimir, was embarrassed and apologized profusely. I had eaten nothing - the very first bite of scallops in both cases had sand - not even my dessert yet, and I was being charged $60!! Vladimir cancelled the 8.50 for dessert. The $51 was a pending charge on my card for a week before it was cancelled. My server was inattentive, and there is no excuse for how much I was charged. I am glad, though, that I spoke with the manager, who seemed to be a nice guy. I am really disappointed - people around me were eating their food, enjoying, and my server was giving a lot of attention to the other table he was serving (they had 8 men in their party, while I was dining alone, and I resent that I was not given the attention and service that I deserve). I read the other reviews here about good service and feel upset that this respect was not there for me, but speaking to the manager was all right - he really seemed embarrassed.
(2)Christina K.
Disclaimer: i only go here when the boss pays, not just because of the price, but it's just not my cup of tea when I think of lunch you know? The interior is really nice, and with the servers dressed as if this was a 5 star restaurant, it does make boost up your ego (must be why there are always so many suits here). The first time I was here I ordered the grilled chicken breast and a salad. It was nice, the meat was moist and pretty good. The second time, I ordered the burger and asked for no cheese (lactose intolerance), and although the server was very nice and even wrote it down, the burger was still served with cheese which I had to scrape off. Now, be warned that the burger was piled high which made it very hard to pick up and eat it in a dignified manner, especially in front of the boss! So I ended up cutting up the burger. The flavor was good, the temp perfect. I just wish that again, no cheese. The service is pretty much on spot. Kudos to whoever trains them because they know when to refill and clear plates. This is pretty difficult thing to always do when your clientele are usually having a business meeting over lunch.
(3)Julee D.
Loved the ambiance, food, and wine. My favorite dishes include the prosciutto flat bread pizza, mussels, and creme brulee. I do recommend making a reservation because it is quite popular. We were there on a Thursday night and there was also quite a scene at the bar. Full of young, well dressed professionals there enjoying drinks and apps.
(4)Brittany F.
Ambiance was nice, and we sat outside on a pretty day. Food was lackluster, which was disappointing. We had hoped for some delicious food before heading to an anticipated concert. Although I've had hits and misses here, this was a miss. Undercooked fish and slow service. We will try again though -- worth another try!
(3)CAScuba Y.
Revisit after 4 months. This time got sat not in the little fine dining room but in the big room, actually next to the bar on a nice tiny booth by the window. Like it but the service was provided by the bartender, so it was a little hit or miss in between when I need something. The oyster was quite fine, taste of ocean, love it. The pastry snail also pretty awesome. Since Dante down the hatch is now closed, I am less motivated go out to Buckeye. I use to love a meal here and then head over the next block for some fine jazz
(4)Nick B.
The food and service both outstanding and price was reasonable. I had sole- perfect and fits my criteria of ordering a dish we would never do at home. My wife had shrimp scallop calamari noodles also great. Shared scallop appetizer endive salad and meringue caramel dessert all a treat. Only drawback is noise level in large but beautiful room but next time in Atlanta will definitely go back
(4)Kristy V.
This restaurant was recommended by a colleague (a local) as well as the hotel. The atmosphere was quite nice and sophisticated, with the option of indoor or outdoor dining. That said, the tables outside are teeny, so we opted to sit inside at a high-top near the bar. We enjoyed 2 appetizers, both of which I'd highly recommend: SEPIA PROVENCAL A LA PLANCHA - Similar to Calamari, tomato brulee, basil and olive oil puree, bread crumbs. The way the waitress described the "similar to calamari" thing made me nervous, but I'm glad that I went ahead. It is a variety of grilled squid, served on a nice thick slice of grilled, marinated tomato, and it was really yummy. Small portion. SALADE DE BETTERAVES - Pickled Baby Beets, Goat Cheese mâche lettuce, vinaigrette. Simply delicious. Very small portion. We tasted one wine that we actually sent back - Cab Sauv, Vin de Pays '09. It was far too acidic tasting. We ended up enjoying the Malbec, Mendoza '09 instead. I ordered the Coq au Vin which was amazing. It's a very complex dish, with several different flavours, and it's a classic. Much enjoyed. My friend ordered the Pâtes aux Fruits de Mer. Basically what happened was that we were having quite an intense conversation, the food arrived, and we were both speechless. I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, the food was delicious and my friend felt the same. The service was really good, but not over the top, which is the only reason that I haven't given them 5 stars.
(4)Joel T.
The interior of the restaurant is fantastic, it hits all of the correct notes for a Parisian bistro. I was promptly seated and greated by my waiter but the service was not timely for the entire meal. Wine was delivered to the table very late and the bread came after my entree had arrived. My steak frites, while prepared perfectly, were under seasoned. This has all the makings of an excellent restaurant but the execution is a bit lacking.
(3)Tara D.
Came here during a trip with friends because it was close to our hotel. Food was very good. We ordered Chicken Paillard, Salmon Beurre Rouche, and Seafood Pasta. We also shared Escargot and Gruyere Puffs and the Chocolate Sundae. No major complaints and we cleaned our plates. We came during happy hour on a Thursday and the bar scene was very vibrant. I would visit again.
(4)Shawn L.
Bistro Niko is an interesting cafe in Buckhead, I'd almost say that the Park Slope hipsters moved south and decided to congregate here. The food is good, the service is very good and it's a nice place for a meal. I had the mussels and they were delicious, followed by the Beef Bourguignon on egg noodles which was sadly, a bit bland. The dish had a lot of potential, but lacked anything that made it stand out, including basic seasonings like salt and/or pepper, even adding salt didn't make it any better. Desert was ìle flotent, a delightful meringue with toasted, candied almonds on an almond creme anglaise. Wonderful! Prices were not bad, a meal without alcohol was about $44. Oh, and they need to serve more of their wonderful rustic bread with the mussels!
(4)Jane E.
My friend was aching for some food on our way to Lenox and looked over and decided to stop at the first place he saw... it just so happened to be Bistro Niko. We pulled up, valet service. Walked in, and were greeted by two girls who asked if we had a reservation, we had none. It was early evening on a weekday so we were easily able to get a table. I wanted to sit on the patio at first (since that's what initially drew us in to eating there), but it was a hot Atlanta day and their patio doesn't have AC or fans, so we sat inside. Finally sit, and we take it all in.... y'all this place is really really pretty and nice! Very clean French restaurant with white table cloths....they sat us in one of the really nice big curved elevated comfy booths ( I guess we looked kinda important, lol). Most others were just sat at the table, hehehe... Server came over, told us about all the specials. He was polite and knowledgeable. I forgot the appetizer we got, it was good. My friend ordered one of the specials, and I got a salmon dish... I believe ESCALOPE DE SAUMON. While the place itself was lovely, the food was very pretty, but lacked flavor to me. Each of the items on the plate was plain and unflavored on its own (this fish, the greens, the sauce), but even when eaten all together it still didn't give me fireworks. I watch alot of Top Chef and stuff so I know different countries have different styles of cooking, I guess traditional french cuisine has very simple flavors? And don't use seasonings or spices to add flavors to the food? And don't use alot of other ingredients to add flavor to the food? Idk point is the flood isn't that flavorful. Even with the food not being that good, this place was such an unexpected delight! Many people dress up going here, we just randomly stopped in so we just had on nice, but non-fancy clothes (I think I had on a sweater, pants, and loafers and I think he was in business casual since he had just gotten off of work), I sorta expected them to be snooty, but they were nice from beginning to end. Bistro Niko exceeds its name, it doesn't seem like a simple bistro, but perhaps all the Bistros are this fancy in Paris, idk b/c I havent' been (yet). I loved how clean it was.... the atmosphere of this place is excellent. So while it probably deserves a 3 for the lackluster food, the atmosphere and overall experience makes up for it, so for now they get a four in my book :) All in all I will be coming back for breakfast one of these days... Random Note: Oh, and there bathrooms are pretty, but different from most... there's no girl/guy bathroom, there's about 5-6 individual "water rooms" and everyone, male and female have to wait in a line. They're quite nice inside, spacious, paitnings on the wall, nice lighting, but for the ladies there's no, "let me go to the restroom really quick to touch up makeup of fix something
(4)Stephany V.
I really love this place and it's quickly becoming a big favorite in ATL. The scallops are DREAMY!! And those little cheese puffs before dinner...I could make a meal out of them. On our last visit we were seated in the bar area and our table was too small for four people. We were very cramped. The lighting was so low I had to use the light from my phone to see the menu. But the service and food are always tres bien!
(4)Daisy B.
Nice French bistro atmosphere, sharp service and well-prepared food. The after-work bar scene is hopping with an over-35 crowd. It's a great place to go for a drink in Buckhead and not feel like the oldest person in the room. They were very accomodating in preparing gluten-free items (as are most Buckhead Life restaurants).
(4)Gwenn A.
Fit for Foodies The main room is loud and opened, it is much nicer in the room opposite the kitchen. The menu is full of various selections,so no person will have trouble finding something to eat. Soup l'onion was rich and full of flavor,with the perfect amount of cheese on top. The duck sausage was excellent on a bed on lentils. Lamb chops were prepared well as was the veal sirloin , like butta! The desserts were just alright, of all, the creme brûlée was the best.
(4)Lauren H.
Dined here last night for "date night" with the fiance. We loved it. The restaurant is set up nice, the staff is friendly and they have complimentary valet. For our drinks, I had the Trois martini. It was yummy. VERY weak for a martini, but tasty. The fiance had his standard crown and coke. We started off with the mussels for our appetizer. It was absolutely delicious! The garlic cream sauce was soooo yummy! The mussels were a little on the small side but the sauce definitely made up for it. I had the seared scallops as my entree. There were eight scallops served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes in a cream sauce with a slight citrus accent. There were also a few stalks of asparagus as garnish. The scallops were seared to perfection and absolutely mouth watering! My fiance had the peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin. I'm not a big fan of peppercorns so I wasn't a big fan of this dish. However, peppercorns aside, the cut of beef was very good. The meat was flavorful, juicy and tender! For dessert we had the creme brulee and the sorbets. The creme brulee was good. The sorbets were ok, I've definitely had better. Can't wait to dine here again!
(4)Georgia L.
Love the atmosphere, and the food is really some of the best French food in Atlanta. Their oysters are super fresh and the hanger Steak is really delish. We really love to come here and have an intimate dinner.
(5)Sophia S.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. The website says they don't open until 11:30, but they were open and happy to seat us at 11:15am. We started with the cheese plate. It came with 3 cheeses (1 goat, 1 brie, and 1 other), apricot preserves, pistachio crums, and thinly sliced toasted cinnamon raisin bread. We also ate this with the warm, fresh bread that they brought to the table. I loved everything! The Croque Madame was a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with cheese and an egg. This was incredible, my fiance was in love with it. The side of duck potatoes were probably my favorite part of the whole meal. The waitress recommended the nicoise salad. It was a huge portion. I brought the leftovers home and it made a full dinner. My fiance said the espresso was nothing special. This brunch was great, it left me wanting to come back and try Bistro Niko for dinner.
(4)Mick D.
Pricey. But good. The service was excellent. These folks know that crossed silverware on the plate means you're done. And the food was decent. The oysters, mussels, and the flatbreads were downright good. However, I'm wanting to try a sandwich next time. They're cheaper, and sound just as delicious as some of the way more expensive entrees. The atmosphere was good. Staff wasn't at all stuffy, and we quickly made friends with our servers. Wine recommendations were spot on. And we had a good time, even as we laughed at having to take out the occasional fruit-fly instigator.
(3)Somee K.
I was very pleased with this place. I think it's one of the best restaurants I've been to. We started off with caviar, oysters, and duck for the appetizer and ordered the lamb chops for our entrée. Everything, and I mean, everything was delectable from the interior to our meal. I was thoroughly impressed with the food. I could not get enough of the caviar. We ordered the 4oz and it was perfect for 3 people. Having it with wine and savoring every bit of flavor just made me feel some type of way. The oysters here are probably the best oysters I have ever had. The fresh aroma of the oysters made me want to submerge myself in the ocean waters. The duck's tender meat fell off the bone effortlessly. There was perfect amount of moisture absorbed into the meat that it was like heaven on my taste buds. Lastly, the lamb chops. OMG! It couldn't get any better. I prefer eating it medium rare, and it was grilled to perfection. The server was excellent. Very attentive to our needs. He went a tad bit overboard towards the end with the excessive compliments to my sister and I. He also persistently tried to up sale at every chance he got. Other than that, he was a great server so he received a full 20% on a $250 tab from my boyfriend. The food and service surpassed our expectations that our plates were completely wiped clean by the end of the night. This restaurant is classy and upscale. A nice place to take your date or your loved ones. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)Faith M.
This is the second time we have eaten here. The food and service are excellent! The French Onion soup was very good.
(5)Holy Guacamole M.
I wish i could rate food & service separately. If I could, I'd give the food 5-stars and the service 2-stars... maybe less. The price range is high, but anything food wise will EXCEED your expectations! The kitchen has it together - they're very consistent with preparing delicious food! My tastebuds thank you! However, the "service" doesn't match up to the food. The servers clearly don't care about your dining experience - you wait FOREVER for someone to greet you; half of the time you aren't given bread; there's no 2-min. check back; the staff isn't pleasant and there's no sense of urgency. Finally, I gave up on the service and quit coming, but the food is really good so if/when I do go, I just sit at the bar or order take-out :(
(3)Kelly W.
The food is delicious! I had the mesclun salad, coq au van, and creme brûlée. While the food was beyond amazing and the trios martini was amazing, the service was incredibly slow and there were lots of mistakes with our orders. Our waitress made up for the mistakes with a great attitude. The only thing keeping me from offering up 5 stars was the mistakes with our orders. You won't care as much if you enjoy drinks though!
(4)Nathina G.
This place is terrible do not go . Don't waste your time or money!!! I just left there. They told us the wait was 30 min we ended up waiting 50 min. While we waited we had a glass of wine. And we kept asking and checking in with the front desk. After one drink. We noticed many people around us that got there after us were being seated. We checked in again and they gave us the same excuse. There was even a girl who made reservations and still waited went to find the manager and in front of us this was unacceptable! It us dont waste your time!
(1)Sheila G.
Absolutely LOVE the patio- the most authentic european style patio I have seen outside of Europe! The staff is all incredibly well-informed of the menu items and pair the food well with appropriate drinks. I had my first Moscow Mule there and I LOVED it! I also love ALL the tarts under the appetizers and usually get all 3 when my girlfriends and I just want a light dinner and drinks before going out. I don't understand why people have given poor reviews over service, every time we go we have a different server and each experience has been better than the last. If you go, ask for Ashley! She is well-informed and more than accommodating- she truly makes dining out a great experience. Brunch was a little disappointing only because dinners were so superb. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, it just wasn't filling. The plates were small, but this might be my own problem- coming from an XXL America viewpoint- it might be a strategic Euro-tactic they were aiming for :)
(5)D S.
Oddly, Atlanta is lacking compared to most other metros in French cuisine. Bistro Niko is luckily a good choice for French fare! One of my gal pals and I were driving down Peachtree on a Friday night after shoe shopping at Phipps. It was a cool summer night, the sunroof was open, and we were gabbing on about the wonderful deal we got on our shoes, when this wonderful aroma slammed our senses. I immediately turned into the driveway and made our way in. When I pulled up we had the choice of valet or self parking. I tend to shy away from valets when I can because of some horrible past experiences, so I pulled up to the parking deck. There was no signage as to rates or parking validation. That was a minus. Regardless, we parked and walked in. As a few of the posters mentioned the hostesses looked like they were going to "da club". They also seemed quite confused as to how to seat 2 people. They had a few tables available, and we asked to sit close to the patio. Between two of them, we ended up doing a loop around the restaurant until we pointed out the table. Because of the parking and the confused hostesses, I am dinging them a star. Our server was adorable and attentive. We weren't super hungry so we decided to split everything. They were very accommodating. We couldn't decide between two wines, so our server brought a tasting of both. For an appetizer, we ordered the escargot. Loved the puff pastry shell with it. They even brought us more warm bread to sop up the the yummy herb butter and olive oil sauce in the bottom of the dish. For dinner we split the steak au poivre, which melted in our mouths. For dessert, the profiteroles! Vanilla ice cream sandwiched in crispy pastry shells with a warm dark chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. I went to bed that night with a happy belly and some decked out feet.
(4)Stephanie H.
In Atlanta for work and chose this place based on the reviews and the fact I could walk from my hotel. I sat at the bar. Service wasn't fantastic but that seems to be the case when you're dining alone. The server when she did arrive was nice and had a great wind recommendation. Great Malbec. The steak frites was yummy although the fries weren't great. Seemed like standard fries and a bit greasy tasting. Mesclun salad was ok. Atmosphere is odd. The restaurant is fancy and the bar has an eclectic crowd.
(3)Ashley S.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! When you walk in you are just taken back at how adorable this place is. The service was also excellent. Still water in large glass bottle on the table just keeps it even more classy lol. Can't wait to go back for lunch AGAIN and also to try dinner and brunch! I gotta try the Croque Monsieur, Escargot appetizer, & the prosiutto goat cheese arugula pizza (more of a flat bread you share at the table as appetizer) PROS: great look, Croque Monsieur Au Salmon was sooo yummy and light, Gigot D'Agneau (lamb sandwich) was absolutely AMAZING & highly recommend it, & Confit De Canard was a wonderfully cooked duck although a small dish. CONS: There are NONE. If I had to think of one though it would be the high pricing on lunch items that aren't sandwiches. YOU NEED TO GO!!!!
(5)Andrea C.
Bistro Niko's food is delicious. The Kitchen does an outstanding job!!! However, the service and Atomosphere are Sorry as Hell!! The restaurant experience is like being at a French Denny's. The Restaurant seems to pride itself on being severly understaffed. Wait Staff is responsible for everything that happens with table service. No bussers, no food runners, no back up personnel. The waiter at our dinner was MIA and absentee. Basics were not addressed by our waiter. He did not ask guests about a drink order, other than the wine that was served with water. No follow acftivity after service of food items was addressed, and the Bathrooms were dirty and disgusting. The Atomosphere was loud and noisy, and there was a line for the bathrooms like being at a club. I do not know if I would return based on the service and the Atomosphere, even though the food was delicious...
(1)Dean D.
I had a solo meal at the bar last night. the drinks were fine. the French Onion soup was creamy and excellent, highly recommend it. I had a caq au vin, the traditional french dish that should be simmering for hours not made to order. The dish look like it was a hybrid. the chicken was moist and tender but could have used more flavor. Price seemed to be right for the meal but the entree I had was a little off. I would give it another shot because all other aspects of the meal were fine and I love French cuisine.
(3)Erica D.
Want to catch high speed ferrari chases down peachtree with a front row view? Well guess what... this is your place, and yes I have seen this happen here. Food is great their little salmon sandwich things (i now forget what they are called) quite possibly melt in your mouth. Must like buttah though or it will make you sick. Patio is elevated and provides great tourist watching. Happy hour inside gets back, get there before 5. Single ladies on the prowl ration is 10:1 in your favor. Worth checking out if you are looking to mingle. Bartenders knowledgeable on wine and super friendly. Must check out.
(4)Eric N.
Dinner here last year with Ali was decent (fish was perfectly cooked and oysters were just right), so I was rather disappointed by a recent lunch. My son and I arrived around 3pm on Sunday and we were pleased that they were open. The Beer, Leffe and Hefe Weis, was on tap, cold, refreshing and promptly served. That and the fact that they had the football game on television were the positives in what would be a sea of negatives. We asked about the Foie Gras and were told that in addition to the Faux (fake) version there was also the real deal with ham hock bits--in my book, the real deal is the Alsation variety made only from geese. Based on the description from our server, the menu should have referred to it as duck pate. We decided to start with the Parma ham with blue cheese on flat bread (kind of a thin crust pizza), steak tartare and the salmon croque monsieur. The tartare was made with beef (unfortunately), came with no egg yolk, no sauce, no pickle, no onion, and was was off color in places. We made it edible with lots of dijon, pepper and salt. The salmon croque was soggy, cheesy, cold and bland. The parma ham thing was tasteless despite what looked like blue cheese. It was the lesser of three evils. Our main dishes were the haddock with cous cous in lieu of the polenta and the shrimp with salad. The shrimp were deep fried?! WTF--if you deep fry, mention it on the menu or when ordering. The shrimp had been left in the oil or under a heat light until it was somewhere north of vulcanized rubber--what a waste of good fish. The haddock was not edible. It was over cooked and too salty. I have never complained about too much salt ever (I love salt), but this dish was so salty that I felt nauseous. This was one of the rare times I have left a meal only partially eaten. The people at the bar were fun and familiar, but the bartender kept mixing up the Leffe and Hefe and did not seem to have much of clue about what drinks would suit the food or any concern about whether we liked the food. The Beaujolais Nouveau should have been poured out. It had been left in a lame looking mini keg for over a week and tasted like a combination of a cleaning fluid and vinegar. Kudos to the bartender for having the sense to warn us that it might be off and suggesting that we try a sample first. That said, he should have thrown it out. My guess is that the regular chef was not on duty and/or the owner just does not care. Either way I will not be back and I suggest that if you are looking for real French food avoid the disappointment that is Bistro Niko.
(1)Barbara K.
Came early for dinner. Quiet just until we were leaving. Rather loud once restaurant full. Wine & beer selection great. Had the Seafood Tagliatelle Pasta - highly recommend. Not very impressed with the Gougeres as others has posted.
(5)Brittiany M.
Yummy! Great service... I love that there are French servers in the restaurant. Very LOUD in the restaurant during lunch time- unsure about dinner. Valet is a must :) but it is always worth it except at Shout on the weekends. Try the truffle pizza! Very great
(4)Alison B.
First visit tonight , a completely impromptu one, as Bistro Niko looked so warm and inviting as I drove by on this cold and wintry evening after I finished up a late appointment with my nearby accountant. I was solo so I sat at the bar and enjoyed a very reasonably priced ($8) flute of sparkling French rose- not actual Champagne, so much cheaper- hooray! Started with the cheese plate which was supposed to feature Humboldt Fog, a wonderful California slightly aged goat cheese with a layer of ash, plus buttery St Andre triple creme cow's milk cheese and Petit Basque, a semi hard French sheep's milk cheese... all favorites of mine! Unfortunately, when the cheese plate arrived - with relatively minimal accompaniments of a couple of crisp rounds of pecan raisin bread and a fruit chutney along with some pistachio crumbs - the Humboldt Fog was no where to be found and the kitchen had substituted a piece of raclette- yes, the same Swiss cheese which is supposed to be served grilled and ooey gooey soft on a special segmented grill with cornichon pickles, almost like individual trays of fondue. Do not try to fool this girl when it comes to cheese! I may not know shoes as well as some others, but I *know* cheese! So, the cheese plate was 2/3rds delicious, especially as I really enjoyed the fruit accompaniment with the St Andre, but raclette was a poor substitute for Humboldt Fog and I probably would not have ordered the $12 cheese plate had I known that in advance. It's a small matter, I know, but important to me. I also tried a small side mixed green salad with vinaigrette- simple and nice overall, and the pommes frites which were hot, crispy and appropriately salted. Restaurant has a classic upscale brasserie feel and service was great! I will be back to check out the entrees (pretty reasonably priced in high teens for the most part) next as the steak frites are calling my name! PS: One negative: the valet service sucks! It is complimentary, but they were no where to be seen when I pulled in and waited a few minutes, so I pulled in to garage and then had to pay $8 to park- aaargh.
(4)Shel F.
Delicious. Our waiter was wonderful. His recommendations spot on. This will be a must do when in Atlanta.
(5)David F.
A nicely designed restaurant...loud bar area. For a French restaurant the wine list was pretty poor. A few decent selections but I would have expected to see some older Bordeaux and burgundy vintages. On the food side I went with a selection of apps. The fried oyster special was great. Delicately fried and the batter didn't overpower the oyster. The beet salad...ehh beets had no taste. Steak tar tar was pretty good, had a good tang Pork belly app was well prepared and worth ordering again.
(3)Dan C.
Probably could be 5 stars, if the brunch special (crab cakes with a poached egg) wasn't so darn salty. The decor, service, and price beat expectations. The mussels (mussels for brunch, duh) and dessert were absolutely amazing. Main dish just didn't have enough flavor as it was overwhelmed by the saltiness. Loved sitting outside and enjoying the weather. It was a nice vibrant place with conversation everywhere. Annoyance part was some jackwad honking their horn at the stoplight nonstop--not Niko's fault. dmo out.
(4)b h.
thoroughly mediocre; great setting, but food and svc do not rise to the occasion steak fries are NOT "frites"
(2)Hannah S.
My family and I dined at Bistro Niko on a Sunday night this summer. It was a great atmosphere and we enjoyed looking into the kitchen and seeing the fresh breads and meats in the window like a real french market. Our server was very personable but the actual service wasn't extraordinary. It was more than 30 minutes before we even had a chance to order our appetizers Overall we enjoyed our food but we didn't feel like it should be deemed one of the best restaurants in buckhead. My trout was great, as were the mussels and white bean soup, but I just wasn't blown away. A random tip: you can park in the parking deck at the restaurant for an hourly rate, or you can pay the valet $2.00 plus tip (which turns out to be the same amount). The young man at the valet station was incredibly eager and polite so I recommend putting your four or five dollars into the pocket of a hard-working college student rather than a garage machine.
(4)John R.
Service was excellent-Caitlin was my server. Food: Escargot- good, not very hot at arrival. Special entree- Striped Bass- very good flavor and cooked properly. Not very warm at arrival. Coffee- very good! Noisy restaurant.
(3)John M.
Well this was a bittersweet experience. My issues were more from a service aspect more than anything. Our first encounter on our date night was the hostess. Both hostesses couldn't have been more inappropriately dressed. Honestly they were dressed more as cocktail waitresses at the pink pony than hostesses of a classy French restaurant. Each time they passed out table we were worried they may trip from their 8" heels and t-shirt sleeves they converted into dresses. Next was the 20 minute wait for our server to come to the table to take our drink order. I thought since it was 6:45pm and our server only had 3 tables that we would be in and out. Not only was he totally clueless on the wine menu, he screwed up our appetizer order as well as our drink order. I can understand that he may not have heard it, seeing as how this was the loudest restaurant I have ever been in. Overall, the scallops were okay, very gritty, but the mussels saved the day. We were going to order dessert but honestly the whole dinner took almost two hours and we were just so anxious to get going. He slid the check on the table and didn't even thank us for dining....I would've thought he may have, given our $218 bill. I would consider drinks here sometime at the bar but honestly they need to maybe pay some better attention to the candidates that apply here.
(2)DJ V.
Its a nice fancy place to go to. Love the decor there, food is good. However, if you want a romantic and quiet restaurant then this is not the place to be. Every time I have gone it was very loud in there.
(4)Lindsay S.
Fantastic food and service- best quiche and French onion soup I've ever had!
(4)Pace C.
Could not have gone better. I reserved an early dinner for my wife's birthday and noted that she is a vegetarian. BN was very accommodating and made our dining experience feel special. Our server was great, offered good suggestions and the food was terrific. The mussels are super tasty and you should ask for more of their delicious bread to soak up their sauce. They brought a nice dessert out. Topped it of with a coffee. The restaurant is very nice, but you can go smart casual in attire.
(5)Ed V.
Great onion soup. Have had scallops, tenderloin and chicken here at various times, all great. My second favorite BLG restaurant to Pricci.
(4)Aaron D.
Service was okay. Coffee maker broke so took a while. Forgot to give us menus. Food came out quickly. Food was flavorful but so greasy ingot a stomach ache. Had the herb omelet. Thankfully I substituted a salad for the hash browns, or it would have been even greasier. Classiest aspect were the bathrooms. Overall was good enough but I wouldn't go back here soon.
(3)Kendall B.
Wonderful! Service was exceptional. Was giving Bistro Niko one more chance after an anniversary dinner was a total disaster with the service. Sat outside. Note: the outside tables are very small. Actually the whole area out there is kind of small. Only two for dinner out there per table unless you start pulling up tables. Then you have two round tables together. Food was just wonderful. The escargo is just beyond delicious. Will be back! Oh, and they let us cork our own wine!
(5)Kevin J.
Swanky swanky with a whole lot of waiting. I believe the restaurant got our reservation time wrong as all of my notes said 7pm and they had us down for 7:30. Oh well. We arrived around 6:45 and waited at the bar. The hostess said our table would be ready around 7:30. 7:40 came, and 7:50 came. I figured it was time to have a little check-in to make sure we weren't overlooked. The hostess said they could seat us now and to bring the entire party back up to the front stand. Huh - I thought the whole idea of waiting at the bar was for them to come and get us. Maybe I'm high-maintenance but I was hoping we'd be treated with respect as business professionals waiting to spend hundreds at their restaurant. The food was good. Not amazing, not stellar, but a notch above good. Would I go back, yes. Would I clarify my reservation time, hell yes, and will I make sure they come find us? Hopefully next time.
(3)Lesa T.
Very good. All four of us shared our meals, it was all superb!! I would recommend and I will go back. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, I really liked it, lighting was a bit too bright. if they would tone it down a bit, I feel it would help. There are booths and tables. Open kitchen when you walk in near the hostess stand, bar is in the middle of restaurant. Lots of children here, but they were well behaved. Please note, Valet parking; $2.00 fee does not include tip.
(4)Belinda S.
I have been several times over the past few years and like most Buckhead Life restaurant it is quickly losing its appeal. My sister and I decided to go in without a reservation around 730 on a Saturday. We were told there was a 45 minute wait, we asked about the wait for the patio and were told it would also be 45 minutes. We said we would wait and without leaving the hostess stand we were instantly taken to the patio that was practically empty except for 2 or 3 other couples, odd , no? We ordered a couples apps, salads, and our entrees and everything came out really staggered. I had to beg for my entree which came out 10 minutes after my sisters, hers came out cold. Take it or leave it.
(3)Lauren P.
Kevin P. has taken me on some pretty great dates. In our three years together we've hit up the best places in town: Chops, One Midtown Kitchen, Hal's, Horseraddish Grill, Two Urban Licks, just to name a few. Friday's date night at Bistro Niko was right up there. Y'all, it was truly a five star date. Star 1: We knew it was going to be a great date when we pulled up next to a bright red Ferrari Spider. For those of you who know my gear-head man y'all know it made his night. I told him if he ever got a Ferrari I'd buy red lipstick and nail polish to match the color of the car. He laughed and we proceeded into Bistro Niko. The restaurant space has a serious wow factor. We walked in and I was immediately impressed with the open kitchen. The smells wafting out of the space were divine. Thankfully we'd made a reservation and were promptly seated. Star 2: somehow we got the best table in the place! We were seated in one of the sumptuous booths facing out into the restaurant. Perhaps it was one of the tables reserved for Open Table reservations, or we looked that damn good, perhaps we just got lucky; either way, we had an awesome place to enjoy our meal. Star 3: greeted within one minute by our fabulous server. She was great. I loved the Syrah she recommended, our wine and waters were never empty, and had great menu selections she highlighted for us to help narrow down our food decision. Star 4: "OH-MY-GOD-THIS-IS-SO-GOOD!" was all I could keep saying. First we had the escargot. The escargot were exactly how I like them: tender, flavorful, swimming in butter and covered with flaky pastry puffs. Then we tackled the mussels in the most fabulous broth ever. Despite what I've read from other reviews, the mussels were pretty big and tasted fresh. They came with warm, crusty bread: perfect for dipping in the broth or noshing on with butter. We skipped the salads to save room for our entrees and I'm very glad we did. The scallops were the best I ever had. Pan-fried with that golden crust, swimming in a butter-wine-lemon sauce complimented by tender asparagus and cherry tomatoes over a potato puree. I can't tell you how many times I said awesome during this meal. Kevin P. had the skate wing which we learned is wholly-roasted in the oven for 13 minutes, then deboned and finished by frying in a pan. I've never had skate until this evening. Now I'm officially a fan. Kevin P. even ate the spinach served alongside the skate which he said was "not bad." This is a really high compliment from my husband when it comes to leafy greens. We finished our meal by sharing the decadent chocolate cake laced with bourbon and orange flavors. Star 5: the ambiance of Bistro Niko. In some reviews you'll read that it's loud in the restaurant (which is true) but awesome if you're on a date. You can say almost anything to your partner and it won't be heard by the table next to you due to the dim roar. The restaurant itself is designed for conversation. The architecture is great, especially the accents on the ceiling and walls. It was cool to see the variety of people: tourists, businessmen, kids going to prom, other couples on dates. Bistro Niko is building a solid reputation with the ATL and it's well deserved. I close saying this: if you really want to wow your lady, take her to Bistro Niko. Seriously it was one of my top 10 dates ever.
(5)Jeff W.
I really like this place. However, I think they need to change the menu or add more specials. At least the entree menu. It's getting a little old. The rest of the menu is just fine. Last time I was there, about a month ago, I had the TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE* Twin Beef Tenderloins. They were seriously small! I mean like maybe I got 3 ounces of beef. They were so small that cooking them to medium was impossible. My wife had the veal, could have been the special, had to send it back because it was undercooked at first, then it came back overcooked. Main problem was it had no flavor and it was very tough. She hardly touched it and mine was too small to share. So we left hungry. I love the price of their veuve clicquot; best in Atlanta at $69. Overall I think this is a great restaurant. Great prices for what you get. Just that my last visit wasn't very good. I'll see how it goes next time.
(4)Julie C.
Again, this is one of those times where I could use a half star. But, I'm typing this with an upset stomach that I think is the direct result of some bistro niko sole (which was not worth this GI distress), so perhaps 2 stars is just right. Meh. Yep. I have to pay 1.50 to valet? I am cheap, yes, and I don't mind letting the valet get the other .50 cents, but I would really appreciate it if the valet would at least keep a couple of quarters in hand....I mean, you snatch up my 2 bucks, my car door is wide open, it's misting out, and you're going to tell me that you'll be right back with my change? I am asshole enough to wait for it too...but in honor of the 4th, I didn't. Still. Come on. Oh. Yeah. The food. Grossly overpriced. I mean, it wasn't that the prices were so outrageous, it was that the food quality, and taste didn't match up. I actually thought the serving sizes were fine, but I'd rather a little more yummy over just a little more. We, in true pig fashion, had drinks (initially tasty moscow mule...on first sip it was gingery, then it just tasted cold and coppery), a beet salad (just get a jar from publix, your own goat chese and some little weeds from the side of the road and save the 10 bucks), some gruyere cheese puff bites....yum, just not really hot, and some foie gras terrine with chunks of delicious pork shoulder, and a smidge of overly nutmeg-ed apples, and more of the aforementioned weeds (okay, it was mache). Everything was okay...nothing that would have me running back for sure. Busboy service was lovely, lots of swooping in to refill our glasses and keep the uncouth tap water we ordered flowing. Waiter on the other hand...very absent and distracted. We were about finished with our third appetizer by the time he realized we still had menus and no entree ordered. Friend got the steak frites...and I should have too (he has no bellyache). How can you mess steak frites up? His fries were yummy, the maitre d' hotel (?) butter was yummy...and his steak looked good. My sole was salty (probably to hide the rottenness that has caused my upset stomach), and the polenta was so weirdly tasteless that it could have been styrofoam. The tomato lobster broth was more salt, but I did enjoy the three cherry tomatoes that came with. So there. My bitter, bistro niko review. I actually sorta liked the design, cheesy disney french that it was, and the patio looked mega fun...but not in the rampant georgia humidity. IF i were to return, I would maybe try one of the sandwiches....they sounded quite yummy, and I saw some lovely burgers coming out....but really, should I be getting a burger from bistro niko? Seems odd.
(2)Jack H.
The last two visits in the fall of 2012 have been truly impressive. The evening begins nicely with professional car-valet service. Both times we had a table for four. The servers are top notch. My lovely bride had the endive salad and the sea scallops, while I ordered the beet salad and the filet of sole. For dessert, the profiteroles (choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, and almonds) were delicious. They have a very hot bartender and an even hotter hostess. Excellent floor management. The ambience is loud and animated. This is a 4.5 star restaurant. One more dinner at this level and I would give it a 5.
(4)Wayne K.
Very upscale... Great Food!
(4)Liz K.
Thought I would love the place, but sadly I didn't. I have been waiting to check this place out, and finally when it was said and done. I was just a little more than disappointed. My server first off, seemed a little rude at first. As the night progressed his mood lifted up. Maybe because he realized my friend & I were ordering more? WHO KNOWS. But his attitude was not pleasant at all to be around. Left my friend to do the ordering... We ordered the cheese puffs-- which did not seem cheesy at all. Just puffy full of air, like a cloud. Was I eating a cloud in a form of a carbohydrate? Also ordered the en courte, which was suppose to be carpaccio... but my friend ordered the wrong thing (sadface.) It was a really greasy mini sandwich with a super salty piece of salmon in between. And entree, we had some sort of seafood pasta dish where they lacked in the seafood part. Service was slow in the beginning, and not to mention rude. After that I didn't care about my experience anymore.
(3)Mujeed M.
Dined last night, enjoyed the patio and city view, The service became better as the evening continued, the staff was friendly, The Food was Delicious, very impressive seasoned well, though the place was crowded, the meal was prepared without rushing my order, very good presentation. I will continue to dine with Bistro Niko!
(4)deborah r.
Always good, anything and everything on the menu, service, atmosphere, consistency never disappointed.
(4)Ferdinand H.
2.5-3. I'll round up. Bistro Niko tries hard to be something special, enlisting the white tiles ubiquitous in all the bistro-esque establishments I've seen in New York, ranging from Balthazar to Bouchon. Reds, blacks, chromes and the requisite French film posters attract the eyes, and complete the impression. Had drinks with a friend, with an order of French Onion Soup and Escargot. Fare was decent at the price, but not mindblowing. The French Onion soup was rich with cheese and bread, not overly salty nor sweet, but still lacked the heartiness that I associate with the best of the best. Escargot was also good, but not great. I'm rounding up given the dearth of competitors in Atlanta. Good French cuisine is vanishingly rare here.
(3)Jie Y.
Food: 4, starters are impressive. Main plates are average Service: 5 Atmosphere:4.5
(4)Anthony Z.
Very loud. Hardly any mixed drinks. The food was nothing special.
(2)Reagan M.
Carol gets 1 star and Brent gets 5. Thus the restaurant gets a 3. My food was amazing - the onion soup and the shrimp in the puff pastry. Awesome. Boyfriends strip was overcooked and cold. Oops. Carol at the bar where we ate leaves a lot to be desired. She seemed angry and hungover. But Brent was fabulous. Too bad they have to work together! This was our second trip to bistro niko and overall will not be back. Save your money for something better, there are better places all around!
(3)Mary Jo S.
Atmosphere: pleasant enough. Business travel so I sat at the bar. Food: ok I read the reviews and was excited! Taste: A+ Value: F. I know in America we are used to oversized portions but this place goes to extreme in the opposite direction. $10 for a beet salad with 3 slices if beet is absurd. $22 for 6 baby scallops as an entree is robbery. I actually left this place and bought a snack at the hotel. Not impressed and pissed I believed the hype!
(3)Matt T.
Good grief! Really great food for a reasonable price. Ordered the duck and the French onion soup. By far the best duck and soup I have ever had. Plus the view sitting street side and enjoying such fantastic food was a complete package. Will be back next time I am in the area.
(5)Megan C.
Upon return to Bistro Niko, I hereby change my rating to 4 stars. Much better the second time around! I loved the Caviar, my martini, and my dinner-pasta with scallops. YUM!
(4)Jennifer L.
Bistro Niko might as well be called "mussels and naughty bread" - and there is NO shame in dipping that crusty baguette into the garlic sauce those mussels have been simmering in! I'm not even a mussel person, but these little delights are too good to pass up. Yummo. Great patio- sometimes there is live music on the weekend. Good date night and people watching spot!
(4)Stacy K.
Not a bad experience overall, just not my type of place. Food was good, the mushroom flatbread was very rich but delicious. Also had the cheese puffs, very satisfying. My favorite item that we had was the herbed goat cheese ravioli. The ratatouille with it was a reason I may go back!
(3)Chris R.
Great Steak TarTare and they will double up the duck confit app for an entree. Great wine list and nice comfortable bar... Almost cougar free.
(4)Shay H.
This restaurant is beautiful inside, food was really excellent. The duck confit was delicious, and though just an appetizer the portion was still very large. Service was good.
(4)Victoria L.
I am really just amazed that I managed to have a lovely dinner here and refrained from knocking over the tables, since I tend to be a huge klutz in classy establishments. While we were in Buckhead for a conference, the buzz about this place was such that, in the middle of a group of people, I took out my phone to reserve a table. That was probably the best decision I made the entire trip that involved leaving the hotel. I will admit that I expected to drop a ton of cash, be the most underdressed person there in a business casual dress, and generally expected to be looked down upon by snooty French waiters. I'm happy to tell you that they greeted us graciously, I fit right in and we spent a whopping $60 for dinner. If you've never had a Saint Germaine Special, get one here. DO IT. It is the perfect warm-weather drink and also they serve it from the cutest little St. Germaine beakers. Sit outside to people watch, if the weather is nice enough. The tables are a little small, but it evokes intimacy instead of rants of "get off my food!". Now, about the food: Get everything. Because I wish I did. The chicken tortellini was melting in my mouth. The Coq au Vin was literally falling off the bone (heh, I said bone). Okay, now. If you'd read my reviews, you know I am a connoisseur of Creme Brûlée. I eat my way through it in every city I visit. Leave it to the French to hit it so hard there was a dent in the headboard. Or it was out of the park. Whichever euphemism tickles your fancy, that's what it did. If I could have rolled around in a vat of the stuff, I would have. In fact, I'm so engrossed in the memory of that dessert that I can't remember what my lovely fiance ate, but I'm sure it was delicious as well. I would rate this place as "business casual" and 2 $$ for cost, which made the visit even better since I was expecting to lay out a ton of cash for an amazing meal. Can I give this place 6 stars? And my undying affection for their dessert chef?
(5)Rick F.
I did not have high expectations for this place due to being part of Buckhead Life Group, I've been to a number of places and was underwhelmed! Bistro Niko changed everything for me! I love everything about it! The decor, the kitchen is amazing, I want to recreate a smaller version and put it in my house! This reminds me of a place that if your out on Lake Lanier all day boating and you need a good meal on the way home, come here and indulge in the appetizers. Pate, Mushroom Pizza, Cheese Puffs, French Onion Soup and of course the Mussels were amazing! The Skate entree was perfect. Puff Pastry dessert was perfect! Noise level way to high! Server tried really hard to do a good job but failed in that department. The management should spend more time training the staff.
(4)Ross P.
Great Service, loved the decor excellent brunch options and great mimosas! Valet flat 2.00 rate.
(4)Victoria H.
Server was fantastic. Food was disappointing. It was ok; just not enough flavor or excitement. Bland French food. Will never be back.
(3)Muath A.
good food, quick service and nice staff
(5)Stephanie A.
Facing Peachtree near Piedmont (tower place complex) is bistro Niko. One of a very few French eateries in the city. Quite a large space reminiscent of FAB it's got the same high ceilings and lively crowd amid plenty of French fare. Some outdoor seating available (and if you want to hear your dining companions this may be a better option). Lively after work bar scene as well. If you're into that sort of thing. I am not but hey, that's just me. I know some of you need a stiff one after a 9-5 grind. Friendly attentive staff (I never know if they are extra friendly because I am taking photos and notes but I appreciate it nonetheless) and plenty of staff. Just what I like to see. My water glass will never want for water and my wine will flow freely. Really does anyone like a server spread too thin? This is a service industry after all. It's restaurant week and we ordered from both menus. I have to say this regular menu at Niko reads like poetry for a foodie that is completely enamoured of French cuisine. All the greats are there and then some. This more than a bistro, it's full on French food. First up is some salmon croque monsieur. This is incredibly rich. Salmon rich, cheese rich and fried in butter rich. Plan to share it and have some high acid wine with it. Good stuff but a little goes a long way. Coq au vin. Two juice fat hind quarters of a chicken. Wow. This one left me a little speechless. I haven't had a coq au vin quite this good. Dark, deeply flavored and tender as you want it. Impeccable presentation and a flavor that is far better than I expected. Full on 10 out of 10. Beef bourguignon. Luscious braised beef cheeks that came out steaming hot, full dense rich demi sauce that could be inhaled 2 feet away. I am not positive but I suspect the noodles are house made. Delicate and ideal texture for the dish. The sauce perfectly portioned so not sloppy or overly wet. The cheeks literally melt in the mouth. More tender than a short rib and the flavor was another speechless inducing moment if not several. I absolutely would have ordered it again if I had room to eat more. Baba au rhum is ok. It's very light but a bit bland. Delicious vanilla pastry cream in the center, tangy citrusy sauce (I was getting peach and kumquat but I can't confirm) . I didn't finish it. The crème brulee is excellent. Heavy cream base, good healthy vanilla flavor. That did get finished. Nice wines, atmosphere, food and service. I am absolutely returning.
(4)Alexander D.
This is my second time here and I genuinely enjoyed it. Great service! I think the portions should be a little bit bigger, but aside from that i found the place to be amazing!
(5)Kye B.
Not much that needs be said except that my experience was quick, (which is what I needed) tasty (which is what I desired) and had a courteous and charming staff (which is what I always enjoy). Menu seemed interesting, felt kinda soda-shop-ish, and if you're in the mood for that...then this is the place!
(3)ash r.
Romantic French restaurant. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent service. Excellent food. The confit de Conard was very tasty. It was one of the best dishes i have ever had. The duck was cooked to perfect. My girlfriend had the RAIE AU BEURRE NOIR. This dish was very delicious as well. The waiter was able to answer questions very knowledgeable and provide prompt service. I went during the lunch service so the prices were very reasonable.
(5)Rob F.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a great experience. It wasn't terrible, and if it were not such a pricey restaurant, I'd give it a 3, but with a $100 bill, you've got to expect a little more. Our waiter seemed new; when we asked him about some of the menu items, he pretty much just read what was on the menu. Thanks, chief. I'll work my way backwards through the meal. The dessert was waaay too sugary for my taste. But, then again, I'm not really a dessert person. My entry was not bad, but again, just not bad. Given the meal price, I was hoping it would really dazzle me. I also tried the salmon spread as an appetizer. I got about 2 ketchup packets worth of spread with 3 crackers. Way to spoil me now. Now, something worth mentioning is the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon (butter grilled brioche of smoked salmon and fromage blanc). I loved this. The texture reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich, but you really taste the salmon and it's wonderful. I do like that this place is within walking distance of my condo and should I have some friends over, it wouldn't be a bad place to stop by and grab a drink. I might even spring for the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon again, but probably won't make a visit for dinner in the future.
(2)J F.
Every time I visit this restaurant the service is always slow as a month of Sundays. It takes too long for someone to arrive at my table. I am literally looking around the restaurant for the waiter. It takes forever for your bread to arrive. Today my party was serviced by an Asian guy and it was the same experience...long wait for drinks and bread, no personality, no introduction. There were only about 5 tables full in the restaurant while we were dining; hence there was really no excuse for the service to be this poor. In addition to this the hostess is rarely pleasant...no greeting upon arrival or departure. I am a great tipper - 30% - 40% of the check, however the service is lacking severely and I don't see the value here. Though I thoroughly enjoy the food, the service experience is so unacceptable I can't say that I will return.
(1)Mike D.
Really good, top notch food and service for both lunch and dinner. Very consistent over 3 visits. Great for a date, an office outing, or out of town guests. Great place to sit outside and enjoy a meal.
(4)Gus P.
Excellent restaurant! A bit pricey, but the food is great. I definitely recommend and would go back.
(5)James B.
Professional staff, good food, nice decor. Suitable for a dinner date or business meeting.
(3)Gina b.
Squash Soup...To die for. Service was amazing however we were there early on a Sunday evening so don't know about when it's busy. Dinner was ok. Not great, but good and hearty. Portions will fill you up. Dinner for 2 with Apps and a couple of drinks will run you about $100. Was pissed that they didn't validate parking, paid $8. Valet for $1.50.
(4)Leanne E.
I dined on a Thursday evening, which happened to be the same night as some sort of corporate shin-dig. Parking is by Valet and costs $2, but the attendants are courteous and prompt. The inside of the restaurant is lovely. White subway tile and lace curtains gave it a nice classy feel. This place does NOT serve sweet tea, but unlike Houston's, will provide you with a generous serving of simple syrup. We started with the white bean soup and the cheese puffs. It was a chilly and windy evening, so dipping the cheese puffs into the soup was great, perhaps my favorite part. It was warm and thus warmed the soul. That soup is excellent. For an entree, my sweetie chose the Steak and Frites, which was prepared well and a good hearty man pleaser. I chose the mushroom and guyre tart, which was tasty. It was thin, crispy, cheesy goodness. This joint tends to be a bit loud and the bar is crowded, but they have a magician! They are pricy, so be alert. $92 for two drinks and the items mentioned above.
(3)William Z.
A little taste of a Parisian brasserie. Their aile de raie is very good and selection of oysters with good Sauvignon great!
(4)Annie T.
Bistro Niko suffers from what a lot of high potential restaurants suffer from: namely, the inability to step beyond "stereotype". It encapsulated everything that a french hip bistro "should" be if you were to think of every possible "french" thing you could have in a french restaurant... but all of that would never really be there. Case of the trying too hard? It's sort of like when you are making Chardonnay and keep the wine so air tight that it turns brown because there wasn't that .01% of oxygen in fermentation. Service slip-ups: - Our server was very adamant about trying to push the champagne. It was a bit confusing. - Our server said that Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was a California wine, when WV is in Oregon. Maybe a little more education around the wine list would be good. - In general, the servers need to work on their "there but not there" presence. It was very obvious when the servers wanted to advance the dinner, and that can be very invasive to the dining experience. Service highlights: - Our server was very willing to provide samples of the wine selections to purchase by bottle. (I would expect that, but not all restaurants will be so generous if not available by the glass) We ordered... mussels, salmon spread, and I ordered the roasted chicken with pomme frittes. Mussels were very good. Generous with the dipping sauce also. Rivals Plouf in San Francisco, as one of our Atlanta-based friends said. Roast chicken breast was dry but the dark meat was tender enough. There was a flakiness to the dark meat that I couldn't quite get and it was difficult to get the meat off in slices - was very flaky. Fries were well made. Overall, there is potential for Niko to become a true french bistro dining experience. The food sampling I had was overall 3.5 but downgraded to a 3 given the lack of value. It's very loud inside. Be prepared to speak at your highest conversation voice. If I were going on a date, it'd be a GREAT place to have a bowl of mussels, an order of pomme frittes, and a bottle of sauvingon blanc as dinner.
(3)Carla M.
We recently had a company dinner there and it was my first time dining. I absolutely loved the ambiance, food and beverages. We were attended by two waiters and we were only a party of three so all of our orders came very fast and our cocktails were replenished quickly.
(4)Josephine I.
You walked in, and you felt like you are somewhere in the 1940's of a France not-too-shabby ballroom. I went with the boy during the restaurant week. I had the 3 course menu, but my boy decided to exclude himself. I ordered the coq au vin for the entree. A baguette with smoke salmon for the first course, and a creme brulee for dessert. 1. Baguette with smoke salmon- It was actually pretty good in all seriousness. The smoke salmon is combined with cream to make it very creamy. The baguette is sliced thinly, and it is toasted. Good combination. 2. Coq Au Vin (Chicken in wine)- It honestly was OK. It was a bit bland for my coq au vin. It was good, but it was not a " WOW that is delicious". I downed it though. 3. Creme Brulee- Can you go wrong with a creme brulee? Overall, the service was OK. The wine that we got was pretty good. Pretty good dinner, somewhat lack in the excitement of the tastebuds.
(3)Nic K.
I come here a lot since it's right by my work. It's the easiest place to go with clients that doesn't require a whole lot of walking in pointy, 4-inch stilettos. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here before. The restaurant is always crowded no matter what day or time you go. I like to rag on Buckhead Life since all their other restaurants are very 80's with their decor. Bistro is nicely done. They did get docked a point today. I was having lunch with a client today, and I ordered the Deux Plats (oui, oui). I ordered the white bean soup as my starter (J'adore ca!). The server did a bit of a faux pas. He asked if he should split my soup into two bowls so I could share it with my lunch guest. MY soup. Mine! I proceeded to give him the stank eye. I couldn't say no otherwise I'd look like a donkey. Before I could grumble a yes, my lunch guest spoke up and said, "Absolutely!" I wanted to be like, "No way, back off!" But, this was a work meeting so I had to maintain professionalism. My white bean soup was delicious. I just wish I had more of it....
(4)Allison C.
First Ask for a table in Belinda's section. She is fantastic.
(4)Alexis R.
Love Love Love the mushroom flatbread. I could eat a whole one by myself. Truly remarkable. The tomato flatbread is a star as well - must give credit where due. Of the foods I've had at Bistro Niko, only one has been any less than stellar. The only bad entree was a tuna salad, which tasted almost canned. However, the Croque Madame, Coq Au Vin, butternut squash soup, tortellini, creme brulee, and profiteroles are magnifique. (What can I say? We have a lot of client dinners at my office.) This is definitely a pricey joint, but it's worth the cost if you're having a nice date or... well, a client dinner. This is an order-the-bottle, get-a-recommendation-from-the-expert-waiter, wear-your-cloth-napkin-on-your-lap-please kind of place. No paper hats here (at least, they didn't encourage it when I tried it). All in all, Bistro Niko is a wonderful restaurant that I highly recommend. Just plan on allotting the day's (or week's) salary for your experience.
(4)Scott A.
Went to Bistro Niko recently and it was phenomenal! Everything was on point from the flowers I had ordered beforehand to the very end. We had eaten there once before almost two years ago and we decided to come back. (Disguised a marriage proposal as a "date-night".) They were accommodating every step of the way with some added accoutrements that were not prompted in ANY way! She had the Prosciutto Tarte w/ a salad while I had the Steak Frites, salad also. Everything came out exactly when we wanted, glasses were filled, and management came by to check on things every so often (without being intrusive). Couldn't have asked for a better experience and we'll DEFINITELY be going back. Absolute MUST if you're ever in Atlanta!
(5)Michael P.
Food is above average, tad overpriced for the quality. But you are paying for the atmosphere. Great vibe, very trendy. I was probably a bit underdressed. Business casual is more appropriate.
(4)Toni D.
Just came from Bistro Niko and had a fabulous time. Mary and her partner at the bar were wonderful and delightful company. The Food was Fabulous and nicely presented. we met a lowly new friend - Trey - who was visiting from Tampa. He is a Somelier and was full of wonderful knowledge. WE will definitely go again. Toni Dore
(5)Emily P.
Amazing food. Loved the steak poivre I ordered, done to perfection. Had a bit too much peppers on it though. I ordered the frissee (sp?) salad, but I wasn't a big fan of the egg on top of it, although the dressing was delish!
(4)Wade G.
It was just OK. Service was fine. Main Dining room is crazy crazy loud so if you have someone who is hard of hearing def sit outside or in the small dining room, which is unfortunately rather blah. Some people in my group liked their food but to others it was overworked, over seasoned, and just not memorable in a good way. I had the veal and thought it was quite good. Duck confit appetizer is great. Those who had steak and fries were most unimpressed. It just did not have the right fries and seasoning. I would try again though. The bar is great.
(3)Karen T.
The overall menu and food was fantastic here. I'd say the scallops is a must, but we didn't care too much for the pork belly. I'd also recommend the escargot and charcuterie platter.
(5)Anne A.
Ate dinner here with a friend. The service was excellent. We had fantastic appetizers, the Gruyere puffs and a scallops dish. I had the Coq Au Vin which I can never seem to pass up. My friend had a Hanger steak special I think. Both were very good. The portions were actually more than I expected, but not too much. We still had room for dessert: one of the sundaes. Cocktails and wine. All of this food and the final price was much less than we had expected. The only thing I didn't like was the noise level. Even before the restaurant filled completely, it was quite loud. I don't understand why nice restaurants in particular don't control the acoustics. It doesn't take that much and makes for a more pleasant dinner when you don't have to yell at your dinner companions or your server. If it weren't for the noise I would give it a five.
(4)Angela S.
2nd visit ~ had a friend request to go her for her birthday. Service was great and they did have the French music playing but not loud enough to hear it in the dinning room. Food was much better this time. I had informed them of her birthday and they had her a little cake without be prompted ~ YEA great service. I am moving the rating up to 4 at this time. I would still like to see more traditional French ~ less Americanized version of it? Thanks... Old Post 1st visit ~I gave it 3 stars Great atmosphere, needs a little French music playing in the back ground. Many of the French dishes I would think would be on the menu are not on the menu. Everything we had was "Just okay" The French Fries ~ need work frozen run of the mill not like you would get in France for sure. I wanted to love this place but just did not happen for me....sorry !
(4)Ashley K.
My mom and I came to Bistro Niko while on a long weekend trip to Atlanta. The restaurant was right near our hotel, which was nice. We had reservations - which was good because it was a Friday night and extremely crowded. Our waiter was prompt, at first, but that changed throughout the meal. I ordered steak - medium. And the waiter asked, if I meant medium-rare and I said, no I meant what I said - medium. I thought it was a little weird but didn't think much of it. When my steak came out - it was not even medium-rare, it was just rare. So, I called the waiter over and asked to send it back. I hate to do this, but when you are paying so much for a steak, it should be right. So I said, this isn't medium, it very rare and his reply was, well that's the French way. Okay. I get it. I'm in a French restaurant. But. I am in a French restaurant in Atlanta. Not in France. Furthermore, isn't the customer always right? Not what ordered, no need for the attitude. It took about 15 minutes for the steak to come back out. My mom was already done with her meal. It was very frustrating. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was good. So that was redeeming at least. It was also very loud in the restaurant. I feel like my experience at Bistro Niko was just an unfortunate one, I would come here again and hope that my experience was just a fluke, because I really wanted to like it - but the waiter's attitude was just unbelievable to me.
(3)Alan R.
Eating out even more than usual due to kitchen being remodeled.Hope contractors stay on budget because I am clearly over.We always start with the oysters here and they are always fresh and they rotate the specials. Next I always get the pate and then either fish or skirt steak. This time I did the steak and fries and they were cooked just right and fresh fries. Dont care what our senate says as they tend to know nothing, I love the french style of fries..Thank you , you guys always deliver fresh and best to my table. i tend to order the same from my regular places and love to be given the same quality each visit.
(5)Kat G.
Rule No. 1 - at least one person at the table must order one of the chef's specials. Seriously. They have never let me down. The food here is carefully chosen and really well done. I recommend the trout, the seafood pasta and the salmon, though from what I've seen, you really can't go wrong. Oh, and if you're ordering a drink, they do a really lovely French 75!
(5)Kay D.
Service was excellent. Dinner was good, although not over the top. Seafood pasta was very good, Haddock fish special was extremely oily. Beware, we did not valet park but used the garage because it was raining. The restaurant does not validate for parking. On top of an already expensive meal, we had a huge parking bill when we departed. $12 for 2.5 hrs. I won't be going back!
(2)Phillip C.
We have been here three times and they have delivered each time. Very happy with the service. The food here is excellent. I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. I like the open kitchen. My most memorable dish that I had here was a special. It was trout served on a bed of polenta. I didn't give this a full 5 because the bar is a little on the small side and is always packed when we go.
(4)Matt C.
tried this place recently for dinner. pretty decent spot. decor and vibe are definitely parisian, and menu has some pretty good stuff.. however, i think i'd recommend bistro niko more as an 'appetizer and glass of wine/cocktail' type of place, as opposed to a dinner destination, as the entrees we tried were not particularly outstanding. their mussels are great and fresh, however the broth is super buttery/creamy which tastes delicious, but obviously loaded with fat. but hey, if you're dining out, what's the use in getting healthy stuff, right? for the entree, i tried the twin beef tenderloins au poivre. they were well cooked, but flavors were nothing special. the side of frites we got, however, were very good.
(3)Nikita m.
Very good place.I went for a conference this past weekend and made the reservatin in person for the next day after eating in a nearby restaurant . The Salmon w red wine was very good close to outstanding. I was expecting some side dishes with the fish so I mentioned it to the waiter and he kindly suggest a salad that make a perfect combination for a light meal. I felt so happy after an ugly test that forgot all about it. i felt sorry that I did not ask for dessert at least to go. Love this place ,full of people and you are able to eat outside also.
(5)Andrew M.
On the pricey side, but it's a great place to bring a date. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Even though the it was an intimate setting, the noise level made it hard to hear the conversations at my own table.
(4)Hector M.
Very impressed with quality and service at this place. I had the Tagliatelle Pasta, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Calamari, cherry tomatoes,white wine cream and it was perfectly executed. Delicious french bread, good wine selection, attentive service, fab patio. Do stop by.
(4)MaGom P.
Extremely dissapointed. If you ever had a dinner in a real french restaurant, this is not even close. I would not recommend this restaurant for a special date with your spouse or girlfriend. Place is extremely loud and the worst, I expend part of my time fighting with a fly.
(3)Adam E.
We took a small "staycation" a few weekends ago and decided to try Bistro Niko. I'd call our experience good, not great. I ordered one of the specials, a fish. It was cooked nicely, but not alot of flavor. My wife is a vegetarian and the chef prepared a special vegetable plate, but there aren't many vegetarian options on the menu. The best part was the drinks. I'd highly suggest the Moscow Mule.
(4)Drew M.
Great place to talk about credit default swap spreads and opportunities in the leveraged loan market. The atmosphere is lively and fun and the food was great. Great oysters and great beef tenderloin.
(4)Ian W.
Second visit. Eating solo on biz trip. Place was packed at 8 pm during the middle of the week. Got a seat pretty quick. Started with the white bean soup followed with a trout entree. Bistro Niko never disappoints. Food can be on the rich side. Decent draft beer selection to wash it down with. Will be back.
(4)Robert S.
I am going to put as much thought and energy into this review as Bistro Niko put into making their food flavorful - very little. Despite the menus potential to be amazing (Country Pate, "Faux" Gras Terrine, pork rillettes, salmon rillettes. tartar) it is exactly what one would expect from a Buckhead Life restaurant - safe, boring and merely adequate. The food certainly did not offend me, but it is not going to make me come back either. The charcuterie appetizer with pork rillettes, chicken liver mousse, country pate, salami and prosciutto lacked flavor - how they managed to do that is beyond me. The lamb sandwich I had also lacked flavor. The only thing that reminded me that lamb was even on that sandwich was the texture - short of that, it could have been anything in between those two pieces of bread. Other than that, the food was "great!" In short, the food was about as exciting and interesting as watching a game of checkers between two mimes. Ultimately, the fact that Bistro Niko was "flat" should not have surprised me because, time and time again, every visit to a Buckhead Life restaurant yields more or less the same story - jejune food that is never outstanding nor offensive, "themed" environment, adequate service and prices that normally won't break the bank (albeit expensive for what you get). I guess that is why the restaurant group is successful, it refuses to take chances. Bistro Niko is absolutely no exception to this rule. Other than the food, I would be remiss if I did not give two quick words on parking before concluding - absolute nightmare. The valet situation at this restaurant is about as organized as a goat rodeo. You will wait in utter confusion both to bring your car in and to leave. The valet seems to service several different businesses and is completely understaffed. If you are in a rush at lunch, good luck. Although I have gone way to much in depth on a restaurant that has none, I have a few final remarks to round out this review - If you are in Buckhead and on an expense account, go for it, you won't be wowed or disappointed, you will just be. If you are paying for the meal yourself and really want exciting and flavorful food, save your money for somewhere else or just give it to me. If you are looking for safe food sold at relatively decent prices in a sterile environment, this may be the place for you. It is not for me.
(2)Rudy K.
Not really used to writing reviews more or less used to cooking and tasting the dishes I make at work, so let me start. Apps: I had Gary's meat plate the Faux Gras was amazing smooth and so good I was sneaking the ramikin under the table so I could lick it clean. The cured meats were really really top notch the pate was seasoned with salt perfect but could use a bit more bite from pate spice. The Escargots were mind blowing the snails I ate first and then used the puff pastry to mop up the delicious sauce. The main course I had was the Coq au Vin which was a upgrade over any culinary student attempt of this classic. It was updated dressed up and given enough love to make you realize why coq au vin is a classic in the first place. The service was polished and efficient the managers walked around and made sure everything and everyone was okay. The kitchen got the food out like a well oiled machine.
(5)Alison B.
Awesome for brunch. My husband and I didn't want a big fancy buffet brunch, just a nice, delicious, quiet, delicious meal. This was perfect.
(4)Claire C.
Nice atmosphere and good food (try the traditionally french "Croque Monsieur" et "Croque Madame") but it all didn't feel very french. Coming from a french speaker - the food was a little too American for me. The service was great though, except for their horrendous French accents.
(3)Alicia T.
Another great meal at Bistro Niko! The Mussels are a must...Love it!!!
(4)Sara R.
I've been twice for dinner. The food is OK, not spectacular. The service is really disappointing on both visits. The bar service was good. I don't get the attitude of the servers. It was as if we were lucky to be there. Shouldn't that be the other way around. I hope they get this worked out. The restaurant and menu looks like its trying to be like Balthazar in NYC. Bistro Niko, you have a long way to go.
(3)E B.
I have been no fewer than twenty times. lunch, dinner, and drinks....... The food can swing from good to bad depending on the visit, but for some reason I keep coming back............................. After much thought, I decided that I like the place for the simple reason that it is an easy place to grab a bite, people watch, and have a great drink at the bar. The bartenders are excellent. I also keep coming to see if "SAM" is still there, because I am hoping he leaves to go take up reins at Panos again. So I sit here a fan for the whole experience and not always the food.
(4)Andrée R.
Had the Coquilles St. Jacques, which were magnificent. Best ever! Good wine stowed on the table in a cute little clear plastic wine tote. Interesting atmosphere--people having fun. Very loud, but we were late enough that after awhile a lot of people left and it became tolerable. The food and service were outstanding. Authentic French bistro with subway tile, hall windows to kitchen, Toulouse-Lautrec type posters, other interesting artwork. Someone has put a lot of $$$ in the decor. Would go again in a heartbeat.
(4)Stu G.
While we lack budget-friendly, mass-appeal french options in Atlanta, this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of unique options on the menu to get you started. Don't miss the wine to cut all the rich, meat-influenced fatty options. Some delicious apps and mains to choose from. Meat and frites... mmm.
(4)Lisa A.
Restaurant was extremely noisy. The drinks are quite small for the price. I ordered two martinis and both times the glases were half full. Keep in mind,they wanted 12.00 a drink. The pork cutlet was plain and was missing a lot of flavor. The steak tartare was about the only item that I tought was good. It is as good as the Pano's and Paul's version.
(2)Kimberly W.
Champagne, mussels, beautifully cooked escargot, a wonderful selection of oysters, a truly affordable caviar , the much missed Brandad, sturdy soups and interesting salads followed by traditional french entrees with some interesting twists. I've had everything on the menu and while some entrees lack religious fervor they are all very competent with some soaring to great heights (french fries cooked in duck fat). And then there is the lovely atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)c d.
Great scene, great service, great food. The mussels are the best quality and biggest I've ever had. The steak tartare is amazing, as is the charcuterie plate. My ONLY complaint is a lack of "diet friendly" foods for someone watching their weight. Also the area by the bar is always drafty (which of a wind-tunnel effect). I wish they would close the doors to the patio. Regardless, bring a sweater if you intend to spend much time by the bar.
(4)Anup M.
We went to their Sunday brunch. I had their roasted pork and my wife had the duck confi. We loved both dishes. The service was great and the ambiance was excellent. The only thing we didn't like was the foie gras. We prefer the foie gras to be warm instead of being cold.
(5)Cindy S.
Anyplace I can get Caviar, Oysters on the half shell, escargot & Great wine at a solid price get's a thumbs up from me! Great time and friendly service!
(4)Clare D.
First time at Bistro Niko today. Had the mussels, which were amazing!!! A small order of them with bread to sop up the heavenly broth is a full lunch. The lamb sandwich was also excellent, and the prices were reasonable, especially considering the neighborhood. My eating companion said the Eggs Norwegian (brunch menu) were good, but not as good as the lamb. Will be back! Great atmosphere, too.
(5)Philip H.
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and effecient service. It's now one of my choices in the ATL.. Great spot
(4)Roy H.
Our first visit was 5 star. He has really captured the French bistro vibe. The only downside would be the noise level in the main dining area, fortunately we were seated in the parlor. Escargot was superb! Very deep menu, so subsequent visits will be necessary. The price points for the entrees is very encouraging!
(5)John H.
I had dinner here for the first time for a good friend's birthday. First off as soon as you walk in the resturant you can tell this place gives off an aura of class and elegance. The waiter we had was very patient and explained everything we asked in detail. Since the menu was mostly in French we had lots of questions. We started off with the Mussels in a garlic cream sauce. The sauce was probably the best sauce I've ever tasted. I kept asking for more bread so that I could dip it into the sauce. I highly recommend ording the Mussels on your next expedition to Bistro Niko if you haven't already. We also order some kind of fried pork rolls but after trying the mussels everything else failed miserably in comparison. I ordered the special which was the large pork chop and my fiancee order the seafood pasta. Unfortunately when the entrees came out I tried my friends tenderloin and my pork chop didn't seem as appetizing anymore. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as flavorful and tender as the tenderlon. Once again I ordered the wrong thing. As far as pork chops go though they were still pretty good. I also tried the seafood pasta and it was to die for. Remember how much I loved the garlic cream sauce that came with the mussels? Well that was the sauce they used for the pasta as well. When my waiter even felt the slightest hint of displeasure of my own entree he immediately tried to take it back and bring me something else. He truly made me feel that my happiness and my experiance there came before anything else. He exceeded my expectations on great customer service. Finally we had the creme brulle for desert and it topped off the evening creamy and sweet. So in a nutshell, The food was amazing, the atmosphere and decor was everything I expect a 5 star resturant to be, and the service was phenominal. If you love French food then this is the place to go and if you never had French food before this is the place you want to base your first opinion on. - Good Eats
(5)ralston a.
After many visits to Paris, I have to disagree with some of the other reviews. I found the food very much french and the service attentive without being intrusive. Those who felt the service lacking were perhaps expecting the typical american style wait staff of 'and how are we this evening' which I find annoying and hypocritical - if you think the waiter really cares about how your evening is past the point of their tip, you are sadly mistaken. In France, wait staffing is taken as a serious career and I think this is the goal of Niko to have the wait staff take their job seriously and not just as a college kid trying to earn spending money. The food was good- I had escargot, shepherd's pie and coq au vin and 2 desserts. All were exceptional and every bit as good as those dishes I have eaten in France.
(5)Trey N.
I usually do not eat a place like this but I was not let down. I only gave 3 stars because of Price mainly. The staff was friendly and helpful explaining the menu. The atmosphere was fancy, intimate, trendy. Great place for a date or to take a client. I had the Cod with mash potatoes and It was amazing. Would give 4 stars if it was a little cheaper. Still nice place.
(3)Eric C.
Every single thing that we ordered tonight was extraordinarily excellent. Chicken tortellini appetizer was outstanding. Burger was good and juicy. Scallops were cooked perfectly and delicious. The orange cream sorbet is just ridiculously good. Our server Joey was very friendly and an excellent waiter. This is one of the best meals that we have ever had!
(5)Brandy L.
1 word Buckhead Life Group(Chef Pano ) another gr8 Hot Atl hot spot Tois martini Fantastic along w/Vodka Chambord & the food is good too! ; )
(4)H V.
cool looking Italian restaurant, food was just OK, nothing to brag about. our Waiter was not friendly nor helpful.
(3)Michael B.
Ok. I have heard that French foodies enjoy - maybe I am not a French foodie. Great for groups bc it is energetic. Great to walk through the entrance and feel as if you are walking through the kitchen in Paris. Very loud (i.e., not a romatic spot). The mussels were good. Had read poor service reviews, but ours was good - attentive and knowledgeable. Our server in the bar (where we waited for our table) was very pleasant and welcoming. Having said that, the table next to ours (with a different server) got what appeared to be very poor service.
(3)Mike M.
The Frau and I had a wonderful dinner last night. Our table was ready promptly on time and Phil, our waitperson was extremely helpful. Besides the great food, the service was top shelf. We will be back!
(4)ADAM V.
Ok, short review here on this one. I have been to bistro nikko three times as I work right across the street. This is a very nice addition to the neighborhood. Now, this may sound a bit odd but hands down the french onion soup is the best ive ever had. It is just wonderful, thick not watery. Just great, if you go try it as a starter or it could be your entire meal for lunch.
(4)L N.
This place is so delicious! Every time I come here I get the onion soup and fill up before I can eat my entree. That soup is so good! Last time I split the boeuf bourguignon with someone and we both loved it. We had the chocolate molten cake with pistachio flavoring for dessert and it was also very good. I've had the croque monsieur there as well. Not the best I have ever had but the frites that come with it (fried in duck fat) were really really good. They apparently do brunch here too which I have never tried but the menu looks really good.
(4)Juliet C.
I was there about happy hour and ate at the bar, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was European and sophisticated, but casual enough to feel comfortable. The food was fabulous, I had the French Onion Soup and the Shrimp Crevettes, both delicious. I totally recommend it. Just pricey!
(4)Johnston O.
We went to Bistro Niko a few weeks back and had an excellent experience. The mussels and steak frites were both nearly perfect. The duck was very good, but a little unremarkable. I really liked the atmosphere as well, very reminiscent of a French brasserie. Will definitely be back.
(4)wow b.
went here for birthday...mussels were fantastic. I liked everything we had but the pork belly...dry and chewy. my friends said they hated it but everyone's plate was empty...go figure. very chaotic and loud. so don't expect great service...the food is affordable and good portions.
(3)Natasha S.
So i love the overall atmosphere of this restaurant. It's so pretty, and I love the ceilings. I ended up going here for lunch one day.. it was a very slow day with only a few people in the restaurant but the service seemed really slow for my liking. The food was pretty good, but a little too cheesy.. I'd maybe give it one more try. Not a huge fan of the parking situation.
(3)Liz S.
First of all its a beautiful restaurant. I very much enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was excellent. Very attentive servers and the manager stopped by a couple times to ask how our meal was. The food was wonderful. For main course we had the beef bourguignon which was outstanding. Tender meat in a delicious sauce, almost wanted to lick the plate. Overall a great restaurant that I highly reccommend.
(5)Linda M.
We went for our wedding anniversary with another couple. The decor and atmosphere are nice enough, even though it is pretty noisy. BUT the food was far, far, below what my husband and I expected. We each ordered an appetizer and 1 of the 2 were okay. But each of us ordered different entrees and none of us cared for them. Although the service was fine, I certainly will not go back. Both my husband and I felt our dishes were mexican dishes made to look french. We will stick with La Petite Maison in Sandy Springs.
(1)I I.
I went last night (yes the night of the big snow storm) and the place was about half empty when I arrived at 7 pm. It picked up a bit by the time I left at 9. I was not impressed with the wait staff and the attention they provided us. Also, I felt rushed even though the place was not busy. The mussels were unreal and that is the only reason I am giving them two stars. The wine list was not bad but they should widen the selection to cover other known brands. One positive thing, the pricing was very reasonable. Now onto the worst part of the night.....I ordered the filet medallions which came highly recommend by our wait staff. It was overcook to a point of being well-done as well as it was cold when it was served. It should have been cooked to the point of medium rare like the chef recommends, in their defense they offered to cook another one but I was so hungry I did not want to wait. With all of the other great places to dine in Atlanta I doubt this place will stay in business unless something dramatically changes.
(1)Vincent D.
yum yum yum. beef tenderloins were amazing... so is the creme brulee
(4)John M.
Like so many places before it, Bistro Niko is the new hot spot. A place people must go when in Buckhead whether to eat, or just enjoy a drink and people watch at the bar. I hope it lives up to the hype for a long time- we'll see. The location is great for the business traveler since it is so close to many great hotels. I stay at the Intercontiental across the street and it is such an easy walk. The area is clean, shiny, new, and safe. The outdoor patio at Bistro Niko is inviting so long as the temperature is cool. Inside the restaurant the lighting is soft, seating comfortable. Tables are spaced apart nicely, several booths around the outer perimeter and all are comfortable The noise level has never been an issue- just right to carry on a good conversation. The decor predictably a little above average. The service has always been very good especially at the bar where there is a constant buzz of activity. Oh, and did I mention the food? I have not had a bad thing on the menu. The mushroom pizza is different, tasty a very good selection. Love the scallops - my personal fave. So, go to Bistro Niko, you will enjoy the location, decor, crowd, food and drink. Especially with friends-greta energy. Very welcoming.
(4)Crystal G.
This place is like a taste of French heaven. Really, it's that good. I go here each time I come to Atlanta.
(5)Louise D.
Absolutely fabulous! First, the food is great and well worth the money. This is probably the best place for a meal in the Atlanta area. The service was excellent and we know the next time we go there we are going to make sure and ask for Stewart Barnes again! This man makes you feel comfortable and allows you time to absorb the menu. Mr. Barnes is very knowledgeable in flavors and made us an excellent wine suggestion. There are not too many servers that I would call professional, however, if you are lucky enough to have Stewart service your table you will ask for him each and every time you go back; everyone else just pales in comparison. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relevant to the type food served here however it can get a little loud in the dining room. The food is fabulous and worth asking if you can compliment the chef. This is a restaurant in the Atlanta area that does not miss on one single thing. Thank you Mr. Stewart Barnes for a great dining experience and I will be back and will ask for you!
(5)Ken P.
It is not easy to take a foreign cuisine to another country. About 1/2 of the things which French people regularly eat simply do not appeal to most Americans (think pig's feet, calf's head, head cheese, blood pudding, tripe, kidneys, sweetbreads, liver, cold jellied meats, chitterling sausages, wild hare, sea snails, rouget, grainy & strong tasting fish soup, etc.). There are Tex-Mex restaurants in Paris, but they are no more authentic than Bistro Niko is a real French dining establishment, as in France. Compromises to satisfy local tastes (such as New Orleans' Chinese restaurants that offer bread pudding) are always necessary, if one wants to stay in business and Bistro Niko follows suit. People in Atlanta may think they want to go to a real French restaurant, but, in fact, most are going to want to eat like Americans do, no matter where they are. For example, a number of the other reviewers have indicated that they ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer (typical in the USA), rather than after the main course, as is always done in France. When the late Gilbert Le Coze came to the USA from Paris and opened Le Bernardin in NY (before opening Brassserie Le Coze in Atlanta) he expressed shock at the way Americans ordered their meals. He commented that he sold more green salads daily in NY than he would in a month in Paris. I, too, wonder about people going to a fine restaurant, with a skilled and inventive chef, and ordering an ordinary dish like a green salad. Why not also order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? I also wonder about naming this place "Bistro." It looks like a large and beautiful brasserie, not at all like a bistro (usually a small and modest Mom & Pop operation, such as Au Rendezvous), minus the main two food items which are always found in real brasseries, plateau de fruits de mer (large cold shellfish platters) and choucroute garni (a huge dish of assorted pork cuts and sausages with sauerkraut). I know that Bistro Niko shied away from offering shellfish platters because they are very expensive and it wanted to be moderately priced. A large one, for two people, will cost $100-150 in Paris, but you can get one nearly as good at Chops (or its Lobster Bar) for about 1/2 as much. Most Americans think of sauerkraut dishes as German and would not expect them in French restaurants. In fact, however, brasseries, which means beer halls in French, first came to Paris in the 1870s-1880s, after France lost Alsace (on the French-German border) in the Franco-Prussian War. A number of Alsatian restaurant owners fled to Paris and set up shop there, bringing beer and somewhat Germanic food with them. Bistro Niko is more of a copy of Balthazaar in NYC than it is of anything in France. It is also sort of an American's idea of a "best of France" mix of dishes which are actually found not just in one type of establishment, such as a brasserie, but also in cafes, restaurants, bistros, and in 3 or 4 different regions in France. For example, it has a Croque Madame, a simple short-order cooking item usually found in modest cafes and never in places which serve serious food (just as hot dogs are not served in serious USA restaurants); boeuf bourgogne and coq au vin from Burgundy; raclette from the Alps; Tarte Flambee from Alsace, etc., as well as some dishes which are not really French, such as mussels (which are uncommon in Paris, except at the two branches of Leon de Bruxelles, a Belgian chain), white bean soup (not a French dish, but apparently adopted because it was very popular at Brasserie Le Coze), etc. Snails are common in France, but I have never experienced them there made either with Pernod or puff pastry. Despite its very justified failure to be authentically French, Bistro Niko has some very good dishes (especially the terrines, pates, pork rilletes, the frisee salad, and the two Burgundy dishes mentioned above) and I like it.
(4)Lisa S.
Beautiful restaurant. They are very nice greeting you at the door and you are seated promptly at the time of your reservation. However, we had not been seated 10 minutes and our waitress had asked us 5 times if we were ready to order. We had just picked up drinks at the bar and had not even sipped them yet. Finally to get her off our backs, we ordered the flambee pizza with lardons and onion. Delicious, crisp crust. As soon as that arrived, she was back again asking for orders. One guest had the sole which was delcious as was the steak au pouive. The palliard pork was good and very different. Another guest wanted to try the croque monsier to see if it was like they have them in Paris. Unfortunatly not. Too little ham, to bland of a sauce. The other thing is the french fires. Not double fried, as boring as McDonalds. There was also inconsistency in the drinks. Some made even with different ingredients. Profiteroles were delicious though. Overall, it was okay but needs work. They shouldn't try to rush you out so quickly. Definitely a happening spot though.
(3)Jules B.
French soup was delicious ! Coq au vin was ok. Kind of tough & chewy. Citrus pie was soso. Too Noisy to talk.
(2)Bonnie M.
This establishment is a solid choice for French food and the service and quality is always consistent. As others have stated, the restaurant has no acoustics and is quite noisy! There are some dishes that I would rate as 3 stars and others that I would consider 5... hence the 4 stars. Here are my must trys: gruyere cheese puffs and foie gras terrine (best when eaten together with the puffs!), beouf bourginone (fantastic), the flat breads are pretty good, and the Chocolat Sundae, Creme Brulee, or Profiteroles for dessert!
(4)Marty J.
Bistro Niko is one of my favorite restaurants that is on the nicer side. It was good enough for me to chose for my birthday dinner with the fam. I've eaten dinner there 3 or 4 times and haven't been disappointed yet so I recommend all of the dishes that I place in my review. Non food related, the hostesses are attractive but not very friendly. As another Yelper stated, you can't really blame them because you'd be unhappy too if you had to wear a bridesmaid dress to work everyday. I usually don't care about the decor of a restaurant, but the decor is actually pretty cool and adds to the restaurant experience. I haven't been to Paris, but I feel like I have now. On to the important food related stuff. Things I've tried (translated from French to English): Apps * A multitude of tartes - These are flat bread pizzas. I've tried most of them and they are crunchy and delicious. * French onion soup - very rich and almost a meal in itself * Mussels - I've never had the mussels, but my mom is a huge fan. Mains * Shrimp - The shrimp comes wrapped in a light, fluffy, and crispy pastry. I like to think of it as upscale shrimp style pig-in-a-blanket (I'm sure the chef just cringed at that). * Scallops - Similar to pan fried scallops you'd get at other nice restaurants, only tastier. * Croque Madame - I was actually surprised at how delicious this was as I was not expecting much. Take a ham and cheese sandwich, make it super awesome so that it can be served at an upscale restaurant, and then throw a fried egg on top. Expect to spend about $20 per entree. The wine and beer selection is quality. Next time I go, I'd like to go halfsies with someone on the Croque Madame and Shrimps-in-a-blanket.
(4)Pavan B.
When you enter ..makes you feel u've landed into 1960 Paris , bold red retro interiors. Food is good and great selection of wines . There Steak pom fries is probably one of the best in town . I am going back there soon
(4)William K.
We showed up without a reservation on a Thursday night. The bar was packed and we were told we had a 45 minute wait. We didn't mind hanging out for a bit so we tried to talk there at the bar. It was lively and fun. We were seated after about 30 minutes and our waiter was good. We asked for his recommendations but honestly we chose to go another direction, since neither of us was all that hungry. We split the Salad D'Endive, which was okay, not superb. Then we also split the Thon et Saumon which is an amazing carpaccio of tuna and salmon with Asian pear, totally yummy. Last we shared a Croquette D' Truite Fumeé which is a smoked trout croquette with a tartar sauce. It was totally delicious. We enjoy red the whole meal, albeit lighter fare. I would definitely return.
(4)Samantha E.
Excellent service!!!!! 5 stars for the hostess, valet, waitress, food. The skate wing was incredible, mussels - mmmmm, lamb shank tender and delicious. Complimentary birthday profiteroles - just sheer perfection! I loved everything about this beautiful restaurant. Manager was very attentive - I'll be back.
(5)Will W.
Creme Brule' was excellent. Mussels were OK. I won't order then the next time though. Lightly Fried Shrimp were good but the accompanying Cole Slaw was skippable. They almost overcharged us on the Two Plate lunch so double check your bill.
(3)E K.
Went here for dinner on Christmas Eve and was disappointed that there was barely any holiday decorations. Decor is always very attractive, though. The food was outstanding. I had the beef bourguignoin which was so tender that not only did I not need a knife, I didn't even have to chew it, it just melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were like a creamy, buttery desert. Valet parking and service were efficient and prompt. Will return often.
(4)Gio D.
Good French place for a night out. The food was good and the ambiance was very nice. We started out with the flat breab pizza which was fairly heavy because of the cheese so be prepared to leave half of it if you're ordering for two (great starter for four). For our entres we had the Coq au Vin and the fillet mignon twin steaks. The Coq au Vin was much better than the steaks. The steaks were good but overwhelmed by the pepercorn on top. As you bit into the steak, you mostly tasted peppercorn with a hint of steak. No biggie through as all you had to do was scrape the peppercorn off the top and all was good again. For desert we had a brioche type cake that was really good soaked in run.
(4)Jessica L.
I LOVE the coq au vin here. and I always get at least a dozen of oysters every time. The atmosphere is great, although it may get loud at times. I especially love the dimmed lighting. The waiters are always attentive and make sure the water glasses are never empty.
(5)Lisa M.
First time visiting and very impressed. Half of our party was late for the reservation, but it was no biggie and the staff was very nice about it. Our server, Miguel, was awesome...friendly, funny, and great at his job. I had the trois plats including mesclun salad, coq au vin, and creme brulee. Each course was amazingly good and I felt $30 was a very reasonable price for three courses of fantastic food with generous portions. I would definitely recommend Bistro Niko to friends and plan to visit again.
(5)Andrea P.
For a restaurant in a major city that is part of an elite restaurant group we were very underwhelmed by our experience at Bistro Niko. The butternut squash was delicious and the best part of our meal. The mushroom tarte (French flatbread) was soggy and sopping with cheese - no chance to enjoy what should have been a light flaky crust. We also had the mussels which were good but they were served with french fries...like we were at a fast food joint, what?! It was an insult to the mussels. Lastly we had one of the specials, a steak sandwich, which was highly touted by our waiter. It was the worst part of our meal. We didn't stick around to find out how dessert was. The atmosphere was nice (slightly upscale and not stuffy). Service was pretty good.
(3)Art V.
Generally a pretty good meal. Restaurant is among the loudest in Atlanta. One needs to nearly shout to be heard. Only major gripe is the portion size of the entrees. VERY small. They try to mask the size by serving entrees on very small plates. I ordered skate. The portion was 4 to 5oz at best. The same entree at the same price at Atlanta Fish Market offers double the portion, at least. The french fries were uninteresting supermarket quality. Good creme brulee. Glad to see that they have instructed the hostesses to refrain from dressing like hookers.
(3)Maria S.
I met a couple here for dinner one night. Food was alright, the variety of the menu was lacking. The cheese plate and meat plate were the only good thing, and the wine. We did not have any trouble with the service. I thought it was over priced and over rated. Better places to eat in the ATL.
(2)Ruksana H.
Was here for my French group meet-up and they had the little room up front reserved for us. Great service, great atmosphere, even the chef came over and said hello! I had some soup, pizza and mussels - all flavorful and delicious. The wines were fantastic, aptly paired by our wait staff with the food. I want to take some friends back and have a fun time soon. :)
(5)Joe R.
Food is excellent. Ambiance is excellent. It is a bit loud but keeps the atmosphere lively. Great date night or celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Jeff K.
Are you kidding me? This place is dirt cheap for the food they serve. The bistro is very nicely decorated. The wait staff were very competent and efficient. The food was nothing but excellent. You get all that for a price of um....pizza. Granted, it might be some expensive pizza, but still......pizza. We had about 10 people in the party. The escargot we shared were very good. The Crispy duck was excellent bordering exception. For the entree, I had a chef's special pork chop. That was excellent as well. The pork was nicly done. It was cooked, but it stayed nice and tender. We shared several desserts afterwards. I can't say any of them were memberable, but I do remember them being good:)
(4)DubR R.
This place was for sure class class class. I definitely felt out of place. First of all, I didn't expect to be going here, thought a divey bar maybe. Second, my date was extra hot, totally undeserving. But I think I handled pretty well... food was good, service was great... a little too loud if you want to converse with your date. MUST TRY: Mussels NOTE: Dress to impress (not douchey, but classy)...this area fills amongst the higher echelon of atlanta
(3)Amber S.
I love Bistro Niko. The food is out of this world. The location is wonderful. The patio can be really lovely certain times of year (most times in Atlanta). Try most anything, but seafood is particularly good here. The wine list is excellent. I would give it 5 stars, but the bartenders were rude to us here for no good reason a few times, so I can't dish out all 5. I think it's because the party next to us was a bit unruly, but we were not, and it was a real downer.
(4)Tran N.
Went here for my Bday...Bon Appetit! It was busy on a Tues! Yikes! Service was great (waiter was even French LOL) Great setting, nice patio area, good food =D. Items are reasonably priced. Had the escargot, chz balls, & salmon spread for apps. Not a fan of the escargot, but the chz balls were amazing! Kept popping them like potato chips. Had the duck breast on red cabbage-it was delicious and surprisingly sweet. The lamb shank was huge compared to other restaurants lamb shank portion. Scallops on mash presented oddly (like brains on mash) but was also divine. Great wine menu, even beer menu. I think the beer was a bit pricey though. Overall great experience and c'est bon diner!
(4)Adam M.
The food does NOT deserve this rating. It was pretty good. Our head server was very awkward with an awful attitude, ruining the experience (hence the 2 star overall rating). I wish our assistant waiter was the only one helping us. He was from France, and truly outstanding. My favorite part of the night was the bottle of wine, which I think has a lot of value. The '06 Chateau Listran from Medoc ($35) was the cheapest cab-based bordeaux on the menu, but had incredible texture, a pleasant nose, and a solid lingering finish on this light-medium body bordeaux. Truly a complex wine for $35, imo, and the markup isn't bad either, as it retails around $20-25. The wine service was terrible. When I was tasting the wine, the server poured the taste, and just immediately left. I am not kidding, he just left before I approved the wine and we didn't see him for 10 minutes. He did not pour our wine? I've never seen this, period. It was okay, because I needed to give the young bordeaux a chance to breath, but this started the chain of poor service. I had to eventually pour every glass of wine, including the first. We had the grand platter to start, which is assorted raw meats, chicken liver, and duck liver. I have not been to Paris, and was in the mood for something new, and this clearly filled that requirement. I thought it was good, and thanks to the advice from our ASSISTANT waiter on how he eats it with the mini pickles, it got better as we ate. Both the girl and I had the steak frites (the NY Strip), cooked rare plus. The waiter sold us on the dish claiming it was the "exact same" steak they were serving at Chops, but I didn't believe him because of the ($27) price point. I know Chops serves prime beef, and I've never seen a 16oz prime strip for less than around $35. About halfway through the steak, I asked him to check again. It turns out the steak was choice. After constant up-selling the entire meal, it turns out that you don't even know your product? I hate up-selling, but moreso, I hate it when a waiter says whatever he can to sell me the dish. The mark of annoying, bad service. I am not enough of a snob to dislike choice meat, and the steak was solid but over cooked. It was probably a little bit over medium rare. The béarnaise helped me through. We had the creme brulee to finish, and it was a nice, very light style. Then after trying to sell me on an after dinner drink, our server brought the check. $124 - Food matched the price (happy), service left more than just a little to be desired. Oh wait, there is more. As soon as I got done signing the check, our server immediately took the bill away from the table while we were finishing the wine. We all got somewhere to be, buddy. Do your job! We only sat there for a total of 5 minuets, and 1/2 the restaurant was still full. BOTTOM LINE: Service was awful even considering this is just a bistro. Food was good. I was in NYC last week and dined at a 5 star bistro called Cafe D'Alasce. Night and day difference. I hear they have terrible service in Paris, but unfortunately, this is Buckhead. Get it fixed.
(2)Jessica J.
Great atmosphere, amazing service. We share the cheese platter very tasty. I got the lamb shank, first time eating lamb, maybe I don't like lamb but I wasn't crazy about it, beans were very good. He got the rib eye, loved it so much he ate until he was miserable. Chocolate sundae for the dessert very good!! Wine was perfect, we have different tastes and the waiter selected a great wine we both enjoyed. We had a gift card and are glad toga be gone, don't know if we would have eaten here otherwise. If went back I would order something different, I just don't think I'm a lamb fan but I wanted to order something different.
(4)David W.
Last review for the day. Went here on a Sunday night and it was not busy at all. have been here for lunch and really enjoyed it. Atmosphere is great. Truly in the french bistro style. Service for Buckhead life was sub par. very surprising as this is something they do well. We started off with a raclette with pickled mushrooms. Very yummy indeed. I had duck and the wife had a pasta dish. My duck was super tender and her pasta was good. Vino was reasonable and they do have some good buys in there. My reasons for 3 stars. They try too hard in there to be French. They are not! The food, although good, was Americanized French. Not a bad thing, but just not true to the style. The People: Its buckhead, and that is all I can really say. We had two gift cards to use. the waiter swore that only one was running through and the other had to be used. I knew we had never used them before and tried to have him run it again. He came back and told me it did not work. Ok, not going to make a big scene about it there. I called corporate on Monday and it was eventually taken care of. In the end, this was all that mattered, but I felt like he was worried about his tip. I always tip off the bill prior to any gift cards or coupons. Will i go back? Yes I will try them again, but there are so many stellar restaurants in Atlanta that I do not think this will be my go to spot.
(3)Mary N.
I got the trout- really really tasty (a lot of butter). Service was impeccable, our waitress was amazing. Bathrooms were the only downside: community style. I don't like going after boys. Yuck.
(3)John M.
I arrived on a Tuesday night after getting off a plane. The place was loud and crowded which told me it must be a pretty good place to eat. I had to wait for a table for a few minutes. When I was seated, I had the steak frites with a peppercorn sauce. It was by far the best I have ever tasted. It had a hint or orange, and I would bet that it is made with a splash or Grande Marnier. The outdoor seating area is the place to sit if you have great weather and want to watch everyone going by. I would go there again the next time I go to Atlanta.
(5)Lauren M.
Only ever eaten at the bar here during happy hour, but they have the best mussels I've had in atlanta. usually a fun scene too!
(5)Luckie D.
The BEST CHAMPAGNE value in Atlanta Go for the patio scene, champagne and people watching. If you have to eat its decent.
(4)Christian H.
The food: The food is pretty good and fairly inexpensive for an upscale restaurant. You can get an entree for around $15-$20 on average. I would recommend the beef cheeks. The Service: Our server did a good job and was very attentive. He recommended my wife a glass of wine which she loved. I have no complaints. The Atmosphere: Like I said, it is a fairly upscale place so the decor and ambiance is pretty nice. However, it was fairly loud and there were actually a lot of people sitting at the bar area, which didn't bother us, but I could see how this could annoy some people. Overall: Recommended. I would go back.
(4)Meika J.
I really enjoyed my experience at Bistro Niko. I came with a large group of girls for a Bachelorette Party. We had dinner there before hitting the town. I liked Bistro Niko because it was a great atmosphere. Loud but not too loud and full of laughter. Some of the other buckhead life restaurants have great food but the atmosphere is a little stuffy. Drinks: The waiter took very good care of us and made really good wine recommendations. I love their wine, I had Riesling. I wish I remembered the brand but it was 9 bucks and well worth it. Apps: We all shared the mussels as an appetizer and they were delicious. Then we took our bread and dipped it in the sauce that the mussels came in. Amazing! Entree: For my meal I had the shrimp wrapped in some kind of dough. It was very good but next time I go I think I will have the scallops. Most of the girls ordered them and I tried theirs and loved it! Desert: We ordered a few Creme Brûlées to go around and it was the best I have ever had.
(5)Sweet GA Peach y.
Ok, so I may very well be the only person in Buckhead who is not in love with Bistro Nikko. I work close, so I have given it three valiant efforts in the last couple of months. Now let me say first-I love their space! Perfectly decorated, I love that you can see right into the kitchen, and a fabulous spot for lunch al'fresco or a great espresso while watching Peachtree Street drive by. Visit #1 Croque Monsieur. Grilled ham sandwich with gruyere cheese and a scrumptious cheese sauce all over it. Now I first had this in Paris and it happens to be one of my all time favorite meals. So I may be jaded, clinging to some memory of enjoying this in a cafe by the Eiffel tower as a young, blossoming young lady...but Bistro Niko's version left me wanting much more. Safe to say, I can make this one at home with a recipe I found on the food network. I only finished 1/2 of it. Not because it's big, but if I'm going to eat THAT many calories...I want it to be the best I've ever had. Visit#2 Coquille St. Jacques Aux Sorrel (sea scallops). Eh...... that pretty much sums it up. Just eh, nothing more or less. Visit #3 Tarte Aux Champignons Mushrooms, gruyere & fontina cheese flatbread. This had real potential. I am a mushroom lover, but the overwhelming mushroom flavor made me gag a little! lol But the cheese was awesome, so safe to say that if I go back, I'll order this without the mushrooms, and have a great meal. On this trip, my girlfriends had a chicken liver salad and really raved about it. But my Sweet Southern mother forced too many fried chicken livers down this little blondie at Sunday lunches, so I'm ok with never having them again. EVEN if they are good for my iron, Mom! We also had desert this visit and it was amazing! It was little chocolate something, similiar to a molten cake....but 100 times better. So I'm still just 'Eh' in my reviews of BN. Although, I think I'll try it for dinner the next visit and give it one more shot to show me what most everyone else is loving. Au revoir, mon amour! xo
(2)Jacqueline P.
I love the ambiance of this place from the patio to the bar and the tables inside. This would be a great destination for a date or just hanging out with friends. I would not recommend a business meeting simply because it tends to get loud at times. For appetizers, our group had the mussels, escargot and the specialty melted cheese. The mussels were cooked perfectly. The escargot had the right amount of garlic and butter mix. But the best by far, at least for me, was the cheese!! For the main course, I had the twin beef tenderloin with sauteed spinach and cream brandied mushrooms. Although the tenderloin was indeed very tender, the pepper was overpowering. If you have this dish, I'd ask them to lighten up on the pepper. In all honesty, the tenderloin would have been fine without the pepper at all. Other people in my group had the trout and another, the Coq Au Vin. Both said their entrees left much to be desired. For dessert, I had the creme brulee. It was one of the best I've had in the city. I'd recommend coming for appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks, but I'd probably skip the entrees if I were you.
(3)Michael M.
Food was ok. Service was bad. They're incapable of managing their dining room. And, upon their failure to seat us until nearly 40 minutes past our reservation time, they failed to acknowledge their shortcomings. Obviously, they feel the remainder of the dining experience would have made the wait worth it. It didn't. We won't be back. I'm sure there are places in Buckhead with equally, if not better, food and ambiance that will actually value you as a customer. This restaurant fails and expects you to thank them for their trouble in having you dine there. Keep looking. There are better places out there.
(2)Drew S.
I ate at Bistro Niko for the first time last night, and I don't eat at a lot of fine dining restaurants, but I don't think that this one was particularly up to par. I expected a little bit more. I had the Coq Au Vin which tasted decent enough, but like I said, it fell a bit below what I was expecting. The crème brulée was wonderful however & the wine recommendation did happen to help the flow of the evening. I don't think this would be my first choice for indulging.
(3)A C.
Slipped in here during a business trip for a spur of the moment dinner since my hotel (the Doubletreet) was just a stone's throw away. It was a Thursday evening and quite crowded with about a 30 minute wait. I was told that dining was available at the bar and I made my way over and found a perch at the end of the railing opposite the actual bar. Unfortunately for the couple on the other side where they had a few cozy booth seats, I sat facing them and though I couldn't hear the conversation over the general din of the restaurant, I'm sure they would have rather preferred not to have the third wheel. A friendly and courteous server waited on me the entire evening. I started with a basket of the cheese balls which were mediocre - the ones at Fogo are substantially better. I pared these with a half-dozen oysters which were fresh and tasty. Dinner was the Crevettes en Feuille de Brique - Georgia shrimp crisped in thin pastry, lemon aioli, celeriac remoulade. OR in simple term - fried shrimp with slaw. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the pastry light and crisp. The aioli and remoulade missed the mark and was a bit more like a slaw. I did wash the meal down with a bit of red and finished the night with a coffee and a ridiculous slice of pie. It was good - but not great.
(3)Ali S.
I just returned from my experience at Bistro Niko & felt the need to yelp about it. Admittedly, I wasn't too enthused about going because I was set on trying Craft Atlanta since my L.A. experience was so good. However, I did have high hopes because of the rave reviews I read on yelp. This place is not terrible but the 2-Star rating pretty much hits the nail on the head: "Meh. I've experienced better." What I ate: Escargots 'en croute' -- The escargot was my favorite of the three because it's difficult to mess up tons of butter, garlic, & snails, but I wouldn't even rank it in the top 10 escargot dishes I've had (although, it's leaps & bounds better than the escargot served by Alex Reznik at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was). The escargot dish is not covered in a puff pastry and then baked, instead, each serving has a tiny little puff pastry on it. Boo. Tartare de boeuf -- this dish was so underwhelming that there's really nothing to write about. There was no flavor (not even notes or hints) to describe the experience. Plainly, this was milquetoast. Skip this and order a glass of wine or something instead. Moules 'Gilbert' -- I must preface this by saying that I am not a fan of mussels. I ordered them simply because my best friend highly recommended them. Again, I was underwhelmed. I felt that the "sauce" it was steamed in was too salty and lacked any sophisticated mix of flavors. I tasted salt & butter. Again, both things I love...but I can get that sort of thing at Cracker Barrel. Truite mi fume amandine -- my sister order this GA trout dish which actually looked quite lovely and smelled uniquely savory with a hint of smoke. The skin looked to be just crispy enough and the fish itself was slightly buttery and even less flaky. However, it was undercooked and she was immediately turned off by it. She didn't even send it back, her appetite was gone. Tournedos au poivre -- my tenderloin was thoroughly overcooked even though I had an extensive conversation with our server about how I enjoy my steak just shy of rare. The flavor, if I had to use a single word to use, was salty....again. All in all, I would've preferred to have the trout as opposed to the beef tenderloin. Although I love creme brulee and thought I'd try it here, I was so disappointed in everything that I had tried that I just asked for the check and skipped dessert. The Interior: The restaurant itself is actually quite beautiful. It has a manufactured charm to it but if you have enough of a buzz, there's a really nice vibe in there. My favorite part is the exposed kitchen in the front and the tiny little oyster display. That portion of the restaurant is covered in white tile and I love that look. It reminds a bit of Lobster Bar. The food is not "terrible" but I would never recommend it to a 'foodie.' At the risk of sounding pretentious, you may enjoy the food here if you haven't experienced authentic French cuisine but to me this was like the Cheesecake Factory version of French Laundry. The price, if you enjoy what you're eating, is very reasonable. Although I, personally, feel like I didn't get what I paid for, I recognize that the ingredients they're using are priced appropriately. I may (emphasis) return here to drink some wine on the patio but I certainly won't be ordering anything from the kitchen again. NOTE: I don't know if this was a one-time thing or a perpetual issue but today, 8/15/10, the restaurant was literally infested with fruit flies. More than anything, it was just really annoying. Our server apologized about the issue and said they were trying to "take care of it" but I didn't expect anything more than an acknowledgment that there were a bunch of fruit flies around. Just thought I'd let you know if you were thinking about going for dinner tonight.
(2)Matt M.
This place is great. We stopped in for dinner on our first night of stay in Buckhead. It was about 9 PM and the restaurant was still full. The first thing I noticed was the fully open, well lit kitchen. That kitchen was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare. I understand why now. The menu is extremely varied. You can get pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, burgers or even a grilled cheese. My boss got the french onion soup and I wanted to eat the bowl when she was done. It looked SO good. I wish I had ordered it. I might go back one night this week. The service was fantastic. Our server Robbie was friendly, personable, easy to talk to and knew the menu and restaurant extremely well. He has a passion not only for his industry, but for this restaurant and its sister establishments. I wish he were a bartender so I could go back and just chat with him the whole night. He was great. As others have indicated the ambiance is pretty classy. After a day of flying cross country I was wearing jeans a t-shirt and a hat and felt a bit out of place in the dining room. Maybe I would have been more comfortable on the patio. Regardless, the staff never made me feel uncomfortable and were friendly and attentive. I would and will visit again. I think I'd like to try out one of the pizza's or a steak!
(4)Chris Z.
This place was good, not great. I tried the escargot, mussels, and cheese plate as appetizers. The mussels were tremendous. The cheese plate was decent. The escargot was average. For dinner I had the skate wing. I've never tried it before. The oil it was pan fried in was a bit heavy so I really don't know what the true flavor of the meat tasted like. Service was awesome. Dinnerware was swapped in and out between courses. Drinks were always full. Prices were reasonable for white tablecloth service. The average entree price was $20.
(4)Jeff B.
I'll be back again. I loved the food and presentation. I will make this one of my stops while in Atlanta.
(4)Casey G.
I work in the building where Bistro Niko sits, so I find myself coming here often...mostly for lunch, but have been for dinner as well. As far as service is concerned, I would say its as good as it gets in Atlanta. But if you're looking for a quick lunch where you're in and out in less than 45 minutes- this is not the place. I always sit outside, so I'm not sure what it's like inside. Love the cheese plate, the salmon and the wine list. When someone else is paying, definitely suggest Bistro Niko :)
(5)Shawanda M.
I LOVED this place! Went here for a birthday/pre Valentine's day dinner & was amazed. The food was delish as were the cocktails. beforehand, I emailed the manager to see if we could have champagne at our table waiting since we were celebrating and he promptly responded to me that it wasn't a problem. Bonus points. Our waitress was sweet and the atmosphere was amazing. Everything we had was flavorful and visually appealing. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)Michelle D.
Fresh, Fun & French! I recently took a trip to Atlanta to spend my birthday with friends and family. The trip itself was great because I got to see my friends from back East which also included my college roommate and mother. Happy times! I had not quite decided on where I was going to have my official dinner party so I started looking upon my arrival. I decided I was not going to do the standard steakhouse, seafood, etc; all of those I can get about anywhere or cook myself. I decided on French. The few times I have had French cuisine I was pleased. As I look through my fav reservation site I came across several options in various locations. My favorite part of the greater Atlanta area is Buckhead so based on the location, reviews and menu I selected Bistro Niko. We arrived and we were are pleased with the initial feel of the place. It was trendy yet still managed to be upscale and not stuffy, perfect. We were able to combine fine dining and fun. Our waiter was a genuine Frenchman with a great attitude and very attentive. My friend had trouble seeing the menu and our waiter brought out a box of assorted reading glasses for him to choose from so he could read the menu. We ordered wine and appetizers to begin; the wine was kept chill in a bag full of ice vs the standard silver bucket; I liked the idea and will be using for my own parties. The main courses we ordered were all perfect. My mother had trouble deciding on her meal and the waiter helped her decided (very patient) and also told her if she was not satisfied to simply raise her hand and he would remove it and let her order something else. He was a gem. When her food came out he was so curious as to her response he stood away but kept and eye on her to see her reaction after the first bite. Sure enough ass soon as she bit and swallowed he was right there to see what she thought. She loved it. The other patrons around us were also very nice and chatty; in a good way. And everyone looked good. For entertainment Dwight from Atlanta Housewives was there in all his glory dressed like Prince taking pics with whomever asked. I decided it was my birthday and I looked way more fab than he did so if any pictures were getting taken w him it would be because he wanted to take a pic with me. ;-) At the end of our dinner I was presented with a really cute birthday cream puff ice-cream thingy w a candle. It was really yum and enough to be shared among the three of us. Unfortunately one of my friends had an allergic reaction to something in her food and lost her voice and was a bit swollen. But when she went to the restroom she ran into Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I told here she should have asked him for his opinion...that way we could also see if he was a real doctor, LOL. Overall I had fun, food was good, atmosphere great, service excellent. When I go back to Atlanta I will dine here again. Almost forgot, the prices are really good for what you receive.
(5)Memie B.
great food and service
(4)Des D.
Great French food? No. But for a bistro it fits the bill - godd mixture of staples, low cost wine list, nice bar buzz, nice looking location, good service.
(4)Kathryn K.
Let me confess, the night we went, we were with a friend of the Owner so this may have biased my experience, but I'm a sucker for customer service so here goes. It has been a while since I have been to a restaurant in Atlanta that has lived up to the hype that surrounds it. Bistro Niko completely delivers. The Bar scene was very lively with beautiful people of all ages. The restaurant was a scene out of Gigi (anyone get that reference?) Because we were with "Friend of..." we let him order and all I know is I saw a mushroom pizza, skate, Mussels,steak tartare, lamb shank, salmon, and some other things and EVERYTHING was delicious. This was the first time since I have been to Paris that I actually felt like I was transported back to a French Restaurant. It is noisy, but it is also fabulous people watching. In fact my girlfriends and I will be there this Saturday!
(5)Keitha D.
Absolutely LOVED this place. Walked in and was immediately transported to Paris. I visited Bistro Niko as a part of the Buckhead Life Groups' Summer Dine Around Program and my boyfriend refused to go with me so I took a girlfriend of mine :-) We had a blast and even took her one year old with us. It was amazing and suprisingly kid friendly. I had the scallops for dinner and she had the skate wing. Both were amazing! Tender, flavorful and sizeable portions. We also shared a desert of the Cafe Caramel sundae. I can't say enough about this restaurant. I will definitely be back and this time will bring the Mister.
(5)B. C.
Food was good, staff was excellent, but for the price I would pick a dozen places in Atlanta over this. If you're in the area though, it could be worth stopping by for a glass of wine and the mushroom flat bread pizza.
(3)Ben D.
Quick French food synopsis: Butter, butter, butter, cream, butter. For Americanized French food, this place is decent. Orange duck and skate wing are pretty good, the dessert is great. No gripe with the service. Of the Buckhead Life Restaurants, this place is low on the list (Kyma!).
(3)Shelley H.
I simply came for drinks after work and Brent and Tommy behind the bar were Rock-stars. The whole lounge area was packed and these guys made terrific dirty Hendrick's Gin Martinis. They were definitely doing something right.
(4)Kim P.
the menu seemed very Tuscan. and the staff did a really good job of making it feel like a classy French experience. the dining room was fairly empty on saturday night around 8pm so i kinda wondered what was up. here's what was up: most people go for drinks and an appetizer and sit out on the patio! it was truely a lovely patio. theres a cute bar, a cute patio, and a spacious dining area. note: they seemed very conservative on the drinks. they were ONLY $8.50, i realize... but still.
(4)Tim E.
Giving it a three because there is no 3.5. Service was slow to start out, but then attentive. Main reason to lean to 3 is ordered steak frites. A. It wasn't a hanger steak like the menu said, but mainly B. the steak was waaaay too salty. Smothered in tenderizer I guess.
(3)Paul S.
I just don't think I'm cut out to be French... I think this may have been the first time I had gone to have a big French dinner. I've tested the waters at small Bistros for lunch but never taken the dive into something big. This being said... we came here on a Friday night around 6:30. Not all that busy surprisingly given that it was during Restaurant week on a Friday night. The crowd did grow slowly as the the meal progressed making the room a little too loud as we were finishing up. The interior is very well done with swirls of design and imaginative lighting on the ceiling. A nice glass enclosed open kitchen welcomes you adjacent to the host stand. Service was cocky, but not bad. Something was off with him.... The food: I'm excited... beautiful restaurant, great look, feel, bathrooms... I'm good. I order the Coq Au Vin and my date the Duck a l'Orange. I can't say much other than I wasn't pleased. I know that French cuisine is all about the sauce and fat. Maybe for the first time in my life I didn't want all that. My chicken was bathing in a bowl of wine. Swimming in red wine that came half way up the bowl. The bacon strips were good, and vegetables cooked well, but the chicken was just too much. Somebody drowned this poor bird in wine and then braised the hell out of it. It was dark, too rich and so potent I couldn't finish. The A l'Orange wasn't far off. Cooked to a perfect medium yes. but so strong and bold with the excessive sauce on the plate I didn't care for the few bites I had. It was just too much. I came away whelmed... Maybe I just don't care for the idea of engulfing my food in liquid flavor as it's being served to me. Isn't that why they created soup? I don't plan on making a second trip. My dollars can find somewhere else to be spent. I think there's something more there though and I'm really hoping that I just caught the kitchen on a heavy handed night because the restaurant seems the have great potential and that's why our evening garnered three stars. Try it out, but might I suggest bringing along your chinois for the main course.
(3)Ebby V.
We made a last minute reservation here. I personally think the atmosphere here is better than the Paris restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made spot on suggestions. My wife and I started our dinner with 2oz tin of mock caviar (its caviar with additions) and escargo with a puff pastry. Both were quite tasty, and not overpowering. I had the skate wing which was good but better than my wife's cod. The portions were appropriately sized and filling. I enjoyed the chocolate cake with a 20year port and hand in hand was tasty and memorable. My wife enjoyed the lemon mousse. I think the food by itself is not overstated but well done but together with the atmosphere this is a must attend restaurant if you are looking for something more than standard.
(4)Colman R.
I had the grilled thinly pounded chicken breast with asparagus, tomatoes, and vinaigrette! Awesome dish and service. 30 minute wait on a Saturday night was not bad at all. Waited in bar area. Had a great time!
(5)Chris W.
Very nice atmosphere and excellent food in the heart of Lenox/Buckhead. Soft shell crab appetizer, Horseradish Cod and Creme Brûlée were all excellent. Service was excellent on a crowded night and a large table. Would go here again.
(4)Patrick C.
Let's talk Meuniere Sauce. Seriously. Can we all agree that it starts with browned butter and includes lemon and parsley? Personally, I think the addition of a few capers is necessary to take it over the top. My love affair with this sauce started in Paris a couple of decades ago. That's back when I thought that French chefs were the beginning and end of great food. That was before I realized that they just began with better ingredients - say, for instance, a chicken that hadn't been tortured into obesity only to be slaughtered before it learned proper English grammar. (But that's another story.) I've searched the United States high and low for something that would send me back to those early memories of Paris. Finally found it, too - at Galatoires in New Orleans. But not in Atlanta. And so it was with more than a little trepidation that I ordered the Trout Meuniere at Bistro Niko - another of the Buckhead Life Group family. I hereby declare that this restaurant offers the best Meuniere Sauce east of New Orleans and west of Paris. Granted, there must be 2 or 3 restaurants whose sauce I have not yet tested - so Yelpers, bring it on! I'm ready for an all-out food war on this subject! As my friends know, I never award 5 stars to a restaurant on my first visit, requiring at least 3 consecutive experiences that transport. I want to break the rule this time, but I won't - insuring that I'll now have to visit Bistro Niko at least two more times. Guess what I'll be ordering??? Oh, and the pommes frites weren't too slouchy either. RECOMMENDED: For anyone who likes serious French bistro food. And all Meuniere-iacs like me.
(4)Twanda E.
Ok ok! I had the lamb sandwich and now I am a fan.
(4)Jennifer S.
What a beautiful place that makes you feel like you are in a Parisian cafe! The food was great - I really enjoyed the croque monsieur with pommes frites! The service was good and the atmosphere was great!
(4)Chloe M.
Not really impressed with the food. Dishes were okay in taste but won't really make you go "wow". Apps: "Faux" Gras Mousse was okay. Was waiting for more bitterness but the berry jelly topping tempered it. The grilled bread that accompanied it was jaw-breaking -- very hard and chewy. Escargot was good. You can really taste the pernod in the sauce. Oysters on the half shell were very fresh but shucked poorly. Lots of small bits of shell in them. What a turn-off. Mains: Boeuf Bourguignon was made with beef cheeks. Very tender. Reduction sauce is very bold and strong. Very rich dish. Sole was highly recommended by our server. Weak, weak, weak. The fillets were steamed then placed on top of some puree instead of cooking them with it. Result is bland fish. Do NOT ever get this. Lamb Shank was the winner that evening, although, Murphy's version is better. The meat was fork-and-fall-of-the-bone-tender with the sweetish reduction sauce and lemony couscous making it quite tasty. Dessert: My sister, a dessertaholic, got the Molten Chocolate cake. Although executed well, I didn't particularly like the coconut creme inside. I personally prefer just plain chocolate sauce inside but the coconut (not indicated on the menu) just threw me off. More of an "older people" destination. Service was impeccable. Food was just so-so.
(3)Malika B.
I visited Bistro Niko during Buckhead Restaurant Week. So, this review is somewhat more of a first impression. Having had many mediocre meals lately, and many more where the chef had a heavy hand with the salt, I wondered if Bistro Niko, one the newest editions to the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group would live up to the reputation that the Group has always exuded. I waited until just a couple days before said Restaurant week began to make my reservation at Bistro Niko, believing I could easily snag one in this sad economy. I was floored to see that Bistro Niko in Buckhead was full almost every night and I was lucky to get a reservation for 6:30 pm on Tuesday. As we entered the restaurant from what seemed like the rear, we passed by the open kitchen. I watched as staff hussled to get dishes out of the kitchen and to the diners in the full and vibrant dining room. As the name would suggest, Bistro Niko is a French Restaurant and most of the menu is in French with English translation, a tactic I don't much care for. Really - who is reading the French? So, our server, Corey brought us the menu and told us about some specials which went right over my head as I was fixated on the restaurant week menu. When we asked him about Bistro Niko's special menu, I braced for the friendly smile on his face to disappear as he learned we were only there for the Prix Fixe menu, but it never did. He graciously pointed to a small square space on the bottom of the menu where Bistro Niko's Prix Fixe menu is. Turns out, you can always get a 3 course meal here, it will just cost you about 5 bucks more than during restaurant week. I was a little disappointed that the menu was somewhat different than the one posted online. There were no piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and potatoes, or Veal Osso Bucco, or Coq Au Vin, to be had. But all was not lost. One of the managers even came over to explain to us that they change out the 3-course menu quite frequently. Very nice touch. So, we ordered the rabbit ravioli and smoked salmon sammies. Yeah, that's not their official name, but you get the idea. Both were excellent choices, each with its own distinct flavor. And at around $10- $11 per appetizer, a superb deal. Corey even made sure to leave the broth of the pasta as he could see we were sopping it up with our bread. For entrees, we ordered the duck breast and the shrimp in fried wontons. The duck was tender and juicy. I expected it to be a bit more dried out but it wasn't at all. The outside could have been a tad more crispy but that's my only criticism. As for the shrimp, this was the highlight of the evening. It seems simple shrimp with fried wontons I know. By the way, that's not the proper menu term either, I just can't think of what it is. It was crispy and delicious. And the lemon aioli that came with it was the perfect accompaniment for dabbing our shrimp wontons. As our dinner was nearing the end, I looked around at the packed dining room. I assumed it was incredibly busy due to the Buckhead Restaurant week, but when I inquired with Corey, he said no, it's just always like that. Perhaps it is a reflection of the very reasonable menu pricing. Although Bistro Niko looks all fancy pants inside, most menu items are under $20 and many appetizers under $10. Or then again, maybe it is just the well-seasoned food, not overloaded with salt and other unnecessary seasonings. Oh, and the service? Still outstanding like I've come to know at all the Buckhead Life Restaurants. Our server, Corey was helpful, friendly and extremely efficient. He was jovial and could interact with us, but left us alone to enjoy our dinner. All in all and great experience. Definitely go check this place out. Now.
(4)Tiila N.
This is one of the best French restaurant in Atlanta. I was there 2 weeks ago and we had a great experience. The decor is very elegant, great open kitchen and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Located in the heart of Buckhead and complementary valet. For appetizer we had the wild mushroom tart ( a hybrid between a pizza and flat bread), very flavorful. I had the sear sea scallop(the scallop was slightly bigger than a quarter) with garlic mashed potato garnish with a light citrus sauce. All of the flavor complement each other and the presentation was done very tastefully. My boyfriend had the lamb shank with raisin and diced apples. We felt that the lamb was lacking flavor but it was not bad. If you like French cuisine you must try this place.
(4)Matt t.
I will not attempt to replicate some of the thoughtful and well-written reviews on this property. Niko is a great destination for after dinner drinks and a place to be seen and observe. Good Beers a proper wine selection and great bar area further supports the fact that this is a after-work destination. What it is not is a good restaurant. The appetizers and salads are moderately priced but as many have notes somehow are devoid of actual flavor. It was as if I were eating with nose plugs not able to sense, smell or taste. It was the absolute first time that I ate fish that was mushy, thin and obviously overcooked. I was given a sauce bowl with a few carrots, a pickled onion, I think a potato in a red broth that looked like cream whisked in Campbell's tomato soup without the sodium. Somebody's leftovers maybe? I like the Buckhead Group's properties but this was just strange, devoid of flavor foo in a Brassiere gone..well..without soul or seasoning.
(2)G C.
Went for dinner with work colleagues, shared a variety of apps, all delicious. Got the lamb shank special, which was fantastic. Didn't do dessert. Great atmosphere, service, really enjoyed it.
(3)Debbie L.
First and foremost, food is top-notch and for the area, well-priced. You can also have lunch most days til 5 PM (great option for those of us who like to eat late lunches - why is it that all the good Atlanta restaurants stop serving lunch at 2:30 PM) - or an early dinner (5 PM), if that's your thing (it's mine). Later diners will often encounter a wait - reservations strongly recommended. Seafood dishes are consistently fresh and well-prepared (trout, skate wing & scallops are all solid choices - mussels are awesome). Wine choices are good and well priced for a decent pour. Cons: Service can come with a bit of an attitude - so, it's Buckhead but still...bread is almost always cold - why is that - it's good bread so stick it in the oven for a few minutes - makes a difference. Of all the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group restaurants, this is probably my favorite. Still wish it would lose its attitude and seem grateful (or at least somewhat pleased) that I'm there and willing to spend good $$ and tip well - but it mostly seems like an accommodation for a distant relative you wish would leave sooner - and I'm nice J Management seems sullen and foreboding (I notice these things) - kitchen staff seems fine-tuned and well oiled, and that's why I return - the food and the wine and mostly, for the kitchen staff - hats off to you and my very heartfelt thanks!!
(4)Roseann S.
loved it!!
(5)Jin D.
I drive past Bistro Niko all the time and I seriously have no idea why it took me so long to dine here. We did dinner Friday night and the place was packed, always a good sign. Our table wasn't quite ready so we placed ourselves at the bar (naturally). They do a fantastic French 75 here, very crisp; however, do note they are $13 a pop so it adds up when you have a few with your meal. I love the fact that while the restaurant feels very spacious thanks to the open floor plan, but it's cozy at each table. The atmosphere was lively compare to other BLRG restaurants, which are more traditional (or stuffy). Our waiter greeted us right as we sat down and made a few menu recommendations. We started our meal with the chilled pork shoulder spread and French onion soup. Both were amazing. The pork shoulder spread was seasoned to perfection and the French onion soup, really the best I've ever had (mostly thanks to the giant piece of gruyere on top, mmmm). Friend got the Pailiard de Poulet, which was the perfect dish if you want something light. I, on the other hand, decided on a hearty steak with green peppercorn sauce. However, when the dish got to the table, I was a bit surprised because it was sitting on a plate full of mushroom sauce (I'm allergic). I suppose it was my mistake for not asking but then again it doesn't say anything about mushroom in the dish on the menu. The manager offered to take the dish back for a do-over, but it came back out 2 minutes later it was obvious they just re-plated it without the sauce. Doesn't solve the problem because the bottom of my steak still has mushroom sauce on it. I did not like that because allergy is a serious issue and they just cut corners. I ended up just eating a small piece from the top and gave the rest for my friend to take home. The piece I did have was tasty, the peppercorn sauce has a strong kick so make a note if you can't handle spicy. Desert is a must at any French restaurant. We shared an order of chocolate terrine which was just the right amount of sweetness. Despite the steak incident. I loved everything else I had and service was fantastic. I will definitely be back.
(4)Jeff M.
I love the location and the actual space itself. Modern, spacious, chic, and makes you feel like you're in France. The service was good too, although at times annoyingly intrusive (and I have a high tolerance). The food was not on par with the surroundings. I started with the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon: this was actually a very simple dish, where the salmon stood through. This was actually the best part of the meal. The Confit de Canard, with frisee salad, and crisped duck potatoes was very plain to me, bland even. I knew I was eating duck, but I couldn't taste it. Then the Baba au rhum was the complete opposite: so rich, almost too busy and confusing, that it was difficult to enjoy let alone finish. I really, really wanted to like this place. For setting alone? Yes. For food alone? Not quite. There, it falls short.
(3)Linda C.
Went with my husband for a nice dinner, but the noise level was unbelievable so we asked to be moved. Our original waiter was super nice, our second waiter was less than friendly which made us regret moving from the noisy area (near the bar). Second waiter brought me the wrong salad, but I just ate it and tried not to cause any more problems. My husband enjoyed his entree, I decided to skip an entree and order dessert because I'm usually too full to enjoy a dessert. My husband also ordered dessert so I could try two different things. I have to admit, both were delicious. Will give it another try the next time we are in the area.
(4)L P.
I never thought I'd see an île flottante on a dessert menu outside of France, much less in Atlanta. Bistro Niko has spectacularly dispelled that notion and we should all be happier for it. The confit de canard, poussin rôti, fresh huîtres... classic French bistro items at proper French portions and justified prices. The main dining room is everything from an old-timey Paris film with its yellowish glow, dark wood panels, tiled floor and red accents. The bread is crusty and soft. The wine menu leaves no French wine behind, with everything from Bordeaux to Rhône to Languedoc, all perfectly aged by 2 years or more. This isn't a modern or innovative restaurant. You won't find any celery-foam-infused this or port-wine-reduced that. This is a classic French bistro: you take it for what it is or you can just go to La Madelaine's instead.
(4)Scott F.
Another great restaurant brought to you by the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Bistro Niko is a cozy french spot hidden in an office building. Exciting menu, with so many Parisian favorites from the Charcuterie to the fresh pasta dishes and amazing seafood and desserts, It's certain to charm and please!
(5)jim b.
We thought it was really good. Wife and I got the $25 price fixe deal, similar to reviews below. We had 7:00pm reservation on a Sunday, and the restaurant was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full. Was no problem getting a table. The valet service was fine. Appetizers: salmon sammies, oxtail kreplach things. Both were delicious. Wife not into salmon so much, so I had three of them. Yum! Entrees: duck breast, shrimp wontons. Both were really good, decent portion sizes. The duck sat on some kind of cabbage, sweet/sour/au jus type sauce. Very tasty. One thing I noticed: I'm fine with medium-rare duck (which is how it's served), but the portions near the edge, where it was closer to medium, were actually more tender. Some meats actually get a little more tender closer to medium. Next time I might request it that way. But it was still delicious. The shrimp were also very good, and sat on some kind of horseradish slaw that was tasty. Desserts: we got one of each. One was a spongecake soaked in at least 2+ ounces of potent rum. Highly potent. Watch out if you're not into rum. The other had two cookies and a little ceramic cup of cold custard. The custard was addictive. I also had a coffee, which was a high quality brew. The meal also comes with frequently replenished bread and butter, thus it's impossible to leave still hungry. The space itself is an attractive looking mix of retro+modern. Next time, I'd request a window booth. Downside? The service was excellent. Too excellent! I don't need a water refill or table crumb squeegee every 4 minutes! Please--give us some alone time! I also wouldn't have minded if the butter was not so cold and hard. Easier to spread when it's closer to room temp. The waiter/crumb squeegee man/water boy did a good job though. It was a nice evening out, and we may get back over here sometime.
(5)Dan C.
Hard to complain about a cuisine that I know so little about. Went with a group, everyone was raving and passing plates around. The Tournedos au Poivre, smoked trout and the mussels were the highlights of the night. The waiter was very patient in explaining (translating) the menu for us. This almost came as a surprise given the location, clientele and cuisine. No stereotypes here - only well prepared and presented food. For the budget minded, there is a pre selected two and three course option for about $30 a person. From it I would recommend the veal casserole (the French name slips my mind, though I am sure it sounds more impressive). Minor complaints, the mixed drinks were short for the price and the bathrooms double as meat lockers.
(4)Richard N.
The food was good. The bartenders are not going to win any personality contests, very little interaction customers. Barely saw them smile and did not feel welcomed. Would I return?? Tough question as there are sooo many great restaurants in the area, probably not.
(3)Mandy C.
Went for a family birthday dinner and was appalled by the service. Our waiter was constantly rushing us even when we asked for more time. We started with cocktails and told him we'd like to order bottles of wine to follow. He filled my wine glass before I was even half-way done with my martini. Then he tried to top off my wine before I had taken one sip, martini still in hand. He tried to snatch up all of our plates while we were clearly still eating. Rushed every decision, bumped into us, reached across us, and was even a little bit rude (did I mention that he'd been working there for 15 years?! Inexcusable). To top it off, the food just wasn't all that great for the price. Probably would have had a better experience had our waiter been different, but I won't be returning to find out.
(2)Kyle P.
Absolute top notch joint. Extremely friendly staff, crowded bar but the bartender still took our drink orders quick. Crowd is cool; this place just smells terrific! The mussels and sauce were top notch, caviare was so-so, flatbread was dank, good duck, etc. Overall food was a 4 but everything else was a 5. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Sohen G.
We were there for my bday and thought it was an amazing experierice. My husband is French and he's not that easily pleased but man did he lick the plate clean! He had the duck appetizer and some veal special and I had oysters on the half and sea scallops. All were really great! Definitely be back!
(5)Nichole K.
I wasn't blown out of this world, but I was definitely impressed. Loved the atmosphere. Appetizers were delicious. We had the Escargot 'en Service was amazing. Wine - better yet. My entree, skate, was delicious. Will return, possibly one of the better Buckhead Life Group Restaurants I've been too.
(4)Josh G.
Been to France twice and apart from one boulangrie near Notre Dame, this is the best French food I've had. Some of the reviews have knocked it on price. I understand that, but kickass french cuisine costs money...everywhere in the world.
(5)Elisha G.
Bistro Niko is great! My Husband and I ate there Saturday night with two other couples and we all really enjoyed it. We started out with the mussels...which were very tasty. I enjoyed dipping my bread into the delicious mussel's white wine sauce. I had the scallops for dinner and they were good. But, my Husband had the cape cod skate wing and it was fantastic. The waiter said the skate was the best dish on the menu and I believe him. The layout of the restaurant is ok...feels a bit cold and crammed in. The dining room was packed with a wait. You would never know there was a recession. Our service was excellent and everyone had a great time. We had great company, delicious food, and tasty booze...how could it be bad?
(4)Michelle K.
I went here on Monday with two friends. It was the first restaurant I tried during Buckhead Restaurant Week 2010, where select restaurants had set 3 course menus for $25. Online, the menu said that one of the entrée choices was the "Shepherd's Pie" which was one of the main reasons I chose to try Bistro Niko. However, when we looked at the menu in the restaurtant, it wasn't included on the prix fixe section! My friend ended up getting it anyways and I was able to try it, it wasn't the impressive. My duck was much tastier. I highly recommend the rabbit ravioli as an appetizer, yum! Also, I opted not to get desert and my meal was $24. In any case, I was not very impressed. However, the server was kind and attentive.
(3)Brigitte M.
Excellent service--very attentive and professional. Beautiful atmosphere--really reminded me of being in a large bistro in Paris. Delectable food--started with a Tarte Au Saumon (Salmon Flatbread) that was toasted to perfection, then had a Croque Madame (Ham/Cheese sandwich with an egg over easy on top) and it was better than the one I had in Paris last year. Finished with a great cup of coffee and a baba au rhum. Sure this is a French restaurant and with that comes quality over quantity. So if you are a fan of "all you can eat" restaurants and don't care about good tasting quality food this is not the place for you. However if you prefer to have a smaller (but absolutely adequate) but delectable meal this is a must-visit. I will definitely come back! I am rarely so complementary --but Niko deserves such praise.
(5)Colin B.
The food was fantastic. We had the Escargot for an appetizer, and in our party, one had the skate wing, one had the lamb, and two of us had the Boeuf Bourguignon. All were wonderful. The service, however, while prompt (almost too prompt - we felt a bit rushed) was extremely condescending. Our server seemed to think it ridiculous that we did not properly pronounce the French terms on the menu, and went out of his way to correct us repeatedly. Bottom line, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it was an overall enjoyable experience.
(3)Allen M.
There's actually a place in Atlanta where you can get a proper hangar steak with fries and a Leffe. Neat.
(4)Bridget J.
My husband and I had dinner last night and the food was beyond excellent. It was stupendous! This was the quickest meal we had served in our history of restaurant hopping. It came out in in 10 minutes flat, no joke! I had the Seafood Bouillabaisse, my husband had the Lamb Chops with their version of mashed taters and asparagus. The chops were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of char for added flavor. The taters were good and need a touch of salt but that's to be expected since most of us like our taters different. The bouillabaisse was surprisingly different and tasty. The difference was the broth base was red bell pepper instead of tomato. A very tasty change from the norm. I liked the consistency which made it great for sopping the crouton stick. The waiter was very helpful and suggested drinks from the menu. We had a lovely time and will visit again.
(5)Eric T.
Late review. Went here for a friends birthday dinner. Good thing we got a reservation since it was pretty packed that night if memory serves me correctly. You get a real classy vibe from this place. It's upscale for sure. Valet parking, an FYI for those who don't know. It's one of the finer establishments in Buckhead. The restaurant has a vintage decor reminding me of 20s era design elements and art direction. Large size dining space with a multitude of seating arrangements for a lot of people. Don't let the size fool you, it does get packed! Bistro Niko can be described as French cuisine with some local elements added to it (link below to all menus). The menu does change from time to time, just a heads up. The taste for the dishes I ordered were unique, I didn't expect a strong butter taste so that was a bit different. Took some getting used to, but I enjoyed ot overall. Check out the menu ahead of time or ask the waiter/waitresses for recommendations if you are unsure on what to get. They do have a mean creme brulee here, you got to try that! This place puts quality and effort into all its dishes and I can commend that. They have a very well trained staff who are professional and accommoding to their guests. Bistro Niko is a real intimate and classy restaurant that makes you feel right at home as soon as you walk in. My Recommendations: -creme brulee Menu: mobile.dudamobile.com/si… Hours: -Lunch: Mon - Sat, 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. -Dinner: Sun - Thurs, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. -Brunch: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(4)Dennis M.
If you come here for nothing more than the escargot and the mussels and a drink (or two) you will have found the best of French cuisine that Buckhead has to offer. Disagree with most negative reviews on this site about service. Have been eating here since this restaurant opened. Wait staff is always pleasant, efficient and hospitable. We did recently get a "new" waiter but the manager took care of us with his shortfalls. Best entrée on the menu...... Boeuf Bourguignon @ $21.95. Give the steak knife back to the waiter. You can cut these Kobe beef cubes with your fork! Simply devine! (Get extra bread for the broth that the mussels are served in!)
(5)Carrie Neal W.
Still solid. First - if you go about 2pm on a weekday, you will be able to get a lovely booth for a long lunch. I was looking for quite long, ie 3+ hours since it was with my darling and loquacious Godmother and for my b'day, and made sure to pick a spot without a lunch-before-dinner close. Quick recap: Hangar steak still my fave, and it's very generous (ie, we both got it and I took home what amounted to an entire entree since each of us ate half of ours). Not as big of a fan of the salmon rillette as I was- bit more fishy tasting (though I hate to give that cliche description) and definitely more chunky rather than spreadable. Great haricots verts - I mean, green beans. Sauteed in garlic and olive oil/butter but not greasy. Amazing profiteroles - a dessert I love but do not order often, and it was a complimentary b'day treat! Perfectly soft-ish pastry, shaved almonds along with the chocolate drizzle, delicious vanilla ice cream holding it all together. Pretty space, quiet at the right time, good for a group in the separate room, classily hopping at the bar at the right time of day - really, what's better for a French bistro in a Southern city? Je ne pense beaucoup. (Yeah, I had to look up the tense since my AP French is a little rusty).
(4)Lawrence C.
Either my memories were fonder, or this restaurant is ratcheting down a notch, as I can only award three stars to my dinner earlier this week. This has always been a favorite of ours, a short walking distance in our old neighborhood, so we were eager to return when we visited Atlanta again. My wife and I each started with the Endive salad, $11. This was served with candied pecans or walnuts and blue cheese (my wife opted for goat's feta cheese). For my main, I knew what I wanted before arrival...the Paillard de poulet (chicken paillard), which was as plentiful as I expected, yet lacked the crispness and texture that I desired (see photo). Flavors were good, and at $19 a good value. An excellent St. Peter's Porter beer @ $9.00 was a worthy complement. My wife had a bowl of the white bean soup, $9, which was also flavorful. Service was very spotty...and coupled with the noisy environment, as befitting a bistro (dignified pub for us yanks), can only yield a solid 3 stars.
(3)Qiaoyi X.
Everything is picture perfect. But wait, we're not eating with eyes. Essentially, it depends on my palate, and it's a 3-star. Okay, 4-star then. The restaurant is grand with beautiful paintings, a kitchen you can observe from outside and people dress nicely. Even the bathrooms are fancier than most of the restaurants I've been to. We went inside after saturday 2-hour hiking. Imaging we're wearing sweat pants and t-shirts, and everyone else dressed up... Yes, I felt under-dressed and embarrassed. Anyway, we still sat down and ordered food. The Grand Platter is an assembly of lots of appetizers. Salamis, chicken liver terrine, au cognac and pickles. I love chicken liver terrine, while my friends were fond of au cognac. For the entree, the portion size is not consistent. If you get shrimps and scallops, you need to order desert. If you order cheaper materials like ducks and beef, you will feel full. My crisped duck confit seems a favorite on table, but it was not that great to me. Yes, duck legs are tender, but the juice is somewhat salty. I still favor Au Rendez-Vous. Dessert is tarte au Citron, which is still too sweet for me. There's a valet parking in front of the door, $2 for parking, and tips($). You can also choose to park yourself. Bistro Niko tried hard to be a fantastic French restaurant, but the dishes are not so authentic and tasty. I am a little disappointed.
(4)Keo S.
This place is over-hyped and maybe does well because of all the travelers and hotels in the area. It's nice to have a patio, but that's the main upside to this place. Really poor service - who doesn't know how to poor a beer - basically our server - straight in the middle of the glass creating the largest "head" I've ever seen - he did it twice and I had to stop him from pouring my 3rd beer and basically asked him if he's ever had beer before. Anyway, that was really annoying, also forgot my friend's wine order for 10 mins, and the food was just meh from there. Flat bread - greasy and salty, charcuterie board - hard to mess that up, but it was just ok. Net net - there are so many better places to eat right there so you have a plethora of options
(1)Alex P.
More visits, more of a mess and they are about to lose my business. It's a beautiful restaurant, but lacks some very fundamental details that you would expect when spending this kind of money. Here is my breakdown: - reservations are a complete mess. On two occasions, we had to wait over 30 min to be seated, given that we already had a reservation. What a joke! - on multiple occasions, they forgot to bring our appetizers. Seriously, your managers apologies and a free dessert do not fix the problem. I just want good service! - food is excellent. I love the Horseradish Crusted Cod, the veal, their chicken dishes and scallops. Really I have yet to try something I don't like on the menu. - on the a recent occasion, we were midway through eating the appetizer and they already bring our main course out. Timing needs to be better guys. - their "wine buckets" a plastic sacks, that look extremely out of place at an establishment of this level - found a piece of hair in our food, unacceptable. They tried to remedy by bringing some desserts. My expectation would have been, the table eats for free in such a situation. They need to be punished for these trivial cleanliness issues.
(2)Charles S.
A Miami friend was in town. She is a foodie. Whenever I am in Miami she always takes me to the hottest places with the best food -- and she treats, or more accurately her employer does. (This is a business, not a social relationship.) So when Pat was in ATL for #CNN35, I made a reservation @ Niko's. On the terrace. The food could not have been better. Pat was in heaven: "This gazpacho is just like in Barcelona." No kidding. And she loved the thin salmon, barely grilled and covered with arugula and bit of sauce. Niko's was the perfect choice for Foodie Pat. Suggestion to Niko: ceiling fans on the terrace. And the tony, round bistro table were pretty, but weren't large enough for two sets of dinner plates, bread plate, glasses, etc.
(5)Adam G.
Parisian inspired faire without pretension. Charcuterie plates did not disappoint! Mussels and French bread to die for. Reasonable wine prices (value but nice selection!) are something I look for when considering restaurants. Waiters recommended Coppola's Directors Cut and it was an excellent bottle for $42.00. I ordered the Rib Eye pomme frites (fries) on special and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare. Excellent cut of meat. My wife ordered the haddock special and loved it. Attentive staff and friendly bartenders. This place is bustling with diners and energy for a reason. Bravo. I will be coming back a 3rd time.
(5)M A.
I'm breaking up with you Buckhead Life. And this time it's for good. Your monopoly days are over. You can't treat people poorly, serve ok food, hire untrained waiters and stay on top. Those days are gone. As in 1999 is gone, as in your hay-day has past. The service people had come to expect is GONE. gone gone gone. First, our reception from the 7 ft ice queen who onced-us-over (wanna be model) in slow motion then rolled her eyes because we asked to be seated in a certain area definitely set the mood. Then the waiter bringing me a blanc champagne and telling me "no, it's a rose" after I said it wasn't the correct drink. So I had to google it to show him it was indeed the wrong champagne. So he admitted it was in the computer wrong and had to get the right one from the bartender. From the escargot was swimming in butter/oil, the waiter never explaining the charcuterie plate to my husband when it was sat down, to drinks took 25+ minutes, and the red showing up at the end of the best course?!! Unforgivable. The waiter said "we only have one bartender working tonight". Wow. The white bean soup was greasy and tasted like puréed bacon, this place is an exercise in frustration and poor service. BL PLEASE get current and train your staff like they USED to be. Also as a side note - the general manager was regularly walking around, but not asking anyone how their meal was. More like rushing around in a frenzy. So sad. Waste of a beautiful space. This is for the grey haired dead taste bud drink pounding guido crowd. But hey, that may be your scene. There's too many phenomenal restaurants in Atlanta crushing it to put up with subpar food and attitude these days. I have to redeem my night now at a Ford Fry establishment. I suggest you do the same, anywhere is better than here. Buckhead life? No. Buckhead Deceased is more like it.
(1)Luis V.
Strolling around the downtown area we visited this place on a whim. This is the real French experience, wine galore. We started off with some Blue Point oysters. They were delicious, but there was less juice than I would expect for a place with multiple selection of oysters, but that's just me being picky. For an entree I order the Foroe Island Salmon that comes with a side of quinoa. When it came out the salmon topped the quionoa and sauce for a masterful centerpiece. I removed a bit of salmon and mixed it with the quinoa sauce and man, was that delicious. Smaller portions then I am use too, but that just made me savor the moment longer. For dessert we got the banana sundae and creme brule. Both were good and out of the two I would recommend the banana sundae.
(5)Natasha R.
Got in late for work this place hit the spot. Nice ambiance and s 5 min walk from Doubletree or Marriott. The trout was perfect and served on green beans. The tomato flatbread was great too. Everything tastes very fresh.
(4)Pam C.
Enjoyed dining at the bar. Started with the white bean soup. Good, but not great. It was served pureed, I dont know why but thought it would be chunkcy...didnt take away from the flavor, of course. Then had the crispy duck salad with frisee, and potatoes. Very good. Solid, but not awesome. Valet is $2, gratuity not included.
(3)Theresa H.
I have not written a review here?? Impossible!! I checked again, yup I was wrong, I have indeed not penned any review of my top favorite restaurant. I still find it hard to believe, what am I thinking?? Totally unacceptable! Need to set my record right, so here it goes.. Bistro Niko - a restaurant in Buckhead resembling a Parisian brasserie, a place with grand ceiling and French artwork, a restaurant with excellent food, great service and beautiful ambience (especially during the evening) and a place where I spent a lot of money *sob*. Bistro Niko is my favorite restaurant not just cos it is located within walking distance from my home. I usually dine in here every other week. I have a few things in the items which I will normally order. They are (named in order of my favs) 1) Duck confit - my #1 fav, always crispy and tender. 2) Loup de Mer - sea bass, melted spinach with fingerling potatoes 3) Chicken Paillard -grilled and thinly pounded chicken breast 4) Sautéed Cape Cod Skate Wing - with brown butter, capers, potatoes 5) Maine Sea Scallops - when I wanted something light, served with pomme potatoes 6) Coq Au Vin - French Classic chicken in red wine, mushrooms, potatoes 7) Boeuf Bourguignon - "Kobe beef" cheeks braised in burgundy wine 8) Trout Meunière - sautéed trout, brown butter, capers and pomme purée Creme brûlée here is heavenly, it puts a smile on my face when I eat it. The profiteroles are very good too but I am biased due to my love with creme brûlée. My latest visit was with a friend from Milan, Italy. He ordered the steak tartare with fries, and me the deux plats*. He really enjoyed his steak tartare (but I don't think he cared much about those fries) and said it was really good. He asked me to try but errrrr no, I don't really eat anything raw (do not stone me :( ). I asked him to try my duck confit instead, he simply loved it and said he would definitely order that next time. I find many people do not favor any duck dish and would shy away from this, but I say give it a try. The duck is not dry, very tender, flavorful and cooked to perfection. *Deux Plats - the menu has a section called "Les Formules" which offer deux plats or trois plats which one can order something from one of the hors d'oeuvres, entrée or desserts choices. So in my case, I chose the duck confit (entrée) with creme brûlée (desserts) which made up deux plats. Deux is French for two. We both really enjoyed the meal and we shared the creme brûlée too. Yes, how generous I am since I usually love to have my creme brûlée all by myself, haha.. On a serious note, the madeleine that comes with the creme brûlée has not much buttery taste to it. I rather the restaurant not served the wonderful creme brûlée with this sad mediocre plain madeleine. The madeleine at Starbucks is much better. So what else have I miss? Ambience is excellent and service is always great. I never have a bad service here though once two of the servers simply watched me fell from the booth. Thank you guys, for not trying to catch me but simply standing there. I bruised my knees quite badly that time. Bistro Niko is definitely a place to go with friends or with a special someone. I highly recommend this place if you have not try it out yet. Note: Valet parking is not complimentary. There's a sign that says $2 parking fee and gratuity not inclusive.
(5)Shan S.
Came in for some drinks on a Sunday. I don't eat gluten because of a severe gluten intolerance. Only had a small snack here. All of the fried potatoes including the fries are gluten free. They also are not cooked with any other flour product as to prevent cross contamination. If you are looking for gluten free, these people have completely re did the menu. Kudos to this place for placing a small "gf" next to every single gluten free item. I was so impressed I ordered a snack at a place we came by after eating. So many choices, not just the usual salad minus croutons. Thank you so much for making it easy for us. I didn't get to eat anything important. But I plan on being back to give it a go. Just had some crispy duck potatoes. Not so crispy, but pretty incredible. Ask for Rhett at the bar, he makes a proper drink.
(5)Andrew D.
This establishment remains a favorite of mine. Though perhaps a tad staid having been open for 5 years now, it is still consistent in service, fare, and value. I come here for Seafood, and traditional French offerings. The Seafood is all outstanding, I very much enjoy sharing a large pot of mussels to start along with either the Steak Tartar or the duck leg to start. As for Entrees I prefer the Salmon, Lemon Sole with capers and spinach, or the European Seabass. I also love their seafood pasta in heavy cream. On the lighter side the Georgia Shrimp in wrapping and the Scallops are both great lighter entrees. I have tried both their bar steak, and their Strip Steak. Both left me underwhelmed. For brunch I have had their burger which is good, but nothing amazing. I should likely try the Lamb burger at some point. Desert wise the plays are their Apple Tart, the Rhum Desert or there is another one which is very light and very good. I find the Creme Brule mediocre at best and the few tmes i had it I was always disappointed that it came out with a crisp warm top. The Profiteroles are also a disappointment in my book. Bistro used to have the most likely bar scene in Atlanta when it opened. Thursday-Saturday it is still quite lively. They do have one or two small, non-intrusive TVs at the bar, so a game in the background it nice. The wine list is very approachable with a number of basic French Pinot Noirs and Malbecs at very reasonable prices. I usually drink Piper Heidsieck while dining and finish with a nice Port to accompany desert.
(5)Semra E.
Had a really excellent brunch with my family here. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, although the inside has a great atmosphere too. The decor & service was excellent & flawless. It is everything you hope it would be. We started with coffee & the three cheese plate. We also had the tartine salmon which was light & a great way to start the meal. I had the quiche with the salad, which was just the right amount of food I needed. I would recommend this place for any special occasion OR just to have a great meal with someone. Can't wait for my next visit.
(4)Dave L.
Me and my friends come here often for the perfectly seasoned burgers and cold beers. Patio seating is a must to enjoy the outdoor frenzy of Buckhead life and to discuss deep meaning of life itself... Food is a bit pricy here, but you are paying for the ambiance and great food. I'd give them five stars, but recently the burger patties has become a bit hmmmm 'hammered down' versus the plump and juicy. Overall a excellent place to hang out and chill!
(4)Andrew W.
It seemed only fitting to celebrate my graduation from Le Cordon Bleu (a French-based culinary school) by dining out at arguably Metro-Atlanta's finest French restaurant. We arrived, with reservations, on a Saturday evening. The maître d' kindly escorted us to our table as the establishment was quickly starting to fill up with hungry patrons. Looking over the classically French menu, we decided to order Gougères - savory little puffs of choux pastry flavored with Gruyère cheese. Though there is about a 15-20 minute wait for these heavenly bites, I highly encourage it. For entrees, I regrettably played it safe - I was in the mood for a steak, and a steak is exactly what I got (Entrecôte Frites). The steak was cooked properly (medium-rare as I had ordered it) and the Béarnaise sauce was enjoyable with it. However, the fries were rather ordinary. After tasting the Beef Bourguignon that my wife ordered, I wished that I had been a bit more adventurous. Oh, how I wish I had ordered that delicious beef, braised in Burgundy red wine! So tender, rich, and flavorful. It seemed only appropriate for me to enjoy a glass of Bordeaux with my steak, and my wife to enjoy a glass of Burgundy with her Beef Bourguignon, so we did. Bistro Niko's wine list provided for many options, at varying price points, regions, and varietals. We weren't about to finish this celebratory dinner without dessert. Looking over the dessert menu, we had difficulty choosing - everything sounded amazing. Ultimately, we honed in on the Cafe Caramel Sundae, with the help of our waitress. This sundae, which boasted a scoop of coffee ice cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, sablé cookies, salted caramel, and topped with candied pecans and Chantilly cream was blissfully balanced and textured... in other words, a perfect sundae. To our pleasant surprise, our dessert was comped by the maître d' along with two complimentary glasses of Champagne that the waitress brought out to us in honor of the occasion. How cool! I am certainly grateful to Bistro Niko and staff for making our evening both memorable and enjoyable.
(4)Adrian M.
A faultless evening. Really great food, impeccable service, well chosen wine. We really cannot wait to go back there. As for the food - caprese salad was just right, the escargot were very good, but unwound have preferred not to have had them in Pernod. Then wifey had skate wing, which she compared to a very good lobster, while I had one of the specials, a rib eye. Again, excellent!
(5)James L.
Ahhhhhh.... Where to start. Where to start. I have been here many times and enjoy my little trip to Paris'. The atmosphere is full of life and energy. If you come for lunch plan on seeing business meetings and girl friends out to lunch drinking rose'. Come to niko at dinner and you get a much better Feeling of what this place is about. The drinks and food are exceptional, I have not had a bad item on the menu. Service staff is always accommodating. In Atlanta and need a fix of French cuisine and atmosphere... Come to bistro Niko. Update: 3/18/2015 If you are wrestling between steak au poivre and beauf go with the steak au poivre. The Beauf was very gelatinous tasting (even with Kobe beef) my son got steak au poivre 8.5 out of 10.
(4)Quinn V.
We made a reservation via open table for a Friday date night. We were promptly seated at a booth with a window view. Complimentary sparkling water was served along with slightly warm French bread. I almost shouted no gas! (as in gazeuse) when it was offered. But since it was offered, and we were feeling nostalgic... Appetizers: --mussels (nothing special, a little lackluster. But the creamy buttery sauce made a great dipping sauce with the bread.) --good foise gras Entrees: --seafood pasta: I misread or misunderstood the description. I thought it would be more of marinara or herbs base type of pasta. Instead, it was a creamy, alfredo-like base, which in general I am not a big fan of. Usually it will feel too rich after a few bite. Much to my surprise, it was good. It was nicely flavored, not too rich. --steak It was overall a savory, moist, & just the right color of pink-medium rare piece of steak. We especially like the sauce that goes with it. The only drawback was the saltiness. If only a pinch of salt was held back it would have been perfectly seasoned. It goes well with a glass of red wine. Nice ambience and romantic setting.
(4)Cherise J.
Their valet service is terrible. I absolutely think it's hideous to have folks waiting FOREVER to get their cars parked and then mandate a charge for it. Someone needs to change this process immediately!! The service and the food was on point. We go seated pretty quickly and I must say that our server was very professional. I wish I got his name so you can ask for him when you go, but he's an older gentlemen with a foreign accent. He literally could be an ambassador for this restaurant. The way he described their menu items was incredible. I ended up ordering stuff I hadn't planned on ordering!! The french onion soup was a little more chunky than what it should have been, but the manager corrected that. The beef bourguignon was spectacular. If you order one of the non-fried chicken entrees, you may want to ask if they can go light on the seasoning because some of those entrees might be a little more salty than what you would want. All in all, this was a very good experience. If they can lower the noise level, it'll be perfect, but it's certainly good enough to come back.
(4)Daniel B.
Bistro Niko is a higher-end French restaurant in Buckhead. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (Buckhead Diner, Chops, Pricci, etc.), I surmise it's been one of the group's more successful restaurants since it's opening in late 2009 for a couple reasons: (1) almost every time I drive past it, the patio is slammed, (2) Dine Around cards for this restaurant, while they do exist, seem to be rare. Located on the ground level of a high-rise building not too far from Lenox Square Mall, Bistro Niko is grand and chic. Along with the aforementioned outdoor patio, which faces Peachtree, there are two dining areas inside. The coolest thing about this restaurant's design is the open kitchen situated next to the entrance. One of the dining rooms sits across from the kitchen. It's smaller, quieter, and more intimate. The large dining room has high, elaborate-designed French ceilings and light fixtures, a mixture of small-to-large booth and table seating, and a bar. Traditional yet stylish French art and decor fills the space. It feels a bit magical, like the world of Hugo or something. Note it can get quite loud in the big dining room. While many of my friends and fellow Yelpers have raved about this restaurant, I don't have the same feelings. Simply put, the food doesn't knock my socks off and service is inconsistent. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I was expecting Bistro Niko to blow me away like Kyma or Veni Vidi Vici, two excellent Buckhead Life restaurants. Instead, it's let me down like Atlanta Fish Market. French cuisine is supposed to be among the best in the world, so one would expect Bistro Niko to bring it. Charcuterie (meats, cheeses), chicken, steak, duck, lamb chops, and seafood (raw oysters, mussels) make up a big part of the menu. Most appetizers are about $10-12 each and entrees are about $20-30+ each. I've tried the following: Escargots "en croute" - garlic butter, puff pastry Mussels "Le Coze" - white wine, shallots, cream & parsley 12-ounce ribeye with Cafe de Paris butter (made of 23 herbs) and fries Monk fish with spinach, fennel, mashed potatoes, and Parmesan cream sauce Creme Brulee a la Vanille - vanilla custard, hard caramel crust Profiteroles - choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, almonds The escargots (snails) and mussels are delicious. Each dish comes in two sizes. If sharing, I recommend ordering a dozen escargots and/or a small order of mussels for every 2-3 people. The escargots are soaked in a super rich, garlic butter sauce. I'm convinced the only reason the puff pastry exists is to help offset the heaviness of the butter. The butter is so tasty I like to dip the table bread into it. The escargots themselves are fresh and plump. Each escargot has its own compartment on the serving platter and this version of escargots is probably the oiliest one I've had yet. I could do without the breading, but with that much butter... maybe not. Like the escargots, the mussels are also quite fresh. There's no fishy or briny taste, though you may occasionally run into bit of shell. The white wine and cream sauce is light, yet full of flavor. It's yet another fine sauce to dip bread into. The thinly sliced and cooked shallots are delicate and provide additional texture. Both the ribeye and the monk fish are specials not available on the regular menu. I like having my steaks cooked medium to retain some of the meat's juiciness and flavor. The ribeye was sort of a letdown because, while nice, thick, and hearty, it was still a bit too tough, despite the meat being slightly pink throughout. I do like the generous portion size. I'm not sure what's up with the Cafe de Paris butter. It's made out of 23 herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It doesn't taste like butter, but more like a coarse, mustardy condiment. Perhaps most of the "butter" part has melted into the ribeye by the time it hits the table, but even so, it didn't taste like it. The ribeye is accompanied with a side of plain, thick French fries, which aren't bad. The monk fish is a white fish that's light and subtle in flavor. This dish is creamy because of the mashed potatoes and Parmesan cream sauce. The sauce provides good flavor for the fish and gives the cooked spinach a creamed effect. The mashed potatoes are soft and savory. A bit of fennel sprouts are placed atop the fish. This is a basic dish with not a lot of pizzazz or wow factor. Not that a dish needs that to be good, but I was expecting more out of monk fish. Consider splitting the desserts with others. The creme brulee is a nice dessert. Smooth, sweet, and delectable. I'm not a fan of the profiteroles because of the choux pastry. It's bland, soggy, and lifeless. Maybe the profiteroles I had sat out too long and the ice cream melted into the dough. The ice cream and chocolate is fine, though. While the servers are friendly, service can be painstakingly slow. Valet is $2 (gratuity not included).
(3)Nicholas B.
I love this place! One of the first restaurants I visited after moving to Atlanta and had an awesome experience. Food was great, expensive, but not for the quality. Drinks were reasonable and the staff was on point. If I had a 6th star, bistro niko would get it.
(5)M.E. K.
My favorite restaurant in town. Just keeps getting better every time I visit. Their mussels have a reputation for a reason. I've had better profiteroles though.
(5)Mary Beth L.
This place is so so good. Love the skate wings, baba au rhum and the bar is lovely as well. Great patio for this time of year. You really can't go wrong. The only thing I don't love is the noise level.
(4)Kristin B.
Consistently underwhelming and overpriced for what it is. My most recent and most disappointing visit was for brunch. I refuse to wait for meals, so restaurants with reservations are a must for brunch in Atlanta where the meal is basically a sport or religion with the level of fervor with which Atlantans approach it. Needing a restaurant in Buckhead, Bistro Niko fit the bill for a 12:30 brunch on a Sunday. Shockingly, when we arrived, there were literally only two other tables occupied in this cavernous (and gorgeous) restaurant. They have recreated the French bistro feel perfectly, minus the fact that it is at least three times larger than any bistro I've ever dined at in France. The service, as it is at all Buckhead Life restaurants, was fantastic. But the food was just average at best. A pastry basket to start had only two different items in it (though two of each), which kind of defeats the point of a pastry basket, which I see as an opportunity to sample a variety of items. And $12 for four small croissants (without even any jam for them) seemed like quite the rip-off. Moving onto entrees, my salad Nicoise was large, but had little flavor, and the tuna was in teeny tiny little flakes and mixed into the pre-dressed salad greens. It made it hard to get much protein out of the meal, since I could only finish about the half the salad. Check any picture on google images, and you'll see that generally the tuna is in slices, big chunks, or at least sort of plated in a bigger clump. Bistro Niko's preparation essentially made the salad taste like tuna flavored lettuce. All in all? There's a reason this spot is empty at brunch. With so many good new restaurants springing up all over this city, Buckhead Life is going to have to up their game.
(3)Deniz G.
I have definitely expected better. From service, to cleanliness, to decor, all the way to the food. Starting off, our server was nowhere to be found from the moment we got the waters for a solid 20 minutes, until we were ready to order the drinks, appetizers and entree all together. The drinks came after the bread and butter, which came after the appetizers. The order of all these seemed a little awkward. The coq de vin was very salty, and the creme brulee was soft on top, at room temperature. As I said, even though it wasn't totally terrible, there are probably much better alternatives for this price range all over town. The most ridiculous of all was the fruit fly that was hovering our heads, indoors. A disgusting experience to be honest, and most definitely disappointing if you think about the classiness they are trying to present. I will not go back.
(2)Meredith R.
If you're deciding upon a 'splurge' restaurant, your expectations may fall short here. Bistro Niko is indeed pretty ... but you can't eat ambience. Food that was hyped by other reviewers, tasted ordinary to us. Gougeres? Nothing-with-nothing cheese balls. Beef bourgeon, a bit fatty. Loup de mer, could have been any number of white, flakey fish. Two thumbs up for the scallops: sweet and cooked just right. The best salad on the table was endive. (There are two kinds; choose the smooth, not frisee.) Mesclun salad had no pizazz and the beet goat cheese salad had plenty of beets, but a mere whiff of cheese. (C'mon!) The best dessert was the cheese plate. The others -- profiteroles and a banana sundae -- comme ci comme ca. I can't comment on the wine list, since we've gotten in the habit of bringing what we like from home. Corkage fee here is $15 per bottle. I'm a big fan of Kyma (also part of the Buckhead Life chain); Bistro Niko can't compare.
(3)Lori M.
This place is interesting. I've been here on a few occasions for dinner or lunch with friends and recently for a first date. The atmosphere was great. We were able to have plenty of conversation without our surroundings being too loud. The menu is a bit stuffy for my taste but we were able to stretch the evening out with wine, salad and flatbread. Our service was definitely up to par but the menu options, thr quality of the food compared to the price makes it a spot I wouldn't frequent. I went there more for a convenience factor versus taste. If you work or live near Buckhead I'd say go here for a night or happy hour at the bar. Otherwise there are far too many places to go. Much better food right down the street.
(3)Teresa Z.
Foods are OK. We tried 6 courses, i only like the scallops. The thing I really don't like is that it was crowded and noisy. If u want romantic date, don't go there. I have to talk very loud to make me heard. I don't think it worths the price i paid, which was $50 per person without any drink.
(3)Bruce L.
Whoever is running the show here at this French establishment must not believe in imperfection. The many times I come here, Bistro Niko remains consistent in gratifying my experience with diverse selection of dishes that are incredible. It is absolutely the elite French venue here in Atlanta. Having the privilege of exploring majority of their menu, I have not encountered a dish I did not like. But if the menu option is overwhelming for you, I will help you with starters. Personally, I always start with the caviar and the duck confit (Appetizers). Words are not invented to describe the intense pleasure you will experience. I am also a fan of deep sea oysters; therefore, if they have Malpeque Oysters or Kumamoto Oysters, DO NOT HOLD BACK! One Dozen may not be enough because they're so amazing. Honestly, I get really full by the time I have to make an entrée selection =P I've tried them all and it really depends on what your preferences are. I assure you disappointment is a word that does not exist inside this establishment. I recommend making a reservation because the place is very lively everyday. I also recommend going early prior to your reservation to enjoy the full bar. They offer very unique specialty cocktails and a large wine selection. Cheers!
(5)Ashleigh P.
Complimentary valet in Buckhead! Can't hate that. I have been meaning to come here for years. I was here for lunch. We had the pate and salmon rillette to start. Both were excellent. The Pate was the smoothest I have ever had. I ordered the scallops... ohs my gosh. So good. The pomme puree was so good, probably half butter.' So many scallops too. So many. Our server could have been better, more attentive... but the food. My floating island was a perfect dessert to end the meal. All around wonderful food.
(5)Maryam H.
Incredible spot! I am not too familiar with the Buckhead area of Atlanta, but I enjoyed this place for a recent lunch with clients. We started with a flat bread pizza and assortment of pates and meats. Both incredibly delicious, however if you are not into surprise pates then stay away-I for one find the texture a little suspect but really enjoyed the entire selection (which was sizable). Next, I shared an order of escargot with friend, incredible! But to be honest, I don't have anything to compare it to too, but I thought the puff pastry on top of the baked escargot really complimented what seemed like a light pesto. A little on the oily side, but delicious and an interesting combination nonetheless. For my main course, I went with the trout, and it was PERFECT. Moist and not fishy at all, and a HUGE order that came ontop capers and string beens with mashed potatoes on the side. I wasn't able to finish the order. My accompanying party ordered the duck, mussels, and scallops and I heard only raves. My favorite part of this restaurant is the ambiance and atmosphere, the service could have been better, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the displaced parisian attempts that so many bistro's flood you with. The decor was charming and restrooms were clean- always a good sign. Would love to go back and try another meal that wasn't so heavy in order to give this bistro another star...
(4)Alexandra S.
I've been here twice and everything has been excellent! Probably the best French food in the city. I recommend all of these that I've had so far: endive salad, foie gras (seared a perfect MR with a berry compote and mini brioche), mussels, escargot (with a perfect garlic and herb butter and puff pastry), trout (cooked perfectly with the skin browned but with moist flesh, toasted almonds, green beans and fingerling potatoes and brown butter) scallops (cooked a perfect MR with a divine sauce, asparagus and the best creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes, profiteroles and le flotante (which is soft baked meringue, crème anglaise, almonds, caramel). And the service is excellent as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Sheril K.
Underwhelming and overpriced. Service was.. odd. I was assured "you know that anything jacques does is great" (referring to wine). I did not know that. It was not great. The timing of the meal was all off- brought out entrees while the table was covered with apps, and the runner audibly exclaims "f--K" as our waitress dashes over to clear some plates. cocktails- white manhattan was one dimensional. apps- ordered pork rillette, which was fine. Raclette was too thin on the pan, so it came out broiled and leathery- indistinguishable from generic melting cheese. Mesculin salad was nice, lightly dressed. entrees- the trout wasn't scaled properly!! Also drowned in butter. Green beans were terribly overcooked. steak frites- steak was tough (although it looked like it was cooked right)... frites were tasty. desert of creme brûlée was yummy. But hardly enough to make up for the rest of the meal.
(2)Lauren A.
I honestly can't recall if I've thrown a review for bistro niko out there to date, but after several visits i have some pretty finalized opinions 1. the atmosphere is trendy french. Think Anis (cafe french) but with the nightlife feeling you are looking for on a weekend. 2. Open table/other reservation sites will show this restaurant booked at all hours. Once it said the only open table was at 9:30p and instead we walked in at 7:30/8 isn and were taken immediately to a seat. Keep in mind that huge waiting lines done typically build up at places you have to valet just to get in. 3. The menu has improved since they opened. There were more than several choices i was interested in, vs. the first visit where i ordered a salad though I love french food. 4. The menu is GOOD! on our last visit I ordered the salmon spread, the lobster bisque and the scallops. Previously I had ordered the mussels as well. One thing to keep in mind. please expect your meal to be prepared with A TON OF BUTTER. don't get me wrong... who doesn't love the taste of butter. However, this is to the level that when you take the first bite you think "OH MY GOD IM IN HEAVEN" and then three hours later you lay in bed while your food is settling and thing "OH MY GOD IM IN HELL" in short - rich flavor, delicious, no need for reservation, "night out atmosphere"
(4)Nay P.
Not a big fan of French food but it was pouring rain, so we stopped in to check it out. Our server (Travis aka Leroy) was great and made us feel welcomed. Extra plus he was tall, handsome and generous. I ordered the lamb chops and they were wonderful. Cooked to perfection and very juicy. My coworkers ordered the Coq Au Vin and Salmon, which I taste tested and those dishes were also great. Menu has alot of options. The crowd is mature and very well dressed. Seemed to be coming in after work. The bathrooms were separated and very nicely decorated. Weird point but I like when restaurants have nice bathrooms. Very close to the Buckhead Marta.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm a huge fan of Bistro Niko. It's located a few minutes from where I work so it's nice to come here for lunch or happy hour. Our favorite lunch choice is the croque monsieur. Everything from the perfectly toasted bread to the melted cheese is fantastic. I'm a huge fan of their fries as well. The service here is always stellar and my water glass is rarely empty since they are very attentive here. I've been here for happy hour as well and it definitely gets pretty busy between 5-7pm in the bar area. Everything about this restaurant makes you want to come back for future visits. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and the staff is always courteous. I've yet to try their dinner menu but it's one of my favorite places to visit for lunch during the week. The service is efficient so you can be in and out within an hour if you're familiar with the menu and know exactly what you're ordering.
(4)Nick G.
Wow, what a great French restaurant! We made reservation via Yelp and received excellent service. The food was amazing, they had a pork chop on special which I had to try. It was without a doubt the best pork chop I ever had. One secret is that they soak it in a bag of water for 24 hours to make it extra juicy! My girlfriend ordered the scallops, they were cooked perfectly and had great flavor! We dabbled with some apps and bread, all of it was great. So obviously at a French restaurant you have to have some wine. Very nice selection to choose from, we landed on a French bottle from a highly regarded vineyard. Couldn't have had a better night!!!
(5)Scott P.
Bistro Niko, as you probably know from the other couple hundred reviews here, is a French restaurant and part of the Buckhead Life Group of restaurants, a group of restaurants known for their quality of food and service. I use the ultimate card that they offer and usually charge it every winter as they usually have some offer then to discount the charging of the card. So I'm very familiar, I suppose you can say a fan of the group. So my bias leans that I'm going to enjoy my experience every time, and typically they do not disappoint. Bistro Niko does not disappoint. I'm not sure everyone that comes in gets a waiter with a French accent but that's sure a bonus to set the scene - additionally adding bonus points for being animated, friendly, and knowing the menu. Secondly, in the service he was prompt and attentive to our needs and I'd give this a 5 star on service. One thing that I appreciated is that we decided to do 3 apps and share a main course. The waiter did not even hesitate that this was an ok plan by him. In order of greatness, the Pork Belly was fantastic, the lamb confit was crispy skinned and oh so juicy and tender inside, and the scallops - calamari app was our least fav. Not that it wasn't done well, but I'm not a huge fan of French as I usually find that at times it can be a bit bland (I like spice) and I would say the app was a bit on the bland side. We shared the pork chop, it was probably the thickest cut of pork chop I've seen in my life. Cooked to perfection, grill marks perfectly laid on the outside and tender in the middle, this dish I would do over again if I go back. The ambiance is really nice, it's not a typical French upscale interior, it has a mix of subway style flair, open court, and fine dinning. The only drawback is the noise level. Having done the patio for breakfast on one occasion I found the patio to also be inviting, as you can watch the busy street and people go by while getting that fine dining feel. Also, to speak of the breakfast, the eggs benedict is divine! I will be back.
(4)Chlo L.
I have to admit, I was expecting a little bit more from this place with all the fantastic reviews... but I guess we've been spoiled by french restaurants from DC, St. Maartin, & Paris. We came here for a little family dinner before leaving town. We got the steak frites, st jaques scallops, salmon, & beef bourguignon. I've had better bourguignon from american restaurants. I would have ordered my usual - duck breast, but they didn't have any rice. :( The only things that lived up to our expectations were the scallops, drinks, and the service. This was our first time here, but Mark made us feel like we were regulars. It got a bit crowded by the bar though, so expect it if you're coming around 6 or 7. I highly recommend the Ti Punch!
(3)B H.
4 ish stars for Sunday brunch. Our party enjoyed Eggs Benedict, cappuccinos, fresh oj. Prices were reasonable at ab 70 w tax for 3. Roomy, trendy, French atmosphere, with lots of windows & patio options. Great jazz trio when we were there. Seemed kid friendly as well.
(5)M and M P.
Great food and excellent service. We had salad and Foie Gras for appetizer. I had duck and my partner had Kobe beef for a main entrée. It was a little noisy as our table was next to a big group of people, however I would for sure go back to enjoy their food again.
(4)Brenda M.
What's not to love this place is perfect from our wonderful server Veronica to the very attentive waiters the dessert was impeccable wonderful creme brulee just love this place
(5)Karly G.
I really wanted to like this place because it's within walking distance for a quick lunch and I love French food. But my palate is denying me of it. :( The interior is beautiful and great patio seating with view of the chaotic Buckhead traffic. The service is stellar and the price is reasonable. But I can't get over the food. We order the croque muensier salmon (basically smoked salmon sandwiched between slices of lightly toasted brioche). Although I love the combination, the look of it was missing that ooompf to want me to love it. For my entree, I had the Coq Au Vin - chicken braised in red wine and mushrooms. According to the waitress, the chicken has been marinating in the red wine for 3 days. It was just ok. Nothing overly exciting about it either. I have to say that the most exciting dish of the entire meal was the bread and butter. That's one of the best French bread I've had in a long time and you can't go wrong with butter. Yum! All in all it was ok. I probably won't be back for awhile.
(3)Mary B.
I love this place! Great trout meunière . Mwaw is always a fan of French bistros:) This is my Atlanta haunt. Always a little Noisy maybe because it is soooo popular! A must if u r in the hood!
(5)Ellen R.
I've only been here once. Had a business lunch and were pressed for time. The host had us seated and let our server know we had a time constraint. Our server provided us with a complimentary mushroom flatbread pizza for an appetizer and let us know that medium well or well done burgers would take around 15-20 minutes to help guide our decisions so that we would be able to have a quick lunch. I ordered the Niçoise salad (light and delicious). After delivering our meals, out server asked if we'd like him to bring the check since he knew we were in a bit of a rush. I was very pleased with my meal, enjoyed the lovely interior decorating, and was very happy with the attentive customer service.
(5)Dee K.
Disclaimer- I have been here 3 times in last 1 month but only for lunch. So this review is for lunch only. My husband and I like French food. Escargot's here are perfect... Obviously not if you wanna kiss your date until and unless your date also decided to dig in and stink of garlic. But taste amazing and I loved them. Pasta was great- they also had a Chilean Sea bass which was perfectly cooked. Mussels are yummy and make sure to keep room for lots of bread if you like broth. Deserts are heavenly and the bartender was my husband's favorite show piece to watch. She was pretty and knew her drinks well.... So I didn't mind him watching her- cause I knew he was coming home with me ;-)
(5)Mike M.
What a terrific spot. The decor and atmosphere are rich and I love how open the place is. Love the French theming. The food is tremendous. Make sure you start with baskets, yes plural, of the Gruyere cheese puffs. The appetizers the flatbreads are terrific. We had a special one with duck prosciutto. Also loved the pork belly, a really big piece for sharing and the scallops. The beef bourguignon is made with Kobe need cheeks and is just delectable.
(5)Eric D.
Looking forward to this place for some time. Very nice and very authentic as a French bistro. Food wasnt stellar but was good. I have an Au Pouvire which lacked real seasoning. I'd go again and try something else.
(3)Reid S.
Took the wife here for an early Mother's Day dinner. It was a remarkable experience. We enjoyed the snails under pastry, cheese app and some blue points to get started. With a few martinis and glasses of wine thrown in there we were ready for dinner. Time was taken and we were not rushed by the staff at all. Vic was our server and knew when to be there and when to give us space to enjoy our evening. The duck breast arrived right on queue and took out very breadth away. It was a perfect perfect blend of crisp and succulence. The best I've ever enjoyed. Thank you chef. Desert was a caramel ice cream Sunday. The food, the experience and the service demand the 5 stars I awarded this meal. Thank you to all who helped make this meal a memory.
(5)Sc M.
Excellent food and ambience. My daughter wanted to go to a french restaurant. We ended up at this fabulous place in Buckhead. Located 1 minute from the marta rail. Tried the duck and the peppercorn crusted mushroom burger. The burger was the best i have ever eaten. Packed with flavor and crusted. The sauce had very fine slivers of mushroom. Every bite made you want more. Literallly melted in your mouth.White bean soup was stellar. Duck was small but tasty. Sampling of cheeses for an appetizer is a good idea (small portions but flavorful). Service was superior.
(5)Ian S.
The place was packed so I expected this to be great. Escargot was overly heavy on the garlic do the puff pastry was absolutely essential. Maybe they were carrying to people trying to impress their fate with how wordly they ate without actually tasting the annals. Beef bourguignon was ok, but dry without the slow cooked goodness one would expect. The service, panned by other Yelpers, was very good. Attentive and personal. That gave this back a star.
(3)Mona K.
And again ... Bisto Nikko is on point... Man, I need to start getting a discount for the amount of time I go there !!
(5)Lisa L.
Originally went here for Buckhead Restaurant Week, but ended up ordering from the main menu. Enjoyed a delicious steak tartar (although I must say the presentation was a bit lacking, simply because the tartar resembled a raw hamburger patty). Main course was scallops, which were of medium size and presented with a potato purée - wonderful! Finished the meal with a wonderful apple tart, a la mode. I'm already looking forward to my next meal there!
(4)Kamil B.
I have been in the mood to try the slightly ostentatious, but fun Buckhead Life Restaurants. It makes sense given that I live in Brookhaven about 5 minutes away. Came here on a Saturday night with my better half. Executed the mandatory valet parking. Now waiting 30 minutes to be seated with a reservation is not the best way to kick of the evening, but I I'll cut them slack, because of how popular this place is. Still I noticed some folks without reservations that were acting shady trying to get a table, and possibly succeeding, but whatever. Looking around I noticed a lot of customers eating steak and fries. Did they forget they are at a French restaurant and not Outback Steakhouse? There are plenty of quintessential French items to choose from on the menu. Anyway, I enjoyed the faux gras and wasn't impressed by the beef bourguignon. My significant other said her trout had too much butter. The service was great and very accommodating. Very inexpensive for a fancy restaurant. Looking forward to trying Bistro Nico again.
(3)Shaye B.
This is a trendy fun place - great for happy hours or just a boozy meal in general. The food is hit or miss. Some of the items are creative, some are bland. Price wise it is average. I think you get what you pay for - lamb chops are cheaper than other restaurants here, but you can taste that $5 difference. The restaurant is surprisingly very large, which I typically do not like. I think larger restaurants tend to lack in environment - however Bistro Niko is very well done inside and the valet is great for how large of a place it is. The patio or that front section of the restaurant is the place to be - the people watching is fantastic. You have all sorts of people who are meeting for drinks and/or a meal. I think this place is a great price point for a trendy fun meal where you want to drink. Also, if I were ever looking to have a private event at a restaurant this place would be on my short list.
(4)Keith B.
Good Food should be Better This was our first time to Bistro Niko. The dining room is beautiful and feels like a bistro in Paris (or at least as Americans think one should look.) Due to a nearby commitment, it was most logical for us to have an early dinner at 4:30pm. That was fortunate since we were able to order from the less expensive lunch menu. We thought that the 3 course "les formules" menu for each of the three of us was good value and would let us try lots of different things. The appetizers of white bean soup and the mesclun salad were nice but nothing special. The croquet "Monsieur" au salmon, however, was probably the best thing we ate. For the entrees we had a nice "shrimp en brique" and a duck confit. Again, good but nothing special. The "chicken paillard" had a slightly rubbery texture. For dessert we had the crème brulee which, again, was good but not great. The baba au rhum was excellent. The service was attentive and pleasant. While we enjoyed almost everything, only a couple of things rose to the level of very good or better. I wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
(4)Ryan L.
Great French bistro. We had a dozen oysters and they were very fresh. Really fantastic french onion soup. Sea bass was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were delicious. Service was tight. If I wasn't such a food snob, I'd give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving those for the super memorable occasions. ;)
(4)Erica J.
As always, my visit this weekend to Bistro Niko was nothing less than Amazing. We had the Salmon Tart as an appetizer, which was wonderfully prepared. I had the European Sea Bass as my entree. My husband had the Peppercorn Filet Medallions. Both dishes were delicious. The service has always been first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an all-around, first class dining experience.
(5)Anna S.
Very nice French restaurant. Delicious brunch. Good environment for a conversation, too. They even had Alieve for my headache. Very unique was the fact that our reservation was for 2:15 pm, but we cane after Buckhead Church service around 12:40 pm. We asked if we could be accommodated, and they did take us in. Service was great! Indoor and outdoor sitting available. Diverse menu selection. Unfortunately, we had no place for dessert. Overall, Very pleased!
(5)Laura N.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta! I love coming here for dates, business lunches, and dinner with friends and family. It is a gorgeous restaurant with excellent food and outstanding service all the time. My favorite things to order at Bistro Niko are: - smoked salmon tarte - herb goat cheese ravioli with ratatouille - scallops St. Jacques - seafood tagliatelle pasta - profiteroles I have never had a bad meal here. Everything is pretty good, although I do find the chocolate waffles to be a bit underwhelming in their presentation. Valet parking is $2 + tip.
(5)Allen P.
Food and service are always excellent. Deserts and appetizers seem to be way better than actually entrees here, although the scallops are perfect. Beautiful restaurant with nice staff. Nothing to complain about.
(4)Eric B.
I came here for lunch with a business partner and while I loved the location, patio, atmosphere, and dining room, the food was just so-so. We ordered something from every section of the menu and some things were amazing and others we didn't finish. I will admit, it very well could be that I just am not a huge fan of true authentic French food, which this all was. But either way I just was not very satisfied at the end of the meal for what we spent. I would be open to coming back for dinner and trying it again to see if there's something I missed, but Im not chomping at the bit to do so.
(3)Jonathan P.
Came here for our wedding anniversary and had a great time. They were very accomodating when I moved the reservation from 6pm to 7pm same day. The staff was very nice and attentive and the food was excellent. Minor nitpick re 4 stars vs 5: asked our server for more information on the pate vs the terrine. He really didn't have any idea but had another server come answer my question. Was very nice and service was great throughout the meal, but a server at a French restaurant should have an answer to that question. Will definitely be going back. I highly recommend the lamb shank.
(4)Grace C.
Had the Escargots, Classic Tuna Tartare, and Maine Scallops. Everything was delicious. It was my first time having escargot and it definitely won't be my last. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the buttery flavor was to die for. The fresh bread they serve is also amazing. I will definitely be back. One of the best meals I have ever had.
(5)stephen N.
What to say...the bar is beautiful. The menu is French and non-apologetic. I started with the crisp pork belly and the seared Fois Gras. Then the duck confit with frisée and the French onion soup. Exquisite, superb, flawless. My coworker enjoyed the veal, he requested a poached egg on top and who could argue??? Our server Cody was attentive and professional, I will make this a regular stop on my business trips to Atlanta!
(5)S H.
One of my favorites in Buckhead! Have to come back many times to get the Duck again, a rare thing for me - one who normally avoid having the same thing. If you like flavorful French food, don't sit outside though - those tables are truly bistro style and too small for any serious dinning.
(5)Stephanie M.
The wine list is French if your not certain ask, otherwise "bubbles" are always fun and we all know what those are. Duck Confit Salad - Oh my, I've had this on more than one occasion and enjoy it every time. Leg and thigh come on a bed of Fri see lettuce with a few roasted potato's. The sauce I can't figure out but it compliments the the bitter from the lettuce and you want to run your fork full of duck/juices and potato's in it. The duck is tender your knife is only needed for manners. Caviar - If it is there on the menu well... um I may have to take a second glance and maybe even order it. The house version is a blend, it is priced friendly gentlemen you can breath & girls we can afford it. While it is not Beluga it is tasty and a conversation piece. It is served with small puffed toasts and comes in a 2 oz. or 4 oz. can on shaved ice. Tuna Tartar - The flavor is there simple and clean with a touch of red onion. I wanted to like it but the texture threw me off, never having this before just didn't appreciate what they were trying to do. Boeuf Bourguignon - Is a simmered dish with beef braised in red wine with a touch of vegetables on top of noodles is hearty but not heavy. Coquille St. Jacque - Scallops were perfect on a puree with a bit of asparagus and a light sauce. Crevettes Brique-T - Shrimp that are wrapped, crisped then placed over a slaw that has horseradish in it ? Not being a fan of "slaw" I was a bit skeptical at first but found the twist on this interesting and tasty. A two and three course "Pre Fix" menu is also available.
(4)Brenda M.
My babe brought me here for a family night out. The ambiance was great our waiter was funny and the cocktails were tasty! Overall I give this place a four but I must say I've had way better french food before. It wasn't disappointing but it was just missing that certain genuine french flavor I was expecting in my mouth. I had the steak and frites medium-rare which tasted good but didn't look that appetizing for such a high scaled restaurant. One dish I do recommend is the scallops entree. Best cooked scallops I've had. They were cooked to perfection. The cocktail drinks were also very tasty. Would recommend to try it out at least once ;)
(4)Amy H.
Wish I could do a 3.5 star. I felt a little mixed on this place. First, this is a gorgeous place, loved the atmosphere and it was PACKED. Wine list is FANTASTIC, but the glasses are expensive and I am pretty sure I got half a normal glass of wine. Finished it in about 4 sips. Had the cheese puffs for a starter they were eh. Not worth 7 bucks and not made freshly either. Escargot was my next and it was great! First time having it so cannot compare to any place else. It was buttery, and earthy and I was a big fan. Veal for dinner and it was OK. Nothing special. I probably should have gotten something more french? My friend had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC, and my other friend had the Coq Au Vin which was also very tasty. Creme breulee was not fantastic but not bad either. I thought it would be OVER the top. I prefer Alon's Bakery Creme breulee. Def come here to experience this place but not sure if I would come back.
(3)Jonathan S.
I love this place, the decor and the ambiance are on point. It kinda looks like an old bank. We had the pan roasted duck and the veal. Both were delicious. The escargot is whatever. I will say the crowd seemed a bit older. This is a place for the OG suspender wearers and silicone injectors.
(4)Serena B.
Love this place!!! Great beer on tap, osters and seafood! Leg of lamb is beautiful! Escargot and puffed pastry are my heart!!!!
(5)Vonda D.
I had a gift card to Bistro Niko so a friend of mine and I decided to use it. So glad I did! We split a flatbread pizza and it was amazing! It was also filling, which I was surprised by. I got a chocolate sundae and it was different, but so good! I need to go back and try an entree!
(4)Yuki M.
We go bistro nico sometimes. We like the duck and shrimp on the menu here! But my favorite is profiteroles!!! It's so yummy ;") If you don't know what to order dessert pls try it!!
(5)Jim J.
Another great dinner here. I wish I could come here every couple of weeks. My only comment this time was that service was slow once we received our order. We just sat and sat waiting for dessert menus. And waited a long time for dessert to arrive after ordering. Same issue in getting our check, and then return of check and credit card. A couple of managers even came by during the meal to make sure things were okay (I suspect they knew things were backlogged somewhere). Not going to let that stop me from coming. I love this place, the food, the atmosphere, the friendly hostesses. Think it was just an off night for a short period of time.
(4)Renee K.
I came here after walking around looking for somewhere to eat during my business travels. I decided to sit at the bar and really enjoyed my meal. I order the trout dish which was truly good. I highly recommend the dish. The service at the bar was so-so. One of the employees was great, the other not so much. The menu has a lot to offer, and they had a pretty decent wine offering.
(3)Mercedes C.
My friend and I had a great dinner at Bistro Niko last night. The bartender, I think his name was Dave, was terrific!!! I had a dirty martini at the bar before dinner. And had a nice glass of Pinot Noir with dinner. Thanks new bartender friend!! Now for the ambiance, it was lovely. Not too loud, beautiful atmosphere. Next, the food, I wish I could add a picture but I tore into my lamb chops as soon as I got them. After grace of course lol......the mashed potatoes were awesome as were the fingering potatoes. The lamb chops were cooked just right and tender. Bistro Niko is a favorite on my list from now on!!!!!!
(5)Mindy W.
This French dining experience was more like a bar/lounge scene. Extremely loud even at7:30pm on a.Monday.
(3)Renee T.
Their French Onion Soup is to die for!! It is the perfect FOS. It tastes slow cooked until it becomes sublime. The flavors are layered and complex and it has the perfect amount of everything. Eat this when you go there. Everything else is fantastic too. Service on point.
(5)H. M.
I've eaten at Bistro Nike at least a dozen times and every single time I have had to swat fruit flies away from me. Get an exterminator, it's gross!
(3)Tye T.
This place is absolutely amazing. Kayjee (sp?) provided the best service that I have experienced in an Atlanta restaurant. We started the with mussels and calamari as the appetizer. Both were delicious but the mussels were a clear winner. My boyfriend had the steak au poivre and I had the duck, both were excellent. The steak was tender and the duck was perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back.
(5)Han L.
And so I have become a Francophile. Jk. This place has an lovely ambiance; it had me at HELLLO! I love the vintage French feel; cigarette machine, posters, vintage tiles, servers' uniforms. It's so beautifully French! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I came here for lunch but definitely want to return for dinner. There are other wonderful French restaurants in town, but Bistro Niko has the ideal French appeal. It's classy and not whimsical. The clean lines and shapes makes it refined, but not austere. It's still a welcoming space. gahhhh, I like it so much! Bistro Niko has a lovely outdoor seating area. There aren't much pedestrian traffic, but it was nice to enjoy the fall weather. However, one downside was a pesky fly that eventually drowned in my friend's glass of water. Sucker! The lunch menu is quite big. My friend ordered the scallops and I decided on the duck. For an additional $4, you can add an other duck leg to the order. I did not opt for that, regretfully. There was a generous amount of scallops on my dear friend's dish. It sits atop pureed potatoes, and a nice creamy sauce. MY dish was the bomb diggity. The best duck EVER. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that was it was fried in its own fat, but it was light and crispy. The duck was so tender. oooh baby. soo good. I highly recommend this dish for lunch and to order an additional leg for the extra $4 dollars. DO IT MAN! The servers are very helpful and attentive. I may have been mesmerized by my server's sweet accent. Don't park in the lot. Bistro Niko doesn't validate parking. Valet parking costs $2, but it will end up being cheaper than garage parking, even with tip included.
(4)Angie E.
My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were well taken care of from the time we arrived until we left. Our server was very sincere and attentive. The food was good and I look forward to visiting again to try something else and see how I like their other entrees.
(4)Sue G.
The food was excellent but they tried to double the check. When we ask about the check, the waitress knew what was wrong without even looking at the ticket. Be sure and check the total. Update: We went back and had a delightful dinner, the best tip I can give is ask for the salon. It is quaint and quiet enough to chat. Trout is great and my husband loves the pizza.
(5)Brian H.
Delicious, absolutely delicious. A little pricey, but delicious. In the heart of Buckhead. If I can add a few tips to the discussion: *Valet parking is generally cheaper than self parking. *the Oysters are delicious but a bit small *the salmon flat bread appetizer is delicious! *the French Onion Soup is astounding! *the decor is well done. Gives the feel of being in France.. (i think?) *the patio is great for lunch or a breezy evening *the indoor tables are spacious and seating is plentiful 4.2837433 stars rounded up makes this one a 5 for me! bon appétit!
(5)Joy W.
I'm a big fan of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, and Bistro Niko was on my list of places to try for a long time. Finally got a chance to eat here for my 25th birthday with my friend, and it lived up to my expectations. Bistro Niko serves French cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice restaurant. What caught my eye was the $25 for two plates (deux plats), where you can choose one of three appetizers (salmon croque monsieur, white bean soup, or salad with dijon vinaigrette) and one of three entrees (haddock, chicken in wine sauce - coq au vin, or shrimp in puff pastry). I ended up ordering the salmon croque monsieur, which came with 4 pieces of what looked like a perfectly buttered grilled cheese with slices of smoked salmon inside. The texture was heavenly and was a great start to the meal. As the entree, I ordered the coq au vin, which was very flavorful from the wine reduction and the chicken meat literally fell off the bone because it was so tender. My friend started with the white bean soup which was sooo flavorful - I think the truffles enhanced what would have been an already good white bean soup. For her entree, she ordered the Haddock Provencal, which was so good that it blew my mind. The fish itself was so tender and the ratatouille veggies added good flavor without being overwhelming. The polenta was alright, but I wish I ordered the Haddock - I could eat that forever. Next time, I think I would order the $29.95 three plates with the mesclun salad, shrimp puff pastry, and creme brulee dessert. Can't wait to come again! [45 of 100]
(4)Michelle M.
Excellent food, I eat here frequently for business lunches. The service is always excellent and it always impresses. My current favorite is the chicken paillard, though everything I have tasted is delicious, and I've been here about 12 times in the past 6 months. My only suggestion for a large group or business meeting would be to request the dining room on the side, which I do, because it's generally really loud in the main dining room. See you soon BN.
(5)Jon P.
Went here for a date on a Buckhead Life gift card. First off, the patio is awesome - which is why we chose this restaurant to begin with. We sat outside and saw all sorts of interesting people / things driving and walking by on Peachtree Road. Also the service was very good and we never waited on anything that we didn't want to and were always well taken care of. With the food I have mixed emotions. It was no doubt good - but it was not as good as other Buckhead Life restaurants I have been to and not as good as the price tag may suggest. With that said, we tried to go as French as we possibly could with our selections and started out with the faux gras, which was massive. Between two of us we managed to take down the fancy feast sized patty and while it was delicious it was entirely too much for a first timer. We then got two different meals that were both fish. I don't remember what the GF ordered but I had the salmon with capers and it was pretty good. Overall it was good food and good drinks but I probably would not go back if I had to foot the bill.
(3)Frank M.
We eat there from time to time including last night. I made my reservation for 6 two days prior. I wanted 7 to 7:30PM. Phone receptionist was insistent that I choose 6:45 or 8:30 as the closest to my preference. I chose 6:45PM. This was a very slow night for them-- beginning of Memorial Day weekend. The place was never over a third full the entire time we were there. When we arrived there seemed to be more staff than patrons. Two things. Why hassle me and be so inflexible about my arrival time request? They should have just said yes. But, I think it was a control thing with the receptionist. Her attitude was, we're Bistro Niko, and you only get to come when you say we can even if you're the only one coming. With all the staff standing around, do you think we received prompt attention? We sat there for 10 min right next to a staff station before are drink order was taken. During this time the staff was careful about not making eye contact with me. God forbid I would ask for something. This is not even close to the service offered in France. That said, our food was very good. We had the raw oysters too. Excellent.
(3)Jim B.
Poor experience. As a former server I'm usually pretty lenient on them but mine was terrible. No greeting no check up, added literally nothing. Never even told me his name. I was also given dirty silverware. Best part of my meal was the frisee salad which was above average but my trout was just eh. String beans and fingerling potatoes (all 3 of the little guys) were swimming in oil. I am an out of town business traveler but I have to imagine there are plenty of better options in Buckhead.
(2)Sylvia Z.
After complaining to Buckhead Life management, they were amazing. They agreed that our experience was not satisfactory, and have bent over backwards to make it up to us. We will be dining at another Buckhead Life restaurant later this month, and I am confident that our experience will be completely different.
(5)Tiff H.
Came here for happy hour, which my team manager deemed as "class field trip" that was much needed. He treated us all to drinks, although I made sure not to drink too much on an empty stomach... I got a vodka tonic and nursed it while alcohol flowed all over the place... We got some small appetizers as well, and I was glad I was sober to enjoy them, unlike the rest of my team. Gougères Light were AMAZING. fluffy and hot and chewy. perfection. i couldn't stop eating Oysters: i'm not a fan but I think my team really enjoyed these on the rocks! Smoked Salmon tarte: wished i had eaten more of this... this was rocking. I think we ordered one more appetizer of some sort, similar to a bruschetta, but I can't remember... I definitely want to come here again... If only my manager would be paying for that, too!
(5)Glenn T.
Our server was quite nice. We felt sorry for her, trapped as she was in the restaurant equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle: a kitchen with no fire control, a slow bar, and expectant diners. The fairly priced foie gras wasn't treated as fairly in return, the first presentation charred to the point of bitterness, the second actually cold on the inside. No Goldilocks we, a shot at "just right" wasn't happening. Beef bourginon was remarkably dry and the scallops far, far overcooked. Wine by the glass arrived too late to enjoy with either course. Too bad because the room is charming, the location convenient, and the concept attractive. There are times when faux French is just the ticket but it fell short on this trip.
(2)Lynn E.
Sometimes you need night in Paris at a bistro... Bistro Niko is your Atlanta escape to cafe life -- and it's right on Peachtree. Service is spot on. The menu has ample section and hey you're not cooking. On a recent evening we had the divine White Bean soup (a must - velvety smooth, perfectly seasoned and creamy delicious, the mesculan salad (chilled to perfection), the trout and the duck. A lovely evening was enjoyed. We didn't order dessert by the options were VERY tempting.
(3)Donald L.
Bring ear protection. This is by far the loudest restaurant that I have visited. We were seated in a booth near the middle of the room and we were forced to yell at each other to hear what the other was saying. The food was fine. I had the scallops and they were great, buttery and delicious. Julie had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was not up to the Julia Child version for those who have made it. We also split an endive salad having already had an app at del frisco while waiting for our late reservation. The salad was pretty terrific, I would recommend it. Overall the dinner was fine. The restaurant was like eating on the runway at Hartsfield.
(3)Chris C.
We just happened to walk by this restaurant by our hotel and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised. Nice ambience, great waitstaff, and delicious food. We tried smoked salmon flatbread, mushroom and cheese flatbread, endive salad, roasted duck, escargot, and of course a few glasses of mimosas :)...all great, full of flavor, and nice portion sizes.
(5)Lindsay A.
I got engaged here a few years ago in December. The restaurant did a great job of coordinating with my boyfriend, that night fiancé, now husband. Whew. LOL. It was an amazing dinner BEFORE the engagement where I proceeded to make a table of flight attendants and pilots laugh when my husband asked me to marry him by saying, "You *ssh*le! YES!" I'm not good at surprises. LOL. Anyway, I remember the cheese plate was amazing, as well as the oysters. Make sure to ask about the vodka . . . and also watch out for it. :D
(5)Denise D.
Nice, but if you are going to serve raw oysters, you should have crackers and hot sauce. For the price of those suckers, a few crackers should be provided. They had neither. What has the world come to? I won't be there again just because I found it insane.
(3)K W.
The St Germaine cocktail was lovely. Light, bright and quite tasty. Actually that was the best part of the meal. The bread was fresh but not warm and the butter was cold and hard to spread. The white bean soup tasted as though the entire salt shaker had been dropped in the bowl. The trout almandine was bland. The green beans in butter sauce was the second best part of the meal the meal was ok but definitely not worth the $40. Meh.
(2)Greg M.
I've been to this area on business trips several times in the last few months and this is by far my favorite, My last meal there was perfect- the special was maui-mahi roasted with a delicate lemon/caper sauce- I've been trying to duplicate it at home with partial success. The wine list is the high point (along with the food), the cocktails tend to be Vodka based which doesn't interest me as much. Though I did have a really great rum drink (that I've also been trying to recreate). I hope to come back.
(4)Jo H.
This is a very good restaurant but their coed bathrooms are appalling. There is no choice between ladies or gentlemen, just the next available stall. The floors were wet and dirty, I won't be going back because of this arrangement. Too bad, because the food is good.
(3)Quality K.
Good Food, great service and excellent atmosphere. Food and beverage definitely worth paying for.
(5)Sara B.
This is my second time at Bistro Niko, and I love it. If you're wondering if this is good choice, yes it is! And it's a good choice for the culinary adventurous to the meek (like myself). This time I had gougeres, the french onion soup, and roasted chicken. It was all completely amazing! I had part of creme brulee, profiteroles, and the baba au rhum. I'd say the profiteroles is best option. If morbid obesity and bankruptcy wouldn't be right around the corner, I'd be going every night.
(5)Lee M.
Subpar service and: "My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter." My wife and I visited on a surprisingly busy Thursday evening. The bar at Bistro Niko seems to be a very popular happy hour spot. I'll start with the positives, the food at Bistro Niko is very good. It's not especially creative and I thought it was all heavy on the butter. But it's classy French cafe style. My wife and I both ordered cocktails to start, a Martini for me (gin, not too dry, up, with a twist), a French 76, a concoction of lemon, vodka, champagne and hibiscus, for her. These were both stellar. I can understand the popularity of the bar. (Side note: I'm usually hesitant to order a Martini out, since usually I'll get a glass of cold watery vodka at best and asked "What flavor? Our choco-rasba-tinis are delish" at worst. But Bistro Niko delivered the goods). For appetizers we tried the gougeres and a fried oyster appetizer. The gougeres tasted exactly like Cheezits, in a good way. They were light, puffy and rich. They'd go great with a cold Lager. The oysters were the best thing all night. Among the best fried oysters I have ever had, perfectly crispy and salty outside, creamy and sweet inside. They were accompanied by some interesting pickles and a nice remoulade. For entrees we ordered the lamb chops and skate wing. I was pleased with both, but not particularly impressed. Both were technically excellent; proper doneness, nice color on the outside, and well seasoned. The accompaniments were forgettable. The entrees were good, but there was nothing special about them, I could have gotten the same dish at any number of restaurants around town (mostly less expensive places) Bland, slightly undercooked fingerling potatoes with both, average creamed spinach with the skate and decent Brussels' sprouts with the lamb. My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter. (It's French, what did I expect?) The desserts were all standard French sweets. We got cream puffs, called "profiteroles" on the menu. They were good, but so are the ones in the freezer section of your local Kroger. I was pretty disappointed in Bistro Niko's service. In my past experiences with the Buckhead Life Group I've been mostly impressed with the quality of service, but Bistro Niko isn't up to par. Our server was friendly and helpful. I think he just had too many tables, I counted at least seven that he was serving, one was a party of eight. In this quality of restaurant, with the individualized attention and service required, seven is too many tables. Taking custom drink orders, discussing the wine list, describing specials all take time. So, while he was excellent when he was at our table the visits were too few and too far between. Because of that, the timing of our meal was all off, we waited quite a while with no drinks at the beginning of the meal. When we finally received our cocktails, we were nearly done with them before the appetizers arrived. Then the entrees came before we'd really had a chance to eat the appetizers. Once the entrees were cleared, the wait for dessert menus was noticeably lengthy. A few specific notes of poor service: When I ordered my cocktail the server looked at me and said "Charles Dickens?" and then just stared at me for an awkward moment waiting for me to get the joke ("Olive er twist?"). I guess I should have heard that one before. When he brought our entrees, the runner said to my wife "hot plate". What they say in a $6 Mexican restaurant. For a $30 entree, at least give me a "Ma'am this plate is very warm, please be careful", or better yet, re-plate it after it comes out of the salamander so it's not an issue. One instance, our water carafe was empty, so the busser grabbed the one of the adjacent table to fill our glasses. I just found this odd. If something is set on your table their is a sense of ownership over it. I know at 99% of casual restaurants we're all being filled from the same pitcher and yes it was just water and it's free... But he wouldn't have taken the bread basket off the adjacent table to refill ours. Also, we were offered sparkling or still water, how was he to know that we didn't have still and they sparkling or vice-versa? The final thing that irked me was that we had a Buckhead Life gift card with a large balance on it. Well more than enough to cover the full meal. However, Bistro Niko wouldn't put the tax or tip on the card. I was thinking maybe this is a law that I'm not aware of? But thinking back I've had gift cards to Chili's, etc, and this has never been an issue before. I didn't mind having to pay the tax and tip, but I'm sure the person who gave it to me expected to be giving me a nice meal (or two), not part of a meal and an obligation for $50 in tax and tip.
(2)Vlad H.
Go eat there! It's good, decent place, but falls a notch short of excellent. Bistro Niko is a French-oriented restaurant. Yesterday was our third or fourth visit there. We had wine, two appetizers and shared an entree. All were good, but each had a little flaw that merited taking away one star. Wine by the glass. It was good. We are not experts on good wine, but quite good at detecting the bad one. These days with good wine being so available, it's no surprise that wine of great quality and diversity is served at a place like Bistro Niko. What was surprising though, is very stingy amount of wine poured in grotesquely small glasses. It makes you feel like a giant with oversized hands. We understand that wine is a profit center, but simply because Buckhead crowd is well-off, it does not make ethical to rip patrons off this way. C'mon, Niko. This was just a bit weird. Escargots appetizer. It's above average, possibly even best in town. The only spoiler was pieces of a shell or something alike present in one of mollusks, unpleasantly crunching on my teeth. Pork belly appetizer. The good news - it was truly outstanding. The bad news, it was not a pork belly. It was a piece of heavenly pork meat with everything around it being great. But a pork belly is mostly a piece of fat. It's tricky to cook and unusual for the US. It's a challenge for a chef to make it well and make it popular, and Niko's chef cheated. The result is great but not a real pork belly. Beef Bourguignon entree. It was good, but the sauce was a bit overpowering and while some pieced of beef (kobe) were perfect, some were dry. Better consistency is expected from Niko. The pasta that was a part of the dish almost steals the show. It was so unexpectedly good, it was in a league of its own. Overall, I will eat at Niko again and recommend others. At the same time Niko needs to improve in a few areas.
(4)Patrick L.
The skate wing had a really unique texture and I've never seen it on a menu before. I'm glad I ordered it but don't think I could do it agin ... skates are too graceful and my daugthers like em. It's like eating a monkey. In the end, if you like clarified butter you will freaking love this place. I think my beer had butter on it. A bit pricey but not a bad choice if you have a corporate card.
(3)Jody B.
Happened upon it on a quick trip to Atlanta near our hotel- great decor a noisy bustling room. Cheese puff apps were adorable and scrumptious. We had- chicken paillard which was great, croque Monsieur, also good, duck- hubby says may be the best he's had- and roasted chicken- yummy. Service was attentive but not overnebearing- really fine meal!!
(4)V T.
Think I'm going to start briefly listing things that best describe the rating v/s tell the whole story. Mussels app - mussels had not been washed and were filled with grit. Thought I chipped my tooth before realizing it was the dirt from the mussels. Snails were ok - but when compiled with mussel dish became lackluster. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon were both at LEAST 2 days old. Chicken was dry as a bone and both dishes had mushrooms that were burned / black. Butter noodles cooked in saltless water / flavorless. Dessert was good - and helped to improve the taste left by the other dishes. Server was quality. Felt bad he had to serve that garbage to people.
(2)Joseph L.
Great Lunch and Great Service. A good place to stop by during lunch hour to pickup a quick bite to eat.
(5)Wendy D.
The food and service were great! I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 for a few small (but significant to me) reasons. We went late--30-45 min before closing. The music was too loud, the bread was sour dough instead of French baguette (why would a French restaurant not have french bread?), the mussels were slightly undercooked (slimy), and the valet left without telling me how to retrieve my car--and the restaurant sent me to the wrong security desk to retrieve my keys when I asked where my car was. Had the valet TOLD me he was about to leave, I'd have either self-parked or asked how to retrieve my car and tipped him 5 bucks upfront. Ok, I'll quit whining and get to the food: The Chateaubriand was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I was excited I could order it for one. The potatoes were sliced thinly with butter, egg, and cream. Yum! My hubby had coq au vin (he raved about it) and salmon croque monsieurs as his starter. He loved everything he had. It was an affordable meal at $75 (no alcohol). Just wish the bread and mussels were better, and that I didn't have to play hunt and find for my car in 40 degree weather (my coat was of course in the car). LoL
(3)Tejal P.
This is our Sunday Brunch Spot... the bartenders are awesome. Tommy and Ranilya make the best drinks!
(5)Hilary O.
After a day working through lunch, my colleague and I were looking for a good local eat near our hotel in Buckhead. This is probably the longest I've ever taken to decide on what to order - the menu was well balanced with unique appetizers, small plates, and a plethora of seafood and steak dishes for dinner. Thankfully out waiter was very patient and helpful. Great atmosphere and even better food!
(4)Jessica B.
The food here was good! Overpriced, but I was still impressed with the presentation and overall quality of food. The atmosphere was very nice, it did give you that Paris feel. The reason that Bistro Niko gets 3 stars from me is because of the service. Our server must have walked right past our table 6 times and didn't even glance our direction. Even holding up our credit card, ready to pay, nothing! We ended up letting a manager know and he was the one to close us out. We asked for our dessert to go for obvious reasons. Not only did the manager not comp any of our meal for the terrible service, our crème brulee was tossed into a box, face down. By the time we got home it looked like old baby food. We originally went here with a gift card and I must say we won't be back. For that price, the food and the service better be outstanding! There are too many other wonderful places to eat in Atlanta!
(3)Jake R.
amazing duck, amazing food!!
(5)Mebin J.
A nicely designed restaurant with little ambience. I really don't know what is the real hype behind this , it's just a French restaurant that's it. The food was good ,but the ambience really not that great. It's really ddnt make me to comeback again,looks like my first time here is my last time. Good - nice restaurant design , classy upscale location , French food. Bad - ambience didn't come to my expectation -just feel like a regular restaurant , then may be valet parking, poor wine list for a French restaurant.
(3)Ashley M.
This place definitely lives up to the hype. My boyfriend and I started off with the Gougeres (light gruyere cheese puffs) and the Herb Goat Cheese Ravioli. The cheese puffs literally melt in your mouth-- they were so delicious I couldn't stop popping those heavenly little bites! The goat cheese ravioli was also delicious, but I would highly recommend the puffs. For my meal, I had the Scallops St. Jacques (sauteed sea scallops, asparagus, white wine nage, pomme puree). It was a most excellent dish! I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally finished every bite of my dish and was just a tad short of licking my plate clean. Definitely can't wait to go back! The only cons for this place seem to be the noise level (oddly loud and not intimate) and the service was not particularly stellar. Otherwise, this would be a perfect review!
(4)Mark C.
So the team at buckhead life made it right. I won't go into the details other than to say Niko handled the matter personally, quickly, and WAY beyond what I would have expected.
(5)Michael B.
I'm a little bit biased due to the convenience factor since this place is about a 30 second walk from my house, but I'm generally tough to please when it comes to French food... Atmosphere - It really has the feel of a French bistro (if only it were 1/2 the size and the ceilings were about 5 feet lower). It is always VERY loud in the main dining room, especially for dinner, but even the lunch time crowd seems to generate a lot of noise. So make sure to ask to sit in the somewhat secluded/private room by the hostess stand if you want to have a conversation. In the evenings, especially weekends, beware of the cougars. Lots of them patrolling the bar so beware. Food - As I mentioned, I'm normally tough to please when it comes to French food, but they know what they're doing here. Some of my favorites here include: Beef Tartare, Duck, Mashed Potatoes (these are a MUST try here) and the absolutely must have Bouef Bourguignon. They also, in my opinion, make the best Moscow Mule in the city so if you want a nice refreshing beverage this is the one to get. Service - This has always been hit and miss here. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Some of the waiters are just plain weird, others unfriendly, and some are ok. Not being, picky, the service really is enough of an issue to cost Niko a star. All in all though, a good place and fairly inexpensive considering the quality of the food.
(4)Saba E.
Wow! I was here with my family for a lovely Friday night dinner. We started off with an order of blue-something oysters but they accidentally brought us puff pastry escargot! Yum! Then they brought us the right order but no one was bothered by the delicious appetizers. Our entrees were an absolute delight! Altogether we had a coq au vin, peppercorn crusted steak, some fancy chicken dish, halibut, and a fantastic trout. Even though our tummies were content, the lovely posters of Paris forced our hands to dessert and espresso. We indulged in profiteroles and sorbet. We went home happy, tummies content, and satisfied to have discovered a gem in Atlanta. And, btw, the service was attentive and very professional. They were discrete and conscientious of all allergies. I have a great new place to attend when I return!
(5)Amit M.
I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the expertise with which different dishes were executed.
(5)Xo X.
If I could have given this place a -1 I would but the lowest available score is one star , so, by God's good grace they will attain this score. Service -TERRIBLE. Waiter was condescending and apparently did nto know he was a WAITER. Water was not offered. When I finally asked for some water, he poured it in the cups and one cup was 1/2 full and the other was , I kid you not, 1/4 full. It was strange. Then I looked in the cup only to see little stringy "dust" particles or something floatin in the water!!!! Further, there were no napkins on the table at seating. Barely checked on the table. Lastly, the wait time was TERRIBLE considering there was a minimal amount of people in the establishment at the time! Im so disappointed Food - ok they can get 1 star for mediocre. We ordered steak tartare and I am aware of the meaning of tartare but I was not impressed with the portion or presentation. My sister ordered a sandwich and the tosated bread was saturated in butter. I understand this is the South but nonetheless, it is still a FRENCH restaurant so I expect French food not with a southern touch. In summation, if you have never been to France or are ok with mediocre - feel free to dine here. If your waiter is a short, dark haired gentleman who looks very furry - good luck!
(1)Shayla C.
First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. The food was flavorful, though parts of my entree came out at different times. I loved the decor. Valet is 2 plus tip...cheaper than self parking. The food was a but pricey but good none the less.
(4)tony h.
I only get one specific dish each time I visit Bistro Niko...the Sautéed Sea Scallops. The most perfectly cooked, sweet and tender scallops I've ever had. Always consistently excellent. They scallops are served on a bed of mashed potatoes with asparagus spears. Just an amazing dish. Also, their chocolate sundae is a huge hit. The hazelnut brittle that comes with it is very tasty. Service here is always excellent. My only complaint is that it can get a little noisy in the main dining room area. They have a smaller dining area behind the hostess station that is a good option to reduce the noise and allow for pleasant conversation. It also allows a peak into the open kitchen which is a treat to be able watch. I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)Monica C.
We went on a visit to Atlanta after several people recommended and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is warm, service is wonderful and the food amazing.We decided to have a few appetizers and tried the mixed green salad, the charcuterie platter that was fantastic, the mussels and the duck confit.the food was all amazing but the duck confit was outstanding, a definite must try. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience is the area.
(5)Regina Q.
I didn't like the dish I ordered. Had just come back from Paris and was still in french food mode so we came here. I ordered steak frites and the steak was soo dry and tasted kind of off. I didn't finish it. It's cool looking inside but I'm not interested in trying the other dishes. Seems like a tourist trap.
(2)Kellie N.
A great way to spend New Years Eve for dinner. They menu was great, the food was amazing and the service really stood out. The desserts were not my favorite...but the food...wow, the food was so amazing! The seafood dishes are so fresh and the sauces are light and perfect!
(4)Jola Z.
This is my fave restaurant in Atlanta! Whenever I go there I am amazed. I usually order scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and onion soup, but if I try something new- I am never disappointed. This place made me love scallops and so far I have not tried better scallops anywhere else. Even if you are not sure if you like scallops, just try them there and you will love them. All the people working there are amazing, I like Katerina a lot as my waitress. It's more fancy, so make sure you dress nicely. I don't have even one bad thing I could say about this place. Enjoy :)
(5)David K.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience. Everything from my duck sausage appetizer, to my trout entree, to my citrus tarte dessert. I thought that the entire experience was fantastic. The place was clean, active, and my waitress was extremely attentive.
(5)Bridget J.
My husband and I had dinner last night and the food was beyond excellent. It was stupendous! This was the quickest meal we had served in our history of restaurant hopping. It came out in in 10 minutes flat, no joke! I had the Seafood Bouillabaisse, my husband had the Lamb Chops with their version of mashed taters and asparagus. The chops were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of char for added flavor. The taters were good and need a touch of salt but that's to be expected since most of us like our taters different. The bouillabaisse was surprisingly different and tasty. The difference was the broth base was red bell pepper instead of tomato. A very tasty change from the norm. I liked the consistency which made it great for sopping the crouton stick. The waiter was very helpful and suggested drinks from the menu. We had a lovely time and will visit again.
(5)Eric T.
Late review. Went here for a friends birthday dinner. Good thing we got a reservation since it was pretty packed that night if memory serves me correctly. You get a real classy vibe from this place. It's upscale for sure. Valet parking, an FYI for those who don't know. It's one of the finer establishments in Buckhead. The restaurant has a vintage decor reminding me of 20s era design elements and art direction. Large size dining space with a multitude of seating arrangements for a lot of people. Don't let the size fool you, it does get packed! Bistro Niko can be described as French cuisine with some local elements added to it (link below to all menus). The menu does change from time to time, just a heads up. The taste for the dishes I ordered were unique, I didn't expect a strong butter taste so that was a bit different. Took some getting used to, but I enjoyed ot overall. Check out the menu ahead of time or ask the waiter/waitresses for recommendations if you are unsure on what to get. They do have a mean creme brulee here, you got to try that! This place puts quality and effort into all its dishes and I can commend that. They have a very well trained staff who are professional and accommoding to their guests. Bistro Niko is a real intimate and classy restaurant that makes you feel right at home as soon as you walk in. My Recommendations: -creme brulee Menu: mobile.dudamobile.com/si… Hours: -Lunch: Mon - Sat, 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. -Dinner: Sun - Thurs, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. -Brunch: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(4)Linda C.
Went with my husband for a nice dinner, but the noise level was unbelievable so we asked to be moved. Our original waiter was super nice, our second waiter was less than friendly which made us regret moving from the noisy area (near the bar). Second waiter brought me the wrong salad, but I just ate it and tried not to cause any more problems. My husband enjoyed his entree, I decided to skip an entree and order dessert because I'm usually too full to enjoy a dessert. My husband also ordered dessert so I could try two different things. I have to admit, both were delicious. Will give it another try the next time we are in the area.
(4)Daniel B.
Bistro Niko is a higher-end French restaurant in Buckhead. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (Buckhead Diner, Chops, Pricci, etc.), I surmise it's been one of the group's more successful restaurants since it's opening in late 2009 for a couple reasons: (1) almost every time I drive past it, the patio is slammed, (2) Dine Around cards for this restaurant, while they do exist, seem to be rare. Located on the ground level of a high-rise building not too far from Lenox Square Mall, Bistro Niko is grand and chic. Along with the aforementioned outdoor patio, which faces Peachtree, there are two dining areas inside. The coolest thing about this restaurant's design is the open kitchen situated next to the entrance. One of the dining rooms sits across from the kitchen. It's smaller, quieter, and more intimate. The large dining room has high, elaborate-designed French ceilings and light fixtures, a mixture of small-to-large booth and table seating, and a bar. Traditional yet stylish French art and decor fills the space. It feels a bit magical, like the world of Hugo or something. Note it can get quite loud in the big dining room. While many of my friends and fellow Yelpers have raved about this restaurant, I don't have the same feelings. Simply put, the food doesn't knock my socks off and service is inconsistent. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I was expecting Bistro Niko to blow me away like Kyma or Veni Vidi Vici, two excellent Buckhead Life restaurants. Instead, it's let me down like Atlanta Fish Market. French cuisine is supposed to be among the best in the world, so one would expect Bistro Niko to bring it. Charcuterie (meats, cheeses), chicken, steak, duck, lamb chops, and seafood (raw oysters, mussels) make up a big part of the menu. Most appetizers are about $10-12 each and entrees are about $20-30+ each. I've tried the following: Escargots "en croute" - garlic butter, puff pastry Mussels "Le Coze" - white wine, shallots, cream & parsley 12-ounce ribeye with Cafe de Paris butter (made of 23 herbs) and fries Monk fish with spinach, fennel, mashed potatoes, and Parmesan cream sauce Creme Brulee a la Vanille - vanilla custard, hard caramel crust Profiteroles - choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, almonds The escargots (snails) and mussels are delicious. Each dish comes in two sizes. If sharing, I recommend ordering a dozen escargots and/or a small order of mussels for every 2-3 people. The escargots are soaked in a super rich, garlic butter sauce. I'm convinced the only reason the puff pastry exists is to help offset the heaviness of the butter. The butter is so tasty I like to dip the table bread into it. The escargots themselves are fresh and plump. Each escargot has its own compartment on the serving platter and this version of escargots is probably the oiliest one I've had yet. I could do without the breading, but with that much butter... maybe not. Like the escargots, the mussels are also quite fresh. There's no fishy or briny taste, though you may occasionally run into bit of shell. The white wine and cream sauce is light, yet full of flavor. It's yet another fine sauce to dip bread into. The thinly sliced and cooked shallots are delicate and provide additional texture. Both the ribeye and the monk fish are specials not available on the regular menu. I like having my steaks cooked medium to retain some of the meat's juiciness and flavor. The ribeye was sort of a letdown because, while nice, thick, and hearty, it was still a bit too tough, despite the meat being slightly pink throughout. I do like the generous portion size. I'm not sure what's up with the Cafe de Paris butter. It's made out of 23 herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It doesn't taste like butter, but more like a coarse, mustardy condiment. Perhaps most of the "butter" part has melted into the ribeye by the time it hits the table, but even so, it didn't taste like it. The ribeye is accompanied with a side of plain, thick French fries, which aren't bad. The monk fish is a white fish that's light and subtle in flavor. This dish is creamy because of the mashed potatoes and Parmesan cream sauce. The sauce provides good flavor for the fish and gives the cooked spinach a creamed effect. The mashed potatoes are soft and savory. A bit of fennel sprouts are placed atop the fish. This is a basic dish with not a lot of pizzazz or wow factor. Not that a dish needs that to be good, but I was expecting more out of monk fish. Consider splitting the desserts with others. The creme brulee is a nice dessert. Smooth, sweet, and delectable. I'm not a fan of the profiteroles because of the choux pastry. It's bland, soggy, and lifeless. Maybe the profiteroles I had sat out too long and the ice cream melted into the dough. The ice cream and chocolate is fine, though. While the servers are friendly, service can be painstakingly slow. Valet is $2 (gratuity not included).
(3)Nicholas B.
I love this place! One of the first restaurants I visited after moving to Atlanta and had an awesome experience. Food was great, expensive, but not for the quality. Drinks were reasonable and the staff was on point. If I had a 6th star, bistro niko would get it.
(5)Carrie Neal W.
Still solid. First - if you go about 2pm on a weekday, you will be able to get a lovely booth for a long lunch. I was looking for quite long, ie 3+ hours since it was with my darling and loquacious Godmother and for my b'day, and made sure to pick a spot without a lunch-before-dinner close. Quick recap: Hangar steak still my fave, and it's very generous (ie, we both got it and I took home what amounted to an entire entree since each of us ate half of ours). Not as big of a fan of the salmon rillette as I was- bit more fishy tasting (though I hate to give that cliche description) and definitely more chunky rather than spreadable. Great haricots verts - I mean, green beans. Sauteed in garlic and olive oil/butter but not greasy. Amazing profiteroles - a dessert I love but do not order often, and it was a complimentary b'day treat! Perfectly soft-ish pastry, shaved almonds along with the chocolate drizzle, delicious vanilla ice cream holding it all together. Pretty space, quiet at the right time, good for a group in the separate room, classily hopping at the bar at the right time of day - really, what's better for a French bistro in a Southern city? Je ne pense beaucoup. (Yeah, I had to look up the tense since my AP French is a little rusty).
(4)Lawrence C.
Either my memories were fonder, or this restaurant is ratcheting down a notch, as I can only award three stars to my dinner earlier this week. This has always been a favorite of ours, a short walking distance in our old neighborhood, so we were eager to return when we visited Atlanta again. My wife and I each started with the Endive salad, $11. This was served with candied pecans or walnuts and blue cheese (my wife opted for goat's feta cheese). For my main, I knew what I wanted before arrival...the Paillard de poulet (chicken paillard), which was as plentiful as I expected, yet lacked the crispness and texture that I desired (see photo). Flavors were good, and at $19 a good value. An excellent St. Peter's Porter beer @ $9.00 was a worthy complement. My wife had a bowl of the white bean soup, $9, which was also flavorful. Service was very spotty...and coupled with the noisy environment, as befitting a bistro (dignified pub for us yanks), can only yield a solid 3 stars.
(3)Qiaoyi X.
Everything is picture perfect. But wait, we're not eating with eyes. Essentially, it depends on my palate, and it's a 3-star. Okay, 4-star then. The restaurant is grand with beautiful paintings, a kitchen you can observe from outside and people dress nicely. Even the bathrooms are fancier than most of the restaurants I've been to. We went inside after saturday 2-hour hiking. Imaging we're wearing sweat pants and t-shirts, and everyone else dressed up... Yes, I felt under-dressed and embarrassed. Anyway, we still sat down and ordered food. The Grand Platter is an assembly of lots of appetizers. Salamis, chicken liver terrine, au cognac and pickles. I love chicken liver terrine, while my friends were fond of au cognac. For the entree, the portion size is not consistent. If you get shrimps and scallops, you need to order desert. If you order cheaper materials like ducks and beef, you will feel full. My crisped duck confit seems a favorite on table, but it was not that great to me. Yes, duck legs are tender, but the juice is somewhat salty. I still favor Au Rendez-Vous. Dessert is tarte au Citron, which is still too sweet for me. There's a valet parking in front of the door, $2 for parking, and tips($). You can also choose to park yourself. Bistro Niko tried hard to be a fantastic French restaurant, but the dishes are not so authentic and tasty. I am a little disappointed.
(4)Keo S.
This place is over-hyped and maybe does well because of all the travelers and hotels in the area. It's nice to have a patio, but that's the main upside to this place. Really poor service - who doesn't know how to poor a beer - basically our server - straight in the middle of the glass creating the largest "head" I've ever seen - he did it twice and I had to stop him from pouring my 3rd beer and basically asked him if he's ever had beer before. Anyway, that was really annoying, also forgot my friend's wine order for 10 mins, and the food was just meh from there. Flat bread - greasy and salty, charcuterie board - hard to mess that up, but it was just ok. Net net - there are so many better places to eat right there so you have a plethora of options
(1)Alex P.
More visits, more of a mess and they are about to lose my business. It's a beautiful restaurant, but lacks some very fundamental details that you would expect when spending this kind of money. Here is my breakdown: - reservations are a complete mess. On two occasions, we had to wait over 30 min to be seated, given that we already had a reservation. What a joke! - on multiple occasions, they forgot to bring our appetizers. Seriously, your managers apologies and a free dessert do not fix the problem. I just want good service! - food is excellent. I love the Horseradish Crusted Cod, the veal, their chicken dishes and scallops. Really I have yet to try something I don't like on the menu. - on the a recent occasion, we were midway through eating the appetizer and they already bring our main course out. Timing needs to be better guys. - their "wine buckets" a plastic sacks, that look extremely out of place at an establishment of this level - found a piece of hair in our food, unacceptable. They tried to remedy by bringing some desserts. My expectation would have been, the table eats for free in such a situation. They need to be punished for these trivial cleanliness issues.
(2)Charles S.
A Miami friend was in town. She is a foodie. Whenever I am in Miami she always takes me to the hottest places with the best food -- and she treats, or more accurately her employer does. (This is a business, not a social relationship.) So when Pat was in ATL for #CNN35, I made a reservation @ Niko's. On the terrace. The food could not have been better. Pat was in heaven: "This gazpacho is just like in Barcelona." No kidding. And she loved the thin salmon, barely grilled and covered with arugula and bit of sauce. Niko's was the perfect choice for Foodie Pat. Suggestion to Niko: ceiling fans on the terrace. And the tony, round bistro table were pretty, but weren't large enough for two sets of dinner plates, bread plate, glasses, etc.
(5)Adam G.
Parisian inspired faire without pretension. Charcuterie plates did not disappoint! Mussels and French bread to die for. Reasonable wine prices (value but nice selection!) are something I look for when considering restaurants. Waiters recommended Coppola's Directors Cut and it was an excellent bottle for $42.00. I ordered the Rib Eye pomme frites (fries) on special and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare. Excellent cut of meat. My wife ordered the haddock special and loved it. Attentive staff and friendly bartenders. This place is bustling with diners and energy for a reason. Bravo. I will be coming back a 3rd time.
(5)M A.
I'm breaking up with you Buckhead Life. And this time it's for good. Your monopoly days are over. You can't treat people poorly, serve ok food, hire untrained waiters and stay on top. Those days are gone. As in 1999 is gone, as in your hay-day has past. The service people had come to expect is GONE. gone gone gone. First, our reception from the 7 ft ice queen who onced-us-over (wanna be model) in slow motion then rolled her eyes because we asked to be seated in a certain area definitely set the mood. Then the waiter bringing me a blanc champagne and telling me "no, it's a rose" after I said it wasn't the correct drink. So I had to google it to show him it was indeed the wrong champagne. So he admitted it was in the computer wrong and had to get the right one from the bartender. From the escargot was swimming in butter/oil, the waiter never explaining the charcuterie plate to my husband when it was sat down, to drinks took 25+ minutes, and the red showing up at the end of the best course?!! Unforgivable. The waiter said "we only have one bartender working tonight". Wow. The white bean soup was greasy and tasted like puréed bacon, this place is an exercise in frustration and poor service. BL PLEASE get current and train your staff like they USED to be. Also as a side note - the general manager was regularly walking around, but not asking anyone how their meal was. More like rushing around in a frenzy. So sad. Waste of a beautiful space. This is for the grey haired dead taste bud drink pounding guido crowd. But hey, that may be your scene. There's too many phenomenal restaurants in Atlanta crushing it to put up with subpar food and attitude these days. I have to redeem my night now at a Ford Fry establishment. I suggest you do the same, anywhere is better than here. Buckhead life? No. Buckhead Deceased is more like it.
(1)Luis V.
Strolling around the downtown area we visited this place on a whim. This is the real French experience, wine galore. We started off with some Blue Point oysters. They were delicious, but there was less juice than I would expect for a place with multiple selection of oysters, but that's just me being picky. For an entree I order the Foroe Island Salmon that comes with a side of quinoa. When it came out the salmon topped the quionoa and sauce for a masterful centerpiece. I removed a bit of salmon and mixed it with the quinoa sauce and man, was that delicious. Smaller portions then I am use too, but that just made me savor the moment longer. For dessert we got the banana sundae and creme brule. Both were good and out of the two I would recommend the banana sundae.
(5)Natasha R.
Got in late for work this place hit the spot. Nice ambiance and s 5 min walk from Doubletree or Marriott. The trout was perfect and served on green beans. The tomato flatbread was great too. Everything tastes very fresh.
(4)Pam C.
Enjoyed dining at the bar. Started with the white bean soup. Good, but not great. It was served pureed, I dont know why but thought it would be chunkcy...didnt take away from the flavor, of course. Then had the crispy duck salad with frisee, and potatoes. Very good. Solid, but not awesome. Valet is $2, gratuity not included.
(3)Theresa H.
I have not written a review here?? Impossible!! I checked again, yup I was wrong, I have indeed not penned any review of my top favorite restaurant. I still find it hard to believe, what am I thinking?? Totally unacceptable! Need to set my record right, so here it goes.. Bistro Niko - a restaurant in Buckhead resembling a Parisian brasserie, a place with grand ceiling and French artwork, a restaurant with excellent food, great service and beautiful ambience (especially during the evening) and a place where I spent a lot of money *sob*. Bistro Niko is my favorite restaurant not just cos it is located within walking distance from my home. I usually dine in here every other week. I have a few things in the items which I will normally order. They are (named in order of my favs) 1) Duck confit - my #1 fav, always crispy and tender. 2) Loup de Mer - sea bass, melted spinach with fingerling potatoes 3) Chicken Paillard -grilled and thinly pounded chicken breast 4) Sautéed Cape Cod Skate Wing - with brown butter, capers, potatoes 5) Maine Sea Scallops - when I wanted something light, served with pomme potatoes 6) Coq Au Vin - French Classic chicken in red wine, mushrooms, potatoes 7) Boeuf Bourguignon - "Kobe beef" cheeks braised in burgundy wine 8) Trout Meunière - sautéed trout, brown butter, capers and pomme purée Creme brûlée here is heavenly, it puts a smile on my face when I eat it. The profiteroles are very good too but I am biased due to my love with creme brûlée. My latest visit was with a friend from Milan, Italy. He ordered the steak tartare with fries, and me the deux plats*. He really enjoyed his steak tartare (but I don't think he cared much about those fries) and said it was really good. He asked me to try but errrrr no, I don't really eat anything raw (do not stone me :( ). I asked him to try my duck confit instead, he simply loved it and said he would definitely order that next time. I find many people do not favor any duck dish and would shy away from this, but I say give it a try. The duck is not dry, very tender, flavorful and cooked to perfection. *Deux Plats - the menu has a section called "Les Formules" which offer deux plats or trois plats which one can order something from one of the hors d'oeuvres, entrée or desserts choices. So in my case, I chose the duck confit (entrée) with creme brûlée (desserts) which made up deux plats. Deux is French for two. We both really enjoyed the meal and we shared the creme brûlée too. Yes, how generous I am since I usually love to have my creme brûlée all by myself, haha.. On a serious note, the madeleine that comes with the creme brûlée has not much buttery taste to it. I rather the restaurant not served the wonderful creme brûlée with this sad mediocre plain madeleine. The madeleine at Starbucks is much better. So what else have I miss? Ambience is excellent and service is always great. I never have a bad service here though once two of the servers simply watched me fell from the booth. Thank you guys, for not trying to catch me but simply standing there. I bruised my knees quite badly that time. Bistro Niko is definitely a place to go with friends or with a special someone. I highly recommend this place if you have not try it out yet. Note: Valet parking is not complimentary. There's a sign that says $2 parking fee and gratuity not inclusive.
(5)Shan S.
Came in for some drinks on a Sunday. I don't eat gluten because of a severe gluten intolerance. Only had a small snack here. All of the fried potatoes including the fries are gluten free. They also are not cooked with any other flour product as to prevent cross contamination. If you are looking for gluten free, these people have completely re did the menu. Kudos to this place for placing a small "gf" next to every single gluten free item. I was so impressed I ordered a snack at a place we came by after eating. So many choices, not just the usual salad minus croutons. Thank you so much for making it easy for us. I didn't get to eat anything important. But I plan on being back to give it a go. Just had some crispy duck potatoes. Not so crispy, but pretty incredible. Ask for Rhett at the bar, he makes a proper drink.
(5)Andrew D.
This establishment remains a favorite of mine. Though perhaps a tad staid having been open for 5 years now, it is still consistent in service, fare, and value. I come here for Seafood, and traditional French offerings. The Seafood is all outstanding, I very much enjoy sharing a large pot of mussels to start along with either the Steak Tartar or the duck leg to start. As for Entrees I prefer the Salmon, Lemon Sole with capers and spinach, or the European Seabass. I also love their seafood pasta in heavy cream. On the lighter side the Georgia Shrimp in wrapping and the Scallops are both great lighter entrees. I have tried both their bar steak, and their Strip Steak. Both left me underwhelmed. For brunch I have had their burger which is good, but nothing amazing. I should likely try the Lamb burger at some point. Desert wise the plays are their Apple Tart, the Rhum Desert or there is another one which is very light and very good. I find the Creme Brule mediocre at best and the few tmes i had it I was always disappointed that it came out with a crisp warm top. The Profiteroles are also a disappointment in my book. Bistro used to have the most likely bar scene in Atlanta when it opened. Thursday-Saturday it is still quite lively. They do have one or two small, non-intrusive TVs at the bar, so a game in the background it nice. The wine list is very approachable with a number of basic French Pinot Noirs and Malbecs at very reasonable prices. I usually drink Piper Heidsieck while dining and finish with a nice Port to accompany desert.
(5)Semra E.
Had a really excellent brunch with my family here. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, although the inside has a great atmosphere too. The decor & service was excellent & flawless. It is everything you hope it would be. We started with coffee & the three cheese plate. We also had the tartine salmon which was light & a great way to start the meal. I had the quiche with the salad, which was just the right amount of food I needed. I would recommend this place for any special occasion OR just to have a great meal with someone. Can't wait for my next visit.
(4)Dave L.
Me and my friends come here often for the perfectly seasoned burgers and cold beers. Patio seating is a must to enjoy the outdoor frenzy of Buckhead life and to discuss deep meaning of life itself... Food is a bit pricy here, but you are paying for the ambiance and great food. I'd give them five stars, but recently the burger patties has become a bit hmmmm 'hammered down' versus the plump and juicy. Overall a excellent place to hang out and chill!
(4)Andrew W.
It seemed only fitting to celebrate my graduation from Le Cordon Bleu (a French-based culinary school) by dining out at arguably Metro-Atlanta's finest French restaurant. We arrived, with reservations, on a Saturday evening. The maître d' kindly escorted us to our table as the establishment was quickly starting to fill up with hungry patrons. Looking over the classically French menu, we decided to order Gougères - savory little puffs of choux pastry flavored with Gruyère cheese. Though there is about a 15-20 minute wait for these heavenly bites, I highly encourage it. For entrees, I regrettably played it safe - I was in the mood for a steak, and a steak is exactly what I got (Entrecôte Frites). The steak was cooked properly (medium-rare as I had ordered it) and the Béarnaise sauce was enjoyable with it. However, the fries were rather ordinary. After tasting the Beef Bourguignon that my wife ordered, I wished that I had been a bit more adventurous. Oh, how I wish I had ordered that delicious beef, braised in Burgundy red wine! So tender, rich, and flavorful. It seemed only appropriate for me to enjoy a glass of Bordeaux with my steak, and my wife to enjoy a glass of Burgundy with her Beef Bourguignon, so we did. Bistro Niko's wine list provided for many options, at varying price points, regions, and varietals. We weren't about to finish this celebratory dinner without dessert. Looking over the dessert menu, we had difficulty choosing - everything sounded amazing. Ultimately, we honed in on the Cafe Caramel Sundae, with the help of our waitress. This sundae, which boasted a scoop of coffee ice cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, sablé cookies, salted caramel, and topped with candied pecans and Chantilly cream was blissfully balanced and textured... in other words, a perfect sundae. To our pleasant surprise, our dessert was comped by the maître d' along with two complimentary glasses of Champagne that the waitress brought out to us in honor of the occasion. How cool! I am certainly grateful to Bistro Niko and staff for making our evening both memorable and enjoyable.
(4)Adrian M.
A faultless evening. Really great food, impeccable service, well chosen wine. We really cannot wait to go back there. As for the food - caprese salad was just right, the escargot were very good, but unwound have preferred not to have had them in Pernod. Then wifey had skate wing, which she compared to a very good lobster, while I had one of the specials, a rib eye. Again, excellent!
(5)James L.
Ahhhhhh.... Where to start. Where to start. I have been here many times and enjoy my little trip to Paris'. The atmosphere is full of life and energy. If you come for lunch plan on seeing business meetings and girl friends out to lunch drinking rose'. Come to niko at dinner and you get a much better Feeling of what this place is about. The drinks and food are exceptional, I have not had a bad item on the menu. Service staff is always accommodating. In Atlanta and need a fix of French cuisine and atmosphere... Come to bistro Niko. Update: 3/18/2015 If you are wrestling between steak au poivre and beauf go with the steak au poivre. The Beauf was very gelatinous tasting (even with Kobe beef) my son got steak au poivre 8.5 out of 10.
(4)M.E. K.
My favorite restaurant in town. Just keeps getting better every time I visit. Their mussels have a reputation for a reason. I've had better profiteroles though.
(5)Mary Beth L.
This place is so so good. Love the skate wings, baba au rhum and the bar is lovely as well. Great patio for this time of year. You really can't go wrong. The only thing I don't love is the noise level.
(4)Lori M.
This place is interesting. I've been here on a few occasions for dinner or lunch with friends and recently for a first date. The atmosphere was great. We were able to have plenty of conversation without our surroundings being too loud. The menu is a bit stuffy for my taste but we were able to stretch the evening out with wine, salad and flatbread. Our service was definitely up to par but the menu options, thr quality of the food compared to the price makes it a spot I wouldn't frequent. I went there more for a convenience factor versus taste. If you work or live near Buckhead I'd say go here for a night or happy hour at the bar. Otherwise there are far too many places to go. Much better food right down the street.
(3)Kristin B.
Consistently underwhelming and overpriced for what it is. My most recent and most disappointing visit was for brunch. I refuse to wait for meals, so restaurants with reservations are a must for brunch in Atlanta where the meal is basically a sport or religion with the level of fervor with which Atlantans approach it. Needing a restaurant in Buckhead, Bistro Niko fit the bill for a 12:30 brunch on a Sunday. Shockingly, when we arrived, there were literally only two other tables occupied in this cavernous (and gorgeous) restaurant. They have recreated the French bistro feel perfectly, minus the fact that it is at least three times larger than any bistro I've ever dined at in France. The service, as it is at all Buckhead Life restaurants, was fantastic. But the food was just average at best. A pastry basket to start had only two different items in it (though two of each), which kind of defeats the point of a pastry basket, which I see as an opportunity to sample a variety of items. And $12 for four small croissants (without even any jam for them) seemed like quite the rip-off. Moving onto entrees, my salad Nicoise was large, but had little flavor, and the tuna was in teeny tiny little flakes and mixed into the pre-dressed salad greens. It made it hard to get much protein out of the meal, since I could only finish about the half the salad. Check any picture on google images, and you'll see that generally the tuna is in slices, big chunks, or at least sort of plated in a bigger clump. Bistro Niko's preparation essentially made the salad taste like tuna flavored lettuce. All in all? There's a reason this spot is empty at brunch. With so many good new restaurants springing up all over this city, Buckhead Life is going to have to up their game.
(3)Deniz G.
I have definitely expected better. From service, to cleanliness, to decor, all the way to the food. Starting off, our server was nowhere to be found from the moment we got the waters for a solid 20 minutes, until we were ready to order the drinks, appetizers and entree all together. The drinks came after the bread and butter, which came after the appetizers. The order of all these seemed a little awkward. The coq de vin was very salty, and the creme brulee was soft on top, at room temperature. As I said, even though it wasn't totally terrible, there are probably much better alternatives for this price range all over town. The most ridiculous of all was the fruit fly that was hovering our heads, indoors. A disgusting experience to be honest, and most definitely disappointing if you think about the classiness they are trying to present. I will not go back.
(2)Meredith R.
If you're deciding upon a 'splurge' restaurant, your expectations may fall short here. Bistro Niko is indeed pretty ... but you can't eat ambience. Food that was hyped by other reviewers, tasted ordinary to us. Gougeres? Nothing-with-nothing cheese balls. Beef bourgeon, a bit fatty. Loup de mer, could have been any number of white, flakey fish. Two thumbs up for the scallops: sweet and cooked just right. The best salad on the table was endive. (There are two kinds; choose the smooth, not frisee.) Mesclun salad had no pizazz and the beet goat cheese salad had plenty of beets, but a mere whiff of cheese. (C'mon!) The best dessert was the cheese plate. The others -- profiteroles and a banana sundae -- comme ci comme ca. I can't comment on the wine list, since we've gotten in the habit of bringing what we like from home. Corkage fee here is $15 per bottle. I'm a big fan of Kyma (also part of the Buckhead Life chain); Bistro Niko can't compare.
(3)Teresa Z.
Foods are OK. We tried 6 courses, i only like the scallops. The thing I really don't like is that it was crowded and noisy. If u want romantic date, don't go there. I have to talk very loud to make me heard. I don't think it worths the price i paid, which was $50 per person without any drink.
(3)Bruce L.
Whoever is running the show here at this French establishment must not believe in imperfection. The many times I come here, Bistro Niko remains consistent in gratifying my experience with diverse selection of dishes that are incredible. It is absolutely the elite French venue here in Atlanta. Having the privilege of exploring majority of their menu, I have not encountered a dish I did not like. But if the menu option is overwhelming for you, I will help you with starters. Personally, I always start with the caviar and the duck confit (Appetizers). Words are not invented to describe the intense pleasure you will experience. I am also a fan of deep sea oysters; therefore, if they have Malpeque Oysters or Kumamoto Oysters, DO NOT HOLD BACK! One Dozen may not be enough because they're so amazing. Honestly, I get really full by the time I have to make an entrée selection =P I've tried them all and it really depends on what your preferences are. I assure you disappointment is a word that does not exist inside this establishment. I recommend making a reservation because the place is very lively everyday. I also recommend going early prior to your reservation to enjoy the full bar. They offer very unique specialty cocktails and a large wine selection. Cheers!
(5)Ashleigh P.
Complimentary valet in Buckhead! Can't hate that. I have been meaning to come here for years. I was here for lunch. We had the pate and salmon rillette to start. Both were excellent. The Pate was the smoothest I have ever had. I ordered the scallops... ohs my gosh. So good. The pomme puree was so good, probably half butter.' So many scallops too. So many. Our server could have been better, more attentive... but the food. My floating island was a perfect dessert to end the meal. All around wonderful food.
(5)Maryam H.
Incredible spot! I am not too familiar with the Buckhead area of Atlanta, but I enjoyed this place for a recent lunch with clients. We started with a flat bread pizza and assortment of pates and meats. Both incredibly delicious, however if you are not into surprise pates then stay away-I for one find the texture a little suspect but really enjoyed the entire selection (which was sizable). Next, I shared an order of escargot with friend, incredible! But to be honest, I don't have anything to compare it to too, but I thought the puff pastry on top of the baked escargot really complimented what seemed like a light pesto. A little on the oily side, but delicious and an interesting combination nonetheless. For my main course, I went with the trout, and it was PERFECT. Moist and not fishy at all, and a HUGE order that came ontop capers and string beens with mashed potatoes on the side. I wasn't able to finish the order. My accompanying party ordered the duck, mussels, and scallops and I heard only raves. My favorite part of this restaurant is the ambiance and atmosphere, the service could have been better, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the displaced parisian attempts that so many bistro's flood you with. The decor was charming and restrooms were clean- always a good sign. Would love to go back and try another meal that wasn't so heavy in order to give this bistro another star...
(4)Alexandra S.
I've been here twice and everything has been excellent! Probably the best French food in the city. I recommend all of these that I've had so far: endive salad, foie gras (seared a perfect MR with a berry compote and mini brioche), mussels, escargot (with a perfect garlic and herb butter and puff pastry), trout (cooked perfectly with the skin browned but with moist flesh, toasted almonds, green beans and fingerling potatoes and brown butter) scallops (cooked a perfect MR with a divine sauce, asparagus and the best creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes, profiteroles and le flotante (which is soft baked meringue, crème anglaise, almonds, caramel). And the service is excellent as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Sheril K.
Underwhelming and overpriced. Service was.. odd. I was assured "you know that anything jacques does is great" (referring to wine). I did not know that. It was not great. The timing of the meal was all off- brought out entrees while the table was covered with apps, and the runner audibly exclaims "f--K" as our waitress dashes over to clear some plates. cocktails- white manhattan was one dimensional. apps- ordered pork rillette, which was fine. Raclette was too thin on the pan, so it came out broiled and leathery- indistinguishable from generic melting cheese. Mesculin salad was nice, lightly dressed. entrees- the trout wasn't scaled properly!! Also drowned in butter. Green beans were terribly overcooked. steak frites- steak was tough (although it looked like it was cooked right)... frites were tasty. desert of creme brûlée was yummy. But hardly enough to make up for the rest of the meal.
(2)Lauren A.
I honestly can't recall if I've thrown a review for bistro niko out there to date, but after several visits i have some pretty finalized opinions 1. the atmosphere is trendy french. Think Anis (cafe french) but with the nightlife feeling you are looking for on a weekend. 2. Open table/other reservation sites will show this restaurant booked at all hours. Once it said the only open table was at 9:30p and instead we walked in at 7:30/8 isn and were taken immediately to a seat. Keep in mind that huge waiting lines done typically build up at places you have to valet just to get in. 3. The menu has improved since they opened. There were more than several choices i was interested in, vs. the first visit where i ordered a salad though I love french food. 4. The menu is GOOD! on our last visit I ordered the salmon spread, the lobster bisque and the scallops. Previously I had ordered the mussels as well. One thing to keep in mind. please expect your meal to be prepared with A TON OF BUTTER. don't get me wrong... who doesn't love the taste of butter. However, this is to the level that when you take the first bite you think "OH MY GOD IM IN HEAVEN" and then three hours later you lay in bed while your food is settling and thing "OH MY GOD IM IN HELL" in short - rich flavor, delicious, no need for reservation, "night out atmosphere"
(4)Nay P.
Not a big fan of French food but it was pouring rain, so we stopped in to check it out. Our server (Travis aka Leroy) was great and made us feel welcomed. Extra plus he was tall, handsome and generous. I ordered the lamb chops and they were wonderful. Cooked to perfection and very juicy. My coworkers ordered the Coq Au Vin and Salmon, which I taste tested and those dishes were also great. Menu has alot of options. The crowd is mature and very well dressed. Seemed to be coming in after work. The bathrooms were separated and very nicely decorated. Weird point but I like when restaurants have nice bathrooms. Very close to the Buckhead Marta.
(4)Michelle K.
I'm a huge fan of Bistro Niko. It's located a few minutes from where I work so it's nice to come here for lunch or happy hour. Our favorite lunch choice is the croque monsieur. Everything from the perfectly toasted bread to the melted cheese is fantastic. I'm a huge fan of their fries as well. The service here is always stellar and my water glass is rarely empty since they are very attentive here. I've been here for happy hour as well and it definitely gets pretty busy between 5-7pm in the bar area. Everything about this restaurant makes you want to come back for future visits. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and the staff is always courteous. I've yet to try their dinner menu but it's one of my favorite places to visit for lunch during the week. The service is efficient so you can be in and out within an hour if you're familiar with the menu and know exactly what you're ordering.
(4)Nick G.
Wow, what a great French restaurant! We made reservation via Yelp and received excellent service. The food was amazing, they had a pork chop on special which I had to try. It was without a doubt the best pork chop I ever had. One secret is that they soak it in a bag of water for 24 hours to make it extra juicy! My girlfriend ordered the scallops, they were cooked perfectly and had great flavor! We dabbled with some apps and bread, all of it was great. So obviously at a French restaurant you have to have some wine. Very nice selection to choose from, we landed on a French bottle from a highly regarded vineyard. Couldn't have had a better night!!!
(5)Dennis M.
If you come here for nothing more than the escargot and the mussels and a drink (or two) you will have found the best of French cuisine that Buckhead has to offer. Disagree with most negative reviews on this site about service. Have been eating here since this restaurant opened. Wait staff is always pleasant, efficient and hospitable. We did recently get a "new" waiter but the manager took care of us with his shortfalls. Best entrée on the menu...... Boeuf Bourguignon @ $21.95. Give the steak knife back to the waiter. You can cut these Kobe beef cubes with your fork! Simply devine! (Get extra bread for the broth that the mussels are served in!)
(5)Scott P.
Bistro Niko, as you probably know from the other couple hundred reviews here, is a French restaurant and part of the Buckhead Life Group of restaurants, a group of restaurants known for their quality of food and service. I use the ultimate card that they offer and usually charge it every winter as they usually have some offer then to discount the charging of the card. So I'm very familiar, I suppose you can say a fan of the group. So my bias leans that I'm going to enjoy my experience every time, and typically they do not disappoint. Bistro Niko does not disappoint. I'm not sure everyone that comes in gets a waiter with a French accent but that's sure a bonus to set the scene - additionally adding bonus points for being animated, friendly, and knowing the menu. Secondly, in the service he was prompt and attentive to our needs and I'd give this a 5 star on service. One thing that I appreciated is that we decided to do 3 apps and share a main course. The waiter did not even hesitate that this was an ok plan by him. In order of greatness, the Pork Belly was fantastic, the lamb confit was crispy skinned and oh so juicy and tender inside, and the scallops - calamari app was our least fav. Not that it wasn't done well, but I'm not a huge fan of French as I usually find that at times it can be a bit bland (I like spice) and I would say the app was a bit on the bland side. We shared the pork chop, it was probably the thickest cut of pork chop I've seen in my life. Cooked to perfection, grill marks perfectly laid on the outside and tender in the middle, this dish I would do over again if I go back. The ambiance is really nice, it's not a typical French upscale interior, it has a mix of subway style flair, open court, and fine dinning. The only drawback is the noise level. Having done the patio for breakfast on one occasion I found the patio to also be inviting, as you can watch the busy street and people go by while getting that fine dining feel. Also, to speak of the breakfast, the eggs benedict is divine! I will be back.
(4)Chlo L.
I have to admit, I was expecting a little bit more from this place with all the fantastic reviews... but I guess we've been spoiled by french restaurants from DC, St. Maartin, & Paris. We came here for a little family dinner before leaving town. We got the steak frites, st jaques scallops, salmon, & beef bourguignon. I've had better bourguignon from american restaurants. I would have ordered my usual - duck breast, but they didn't have any rice. :( The only things that lived up to our expectations were the scallops, drinks, and the service. This was our first time here, but Mark made us feel like we were regulars. It got a bit crowded by the bar though, so expect it if you're coming around 6 or 7. I highly recommend the Ti Punch!
(3)B H.
4 ish stars for Sunday brunch. Our party enjoyed Eggs Benedict, cappuccinos, fresh oj. Prices were reasonable at ab 70 w tax for 3. Roomy, trendy, French atmosphere, with lots of windows & patio options. Great jazz trio when we were there. Seemed kid friendly as well.
(5)Jessica J.
Great atmosphere, amazing service. We share the cheese platter very tasty. I got the lamb shank, first time eating lamb, maybe I don't like lamb but I wasn't crazy about it, beans were very good. He got the rib eye, loved it so much he ate until he was miserable. Chocolate sundae for the dessert very good!! Wine was perfect, we have different tastes and the waiter selected a great wine we both enjoyed. We had a gift card and are glad toga be gone, don't know if we would have eaten here otherwise. If went back I would order something different, I just don't think I'm a lamb fan but I wanted to order something different.
(4)M and M P.
Great food and excellent service. We had salad and Foie Gras for appetizer. I had duck and my partner had Kobe beef for a main entrée. It was a little noisy as our table was next to a big group of people, however I would for sure go back to enjoy their food again.
(4)Brenda M.
What's not to love this place is perfect from our wonderful server Veronica to the very attentive waiters the dessert was impeccable wonderful creme brulee just love this place
(5)Karly G.
I really wanted to like this place because it's within walking distance for a quick lunch and I love French food. But my palate is denying me of it. :( The interior is beautiful and great patio seating with view of the chaotic Buckhead traffic. The service is stellar and the price is reasonable. But I can't get over the food. We order the croque muensier salmon (basically smoked salmon sandwiched between slices of lightly toasted brioche). Although I love the combination, the look of it was missing that ooompf to want me to love it. For my entree, I had the Coq Au Vin - chicken braised in red wine and mushrooms. According to the waitress, the chicken has been marinating in the red wine for 3 days. It was just ok. Nothing overly exciting about it either. I have to say that the most exciting dish of the entire meal was the bread and butter. That's one of the best French bread I've had in a long time and you can't go wrong with butter. Yum! All in all it was ok. I probably won't be back for awhile.
(3)Mary B.
I love this place! Great trout meunière . Mwaw is always a fan of French bistros:) This is my Atlanta haunt. Always a little Noisy maybe because it is soooo popular! A must if u r in the hood!
(5)Ellen R.
I've only been here once. Had a business lunch and were pressed for time. The host had us seated and let our server know we had a time constraint. Our server provided us with a complimentary mushroom flatbread pizza for an appetizer and let us know that medium well or well done burgers would take around 15-20 minutes to help guide our decisions so that we would be able to have a quick lunch. I ordered the Niçoise salad (light and delicious). After delivering our meals, out server asked if we'd like him to bring the check since he knew we were in a bit of a rush. I was very pleased with my meal, enjoyed the lovely interior decorating, and was very happy with the attentive customer service.
(5)Dee K.
Disclaimer- I have been here 3 times in last 1 month but only for lunch. So this review is for lunch only. My husband and I like French food. Escargot's here are perfect... Obviously not if you wanna kiss your date until and unless your date also decided to dig in and stink of garlic. But taste amazing and I loved them. Pasta was great- they also had a Chilean Sea bass which was perfectly cooked. Mussels are yummy and make sure to keep room for lots of bread if you like broth. Deserts are heavenly and the bartender was my husband's favorite show piece to watch. She was pretty and knew her drinks well.... So I didn't mind him watching her- cause I knew he was coming home with me ;-)
(5)Mike M.
What a terrific spot. The decor and atmosphere are rich and I love how open the place is. Love the French theming. The food is tremendous. Make sure you start with baskets, yes plural, of the Gruyere cheese puffs. The appetizers the flatbreads are terrific. We had a special one with duck prosciutto. Also loved the pork belly, a really big piece for sharing and the scallops. The beef bourguignon is made with Kobe need cheeks and is just delectable.
(5)Eric D.
Looking forward to this place for some time. Very nice and very authentic as a French bistro. Food wasnt stellar but was good. I have an Au Pouvire which lacked real seasoning. I'd go again and try something else.
(3)Reid S.
Took the wife here for an early Mother's Day dinner. It was a remarkable experience. We enjoyed the snails under pastry, cheese app and some blue points to get started. With a few martinis and glasses of wine thrown in there we were ready for dinner. Time was taken and we were not rushed by the staff at all. Vic was our server and knew when to be there and when to give us space to enjoy our evening. The duck breast arrived right on queue and took out very breadth away. It was a perfect perfect blend of crisp and succulence. The best I've ever enjoyed. Thank you chef. Desert was a caramel ice cream Sunday. The food, the experience and the service demand the 5 stars I awarded this meal. Thank you to all who helped make this meal a memory.
(5)Sc M.
Excellent food and ambience. My daughter wanted to go to a french restaurant. We ended up at this fabulous place in Buckhead. Located 1 minute from the marta rail. Tried the duck and the peppercorn crusted mushroom burger. The burger was the best i have ever eaten. Packed with flavor and crusted. The sauce had very fine slivers of mushroom. Every bite made you want more. Literallly melted in your mouth.White bean soup was stellar. Duck was small but tasty. Sampling of cheeses for an appetizer is a good idea (small portions but flavorful). Service was superior.
(5)Ian S.
The place was packed so I expected this to be great. Escargot was overly heavy on the garlic do the puff pastry was absolutely essential. Maybe they were carrying to people trying to impress their fate with how wordly they ate without actually tasting the annals. Beef bourguignon was ok, but dry without the slow cooked goodness one would expect. The service, panned by other Yelpers, was very good. Attentive and personal. That gave this back a star.
(3)Mona K.
And again ... Bisto Nikko is on point... Man, I need to start getting a discount for the amount of time I go there !!
(5)Lisa L.
Originally went here for Buckhead Restaurant Week, but ended up ordering from the main menu. Enjoyed a delicious steak tartar (although I must say the presentation was a bit lacking, simply because the tartar resembled a raw hamburger patty). Main course was scallops, which were of medium size and presented with a potato purée - wonderful! Finished the meal with a wonderful apple tart, a la mode. I'm already looking forward to my next meal there!
(4)Kamil B.
I have been in the mood to try the slightly ostentatious, but fun Buckhead Life Restaurants. It makes sense given that I live in Brookhaven about 5 minutes away. Came here on a Saturday night with my better half. Executed the mandatory valet parking. Now waiting 30 minutes to be seated with a reservation is not the best way to kick of the evening, but I I'll cut them slack, because of how popular this place is. Still I noticed some folks without reservations that were acting shady trying to get a table, and possibly succeeding, but whatever. Looking around I noticed a lot of customers eating steak and fries. Did they forget they are at a French restaurant and not Outback Steakhouse? There are plenty of quintessential French items to choose from on the menu. Anyway, I enjoyed the faux gras and wasn't impressed by the beef bourguignon. My significant other said her trout had too much butter. The service was great and very accommodating. Very inexpensive for a fancy restaurant. Looking forward to trying Bistro Nico again.
(3)Shaye B.
This is a trendy fun place - great for happy hours or just a boozy meal in general. The food is hit or miss. Some of the items are creative, some are bland. Price wise it is average. I think you get what you pay for - lamb chops are cheaper than other restaurants here, but you can taste that $5 difference. The restaurant is surprisingly very large, which I typically do not like. I think larger restaurants tend to lack in environment - however Bistro Niko is very well done inside and the valet is great for how large of a place it is. The patio or that front section of the restaurant is the place to be - the people watching is fantastic. You have all sorts of people who are meeting for drinks and/or a meal. I think this place is a great price point for a trendy fun meal where you want to drink. Also, if I were ever looking to have a private event at a restaurant this place would be on my short list.
(4)Eric B.
I came here for lunch with a business partner and while I loved the location, patio, atmosphere, and dining room, the food was just so-so. We ordered something from every section of the menu and some things were amazing and others we didn't finish. I will admit, it very well could be that I just am not a huge fan of true authentic French food, which this all was. But either way I just was not very satisfied at the end of the meal for what we spent. I would be open to coming back for dinner and trying it again to see if there's something I missed, but Im not chomping at the bit to do so.
(3)Keith B.
Good Food should be Better This was our first time to Bistro Niko. The dining room is beautiful and feels like a bistro in Paris (or at least as Americans think one should look.) Due to a nearby commitment, it was most logical for us to have an early dinner at 4:30pm. That was fortunate since we were able to order from the less expensive lunch menu. We thought that the 3 course "les formules" menu for each of the three of us was good value and would let us try lots of different things. The appetizers of white bean soup and the mesclun salad were nice but nothing special. The croquet "Monsieur" au salmon, however, was probably the best thing we ate. For the entrees we had a nice "shrimp en brique" and a duck confit. Again, good but nothing special. The "chicken paillard" had a slightly rubbery texture. For dessert we had the crème brulee which, again, was good but not great. The baba au rhum was excellent. The service was attentive and pleasant. While we enjoyed almost everything, only a couple of things rose to the level of very good or better. I wouldn't be in a hurry to return.
(4)Ryan L.
Great French bistro. We had a dozen oysters and they were very fresh. Really fantastic french onion soup. Sea bass was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were delicious. Service was tight. If I wasn't such a food snob, I'd give it 5 stars. But I'm reserving those for the super memorable occasions. ;)
(4)Erica J.
As always, my visit this weekend to Bistro Niko was nothing less than Amazing. We had the Salmon Tart as an appetizer, which was wonderfully prepared. I had the European Sea Bass as my entree. My husband had the Peppercorn Filet Medallions. Both dishes were delicious. The service has always been first class. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an all-around, first class dining experience.
(5)Anna S.
Very nice French restaurant. Delicious brunch. Good environment for a conversation, too. They even had Alieve for my headache. Very unique was the fact that our reservation was for 2:15 pm, but we cane after Buckhead Church service around 12:40 pm. We asked if we could be accommodated, and they did take us in. Service was great! Indoor and outdoor sitting available. Diverse menu selection. Unfortunately, we had no place for dessert. Overall, Very pleased!
(5)Laura N.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta! I love coming here for dates, business lunches, and dinner with friends and family. It is a gorgeous restaurant with excellent food and outstanding service all the time. My favorite things to order at Bistro Niko are: - smoked salmon tarte - herb goat cheese ravioli with ratatouille - scallops St. Jacques - seafood tagliatelle pasta - profiteroles I have never had a bad meal here. Everything is pretty good, although I do find the chocolate waffles to be a bit underwhelming in their presentation. Valet parking is $2 + tip.
(5)Allen P.
Food and service are always excellent. Deserts and appetizers seem to be way better than actually entrees here, although the scallops are perfect. Beautiful restaurant with nice staff. Nothing to complain about.
(4)Jonathan P.
Came here for our wedding anniversary and had a great time. They were very accomodating when I moved the reservation from 6pm to 7pm same day. The staff was very nice and attentive and the food was excellent. Minor nitpick re 4 stars vs 5: asked our server for more information on the pate vs the terrine. He really didn't have any idea but had another server come answer my question. Was very nice and service was great throughout the meal, but a server at a French restaurant should have an answer to that question. Will definitely be going back. I highly recommend the lamb shank.
(4)Grace C.
Had the Escargots, Classic Tuna Tartare, and Maine Scallops. Everything was delicious. It was my first time having escargot and it definitely won't be my last. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the buttery flavor was to die for. The fresh bread they serve is also amazing. I will definitely be back. One of the best meals I have ever had.
(5)stephen N.
What to say...the bar is beautiful. The menu is French and non-apologetic. I started with the crisp pork belly and the seared Fois Gras. Then the duck confit with frisée and the French onion soup. Exquisite, superb, flawless. My coworker enjoyed the veal, he requested a poached egg on top and who could argue??? Our server Cody was attentive and professional, I will make this a regular stop on my business trips to Atlanta!
(5)S H.
One of my favorites in Buckhead! Have to come back many times to get the Duck again, a rare thing for me - one who normally avoid having the same thing. If you like flavorful French food, don't sit outside though - those tables are truly bistro style and too small for any serious dinning.
(5)Stephanie M.
The wine list is French if your not certain ask, otherwise "bubbles" are always fun and we all know what those are. Duck Confit Salad - Oh my, I've had this on more than one occasion and enjoy it every time. Leg and thigh come on a bed of Fri see lettuce with a few roasted potato's. The sauce I can't figure out but it compliments the the bitter from the lettuce and you want to run your fork full of duck/juices and potato's in it. The duck is tender your knife is only needed for manners. Caviar - If it is there on the menu well... um I may have to take a second glance and maybe even order it. The house version is a blend, it is priced friendly gentlemen you can breath & girls we can afford it. While it is not Beluga it is tasty and a conversation piece. It is served with small puffed toasts and comes in a 2 oz. or 4 oz. can on shaved ice. Tuna Tartar - The flavor is there simple and clean with a touch of red onion. I wanted to like it but the texture threw me off, never having this before just didn't appreciate what they were trying to do. Boeuf Bourguignon - Is a simmered dish with beef braised in red wine with a touch of vegetables on top of noodles is hearty but not heavy. Coquille St. Jacque - Scallops were perfect on a puree with a bit of asparagus and a light sauce. Crevettes Brique-T - Shrimp that are wrapped, crisped then placed over a slaw that has horseradish in it ? Not being a fan of "slaw" I was a bit skeptical at first but found the twist on this interesting and tasty. A two and three course "Pre Fix" menu is also available.
(4)Brenda M.
My babe brought me here for a family night out. The ambiance was great our waiter was funny and the cocktails were tasty! Overall I give this place a four but I must say I've had way better french food before. It wasn't disappointing but it was just missing that certain genuine french flavor I was expecting in my mouth. I had the steak and frites medium-rare which tasted good but didn't look that appetizing for such a high scaled restaurant. One dish I do recommend is the scallops entree. Best cooked scallops I've had. They were cooked to perfection. The cocktail drinks were also very tasty. Would recommend to try it out at least once ;)
(4)Amy H.
Wish I could do a 3.5 star. I felt a little mixed on this place. First, this is a gorgeous place, loved the atmosphere and it was PACKED. Wine list is FANTASTIC, but the glasses are expensive and I am pretty sure I got half a normal glass of wine. Finished it in about 4 sips. Had the cheese puffs for a starter they were eh. Not worth 7 bucks and not made freshly either. Escargot was my next and it was great! First time having it so cannot compare to any place else. It was buttery, and earthy and I was a big fan. Veal for dinner and it was OK. Nothing special. I probably should have gotten something more french? My friend had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC, and my other friend had the Coq Au Vin which was also very tasty. Creme breulee was not fantastic but not bad either. I thought it would be OVER the top. I prefer Alon's Bakery Creme breulee. Def come here to experience this place but not sure if I would come back.
(3)Jonathan S.
I love this place, the decor and the ambiance are on point. It kinda looks like an old bank. We had the pan roasted duck and the veal. Both were delicious. The escargot is whatever. I will say the crowd seemed a bit older. This is a place for the OG suspender wearers and silicone injectors.
(4)Serena B.
Love this place!!! Great beer on tap, osters and seafood! Leg of lamb is beautiful! Escargot and puffed pastry are my heart!!!!
(5)Vonda D.
I had a gift card to Bistro Niko so a friend of mine and I decided to use it. So glad I did! We split a flatbread pizza and it was amazing! It was also filling, which I was surprised by. I got a chocolate sundae and it was different, but so good! I need to go back and try an entree!
(4)Yuki M.
We go bistro nico sometimes. We like the duck and shrimp on the menu here! But my favorite is profiteroles!!! It's so yummy ;") If you don't know what to order dessert pls try it!!
(5)Jim J.
Another great dinner here. I wish I could come here every couple of weeks. My only comment this time was that service was slow once we received our order. We just sat and sat waiting for dessert menus. And waited a long time for dessert to arrive after ordering. Same issue in getting our check, and then return of check and credit card. A couple of managers even came by during the meal to make sure things were okay (I suspect they knew things were backlogged somewhere). Not going to let that stop me from coming. I love this place, the food, the atmosphere, the friendly hostesses. Think it was just an off night for a short period of time.
(4)Renee K.
I came here after walking around looking for somewhere to eat during my business travels. I decided to sit at the bar and really enjoyed my meal. I order the trout dish which was truly good. I highly recommend the dish. The service at the bar was so-so. One of the employees was great, the other not so much. The menu has a lot to offer, and they had a pretty decent wine offering.
(3)Mercedes C.
My friend and I had a great dinner at Bistro Niko last night. The bartender, I think his name was Dave, was terrific!!! I had a dirty martini at the bar before dinner. And had a nice glass of Pinot Noir with dinner. Thanks new bartender friend!! Now for the ambiance, it was lovely. Not too loud, beautiful atmosphere. Next, the food, I wish I could add a picture but I tore into my lamb chops as soon as I got them. After grace of course lol......the mashed potatoes were awesome as were the fingering potatoes. The lamb chops were cooked just right and tender. Bistro Niko is a favorite on my list from now on!!!!!!
(5)Mindy W.
This French dining experience was more like a bar/lounge scene. Extremely loud even at7:30pm on a.Monday.
(3)Renee T.
Their French Onion Soup is to die for!! It is the perfect FOS. It tastes slow cooked until it becomes sublime. The flavors are layered and complex and it has the perfect amount of everything. Eat this when you go there. Everything else is fantastic too. Service on point.
(5)H. M.
I've eaten at Bistro Nike at least a dozen times and every single time I have had to swat fruit flies away from me. Get an exterminator, it's gross!
(3)Tye T.
This place is absolutely amazing. Kayjee (sp?) provided the best service that I have experienced in an Atlanta restaurant. We started the with mussels and calamari as the appetizer. Both were delicious but the mussels were a clear winner. My boyfriend had the steak au poivre and I had the duck, both were excellent. The steak was tender and the duck was perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back.
(5)Quinn V.
We made a reservation via open table for a Friday date night. We were promptly seated at a booth with a window view. Complimentary sparkling water was served along with slightly warm French bread. I almost shouted no gas! (as in gazeuse) when it was offered. But since it was offered, and we were feeling nostalgic... Appetizers: --mussels (nothing special, a little lackluster. But the creamy buttery sauce made a great dipping sauce with the bread.) --good foise gras Entrees: --seafood pasta: I misread or misunderstood the description. I thought it would be more of marinara or herbs base type of pasta. Instead, it was a creamy, alfredo-like base, which in general I am not a big fan of. Usually it will feel too rich after a few bite. Much to my surprise, it was good. It was nicely flavored, not too rich. --steak It was overall a savory, moist, & just the right color of pink-medium rare piece of steak. We especially like the sauce that goes with it. The only drawback was the saltiness. If only a pinch of salt was held back it would have been perfectly seasoned. It goes well with a glass of red wine. Nice ambience and romantic setting.
(4)Cherise J.
Their valet service is terrible. I absolutely think it's hideous to have folks waiting FOREVER to get their cars parked and then mandate a charge for it. Someone needs to change this process immediately!! The service and the food was on point. We go seated pretty quickly and I must say that our server was very professional. I wish I got his name so you can ask for him when you go, but he's an older gentlemen with a foreign accent. He literally could be an ambassador for this restaurant. The way he described their menu items was incredible. I ended up ordering stuff I hadn't planned on ordering!! The french onion soup was a little more chunky than what it should have been, but the manager corrected that. The beef bourguignon was spectacular. If you order one of the non-fried chicken entrees, you may want to ask if they can go light on the seasoning because some of those entrees might be a little more salty than what you would want. All in all, this was a very good experience. If they can lower the noise level, it'll be perfect, but it's certainly good enough to come back.
(4)Greg M.
I've been to this area on business trips several times in the last few months and this is by far my favorite, My last meal there was perfect- the special was maui-mahi roasted with a delicate lemon/caper sauce- I've been trying to duplicate it at home with partial success. The wine list is the high point (along with the food), the cocktails tend to be Vodka based which doesn't interest me as much. Though I did have a really great rum drink (that I've also been trying to recreate). I hope to come back.
(4)Han L.
And so I have become a Francophile. Jk. This place has an lovely ambiance; it had me at HELLLO! I love the vintage French feel; cigarette machine, posters, vintage tiles, servers' uniforms. It's so beautifully French! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I came here for lunch but definitely want to return for dinner. There are other wonderful French restaurants in town, but Bistro Niko has the ideal French appeal. It's classy and not whimsical. The clean lines and shapes makes it refined, but not austere. It's still a welcoming space. gahhhh, I like it so much! Bistro Niko has a lovely outdoor seating area. There aren't much pedestrian traffic, but it was nice to enjoy the fall weather. However, one downside was a pesky fly that eventually drowned in my friend's glass of water. Sucker! The lunch menu is quite big. My friend ordered the scallops and I decided on the duck. For an additional $4, you can add an other duck leg to the order. I did not opt for that, regretfully. There was a generous amount of scallops on my dear friend's dish. It sits atop pureed potatoes, and a nice creamy sauce. MY dish was the bomb diggity. The best duck EVER. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that was it was fried in its own fat, but it was light and crispy. The duck was so tender. oooh baby. soo good. I highly recommend this dish for lunch and to order an additional leg for the extra $4 dollars. DO IT MAN! The servers are very helpful and attentive. I may have been mesmerized by my server's sweet accent. Don't park in the lot. Bistro Niko doesn't validate parking. Valet parking costs $2, but it will end up being cheaper than garage parking, even with tip included.
(4)Angie E.
My first time here and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were well taken care of from the time we arrived until we left. Our server was very sincere and attentive. The food was good and I look forward to visiting again to try something else and see how I like their other entrees.
(4)Sue G.
The food was excellent but they tried to double the check. When we ask about the check, the waitress knew what was wrong without even looking at the ticket. Be sure and check the total. Update: We went back and had a delightful dinner, the best tip I can give is ask for the salon. It is quaint and quiet enough to chat. Trout is great and my husband loves the pizza.
(5)Brian H.
Delicious, absolutely delicious. A little pricey, but delicious. In the heart of Buckhead. If I can add a few tips to the discussion: *Valet parking is generally cheaper than self parking. *the Oysters are delicious but a bit small *the salmon flat bread appetizer is delicious! *the French Onion Soup is astounding! *the decor is well done. Gives the feel of being in France.. (i think?) *the patio is great for lunch or a breezy evening *the indoor tables are spacious and seating is plentiful 4.2837433 stars rounded up makes this one a 5 for me! bon appétit!
(5)Joy W.
I'm a big fan of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, and Bistro Niko was on my list of places to try for a long time. Finally got a chance to eat here for my 25th birthday with my friend, and it lived up to my expectations. Bistro Niko serves French cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice restaurant. What caught my eye was the $25 for two plates (deux plats), where you can choose one of three appetizers (salmon croque monsieur, white bean soup, or salad with dijon vinaigrette) and one of three entrees (haddock, chicken in wine sauce - coq au vin, or shrimp in puff pastry). I ended up ordering the salmon croque monsieur, which came with 4 pieces of what looked like a perfectly buttered grilled cheese with slices of smoked salmon inside. The texture was heavenly and was a great start to the meal. As the entree, I ordered the coq au vin, which was very flavorful from the wine reduction and the chicken meat literally fell off the bone because it was so tender. My friend started with the white bean soup which was sooo flavorful - I think the truffles enhanced what would have been an already good white bean soup. For her entree, she ordered the Haddock Provencal, which was so good that it blew my mind. The fish itself was so tender and the ratatouille veggies added good flavor without being overwhelming. The polenta was alright, but I wish I ordered the Haddock - I could eat that forever. Next time, I think I would order the $29.95 three plates with the mesclun salad, shrimp puff pastry, and creme brulee dessert. Can't wait to come again! [45 of 100]
(4)Michelle M.
Excellent food, I eat here frequently for business lunches. The service is always excellent and it always impresses. My current favorite is the chicken paillard, though everything I have tasted is delicious, and I've been here about 12 times in the past 6 months. My only suggestion for a large group or business meeting would be to request the dining room on the side, which I do, because it's generally really loud in the main dining room. See you soon BN.
(5)Jon P.
Went here for a date on a Buckhead Life gift card. First off, the patio is awesome - which is why we chose this restaurant to begin with. We sat outside and saw all sorts of interesting people / things driving and walking by on Peachtree Road. Also the service was very good and we never waited on anything that we didn't want to and were always well taken care of. With the food I have mixed emotions. It was no doubt good - but it was not as good as other Buckhead Life restaurants I have been to and not as good as the price tag may suggest. With that said, we tried to go as French as we possibly could with our selections and started out with the faux gras, which was massive. Between two of us we managed to take down the fancy feast sized patty and while it was delicious it was entirely too much for a first timer. We then got two different meals that were both fish. I don't remember what the GF ordered but I had the salmon with capers and it was pretty good. Overall it was good food and good drinks but I probably would not go back if I had to foot the bill.
(3)Frank M.
We eat there from time to time including last night. I made my reservation for 6 two days prior. I wanted 7 to 7:30PM. Phone receptionist was insistent that I choose 6:45 or 8:30 as the closest to my preference. I chose 6:45PM. This was a very slow night for them-- beginning of Memorial Day weekend. The place was never over a third full the entire time we were there. When we arrived there seemed to be more staff than patrons. Two things. Why hassle me and be so inflexible about my arrival time request? They should have just said yes. But, I think it was a control thing with the receptionist. Her attitude was, we're Bistro Niko, and you only get to come when you say we can even if you're the only one coming. With all the staff standing around, do you think we received prompt attention? We sat there for 10 min right next to a staff station before are drink order was taken. During this time the staff was careful about not making eye contact with me. God forbid I would ask for something. This is not even close to the service offered in France. That said, our food was very good. We had the raw oysters too. Excellent.
(3)Jim B.
Poor experience. As a former server I'm usually pretty lenient on them but mine was terrible. No greeting no check up, added literally nothing. Never even told me his name. I was also given dirty silverware. Best part of my meal was the frisee salad which was above average but my trout was just eh. String beans and fingerling potatoes (all 3 of the little guys) were swimming in oil. I am an out of town business traveler but I have to imagine there are plenty of better options in Buckhead.
(2)Sylvia Z.
After complaining to Buckhead Life management, they were amazing. They agreed that our experience was not satisfactory, and have bent over backwards to make it up to us. We will be dining at another Buckhead Life restaurant later this month, and I am confident that our experience will be completely different.
(5)Tiff H.
Came here for happy hour, which my team manager deemed as "class field trip" that was much needed. He treated us all to drinks, although I made sure not to drink too much on an empty stomach... I got a vodka tonic and nursed it while alcohol flowed all over the place... We got some small appetizers as well, and I was glad I was sober to enjoy them, unlike the rest of my team. Gougères Light were AMAZING. fluffy and hot and chewy. perfection. i couldn't stop eating Oysters: i'm not a fan but I think my team really enjoyed these on the rocks! Smoked Salmon tarte: wished i had eaten more of this... this was rocking. I think we ordered one more appetizer of some sort, similar to a bruschetta, but I can't remember... I definitely want to come here again... If only my manager would be paying for that, too!
(5)K W.
The St Germaine cocktail was lovely. Light, bright and quite tasty. Actually that was the best part of the meal. The bread was fresh but not warm and the butter was cold and hard to spread. The white bean soup tasted as though the entire salt shaker had been dropped in the bowl. The trout almandine was bland. The green beans in butter sauce was the second best part of the meal the meal was ok but definitely not worth the $40. Meh.
(2)Glenn T.
Our server was quite nice. We felt sorry for her, trapped as she was in the restaurant equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle: a kitchen with no fire control, a slow bar, and expectant diners. The fairly priced foie gras wasn't treated as fairly in return, the first presentation charred to the point of bitterness, the second actually cold on the inside. No Goldilocks we, a shot at "just right" wasn't happening. Beef bourginon was remarkably dry and the scallops far, far overcooked. Wine by the glass arrived too late to enjoy with either course. Too bad because the room is charming, the location convenient, and the concept attractive. There are times when faux French is just the ticket but it fell short on this trip.
(2)Lynn E.
Sometimes you need night in Paris at a bistro... Bistro Niko is your Atlanta escape to cafe life -- and it's right on Peachtree. Service is spot on. The menu has ample section and hey you're not cooking. On a recent evening we had the divine White Bean soup (a must - velvety smooth, perfectly seasoned and creamy delicious, the mesculan salad (chilled to perfection), the trout and the duck. A lovely evening was enjoyed. We didn't order dessert by the options were VERY tempting.
(3)Donald L.
Bring ear protection. This is by far the loudest restaurant that I have visited. We were seated in a booth near the middle of the room and we were forced to yell at each other to hear what the other was saying. The food was fine. I had the scallops and they were great, buttery and delicious. Julie had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was not up to the Julia Child version for those who have made it. We also split an endive salad having already had an app at del frisco while waiting for our late reservation. The salad was pretty terrific, I would recommend it. Overall the dinner was fine. The restaurant was like eating on the runway at Hartsfield.
(3)Chris C.
We just happened to walk by this restaurant by our hotel and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised. Nice ambience, great waitstaff, and delicious food. We tried smoked salmon flatbread, mushroom and cheese flatbread, endive salad, roasted duck, escargot, and of course a few glasses of mimosas :)...all great, full of flavor, and nice portion sizes.
(5)Lindsay A.
I got engaged here a few years ago in December. The restaurant did a great job of coordinating with my boyfriend, that night fiancé, now husband. Whew. LOL. It was an amazing dinner BEFORE the engagement where I proceeded to make a table of flight attendants and pilots laugh when my husband asked me to marry him by saying, "You *ssh*le! YES!" I'm not good at surprises. LOL. Anyway, I remember the cheese plate was amazing, as well as the oysters. Make sure to ask about the vodka . . . and also watch out for it. :D
(5)Denise D.
Nice, but if you are going to serve raw oysters, you should have crackers and hot sauce. For the price of those suckers, a few crackers should be provided. They had neither. What has the world come to? I won't be there again just because I found it insane.
(3)Vlad H.
Go eat there! It's good, decent place, but falls a notch short of excellent. Bistro Niko is a French-oriented restaurant. Yesterday was our third or fourth visit there. We had wine, two appetizers and shared an entree. All were good, but each had a little flaw that merited taking away one star. Wine by the glass. It was good. We are not experts on good wine, but quite good at detecting the bad one. These days with good wine being so available, it's no surprise that wine of great quality and diversity is served at a place like Bistro Niko. What was surprising though, is very stingy amount of wine poured in grotesquely small glasses. It makes you feel like a giant with oversized hands. We understand that wine is a profit center, but simply because Buckhead crowd is well-off, it does not make ethical to rip patrons off this way. C'mon, Niko. This was just a bit weird. Escargots appetizer. It's above average, possibly even best in town. The only spoiler was pieces of a shell or something alike present in one of mollusks, unpleasantly crunching on my teeth. Pork belly appetizer. The good news - it was truly outstanding. The bad news, it was not a pork belly. It was a piece of heavenly pork meat with everything around it being great. But a pork belly is mostly a piece of fat. It's tricky to cook and unusual for the US. It's a challenge for a chef to make it well and make it popular, and Niko's chef cheated. The result is great but not a real pork belly. Beef Bourguignon entree. It was good, but the sauce was a bit overpowering and while some pieced of beef (kobe) were perfect, some were dry. Better consistency is expected from Niko. The pasta that was a part of the dish almost steals the show. It was so unexpectedly good, it was in a league of its own. Overall, I will eat at Niko again and recommend others. At the same time Niko needs to improve in a few areas.
(4)Patrick L.
The skate wing had a really unique texture and I've never seen it on a menu before. I'm glad I ordered it but don't think I could do it agin ... skates are too graceful and my daugthers like em. It's like eating a monkey. In the end, if you like clarified butter you will freaking love this place. I think my beer had butter on it. A bit pricey but not a bad choice if you have a corporate card.
(3)Jody B.
Happened upon it on a quick trip to Atlanta near our hotel- great decor a noisy bustling room. Cheese puff apps were adorable and scrumptious. We had- chicken paillard which was great, croque Monsieur, also good, duck- hubby says may be the best he's had- and roasted chicken- yummy. Service was attentive but not overnebearing- really fine meal!!
(4)V T.
Think I'm going to start briefly listing things that best describe the rating v/s tell the whole story. Mussels app - mussels had not been washed and were filled with grit. Thought I chipped my tooth before realizing it was the dirt from the mussels. Snails were ok - but when compiled with mussel dish became lackluster. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon were both at LEAST 2 days old. Chicken was dry as a bone and both dishes had mushrooms that were burned / black. Butter noodles cooked in saltless water / flavorless. Dessert was good - and helped to improve the taste left by the other dishes. Server was quality. Felt bad he had to serve that garbage to people.
(2)Joseph L.
Great Lunch and Great Service. A good place to stop by during lunch hour to pickup a quick bite to eat.
(5)Wendy D.
The food and service were great! I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 for a few small (but significant to me) reasons. We went late--30-45 min before closing. The music was too loud, the bread was sour dough instead of French baguette (why would a French restaurant not have french bread?), the mussels were slightly undercooked (slimy), and the valet left without telling me how to retrieve my car--and the restaurant sent me to the wrong security desk to retrieve my keys when I asked where my car was. Had the valet TOLD me he was about to leave, I'd have either self-parked or asked how to retrieve my car and tipped him 5 bucks upfront. Ok, I'll quit whining and get to the food: The Chateaubriand was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I was excited I could order it for one. The potatoes were sliced thinly with butter, egg, and cream. Yum! My hubby had coq au vin (he raved about it) and salmon croque monsieurs as his starter. He loved everything he had. It was an affordable meal at $75 (no alcohol). Just wish the bread and mussels were better, and that I didn't have to play hunt and find for my car in 40 degree weather (my coat was of course in the car). LoL
(3)Tejal P.
This is our Sunday Brunch Spot... the bartenders are awesome. Tommy and Ranilya make the best drinks!
(5)Hilary O.
After a day working through lunch, my colleague and I were looking for a good local eat near our hotel in Buckhead. This is probably the longest I've ever taken to decide on what to order - the menu was well balanced with unique appetizers, small plates, and a plethora of seafood and steak dishes for dinner. Thankfully out waiter was very patient and helpful. Great atmosphere and even better food!
(4)Jessica B.
The food here was good! Overpriced, but I was still impressed with the presentation and overall quality of food. The atmosphere was very nice, it did give you that Paris feel. The reason that Bistro Niko gets 3 stars from me is because of the service. Our server must have walked right past our table 6 times and didn't even glance our direction. Even holding up our credit card, ready to pay, nothing! We ended up letting a manager know and he was the one to close us out. We asked for our dessert to go for obvious reasons. Not only did the manager not comp any of our meal for the terrible service, our crème brulee was tossed into a box, face down. By the time we got home it looked like old baby food. We originally went here with a gift card and I must say we won't be back. For that price, the food and the service better be outstanding! There are too many other wonderful places to eat in Atlanta!
(3)Jake R.
amazing duck, amazing food!!
(5)Mebin J.
A nicely designed restaurant with little ambience. I really don't know what is the real hype behind this , it's just a French restaurant that's it. The food was good ,but the ambience really not that great. It's really ddnt make me to comeback again,looks like my first time here is my last time. Good - nice restaurant design , classy upscale location , French food. Bad - ambience didn't come to my expectation -just feel like a regular restaurant , then may be valet parking, poor wine list for a French restaurant.
(3)Ashley M.
This place definitely lives up to the hype. My boyfriend and I started off with the Gougeres (light gruyere cheese puffs) and the Herb Goat Cheese Ravioli. The cheese puffs literally melt in your mouth-- they were so delicious I couldn't stop popping those heavenly little bites! The goat cheese ravioli was also delicious, but I would highly recommend the puffs. For my meal, I had the Scallops St. Jacques (sauteed sea scallops, asparagus, white wine nage, pomme puree). It was a most excellent dish! I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally finished every bite of my dish and was just a tad short of licking my plate clean. Definitely can't wait to go back! The only cons for this place seem to be the noise level (oddly loud and not intimate) and the service was not particularly stellar. Otherwise, this would be a perfect review!
(4)Mark C.
So the team at buckhead life made it right. I won't go into the details other than to say Niko handled the matter personally, quickly, and WAY beyond what I would have expected.
(5)Michael B.
I'm a little bit biased due to the convenience factor since this place is about a 30 second walk from my house, but I'm generally tough to please when it comes to French food... Atmosphere - It really has the feel of a French bistro (if only it were 1/2 the size and the ceilings were about 5 feet lower). It is always VERY loud in the main dining room, especially for dinner, but even the lunch time crowd seems to generate a lot of noise. So make sure to ask to sit in the somewhat secluded/private room by the hostess stand if you want to have a conversation. In the evenings, especially weekends, beware of the cougars. Lots of them patrolling the bar so beware. Food - As I mentioned, I'm normally tough to please when it comes to French food, but they know what they're doing here. Some of my favorites here include: Beef Tartare, Duck, Mashed Potatoes (these are a MUST try here) and the absolutely must have Bouef Bourguignon. They also, in my opinion, make the best Moscow Mule in the city so if you want a nice refreshing beverage this is the one to get. Service - This has always been hit and miss here. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Some of the waiters are just plain weird, others unfriendly, and some are ok. Not being, picky, the service really is enough of an issue to cost Niko a star. All in all though, a good place and fairly inexpensive considering the quality of the food.
(4)Saba E.
Wow! I was here with my family for a lovely Friday night dinner. We started off with an order of blue-something oysters but they accidentally brought us puff pastry escargot! Yum! Then they brought us the right order but no one was bothered by the delicious appetizers. Our entrees were an absolute delight! Altogether we had a coq au vin, peppercorn crusted steak, some fancy chicken dish, halibut, and a fantastic trout. Even though our tummies were content, the lovely posters of Paris forced our hands to dessert and espresso. We indulged in profiteroles and sorbet. We went home happy, tummies content, and satisfied to have discovered a gem in Atlanta. And, btw, the service was attentive and very professional. They were discrete and conscientious of all allergies. I have a great new place to attend when I return!
(5)Amit M.
I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the expertise with which different dishes were executed.
(5)Jo H.
This is a very good restaurant but their coed bathrooms are appalling. There is no choice between ladies or gentlemen, just the next available stall. The floors were wet and dirty, I won't be going back because of this arrangement. Too bad, because the food is good.
(3)Quality K.
Good Food, great service and excellent atmosphere. Food and beverage definitely worth paying for.
(5)Sara B.
This is my second time at Bistro Niko, and I love it. If you're wondering if this is good choice, yes it is! And it's a good choice for the culinary adventurous to the meek (like myself). This time I had gougeres, the french onion soup, and roasted chicken. It was all completely amazing! I had part of creme brulee, profiteroles, and the baba au rhum. I'd say the profiteroles is best option. If morbid obesity and bankruptcy wouldn't be right around the corner, I'd be going every night.
(5)Gabriel B.
Great atmosphere, service and food. You really feel immersed into a early 20th century parisian cafe, with the stained glasses, dimmed lights and the typical black and white waiters garments. The menu covers well the internationally known part of the french cuisine: croque monsieur, escargot, steak frites, duck confit, creme brulee, but goes beyond to offer some interesting variations, like the horseradish cod with moroccoan couscous. Highly recommended for business dinner, romance or just an unplanned bite if you are around buckhead.
(4)David S.
Google maps was not quite right to get us there but every thing else was very good. We split a large appetizer of mussels that were excellent. Rose wine went well with them. For entrees my wife had scallops while I had the veal. Dessert was the Profiteroles. Also excellent The only complaint is that it is a little loud.
(4)Aaron B.
The worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time. The environment was uninviting, everyone working had a scowl on their face, our server didn't even ask if we wanted a drink, the Au Poivre Burger was slimy and disgusting and it took more then 5min for them to bring ketchup when requested. The manager stopped by to ask how everything was but with no sincerity or personality. If I could give less then one star I would.
(1)Ali S.
for a fancy restaurant the portions are quite decent chicken paillard was delicious as was their house rose wine also had the seafood pasta. could have been a little more al dente, but also goo. have yet to try their deserts. great service. has a modern kitcheny feel
(4)s a.
The food was good. The drinks were ok. A friend and I both ordered Bloody Marys, and they were served in 2 completely different glasses. Hers was almost twice as big. The service left much to be desired. Everything was super slow. We arrived at 1230 and didn't leave until 245. That is a bit much. Lastly, the valet is friendly but not the speediest.
(3)chestnutt C.
OK, so we were here just for lunch. But what a lunch it was! If you like typical Parisian neighborhood food, you will adore Bistro Niko. Steak Tartare to weep for. All that was missing was a raw egg on top. (Next time I'll ask for one). Frites in perfection. A Croque Madam exquisitely prepared. A Cafe au Lait to die for. Our waiter, James, was knowledgeable and professional. We will return for foie gras in the evening, and more. Why did we not know about Bistro Niko? It's not Paris but it's pretty darn close!
(5)L T.
I had lunch there on 9/11 with a coworker of mine who was in military uniform. Not only was the food simply delicious, the owner came out and offered to cover the cost of my coworkers meal and thanked him for his military service. This was truly the highlight if my visit to Georgia. Wonderful service and great atmosphere!
(5)Saira K.
I chose this place for a celebratory dinner, expecting a memorable experience. Their signature dish, the scallops, were full of sand and grit. I gave the dish back, starved, and waited for a replacement. The second time, there was again sand in the scallops. Annoyed at having waited 45 minutes to eat, I told my server that I would skip the entree and just have dessert. He brought out the dessert and then a bill for $51.00 and another bill for $8.50. I was shocked! The manager, Vladimir, was embarrassed and apologized profusely. I had eaten nothing - the very first bite of scallops in both cases had sand - not even my dessert yet, and I was being charged $60!! Vladimir cancelled the 8.50 for dessert. The $51 was a pending charge on my card for a week before it was cancelled. My server was inattentive, and there is no excuse for how much I was charged. I am glad, though, that I spoke with the manager, who seemed to be a nice guy. I am really disappointed - people around me were eating their food, enjoying, and my server was giving a lot of attention to the other table he was serving (they had 8 men in their party, while I was dining alone, and I resent that I was not given the attention and service that I deserve). I read the other reviews here about good service and feel upset that this respect was not there for me, but speaking to the manager was all right - he really seemed embarrassed.
(2)Christina K.
Disclaimer: i only go here when the boss pays, not just because of the price, but it's just not my cup of tea when I think of lunch you know? The interior is really nice, and with the servers dressed as if this was a 5 star restaurant, it does make boost up your ego (must be why there are always so many suits here). The first time I was here I ordered the grilled chicken breast and a salad. It was nice, the meat was moist and pretty good. The second time, I ordered the burger and asked for no cheese (lactose intolerance), and although the server was very nice and even wrote it down, the burger was still served with cheese which I had to scrape off. Now, be warned that the burger was piled high which made it very hard to pick up and eat it in a dignified manner, especially in front of the boss! So I ended up cutting up the burger. The flavor was good, the temp perfect. I just wish that again, no cheese. The service is pretty much on spot. Kudos to whoever trains them because they know when to refill and clear plates. This is pretty difficult thing to always do when your clientele are usually having a business meeting over lunch.
(3)Julee D.
Loved the ambiance, food, and wine. My favorite dishes include the prosciutto flat bread pizza, mussels, and creme brulee. I do recommend making a reservation because it is quite popular. We were there on a Thursday night and there was also quite a scene at the bar. Full of young, well dressed professionals there enjoying drinks and apps.
(4)Brittany F.
Ambiance was nice, and we sat outside on a pretty day. Food was lackluster, which was disappointing. We had hoped for some delicious food before heading to an anticipated concert. Although I've had hits and misses here, this was a miss. Undercooked fish and slow service. We will try again though -- worth another try!
(3)CAScuba Y.
Revisit after 4 months. This time got sat not in the little fine dining room but in the big room, actually next to the bar on a nice tiny booth by the window. Like it but the service was provided by the bartender, so it was a little hit or miss in between when I need something. The oyster was quite fine, taste of ocean, love it. The pastry snail also pretty awesome. Since Dante down the hatch is now closed, I am less motivated go out to Buckeye. I use to love a meal here and then head over the next block for some fine jazz
(4)Kristy V.
This restaurant was recommended by a colleague (a local) as well as the hotel. The atmosphere was quite nice and sophisticated, with the option of indoor or outdoor dining. That said, the tables outside are teeny, so we opted to sit inside at a high-top near the bar. We enjoyed 2 appetizers, both of which I'd highly recommend: SEPIA PROVENCAL A LA PLANCHA - Similar to Calamari, tomato brulee, basil and olive oil puree, bread crumbs. The way the waitress described the "similar to calamari" thing made me nervous, but I'm glad that I went ahead. It is a variety of grilled squid, served on a nice thick slice of grilled, marinated tomato, and it was really yummy. Small portion. SALADE DE BETTERAVES - Pickled Baby Beets, Goat Cheese mâche lettuce, vinaigrette. Simply delicious. Very small portion. We tasted one wine that we actually sent back - Cab Sauv, Vin de Pays '09. It was far too acidic tasting. We ended up enjoying the Malbec, Mendoza '09 instead. I ordered the Coq au Vin which was amazing. It's a very complex dish, with several different flavours, and it's a classic. Much enjoyed. My friend ordered the Pâtes aux Fruits de Mer. Basically what happened was that we were having quite an intense conversation, the food arrived, and we were both speechless. I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, the food was delicious and my friend felt the same. The service was really good, but not over the top, which is the only reason that I haven't given them 5 stars.
(4)Joel T.
The interior of the restaurant is fantastic, it hits all of the correct notes for a Parisian bistro. I was promptly seated and greated by my waiter but the service was not timely for the entire meal. Wine was delivered to the table very late and the bread came after my entree had arrived. My steak frites, while prepared perfectly, were under seasoned. This has all the makings of an excellent restaurant but the execution is a bit lacking.
(3)Tara D.
Came here during a trip with friends because it was close to our hotel. Food was very good. We ordered Chicken Paillard, Salmon Beurre Rouche, and Seafood Pasta. We also shared Escargot and Gruyere Puffs and the Chocolate Sundae. No major complaints and we cleaned our plates. We came during happy hour on a Thursday and the bar scene was very vibrant. I would visit again.
(4)Shawn L.
Bistro Niko is an interesting cafe in Buckhead, I'd almost say that the Park Slope hipsters moved south and decided to congregate here. The food is good, the service is very good and it's a nice place for a meal. I had the mussels and they were delicious, followed by the Beef Bourguignon on egg noodles which was sadly, a bit bland. The dish had a lot of potential, but lacked anything that made it stand out, including basic seasonings like salt and/or pepper, even adding salt didn't make it any better. Desert was ìle flotent, a delightful meringue with toasted, candied almonds on an almond creme anglaise. Wonderful! Prices were not bad, a meal without alcohol was about $44. Oh, and they need to serve more of their wonderful rustic bread with the mussels!
(4)Nick B.
The food and service both outstanding and price was reasonable. I had sole- perfect and fits my criteria of ordering a dish we would never do at home. My wife had shrimp scallop calamari noodles also great. Shared scallop appetizer endive salad and meringue caramel dessert all a treat. Only drawback is noise level in large but beautiful room but next time in Atlanta will definitely go back
(4)Gwenn A.
Fit for Foodies The main room is loud and opened, it is much nicer in the room opposite the kitchen. The menu is full of various selections,so no person will have trouble finding something to eat. Soup l'onion was rich and full of flavor,with the perfect amount of cheese on top. The duck sausage was excellent on a bed on lentils. Lamb chops were prepared well as was the veal sirloin , like butta! The desserts were just alright, of all, the creme brûlée was the best.
(4)Lauren H.
Dined here last night for "date night" with the fiance. We loved it. The restaurant is set up nice, the staff is friendly and they have complimentary valet. For our drinks, I had the Trois martini. It was yummy. VERY weak for a martini, but tasty. The fiance had his standard crown and coke. We started off with the mussels for our appetizer. It was absolutely delicious! The garlic cream sauce was soooo yummy! The mussels were a little on the small side but the sauce definitely made up for it. I had the seared scallops as my entree. There were eight scallops served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes in a cream sauce with a slight citrus accent. There were also a few stalks of asparagus as garnish. The scallops were seared to perfection and absolutely mouth watering! My fiance had the peppercorn encrusted beef tenderloin. I'm not a big fan of peppercorns so I wasn't a big fan of this dish. However, peppercorns aside, the cut of beef was very good. The meat was flavorful, juicy and tender! For dessert we had the creme brulee and the sorbets. The creme brulee was good. The sorbets were ok, I've definitely had better. Can't wait to dine here again!
(4)Jane E.
My friend was aching for some food on our way to Lenox and looked over and decided to stop at the first place he saw... it just so happened to be Bistro Niko. We pulled up, valet service. Walked in, and were greeted by two girls who asked if we had a reservation, we had none. It was early evening on a weekday so we were easily able to get a table. I wanted to sit on the patio at first (since that's what initially drew us in to eating there), but it was a hot Atlanta day and their patio doesn't have AC or fans, so we sat inside. Finally sit, and we take it all in.... y'all this place is really really pretty and nice! Very clean French restaurant with white table cloths....they sat us in one of the really nice big curved elevated comfy booths ( I guess we looked kinda important, lol). Most others were just sat at the table, hehehe... Server came over, told us about all the specials. He was polite and knowledgeable. I forgot the appetizer we got, it was good. My friend ordered one of the specials, and I got a salmon dish... I believe ESCALOPE DE SAUMON. While the place itself was lovely, the food was very pretty, but lacked flavor to me. Each of the items on the plate was plain and unflavored on its own (this fish, the greens, the sauce), but even when eaten all together it still didn't give me fireworks. I watch alot of Top Chef and stuff so I know different countries have different styles of cooking, I guess traditional french cuisine has very simple flavors? And don't use seasonings or spices to add flavors to the food? And don't use alot of other ingredients to add flavor to the food? Idk point is the flood isn't that flavorful. Even with the food not being that good, this place was such an unexpected delight! Many people dress up going here, we just randomly stopped in so we just had on nice, but non-fancy clothes (I think I had on a sweater, pants, and loafers and I think he was in business casual since he had just gotten off of work), I sorta expected them to be snooty, but they were nice from beginning to end. Bistro Niko exceeds its name, it doesn't seem like a simple bistro, but perhaps all the Bistros are this fancy in Paris, idk b/c I havent' been (yet). I loved how clean it was.... the atmosphere of this place is excellent. So while it probably deserves a 3 for the lackluster food, the atmosphere and overall experience makes up for it, so for now they get a four in my book :) All in all I will be coming back for breakfast one of these days... Random Note: Oh, and there bathrooms are pretty, but different from most... there's no girl/guy bathroom, there's about 5-6 individual "water rooms" and everyone, male and female have to wait in a line. They're quite nice inside, spacious, paitnings on the wall, nice lighting, but for the ladies there's no, "let me go to the restroom really quick to touch up makeup of fix something
(4)Stephany V.
I really love this place and it's quickly becoming a big favorite in ATL. The scallops are DREAMY!! And those little cheese puffs before dinner...I could make a meal out of them. On our last visit we were seated in the bar area and our table was too small for four people. We were very cramped. The lighting was so low I had to use the light from my phone to see the menu. But the service and food are always tres bien!
(4)Daisy B.
Nice French bistro atmosphere, sharp service and well-prepared food. The after-work bar scene is hopping with an over-35 crowd. It's a great place to go for a drink in Buckhead and not feel like the oldest person in the room. They were very accomodating in preparing gluten-free items (as are most Buckhead Life restaurants).
(4)Georgia L.
Love the atmosphere, and the food is really some of the best French food in Atlanta. Their oysters are super fresh and the hanger Steak is really delish. We really love to come here and have an intimate dinner.
(5)Sophia S.
I came here for brunch on a Sunday. The website says they don't open until 11:30, but they were open and happy to seat us at 11:15am. We started with the cheese plate. It came with 3 cheeses (1 goat, 1 brie, and 1 other), apricot preserves, pistachio crums, and thinly sliced toasted cinnamon raisin bread. We also ate this with the warm, fresh bread that they brought to the table. I loved everything! The Croque Madame was a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with cheese and an egg. This was incredible, my fiance was in love with it. The side of duck potatoes were probably my favorite part of the whole meal. The waitress recommended the nicoise salad. It was a huge portion. I brought the leftovers home and it made a full dinner. My fiance said the espresso was nothing special. This brunch was great, it left me wanting to come back and try Bistro Niko for dinner.
(4)Somee K.
I was very pleased with this place. I think it's one of the best restaurants I've been to. We started off with caviar, oysters, and duck for the appetizer and ordered the lamb chops for our entrée. Everything, and I mean, everything was delectable from the interior to our meal. I was thoroughly impressed with the food. I could not get enough of the caviar. We ordered the 4oz and it was perfect for 3 people. Having it with wine and savoring every bit of flavor just made me feel some type of way. The oysters here are probably the best oysters I have ever had. The fresh aroma of the oysters made me want to submerge myself in the ocean waters. The duck's tender meat fell off the bone effortlessly. There was perfect amount of moisture absorbed into the meat that it was like heaven on my taste buds. Lastly, the lamb chops. OMG! It couldn't get any better. I prefer eating it medium rare, and it was grilled to perfection. The server was excellent. Very attentive to our needs. He went a tad bit overboard towards the end with the excessive compliments to my sister and I. He also persistently tried to up sale at every chance he got. Other than that, he was a great server so he received a full 20% on a $250 tab from my boyfriend. The food and service surpassed our expectations that our plates were completely wiped clean by the end of the night. This restaurant is classy and upscale. A nice place to take your date or your loved ones. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)Faith M.
This is the second time we have eaten here. The food and service are excellent! The French Onion soup was very good.
(5)Barbara K.
Came early for dinner. Quiet just until we were leaving. Rather loud once restaurant full. Wine & beer selection great. Had the Seafood Tagliatelle Pasta - highly recommend. Not very impressed with the Gougeres as others has posted.
(5)Wayne K.
Very upscale... Great Food!
(4)Holy Guacamole M.
I wish i could rate food & service separately. If I could, I'd give the food 5-stars and the service 2-stars... maybe less. The price range is high, but anything food wise will EXCEED your expectations! The kitchen has it together - they're very consistent with preparing delicious food! My tastebuds thank you! However, the "service" doesn't match up to the food. The servers clearly don't care about your dining experience - you wait FOREVER for someone to greet you; half of the time you aren't given bread; there's no 2-min. check back; the staff isn't pleasant and there's no sense of urgency. Finally, I gave up on the service and quit coming, but the food is really good so if/when I do go, I just sit at the bar or order take-out :(
(3)Kelly W.
The food is delicious! I had the mesclun salad, coq au van, and creme brûlée. While the food was beyond amazing and the trios martini was amazing, the service was incredibly slow and there were lots of mistakes with our orders. Our waitress made up for the mistakes with a great attitude. The only thing keeping me from offering up 5 stars was the mistakes with our orders. You won't care as much if you enjoy drinks though!
(4)Nathina G.
This place is terrible do not go . Don't waste your time or money!!! I just left there. They told us the wait was 30 min we ended up waiting 50 min. While we waited we had a glass of wine. And we kept asking and checking in with the front desk. After one drink. We noticed many people around us that got there after us were being seated. We checked in again and they gave us the same excuse. There was even a girl who made reservations and still waited went to find the manager and in front of us this was unacceptable! It us dont waste your time!
(1)Sheila G.
Absolutely LOVE the patio- the most authentic european style patio I have seen outside of Europe! The staff is all incredibly well-informed of the menu items and pair the food well with appropriate drinks. I had my first Moscow Mule there and I LOVED it! I also love ALL the tarts under the appetizers and usually get all 3 when my girlfriends and I just want a light dinner and drinks before going out. I don't understand why people have given poor reviews over service, every time we go we have a different server and each experience has been better than the last. If you go, ask for Ashley! She is well-informed and more than accommodating- she truly makes dining out a great experience. Brunch was a little disappointing only because dinners were so superb. Don't get me wrong, the food was great, it just wasn't filling. The plates were small, but this might be my own problem- coming from an XXL America viewpoint- it might be a strategic Euro-tactic they were aiming for :)
(5)Mick D.
Pricey. But good. The service was excellent. These folks know that crossed silverware on the plate means you're done. And the food was decent. The oysters, mussels, and the flatbreads were downright good. However, I'm wanting to try a sandwich next time. They're cheaper, and sound just as delicious as some of the way more expensive entrees. The atmosphere was good. Staff wasn't at all stuffy, and we quickly made friends with our servers. Wine recommendations were spot on. And we had a good time, even as we laughed at having to take out the occasional fruit-fly instigator.
(3)D S.
Oddly, Atlanta is lacking compared to most other metros in French cuisine. Bistro Niko is luckily a good choice for French fare! One of my gal pals and I were driving down Peachtree on a Friday night after shoe shopping at Phipps. It was a cool summer night, the sunroof was open, and we were gabbing on about the wonderful deal we got on our shoes, when this wonderful aroma slammed our senses. I immediately turned into the driveway and made our way in. When I pulled up we had the choice of valet or self parking. I tend to shy away from valets when I can because of some horrible past experiences, so I pulled up to the parking deck. There was no signage as to rates or parking validation. That was a minus. Regardless, we parked and walked in. As a few of the posters mentioned the hostesses looked like they were going to "da club". They also seemed quite confused as to how to seat 2 people. They had a few tables available, and we asked to sit close to the patio. Between two of them, we ended up doing a loop around the restaurant until we pointed out the table. Because of the parking and the confused hostesses, I am dinging them a star. Our server was adorable and attentive. We weren't super hungry so we decided to split everything. They were very accommodating. We couldn't decide between two wines, so our server brought a tasting of both. For an appetizer, we ordered the escargot. Loved the puff pastry shell with it. They even brought us more warm bread to sop up the the yummy herb butter and olive oil sauce in the bottom of the dish. For dinner we split the steak au poivre, which melted in our mouths. For dessert, the profiteroles! Vanilla ice cream sandwiched in crispy pastry shells with a warm dark chocolate sauce and sliced almonds. I went to bed that night with a happy belly and some decked out feet.
(4)Stephanie H.
In Atlanta for work and chose this place based on the reviews and the fact I could walk from my hotel. I sat at the bar. Service wasn't fantastic but that seems to be the case when you're dining alone. The server when she did arrive was nice and had a great wind recommendation. Great Malbec. The steak frites was yummy although the fries weren't great. Seemed like standard fries and a bit greasy tasting. Mesclun salad was ok. Atmosphere is odd. The restaurant is fancy and the bar has an eclectic crowd.
(3)Ashley S.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! When you walk in you are just taken back at how adorable this place is. The service was also excellent. Still water in large glass bottle on the table just keeps it even more classy lol. Can't wait to go back for lunch AGAIN and also to try dinner and brunch! I gotta try the Croque Monsieur, Escargot appetizer, & the prosiutto goat cheese arugula pizza (more of a flat bread you share at the table as appetizer) PROS: great look, Croque Monsieur Au Salmon was sooo yummy and light, Gigot D'Agneau (lamb sandwich) was absolutely AMAZING & highly recommend it, & Confit De Canard was a wonderfully cooked duck although a small dish. CONS: There are NONE. If I had to think of one though it would be the high pricing on lunch items that aren't sandwiches. YOU NEED TO GO!!!!
(5)Andrea C.
Bistro Niko's food is delicious. The Kitchen does an outstanding job!!! However, the service and Atomosphere are Sorry as Hell!! The restaurant experience is like being at a French Denny's. The Restaurant seems to pride itself on being severly understaffed. Wait Staff is responsible for everything that happens with table service. No bussers, no food runners, no back up personnel. The waiter at our dinner was MIA and absentee. Basics were not addressed by our waiter. He did not ask guests about a drink order, other than the wine that was served with water. No follow acftivity after service of food items was addressed, and the Bathrooms were dirty and disgusting. The Atomosphere was loud and noisy, and there was a line for the bathrooms like being at a club. I do not know if I would return based on the service and the Atomosphere, even though the food was delicious...
(1)Eric N.
Dinner here last year with Ali was decent (fish was perfectly cooked and oysters were just right), so I was rather disappointed by a recent lunch. My son and I arrived around 3pm on Sunday and we were pleased that they were open. The Beer, Leffe and Hefe Weis, was on tap, cold, refreshing and promptly served. That and the fact that they had the football game on television were the positives in what would be a sea of negatives. We asked about the Foie Gras and were told that in addition to the Faux (fake) version there was also the real deal with ham hock bits--in my book, the real deal is the Alsation variety made only from geese. Based on the description from our server, the menu should have referred to it as duck pate. We decided to start with the Parma ham with blue cheese on flat bread (kind of a thin crust pizza), steak tartare and the salmon croque monsieur. The tartare was made with beef (unfortunately), came with no egg yolk, no sauce, no pickle, no onion, and was was off color in places. We made it edible with lots of dijon, pepper and salt. The salmon croque was soggy, cheesy, cold and bland. The parma ham thing was tasteless despite what looked like blue cheese. It was the lesser of three evils. Our main dishes were the haddock with cous cous in lieu of the polenta and the shrimp with salad. The shrimp were deep fried?! WTF--if you deep fry, mention it on the menu or when ordering. The shrimp had been left in the oil or under a heat light until it was somewhere north of vulcanized rubber--what a waste of good fish. The haddock was not edible. It was over cooked and too salty. I have never complained about too much salt ever (I love salt), but this dish was so salty that I felt nauseous. This was one of the rare times I have left a meal only partially eaten. The people at the bar were fun and familiar, but the bartender kept mixing up the Leffe and Hefe and did not seem to have much of clue about what drinks would suit the food or any concern about whether we liked the food. The Beaujolais Nouveau should have been poured out. It had been left in a lame looking mini keg for over a week and tasted like a combination of a cleaning fluid and vinegar. Kudos to the bartender for having the sense to warn us that it might be off and suggesting that we try a sample first. That said, he should have thrown it out. My guess is that the regular chef was not on duty and/or the owner just does not care. Either way I will not be back and I suggest that if you are looking for real French food avoid the disappointment that is Bistro Niko.
(1)Alison B.
First visit tonight , a completely impromptu one, as Bistro Niko looked so warm and inviting as I drove by on this cold and wintry evening after I finished up a late appointment with my nearby accountant. I was solo so I sat at the bar and enjoyed a very reasonably priced ($8) flute of sparkling French rose- not actual Champagne, so much cheaper- hooray! Started with the cheese plate which was supposed to feature Humboldt Fog, a wonderful California slightly aged goat cheese with a layer of ash, plus buttery St Andre triple creme cow's milk cheese and Petit Basque, a semi hard French sheep's milk cheese... all favorites of mine! Unfortunately, when the cheese plate arrived - with relatively minimal accompaniments of a couple of crisp rounds of pecan raisin bread and a fruit chutney along with some pistachio crumbs - the Humboldt Fog was no where to be found and the kitchen had substituted a piece of raclette- yes, the same Swiss cheese which is supposed to be served grilled and ooey gooey soft on a special segmented grill with cornichon pickles, almost like individual trays of fondue. Do not try to fool this girl when it comes to cheese! I may not know shoes as well as some others, but I *know* cheese! So, the cheese plate was 2/3rds delicious, especially as I really enjoyed the fruit accompaniment with the St Andre, but raclette was a poor substitute for Humboldt Fog and I probably would not have ordered the $12 cheese plate had I known that in advance. It's a small matter, I know, but important to me. I also tried a small side mixed green salad with vinaigrette- simple and nice overall, and the pommes frites which were hot, crispy and appropriately salted. Restaurant has a classic upscale brasserie feel and service was great! I will be back to check out the entrees (pretty reasonably priced in high teens for the most part) next as the steak frites are calling my name! PS: One negative: the valet service sucks! It is complimentary, but they were no where to be seen when I pulled in and waited a few minutes, so I pulled in to garage and then had to pay $8 to park- aaargh.
(4)Shel F.
Delicious. Our waiter was wonderful. His recommendations spot on. This will be a must do when in Atlanta.
(5)David F.
A nicely designed restaurant...loud bar area. For a French restaurant the wine list was pretty poor. A few decent selections but I would have expected to see some older Bordeaux and burgundy vintages. On the food side I went with a selection of apps. The fried oyster special was great. Delicately fried and the batter didn't overpower the oyster. The beet salad...ehh beets had no taste. Steak tar tar was pretty good, had a good tang Pork belly app was well prepared and worth ordering again.
(3)Dan C.
Probably could be 5 stars, if the brunch special (crab cakes with a poached egg) wasn't so darn salty. The decor, service, and price beat expectations. The mussels (mussels for brunch, duh) and dessert were absolutely amazing. Main dish just didn't have enough flavor as it was overwhelmed by the saltiness. Loved sitting outside and enjoying the weather. It was a nice vibrant place with conversation everywhere. Annoyance part was some jackwad honking their horn at the stoplight nonstop--not Niko's fault. dmo out.
(4)b h.
thoroughly mediocre; great setting, but food and svc do not rise to the occasion steak fries are NOT "frites"
(2)Brittiany M.
Yummy! Great service... I love that there are French servers in the restaurant. Very LOUD in the restaurant during lunch time- unsure about dinner. Valet is a must :) but it is always worth it except at Shout on the weekends. Try the truffle pizza! Very great
(4)Dean D.
I had a solo meal at the bar last night. the drinks were fine. the French Onion soup was creamy and excellent, highly recommend it. I had a caq au vin, the traditional french dish that should be simmering for hours not made to order. The dish look like it was a hybrid. the chicken was moist and tender but could have used more flavor. Price seemed to be right for the meal but the entree I had was a little off. I would give it another shot because all other aspects of the meal were fine and I love French cuisine.
(3)Erica D.
Want to catch high speed ferrari chases down peachtree with a front row view? Well guess what... this is your place, and yes I have seen this happen here. Food is great their little salmon sandwich things (i now forget what they are called) quite possibly melt in your mouth. Must like buttah though or it will make you sick. Patio is elevated and provides great tourist watching. Happy hour inside gets back, get there before 5. Single ladies on the prowl ration is 10:1 in your favor. Worth checking out if you are looking to mingle. Bartenders knowledgeable on wine and super friendly. Must check out.
(4)Hannah S.
My family and I dined at Bistro Niko on a Sunday night this summer. It was a great atmosphere and we enjoyed looking into the kitchen and seeing the fresh breads and meats in the window like a real french market. Our server was very personable but the actual service wasn't extraordinary. It was more than 30 minutes before we even had a chance to order our appetizers Overall we enjoyed our food but we didn't feel like it should be deemed one of the best restaurants in buckhead. My trout was great, as were the mussels and white bean soup, but I just wasn't blown away. A random tip: you can park in the parking deck at the restaurant for an hourly rate, or you can pay the valet $2.00 plus tip (which turns out to be the same amount). The young man at the valet station was incredibly eager and polite so I recommend putting your four or five dollars into the pocket of a hard-working college student rather than a garage machine.
(4)John R.
Service was excellent-Caitlin was my server. Food: Escargot- good, not very hot at arrival. Special entree- Striped Bass- very good flavor and cooked properly. Not very warm at arrival. Coffee- very good! Noisy restaurant.
(3)Jack H.
The last two visits in the fall of 2012 have been truly impressive. The evening begins nicely with professional car-valet service. Both times we had a table for four. The servers are top notch. My lovely bride had the endive salad and the sea scallops, while I ordered the beet salad and the filet of sole. For dessert, the profiteroles (choux pastry, vanilla ice cream, bitter chocolate sauce, and almonds) were delicious. They have a very hot bartender and an even hotter hostess. Excellent floor management. The ambience is loud and animated. This is a 4.5 star restaurant. One more dinner at this level and I would give it a 5.
(4)John M.
Well this was a bittersweet experience. My issues were more from a service aspect more than anything. Our first encounter on our date night was the hostess. Both hostesses couldn't have been more inappropriately dressed. Honestly they were dressed more as cocktail waitresses at the pink pony than hostesses of a classy French restaurant. Each time they passed out table we were worried they may trip from their 8" heels and t-shirt sleeves they converted into dresses. Next was the 20 minute wait for our server to come to the table to take our drink order. I thought since it was 6:45pm and our server only had 3 tables that we would be in and out. Not only was he totally clueless on the wine menu, he screwed up our appetizer order as well as our drink order. I can understand that he may not have heard it, seeing as how this was the loudest restaurant I have ever been in. Overall, the scallops were okay, very gritty, but the mussels saved the day. We were going to order dessert but honestly the whole dinner took almost two hours and we were just so anxious to get going. He slid the check on the table and didn't even thank us for dining....I would've thought he may have, given our $218 bill. I would consider drinks here sometime at the bar but honestly they need to maybe pay some better attention to the candidates that apply here.
(2)DJ V.
Its a nice fancy place to go to. Love the decor there, food is good. However, if you want a romantic and quiet restaurant then this is not the place to be. Every time I have gone it was very loud in there.
(4)Lindsay S.
Fantastic food and service- best quiche and French onion soup I've ever had!
(4)Lee M.
Subpar service and: "My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter." My wife and I visited on a surprisingly busy Thursday evening. The bar at Bistro Niko seems to be a very popular happy hour spot. I'll start with the positives, the food at Bistro Niko is very good. It's not especially creative and I thought it was all heavy on the butter. But it's classy French cafe style. My wife and I both ordered cocktails to start, a Martini for me (gin, not too dry, up, with a twist), a French 76, a concoction of lemon, vodka, champagne and hibiscus, for her. These were both stellar. I can understand the popularity of the bar. (Side note: I'm usually hesitant to order a Martini out, since usually I'll get a glass of cold watery vodka at best and asked "What flavor? Our choco-rasba-tinis are delish" at worst. But Bistro Niko delivered the goods). For appetizers we tried the gougeres and a fried oyster appetizer. The gougeres tasted exactly like Cheezits, in a good way. They were light, puffy and rich. They'd go great with a cold Lager. The oysters were the best thing all night. Among the best fried oysters I have ever had, perfectly crispy and salty outside, creamy and sweet inside. They were accompanied by some interesting pickles and a nice remoulade. For entrees we ordered the lamb chops and skate wing. I was pleased with both, but not particularly impressed. Both were technically excellent; proper doneness, nice color on the outside, and well seasoned. The accompaniments were forgettable. The entrees were good, but there was nothing special about them, I could have gotten the same dish at any number of restaurants around town (mostly less expensive places) Bland, slightly undercooked fingerling potatoes with both, average creamed spinach with the skate and decent Brussels' sprouts with the lamb. My overall impression pf both plates was that they were trying to compensate for a lack of quality and creativity with copious amounts of butter. (It's French, what did I expect?) The desserts were all standard French sweets. We got cream puffs, called "profiteroles" on the menu. They were good, but so are the ones in the freezer section of your local Kroger. I was pretty disappointed in Bistro Niko's service. In my past experiences with the Buckhead Life Group I've been mostly impressed with the quality of service, but Bistro Niko isn't up to par. Our server was friendly and helpful. I think he just had too many tables, I counted at least seven that he was serving, one was a party of eight. In this quality of restaurant, with the individualized attention and service required, seven is too many tables. Taking custom drink orders, discussing the wine list, describing specials all take time. So, while he was excellent when he was at our table the visits were too few and too far between. Because of that, the timing of our meal was all off, we waited quite a while with no drinks at the beginning of the meal. When we finally received our cocktails, we were nearly done with them before the appetizers arrived. Then the entrees came before we'd really had a chance to eat the appetizers. Once the entrees were cleared, the wait for dessert menus was noticeably lengthy. A few specific notes of poor service: When I ordered my cocktail the server looked at me and said "Charles Dickens?" and then just stared at me for an awkward moment waiting for me to get the joke ("Olive er twist?"). I guess I should have heard that one before. When he brought our entrees, the runner said to my wife "hot plate". What they say in a $6 Mexican restaurant. For a $30 entree, at least give me a "Ma'am this plate is very warm, please be careful", or better yet, re-plate it after it comes out of the salamander so it's not an issue. One instance, our water carafe was empty, so the busser grabbed the one of the adjacent table to fill our glasses. I just found this odd. If something is set on your table their is a sense of ownership over it. I know at 99% of casual restaurants we're all being filled from the same pitcher and yes it was just water and it's free... But he wouldn't have taken the bread basket off the adjacent table to refill ours. Also, we were offered sparkling or still water, how was he to know that we didn't have still and they sparkling or vice-versa? The final thing that irked me was that we had a Buckhead Life gift card with a large balance on it. Well more than enough to cover the full meal. However, Bistro Niko wouldn't put the tax or tip on the card. I was thinking maybe this is a law that I'm not aware of? But thinking back I've had gift cards to Chili's, etc, and this has never been an issue before. I didn't mind having to pay the tax and tip, but I'm sure the person who gave it to me expected to be giving me a nice meal (or two), not part of a meal and an obligation for $50 in tax and tip.
(2)Xo X.
If I could have given this place a -1 I would but the lowest available score is one star , so, by God's good grace they will attain this score. Service -TERRIBLE. Waiter was condescending and apparently did nto know he was a WAITER. Water was not offered. When I finally asked for some water, he poured it in the cups and one cup was 1/2 full and the other was , I kid you not, 1/4 full. It was strange. Then I looked in the cup only to see little stringy "dust" particles or something floatin in the water!!!! Further, there were no napkins on the table at seating. Barely checked on the table. Lastly, the wait time was TERRIBLE considering there was a minimal amount of people in the establishment at the time! Im so disappointed Food - ok they can get 1 star for mediocre. We ordered steak tartare and I am aware of the meaning of tartare but I was not impressed with the portion or presentation. My sister ordered a sandwich and the tosated bread was saturated in butter. I understand this is the South but nonetheless, it is still a FRENCH restaurant so I expect French food not with a southern touch. In summation, if you have never been to France or are ok with mediocre - feel free to dine here. If your waiter is a short, dark haired gentleman who looks very furry - good luck!
(1)Shayla C.
First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! The wait staff was very attentive and accommodating. The food was flavorful, though parts of my entree came out at different times. I loved the decor. Valet is 2 plus tip...cheaper than self parking. The food was a but pricey but good none the less.
(4)tony h.
I only get one specific dish each time I visit Bistro Niko...the Sautéed Sea Scallops. The most perfectly cooked, sweet and tender scallops I've ever had. Always consistently excellent. They scallops are served on a bed of mashed potatoes with asparagus spears. Just an amazing dish. Also, their chocolate sundae is a huge hit. The hazelnut brittle that comes with it is very tasty. Service here is always excellent. My only complaint is that it can get a little noisy in the main dining room area. They have a smaller dining area behind the hostess station that is a good option to reduce the noise and allow for pleasant conversation. It also allows a peak into the open kitchen which is a treat to be able watch. I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)Monica C.
We went on a visit to Atlanta after several people recommended and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is warm, service is wonderful and the food amazing.We decided to have a few appetizers and tried the mixed green salad, the charcuterie platter that was fantastic, the mussels and the duck confit.the food was all amazing but the duck confit was outstanding, a definite must try. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience is the area.
(5)Regina Q.
I didn't like the dish I ordered. Had just come back from Paris and was still in french food mode so we came here. I ordered steak frites and the steak was soo dry and tasted kind of off. I didn't finish it. It's cool looking inside but I'm not interested in trying the other dishes. Seems like a tourist trap.
(2)Kellie N.
A great way to spend New Years Eve for dinner. They menu was great, the food was amazing and the service really stood out. The desserts were not my favorite...but the food...wow, the food was so amazing! The seafood dishes are so fresh and the sauces are light and perfect!
(4)Jola Z.
This is my fave restaurant in Atlanta! Whenever I go there I am amazed. I usually order scallops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and onion soup, but if I try something new- I am never disappointed. This place made me love scallops and so far I have not tried better scallops anywhere else. Even if you are not sure if you like scallops, just try them there and you will love them. All the people working there are amazing, I like Katerina a lot as my waitress. It's more fancy, so make sure you dress nicely. I don't have even one bad thing I could say about this place. Enjoy :)
(5)David K.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience. Everything from my duck sausage appetizer, to my trout entree, to my citrus tarte dessert. I thought that the entire experience was fantastic. The place was clean, active, and my waitress was extremely attentive.
(5)Valerie T.
I had a business lunch at this classic French restaurant. The large room is comfortable and very typical of the old brasseries in Paris, though, due to high ceilings or the lack of partitioning, the noise level is high. The service is very efficient and professionnal. We shared a delicious flat bread with mushrooms and trufle oil and I had the duck confit, which was tender and served on a bed of salade frisee. The bathrooms are nice with their painted tiles.
(4)Liz K.
Thought I would love the place, but sadly I didn't. I have been waiting to check this place out, and finally when it was said and done. I was just a little more than disappointed. My server first off, seemed a little rude at first. As the night progressed his mood lifted up. Maybe because he realized my friend & I were ordering more? WHO KNOWS. But his attitude was not pleasant at all to be around. Left my friend to do the ordering... We ordered the cheese puffs-- which did not seem cheesy at all. Just puffy full of air, like a cloud. Was I eating a cloud in a form of a carbohydrate? Also ordered the en courte, which was suppose to be carpaccio... but my friend ordered the wrong thing (sadface.) It was a really greasy mini sandwich with a super salty piece of salmon in between. And entree, we had some sort of seafood pasta dish where they lacked in the seafood part. Service was slow in the beginning, and not to mention rude. After that I didn't care about my experience anymore.
(3)Mujeed M.
Dined last night, enjoyed the patio and city view, The service became better as the evening continued, the staff was friendly, The Food was Delicious, very impressive seasoned well, though the place was crowded, the meal was prepared without rushing my order, very good presentation. I will continue to dine with Bistro Niko!
(4)deborah r.
Always good, anything and everything on the menu, service, atmosphere, consistency never disappointed.
(4)Ferdinand H.
2.5-3. I'll round up. Bistro Niko tries hard to be something special, enlisting the white tiles ubiquitous in all the bistro-esque establishments I've seen in New York, ranging from Balthazar to Bouchon. Reds, blacks, chromes and the requisite French film posters attract the eyes, and complete the impression. Had drinks with a friend, with an order of French Onion Soup and Escargot. Fare was decent at the price, but not mindblowing. The French Onion soup was rich with cheese and bread, not overly salty nor sweet, but still lacked the heartiness that I associate with the best of the best. Escargot was also good, but not great. I'm rounding up given the dearth of competitors in Atlanta. Good French cuisine is vanishingly rare here.
(3)Jie Y.
Food: 4, starters are impressive. Main plates are average Service: 5 Atmosphere:4.5
(4)Anthony Z.
Very loud. Hardly any mixed drinks. The food was nothing special.
(2)Reagan M.
Carol gets 1 star and Brent gets 5. Thus the restaurant gets a 3. My food was amazing - the onion soup and the shrimp in the puff pastry. Awesome. Boyfriends strip was overcooked and cold. Oops. Carol at the bar where we ate leaves a lot to be desired. She seemed angry and hungover. But Brent was fabulous. Too bad they have to work together! This was our second trip to bistro niko and overall will not be back. Save your money for something better, there are better places all around!
(3)Mary Jo S.
Atmosphere: pleasant enough. Business travel so I sat at the bar. Food: ok I read the reviews and was excited! Taste: A+ Value: F. I know in America we are used to oversized portions but this place goes to extreme in the opposite direction. $10 for a beet salad with 3 slices if beet is absurd. $22 for 6 baby scallops as an entree is robbery. I actually left this place and bought a snack at the hotel. Not impressed and pissed I believed the hype!
(3)Matt T.
Good grief! Really great food for a reasonable price. Ordered the duck and the French onion soup. By far the best duck and soup I have ever had. Plus the view sitting street side and enjoying such fantastic food was a complete package. Will be back next time I am in the area.
(5)Megan C.
Upon return to Bistro Niko, I hereby change my rating to 4 stars. Much better the second time around! I loved the Caviar, my martini, and my dinner-pasta with scallops. YUM!
(4)Jennifer L.
Bistro Niko might as well be called "mussels and naughty bread" - and there is NO shame in dipping that crusty baguette into the garlic sauce those mussels have been simmering in! I'm not even a mussel person, but these little delights are too good to pass up. Yummo. Great patio- sometimes there is live music on the weekend. Good date night and people watching spot!
(4)Victoria L.
I am really just amazed that I managed to have a lovely dinner here and refrained from knocking over the tables, since I tend to be a huge klutz in classy establishments. While we were in Buckhead for a conference, the buzz about this place was such that, in the middle of a group of people, I took out my phone to reserve a table. That was probably the best decision I made the entire trip that involved leaving the hotel. I will admit that I expected to drop a ton of cash, be the most underdressed person there in a business casual dress, and generally expected to be looked down upon by snooty French waiters. I'm happy to tell you that they greeted us graciously, I fit right in and we spent a whopping $60 for dinner. If you've never had a Saint Germaine Special, get one here. DO IT. It is the perfect warm-weather drink and also they serve it from the cutest little St. Germaine beakers. Sit outside to people watch, if the weather is nice enough. The tables are a little small, but it evokes intimacy instead of rants of "get off my food!". Now, about the food: Get everything. Because I wish I did. The chicken tortellini was melting in my mouth. The Coq au Vin was literally falling off the bone (heh, I said bone). Okay, now. If you'd read my reviews, you know I am a connoisseur of Creme Brûlée. I eat my way through it in every city I visit. Leave it to the French to hit it so hard there was a dent in the headboard. Or it was out of the park. Whichever euphemism tickles your fancy, that's what it did. If I could have rolled around in a vat of the stuff, I would have. In fact, I'm so engrossed in the memory of that dessert that I can't remember what my lovely fiance ate, but I'm sure it was delicious as well. I would rate this place as "business casual" and 2 $$ for cost, which made the visit even better since I was expecting to lay out a ton of cash for an amazing meal. Can I give this place 6 stars? And my undying affection for their dessert chef?
(5)Rick F.
I did not have high expectations for this place due to being part of Buckhead Life Group, I've been to a number of places and was underwhelmed! Bistro Niko changed everything for me! I love everything about it! The decor, the kitchen is amazing, I want to recreate a smaller version and put it in my house! This reminds me of a place that if your out on Lake Lanier all day boating and you need a good meal on the way home, come here and indulge in the appetizers. Pate, Mushroom Pizza, Cheese Puffs, French Onion Soup and of course the Mussels were amazing! The Skate entree was perfect. Puff Pastry dessert was perfect! Noise level way to high! Server tried really hard to do a good job but failed in that department. The management should spend more time training the staff.
(4)Ross P.
Great Service, loved the decor excellent brunch options and great mimosas! Valet flat 2.00 rate.
(4)Victoria H.
Server was fantastic. Food was disappointing. It was ok; just not enough flavor or excitement. Bland French food. Will never be back.
(3)Muath A.
good food, quick service and nice staff
(5)Stacy K.
Not a bad experience overall, just not my type of place. Food was good, the mushroom flatbread was very rich but delicious. Also had the cheese puffs, very satisfying. My favorite item that we had was the herbed goat cheese ravioli. The ratatouille with it was a reason I may go back!
(3)Chris R.
Great Steak TarTare and they will double up the duck confit app for an entree. Great wine list and nice comfortable bar... Almost cougar free.
(4)Shay H.
This restaurant is beautiful inside, food was really excellent. The duck confit was delicious, and though just an appetizer the portion was still very large. Service was good.
(4)Rob F.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a great experience. It wasn't terrible, and if it were not such a pricey restaurant, I'd give it a 3, but with a $100 bill, you've got to expect a little more. Our waiter seemed new; when we asked him about some of the menu items, he pretty much just read what was on the menu. Thanks, chief. I'll work my way backwards through the meal. The dessert was waaay too sugary for my taste. But, then again, I'm not really a dessert person. My entry was not bad, but again, just not bad. Given the meal price, I was hoping it would really dazzle me. I also tried the salmon spread as an appetizer. I got about 2 ketchup packets worth of spread with 3 crackers. Way to spoil me now. Now, something worth mentioning is the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon (butter grilled brioche of smoked salmon and fromage blanc). I loved this. The texture reminded me of a grilled cheese sandwich, but you really taste the salmon and it's wonderful. I do like that this place is within walking distance of my condo and should I have some friends over, it wouldn't be a bad place to stop by and grab a drink. I might even spring for the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon again, but probably won't make a visit for dinner in the future.
(2)Stephanie A.
Facing Peachtree near Piedmont (tower place complex) is bistro Niko. One of a very few French eateries in the city. Quite a large space reminiscent of FAB it's got the same high ceilings and lively crowd amid plenty of French fare. Some outdoor seating available (and if you want to hear your dining companions this may be a better option). Lively after work bar scene as well. If you're into that sort of thing. I am not but hey, that's just me. I know some of you need a stiff one after a 9-5 grind. Friendly attentive staff (I never know if they are extra friendly because I am taking photos and notes but I appreciate it nonetheless) and plenty of staff. Just what I like to see. My water glass will never want for water and my wine will flow freely. Really does anyone like a server spread too thin? This is a service industry after all. It's restaurant week and we ordered from both menus. I have to say this regular menu at Niko reads like poetry for a foodie that is completely enamoured of French cuisine. All the greats are there and then some. This more than a bistro, it's full on French food. First up is some salmon croque monsieur. This is incredibly rich. Salmon rich, cheese rich and fried in butter rich. Plan to share it and have some high acid wine with it. Good stuff but a little goes a long way. Coq au vin. Two juice fat hind quarters of a chicken. Wow. This one left me a little speechless. I haven't had a coq au vin quite this good. Dark, deeply flavored and tender as you want it. Impeccable presentation and a flavor that is far better than I expected. Full on 10 out of 10. Beef bourguignon. Luscious braised beef cheeks that came out steaming hot, full dense rich demi sauce that could be inhaled 2 feet away. I am not positive but I suspect the noodles are house made. Delicate and ideal texture for the dish. The sauce perfectly portioned so not sloppy or overly wet. The cheeks literally melt in the mouth. More tender than a short rib and the flavor was another speechless inducing moment if not several. I absolutely would have ordered it again if I had room to eat more. Baba au rhum is ok. It's very light but a bit bland. Delicious vanilla pastry cream in the center, tangy citrusy sauce (I was getting peach and kumquat but I can't confirm) . I didn't finish it. The crème brulee is excellent. Heavy cream base, good healthy vanilla flavor. That did get finished. Nice wines, atmosphere, food and service. I am absolutely returning.
(4)Alexander D.
This is my second time here and I genuinely enjoyed it. Great service! I think the portions should be a little bit bigger, but aside from that i found the place to be amazing!
(5)Kye B.
Not much that needs be said except that my experience was quick, (which is what I needed) tasty (which is what I desired) and had a courteous and charming staff (which is what I always enjoy). Menu seemed interesting, felt kinda soda-shop-ish, and if you're in the mood for that...then this is the place!
(3)ash r.
Romantic French restaurant. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent service. Excellent food. The confit de Conard was very tasty. It was one of the best dishes i have ever had. The duck was cooked to perfect. My girlfriend had the RAIE AU BEURRE NOIR. This dish was very delicious as well. The waiter was able to answer questions very knowledgeable and provide prompt service. I went during the lunch service so the prices were very reasonable.
(5)J F.
Every time I visit this restaurant the service is always slow as a month of Sundays. It takes too long for someone to arrive at my table. I am literally looking around the restaurant for the waiter. It takes forever for your bread to arrive. Today my party was serviced by an Asian guy and it was the same experience...long wait for drinks and bread, no personality, no introduction. There were only about 5 tables full in the restaurant while we were dining; hence there was really no excuse for the service to be this poor. In addition to this the hostess is rarely pleasant...no greeting upon arrival or departure. I am a great tipper - 30% - 40% of the check, however the service is lacking severely and I don't see the value here. Though I thoroughly enjoy the food, the service experience is so unacceptable I can't say that I will return.
(1)Mike D.
Really good, top notch food and service for both lunch and dinner. Very consistent over 3 visits. Great for a date, an office outing, or out of town guests. Great place to sit outside and enjoy a meal.
(4)Gus P.
Excellent restaurant! A bit pricey, but the food is great. I definitely recommend and would go back.
(5)James B.
Professional staff, good food, nice decor. Suitable for a dinner date or business meeting.
(3)Leanne E.
I dined on a Thursday evening, which happened to be the same night as some sort of corporate shin-dig. Parking is by Valet and costs $2, but the attendants are courteous and prompt. The inside of the restaurant is lovely. White subway tile and lace curtains gave it a nice classy feel. This place does NOT serve sweet tea, but unlike Houston's, will provide you with a generous serving of simple syrup. We started with the white bean soup and the cheese puffs. It was a chilly and windy evening, so dipping the cheese puffs into the soup was great, perhaps my favorite part. It was warm and thus warmed the soul. That soup is excellent. For an entree, my sweetie chose the Steak and Frites, which was prepared well and a good hearty man pleaser. I chose the mushroom and guyre tart, which was tasty. It was thin, crispy, cheesy goodness. This joint tends to be a bit loud and the bar is crowded, but they have a magician! They are pricy, so be alert. $92 for two drinks and the items mentioned above.
(3)William Z.
A little taste of a Parisian brasserie. Their aile de raie is very good and selection of oysters with good Sauvignon great!
(4)Toni D.
Just came from Bistro Niko and had a fabulous time. Mary and her partner at the bar were wonderful and delightful company. The Food was Fabulous and nicely presented. we met a lowly new friend - Trey - who was visiting from Tampa. He is a Somelier and was full of wonderful knowledge. WE will definitely go again. Toni Dore
(5)Emily P.
Amazing food. Loved the steak poivre I ordered, done to perfection. Had a bit too much peppers on it though. I ordered the frissee (sp?) salad, but I wasn't a big fan of the egg on top of it, although the dressing was delish!
(4)Annie T.
Bistro Niko suffers from what a lot of high potential restaurants suffer from: namely, the inability to step beyond "stereotype". It encapsulated everything that a french hip bistro "should" be if you were to think of every possible "french" thing you could have in a french restaurant... but all of that would never really be there. Case of the trying too hard? It's sort of like when you are making Chardonnay and keep the wine so air tight that it turns brown because there wasn't that .01% of oxygen in fermentation. Service slip-ups: - Our server was very adamant about trying to push the champagne. It was a bit confusing. - Our server said that Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was a California wine, when WV is in Oregon. Maybe a little more education around the wine list would be good. - In general, the servers need to work on their "there but not there" presence. It was very obvious when the servers wanted to advance the dinner, and that can be very invasive to the dining experience. Service highlights: - Our server was very willing to provide samples of the wine selections to purchase by bottle. (I would expect that, but not all restaurants will be so generous if not available by the glass) We ordered... mussels, salmon spread, and I ordered the roasted chicken with pomme frittes. Mussels were very good. Generous with the dipping sauce also. Rivals Plouf in San Francisco, as one of our Atlanta-based friends said. Roast chicken breast was dry but the dark meat was tender enough. There was a flakiness to the dark meat that I couldn't quite get and it was difficult to get the meat off in slices - was very flaky. Fries were well made. Overall, there is potential for Niko to become a true french bistro dining experience. The food sampling I had was overall 3.5 but downgraded to a 3 given the lack of value. It's very loud inside. Be prepared to speak at your highest conversation voice. If I were going on a date, it'd be a GREAT place to have a bowl of mussels, an order of pomme frittes, and a bottle of sauvingon blanc as dinner.
(3)Carla M.
We recently had a company dinner there and it was my first time dining. I absolutely loved the ambiance, food and beverages. We were attended by two waiters and we were only a party of three so all of our orders came very fast and our cocktails were replenished quickly.
(4)Josephine I.
You walked in, and you felt like you are somewhere in the 1940's of a France not-too-shabby ballroom. I went with the boy during the restaurant week. I had the 3 course menu, but my boy decided to exclude himself. I ordered the coq au vin for the entree. A baguette with smoke salmon for the first course, and a creme brulee for dessert. 1. Baguette with smoke salmon- It was actually pretty good in all seriousness. The smoke salmon is combined with cream to make it very creamy. The baguette is sliced thinly, and it is toasted. Good combination. 2. Coq Au Vin (Chicken in wine)- It honestly was OK. It was a bit bland for my coq au vin. It was good, but it was not a " WOW that is delicious". I downed it though. 3. Creme Brulee- Can you go wrong with a creme brulee? Overall, the service was OK. The wine that we got was pretty good. Pretty good dinner, somewhat lack in the excitement of the tastebuds.
(3)Nic K.
I come here a lot since it's right by my work. It's the easiest place to go with clients that doesn't require a whole lot of walking in pointy, 4-inch stilettos. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here before. The restaurant is always crowded no matter what day or time you go. I like to rag on Buckhead Life since all their other restaurants are very 80's with their decor. Bistro is nicely done. They did get docked a point today. I was having lunch with a client today, and I ordered the Deux Plats (oui, oui). I ordered the white bean soup as my starter (J'adore ca!). The server did a bit of a faux pas. He asked if he should split my soup into two bowls so I could share it with my lunch guest. MY soup. Mine! I proceeded to give him the stank eye. I couldn't say no otherwise I'd look like a donkey. Before I could grumble a yes, my lunch guest spoke up and said, "Absolutely!" I wanted to be like, "No way, back off!" But, this was a work meeting so I had to maintain professionalism. My white bean soup was delicious. I just wish I had more of it....
(4)Allison C.
First Ask for a table in Belinda's section. She is fantastic.
(4)Alexis R.
Love Love Love the mushroom flatbread. I could eat a whole one by myself. Truly remarkable. The tomato flatbread is a star as well - must give credit where due. Of the foods I've had at Bistro Niko, only one has been any less than stellar. The only bad entree was a tuna salad, which tasted almost canned. However, the Croque Madame, Coq Au Vin, butternut squash soup, tortellini, creme brulee, and profiteroles are magnifique. (What can I say? We have a lot of client dinners at my office.) This is definitely a pricey joint, but it's worth the cost if you're having a nice date or... well, a client dinner. This is an order-the-bottle, get-a-recommendation-from-the-expert-waiter, wear-your-cloth-napkin-on-your-lap-please kind of place. No paper hats here (at least, they didn't encourage it when I tried it). All in all, Bistro Niko is a wonderful restaurant that I highly recommend. Just plan on allotting the day's (or week's) salary for your experience.
(4)Scott A.
Went to Bistro Niko recently and it was phenomenal! Everything was on point from the flowers I had ordered beforehand to the very end. We had eaten there once before almost two years ago and we decided to come back. (Disguised a marriage proposal as a "date-night".) They were accommodating every step of the way with some added accoutrements that were not prompted in ANY way! She had the Prosciutto Tarte w/ a salad while I had the Steak Frites, salad also. Everything came out exactly when we wanted, glasses were filled, and management came by to check on things every so often (without being intrusive). Couldn't have asked for a better experience and we'll DEFINITELY be going back. Absolute MUST if you're ever in Atlanta!
(5)Michael P.
Food is above average, tad overpriced for the quality. But you are paying for the atmosphere. Great vibe, very trendy. I was probably a bit underdressed. Business casual is more appropriate.
(4)Wade G.
It was just OK. Service was fine. Main Dining room is crazy crazy loud so if you have someone who is hard of hearing def sit outside or in the small dining room, which is unfortunately rather blah. Some people in my group liked their food but to others it was overworked, over seasoned, and just not memorable in a good way. I had the veal and thought it was quite good. Duck confit appetizer is great. Those who had steak and fries were most unimpressed. It just did not have the right fries and seasoning. I would try again though. The bar is great.
(3)Karen T.
The overall menu and food was fantastic here. I'd say the scallops is a must, but we didn't care too much for the pork belly. I'd also recommend the escargot and charcuterie platter.
(5)Anne A.
Ate dinner here with a friend. The service was excellent. We had fantastic appetizers, the Gruyere puffs and a scallops dish. I had the Coq Au Vin which I can never seem to pass up. My friend had a Hanger steak special I think. Both were very good. The portions were actually more than I expected, but not too much. We still had room for dessert: one of the sundaes. Cocktails and wine. All of this food and the final price was much less than we had expected. The only thing I didn't like was the noise level. Even before the restaurant filled completely, it was quite loud. I don't understand why nice restaurants in particular don't control the acoustics. It doesn't take that much and makes for a more pleasant dinner when you don't have to yell at your dinner companions or your server. If it weren't for the noise I would give it a five.
(4)Jules B.
French soup was delicious ! Coq au vin was ok. Kind of tough & chewy. Citrus pie was soso. Too Noisy to talk.
(2)Andrea P.
For a restaurant in a major city that is part of an elite restaurant group we were very underwhelmed by our experience at Bistro Niko. The butternut squash was delicious and the best part of our meal. The mushroom tarte (French flatbread) was soggy and sopping with cheese - no chance to enjoy what should have been a light flaky crust. We also had the mussels which were good but they were served with french fries...like we were at a fast food joint, what?! It was an insult to the mussels. Lastly we had one of the specials, a steak sandwich, which was highly touted by our waiter. It was the worst part of our meal. We didn't stick around to find out how dessert was. The atmosphere was nice (slightly upscale and not stuffy). Service was pretty good.
(3)Art V.
Generally a pretty good meal. Restaurant is among the loudest in Atlanta. One needs to nearly shout to be heard. Only major gripe is the portion size of the entrees. VERY small. They try to mask the size by serving entrees on very small plates. I ordered skate. The portion was 4 to 5oz at best. The same entree at the same price at Atlanta Fish Market offers double the portion, at least. The french fries were uninteresting supermarket quality. Good creme brulee. Glad to see that they have instructed the hostesses to refrain from dressing like hookers.
(3)Maria S.
I met a couple here for dinner one night. Food was alright, the variety of the menu was lacking. The cheese plate and meat plate were the only good thing, and the wine. We did not have any trouble with the service. I thought it was over priced and over rated. Better places to eat in the ATL.
(2)Ruksana H.
Was here for my French group meet-up and they had the little room up front reserved for us. Great service, great atmosphere, even the chef came over and said hello! I had some soup, pizza and mussels - all flavorful and delicious. The wines were fantastic, aptly paired by our wait staff with the food. I want to take some friends back and have a fun time soon. :)
(5)Joe R.
Food is excellent. Ambiance is excellent. It is a bit loud but keeps the atmosphere lively. Great date night or celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Jeff K.
Are you kidding me? This place is dirt cheap for the food they serve. The bistro is very nicely decorated. The wait staff were very competent and efficient. The food was nothing but excellent. You get all that for a price of um....pizza. Granted, it might be some expensive pizza, but still......pizza. We had about 10 people in the party. The escargot we shared were very good. The Crispy duck was excellent bordering exception. For the entree, I had a chef's special pork chop. That was excellent as well. The pork was nicly done. It was cooked, but it stayed nice and tender. We shared several desserts afterwards. I can't say any of them were memberable, but I do remember them being good:)
(4)DubR R.
This place was for sure class class class. I definitely felt out of place. First of all, I didn't expect to be going here, thought a divey bar maybe. Second, my date was extra hot, totally undeserving. But I think I handled pretty well... food was good, service was great... a little too loud if you want to converse with your date. MUST TRY: Mussels NOTE: Dress to impress (not douchey, but classy)...this area fills amongst the higher echelon of atlanta
(3)Christian H.
The food: The food is pretty good and fairly inexpensive for an upscale restaurant. You can get an entree for around $15-$20 on average. I would recommend the beef cheeks. The Service: Our server did a good job and was very attentive. He recommended my wife a glass of wine which she loved. I have no complaints. The Atmosphere: Like I said, it is a fairly upscale place so the decor and ambiance is pretty nice. However, it was fairly loud and there were actually a lot of people sitting at the bar area, which didn't bother us, but I could see how this could annoy some people. Overall: Recommended. I would go back.
(4)Adam M.
The food does NOT deserve this rating. It was pretty good. Our head server was very awkward with an awful attitude, ruining the experience (hence the 2 star overall rating). I wish our assistant waiter was the only one helping us. He was from France, and truly outstanding. My favorite part of the night was the bottle of wine, which I think has a lot of value. The '06 Chateau Listran from Medoc ($35) was the cheapest cab-based bordeaux on the menu, but had incredible texture, a pleasant nose, and a solid lingering finish on this light-medium body bordeaux. Truly a complex wine for $35, imo, and the markup isn't bad either, as it retails around $20-25. The wine service was terrible. When I was tasting the wine, the server poured the taste, and just immediately left. I am not kidding, he just left before I approved the wine and we didn't see him for 10 minutes. He did not pour our wine? I've never seen this, period. It was okay, because I needed to give the young bordeaux a chance to breath, but this started the chain of poor service. I had to eventually pour every glass of wine, including the first. We had the grand platter to start, which is assorted raw meats, chicken liver, and duck liver. I have not been to Paris, and was in the mood for something new, and this clearly filled that requirement. I thought it was good, and thanks to the advice from our ASSISTANT waiter on how he eats it with the mini pickles, it got better as we ate. Both the girl and I had the steak frites (the NY Strip), cooked rare plus. The waiter sold us on the dish claiming it was the "exact same" steak they were serving at Chops, but I didn't believe him because of the ($27) price point. I know Chops serves prime beef, and I've never seen a 16oz prime strip for less than around $35. About halfway through the steak, I asked him to check again. It turns out the steak was choice. After constant up-selling the entire meal, it turns out that you don't even know your product? I hate up-selling, but moreso, I hate it when a waiter says whatever he can to sell me the dish. The mark of annoying, bad service. I am not enough of a snob to dislike choice meat, and the steak was solid but over cooked. It was probably a little bit over medium rare. The béarnaise helped me through. We had the creme brulee to finish, and it was a nice, very light style. Then after trying to sell me on an after dinner drink, our server brought the check. $124 - Food matched the price (happy), service left more than just a little to be desired. Oh wait, there is more. As soon as I got done signing the check, our server immediately took the bill away from the table while we were finishing the wine. We all got somewhere to be, buddy. Do your job! We only sat there for a total of 5 minuets, and 1/2 the restaurant was still full. BOTTOM LINE: Service was awful even considering this is just a bistro. Food was good. I was in NYC last week and dined at a 5 star bistro called Cafe D'Alasce. Night and day difference. I hear they have terrible service in Paris, but unfortunately, this is Buckhead. Get it fixed.
(2)Shawanda M.
I LOVED this place! Went here for a birthday/pre Valentine's day dinner & was amazed. The food was delish as were the cocktails. beforehand, I emailed the manager to see if we could have champagne at our table waiting since we were celebrating and he promptly responded to me that it wasn't a problem. Bonus points. Our waitress was sweet and the atmosphere was amazing. Everything we had was flavorful and visually appealing. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)David W.
Last review for the day. Went here on a Sunday night and it was not busy at all. have been here for lunch and really enjoyed it. Atmosphere is great. Truly in the french bistro style. Service for Buckhead life was sub par. very surprising as this is something they do well. We started off with a raclette with pickled mushrooms. Very yummy indeed. I had duck and the wife had a pasta dish. My duck was super tender and her pasta was good. Vino was reasonable and they do have some good buys in there. My reasons for 3 stars. They try too hard in there to be French. They are not! The food, although good, was Americanized French. Not a bad thing, but just not true to the style. The People: Its buckhead, and that is all I can really say. We had two gift cards to use. the waiter swore that only one was running through and the other had to be used. I knew we had never used them before and tried to have him run it again. He came back and told me it did not work. Ok, not going to make a big scene about it there. I called corporate on Monday and it was eventually taken care of. In the end, this was all that mattered, but I felt like he was worried about his tip. I always tip off the bill prior to any gift cards or coupons. Will i go back? Yes I will try them again, but there are so many stellar restaurants in Atlanta that I do not think this will be my go to spot.
(3)Mary N.
I got the trout- really really tasty (a lot of butter). Service was impeccable, our waitress was amazing. Bathrooms were the only downside: community style. I don't like going after boys. Yuck.
(3)John M.
I arrived on a Tuesday night after getting off a plane. The place was loud and crowded which told me it must be a pretty good place to eat. I had to wait for a table for a few minutes. When I was seated, I had the steak frites with a peppercorn sauce. It was by far the best I have ever tasted. It had a hint or orange, and I would bet that it is made with a splash or Grande Marnier. The outdoor seating area is the place to sit if you have great weather and want to watch everyone going by. I would go there again the next time I go to Atlanta.
(5)Lauren M.
Only ever eaten at the bar here during happy hour, but they have the best mussels I've had in atlanta. usually a fun scene too!
(5)Luckie D.
The BEST CHAMPAGNE value in Atlanta Go for the patio scene, champagne and people watching. If you have to eat its decent.
(4)Casey G.
I work in the building where Bistro Niko sits, so I find myself coming here often...mostly for lunch, but have been for dinner as well. As far as service is concerned, I would say its as good as it gets in Atlanta. But if you're looking for a quick lunch where you're in and out in less than 45 minutes- this is not the place. I always sit outside, so I'm not sure what it's like inside. Love the cheese plate, the salmon and the wine list. When someone else is paying, definitely suggest Bistro Niko :)
(5)Meika J.
I really enjoyed my experience at Bistro Niko. I came with a large group of girls for a Bachelorette Party. We had dinner there before hitting the town. I liked Bistro Niko because it was a great atmosphere. Loud but not too loud and full of laughter. Some of the other buckhead life restaurants have great food but the atmosphere is a little stuffy. Drinks: The waiter took very good care of us and made really good wine recommendations. I love their wine, I had Riesling. I wish I remembered the brand but it was 9 bucks and well worth it. Apps: We all shared the mussels as an appetizer and they were delicious. Then we took our bread and dipped it in the sauce that the mussels came in. Amazing! Entree: For my meal I had the shrimp wrapped in some kind of dough. It was very good but next time I go I think I will have the scallops. Most of the girls ordered them and I tried theirs and loved it! Desert: We ordered a few Creme Brûlées to go around and it was the best I have ever had.
(5)Sweet GA Peach y.
Ok, so I may very well be the only person in Buckhead who is not in love with Bistro Nikko. I work close, so I have given it three valiant efforts in the last couple of months. Now let me say first-I love their space! Perfectly decorated, I love that you can see right into the kitchen, and a fabulous spot for lunch al'fresco or a great espresso while watching Peachtree Street drive by. Visit #1 Croque Monsieur. Grilled ham sandwich with gruyere cheese and a scrumptious cheese sauce all over it. Now I first had this in Paris and it happens to be one of my all time favorite meals. So I may be jaded, clinging to some memory of enjoying this in a cafe by the Eiffel tower as a young, blossoming young lady...but Bistro Niko's version left me wanting much more. Safe to say, I can make this one at home with a recipe I found on the food network. I only finished 1/2 of it. Not because it's big, but if I'm going to eat THAT many calories...I want it to be the best I've ever had. Visit#2 Coquille St. Jacques Aux Sorrel (sea scallops). Eh...... that pretty much sums it up. Just eh, nothing more or less. Visit #3 Tarte Aux Champignons Mushrooms, gruyere & fontina cheese flatbread. This had real potential. I am a mushroom lover, but the overwhelming mushroom flavor made me gag a little! lol But the cheese was awesome, so safe to say that if I go back, I'll order this without the mushrooms, and have a great meal. On this trip, my girlfriends had a chicken liver salad and really raved about it. But my Sweet Southern mother forced too many fried chicken livers down this little blondie at Sunday lunches, so I'm ok with never having them again. EVEN if they are good for my iron, Mom! We also had desert this visit and it was amazing! It was little chocolate something, similiar to a molten cake....but 100 times better. So I'm still just 'Eh' in my reviews of BN. Although, I think I'll try it for dinner the next visit and give it one more shot to show me what most everyone else is loving. Au revoir, mon amour! xo
(2)Jacqueline P.
I love the ambiance of this place from the patio to the bar and the tables inside. This would be a great destination for a date or just hanging out with friends. I would not recommend a business meeting simply because it tends to get loud at times. For appetizers, our group had the mussels, escargot and the specialty melted cheese. The mussels were cooked perfectly. The escargot had the right amount of garlic and butter mix. But the best by far, at least for me, was the cheese!! For the main course, I had the twin beef tenderloin with sauteed spinach and cream brandied mushrooms. Although the tenderloin was indeed very tender, the pepper was overpowering. If you have this dish, I'd ask them to lighten up on the pepper. In all honesty, the tenderloin would have been fine without the pepper at all. Other people in my group had the trout and another, the Coq Au Vin. Both said their entrees left much to be desired. For dessert, I had the creme brulee. It was one of the best I've had in the city. I'd recommend coming for appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks, but I'd probably skip the entrees if I were you.
(3)Michael M.
Food was ok. Service was bad. They're incapable of managing their dining room. And, upon their failure to seat us until nearly 40 minutes past our reservation time, they failed to acknowledge their shortcomings. Obviously, they feel the remainder of the dining experience would have made the wait worth it. It didn't. We won't be back. I'm sure there are places in Buckhead with equally, if not better, food and ambiance that will actually value you as a customer. This restaurant fails and expects you to thank them for their trouble in having you dine there. Keep looking. There are better places out there.
(2)Drew S.
I ate at Bistro Niko for the first time last night, and I don't eat at a lot of fine dining restaurants, but I don't think that this one was particularly up to par. I expected a little bit more. I had the Coq Au Vin which tasted decent enough, but like I said, it fell a bit below what I was expecting. The crème brulée was wonderful however & the wine recommendation did happen to help the flow of the evening. I don't think this would be my first choice for indulging.
(3)A C.
Slipped in here during a business trip for a spur of the moment dinner since my hotel (the Doubletreet) was just a stone's throw away. It was a Thursday evening and quite crowded with about a 30 minute wait. I was told that dining was available at the bar and I made my way over and found a perch at the end of the railing opposite the actual bar. Unfortunately for the couple on the other side where they had a few cozy booth seats, I sat facing them and though I couldn't hear the conversation over the general din of the restaurant, I'm sure they would have rather preferred not to have the third wheel. A friendly and courteous server waited on me the entire evening. I started with a basket of the cheese balls which were mediocre - the ones at Fogo are substantially better. I pared these with a half-dozen oysters which were fresh and tasty. Dinner was the Crevettes en Feuille de Brique - Georgia shrimp crisped in thin pastry, lemon aioli, celeriac remoulade. OR in simple term - fried shrimp with slaw. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the pastry light and crisp. The aioli and remoulade missed the mark and was a bit more like a slaw. I did wash the meal down with a bit of red and finished the night with a coffee and a ridiculous slice of pie. It was good - but not great.
(3)Ali S.
I just returned from my experience at Bistro Niko & felt the need to yelp about it. Admittedly, I wasn't too enthused about going because I was set on trying Craft Atlanta since my L.A. experience was so good. However, I did have high hopes because of the rave reviews I read on yelp. This place is not terrible but the 2-Star rating pretty much hits the nail on the head: "Meh. I've experienced better." What I ate: Escargots 'en croute' -- The escargot was my favorite of the three because it's difficult to mess up tons of butter, garlic, & snails, but I wouldn't even rank it in the top 10 escargot dishes I've had (although, it's leaps & bounds better than the escargot served by Alex Reznik at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was). The escargot dish is not covered in a puff pastry and then baked, instead, each serving has a tiny little puff pastry on it. Boo. Tartare de boeuf -- this dish was so underwhelming that there's really nothing to write about. There was no flavor (not even notes or hints) to describe the experience. Plainly, this was milquetoast. Skip this and order a glass of wine or something instead. Moules 'Gilbert' -- I must preface this by saying that I am not a fan of mussels. I ordered them simply because my best friend highly recommended them. Again, I was underwhelmed. I felt that the "sauce" it was steamed in was too salty and lacked any sophisticated mix of flavors. I tasted salt & butter. Again, both things I love...but I can get that sort of thing at Cracker Barrel. Truite mi fume amandine -- my sister order this GA trout dish which actually looked quite lovely and smelled uniquely savory with a hint of smoke. The skin looked to be just crispy enough and the fish itself was slightly buttery and even less flaky. However, it was undercooked and she was immediately turned off by it. She didn't even send it back, her appetite was gone. Tournedos au poivre -- my tenderloin was thoroughly overcooked even though I had an extensive conversation with our server about how I enjoy my steak just shy of rare. The flavor, if I had to use a single word to use, was salty....again. All in all, I would've preferred to have the trout as opposed to the beef tenderloin. Although I love creme brulee and thought I'd try it here, I was so disappointed in everything that I had tried that I just asked for the check and skipped dessert. The Interior: The restaurant itself is actually quite beautiful. It has a manufactured charm to it but if you have enough of a buzz, there's a really nice vibe in there. My favorite part is the exposed kitchen in the front and the tiny little oyster display. That portion of the restaurant is covered in white tile and I love that look. It reminds a bit of Lobster Bar. The food is not "terrible" but I would never recommend it to a 'foodie.' At the risk of sounding pretentious, you may enjoy the food here if you haven't experienced authentic French cuisine but to me this was like the Cheesecake Factory version of French Laundry. The price, if you enjoy what you're eating, is very reasonable. Although I, personally, feel like I didn't get what I paid for, I recognize that the ingredients they're using are priced appropriately. I may (emphasis) return here to drink some wine on the patio but I certainly won't be ordering anything from the kitchen again. NOTE: I don't know if this was a one-time thing or a perpetual issue but today, 8/15/10, the restaurant was literally infested with fruit flies. More than anything, it was just really annoying. Our server apologized about the issue and said they were trying to "take care of it" but I didn't expect anything more than an acknowledgment that there were a bunch of fruit flies around. Just thought I'd let you know if you were thinking about going for dinner tonight.
(2)Matt M.
This place is great. We stopped in for dinner on our first night of stay in Buckhead. It was about 9 PM and the restaurant was still full. The first thing I noticed was the fully open, well lit kitchen. That kitchen was beautiful. I couldn't help but stare. I understand why now. The menu is extremely varied. You can get pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, burgers or even a grilled cheese. My boss got the french onion soup and I wanted to eat the bowl when she was done. It looked SO good. I wish I had ordered it. I might go back one night this week. The service was fantastic. Our server Robbie was friendly, personable, easy to talk to and knew the menu and restaurant extremely well. He has a passion not only for his industry, but for this restaurant and its sister establishments. I wish he were a bartender so I could go back and just chat with him the whole night. He was great. As others have indicated the ambiance is pretty classy. After a day of flying cross country I was wearing jeans a t-shirt and a hat and felt a bit out of place in the dining room. Maybe I would have been more comfortable on the patio. Regardless, the staff never made me feel uncomfortable and were friendly and attentive. I would and will visit again. I think I'd like to try out one of the pizza's or a steak!
(4)Chris Z.
This place was good, not great. I tried the escargot, mussels, and cheese plate as appetizers. The mussels were tremendous. The cheese plate was decent. The escargot was average. For dinner I had the skate wing. I've never tried it before. The oil it was pan fried in was a bit heavy so I really don't know what the true flavor of the meat tasted like. Service was awesome. Dinnerware was swapped in and out between courses. Drinks were always full. Prices were reasonable for white tablecloth service. The average entree price was $20.
(4)Jeff B.
I'll be back again. I loved the food and presentation. I will make this one of my stops while in Atlanta.
(4)Amber S.
I love Bistro Niko. The food is out of this world. The location is wonderful. The patio can be really lovely certain times of year (most times in Atlanta). Try most anything, but seafood is particularly good here. The wine list is excellent. I would give it 5 stars, but the bartenders were rude to us here for no good reason a few times, so I can't dish out all 5. I think it's because the party next to us was a bit unruly, but we were not, and it was a real downer.
(4)Tran N.
Went here for my Bday...Bon Appetit! It was busy on a Tues! Yikes! Service was great (waiter was even French LOL) Great setting, nice patio area, good food =D. Items are reasonably priced. Had the escargot, chz balls, & salmon spread for apps. Not a fan of the escargot, but the chz balls were amazing! Kept popping them like potato chips. Had the duck breast on red cabbage-it was delicious and surprisingly sweet. The lamb shank was huge compared to other restaurants lamb shank portion. Scallops on mash presented oddly (like brains on mash) but was also divine. Great wine menu, even beer menu. I think the beer was a bit pricey though. Overall great experience and c'est bon diner!
(4)Michelle D.
Fresh, Fun & French! I recently took a trip to Atlanta to spend my birthday with friends and family. The trip itself was great because I got to see my friends from back East which also included my college roommate and mother. Happy times! I had not quite decided on where I was going to have my official dinner party so I started looking upon my arrival. I decided I was not going to do the standard steakhouse, seafood, etc; all of those I can get about anywhere or cook myself. I decided on French. The few times I have had French cuisine I was pleased. As I look through my fav reservation site I came across several options in various locations. My favorite part of the greater Atlanta area is Buckhead so based on the location, reviews and menu I selected Bistro Niko. We arrived and we were are pleased with the initial feel of the place. It was trendy yet still managed to be upscale and not stuffy, perfect. We were able to combine fine dining and fun. Our waiter was a genuine Frenchman with a great attitude and very attentive. My friend had trouble seeing the menu and our waiter brought out a box of assorted reading glasses for him to choose from so he could read the menu. We ordered wine and appetizers to begin; the wine was kept chill in a bag full of ice vs the standard silver bucket; I liked the idea and will be using for my own parties. The main courses we ordered were all perfect. My mother had trouble deciding on her meal and the waiter helped her decided (very patient) and also told her if she was not satisfied to simply raise her hand and he would remove it and let her order something else. He was a gem. When her food came out he was so curious as to her response he stood away but kept and eye on her to see her reaction after the first bite. Sure enough ass soon as she bit and swallowed he was right there to see what she thought. She loved it. The other patrons around us were also very nice and chatty; in a good way. And everyone looked good. For entertainment Dwight from Atlanta Housewives was there in all his glory dressed like Prince taking pics with whomever asked. I decided it was my birthday and I looked way more fab than he did so if any pictures were getting taken w him it would be because he wanted to take a pic with me. ;-) At the end of our dinner I was presented with a really cute birthday cream puff ice-cream thingy w a candle. It was really yum and enough to be shared among the three of us. Unfortunately one of my friends had an allergic reaction to something in her food and lost her voice and was a bit swollen. But when she went to the restroom she ran into Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I told here she should have asked him for his opinion...that way we could also see if he was a real doctor, LOL. Overall I had fun, food was good, atmosphere great, service excellent. When I go back to Atlanta I will dine here again. Almost forgot, the prices are really good for what you receive.
(5)Memie B.
great food and service
(4)Des D.
Great French food? No. But for a bistro it fits the bill - godd mixture of staples, low cost wine list, nice bar buzz, nice looking location, good service.
(4)Kathryn K.
Let me confess, the night we went, we were with a friend of the Owner so this may have biased my experience, but I'm a sucker for customer service so here goes. It has been a while since I have been to a restaurant in Atlanta that has lived up to the hype that surrounds it. Bistro Niko completely delivers. The Bar scene was very lively with beautiful people of all ages. The restaurant was a scene out of Gigi (anyone get that reference?) Because we were with "Friend of..." we let him order and all I know is I saw a mushroom pizza, skate, Mussels,steak tartare, lamb shank, salmon, and some other things and EVERYTHING was delicious. This was the first time since I have been to Paris that I actually felt like I was transported back to a French Restaurant. It is noisy, but it is also fabulous people watching. In fact my girlfriends and I will be there this Saturday!
(5)Keitha D.
Absolutely LOVED this place. Walked in and was immediately transported to Paris. I visited Bistro Niko as a part of the Buckhead Life Groups' Summer Dine Around Program and my boyfriend refused to go with me so I took a girlfriend of mine :-) We had a blast and even took her one year old with us. It was amazing and suprisingly kid friendly. I had the scallops for dinner and she had the skate wing. Both were amazing! Tender, flavorful and sizeable portions. We also shared a desert of the Cafe Caramel sundae. I can't say enough about this restaurant. I will definitely be back and this time will bring the Mister.
(5)B. C.
Food was good, staff was excellent, but for the price I would pick a dozen places in Atlanta over this. If you're in the area though, it could be worth stopping by for a glass of wine and the mushroom flat bread pizza.
(3)Ben D.
Quick French food synopsis: Butter, butter, butter, cream, butter. For Americanized French food, this place is decent. Orange duck and skate wing are pretty good, the dessert is great. No gripe with the service. Of the Buckhead Life Restaurants, this place is low on the list (Kyma!).
(3)Shelley H.
I simply came for drinks after work and Brent and Tommy behind the bar were Rock-stars. The whole lounge area was packed and these guys made terrific dirty Hendrick's Gin Martinis. They were definitely doing something right.
(4)Kim P.
the menu seemed very Tuscan. and the staff did a really good job of making it feel like a classy French experience. the dining room was fairly empty on saturday night around 8pm so i kinda wondered what was up. here's what was up: most people go for drinks and an appetizer and sit out on the patio! it was truely a lovely patio. theres a cute bar, a cute patio, and a spacious dining area. note: they seemed very conservative on the drinks. they were ONLY $8.50, i realize... but still.
(4)Tim E.
Giving it a three because there is no 3.5. Service was slow to start out, but then attentive. Main reason to lean to 3 is ordered steak frites. A. It wasn't a hanger steak like the menu said, but mainly B. the steak was waaaay too salty. Smothered in tenderizer I guess.
(3)Paul S.
I just don't think I'm cut out to be French... I think this may have been the first time I had gone to have a big French dinner. I've tested the waters at small Bistros for lunch but never taken the dive into something big. This being said... we came here on a Friday night around 6:30. Not all that busy surprisingly given that it was during Restaurant week on a Friday night. The crowd did grow slowly as the the meal progressed making the room a little too loud as we were finishing up. The interior is very well done with swirls of design and imaginative lighting on the ceiling. A nice glass enclosed open kitchen welcomes you adjacent to the host stand. Service was cocky, but not bad. Something was off with him.... The food: I'm excited... beautiful restaurant, great look, feel, bathrooms... I'm good. I order the Coq Au Vin and my date the Duck a l'Orange. I can't say much other than I wasn't pleased. I know that French cuisine is all about the sauce and fat. Maybe for the first time in my life I didn't want all that. My chicken was bathing in a bowl of wine. Swimming in red wine that came half way up the bowl. The bacon strips were good, and vegetables cooked well, but the chicken was just too much. Somebody drowned this poor bird in wine and then braised the hell out of it. It was dark, too rich and so potent I couldn't finish. The A l'Orange wasn't far off. Cooked to a perfect medium yes. but so strong and bold with the excessive sauce on the plate I didn't care for the few bites I had. It was just too much. I came away whelmed... Maybe I just don't care for the idea of engulfing my food in liquid flavor as it's being served to me. Isn't that why they created soup? I don't plan on making a second trip. My dollars can find somewhere else to be spent. I think there's something more there though and I'm really hoping that I just caught the kitchen on a heavy handed night because the restaurant seems the have great potential and that's why our evening garnered three stars. Try it out, but might I suggest bringing along your chinois for the main course.
(3)Ebby V.
We made a last minute reservation here. I personally think the atmosphere here is better than the Paris restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made spot on suggestions. My wife and I started our dinner with 2oz tin of mock caviar (its caviar with additions) and escargo with a puff pastry. Both were quite tasty, and not overpowering. I had the skate wing which was good but better than my wife's cod. The portions were appropriately sized and filling. I enjoyed the chocolate cake with a 20year port and hand in hand was tasty and memorable. My wife enjoyed the lemon mousse. I think the food by itself is not overstated but well done but together with the atmosphere this is a must attend restaurant if you are looking for something more than standard.
(4)Colman R.
I had the grilled thinly pounded chicken breast with asparagus, tomatoes, and vinaigrette! Awesome dish and service. 30 minute wait on a Saturday night was not bad at all. Waited in bar area. Had a great time!
(5)Chris W.
Very nice atmosphere and excellent food in the heart of Lenox/Buckhead. Soft shell crab appetizer, Horseradish Cod and Creme Brûlée were all excellent. Service was excellent on a crowded night and a large table. Would go here again.
(4)Patrick C.
Let's talk Meuniere Sauce. Seriously. Can we all agree that it starts with browned butter and includes lemon and parsley? Personally, I think the addition of a few capers is necessary to take it over the top. My love affair with this sauce started in Paris a couple of decades ago. That's back when I thought that French chefs were the beginning and end of great food. That was before I realized that they just began with better ingredients - say, for instance, a chicken that hadn't been tortured into obesity only to be slaughtered before it learned proper English grammar. (But that's another story.) I've searched the United States high and low for something that would send me back to those early memories of Paris. Finally found it, too - at Galatoires in New Orleans. But not in Atlanta. And so it was with more than a little trepidation that I ordered the Trout Meuniere at Bistro Niko - another of the Buckhead Life Group family. I hereby declare that this restaurant offers the best Meuniere Sauce east of New Orleans and west of Paris. Granted, there must be 2 or 3 restaurants whose sauce I have not yet tested - so Yelpers, bring it on! I'm ready for an all-out food war on this subject! As my friends know, I never award 5 stars to a restaurant on my first visit, requiring at least 3 consecutive experiences that transport. I want to break the rule this time, but I won't - insuring that I'll now have to visit Bistro Niko at least two more times. Guess what I'll be ordering??? Oh, and the pommes frites weren't too slouchy either. RECOMMENDED: For anyone who likes serious French bistro food. And all Meuniere-iacs like me.
(4)Twanda E.
Ok ok! I had the lamb sandwich and now I am a fan.
(4)Jennifer S.
What a beautiful place that makes you feel like you are in a Parisian cafe! The food was great - I really enjoyed the croque monsieur with pommes frites! The service was good and the atmosphere was great!
(4)Chloe M.
Not really impressed with the food. Dishes were okay in taste but won't really make you go "wow". Apps: "Faux" Gras Mousse was okay. Was waiting for more bitterness but the berry jelly topping tempered it. The grilled bread that accompanied it was jaw-breaking -- very hard and chewy. Escargot was good. You can really taste the pernod in the sauce. Oysters on the half shell were very fresh but shucked poorly. Lots of small bits of shell in them. What a turn-off. Mains: Boeuf Bourguignon was made with beef cheeks. Very tender. Reduction sauce is very bold and strong. Very rich dish. Sole was highly recommended by our server. Weak, weak, weak. The fillets were steamed then placed on top of some puree instead of cooking them with it. Result is bland fish. Do NOT ever get this. Lamb Shank was the winner that evening, although, Murphy's version is better. The meat was fork-and-fall-of-the-bone-tender with the sweetish reduction sauce and lemony couscous making it quite tasty. Dessert: My sister, a dessertaholic, got the Molten Chocolate cake. Although executed well, I didn't particularly like the coconut creme inside. I personally prefer just plain chocolate sauce inside but the coconut (not indicated on the menu) just threw me off. More of an "older people" destination. Service was impeccable. Food was just so-so.
(3)Malika B.
I visited Bistro Niko during Buckhead Restaurant Week. So, this review is somewhat more of a first impression. Having had many mediocre meals lately, and many more where the chef had a heavy hand with the salt, I wondered if Bistro Niko, one the newest editions to the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group would live up to the reputation that the Group has always exuded. I waited until just a couple days before said Restaurant week began to make my reservation at Bistro Niko, believing I could easily snag one in this sad economy. I was floored to see that Bistro Niko in Buckhead was full almost every night and I was lucky to get a reservation for 6:30 pm on Tuesday. As we entered the restaurant from what seemed like the rear, we passed by the open kitchen. I watched as staff hussled to get dishes out of the kitchen and to the diners in the full and vibrant dining room. As the name would suggest, Bistro Niko is a French Restaurant and most of the menu is in French with English translation, a tactic I don't much care for. Really - who is reading the French? So, our server, Corey brought us the menu and told us about some specials which went right over my head as I was fixated on the restaurant week menu. When we asked him about Bistro Niko's special menu, I braced for the friendly smile on his face to disappear as he learned we were only there for the Prix Fixe menu, but it never did. He graciously pointed to a small square space on the bottom of the menu where Bistro Niko's Prix Fixe menu is. Turns out, you can always get a 3 course meal here, it will just cost you about 5 bucks more than during restaurant week. I was a little disappointed that the menu was somewhat different than the one posted online. There were no piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and potatoes, or Veal Osso Bucco, or Coq Au Vin, to be had. But all was not lost. One of the managers even came over to explain to us that they change out the 3-course menu quite frequently. Very nice touch. So, we ordered the rabbit ravioli and smoked salmon sammies. Yeah, that's not their official name, but you get the idea. Both were excellent choices, each with its own distinct flavor. And at around $10- $11 per appetizer, a superb deal. Corey even made sure to leave the broth of the pasta as he could see we were sopping it up with our bread. For entrees, we ordered the duck breast and the shrimp in fried wontons. The duck was tender and juicy. I expected it to be a bit more dried out but it wasn't at all. The outside could have been a tad more crispy but that's my only criticism. As for the shrimp, this was the highlight of the evening. It seems simple shrimp with fried wontons I know. By the way, that's not the proper menu term either, I just can't think of what it is. It was crispy and delicious. And the lemon aioli that came with it was the perfect accompaniment for dabbing our shrimp wontons. As our dinner was nearing the end, I looked around at the packed dining room. I assumed it was incredibly busy due to the Buckhead Restaurant week, but when I inquired with Corey, he said no, it's just always like that. Perhaps it is a reflection of the very reasonable menu pricing. Although Bistro Niko looks all fancy pants inside, most menu items are under $20 and many appetizers under $10. Or then again, maybe it is just the well-seasoned food, not overloaded with salt and other unnecessary seasonings. Oh, and the service? Still outstanding like I've come to know at all the Buckhead Life Restaurants. Our server, Corey was helpful, friendly and extremely efficient. He was jovial and could interact with us, but left us alone to enjoy our dinner. All in all and great experience. Definitely go check this place out. Now.
(4)Tiila N.
This is one of the best French restaurant in Atlanta. I was there 2 weeks ago and we had a great experience. The decor is very elegant, great open kitchen and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Located in the heart of Buckhead and complementary valet. For appetizer we had the wild mushroom tart ( a hybrid between a pizza and flat bread), very flavorful. I had the sear sea scallop(the scallop was slightly bigger than a quarter) with garlic mashed potato garnish with a light citrus sauce. All of the flavor complement each other and the presentation was done very tastefully. My boyfriend had the lamb shank with raisin and diced apples. We felt that the lamb was lacking flavor but it was not bad. If you like French cuisine you must try this place.
(4)Matt t.
I will not attempt to replicate some of the thoughtful and well-written reviews on this property. Niko is a great destination for after dinner drinks and a place to be seen and observe. Good Beers a proper wine selection and great bar area further supports the fact that this is a after-work destination. What it is not is a good restaurant. The appetizers and salads are moderately priced but as many have notes somehow are devoid of actual flavor. It was as if I were eating with nose plugs not able to sense, smell or taste. It was the absolute first time that I ate fish that was mushy, thin and obviously overcooked. I was given a sauce bowl with a few carrots, a pickled onion, I think a potato in a red broth that looked like cream whisked in Campbell's tomato soup without the sodium. Somebody's leftovers maybe? I like the Buckhead Group's properties but this was just strange, devoid of flavor foo in a Brassiere gone..well..without soul or seasoning.
(2)G C.
Went for dinner with work colleagues, shared a variety of apps, all delicious. Got the lamb shank special, which was fantastic. Didn't do dessert. Great atmosphere, service, really enjoyed it.
(3)Bonnie M.
This establishment is a solid choice for French food and the service and quality is always consistent. As others have stated, the restaurant has no acoustics and is quite noisy! There are some dishes that I would rate as 3 stars and others that I would consider 5... hence the 4 stars. Here are my must trys: gruyere cheese puffs and foie gras terrine (best when eaten together with the puffs!), beouf bourginone (fantastic), the flat breads are pretty good, and the Chocolat Sundae, Creme Brulee, or Profiteroles for dessert!
(4)E K.
Went here for dinner on Christmas Eve and was disappointed that there was barely any holiday decorations. Decor is always very attractive, though. The food was outstanding. I had the beef bourguignoin which was so tender that not only did I not need a knife, I didn't even have to chew it, it just melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were like a creamy, buttery desert. Valet parking and service were efficient and prompt. Will return often.
(4)Marty J.
Bistro Niko is one of my favorite restaurants that is on the nicer side. It was good enough for me to chose for my birthday dinner with the fam. I've eaten dinner there 3 or 4 times and haven't been disappointed yet so I recommend all of the dishes that I place in my review. Non food related, the hostesses are attractive but not very friendly. As another Yelper stated, you can't really blame them because you'd be unhappy too if you had to wear a bridesmaid dress to work everyday. I usually don't care about the decor of a restaurant, but the decor is actually pretty cool and adds to the restaurant experience. I haven't been to Paris, but I feel like I have now. On to the important food related stuff. Things I've tried (translated from French to English): Apps * A multitude of tartes - These are flat bread pizzas. I've tried most of them and they are crunchy and delicious. * French onion soup - very rich and almost a meal in itself * Mussels - I've never had the mussels, but my mom is a huge fan. Mains * Shrimp - The shrimp comes wrapped in a light, fluffy, and crispy pastry. I like to think of it as upscale shrimp style pig-in-a-blanket (I'm sure the chef just cringed at that). * Scallops - Similar to pan fried scallops you'd get at other nice restaurants, only tastier. * Croque Madame - I was actually surprised at how delicious this was as I was not expecting much. Take a ham and cheese sandwich, make it super awesome so that it can be served at an upscale restaurant, and then throw a fried egg on top. Expect to spend about $20 per entree. The wine and beer selection is quality. Next time I go, I'd like to go halfsies with someone on the Croque Madame and Shrimps-in-a-blanket.
(4)Pavan B.
When you enter ..makes you feel u've landed into 1960 Paris , bold red retro interiors. Food is good and great selection of wines . There Steak pom fries is probably one of the best in town . I am going back there soon
(4)William K.
We showed up without a reservation on a Thursday night. The bar was packed and we were told we had a 45 minute wait. We didn't mind hanging out for a bit so we tried to talk there at the bar. It was lively and fun. We were seated after about 30 minutes and our waiter was good. We asked for his recommendations but honestly we chose to go another direction, since neither of us was all that hungry. We split the Salad D'Endive, which was okay, not superb. Then we also split the Thon et Saumon which is an amazing carpaccio of tuna and salmon with Asian pear, totally yummy. Last we shared a Croquette D' Truite Fumeé which is a smoked trout croquette with a tartar sauce. It was totally delicious. We enjoy red the whole meal, albeit lighter fare. I would definitely return.
(4)Samantha E.
Excellent service!!!!! 5 stars for the hostess, valet, waitress, food. The skate wing was incredible, mussels - mmmmm, lamb shank tender and delicious. Complimentary birthday profiteroles - just sheer perfection! I loved everything about this beautiful restaurant. Manager was very attentive - I'll be back.
(5)Will W.
Creme Brule' was excellent. Mussels were OK. I won't order then the next time though. Lightly Fried Shrimp were good but the accompanying Cole Slaw was skippable. They almost overcharged us on the Two Plate lunch so double check your bill.
(3)Gio D.
Good French place for a night out. The food was good and the ambiance was very nice. We started out with the flat breab pizza which was fairly heavy because of the cheese so be prepared to leave half of it if you're ordering for two (great starter for four). For our entres we had the Coq au Vin and the fillet mignon twin steaks. The Coq au Vin was much better than the steaks. The steaks were good but overwhelmed by the pepercorn on top. As you bit into the steak, you mostly tasted peppercorn with a hint of steak. No biggie through as all you had to do was scrape the peppercorn off the top and all was good again. For desert we had a brioche type cake that was really good soaked in run.
(4)Jessica L.
I LOVE the coq au vin here. and I always get at least a dozen of oysters every time. The atmosphere is great, although it may get loud at times. I especially love the dimmed lighting. The waiters are always attentive and make sure the water glasses are never empty.
(5)Lisa M.
First time visiting and very impressed. Half of our party was late for the reservation, but it was no biggie and the staff was very nice about it. Our server, Miguel, was awesome...friendly, funny, and great at his job. I had the trois plats including mesclun salad, coq au vin, and creme brulee. Each course was amazingly good and I felt $30 was a very reasonable price for three courses of fantastic food with generous portions. I would definitely recommend Bistro Niko to friends and plan to visit again.
(5)Kyle P.
Absolute top notch joint. Extremely friendly staff, crowded bar but the bartender still took our drink orders quick. Crowd is cool; this place just smells terrific! The mussels and sauce were top notch, caviare was so-so, flatbread was dank, good duck, etc. Overall food was a 4 but everything else was a 5. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Sohen G.
We were there for my bday and thought it was an amazing experierice. My husband is French and he's not that easily pleased but man did he lick the plate clean! He had the duck appetizer and some veal special and I had oysters on the half and sea scallops. All were really great! Definitely be back!
(5)Nichole K.
I wasn't blown out of this world, but I was definitely impressed. Loved the atmosphere. Appetizers were delicious. We had the Escargot 'en Service was amazing. Wine - better yet. My entree, skate, was delicious. Will return, possibly one of the better Buckhead Life Group Restaurants I've been too.
(4)Josh G.
Been to France twice and apart from one boulangrie near Notre Dame, this is the best French food I've had. Some of the reviews have knocked it on price. I understand that, but kickass french cuisine costs money...everywhere in the world.
(5)Elisha G.
Bistro Niko is great! My Husband and I ate there Saturday night with two other couples and we all really enjoyed it. We started out with the mussels...which were very tasty. I enjoyed dipping my bread into the delicious mussel's white wine sauce. I had the scallops for dinner and they were good. But, my Husband had the cape cod skate wing and it was fantastic. The waiter said the skate was the best dish on the menu and I believe him. The layout of the restaurant is ok...feels a bit cold and crammed in. The dining room was packed with a wait. You would never know there was a recession. Our service was excellent and everyone had a great time. We had great company, delicious food, and tasty booze...how could it be bad?
(4)Michelle K.
I went here on Monday with two friends. It was the first restaurant I tried during Buckhead Restaurant Week 2010, where select restaurants had set 3 course menus for $25. Online, the menu said that one of the entrée choices was the "Shepherd's Pie" which was one of the main reasons I chose to try Bistro Niko. However, when we looked at the menu in the restaurtant, it wasn't included on the prix fixe section! My friend ended up getting it anyways and I was able to try it, it wasn't the impressive. My duck was much tastier. I highly recommend the rabbit ravioli as an appetizer, yum! Also, I opted not to get desert and my meal was $24. In any case, I was not very impressed. However, the server was kind and attentive.
(3)Brigitte M.
Excellent service--very attentive and professional. Beautiful atmosphere--really reminded me of being in a large bistro in Paris. Delectable food--started with a Tarte Au Saumon (Salmon Flatbread) that was toasted to perfection, then had a Croque Madame (Ham/Cheese sandwich with an egg over easy on top) and it was better than the one I had in Paris last year. Finished with a great cup of coffee and a baba au rhum. Sure this is a French restaurant and with that comes quality over quantity. So if you are a fan of "all you can eat" restaurants and don't care about good tasting quality food this is not the place for you. However if you prefer to have a smaller (but absolutely adequate) but delectable meal this is a must-visit. I will definitely come back! I am rarely so complementary --but Niko deserves such praise.
(5)Colin B.
The food was fantastic. We had the Escargot for an appetizer, and in our party, one had the skate wing, one had the lamb, and two of us had the Boeuf Bourguignon. All were wonderful. The service, however, while prompt (almost too prompt - we felt a bit rushed) was extremely condescending. Our server seemed to think it ridiculous that we did not properly pronounce the French terms on the menu, and went out of his way to correct us repeatedly. Bottom line, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but it was an overall enjoyable experience.
(3)Allen M.
There's actually a place in Atlanta where you can get a proper hangar steak with fries and a Leffe. Neat.
(4)Gina b.
Squash Soup...To die for. Service was amazing however we were there early on a Sunday evening so don't know about when it's busy. Dinner was ok. Not great, but good and hearty. Portions will fill you up. Dinner for 2 with Apps and a couple of drinks will run you about $100. Was pissed that they didn't validate parking, paid $8. Valet for $1.50.
(4)Angela S.
2nd visit ~ had a friend request to go her for her birthday. Service was great and they did have the French music playing but not loud enough to hear it in the dinning room. Food was much better this time. I had informed them of her birthday and they had her a little cake without be prompted ~ YEA great service. I am moving the rating up to 4 at this time. I would still like to see more traditional French ~ less Americanized version of it? Thanks... Old Post 1st visit ~I gave it 3 stars Great atmosphere, needs a little French music playing in the back ground. Many of the French dishes I would think would be on the menu are not on the menu. Everything we had was "Just okay" The French Fries ~ need work frozen run of the mill not like you would get in France for sure. I wanted to love this place but just did not happen for me....sorry !
(4)Ashley K.
My mom and I came to Bistro Niko while on a long weekend trip to Atlanta. The restaurant was right near our hotel, which was nice. We had reservations - which was good because it was a Friday night and extremely crowded. Our waiter was prompt, at first, but that changed throughout the meal. I ordered steak - medium. And the waiter asked, if I meant medium-rare and I said, no I meant what I said - medium. I thought it was a little weird but didn't think much of it. When my steak came out - it was not even medium-rare, it was just rare. So, I called the waiter over and asked to send it back. I hate to do this, but when you are paying so much for a steak, it should be right. So I said, this isn't medium, it very rare and his reply was, well that's the French way. Okay. I get it. I'm in a French restaurant. But. I am in a French restaurant in Atlanta. Not in France. Furthermore, isn't the customer always right? Not what ordered, no need for the attitude. It took about 15 minutes for the steak to come back out. My mom was already done with her meal. It was very frustrating. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was good. So that was redeeming at least. It was also very loud in the restaurant. I feel like my experience at Bistro Niko was just an unfortunate one, I would come here again and hope that my experience was just a fluke, because I really wanted to like it - but the waiter's attitude was just unbelievable to me.
(3)Alan R.
Eating out even more than usual due to kitchen being remodeled.Hope contractors stay on budget because I am clearly over.We always start with the oysters here and they are always fresh and they rotate the specials. Next I always get the pate and then either fish or skirt steak. This time I did the steak and fries and they were cooked just right and fresh fries. Dont care what our senate says as they tend to know nothing, I love the french style of fries..Thank you , you guys always deliver fresh and best to my table. i tend to order the same from my regular places and love to be given the same quality each visit.
(5)Kat G.
Rule No. 1 - at least one person at the table must order one of the chef's specials. Seriously. They have never let me down. The food here is carefully chosen and really well done. I recommend the trout, the seafood pasta and the salmon, though from what I've seen, you really can't go wrong. Oh, and if you're ordering a drink, they do a really lovely French 75!
(5)Kay D.
Service was excellent. Dinner was good, although not over the top. Seafood pasta was very good, Haddock fish special was extremely oily. Beware, we did not valet park but used the garage because it was raining. The restaurant does not validate for parking. On top of an already expensive meal, we had a huge parking bill when we departed. $12 for 2.5 hrs. I won't be going back!
(2)Phillip C.
We have been here three times and they have delivered each time. Very happy with the service. The food here is excellent. I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. I like the open kitchen. My most memorable dish that I had here was a special. It was trout served on a bed of polenta. I didn't give this a full 5 because the bar is a little on the small side and is always packed when we go.
(4)Matt C.
tried this place recently for dinner. pretty decent spot. decor and vibe are definitely parisian, and menu has some pretty good stuff.. however, i think i'd recommend bistro niko more as an 'appetizer and glass of wine/cocktail' type of place, as opposed to a dinner destination, as the entrees we tried were not particularly outstanding. their mussels are great and fresh, however the broth is super buttery/creamy which tastes delicious, but obviously loaded with fat. but hey, if you're dining out, what's the use in getting healthy stuff, right? for the entree, i tried the twin beef tenderloins au poivre. they were well cooked, but flavors were nothing special. the side of frites we got, however, were very good.
(3)Nikita m.
Very good place.I went for a conference this past weekend and made the reservatin in person for the next day after eating in a nearby restaurant . The Salmon w red wine was very good close to outstanding. I was expecting some side dishes with the fish so I mentioned it to the waiter and he kindly suggest a salad that make a perfect combination for a light meal. I felt so happy after an ugly test that forgot all about it. i felt sorry that I did not ask for dessert at least to go. Love this place ,full of people and you are able to eat outside also.
(5)Andrew M.
On the pricey side, but it's a great place to bring a date. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Even though the it was an intimate setting, the noise level made it hard to hear the conversations at my own table.
(4)Hector M.
Very impressed with quality and service at this place. I had the Tagliatelle Pasta, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, Calamari, cherry tomatoes,white wine cream and it was perfectly executed. Delicious french bread, good wine selection, attentive service, fab patio. Do stop by.
(4)MaGom P.
Extremely dissapointed. If you ever had a dinner in a real french restaurant, this is not even close. I would not recommend this restaurant for a special date with your spouse or girlfriend. Place is extremely loud and the worst, I expend part of my time fighting with a fly.
(3)Adam E.
We took a small "staycation" a few weekends ago and decided to try Bistro Niko. I'd call our experience good, not great. I ordered one of the specials, a fish. It was cooked nicely, but not alot of flavor. My wife is a vegetarian and the chef prepared a special vegetable plate, but there aren't many vegetarian options on the menu. The best part was the drinks. I'd highly suggest the Moscow Mule.
(4)Drew M.
Great place to talk about credit default swap spreads and opportunities in the leveraged loan market. The atmosphere is lively and fun and the food was great. Great oysters and great beef tenderloin.
(4)Ian W.
Second visit. Eating solo on biz trip. Place was packed at 8 pm during the middle of the week. Got a seat pretty quick. Started with the white bean soup followed with a trout entree. Bistro Niko never disappoints. Food can be on the rich side. Decent draft beer selection to wash it down with. Will be back.
(4)Robert S.
I am going to put as much thought and energy into this review as Bistro Niko put into making their food flavorful - very little. Despite the menus potential to be amazing (Country Pate, "Faux" Gras Terrine, pork rillettes, salmon rillettes. tartar) it is exactly what one would expect from a Buckhead Life restaurant - safe, boring and merely adequate. The food certainly did not offend me, but it is not going to make me come back either. The charcuterie appetizer with pork rillettes, chicken liver mousse, country pate, salami and prosciutto lacked flavor - how they managed to do that is beyond me. The lamb sandwich I had also lacked flavor. The only thing that reminded me that lamb was even on that sandwich was the texture - short of that, it could have been anything in between those two pieces of bread. Other than that, the food was "great!" In short, the food was about as exciting and interesting as watching a game of checkers between two mimes. Ultimately, the fact that Bistro Niko was "flat" should not have surprised me because, time and time again, every visit to a Buckhead Life restaurant yields more or less the same story - jejune food that is never outstanding nor offensive, "themed" environment, adequate service and prices that normally won't break the bank (albeit expensive for what you get). I guess that is why the restaurant group is successful, it refuses to take chances. Bistro Niko is absolutely no exception to this rule. Other than the food, I would be remiss if I did not give two quick words on parking before concluding - absolute nightmare. The valet situation at this restaurant is about as organized as a goat rodeo. You will wait in utter confusion both to bring your car in and to leave. The valet seems to service several different businesses and is completely understaffed. If you are in a rush at lunch, good luck. Although I have gone way to much in depth on a restaurant that has none, I have a few final remarks to round out this review - If you are in Buckhead and on an expense account, go for it, you won't be wowed or disappointed, you will just be. If you are paying for the meal yourself and really want exciting and flavorful food, save your money for somewhere else or just give it to me. If you are looking for safe food sold at relatively decent prices in a sterile environment, this may be the place for you. It is not for me.
(2)Rudy K.
Not really used to writing reviews more or less used to cooking and tasting the dishes I make at work, so let me start. Apps: I had Gary's meat plate the Faux Gras was amazing smooth and so good I was sneaking the ramikin under the table so I could lick it clean. The cured meats were really really top notch the pate was seasoned with salt perfect but could use a bit more bite from pate spice. The Escargots were mind blowing the snails I ate first and then used the puff pastry to mop up the delicious sauce. The main course I had was the Coq au Vin which was a upgrade over any culinary student attempt of this classic. It was updated dressed up and given enough love to make you realize why coq au vin is a classic in the first place. The service was polished and efficient the managers walked around and made sure everything and everyone was okay. The kitchen got the food out like a well oiled machine.
(5)Alison B.
Awesome for brunch. My husband and I didn't want a big fancy buffet brunch, just a nice, delicious, quiet, delicious meal. This was perfect.
(4)Claire C.
Nice atmosphere and good food (try the traditionally french "Croque Monsieur" et "Croque Madame") but it all didn't feel very french. Coming from a french speaker - the food was a little too American for me. The service was great though, except for their horrendous French accents.
(3)Alicia T.
Another great meal at Bistro Niko! The Mussels are a must...Love it!!!
(4)Sara R.
I've been twice for dinner. The food is OK, not spectacular. The service is really disappointing on both visits. The bar service was good. I don't get the attitude of the servers. It was as if we were lucky to be there. Shouldn't that be the other way around. I hope they get this worked out. The restaurant and menu looks like its trying to be like Balthazar in NYC. Bistro Niko, you have a long way to go.
(3)E B.
I have been no fewer than twenty times. lunch, dinner, and drinks....... The food can swing from good to bad depending on the visit, but for some reason I keep coming back............................. After much thought, I decided that I like the place for the simple reason that it is an easy place to grab a bite, people watch, and have a great drink at the bar. The bartenders are excellent. I also keep coming to see if "SAM" is still there, because I am hoping he leaves to go take up reins at Panos again. So I sit here a fan for the whole experience and not always the food.
(4)Andrée R.
Had the Coquilles St. Jacques, which were magnificent. Best ever! Good wine stowed on the table in a cute little clear plastic wine tote. Interesting atmosphere--people having fun. Very loud, but we were late enough that after awhile a lot of people left and it became tolerable. The food and service were outstanding. Authentic French bistro with subway tile, hall windows to kitchen, Toulouse-Lautrec type posters, other interesting artwork. Someone has put a lot of $$$ in the decor. Would go again in a heartbeat.
(4)Stu G.
While we lack budget-friendly, mass-appeal french options in Atlanta, this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of unique options on the menu to get you started. Don't miss the wine to cut all the rich, meat-influenced fatty options. Some delicious apps and mains to choose from. Meat and frites... mmm.
(4)Lisa A.
Restaurant was extremely noisy. The drinks are quite small for the price. I ordered two martinis and both times the glases were half full. Keep in mind,they wanted 12.00 a drink. The pork cutlet was plain and was missing a lot of flavor. The steak tartare was about the only item that I tought was good. It is as good as the Pano's and Paul's version.
(2)Kimberly W.
Champagne, mussels, beautifully cooked escargot, a wonderful selection of oysters, a truly affordable caviar , the much missed Brandad, sturdy soups and interesting salads followed by traditional french entrees with some interesting twists. I've had everything on the menu and while some entrees lack religious fervor they are all very competent with some soaring to great heights (french fries cooked in duck fat). And then there is the lovely atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)c d.
Great scene, great service, great food. The mussels are the best quality and biggest I've ever had. The steak tartare is amazing, as is the charcuterie plate. My ONLY complaint is a lack of "diet friendly" foods for someone watching their weight. Also the area by the bar is always drafty (which of a wind-tunnel effect). I wish they would close the doors to the patio. Regardless, bring a sweater if you intend to spend much time by the bar.
(4)Anup M.
We went to their Sunday brunch. I had their roasted pork and my wife had the duck confi. We loved both dishes. The service was great and the ambiance was excellent. The only thing we didn't like was the foie gras. We prefer the foie gras to be warm instead of being cold.
(5)Cindy S.
Anyplace I can get Caviar, Oysters on the half shell, escargot & Great wine at a solid price get's a thumbs up from me! Great time and friendly service!
(4)Clare D.
First time at Bistro Niko today. Had the mussels, which were amazing!!! A small order of them with bread to sop up the heavenly broth is a full lunch. The lamb sandwich was also excellent, and the prices were reasonable, especially considering the neighborhood. My eating companion said the Eggs Norwegian (brunch menu) were good, but not as good as the lamb. Will be back! Great atmosphere, too.
(5)Philip H.
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and effecient service. It's now one of my choices in the ATL.. Great spot
(4)Roy H.
Our first visit was 5 star. He has really captured the French bistro vibe. The only downside would be the noise level in the main dining area, fortunately we were seated in the parlor. Escargot was superb! Very deep menu, so subsequent visits will be necessary. The price points for the entrees is very encouraging!
(5)John H.
I had dinner here for the first time for a good friend's birthday. First off as soon as you walk in the resturant you can tell this place gives off an aura of class and elegance. The waiter we had was very patient and explained everything we asked in detail. Since the menu was mostly in French we had lots of questions. We started off with the Mussels in a garlic cream sauce. The sauce was probably the best sauce I've ever tasted. I kept asking for more bread so that I could dip it into the sauce. I highly recommend ording the Mussels on your next expedition to Bistro Niko if you haven't already. We also order some kind of fried pork rolls but after trying the mussels everything else failed miserably in comparison. I ordered the special which was the large pork chop and my fiancee order the seafood pasta. Unfortunately when the entrees came out I tried my friends tenderloin and my pork chop didn't seem as appetizing anymore. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as flavorful and tender as the tenderlon. Once again I ordered the wrong thing. As far as pork chops go though they were still pretty good. I also tried the seafood pasta and it was to die for. Remember how much I loved the garlic cream sauce that came with the mussels? Well that was the sauce they used for the pasta as well. When my waiter even felt the slightest hint of displeasure of my own entree he immediately tried to take it back and bring me something else. He truly made me feel that my happiness and my experiance there came before anything else. He exceeded my expectations on great customer service. Finally we had the creme brulle for desert and it topped off the evening creamy and sweet. So in a nutshell, The food was amazing, the atmosphere and decor was everything I expect a 5 star resturant to be, and the service was phenominal. If you love French food then this is the place to go and if you never had French food before this is the place you want to base your first opinion on. - Good Eats
(5)ralston a.
After many visits to Paris, I have to disagree with some of the other reviews. I found the food very much french and the service attentive without being intrusive. Those who felt the service lacking were perhaps expecting the typical american style wait staff of 'and how are we this evening' which I find annoying and hypocritical - if you think the waiter really cares about how your evening is past the point of their tip, you are sadly mistaken. In France, wait staffing is taken as a serious career and I think this is the goal of Niko to have the wait staff take their job seriously and not just as a college kid trying to earn spending money. The food was good- I had escargot, shepherd's pie and coq au vin and 2 desserts. All were exceptional and every bit as good as those dishes I have eaten in France.
(5)Trey N.
I usually do not eat a place like this but I was not let down. I only gave 3 stars because of Price mainly. The staff was friendly and helpful explaining the menu. The atmosphere was fancy, intimate, trendy. Great place for a date or to take a client. I had the Cod with mash potatoes and It was amazing. Would give 4 stars if it was a little cheaper. Still nice place.
(3)Eric C.
Every single thing that we ordered tonight was extraordinarily excellent. Chicken tortellini appetizer was outstanding. Burger was good and juicy. Scallops were cooked perfectly and delicious. The orange cream sorbet is just ridiculously good. Our server Joey was very friendly and an excellent waiter. This is one of the best meals that we have ever had!
(5)Brandy L.
1 word Buckhead Life Group(Chef Pano ) another gr8 Hot Atl hot spot Tois martini Fantastic along w/Vodka Chambord & the food is good too! ; )
(4)H V.
cool looking Italian restaurant, food was just OK, nothing to brag about. our Waiter was not friendly nor helpful.
(3)Michael B.
Ok. I have heard that French foodies enjoy - maybe I am not a French foodie. Great for groups bc it is energetic. Great to walk through the entrance and feel as if you are walking through the kitchen in Paris. Very loud (i.e., not a romatic spot). The mussels were good. Had read poor service reviews, but ours was good - attentive and knowledgeable. Our server in the bar (where we waited for our table) was very pleasant and welcoming. Having said that, the table next to ours (with a different server) got what appeared to be very poor service.
(3)Mike M.
The Frau and I had a wonderful dinner last night. Our table was ready promptly on time and Phil, our waitperson was extremely helpful. Besides the great food, the service was top shelf. We will be back!
(4)Debbie L.
First and foremost, food is top-notch and for the area, well-priced. You can also have lunch most days til 5 PM (great option for those of us who like to eat late lunches - why is it that all the good Atlanta restaurants stop serving lunch at 2:30 PM) - or an early dinner (5 PM), if that's your thing (it's mine). Later diners will often encounter a wait - reservations strongly recommended. Seafood dishes are consistently fresh and well-prepared (trout, skate wing & scallops are all solid choices - mussels are awesome). Wine choices are good and well priced for a decent pour. Cons: Service can come with a bit of an attitude - so, it's Buckhead but still...bread is almost always cold - why is that - it's good bread so stick it in the oven for a few minutes - makes a difference. Of all the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group restaurants, this is probably my favorite. Still wish it would lose its attitude and seem grateful (or at least somewhat pleased) that I'm there and willing to spend good $$ and tip well - but it mostly seems like an accommodation for a distant relative you wish would leave sooner - and I'm nice J Management seems sullen and foreboding (I notice these things) - kitchen staff seems fine-tuned and well oiled, and that's why I return - the food and the wine and mostly, for the kitchen staff - hats off to you and my very heartfelt thanks!!
(4)Roseann S.
loved it!!
(5)Natasha S.
So i love the overall atmosphere of this restaurant. It's so pretty, and I love the ceilings. I ended up going here for lunch one day.. it was a very slow day with only a few people in the restaurant but the service seemed really slow for my liking. The food was pretty good, but a little too cheesy.. I'd maybe give it one more try. Not a huge fan of the parking situation.
(3)Jin D.
I drive past Bistro Niko all the time and I seriously have no idea why it took me so long to dine here. We did dinner Friday night and the place was packed, always a good sign. Our table wasn't quite ready so we placed ourselves at the bar (naturally). They do a fantastic French 75 here, very crisp; however, do note they are $13 a pop so it adds up when you have a few with your meal. I love the fact that while the restaurant feels very spacious thanks to the open floor plan, but it's cozy at each table. The atmosphere was lively compare to other BLRG restaurants, which are more traditional (or stuffy). Our waiter greeted us right as we sat down and made a few menu recommendations. We started our meal with the chilled pork shoulder spread and French onion soup. Both were amazing. The pork shoulder spread was seasoned to perfection and the French onion soup, really the best I've ever had (mostly thanks to the giant piece of gruyere on top, mmmm). Friend got the Pailiard de Poulet, which was the perfect dish if you want something light. I, on the other hand, decided on a hearty steak with green peppercorn sauce. However, when the dish got to the table, I was a bit surprised because it was sitting on a plate full of mushroom sauce (I'm allergic). I suppose it was my mistake for not asking but then again it doesn't say anything about mushroom in the dish on the menu. The manager offered to take the dish back for a do-over, but it came back out 2 minutes later it was obvious they just re-plated it without the sauce. Doesn't solve the problem because the bottom of my steak still has mushroom sauce on it. I did not like that because allergy is a serious issue and they just cut corners. I ended up just eating a small piece from the top and gave the rest for my friend to take home. The piece I did have was tasty, the peppercorn sauce has a strong kick so make a note if you can't handle spicy. Desert is a must at any French restaurant. We shared an order of chocolate terrine which was just the right amount of sweetness. Despite the steak incident. I loved everything else I had and service was fantastic. I will definitely be back.
(4)Jeff M.
I love the location and the actual space itself. Modern, spacious, chic, and makes you feel like you're in France. The service was good too, although at times annoyingly intrusive (and I have a high tolerance). The food was not on par with the surroundings. I started with the Croque Monsieur Au Saumon: this was actually a very simple dish, where the salmon stood through. This was actually the best part of the meal. The Confit de Canard, with frisee salad, and crisped duck potatoes was very plain to me, bland even. I knew I was eating duck, but I couldn't taste it. Then the Baba au rhum was the complete opposite: so rich, almost too busy and confusing, that it was difficult to enjoy let alone finish. I really, really wanted to like this place. For setting alone? Yes. For food alone? Not quite. There, it falls short.
(3)Johnston O.
We went to Bistro Niko a few weeks back and had an excellent experience. The mussels and steak frites were both nearly perfect. The duck was very good, but a little unremarkable. I really liked the atmosphere as well, very reminiscent of a French brasserie. Will definitely be back.
(4)wow b.
went here for birthday...mussels were fantastic. I liked everything we had but the pork belly...dry and chewy. my friends said they hated it but everyone's plate was empty...go figure. very chaotic and loud. so don't expect great service...the food is affordable and good portions.
(3)L P.
I never thought I'd see an île flottante on a dessert menu outside of France, much less in Atlanta. Bistro Niko has spectacularly dispelled that notion and we should all be happier for it. The confit de canard, poussin rôti, fresh huîtres... classic French bistro items at proper French portions and justified prices. The main dining room is everything from an old-timey Paris film with its yellowish glow, dark wood panels, tiled floor and red accents. The bread is crusty and soft. The wine menu leaves no French wine behind, with everything from Bordeaux to Rhône to Languedoc, all perfectly aged by 2 years or more. This isn't a modern or innovative restaurant. You won't find any celery-foam-infused this or port-wine-reduced that. This is a classic French bistro: you take it for what it is or you can just go to La Madelaine's instead.
(4)Scott F.
Another great restaurant brought to you by the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Bistro Niko is a cozy french spot hidden in an office building. Exciting menu, with so many Parisian favorites from the Charcuterie to the fresh pasta dishes and amazing seafood and desserts, It's certain to charm and please!
(5)jim b.
We thought it was really good. Wife and I got the $25 price fixe deal, similar to reviews below. We had 7:00pm reservation on a Sunday, and the restaurant was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full. Was no problem getting a table. The valet service was fine. Appetizers: salmon sammies, oxtail kreplach things. Both were delicious. Wife not into salmon so much, so I had three of them. Yum! Entrees: duck breast, shrimp wontons. Both were really good, decent portion sizes. The duck sat on some kind of cabbage, sweet/sour/au jus type sauce. Very tasty. One thing I noticed: I'm fine with medium-rare duck (which is how it's served), but the portions near the edge, where it was closer to medium, were actually more tender. Some meats actually get a little more tender closer to medium. Next time I might request it that way. But it was still delicious. The shrimp were also very good, and sat on some kind of horseradish slaw that was tasty. Desserts: we got one of each. One was a spongecake soaked in at least 2+ ounces of potent rum. Highly potent. Watch out if you're not into rum. The other had two cookies and a little ceramic cup of cold custard. The custard was addictive. I also had a coffee, which was a high quality brew. The meal also comes with frequently replenished bread and butter, thus it's impossible to leave still hungry. The space itself is an attractive looking mix of retro+modern. Next time, I'd request a window booth. Downside? The service was excellent. Too excellent! I don't need a water refill or table crumb squeegee every 4 minutes! Please--give us some alone time! I also wouldn't have minded if the butter was not so cold and hard. Easier to spread when it's closer to room temp. The waiter/crumb squeegee man/water boy did a good job though. It was a nice evening out, and we may get back over here sometime.
(5)Dan C.
Hard to complain about a cuisine that I know so little about. Went with a group, everyone was raving and passing plates around. The Tournedos au Poivre, smoked trout and the mussels were the highlights of the night. The waiter was very patient in explaining (translating) the menu for us. This almost came as a surprise given the location, clientele and cuisine. No stereotypes here - only well prepared and presented food. For the budget minded, there is a pre selected two and three course option for about $30 a person. From it I would recommend the veal casserole (the French name slips my mind, though I am sure it sounds more impressive). Minor complaints, the mixed drinks were short for the price and the bathrooms double as meat lockers.
(4)Richard N.
The food was good. The bartenders are not going to win any personality contests, very little interaction customers. Barely saw them smile and did not feel welcomed. Would I return?? Tough question as there are sooo many great restaurants in the area, probably not.
(3)Mandy C.
Went for a family birthday dinner and was appalled by the service. Our waiter was constantly rushing us even when we asked for more time. We started with cocktails and told him we'd like to order bottles of wine to follow. He filled my wine glass before I was even half-way done with my martini. Then he tried to top off my wine before I had taken one sip, martini still in hand. He tried to snatch up all of our plates while we were clearly still eating. Rushed every decision, bumped into us, reached across us, and was even a little bit rude (did I mention that he'd been working there for 15 years?! Inexcusable). To top it off, the food just wasn't all that great for the price. Probably would have had a better experience had our waiter been different, but I won't be returning to find out.
(2)ADAM V.
Ok, short review here on this one. I have been to bistro nikko three times as I work right across the street. This is a very nice addition to the neighborhood. Now, this may sound a bit odd but hands down the french onion soup is the best ive ever had. It is just wonderful, thick not watery. Just great, if you go try it as a starter or it could be your entire meal for lunch.
(4)L N.
This place is so delicious! Every time I come here I get the onion soup and fill up before I can eat my entree. That soup is so good! Last time I split the boeuf bourguignon with someone and we both loved it. We had the chocolate molten cake with pistachio flavoring for dessert and it was also very good. I've had the croque monsieur there as well. Not the best I have ever had but the frites that come with it (fried in duck fat) were really really good. They apparently do brunch here too which I have never tried but the menu looks really good.
(4)Juliet C.
I was there about happy hour and ate at the bar, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was European and sophisticated, but casual enough to feel comfortable. The food was fabulous, I had the French Onion Soup and the Shrimp Crevettes, both delicious. I totally recommend it. Just pricey!
(4)Liz S.
First of all its a beautiful restaurant. I very much enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was excellent. Very attentive servers and the manager stopped by a couple times to ask how our meal was. The food was wonderful. For main course we had the beef bourguignon which was outstanding. Tender meat in a delicious sauce, almost wanted to lick the plate. Overall a great restaurant that I highly reccommend.
(5)Linda M.
We went for our wedding anniversary with another couple. The decor and atmosphere are nice enough, even though it is pretty noisy. BUT the food was far, far, below what my husband and I expected. We each ordered an appetizer and 1 of the 2 were okay. But each of us ordered different entrees and none of us cared for them. Although the service was fine, I certainly will not go back. Both my husband and I felt our dishes were mexican dishes made to look french. We will stick with La Petite Maison in Sandy Springs.
(1)I I.
I went last night (yes the night of the big snow storm) and the place was about half empty when I arrived at 7 pm. It picked up a bit by the time I left at 9. I was not impressed with the wait staff and the attention they provided us. Also, I felt rushed even though the place was not busy. The mussels were unreal and that is the only reason I am giving them two stars. The wine list was not bad but they should widen the selection to cover other known brands. One positive thing, the pricing was very reasonable. Now onto the worst part of the night.....I ordered the filet medallions which came highly recommend by our wait staff. It was overcook to a point of being well-done as well as it was cold when it was served. It should have been cooked to the point of medium rare like the chef recommends, in their defense they offered to cook another one but I was so hungry I did not want to wait. With all of the other great places to dine in Atlanta I doubt this place will stay in business unless something dramatically changes.
(1)Vincent D.
yum yum yum. beef tenderloins were amazing... so is the creme brulee
(4)John M.
Like so many places before it, Bistro Niko is the new hot spot. A place people must go when in Buckhead whether to eat, or just enjoy a drink and people watch at the bar. I hope it lives up to the hype for a long time- we'll see. The location is great for the business traveler since it is so close to many great hotels. I stay at the Intercontiental across the street and it is such an easy walk. The area is clean, shiny, new, and safe. The outdoor patio at Bistro Niko is inviting so long as the temperature is cool. Inside the restaurant the lighting is soft, seating comfortable. Tables are spaced apart nicely, several booths around the outer perimeter and all are comfortable The noise level has never been an issue- just right to carry on a good conversation. The decor predictably a little above average. The service has always been very good especially at the bar where there is a constant buzz of activity. Oh, and did I mention the food? I have not had a bad thing on the menu. The mushroom pizza is different, tasty a very good selection. Love the scallops - my personal fave. So, go to Bistro Niko, you will enjoy the location, decor, crowd, food and drink. Especially with friends-greta energy. Very welcoming.
(4)Crystal G.
This place is like a taste of French heaven. Really, it's that good. I go here each time I come to Atlanta.
(5)Louise D.
Absolutely fabulous! First, the food is great and well worth the money. This is probably the best place for a meal in the Atlanta area. The service was excellent and we know the next time we go there we are going to make sure and ask for Stewart Barnes again! This man makes you feel comfortable and allows you time to absorb the menu. Mr. Barnes is very knowledgeable in flavors and made us an excellent wine suggestion. There are not too many servers that I would call professional, however, if you are lucky enough to have Stewart service your table you will ask for him each and every time you go back; everyone else just pales in comparison. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relevant to the type food served here however it can get a little loud in the dining room. The food is fabulous and worth asking if you can compliment the chef. This is a restaurant in the Atlanta area that does not miss on one single thing. Thank you Mr. Stewart Barnes for a great dining experience and I will be back and will ask for you!
(5)Lisa S.
Beautiful restaurant. They are very nice greeting you at the door and you are seated promptly at the time of your reservation. However, we had not been seated 10 minutes and our waitress had asked us 5 times if we were ready to order. We had just picked up drinks at the bar and had not even sipped them yet. Finally to get her off our backs, we ordered the flambee pizza with lardons and onion. Delicious, crisp crust. As soon as that arrived, she was back again asking for orders. One guest had the sole which was delcious as was the steak au pouive. The palliard pork was good and very different. Another guest wanted to try the croque monsier to see if it was like they have them in Paris. Unfortunatly not. Too little ham, to bland of a sauce. The other thing is the french fires. Not double fried, as boring as McDonalds. There was also inconsistency in the drinks. Some made even with different ingredients. Profiteroles were delicious though. Overall, it was okay but needs work. They shouldn't try to rush you out so quickly. Definitely a happening spot though.
(3)Pace C.
Could not have gone better. I reserved an early dinner for my wife's birthday and noted that she is a vegetarian. BN was very accommodating and made our dining experience feel special. Our server was great, offered good suggestions and the food was terrific. The mussels are super tasty and you should ask for more of their delicious bread to soak up their sauce. They brought a nice dessert out. Topped it of with a coffee. The restaurant is very nice, but you can go smart casual in attire.
(5)Ed V.
Great onion soup. Have had scallops, tenderloin and chicken here at various times, all great. My second favorite BLG restaurant to Pricci.
(4)Aaron D.
Service was okay. Coffee maker broke so took a while. Forgot to give us menus. Food came out quickly. Food was flavorful but so greasy ingot a stomach ache. Had the herb omelet. Thankfully I substituted a salad for the hash browns, or it would have been even greasier. Classiest aspect were the bathrooms. Overall was good enough but I wouldn't go back here soon.
(3)Ken P.
It is not easy to take a foreign cuisine to another country. About 1/2 of the things which French people regularly eat simply do not appeal to most Americans (think pig's feet, calf's head, head cheese, blood pudding, tripe, kidneys, sweetbreads, liver, cold jellied meats, chitterling sausages, wild hare, sea snails, rouget, grainy & strong tasting fish soup, etc.). There are Tex-Mex restaurants in Paris, but they are no more authentic than Bistro Niko is a real French dining establishment, as in France. Compromises to satisfy local tastes (such as New Orleans' Chinese restaurants that offer bread pudding) are always necessary, if one wants to stay in business and Bistro Niko follows suit. People in Atlanta may think they want to go to a real French restaurant, but, in fact, most are going to want to eat like Americans do, no matter where they are. For example, a number of the other reviewers have indicated that they ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer (typical in the USA), rather than after the main course, as is always done in France. When the late Gilbert Le Coze came to the USA from Paris and opened Le Bernardin in NY (before opening Brassserie Le Coze in Atlanta) he expressed shock at the way Americans ordered their meals. He commented that he sold more green salads daily in NY than he would in a month in Paris. I, too, wonder about people going to a fine restaurant, with a skilled and inventive chef, and ordering an ordinary dish like a green salad. Why not also order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? I also wonder about naming this place "Bistro." It looks like a large and beautiful brasserie, not at all like a bistro (usually a small and modest Mom & Pop operation, such as Au Rendezvous), minus the main two food items which are always found in real brasseries, plateau de fruits de mer (large cold shellfish platters) and choucroute garni (a huge dish of assorted pork cuts and sausages with sauerkraut). I know that Bistro Niko shied away from offering shellfish platters because they are very expensive and it wanted to be moderately priced. A large one, for two people, will cost $100-150 in Paris, but you can get one nearly as good at Chops (or its Lobster Bar) for about 1/2 as much. Most Americans think of sauerkraut dishes as German and would not expect them in French restaurants. In fact, however, brasseries, which means beer halls in French, first came to Paris in the 1870s-1880s, after France lost Alsace (on the French-German border) in the Franco-Prussian War. A number of Alsatian restaurant owners fled to Paris and set up shop there, bringing beer and somewhat Germanic food with them. Bistro Niko is more of a copy of Balthazaar in NYC than it is of anything in France. It is also sort of an American's idea of a "best of France" mix of dishes which are actually found not just in one type of establishment, such as a brasserie, but also in cafes, restaurants, bistros, and in 3 or 4 different regions in France. For example, it has a Croque Madame, a simple short-order cooking item usually found in modest cafes and never in places which serve serious food (just as hot dogs are not served in serious USA restaurants); boeuf bourgogne and coq au vin from Burgundy; raclette from the Alps; Tarte Flambee from Alsace, etc., as well as some dishes which are not really French, such as mussels (which are uncommon in Paris, except at the two branches of Leon de Bruxelles, a Belgian chain), white bean soup (not a French dish, but apparently adopted because it was very popular at Brasserie Le Coze), etc. Snails are common in France, but I have never experienced them there made either with Pernod or puff pastry. Despite its very justified failure to be authentically French, Bistro Niko has some very good dishes (especially the terrines, pates, pork rilletes, the frisee salad, and the two Burgundy dishes mentioned above) and I like it.
(4)Kendall B.
Wonderful! Service was exceptional. Was giving Bistro Niko one more chance after an anniversary dinner was a total disaster with the service. Sat outside. Note: the outside tables are very small. Actually the whole area out there is kind of small. Only two for dinner out there per table unless you start pulling up tables. Then you have two round tables together. Food was just wonderful. The escargo is just beyond delicious. Will be back! Oh, and they let us cork our own wine!
(5)Kevin J.
Swanky swanky with a whole lot of waiting. I believe the restaurant got our reservation time wrong as all of my notes said 7pm and they had us down for 7:30. Oh well. We arrived around 6:45 and waited at the bar. The hostess said our table would be ready around 7:30. 7:40 came, and 7:50 came. I figured it was time to have a little check-in to make sure we weren't overlooked. The hostess said they could seat us now and to bring the entire party back up to the front stand. Huh - I thought the whole idea of waiting at the bar was for them to come and get us. Maybe I'm high-maintenance but I was hoping we'd be treated with respect as business professionals waiting to spend hundreds at their restaurant. The food was good. Not amazing, not stellar, but a notch above good. Would I go back, yes. Would I clarify my reservation time, hell yes, and will I make sure they come find us? Hopefully next time.
(3)Lesa T.
Very good. All four of us shared our meals, it was all superb!! I would recommend and I will go back. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, I really liked it, lighting was a bit too bright. if they would tone it down a bit, I feel it would help. There are booths and tables. Open kitchen when you walk in near the hostess stand, bar is in the middle of restaurant. Lots of children here, but they were well behaved. Please note, Valet parking; $2.00 fee does not include tip.
(4)Belinda S.
I have been several times over the past few years and like most Buckhead Life restaurant it is quickly losing its appeal. My sister and I decided to go in without a reservation around 730 on a Saturday. We were told there was a 45 minute wait, we asked about the wait for the patio and were told it would also be 45 minutes. We said we would wait and without leaving the hostess stand we were instantly taken to the patio that was practically empty except for 2 or 3 other couples, odd , no? We ordered a couples apps, salads, and our entrees and everything came out really staggered. I had to beg for my entree which came out 10 minutes after my sisters, hers came out cold. Take it or leave it.
(3)Lauren P.
Kevin P. has taken me on some pretty great dates. In our three years together we've hit up the best places in town: Chops, One Midtown Kitchen, Hal's, Horseraddish Grill, Two Urban Licks, just to name a few. Friday's date night at Bistro Niko was right up there. Y'all, it was truly a five star date. Star 1: We knew it was going to be a great date when we pulled up next to a bright red Ferrari Spider. For those of you who know my gear-head man y'all know it made his night. I told him if he ever got a Ferrari I'd buy red lipstick and nail polish to match the color of the car. He laughed and we proceeded into Bistro Niko. The restaurant space has a serious wow factor. We walked in and I was immediately impressed with the open kitchen. The smells wafting out of the space were divine. Thankfully we'd made a reservation and were promptly seated. Star 2: somehow we got the best table in the place! We were seated in one of the sumptuous booths facing out into the restaurant. Perhaps it was one of the tables reserved for Open Table reservations, or we looked that damn good, perhaps we just got lucky; either way, we had an awesome place to enjoy our meal. Star 3: greeted within one minute by our fabulous server. She was great. I loved the Syrah she recommended, our wine and waters were never empty, and had great menu selections she highlighted for us to help narrow down our food decision. Star 4: "OH-MY-GOD-THIS-IS-SO-GOOD!" was all I could keep saying. First we had the escargot. The escargot were exactly how I like them: tender, flavorful, swimming in butter and covered with flaky pastry puffs. Then we tackled the mussels in the most fabulous broth ever. Despite what I've read from other reviews, the mussels were pretty big and tasted fresh. They came with warm, crusty bread: perfect for dipping in the broth or noshing on with butter. We skipped the salads to save room for our entrees and I'm very glad we did. The scallops were the best I ever had. Pan-fried with that golden crust, swimming in a butter-wine-lemon sauce complimented by tender asparagus and cherry tomatoes over a potato puree. I can't tell you how many times I said awesome during this meal. Kevin P. had the skate wing which we learned is wholly-roasted in the oven for 13 minutes, then deboned and finished by frying in a pan. I've never had skate until this evening. Now I'm officially a fan. Kevin P. even ate the spinach served alongside the skate which he said was "not bad." This is a really high compliment from my husband when it comes to leafy greens. We finished our meal by sharing the decadent chocolate cake laced with bourbon and orange flavors. Star 5: the ambiance of Bistro Niko. In some reviews you'll read that it's loud in the restaurant (which is true) but awesome if you're on a date. You can say almost anything to your partner and it won't be heard by the table next to you due to the dim roar. The restaurant itself is designed for conversation. The architecture is great, especially the accents on the ceiling and walls. It was cool to see the variety of people: tourists, businessmen, kids going to prom, other couples on dates. Bistro Niko is building a solid reputation with the ATL and it's well deserved. I close saying this: if you really want to wow your lady, take her to Bistro Niko. Seriously it was one of my top 10 dates ever.
(5)Jeff W.
I really like this place. However, I think they need to change the menu or add more specials. At least the entree menu. It's getting a little old. The rest of the menu is just fine. Last time I was there, about a month ago, I had the TOURNEDOS AU POIVRE* Twin Beef Tenderloins. They were seriously small! I mean like maybe I got 3 ounces of beef. They were so small that cooking them to medium was impossible. My wife had the veal, could have been the special, had to send it back because it was undercooked at first, then it came back overcooked. Main problem was it had no flavor and it was very tough. She hardly touched it and mine was too small to share. So we left hungry. I love the price of their veuve clicquot; best in Atlanta at $69. Overall I think this is a great restaurant. Great prices for what you get. Just that my last visit wasn't very good. I'll see how it goes next time.
(4)Julie C.
Again, this is one of those times where I could use a half star. But, I'm typing this with an upset stomach that I think is the direct result of some bistro niko sole (which was not worth this GI distress), so perhaps 2 stars is just right. Meh. Yep. I have to pay 1.50 to valet? I am cheap, yes, and I don't mind letting the valet get the other .50 cents, but I would really appreciate it if the valet would at least keep a couple of quarters in hand....I mean, you snatch up my 2 bucks, my car door is wide open, it's misting out, and you're going to tell me that you'll be right back with my change? I am asshole enough to wait for it too...but in honor of the 4th, I didn't. Still. Come on. Oh. Yeah. The food. Grossly overpriced. I mean, it wasn't that the prices were so outrageous, it was that the food quality, and taste didn't match up. I actually thought the serving sizes were fine, but I'd rather a little more yummy over just a little more. We, in true pig fashion, had drinks (initially tasty moscow mule...on first sip it was gingery, then it just tasted cold and coppery), a beet salad (just get a jar from publix, your own goat chese and some little weeds from the side of the road and save the 10 bucks), some gruyere cheese puff bites....yum, just not really hot, and some foie gras terrine with chunks of delicious pork shoulder, and a smidge of overly nutmeg-ed apples, and more of the aforementioned weeds (okay, it was mache). Everything was okay...nothing that would have me running back for sure. Busboy service was lovely, lots of swooping in to refill our glasses and keep the uncouth tap water we ordered flowing. Waiter on the other hand...very absent and distracted. We were about finished with our third appetizer by the time he realized we still had menus and no entree ordered. Friend got the steak frites...and I should have too (he has no bellyache). How can you mess steak frites up? His fries were yummy, the maitre d' hotel (?) butter was yummy...and his steak looked good. My sole was salty (probably to hide the rottenness that has caused my upset stomach), and the polenta was so weirdly tasteless that it could have been styrofoam. The tomato lobster broth was more salt, but I did enjoy the three cherry tomatoes that came with. So there. My bitter, bistro niko review. I actually sorta liked the design, cheesy disney french that it was, and the patio looked mega fun...but not in the rampant georgia humidity. IF i were to return, I would maybe try one of the sandwiches....they sounded quite yummy, and I saw some lovely burgers coming out....but really, should I be getting a burger from bistro niko? Seems odd.
(2)