Bistro du Midi
French restaurant · Downtown ·
Refined French fare with Public Garden views; seafood & tasting menus
![Bistro du Midi by Bistro du Midi [Official Photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62594871/bistro_du_midi_seafood_tower.12.jpg "Bistro du Midi by Bistro du Midi [Official Photo]")
Refined French fare with Public Garden views; seafood & tasting menus
"Open since 2009, this two-story Back Bay spot across from the Boston Public Garden feels like a throwback to lingering lunches and special-occasion dinners, with a formal dining room upstairs and a comparatively casual bistro downstairs. The menus sit at the intersection of executive chef Robert Sisca’s well-honed techniques and mindfully sourced ingredients, turning familiar dishes like bouillabaisse and roast chicken into deeply satisfying plates alongside freshly made pastas and a raw bar. The crudo and tartare vary but never disappoint—the Ora King salmon ($28) with crisp pear and a gentle buttermilk vinaigrette hit those creamy and acidic notes with a nice balance—and on a chilly day the French onion soup’s deep beef broth is the move. If there are truffles, just say yes; when chicken paillard pops up (often on the $65 lunch tasting menu), it’s a must-order, with flavorful chicken lightly breaded and served with fresh arugula and a swirl of balsamic. We’ve never had a bad plate of noodles; recent standouts were a green pea gnocchi ($29) and a rich fettuccine in cream sauce topped with truffles (part of the same lunch tasting menu). For dessert, plan ahead and order the chocolate souffle, a near-perfect molten cake that poofs out of a ramekin like a top hat and is served with fresh whipped cream and hot fudge. The restaurant may appear a little formal, but one of the most fun and welcoming meals can be had in the bistro—post up at the bar in the winter, or, in the summer, sit in one of the open windows or on the patio with a chilled rosé bottle and crudo." - Tanya Edwards
"Set in a light-filled Back Bay dining room that balances sophistication and just the right amount of pretension, this Provençale-leaning French restaurant delivers elegant dishes like heirloom beet salad with lardons and goat cheese and halibut in a lemongrass 'chowder,' and offers a sublime seven-course tasting menu with wine pairings for special occasions." - Todd Plummer, Shannon McMahon
"Who says you need water or a skyline to make for a great view? Bistro du Midi looks out onto Boston’s lovely Public Garden." - Erika Adams
"There are a lot of French restaurants in the neighborhood, but with a dining room overlooking the public garden upstairs, a casual bistro at street level, and a menu with things like duck breast served with cherry duck jus, Bistro du Midi is our favorite. It’s pricey and fancy, but absolutely worth it for a special occasion, or any time you want to look out at the garden while eating kobe lamb carpaccio. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - joel ang, dan secatore
"If your last-minute meal needs to be a little fancy because, say, your friend just found out she’s the last-remaining heir to small European principality where the national pastimes are sitting on verandas and laundering money, head to Bistro du Midi. With leather booths, a fireplace and windows overlooking the Public Garden, the dining room feels like one of those $15,000 a night hotel suites that Oprah stays in, and the French seafood menu is perfect for preparing your friend for summers spent on Mediterranean estates. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - dan secatore
