Bistro So

A French bistrot that has made itself a community institution, Bistrot So occupies a fantastic corner, there is almost no better place to take in the neighborhood while enjoying a meal, anytime of year. The menu classics like the steak au poivre will keep you coming back, and still there are always seasonal specials: beef bourguignon, raclette, duck. The staff is beloved by the neighborhood, so between the atmosphere and food, be prepared to enjoy yourself.

We had an early dinner so it wasn't packed. The food was delicious. The camembert fondue was good. It was very cheesy and plentiful that we weren't able to finish it all. The mushroom risotto was my favorite. Super creamy and rich! My boyfriend got the beef bourguignon which was also delicious and filling; he wasn't able to finish it all. Everything was very rich and filling. The service was great. There were no fans or AC where we were first seated, so I was uncomfortably warm. Thankfully, our server moved us to a cooler area and turned on the fan for us.

Visiting from out of state, we had some time to kill and stumbled into this bistro by chance. It's a good size, possible to fit a larger group if needed. Cute decor. Festive for the holidays. As we were just two people, we sat at the bar. The staff was very kind and made a killer espresso martini. We shared a breakfast plate, a type of eggs Benedict, and it was cooked to perfection. The owner was there, working, and she was extremely kind and spoke with us for a good bit. She is from Nice, France and it gave my partner a chance to practice his rusty French. We stayed for over an hour having good conversation with the owner and bartender before trying the delicious creme brulee, and then heading out to do our shopping. We hope that we'll have a chance to visit Bistro So again the next time we're in town. Definitely stop into this bistro if you're in the area!

Bistro So has become a second home and an extension of family. I cannot speak highly enough of Souraia and the team. We love coming for brunch, drinks, dinner, lunch, you name it.. the food is wonderful, the vibe is perfect, but the staff are what makes it great. We have celebrated birthdays in the back bar space from anywhere between 50-100 people, brought family visiting in town, and we always have the best time. The team goes above and beyond on all fronts to make sure our needs are met. We love Bistro So, and it’s thanks to Souraia. Souraia makes sure to treat us like we’re the most special people on the planet every time we’re there, and it’s really made it feel like home. If you want recommendations, here are a few of my faves: espresso martini or a spritz, mustard chicken penne pasta, the burger, the bœuf tartar, but truly you really can’t go wrong. When you get sat at the corner booth on a day with the windows open—rain or shine, there’s no better place to eat in the neighborhood. When you’re there, introduce yourself to Souraia and enjoy her wonderful restaurant. We love you!

Stumbled in out of necessity and discovered a total hidden gem! The vintage, character-filled interior and friendly staff caught my eye immediately. I spotted their espresso machine and ordered an Espresso Martini—and wow, what a pleasant surprise. The drink was rich, fresh, and incredibly delicious. The best part? At just $11, it was the most affordable cocktail I've had in ages. Can't wait to come back!

My wife and I came here for a nice French Dinner, and for the price it was good but not overwhelming with that wow factor but tasty nonetheless. My wife enjoyed her salmon w/ Ratatouille, and I enjoyed the Beef Bourguignon w/ carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. We shared the escargot, which was drenched in melted garlic butter. Fortunately, we ordered the bread & butter to soak up the juices from our respective plates..They had a party in the back room, so we had a chance to experience some good live music while we ate. The area where we sat was nice and cozy with padded seats and backrest. The nice touch was the throw pillows that was great for behind the back. I may have gotten a better rating but I had to ask several times for table utensils.

Fantastic place and vibe!!! I really enjoyed my cozy brunch here ;)) the crepe with bacon and egg is super yummyyyy!! Also strongly recommend the chocolate lava cake, it’s so classic and delicious!!!! After the brunch I chilled a little while with my husband reading books here, thr waiters here are super kind and nice :D love it!!!

This was one of the WORST dining experiences I have had. We were given the wrong drink and waited more than 35 minutes for anyone to come by so we could ask to fix it. I understand places get busy. We then waited over an hour for appetizers with no updates at all. The most surprising part was the owner. She came over rude and completely dismissive when we asked to remove the wrong drink. We did not drink it and simply wanted it taken off the bill. Instead of acknowledging the mistake, she told us, “don’t tell us what to do,” which was extremely unprofessional and unnecessary. We left disappointed. I rarely write negative reviews, but this experience was genuinely unacceptable.

Incredibly sexy restaurant with great food and a great staff. Came one night with a group of friends and had a great time. I had the escargot and she ordered the steak au pouv (spelling). The steak was perfectly cooked and the escargot was tender. The mixology was great too. Will be back soon

Had a great date night at Bistro So this past weekend. The two of us shared the escargots (fantastically garlicky), crab cakes, kale salad and the scallops. Everything was delicious but I would potentially skip the crab cakes. The waiters were attentive and made sure our huge plates didn't overtake our table. The one strange thing was that my boyfriend and I got menus that were different and both were different from what we are seeing online. I would just make sure that the menus are consistent as it made discussing the menu and ordering a tad confusing.

Very cute place with more seating in the back but a bit more intimate in the front. Very shocked at how great the ravioles were, given it was a vegetarian option! The service was great, the drinks were also great, but unfortunately couldn't remember the names. We also got free shots at the end so that's always a nice plus! The cheese board was good for appetizers too.

Came with my wife for a Saturday brunch. We came a couple days before Christmas when many folks are out of town and were seated immediately. They have a full bar, three drafts on tap, and a nice selection of wines by the glass with a focus on French reds. I opted or a Pinot noir. We shared their savoryarde crepe filled with potatoes, onions, and bacon. It's topped with melted Brie. Super savory and right up my alley. Probably the best savory crepe that I've had. Service was attentive and friendly. There was one gender neutral restroom.

Everything was fantastic. Food was delicious, service on point and a cute comfortable outdoor area. Music was just the right volume, loud enough to fill in silence but low enough for a full conversation. Taking off 1 star from the restroom, it was rather stinky as if it hasn't been disinfected in quite some time.

Big corner restaurant with beautiful back patio and cool atmosphere. Friendly and attentive service, with daily happy hour from 5PM to 7PM which includes some small plates and drinks, good deal. As appetizers we had the onion soup which was edible but, in my opinion it lacked flavor, cheese, onion, the bread inside and the traditional dark wine infused thick broth, so I don't think I would order that again. We also had the escargots which were perfect, delicious, the sauce was amazing, enough ratio of garlic and parsley, served with bread perfect combo, I loved them, probably the best dish of everything we tried. For mains we had the truffle mushroom risotto and the mussels in poulette sauce, the mussels were great the sauce delicious the portion reasonable and came with fries, that were very soggy so I focused on the mussels and ordered extra bread. The risotto was good, texture and flavor but the size was really small, definitely not the size of a main course. For drinks we had gin tonic, perfectly made and their happy hour lager which was delicious, generous glass and super cold. I would recommend going and I would come back, definitely try the escargots & the mussels. Seems like a fun place to be on a weekend night.

Service was quick and efficient. Pleasant staff. Pleasant, relaxing vibe. Casual enough for a date, yet cool enough to make it a nice one. Pleasant, classy music playing in the background. During dinner, the place gets really dark, so heads up about the minimal light. Good vibe if you want to get boozy and not focus in on your dinner partner's details. Burrattina was a refreshing start of our meal. Enjoyed the tomato compote/sauce it was served with, as that touch of acidity brought out the delicate nature of the tender burrata. Shaved almonds were an unexpected nice touch, to mix up the textures in this dish. Mussels in white wine were standard--nothing to remark upon. Steak with fries were tasty and satisfying. Delicious sauce that covered the steak. Good portion to feel full but not stuffed. Fries were very lightly salted, which is good news for anyone watching their sodium intake. A lot of people ordered burgers, which looked stunning and smelled sooooo good. Would return to try.

Great escargot and French onion soup! They also have a great happy hour for wine beer and cocktails - until 7pm. Servers and staff are always kind.

Super cute little French restaurant in Williamsburg. My boyfriend and I were looking for a wine bar to have a drink before a concert and this place was perfect! Too bad we had dinner prior because everything on the menu looked delicious. They have authentic French dishes like steak au poivre, beef tartare, and French onion soup. They have a happy hour, which we sadly just missed, with $10 glasses of wine and cocktails from 5-7. They have a beautiful outside courtyard with tables for a perfect date night. Cannot wait to visit again!

Fabulous food ambience and service!!! Love this Bistro!! Highly commend it Cozy warm and top notch!!

Love food here. We ordered Tuna tartare and chicken pasta, steak with pepper sauce and nutella crepe. Pasta cooked perfectly with rich well seasoning sauce and tuna tartare are delightful.

Spontaneously stopped into Bistro So on a Saturday afternoon because they had a HH including $11 espresso martinis! It's a cutely decorated and intimate area and the drinks were delicious! We also got truffle fries to split. Would highly recommend this for an affordable and laidback HH!

Unfortunately, the owner refuses to stop dumping cleaning chemicals on to the tree beds outside of the restaurant. She is very volatile. There is a high turnover of all staff and I get why. Very sad. If you sit outside, you can smell these chemicals as well.

My favorite new place! The food! The ambiance! The service! The music! This is my new place for date nights, girl nights, or family nights. Rodrigo was so welcoming and helpful. We showed up during the brunch hour which I am not a fan of. But they were accommodating to my order from the regular menu. I am only sorry I didn't take any pictures of the food to share the deliciousness of it all! Our two orders from the specials were the Burratina and the Short Ribs! I was only sorry I had to share the apps with my family. From the main menu we ordered the Rack of Lamb and the Beef Bourguignon. The sauce! The tender juicy meats. Yes!!! And because there always has to be room for dessert, we ordered the Crème Brulee, Tarte Tatin, and Lava Cake. I can't wait to return!

The two friends that took me here at one point were eating here every weekend. And I can see why! The veggie benedict was one of the best I've had - the egg ran perfectly and the hollandaise sauce wasn't too pungent which I often see at brunch spots. The goat cheese fig crepe was also very tasty. We all wiped our plates clean!

Tonight I stopped to meet the owner to set up a future brunch event. The owner is pleasant and accommodating. I truly enjoyed our chat. The French onion soup had great cheese pull and was so darn tasty. I ordered a salmon burger before I had the soup and really shouldn't have because the soup was so filling. I decided to taste the burger and fries even though I knew most of it would be dinner for the next day. Well my belly was so happy I did. I ended up finish off the fries. That salmon burger was seasoned to perfection. My compliments to the chef. The vibe was just right. They played great music you can chair dance to or get up and dance. I'll definitely be back. Oh the waiter was super cool and made me honey mustard and gave me creme brûlée to try. I gave him a great tip to show my appreciation.

So So disappointing, low quality food, slow service and overall a waste of time sadly. It has a nice ambiance but that's about it. We all didn't have a great time in our last visit sadly.

The many negative reviews of the ownership of this place are unfortunately 100% accurate. In trying to book a private event at this place, the owner never responded to email messages a single time without my following up with her for a response. She wanted me to venmo her a deposit without giving me clear details in regards to pricing or what was included in the quoted price for my event inquiry. In asking literally 8 times for a contract before offering her a deposit, she promptly ignored that request every single time, and her last message to me shamed me for asking questions in the first place and made me out to be the bad person. Reading other reviews of people being treated poorly by the staff here is quite unfortunate. Do not book a private event here unless you want to be treated with absolutely no respect throughout the whole process.

Fans of Pates et Traditions, your favorite restaurant owner and crepes are back!!! We used to frequent the French spot all the time at the other location before they closed and re-opened in a much larger spot with ample indoor and outdoor seating... and everything is as delicious and IG worthy as ever. Here is what you need to know: 1. The buckwheat crepes... still the only place outside of Paris and Montreal that delivers on the delicious flavor of savory crepes. 2. The space is as beautiful as ever. The vibes are a cross between a tropical paradise and a French cafe. There's heated garden seating and more seating indoors. 3. The perfect French Fries... 4. Delicious steak tartare and chicken mustard pasta. 5. A burger that can contend with the other ranked fancy burgers in the city. Run, don't walk to Bistro So. It delivers on both vibes and deliciousness!

I was really excited when I heard that the owners of Pates et Traditions had reopened a few blocks away on Driggs at Bistro So. As far as I'm concerned, Pates et Traditions had some of the best galettes on either side of the Atlantic. I actually felt saddened walking by their empty storefront on Havemeyer after they closed. Unfortunately we didn't realize that the menu here has been substantially revamped to pivot away from crepes towards a more meat-heavy, traditional French brasserie menu. We came for dinner, but the crepes are now only available for brunch. As a vegetarian, the options were a little limited. The truffle gnocchi was creamy and I loved the texture of the fresh pasta, but it wasn't exactly what I was in the mood for. Although my omnivorous friend enjoyed his burger. Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I hope they bring crepes back on to the all-day menu and can keep their vegetarian fan base! Especially since the vibe at their new space is so wonderful.

We had such high hopes for this well decorated new spot. Typical drink menu. $10 happy hour beers. The food was just disappointing. The burger was just too small of a patty on an oversized bun. The creamy chicken pasta was more like something we could have cooked at home. And the steak tartare was great. It feels unfortunate that otw home everyone was saying how great the fries were. Not the entrees. Not the drinks. Sad but true. Hope to come back maybe next summer and give it another try.

Tried out this new spot in Wburg last night. The atmosphere was really elegant and cozy, the servers were all very friendly, but unfortunately the dish that I ordered (hanger steak) was not great. Ordered the steak cooked medium and it came probably medium rare and extremely chewy. Fries were very good.

We went here for a Friday night date night. It's a quaint spot but we never felt crowded. There were plenty of tables set for parties ranging from 2-6. We were immediately greeted by the host, who was incredibly kind. Speaking to him put a smile on our faces. When we were seated, they gave us a heads up that their credit card machine was down, so we had the option of cash or venmo. While the machine was back up before we left and we were able to pay with a card, I really appreciated that they were so up front about the limitation before we looked at the menu or ordered. We ordered the escargot, melomozza salad (melon/mozzarella/prosciutto/pesto), beef tartare, and steak frites. The portions were plentiful and everything was prepared to perfection.

We stopped in for lunch around 2 on a Saturday and were seated on the adorable patio area. At first I was pretty bumed to learn they no longer made the pan bagnat, it's my favorite sandwich to order in Nice. I went with the shakshuka instead and my partner and son shared the La Parisienne crepe. I also ordered a glass of rosé and my partner ordered a hard cider. Our meals were delicious and I'd definitely dine here again!

Place at slightly above capacity, kitchen is extremely slow. Sunday bartender treats people like she's doing them a huge favor --just overall unpleasant. Canceled and never going back.

it's hard to write a review in a way when everything is perfect. We had the best experience here. A+ all around. Williamsburg needed more French bistros, and now we got a few! In the former FADA space (but FADA was kind of a mess, with mediocre service and so-so food, wasting their beautiful expansive space) this is just a winner all around. I am so glad it is here. Dark, romantic, pretty but understated, with ice cold martinis, a friendly staff, and really serious cooking. One of the best burgers I've had in a while. The Foie gras was also superb. Great steak. The desserts are delectable. Everyone is just so friendly. Service isn't just good, it's instinctual. I never got to go to Pates et Traditions, despite living here for 7 years, so it's nice to see these *extremely talented super professional * owners expand their vision to this luscious creation. I will be back, for sure! When something works so well, there's a certain magic to it: you don't know why you're so happy, you don't want to leave, you're appreciating every bite, you want to be friends with your server, it's all here. Reminded me a bit of of the East Village's dearly departed Flea Market, but not as scrappy, and with better cooking. Absolutely worth your time and money.

Bistro So is a great local spot. Nice bar. Friendly staff. Clean and sizable restrooms. Good layout. The menu is pretty traditional French but they have multiple crepe options depending on your taste. They also serve their burgers on a brioche with red onion and lettuce, tomato and cheese. Fries are top notch. Portion sizes are large and generous. Sodas are canned but served with a tall glass of ice in an ice cold can. Waters are in a glass bottle (which could be colder) and self poured after the first one. The places is really spacious considering the other restaurants in the area. The staff were even speaking French to each other which added to the ambiance. Decor here is well done. The dining rooms are connected but also separate from each other which help the place retain some intimacy. Good location for a date or even a business lunch. I'd love to try brunch here. Eclectic menu in a nice bright setting.

Waiters were very nice but food took an hour and a half to come out and was extremely greasy. Manager was of no help and was very unsympathetic, giving false estimates on where our food was. She would not check in on us and would brush us off when we sought her out. Overall very bad experience and will not be returning. A shame since the live music and ambiance were nice.

One of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn. Great service and owner. Enjoyed the pasta dish and salad last time I was there. We sat in the outdoor area which was lovely. Would recommend.

Best meal I've had in a while! I had the mussels, crab cakes, camembert coulant, and two of their specials tuna tartare and steak. Every single thing was delicious!

This has a nice good date vibe: nice environment with good seating, good lighting and the service was pretty good overall. They have some decent happy hour deals you can try. The wines and mix drinks were mediocre in my opinion but that is what happy hour they offer. The French onion soup we got was so-so: it tasted a bit watery and very sweet. The wild mushroom crostini was ok... the bread was a bit hard and it didn't really go well with that combination. The escargot was pretty solid and they take it out the shell for you. Complementary bread comes with it too. The frog leg was crisp and had a nice flavor to it! Highly recommend it if you aren't scared of eating frogs. The beef bourguignon was surprisingly really good because usually I am skeptical of it because most places don't make it tender or the flavor is very underwhelming. The sauce complemented it well with the meat and the tenderness to it. Overall I would like to come back again and try some other dishes. I recommend this place for a nice casual date spot!

I was recommended by a friend to try this place. I had been looking at the menu and planning when to go. I sat outside in the back and enjoyed the foi gra, escargot, steak tartare , burrata and more . The ambiance was beautiful and made me feel like I flew to france . Every dish was tasty and just right. I ended with the creme brulee which was perfection. And the bartender made me an espresso martini for national coffee day. The service was friendly and made me feel at home from the hostess to the busboy food runner waiter all attentive and helpful. I can't wait to return with friends and share this amazing experience. Best of luck

I came twice initially and it went great. But the third night, they were on fire: insulting customers, charging me things I didn't order, taking my credit card away without my permission. The owner told me I was a "sale race" and a "putin de crevard" when I nicely asked for my card back (in french that means "dirty race" and "fucking stinge"). They also charge people more tips than they give on a regular basis and talk openly about it. No comment.

We were Pate et tradition regulars for years. I adore Soraya the owner. I am so excited she opened this beautiful new space. We have been in twice since she opened. Food is delicious and service attentive. I especially loved the salmon tartar and crab cakes appetizers. My only wish is that crepes were brought back to the dinner menu. The new menu is a bit more expensive so we only save going for special occasions now, unlike before we would go spontaneously on any night of the week for such an amazing and affordable dinner at Pates. None the less the service and atmosphere is wonderful, just a little bit more fancy.

Charming atmosphere, delicious food! The music was perfect. Can't wait to go there for brunch. We had the mushroom risotto, mesclun salad with shrimp and tried to get the truffle fries, but that was forgotten, no big deal. Everything else was spot on.

This place is everything! The food is divine, the drinks are divine, and the staff is divine. Also, it's female owned and that's a big deal for me. We adore a female owned local business. Watch me become a regular at this lovely place! :)

Always perfect. Great place to walk in at the spur of the moment for cocktails and a great meal. The love the owner has put into this place is palpable, the staff is great, and the space is gorgeous. Food is exactly what you want it to be. Great steak, great, happy hour, too!

The food is amazing and the service was perfect. Everyone there is so sweet and all of the food we had was incredible. I highly recommend trying out Bistro So

The staff is really friendly. But the food is terrible. I ordered the steak tartare but it was simply inedible. They probably forget to add Dijon mustard? Anyways, go here for a soccer game but don't bother trying their food. It's "bistro so so"

We are sooo happy to have this new restaurant on our block! Amazing customer service and food. Excited to come back with more friends

Highly recommend this french spot for breakfast or brunch if youre in Brooklyn. Very cozy place with friendly and accommodating waitstaff! The shakshuka was the best Ive had in a while and Ill definitely be coming again for breakfast

This place is such a comfort! I fully agree with all the other reviews- amazing food, amazing drinks and delightful staff. We had the cod, the escargot and the steak frites and everything was perfect. So glad to have this place in the neighborhood!

My friend and I had just left a concert at Warsaw, and popped into this place as it was near the L train. We were attracted to the jazz music--fun! The restaurant itself is cute/casual. Unfortunately the food and wine were both poor quality. I had oysters which tasted like they were improperly stored--either they were left out too long or they were stored underneath OR on ice because they were very, very cold and almost frozen in the center. I work in restaurants and am familiar with oyster handling/storage so it is very obvious to me when someone has mishandled shellfish and other seafood. The first glass of wine I had, the Cote Du Rhône, also tasted stale. As a result I sent back both items which I almost never do, but improperly stored shellfish can pose a serious health risk. I told my waiter that I would pay for it all anyway because I didn't want to cause a scene. Nevertheless, the MANAGER came out, with a Citranella receipt for the restaurant oysters in her hand, and insisted to me that they regularly order "fresh" oysters. I had to explain to her that it was likely an issue of how they had stored them if it was not their distributor. It was a very uncomfortable experience having the manager interrogate me over my choice not to eat bad oysters. I would never recommend this restaurant after this experience.

My wife and I ate at Bistro So last night around 7pm. I will start this review with the positives. The ambience was wonderful, the service was great and the fries were delicious. We shared the beef tartare topped with a raw quail egg, and she had the oysters by herself. Unfortunately, around 10pm she started feeling sick and we rushed home. We couldn't get home fast enough and she became violently ill from food poisoning in the car on the drive home. Once home, she spent several hours sick in the bathroom and even chose to sleep in the kitchen to be close by. We've both had food poisoning before and it was the worst I have ever seen. I called the restaurant this evening to inform the manager of what happened so they could look into their food safety, and was clear we weren't trying to gain anything from this situation, we just didn't want anyone else getting sick. The manager (a woman whose name I didn't get) was not at all concerned and was adamant that my wife did not get food poisoning from their restaurant, claiming that you don't see symptoms until a day after exposure, which is untrue (you can become ill after as little as 30 minutes of exposure) and assured me that their food is incredibly fresh and wouldn't even consider the possibility that she got sick from one of the three raw dishes she consumed. We weren't going to leave a negative review as long as the restaurant agreed to simply look into the situation but their lack of concern and accountability deemed it necessary.

Great place, friendly staff, and the food was awesome. I would definitely recommend coming for dinner. Great date nice

Amazing food, ambiance, and most importantly, amazing people. On Thursdays they also have live music that is a completely different experience and super inviting and intimate

As someone who grew up in Belgium and frequents France often, I have to say this place nails true authentic French cuisine in terms of taste and atmosphere. The ownership is hands on, service super friendly and makes you feel welcome in a way that is just perfect. When you want that nostalgic feeling of travel or another world, they really set the stage and deliver. Thank you for such a nice pleasant evening. We used to frequent Pates et Traditions and happy you have this new space for your new adventures in Williamsburg...see you soon!

Wonderful spot with great vibes, food and drinks. A little taste of Europe in NY. Everything is great here!!

Everything you could want in a local bistro; great appetizers and entrees, a variety of great cocktails and wine, and most of all, the ambience. Not only is the location itself gorgeous, but the staff and patrons are a great mix of interesting friendly people. But if you want to keep to yourself and just enjoy the food that works too. Especially love the mezcal cocktails, the burger and steak frites. 10/10 will be back again.