Just perfect. It's not often a restaurant can tick off all the boxes well. They did just that last night before the opera. Pleasant at walking in, greeted and seated very pleasantly. Service was at the perfect cadence never rushed and respectful of our opera start. Nor did anyone try to clear the table early, a practice I loathe.Meal was great and our waitress (Meredith) couldn't have been more perfect.I'll be back for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kale Salad, Shrimp and Scallops
Sophie Greenwood
Great atmosphere and service, food was good the shrimp cocktail is out of this world superb. Drinks good, filet good, and salmon was alright. The singer near the end of the night really helped the mood as
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Brad W.
What's their hurry to pressure you to place your order, especially when you mention you would like to eat your 1st course, first??? I was a table of 1. I had more than an hour before I needed to leave, this after getting my first course and beverage. Seemed pushy. For a large size table, I get it. Not adaptable to the situation. Food I did have was very good. But I left after my first course.
sholshky
The food and service was excellent and the restaurant was very nice. Loved my Pear Martini and the Lamb was really tasty The mozzarella appetizer was also great. Look forward to coming back soon and trying something else They also had music in the Queens room tonight
LindaB
Love this elegant place as a go to when attending one of the theaters downtown. The food is consistently well done and not skimpy, but just right in volume. The wait staff is always very knowledgeable about ingredients (important to someone with complicated food allergies), and always willing to adjust to please. Plus it's quiet enough to have a decent conversation with table mates - a rarity now adays in Sarasota.
Cottagers
From the moment we entered the bijou Café to have drinks at the bar, and an app, to our table for dinner, and our celebration of an 80th birthday in our group. Everything was perfect and delicious. Thank you for still being a quality, fine dining restaurant, our server a woman Very tall I'm sorry we forgot her name was excellent. Certainly to be a valued staff member. She paced everything perfectly had good opinions about drink, and food suggestions and was so very pleasant.
Stripera
Dinner at Bijou Garden Cafe never disappoints. This charming restaurant is centrally located to downtown Sarasota, the Opera House, and Library. From the moment you walk in, the ambience, professional staff, and quiet elegance of this restaurant promises a wonderful experience. The food is delicious, presented with care and flair and the tableside service is attentive while not intrusive. Whenever we desire a special meal in Sarasota, this is our go-to spot!
Michael B.
How nice to find a restaurant with excellently prepared dishes, and most inviting atmosphere, and wait staff superbly trained. Our party of four all had a wonderful meal. Each entree was a hit - salmon, shrimp, duck, and chili. But what made the meal so special were how nicely set the tables were - and very well spaced - and the wait staff - courteous, attentive, not removing dishes prematurely (a bad practice at many restaurants). We weren't rushed, but were very well attended to and the meal was perfectly paced so we could make the opera with plenty of time. Thank you to the management.
Linda R.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night, before a performance at the Sarasota Opera. The restaurant is across the street from the Opera. Four of us had a terrific dinner. The food was superb, but the service was impeccable - attentive but not overbearing. The salads were large enough to share, and we had the kale salad with feta cheese and butternut squash. The bread served along with the water when we sat down was warm and delicious. We ordered four different entrees: shrimp and scallops with jasmine rice with green coconut curry sauce, grilled salmon with polenta and glazed garrots, vegetarian chili, and the roasted duck with a farro salad. They were all excellent but the duck entree was enough for two people. For dessert, we had an excellent maple cream tart, strong coffee and delicious mint tea. The ambiance was very pleasant and there was a pianist playing music in the background, but fortunately not so loud to prevent our conversation at our table. We will definitely return. The prices are on the higher side but reflects the sizes of the portions, and the terrific service.
Thomas Secor
After leaving Bijou, I asked myself, was that inedible or just intolerable? Not a great question as you are leaving a restaurant.The duck entree made me wonder why I wasn’t eating chicken. The breast was dry to the point of inedible, the leg and thigh were mildly moist at best, and the skin, the piece de resistance of any duck, was a limp piece of flaccid leather.The Caesar salad app was a rendition of Trader Joe’s romaine covered in pre-shredded Parmesan with no anchovy in sight, smell or taste.Two stars for the lovely service and decent drinks. The food was forgettable at best. And I hope I forget I ate it.Oh - the crème brûlée was soupy. An embarrassment really.
Went here before Opera and had a great cocktail (thank you Patrick) and a fantastic dinner with my daughter. I had the duck and she had the shrimp and scallops Both were great Will go again
Radmoo
We dined at Bijou last year prior to attending the opera and our experience was just ok, not great. We return this year mostly due to the convenience of proximity to the Opera House. We were seated in a a corner in a rear room which was perfect as we were able to hear the live music while engaging in conversation at the same time. This can be challenging for those with hearing issues. Our servers, Melissa and Tom were very attentive and the manager stopped by our table as well. My martini with blue cheese olives was spot on, as were my companions' cocktails. Three of us selected duck as our main and it was perfectly prepared, crispy as requested but not overdone. We all agreed that we would definitely return to Bijou.
Samantha Grant
Food was so so but our waiter was really weird and honestly just rude. We were not their typical customers from what I gathered (everyone else dining looked to be a good 40 years older than us) but that’s no excuse. This waiter was the most rude and just plain odd guy I’ve ever encountered. Also do not listen to his recommendations nor should you let him tell you what to order. We asked for two of something for dessert and he said he would bring out one and if we wanted another he would do it but apparently he knew we would be fine with one. We were not but of course we’re not going to ask for another. Worst waiter, will not be returning solely because of him.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Wonderful
As usual, Bijou does not disappoint! Food, service & ambiance are wonderful! Diego was a spectacular waiter! Grayson, a long time waiter is a pleasure to see even when not waiting on us!
Ed A.
Reserved a table on 2/6 for our anniversary dinner which was noted on our Open Table reservation. Sat at the bar for pre dinner drink and service was awesome. Service at the table was below average. Mozzarella schnitzel was unique and awesome. My wife's salmon was just OK. My rack of lamb was good but the Brussels sprouts were under cooked. Told our waitress, who cleaned them off our plate and took them back for additional cooking. Thought this was pretty tacky. Came back and still not completely cooked. When we were done, our waitress finally acknowledged our wedding anniversary and brought over two very small pours of champagne. Not what we expected from a high end restaurant. Will not be back.
Just perfect. It's not often a restaurant can tick off all the boxes well. They did just that last night before the opera. Pleasant at walking in, greeted and seated very pleasantly. Service was at the perfect cadence never rushed and respectful of our opera start. Nor did anyone try to clear the table early, a practice I loathe.Meal was great and our waitress (Meredith) couldn't have been more perfect.I'll be back for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kale Salad, Shrimp and Scallops
Great atmosphere and service, food was good the shrimp cocktail is out of this world superb. Drinks good, filet good, and salmon was alright. The singer near the end of the night really helped the mood as
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
What's their hurry to pressure you to place your order, especially when you mention you would like to eat your 1st course, first??? I was a table of 1. I had more than an hour before I needed to leave, this after getting my first course and beverage. Seemed pushy. For a large size table, I get it. Not adaptable to the situation. Food I did have was very good. But I left after my first course.
The food and service was excellent and the restaurant was very nice. Loved my Pear Martini and the Lamb was really tasty The mozzarella appetizer was also great. Look forward to coming back soon and trying something else They also had music in the Queens room tonight
Love this elegant place as a go to when attending one of the theaters downtown. The food is consistently well done and not skimpy, but just right in volume. The wait staff is always very knowledgeable about ingredients (important to someone with complicated food allergies), and always willing to adjust to please. Plus it's quiet enough to have a decent conversation with table mates - a rarity now adays in Sarasota.
From the moment we entered the bijou Café to have drinks at the bar, and an app, to our table for dinner, and our celebration of an 80th birthday in our group. Everything was perfect and delicious. Thank you for still being a quality, fine dining restaurant, our server a woman Very tall I'm sorry we forgot her name was excellent. Certainly to be a valued staff member. She paced everything perfectly had good opinions about drink, and food suggestions and was so very pleasant.
Dinner at Bijou Garden Cafe never disappoints. This charming restaurant is centrally located to downtown Sarasota, the Opera House, and Library. From the moment you walk in, the ambience, professional staff, and quiet elegance of this restaurant promises a wonderful experience. The food is delicious, presented with care and flair and the tableside service is attentive while not intrusive. Whenever we desire a special meal in Sarasota, this is our go-to spot!
How nice to find a restaurant with excellently prepared dishes, and most inviting atmosphere, and wait staff superbly trained. Our party of four all had a wonderful meal. Each entree was a hit - salmon, shrimp, duck, and chili. But what made the meal so special were how nicely set the tables were - and very well spaced - and the wait staff - courteous, attentive, not removing dishes prematurely (a bad practice at many restaurants). We weren't rushed, but were very well attended to and the meal was perfectly paced so we could make the opera with plenty of time. Thank you to the management.
We had dinner here on a Saturday night, before a performance at the Sarasota Opera. The restaurant is across the street from the Opera. Four of us had a terrific dinner. The food was superb, but the service was impeccable - attentive but not overbearing. The salads were large enough to share, and we had the kale salad with feta cheese and butternut squash. The bread served along with the water when we sat down was warm and delicious. We ordered four different entrees: shrimp and scallops with jasmine rice with green coconut curry sauce, grilled salmon with polenta and glazed garrots, vegetarian chili, and the roasted duck with a farro salad. They were all excellent but the duck entree was enough for two people. For dessert, we had an excellent maple cream tart, strong coffee and delicious mint tea. The ambiance was very pleasant and there was a pianist playing music in the background, but fortunately not so loud to prevent our conversation at our table. We will definitely return. The prices are on the higher side but reflects the sizes of the portions, and the terrific service.
After leaving Bijou, I asked myself, was that inedible or just intolerable? Not a great question as you are leaving a restaurant.The duck entree made me wonder why I wasn’t eating chicken. The breast was dry to the point of inedible, the leg and thigh were mildly moist at best, and the skin, the piece de resistance of any duck, was a limp piece of flaccid leather.The Caesar salad app was a rendition of Trader Joe’s romaine covered in pre-shredded Parmesan with no anchovy in sight, smell or taste.Two stars for the lovely service and decent drinks. The food was forgettable at best. And I hope I forget I ate it.Oh - the crème brûlée was soupy. An embarrassment really.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Went here before Opera and had a great cocktail (thank you Patrick) and a fantastic dinner with my daughter. I had the duck and she had the shrimp and scallops Both were great Will go again
We dined at Bijou last year prior to attending the opera and our experience was just ok, not great. We return this year mostly due to the convenience of proximity to the Opera House. We were seated in a a corner in a rear room which was perfect as we were able to hear the live music while engaging in conversation at the same time. This can be challenging for those with hearing issues. Our servers, Melissa and Tom were very attentive and the manager stopped by our table as well. My martini with blue cheese olives was spot on, as were my companions' cocktails. Three of us selected duck as our main and it was perfectly prepared, crispy as requested but not overdone. We all agreed that we would definitely return to Bijou.
Food was so so but our waiter was really weird and honestly just rude. We were not their typical customers from what I gathered (everyone else dining looked to be a good 40 years older than us) but that’s no excuse. This waiter was the most rude and just plain odd guy I’ve ever encountered. Also do not listen to his recommendations nor should you let him tell you what to order. We asked for two of something for dessert and he said he would bring out one and if we wanted another he would do it but apparently he knew we would be fine with one. We were not but of course we’re not going to ask for another. Worst waiter, will not be returning solely because of him.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
As usual, Bijou does not disappoint! Food, service & ambiance are wonderful! Diego was a spectacular waiter! Grayson, a long time waiter is a pleasure to see even when not waiting on us!
Reserved a table on 2/6 for our anniversary dinner which was noted on our Open Table reservation. Sat at the bar for pre dinner drink and service was awesome. Service at the table was below average. Mozzarella schnitzel was unique and awesome. My wife's salmon was just OK. My rack of lamb was good but the Brussels sprouts were under cooked. Told our waitress, who cleaned them off our plate and took them back for additional cooking. Thought this was pretty tacky. Came back and still not completely cooked. When we were done, our waitress finally acknowledged our wedding anniversary and brought over two very small pours of champagne. Not what we expected from a high end restaurant. Will not be back.