Bistro du Marché by Tapenade

10/10 experience. Couldn’t be happier with this choice for our anniversary dinner. Our night was made special with outstanding food and a beautiful dessert. The Gougères au Comté (Swiss cheese puffs) were a light and fluffy appetizer. I’m not familiar with a lot of French cuisine, but our waitress was very helpful in explaining different dishes and pronunciations. I ordered the Loup de Mediteranée which was a white fish with crispy potato “scales” and the most amazing sauce. The presentation was beautiful and I enjoyed every bite. My husband ordered Filet De Boeuf and he said it was really good. Even though stomachs were happily filled after dinner, our waitress brought out a surprise anniversary dessert as a treat for our first wedding anniversary. How sweet! We were treated so kindly here and hope to return for many more anniversaries in the future. Highly recommend!

This is a beautiful, upscale French spot in La Jolla with an excellent first impression. From the moment we walked in, the welcome was genuinely outstanding, and the dining room is stylish and well put together. The menu is gorgeous and offers plenty of tempting French selections. That said, a few things didn’t match the price point. Our food arrived only warm rather than hot, which took away from the experience. My fish dish came with an almond crust, but it was far too oily—so much that I felt nauseated afterward. Also, at checkout, the tip process felt uncomfortable. Standing there while someone watches what you select is unnecessary and comes across as intimidating. With better temperature control, less oil in the execution, and a more discreet checkout experience, this place could truly match its upscale vibe.

We absolutely luv a nice, casual French bistro experience and Bistro du Marché didn’t disappoint! Our server, Tomas was excellent, definitely knew the menu well and easy very helpful! They had so many amazing items on the menu, it was hard to decide, so I let him pick for me and he did a great job! Their grilled shrimp “cocktail” appetizer is highly recommended… it’s not the typical shrimp cocktail tho, it’s grilled with an amazing sauce and a small, tasty salad. The shrimp was perfectly seasoned and prepared! Wine list is very nice here too, and save room for dessert, there’s plenty worth trying! Highly recommend making reservations for a really good dinner here!

Good food, some dishes were lacking salt. I wish they had bigger portions. The duck confit, truffle sauce chicken, the salad, and scallops were very good.

From the escargot, onion soup, to the profiteroles everything was excellent and superior. The staff provides a great description of the featured dishes; always friendly and confident; provide answers to questions and obtains alternatives with allergy issues. Flavors are properly melded and distinct to the individual dishes. A great place to take visitors.

As La Jolla locals, we would pass by Bistro du Marche and always said we needed to try it. We finally gave it a shot last night and have nothing but compliments. It is the perfect date night spot. We started with a bottle of Bourogne Rouge, a Pino Noir that complimented every dish we ordered. The server brought out freshly baked bread and butter that was fantastic. We ordered the escargot and Roblochon en Croute Dorée. The roblochon was baked in a flaky pastry with pepper honey - I highly recommend. For our main dishes, we got the rabbit and duck leg - both were tender and out of this world. For dessert, we ordered their special which was a coconut butter cake topped with coconut ice cream served in a chocolate bowl. We couldn't get enough. 10/10 recommend Bistro du Marche. We will definitely be coming back to try the brunch!

Over the top prices on “street food pick up” on Sundays. Purchased a small size (compared to most places) chocolate croissant and pecan croissant for $16.00. The taste was good although the chocolate croissant looked a bit old and by all means not excellent. Go next door for double the size to share with or eat later and just as good if not better croissants and desserts. I will not go back for this reason - the prices are out of control. And the honey lady, maybe we should just give her a donation since the honey is interesting, but not worth the high prices she is begging for. It is obvious Bistro du Marche is trying to squeeze as much as possible from customers - have already lost a loyal customer. Do get a reality check or just may have to change your name to Bistro to None.

We had an amazing dinner. The food was authentic and well-prepared. Our server was professional, efficient, and very personable. We had the best seats in the house and enjoyed every minute.

My sister has been talking about Bistro du Marché as her favorite French restaurant, and it definitely lived up to her praise. The manager and staff were attentive and welcoming throughout our meal. We ordered the mushroom ravioli (which came out surprisingly fast), the Wednesday steak tartar special, and the moules frites. The tartar and mussels were the clear standouts -- generous portions, fresh, and really well seasoned. The house bread was also excellent and came out warm. Overall, a great meal and an easy place to want to return to. I'll be back!

True story, Kelly and I planned a vacation in San Diego specifically to eat at Bistro Du Marche after mutual friend raved about it. We were not disappointed. Everything was perfect, from our reception by the Maitre'd to leisurely apertifs awaiting our ride. The food was exquisite - escargot, Blue Crab salad with coconut milk emulsion (otherworldly), duck duo - leg confit & roast breast, and beef tenderloin - all delicious and perfectly executed. Profiteroles for dessert. Well curated wine list, predominantly French, with several Rhone options. We splurged on a Cote Rotie and it delivered - earthy, chewy and elegant. Delightful cocktails, and a friendly staff. Kelly liked her Chartreuse Mule so much we charmed the bartender (who was also from Chicago), to sharing his recipe. Mum's the word! The decor is casual and fun - bar and banquette up front, dining room beyond. Vintage French posters abound.

Dinner on July 12 with my wife and another couple. First time for me, the others had dined there several times. We sat outside which was nice, but I liked the look of the interior so much, I wished we would have booked inside. I will start with one negative comment, the only thing bad about the evening. The waiter was on the arrogant side, almost condescending at times. My guest ordered a drink she has had there many many, times. When it was served it was not the same drink as in the past. She asked the waiter and he refused to believe her. His exact comment was, "it's the same bartender all the time, he makes it this the same way every time, you must be wrong." He refused to take it back, we were all flabbergasted! (made me think I was actually in France, rude!) Now to the food, and I will only review my food. Had the escargot to start. It was fantastic, perfect. Also, the bread on the table was excellent! For my entree I had the mushroom ravioli. It is possibly the best dish I have ever been served in a restaurant, anywhere in the world!! Beyond excellent! Had the berries and ice cream for desert. Very fresh, it was perfect! The food was so good it made up for the rude waiter. The rest of the staff was very good by the way. I would eat here every time I went out to dinner if I could, it is that good! The chef/owner has a great reputation, and it is deserved! Can't wait to go back!!

We've been back a few times now, and our experience with service the first time was definitely an anomaly. Service had been great! Most recently we tried the caviar appetizer and it was very good. Pretty good quality caviar. It came with both little toasts and Bellinis which we enjoyed. I also tried a french 75 and it was super good! My husband had the Ossobuco special and said it was good too!

The fresh bread is a standout. The French onion soup hits the spot as well. Their service is warm and friendly and the location is nice and intimate. Definitely had an authentic French feel.

We really enjoy eating at bistro Du Marche. We normally get the duck and the beef. It's our first time trying the green beans and the spinach. The service is excellent here. Beyoncé ambience is very French like you just went on vacation to France.

Hubs took me for our anniversary. I love French food and it was a special treat. Although I don't drink, big variety of wine selection must fulfill a lot of customers. Mood was right, service was amazing and food was excellent.

Food is especially good. Cooked just right. Service is elegant. Ambience is very French. So many good things about this restaurant. I enjoy it for special occasions. It opens at 5:00 pm for dinner. Outside dining also with red umbrella. Love it

We were back in La Jolla and visited Bistro du Marche again... Giving five stars for Julien and Adrien as well as the chef... but the bartender booming in the dining room is really uncomfortable. He was speaking/projecting! to a table nearby and I don't know what his problem is, but one never raises his voice like this, especially in a French restaurant.

Signature pour commencer (appetizers), hearty plats principaux (entrées), and classic desserts done very well at this neighborhood French bistro! Appreciated the Art Deco touches in the restaurant's understated design too. We got off to a fantastic start with the rich Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Port Sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano and refreshing Blue Crab & Mango Salad with Coconut Milk & Lime Emulsion to share along with a complimentary, freshly baked tower of house bread. I enjoyed both the presentation and taste of my Mediterranean Branzino with Potato Scales, Spring Vegetables, Fresh Herbs Salad, and Beurre Blanc, while my companions eagerly devoured their Duck Leg Confit with Mashed Potato and Market Vegetables and Wagyu Beef Top Blade Braised in Red Burgundy Wine Sauce, Yukon Gold Mashed Potato, and Spring Vegetables. Profiteroles with Grand Marnier Ice Cream, Warm Chocolate Sauce, and Almonds offered the perfect sweet ending to an impeccably cooked meal. Service was typically French as well, which is to say be prepared for a 2-3 hour dinner... ;) With good food among good company, I don't consider this a negative at all!

Wonderful dinner here last weekend. We came in earlier than our reservation and still got seated quickly even though the dining room was already full. The service was great. Helpful for wine and food recommendations, lots of great French dishes, some with a twist and some very classic. You can definitely plan to come here for a great French meal and awesome wine selection. Don't miss out on the endive salad. It's light, refreshing and then the Gorgonzola gives it a creamy bite!

Amazing authentic French restaurant. So glad I tried this establishment. Service is great, atmosphere is nice (very elegant and sophisticated), and the food they serve is simply magical. I've had their "Saint Jacques du Maine, Risotto de Petits Pois, Asperges" (English: Maine Diver Scallops, English Peas Risotto, Asparagus). The scallops were very sweet and tender, and the risotto was so tasty- I could simply taste the deliciousness of the fresh peas they use. I absolutely loved it. Can't wait to go back to try more of their different things in the menu :) definitely recommend but don't forget to make a reservation especially on weekends.

Perfect food, spectacular service. I was in town for a conference & dined alone at the bar. Julian was so kind and attentive. A highlight of my trip to San Diego & I will definitely return!

I had the wagyu beouf braise. Delicious. Other members in my party had the duck confit and steak frites. Their fries are my favorite type of fries. Larger cut, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Duck was the same, to my surprise. It was also crispy on the outside and soft (tender) on the inside. Had their Cabernet from France, very good. The salmon (lox) appetizer was basic. Happened to crave a lemon tart that day so ordered that for desert and enjoyed the how they made it a crossbreed with crème brûlée given the flambéed sugar top. Weird, but the green beans that come with the duck confit were soooooooooo good. Table bread was amazing. Table butter, ditto. They told us they make the bread in house so now I'm for damn sure this place deserves 5/5 stars. ***went back again and everyone ordered different dishes just to truly try this place out. Nothing disappointed. Rack of lambs, beef tenderloin, scallop risotto, mussels. Chefs kiss.

This was a serious disappointment. There was no recognition of our anniversary. (By recognition, I mean anyone saying Happy anniversary.) The table we were given wasn't great either, but doable. The appetizers, escargot, and pate were good, but nothing outstanding. The problem was that we sat for at least twenty minutes before we were told that the huge table was put in just before our order was put in, so there was a delay. We were fine with that, even though the delay in informing us was questionable, but the reality was that meant we were going to be waiting at least another twenty minutes. We were not informed of that. Forty plus minutes between appetizers and our meal were unacceptable. This is where an offer of a glass of champagne or a small dish should have happened. I've been offered (without prompting) free desert in Chili's for much less, so the fact that a high-end restaurant just left us sitting there with zero follow-up was a real issue. I got the duck confit, good, but I have had better. My husband got the duck breast, and it was so chewy that we probably should have sent it back. Overall, the entire vibe was that if you weren't a frequent customer or a local, you weren't really welcome. We'll be taking that to heart and skipping it going forward.

Unassuming bistro atmosphere where you can find top notch, very approachable, provincial French cuisine. They serve a mix of French comfort food and more upscale creations on the menu such as the crab and mango salad served with a coconut milk foam emulsion. Their version of beef bourguignon was hearty, flavorful and tender. Portions are larger than upscale French restaurants, which is a welcome change if you're a hearty eater like me. Service was attentive and excellent.

From their well oiled service to so many outstanding dishes, Marché was a five star from start to finish. Just magical. Food highlights: Foie Terrine Scallops and Risotto Steak au Poivre So many other amazing plates but these left me craving more. Looking forward to another occasion to celebrate at Marché. "Life itself is the proper binge." -Julia child

Excellent food, excellent service! We went to Bistro Du Marché for my birthday dinner. We had been through southern France about a year ago and were looking for a French restaurant to recapture some of the tastes on our trip. We also wanted a place that was a little more low key than most stateside French restaurants. The ambiance was definitely closer to that of a bistro than to a super fancy restaurant, which we appreciated. Everything about our meal was top notch, the food was outstanding, the waiter was just the right kind of attentive, and the atmosphere was upscale but comfortable.

We absolutely luv a nice, casual French bistro experience and Bistro du Marché didn't disappoint! Our server, Tomas was excellent, definitely knew the menu well and easy very helpful! They had so many amazing items on the menu, it was hard to decide, so I let him pick for me and he did a great job! Their grilled shrimp "cocktail" appetizer is highly recommended... it's not the typical shrimp cocktail tho, it's grilled with an amazing sauce and a small, tasty salad. The shrimp was perfectly seasoned and prepared! Wine list is very nice here too, and save room for dessert, there's plenty worth trying! Highly recommend making reservations for a really good dinner here!

My mom & I had a girls' night out on Friday. Before going to a comedy show we decided to have a meal at the Bistro. We really enjoyed our dinner. Service was impeccable, atmosphere classy yet lively, and the food was delicious. We ordered wine & were given some complimentary bread & butter . Their menu was filled with many wonderful items which made it hard to decide. For an appetizer we shared escargots. They weren't served in their shells as we prefer, nevertheless were very delicious. For entree I ordered lamb chops. They were cooked medium rare & were accompanied by ratatouille. Mom had scallops with peas risotto & asparagus. Both dishes had beautiful presentation & were very delectable. Their dessert menu looked quite enticing but we were pretty full & only ordered some sorbet as pallet cleanser. Overall we had a wonderful experience & will definitely be back to try other things on the menu.

We went yesterday to Bistro du Marche to celebrate our anniversary and had a great time. The food, attentive service from Julien and Adrien added to our good experience. We had the crab salad, the mousse de Canard, Wagu braised beef and pappardele with shredded duck pieces and green peppercorn sauce. Every dish was delicious. We had the profiteroles for dessert offered for our anniversary. Highly recommend this restaurant for an amazing meal and experience worth the price

A couple of weeks ago, some friends took me to Bistro Du Marche' in honor of my birthday. It was my second time at Bistro, the first having been over two years ago. I had been wanting to get back there, but it is a bit out of my usual stomping grounds, and I wanted to be sure to be with friends who also enjoy fancy French fare. Both times, I sat along the sidewalk in the outside area. The inside of the restaurant is quite charming, but the outside feels more spacious. This time, we started with the house bread, which is on the house (as many places it no longer is), and the gougeres, ( puff pastries that are made with cheese). The bread and butter were delicious, and the gougeres melted in our mouths. The next course was the mushroom ravioli. This was actually my favorite part of the meal. Somehow the pasta was so delicate and perfect, and the mushroom flavor really shined. For our entrees, we shared the quenelles Lyonaises and the roasted chicken. If you haven't had quenelles before and enjoy fish, I highly recommend them. They are soft and flavorful. The roasted chicken was also very good, and had the slightly crispy outside and tender inside. It looked a bit like art, with the greens and sauce on top and surrounding. All of the food in this restaurant is very beautifully plated. For dessert we ordered the chocolate tarte with pistachio ice cream. It was rich and not too sweet, and definitely went very well with the ice cream. As it was my birthday, we were given dessert free of charge. Throughout our meal, we enjoyed a lovely rose' from Provence. Service was very good. I will say that the service here is done in true European style, meaning that it takes a while for dishes to come out. You are given time to socialize and savor each dish. Make sure to plan for a couple of hours to dine.

Fantastic surprise bday dinner for my wife ( Mrs Notorious MD). Great atmosphere, food, beverages, and service. Felt like a dinner out in Paris ( but without the attitude). We splurged and had caviar as an appetizer. Champagne and wine were reasonably priced for such a nice restaurant. One of the easier places to find parking in La Jolla. We'll be back again soon. Merci beaucoup Bistro du Marché.

The steak with frites and coq au vin were really good. But the star of the night was the merengue dessert. We think it's the best dessert we've ever had. Service was excellent.

Hadrian and Sammy welcomed us into the bistro as if we were being welcomed as guests in their home. A polite, formal and witty service style was appreciated. My favorites tonight : 1. Escargot ! Delicious and sauce marinade was bread dipping worthy. 2. Chocolate fondant ; beautiful ! ( with fruit , gelato , a nice crumble and spices) The rack of lamb was tender. A bed of ratatouille served as a base for this entree. The dish was a bit mild. I'm used to a more peppercorn garlic crust on the lamb but the entree was still delicious. The chickpea fries listed in the menu with the rack of lamb is more of a triangle croquette. I wish the chickpea fries or croquettes were more of a highlight on their menu ... Other guests in my party enjoyed their entrees equally. My in laws are regulars here! I was impressed by the service and French cuisine. We will be back. I love restaurants that become a part of the community and clearly this establishment has deep roots in La Jolla.

We have been in this place many times but this time was different every thing came late and our waiter was don't know what is he doing food comes late and we lost our appetite might never come back we are local so royal but sorry this time disappointed

We celebrated MOTHER'S DAY ahead of time 'coz I didn't want to be in a big Crowd on the exact Mother's Day. I chose FRENCH FOOD for my Mother's day at this restaurant called "BISTRO DU MARCHE" in LA JOLLA. Upon arriving, a very Tall guy welcomed us and it was so cool to hear his French accent. Our server came and took our order. We got: *PATE - Country Pate "Grand Mere", pickled vegetables, and baby greens. *CASSOULET - Duck confit, Pork Shoulder, Pork Belly, Homemade Sausage, and Stewed tarbais beans. *DUCK LEG - Mashed Potatoes and Market Vegetables. *SPAGHETTI - Vongole, clams, Garlic, Saffron, Chorizo, and Piquillo. *KEY LIME DRINK * FONDANT AU CHOCOLAT - Chocolate Fondant, Vanilla Ice cream, and Mixed Berry coulis. My KEY LIME is a very Refreshing drink and it was followed with a complimentary bread, with a nice standing twisted bread presentation. When our food came, as always, before my Husband and Son eat their food I would ask for a small slice of their food for me to taste so that I know how it tastes like so that I can review it after. For our appetizer we chose the Pate and it was really good with Salad and Toasted Bread . My Husband's CASSOULET came with different meats, each meat was well Flavored, which I really like, and my husband enjoyed it. My Son's DUCK LEG had Skin with a nice crunchy texture and meat that was tender and juicy on the inside, putting a sauce on it made it even better. My PASTA, like other pastas that I've eaten at other French Restaurants, had a sweet sauce again, it's okay, but I'm not really used to eating a white sweet sauce on spaghetti. Maybe I will get used to it if I eat more often at FRENCH RESTAURANTS ;) . For the dessert part, I only ate a small piece, and it has this very rich chocolate taste and yet not too sweet. Everytime a server comes to our table omg I love the French accent. I think that so far in all of the French restaurants that I've dine in, this one had mostly all French Staff. This restaurant has Good Food, a Nice ambience, and Good service. It's been a while since I have Visited PARIS FRANCE, and here it REALLY feels like I'm back in FRANCE again 'coz of the food and the French Accents of some of the servers ;)

Thoroughly excellent from start to finish. This is truly fine dining in the French sense with a seasoned wait staff that thoroughly understand the menu and can guide you through a deep and reich menu. Loved the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with a combination of intense and subtler flavors that truly left us wanting more. The Tournedoes au Poivre was one of the best versions of this dish I've ever had. Perfectly medium rare, just the right amount to seasoning and a silky smooth sauce that made the filet melt in your mouth. Profiteroles for desert were off the charts and the service was spot on. Sat outside but the ambience inside was delightful as well.

This was my first time trying Bistro du Marché and it was 5 stars all the way ! Parking was surprisingly easy on a Saturday night. Plenty of free street parking right in front. The atmosphere is warm and quaint. The restaurant is a decent size with a lovely bar and exquisite cocktails. Our service was phenomenal, thank you Hadrien! Everything we ordered was outstanding and very reasonably priced: the caviar, the blue crab mango salad, the duck, the branzino which was cooked and plated to perfection! My friend ordered the cassoulet and she raved about it. What really impressed me is that I ordered the oysters and Hadrien returned to the table to inform me that when the shipment arrived it was not up to their standards and the chef declined to serve them- that's how you know QUALITY is key to this restaurant and Chef! Absolutely fantastic food and service. We will definitely be back soon as we hope to try everything this establishment has to offer!

I don't know why I've never taken the time to review Bistro du Marche before. I've been here a handful of times now, and each is just as good as the last if not better. Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants in all of San Diego, and is fantastic from every angle. The wait staff is fantastic and kind, the atmosphere is lovely (though we usually sit outside and enjoy the night), and the food is absolutely incredible. While parts of the menu are seasonal, which makes me miss certain dishes when they rotate out, I think this helps ensure you're always getting the best flavors and quality possible. Some of my favorite dishes are the Mushroom Ravioli, which are decadent without being too rich, the Endive Salad with Quail Egg, which is probably just the best salad I've ever had in my life, and the Tapenade, which seems like it would be a simple appetizer but is bursting with flavor. I've also tried foods here I would not normally be partial to (escargot and duck, just generally not for me) and have absolutely loved them and would order them myself. My friends and I make a point to come out whenever we have something to celebrate, and I highly recommend this spot for anyone who's looking for a place to do the same -- or who's just looking for a place to splurge on amazing food!

Great food - really authentic. I felt like we were having an evening in Paris. The Coq Au Vin and stuffed duck were delicious.

Great wine list. Filet is awesome. Service is great love the friendly staff and the outstanding vibe.

Amazing food, service and ambiance. From the bread st the beginning to the fresh salad for appetizer to the incredible mushroom ravioli and two desserts (they gave us an extra bc we were with our 3 year old) this place is def a five star fancy dining spot! Highly recommend and will be back

We are coming to this place millions times and still love it like first day and Estefania is super amazing unbelievable doing on desertsdefinitely 5 stars

The food is mediocre at best--often overcooked and lacking flavor. The waitstaff can be a bit pushy, especially when it comes to tips. Plus, the location in La Jolla is dull and uninspiring.

This quaint French restaurant sits right in the middle of a large Main Street of a beautiful coastal city of La Jolla. After moving from the previous spot that became a music center, the new location at Girard street has a nice, easy access with free parking in front and very little traffic today. Our reservation for four was easy and the wait to be seated was zero. Great service from the friendly staffs and maitre d' to change our outdoor seating to indoor dining upon our request. Our server was changed without any explanation and the first guy made a mistake of ordering a rabbit dish instead of pike dish, therefore, two of the three main dishes came out late without any apology. We all sat there until the third dish came out much later and made it somewhat awkward for four of us; but they split the pike dish into two nice smaller portions for the two people. The lamb was good and the duck was just so so. The pike in rich crayfish lobster bisque reduced sauce had much richer and truly French taste to it. The pastries were excellent and worth the cost. The wine list was reasonable. Due to the mix up and switching the server staffs without much notice and the confusion of our main orders with substantial delay without an apology or explanation and bland tasting rack of lamb and duck dishes give four stars. Overall nice ambience and top notch service with so, so foods for the price. Total check with a bottle of reasonable Cabernet was over $250.

I haven't been back here since 2018 , and it hasn't missed a beat, still as good as my 2018 visit in atmosphere, food and service. We were a party of 3 which included a very elderly person with a walker. We had to dine early, 5:00 Opentable dinner reservations. When we arrived the hostess was very gracious on offering us a table that was convenient for a walker. When we sat down Jessica P. introduced herself. She was very nice and attentive which made our evening wonderful. We ordered cocktails while perusing the menu. FYI they make a great Cosmo. We ordered was the Escargots, Burrata Salad and the Wednesday special: Steak Frites and the Steak Tartare. When the food came out, all was hot, fresh, nice presentation, cooked to order and tasted amazing. This restaurant is my definite go-to for authentic French. See you next visit to La Jolla. Atmosphere: French Bistro feel, indoor and outdoor seating. Service: excellent. Food: excellent.

The wild mushroom ravioli is definitely one of their signature dishes that makes us keep coming back here over and over again. The port sauce along with the Parmesan shavings makes this dish so darn good and mouth watering! Instead of the appetizer we made it an entree that gave us 2 additional ravioli's. Another can't miss appetizer is the escargot that is seasoned just right with garlic butter and fresh herbs. Everything in their appetizer menu was just really good as we also ordered the blue crab and mango salad. The coconut and lime emulsion along with the mango enhanced the sweetness of the blue crab and made each bite simply delectable! For our other entree we ordered the Maine Diver Scallops with white corn risotto. Like the other dishes, the scallops were cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. We ended the meal with the grand marnier ice cream profiteroles and Julian apple tart. The grand marnier taste was definitely strong and you can't go wrong with apples from Julian! From beginning to end, everything tasted fantastic. The service was awesome and it was a perfect night eating outside in San Diego with beautiful hanging lights and being socially distanced from other diners!!

Started my birthday celebration here and I would highly recommend this restaurant. The staff are professional and friendly, and they really made me feel welcome. The food was beyond delicious. We didn't feel rushed and the ambiance is also chic. The dessert they gave me for my birthday was a slice of heaven. Thank you for making my birthday celebration memorable.

The hospitality was amazing and our server Julian was fantastic. I had the pheasant dish and it was extremely tasty. This was our first time trying the restaurant and I will definitely be back. I felt like I was back in France again!

This was the best meal I had on a recent visit to La Jolla and one of the best French restaurants I've ever tried. I'm sad I'm not a local so I could go more often! The smoked salmon appetizer, the duck leg confit, the scallops and the cheese plate were all so perfectly prepared and presented. Classic bistro ambiance and professional and friendly service rounded out my fantastic experience.

We ate at this restaurant with friends on a Friday night a few weeks ago and were very pleased with the food, wine, ambiance, and service of this establishment. Definitely a place we will be returning to sometime in the future! We started with the swiss cheese puffs, which were bigger than they seemed in photos (about the size of a golf ball). Very decadent and slightly salty, they were the perfect amuse bouche for a small group to awaken the palate for the meal. Our group had four different entrees for the main course: salmon, pork chop, duck confit, and pike. Everyone belonged to the clean plate club and enjoyed their meals. Standouts were the pork chop plate and the pike "quenelles" - what an interesting dish! The potatoes with the duck confit, while certainly made with butter, could have used a dash more seasoning and cream. Dessert involved their lemon tart, creme brulee, strawberry shortcake (special), and chocolate fondant. All but the chocolate fondant were fantastic - the fondant had a mushy texture overall, instead of being a more traditional fondant/lava cake, but perhaps that is their version. However, the lemon tart with the sorbet was truly an exceptional dessert. That one I would high recommended. Enfin, we had a wonderful meal here with friends and the service was also fantastic from the moment we stepped in until the moment we left. We look forward to our next visit!

This is a delightful French bistro tucked away in a quaint street in La Jolla! Definitely worth a visit for a culinary transportation to France! This restaurant is on OpenTable and is one of the few restaurants left with $100 redemption for your 10k trade in points. Ambiance: We were seated outside with heat lamps. Most of the shops on the street were closed so there was very little traffic beside the foot traffic with a take out Japanese restaurant next doors. The restaurant was busy, but not loud. Inside, the restaurant was very buzzing, all the staff seemed very upbeat. I absolutely love the vibe there. Food: We got the Endives salad, and it is hands down 11/10. The perfect balance of subtle bitter, sweetness from the pear, crunch from walnut, acid from the dressing and saltiness from the Gorgonzola was just divine. Topped with a quail egg- made the presentation even better. We didn't realize they split our salad- we actually thought we accidentally ordered 2, so the portion was very generous. We also had the country pate, which came with delectable mixed greens and mini pickles to balance out the fat. The problem with this place is- I want to eat everything here! I debated and tormented myself for leading up to the reservation between the duck, scallops and branzino. My husband debated over the lamb, pork chop and chicken. Our server was able to read us pretty well and recommended the branzino and lamb. I finished my entree in record time, hands down best branzino ever, they even had the fish deboned. It was topped potato scales, which was not too hard, crispy or soggy. It was the perfect texture to compliment the fish. The lamb was very rich, very well made. My husband savored very bite and resisted biting off the bits from the bone. Finally, I will have to rave about how amazing their table side bread is. I've been to France many times and though this is not exactly a traditional baguette, it celebrates the freshness, and texture. I can still hear the the crunch, when I tore off the bread. Service: We had a 7:15pm reservation and unfortunately with a few cancelled Ubers, we knew we would be late. I called the restaurant and let them know we would be late, and they were super accommodating and honored our reservation when we arrived at 7:30pm. Our server was very charming, on point for timing. The staff helping out with water and bread were also very friendly and helpful. The cocktails were all brought to us promptly. We were there for over 2 hours, but I had not expected it as we were taking our time in enjoying our company, ambiance and food. Overall, this will be on my default list to visit whenever I need a relaxing meal and be mentally transformed from chaos of day to day life.

Such impressive dishes prepared perfectly. The mushroom raviolis are a must the salmon was over the top also. Great service in a lovely atmosphere!

Came here to celebrate a birthday, and did not come away disappointed. The cheese puff here is as delicious as they said. It was puffy and fluffy - one of the pictures I took shows the airyness in the puff. It was hard not to just consume them all - had to leave room for the actual meal. I ordered the Crab and Mango Salad and the Rack of Lamb. The crab and mango salad called my name - with a combination of two items that always call to me when I see them on a menu. Put them together and it might as well be screaming. I was most intrigued by this dish. There is a pile of blue crab meat (which is amazing first of all, if any of you have digged through a blue crab and got frustrated due to the small amount of meat you get out of the small crab!) On the menu it is described as: "Blue Crab & Mango Salad, Coconut & Lime Emulsion". The lime and coconut emulsion (or the foamy texture) had a little bit of a kick at times that I couldn't pinpoint. I would highly recommend this dish to anyone who might like crab and mango and are a bit more adventurous. The mix of the emulsion, the crab, small cubes of mango, the carmelized crisp and the slight kick of subtle tanginess, was just a perfect combination to my tongue. As for the rack of lamb, it was exactly what I expected out of the dish. Flavorful taste of lamb (slightly gamy, which I love), juicy and tender. I'd definitely have it again. Service was attentive and responsive. The mirrors could use a bit of cleaning :P near the back of the restaurant. Was definitely a nice place to come to for a special occasion. The decor was more traditionally French and of the old "fine dining" than the modern $$$ places, but I didn't mind. I think it is mostly the red that one doesn't normally see. Would love to return at some point in the future.

Always a treat to visit this fabulous French spot. Service is always friendly. Please try the octopus, escargot and anything with peas!

I am French and was just returning from Toulouse when we had dinner au Bistro, on the recommendation of friends. It felt like I had not left my home country. The food was outstanding and reminded me of the genuine French food found in bistros: exceptionally fresh and full of flavors from the quality of the produce used. Finally an an authentic French restaurant!

Jean Michel Diot keeps the highest standards. Excellent for a French getaway in San Diego. Chef Amelie, your crab salad is so good. Beautiful service as well and our waiter Thomas was super nice.

It was my first time here and I came in Sunday. I know on the website they close in Sunday. No they actually sell pastries on Sunday. You can still dining outside and order coffee. The croissants are must-order items. I love the plain croissant a lot. It's very buttery and go perfectly with a hot latte. The almond croissant is very dense and too sweet more me. I also like the Apple turnover because it's not too sweet and the crust is very crispy. You can ask them to heat up the pastries for you. The latte is not special at all. The price is a bit high but not too high. Keep in mind that the tip is 18% default rate. The service was good but a bit slow.