Bistro Niko

After a French brunch earlier in the day, my boyfriend thought it’d be fun for us to go all out and do a French dinner too. On a Sunday night, I’m surprised that we still had to make a reservation for 8pm, but so be it. We’ll enjoy it.
Unfortunately, Bistro Niko wasn’t all that I thought it would be.
One of our apps arrived, but the platter of oyster never came. We were about to question it but our entrees arrived. When we asked our waiter, he looked into it and said that it had been ready for some time but no one ever served it. Hm, ok. He couldn’t take it off our bill unless we didn’t want it. Later the manager came over to apologize, but didn’t offer any comps at all. It’s the least they could have done.
Mushroom and Gruyère Cheese Tart: Mmm, cheese and mushrooms. Can’t go wrong with it. A reminder of how much I enjoy Gruyère cheese. I’d recommend this but it is a bit heavy for 2 people unless you’re really hungry.
Beef Short Rib Bourguignon: This was too salty for me. Sure, the short rib falls apart, but the sauce was just too salty for me that I nearly finished the potatoes.
Profiteroles: You could hardly enjoy these pastry shells since it was drenched in chocolate sauce and so much ice cream. I understand how ice cream and chocolate sauce are great, but I really wanted to enjoy the profiteroles and not get lost in the things that should enhance it.
I also dislike how loud the restaurant is. I thought this place had been mentioned as an ideal date night place, but I could hardly hear my boyfriend over all the talking and clatter of dishes. Maybe you have to be sitting in one of the rooms instead of the «bistro» room.
In retrospect, the service and food is pretty typical of Buckhead Life Group restaurants. I used to really enjoy Buckhead Bread (aka Corner Café) but service was always slow, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. My boyfriend says this place used to be better but this particular visit was just bad.

We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, about a block away and were pleased to find a highly rated French restaurant within walking distance. Sadly, the Unilocal rating was a bit higher than was deserved.
We started by ordering the French onion soup. Very good broth and taste, but overpowering in cheese and bread. The portion was much too large for an appetizer.
Next was the mesclun salad. It was fresh and tasty but the Dijon dressing was overpowering.
We shared the trout almaden, which was almost blackened from being over-​cooked on one side in butter. The almonds were scarce, and the effect was maybe a 6 on a 10 point scale. The potatoes and green beans that accompanied the fish were pretty good.
Our waiter was David J. He seemed more interested in turning the table than in making us enjoy the experience. He was anxious for us to order, did not honor my request to allow us to have a leisurely («slow») evening, did not ask if I desired a second glass of wine, and never inquired about our enjoyment. On the other hand, the bread/​water person was very courteous and thoughtful.
Rather than an intimate restaurant that one would expect from the name of Bistro Niko, it is a restaurant on the order of a chain. On a Zagat scale, it was a 20 food, 20 service, and 24 décor.

NAILED IT
What a great place to come to considering most of my Saturday was pretty lame.
This place is quite buzzing and advice you to have a reservation on weekends.
The crowd is quite sophisticated and mostly in their 30s or over. Niko is quite big with an old school charm and an open kitchen. Our server was so funny and had complete knowledge of their menu. The place is a little loud but we got our seat in a more formal dining section so was less noisy.
Our food was delicious and so was the entire experience.

I was here for a business lunch. The hostess was lovely and found my reservation and sat me quickly even though my guest had not yet arrive.
I only had water which the waiter never let get empty!
Bread was brought to the table. It had a very hard crust which for me seemed a little awkward to eat on a business lunch cause I felt like I was trying to rip into the hard crust without taking too large of a bite.
I ordered the Quiche which was probably the best quiche I’ve ever had in my life. It came with a small side salad which I nibbled on but didn’t eat all of.

I’ve come a few times to Bistro Niko because it is in walking distance to the hotel I normally stay at when I’m in Atlanta for work. It is easy access from Peachtree St. and there is valet parking behind the restaurant.
The place is large, with a old school, I’m in Paris feel. During the summer, there is a nice patio where you can have just drinks or dinner. The bar area is pretty large and situated in the front of the restaurant. However, one of the things I found confusing is the check in area which is located in the rear of the restaurant near the kitchen. There is also a back door to enter which I find the easiest when I’m coming in for dinner, this way you are not walking all around the restaurant feeling lost. I’ve not had to wait for a table even on busy nights. My biggest complaint is that the place can be a bit dark in the evening once the sun goes down, making it hard to read the menu even for me.
The menu is pretty straight-​forward. If you have any questions, just ask. And yes, it is written in English even though it is a French restaurant. The wine list is pretty decent, and they have wines by the glass. Typically I choose the malbec which is delicious. For an appetizer, I’ve had the French onion soup, which is just the perfect mix of broth and onions, with a lovely slice of French bread and cheese on top. The burrata mozzarella salad is very delicious as well. For dinner, I’ve had the la bouillabaisse which was warm, sweet, and very filling. The seafood was moist and not over cooked. The Loup de mer is a sea bass that was tender, creamy, with a like butter smooth consistency, just plain delicious, and I got it without the capers. Not a fan of capers! The steak au poivre is decent, medium well, with plenty of flavor. The side dish of the creamed spinach was fantastic, probably one of the better side dishes. My favorite dish is the beef bourguignon which consists of the kobe beef cheeks braised in burgundy wine with noodles which is always top notch, which is why it is my go-​to dish. Pricing is what one would expect for good food!
The bathroom is off to the side, which was very clean and neat. Of a side note, there was an old school cigarette machine like one would see back in the day, or in restaurants in Paris, which gave the place a very authentic feel.

As stated in my previous review, I knew I wouldn’t be coming back here until my manager paid again.
The day finally came.
We were seated immediately, as we had made a reservation for four people on Open Table the day before.
Our server was super friendly and charming, which buttered up our manager — maybe the reason why she kept going with all the additional perks? From appetizers to coffee and dessert, we were not expecting that much love, to put it nicely.
The complimentary bread was warm, so the soft butter melted on it nicely. Our appetizer was a mushroom and Gruyère flatbread, or tarte. The tarte was crispy and light, topped with some flavorful mushrooms and cheese. A definite must order.
Of course, I HAD to order the Maine sea scallops. It’s all the pictures I see on the Unilocal page. I was surprised to receive a large order with 8 seared scallops atop a bed of potato purée and asparagus. The sauce was very rich, so I was so full by the 7^th scallop. Well worth the cost value — I’ve never eaten so much quality and quantity for a low cost of $ 20. Pretty unexpected in Buckhead, to say the least.
We ended up ordering some coffee and dessert, as well. We ordered the profiteroles, against our best judgement, and I ordered myself a latte. One order of the profiteroles came with 3. They were decadent and chilled — I wish they could have been a little less soggy and cold, but still tasty, nonetheless. The latte was smooth — my only complaint was my desire for more. No amount of espresso could shake me from my
The cocktails looked pretty yummy, but we refrained. I guess I’ll have to wait again until next time the manager is in town!

Excellent Service!
Classic French bistro standbys served in upscale Buckhead location.
My favorite dish was the «Le Grand Plat» charcuterie platter. It was huge and filled to the brim with meaty goodies like duck prosciutto, salami, pâté and more and is a bargain at $ 19 dollars. It could be a meal by itself.
For entrée, had the Croque Madame which is like a fancy ham and cheese sandwich topped with a fried egg. Did it whisk me away to Paris? not really, but good nonetheless.
Decided to be daring and ordered a cocktail for lunch. Picked the signature St. Germain with Champagne and it hit the spot. It’s served in a lovely little carafe that you pour yourself.
Great spot for lunch. Prices are surprisingly affordable.

I have never had a bad meal or poor service at this restaurant. The mushroom/​peppercorn burger is one of the best I have ever had! Cooked to perfection. Steak and frites is way above average. The steak tartare is a very large portion and comes with toast that is the perfect texture. Great place for a date, just expect the noise level to be a little bit loud unless you ask for a quiet area.

Bread was not warm and hard to bite on.
Some of my oysters were not fresh even though they are weekly special items.
Cheese puffs and dessert are very delicious.
Indoor decoration is very elegant. Love the walls of wine collections.
A little overpriced on common items.

We stopped in for lunch after doing a little holiday shopping at the «17^th Floor of Tower Place». The hostess took our name and the manager escorted my wife, arm-​in-​arm, to an elevated banquet. The waiter quickly approached, calling us by name, that sneaky hostess! We ordered drinks and began to peruse the menu.
You could be sitting in a Parisian brasserie. In fact you are, it’s just in the ATL. The waitstaff, all smartly dressed in black with white aprons, are on point, seamlessly assisting each other with a little more water here and a fresh napkin there. There’s a fun hustle and bustle to this place as you think that any minute, there’s going to be someone «famous» walking by… Wait is that Neal Boortz at the bar? Someone’s got to be driving those three Ferraris parked out front.
We ordered the steak tartare with toast points and a salad rather than the frites. We also ordered the au poivre burger with frites. The tartare was excellent with a big beefy taste and just the right amount of Worcestershire, capers and a touch of anchovy. The salad was fresh and vibrant with a tart vinaigrette. The burger on a fresh brioche bun was one of the best we’ve had in quite sometime. It was expertly cooked to a medium rare and complimented by the peppercorn crust, gruyère cheese, mushrooms and a brandy pepper sauce. And those frites? Crispy, hot goodness.
Washed down with a Quadrupel St. Bernardus ABT. 12 draft beer that was out of sight, this was a lunchtime experience that will have us returning very soon!

This place is so many different things. From meeting friends for a wonderful Bloody Mary at the bar, as we watch Bartender Lee and Tara entertain us. these two are great! Or having a wonderful dinner with family or a date. You can’t go wrong on a Saturday afternoon. People coming in from shopping or regulars that sit at the bar laughing and talking the place is always buzzing it’s wonderful

My friend had been raving about how good this place was for years. She said they had the best french onion soup. So when I received a gift card for Bistro Niko, I decided to bring her along. Valet parking is available and is easiest option. $ 2, not including tip. It is a very nice atmosphere, a great place for a romantic dinner.
I ordered a special that evening — pork shoulder that came with brussel sprouts. I love brussel sprouts and ordered the dish mostly for that. I also ordered a crème brûlée for dessert. The pork was okay — tender but I didn’t really like the jus that came with it. I didn’t like the brussel sprouts– also due to the jus, but they were overcooked. The crème brûlée was fairly good, but I expected more from a French restaurant.
My friend had more complaints than I. She did enjoy her french onion soup. But her mushroom and gruyère cheese tarte didn’t go down as well. It was quite greasy and had a kind of funky taste that she didn’t think was truffle oil. She ended up sending it back. She swapped it out for the endive salad. Talk about unappetizing. When it was delivered, we were both taken aback. It was the most dull salad I have ever seen. She didn’t really enjoy that either, but ate it cause she needed something more to eat and didn’t want to try again.
So my friend is done with Bistro Niko now. I would give it another go. This time, trying one of the regular menu items and not ordering the crème brûlée.

Bistro Niko had its ups and downs. There were certain things that they executed well and some that fell flat. Overall, we had a reasonable meal here, although the dishes felt one-​dimensional.
We ate here on Saturday night. The restaurant is very big and pretty. Our server was helpful and knowledgeable. No complaints about the service or the atmosphere.
We started with a couple of glasses of wine and an appetizer. We ordered the escargot en croute. Now, I wasn’t expecting Paris-​level execution, but I did feel that the garlic butter was a bit overwhelming. The puff pastry was cute and tasty, but took away from the escargot itself. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either.
For my main course, I ordered the bouillabaisse. This wasn’t one of the dishes recommended by our server, but it’s listed in the top portion of the menu with a swirly design around it– the area usually reserved for the restaurant’s special. The fish in it (bass, cod, shrimp, scallops) were all good and fresh. The issue was really the sauce. It was described as a lobster broth but in all honesty it felt too heavy — like a canned tomato soup. It came with a piece of bread which appeared to have a mayonnaise based spread on it — skip. Both other members of my party got the scallops, which I liked better than my dish, but again, very one-​dimensional texture and flavor-​wise.
What really saved this meal was the dessert. The profiteroles and the chocolate sundae were both good. They weren’t mind blowing, but they were enjoyable and solid. The profiteroles were mostly ice cream though — not very classic. In my opinion, a profiteroles should have more pastry to it (see the image). Regardless, the dessert was good.
Overall, this place was just alright. I wouldn’t be opposed to coming back, but I wouldn’t run back either.

authentique French cuisine!
From the décor to the menu, Niko is truly French. The architecture is modern with art work blending well.
The service is simply outstanding. Our server was very friendly and great with food recommendations.
The menu boosts a wide variety of wine, cocktails and beer. Along with drinks the food options are endless. From scrumptious hordeves, entrees and sandwiches, they got something for every taste bud.
Recommendations;
1– lamb leg sandwich: but make sure to request it done unless you don’t mind the meat being a little pink.
2– steak sandwich: it was just perfect.
The portion size is adequate and for what they offer they are priced just right.
They offer inside dining along with an outside patio overlooking peachtree street yet it’s not too loud.
Without a doubt one of my favorite French restaurants in atlanta.

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 décor 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 crème brûlée 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:
–crème brûlée
Menu:
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 entrée 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 cliché 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 né pense beaucoup. (Yeah, I had to look up the tense since my AP French is a little rusty).

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.

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 entrée, 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.

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.

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.