I took my 91 year old mother here because she just moved from Atlanta and missed our go to French restaurant there. She has not found a dining establishment here that she loved until she went to Rick’s! The liver and onions was incredible and I loved the steak poivre. We had the peach Melba for dessert and it was absolutely wonderful. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Au Poivre
Su Byron
We visited Rick's French Bistro on a bustling Saturday night, drawn by the cozy, traditional vibe and a craving for classic French cuisine. With only about eight tables, the bistro was packed, mostly with older couples who, like us, seemed to appreciate its mom-and-pop feel. The checkered plastic tablecloths, a modest bread basket, and a no-frills menu make it clear: Rick's doesn’t aim to pamper or impress, just deliver authentic, home-style French food.
My friend, who’s French, ordered the steak au poivre—a main reason for our visit. While my shrimp dish was tasty, the options for non-meat eaters were limited. And though the prices were on the high side (the steak was $45, my shrimp $34), we looked forward to a nostalgic meal in a quaint setting.
Unfortunately, our dining experience began to lose its charm. The bread and salad were lackluster. I had hoped for a decent wine selection, but with just a handful of uninspired reds, we opted for the $48 Bordeaux, which was underwhelming. When I tried to chat with Rick about the wine options, he quickly dismissed my questions, which dampened the evening. He was unengaged and visibly uninterested in our presence, showing no enthusiasm or hospitality—just a brisk response that made us feel unwelcome.
The portions, too, felt stingy—especially the potatoes au gratin, which was a tiny square accompanying my shrimp. By the time dessert came (the fondant au chocolat, which was thankfully delicious), we’d had a mixed experience but were still enjoying our night.
Then came the real letdown. As soon as we finished dessert, Rick swooped in with the credit card machine, urging me—in French—to “hurry up” and swipe my card without even presenting the bill. This brusque approach left me uncomfortable and unsure of the charges, which turned out to be $189. When I politely asked to confirm the amount, Rick dismissed me, even suggesting I needn’t return. I still do not have a bill to check or even understand if a tip was automatically taken out. Our waitress was kind and I would have liked the time to leave a proper tip.
In the end, while the setting and some of the food were reminiscent of a simple French café, the lackluster wine selection, the indifference of the owner, and the abrupt finale left a bad taste. It’s a shame, as we’d wanted to love this place, but Rick’s curt demeanor and lack of hospitality mean I’ll take his advice and not return.
Vegetarian options: No vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
C B
That was the best food I’ve ever had in my life! Fresh homemade baguette bread, smoked salmon, beef Bourguignon, and creme brûlée! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon
Scott Newbanks
possibly one of the best restaurants in all of Sarasota County, and that's saying something, truly a hidden gem.... from the way your greeted, to the most amazing food, you wont be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lori Dees
I had the pleasure of dining at this quaint French bistro. We shared a.french onion soup, both ordered the Beef Bourguignon, and shared apricot and chocolate.parfait. My friend had a lovely french merlot and I had French champagne. The entree came with a lovely salad and.a baquett.
The.atmoshere feels is welcoming and the staff is warm and friendly. One of the best dining experiences Ihave had in Sarasota.
A truly wonderful, intimate French Bistro. The escargot and vichyssoise were delicious, the lamb was a very nice and well prepared. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Catie Briggs
I have always loved going here until my last visit in May 2024. The food was awesome, but I certainly did miss seeing Michele and Rick. The service was terrible. This silverware was damaged. I will wait till Rick and Michelle return in order to enjoy another gourmet meal at their restaurant
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Mark Ferrara
This small French restaurant was such a treat! We were in from out of town and my dad loves this restaurant. Not white table cloth but a cozy, more casual atmosphere. I have the escargot (excellent) and the filet mignon which was legitimately one of the best I ever had. My wife had the lamb chops which she loved and we shared the peach Melba desert which was a special, it was delirious! The service was by a lovely woman and very timely. If you are looking for a hidden gem while in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Escargot
Diane Wolski
Wonderful! We are from Ohio this restaurant was recommended to us by Ohio folks that visit the area. What a gem! Lovely cafe, seats 30 or so. Make reservations.Food was outstanding! Appetizers to dessert.Since it is a small cafe, when full, it is a little loud since all are visiting, but this does not detract from s wonderful meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Wernicoff
Wonderful small place. The food and service were outstanding.
Best food in town. Every other restaurant in this town is a joke in comparison.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon, Onion Soup
Linus Roman
Pepper steak!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
663jackt
We had dinner here for the first time on Saturday evening and this will not be our last visit. This is a tiny little place very appropriately called a Bistro. The owners are French and the menu is stereotypical French Bistro (which is fine by us). Dinner began with a small green salad with a very interesting homemade dressing. We ordered the escargot for the next course and they were expertly prepared, piping hot, and tasty. For the entree, my wife had the beef bourguignon, which she raved about, and I had the steak au poivre which I enjoyed very much, although when I return I will order it rare as my medium rare order came out closer to medium. We ended the meal by sharing a chocolate mousse which was terrific. Given the size, I expect that reservations are a must, especially on weekends, as the restaurant was packed when we were there. There is a limited wine list but the simple Bordeaux we had was very enjoyable. All in all, we agreed that this was one of the best meals we have had in some time and while the total cost, including two glasses of wine, was approaching $200 with tip, the quality of the food and overall experience made it a good value. We will be back!
Tourist51927541660
Once again we were very satisfied with the food, atmosphere and service! Richard and Michelle are gracious and distinguished hosts (and cook!) and made us feel special and welcome! We'll be back again and again. Pierre & Pamela B.
Ben Nathan
I’v tried all the French restaurants in Sarasota, this is by far the most authentic. The menu has a handful of items, each dish is equally delicious. I enjoyed the escargot, a steak au poivre, and lamb chops.
I took my 91 year old mother here because she just moved from Atlanta and missed our go to French restaurant there. She has not found a dining establishment here that she loved until she went to Rick’s! The liver and onions was incredible and I loved the steak poivre. We had the peach Melba for dessert and it was absolutely wonderful. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Au Poivre
We visited Rick's French Bistro on a bustling Saturday night, drawn by the cozy, traditional vibe and a craving for classic French cuisine. With only about eight tables, the bistro was packed, mostly with older couples who, like us, seemed to appreciate its mom-and-pop feel. The checkered plastic tablecloths, a modest bread basket, and a no-frills menu make it clear: Rick's doesn’t aim to pamper or impress, just deliver authentic, home-style French food.
My friend, who’s French, ordered the steak au poivre—a main reason for our visit. While my shrimp dish was tasty, the options for non-meat eaters were limited. And though the prices were on the high side (the steak was $45, my shrimp $34), we looked forward to a nostalgic meal in a quaint setting.
Unfortunately, our dining experience began to lose its charm. The bread and salad were lackluster. I had hoped for a decent wine selection, but with just a handful of uninspired reds, we opted for the $48 Bordeaux, which was underwhelming. When I tried to chat with Rick about the wine options, he quickly dismissed my questions, which dampened the evening. He was unengaged and visibly uninterested in our presence, showing no enthusiasm or hospitality—just a brisk response that made us feel unwelcome.
The portions, too, felt stingy—especially the potatoes au gratin, which was a tiny square accompanying my shrimp. By the time dessert came (the fondant au chocolat, which was thankfully delicious), we’d had a mixed experience but were still enjoying our night.
Then came the real letdown. As soon as we finished dessert, Rick swooped in with the credit card machine, urging me—in French—to “hurry up” and swipe my card without even presenting the bill. This brusque approach left me uncomfortable and unsure of the charges, which turned out to be $189. When I politely asked to confirm the amount, Rick dismissed me, even suggesting I needn’t return. I still do not have a bill to check or even understand if a tip was automatically taken out. Our waitress was kind and I would have liked the time to leave a proper tip.
In the end, while the setting and some of the food were reminiscent of a simple French café, the lackluster wine selection, the indifference of the owner, and the abrupt finale left a bad taste. It’s a shame, as we’d wanted to love this place, but Rick’s curt demeanor and lack of hospitality mean I’ll take his advice and not return.
Vegetarian options: No vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
That was the best food I’ve ever had in my life! Fresh homemade baguette bread, smoked salmon, beef Bourguignon, and creme brûlée! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon
possibly one of the best restaurants in all of Sarasota County, and that's saying something, truly a hidden gem.... from the way your greeted, to the most amazing food, you wont be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the pleasure of dining at this quaint French bistro. We shared a.french onion soup, both ordered the Beef Bourguignon, and shared apricot and chocolate.parfait. My friend had a lovely french merlot and I had French champagne. The entree came with a lovely salad and.a baquett.
The.atmoshere feels is welcoming and the staff is warm and friendly. One of the best dining experiences Ihave had in Sarasota.
Be sure to make a reservation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon, Onion Soup, French Bread Baguette, Chocolate Mouse
A truly wonderful, intimate French Bistro. The escargot and vichyssoise were delicious, the lamb was a very nice and well prepared. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have always loved going here until my last visit in May 2024. The food was awesome, but I certainly did miss seeing Michele and Rick. The service was terrible. This silverware was damaged. I will wait till Rick and Michelle return in order to enjoy another gourmet meal at their restaurant
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
This small French restaurant was such a treat! We were in from out of town and my dad loves this restaurant. Not white table cloth but a cozy, more casual atmosphere. I have the escargot (excellent) and the filet mignon which was legitimately one of the best I ever had. My wife had the lamb chops which she loved and we shared the peach Melba desert which was a special, it was delirious! The service was by a lovely woman and very timely. If you are looking for a hidden gem while in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Escargot
Wonderful! We are from Ohio this restaurant was recommended to us by Ohio folks that visit the area. What a gem! Lovely cafe, seats 30 or so. Make reservations.Food was outstanding! Appetizers to dessert.Since it is a small cafe, when full, it is a little loud since all are visiting, but this does not detract from s wonderful meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful small place. The food and service were outstanding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Best food in town. Every other restaurant in this town is a joke in comparison.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon, Onion Soup
Pepper steak!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had dinner here for the first time on Saturday evening and this will not be our last visit. This is a tiny little place very appropriately called a Bistro. The owners are French and the menu is stereotypical French Bistro (which is fine by us). Dinner began with a small green salad with a very interesting homemade dressing. We ordered the escargot for the next course and they were expertly prepared, piping hot, and tasty. For the entree, my wife had the beef bourguignon, which she raved about, and I had the steak au poivre which I enjoyed very much, although when I return I will order it rare as my medium rare order came out closer to medium. We ended the meal by sharing a chocolate mousse which was terrific. Given the size, I expect that reservations are a must, especially on weekends, as the restaurant was packed when we were there. There is a limited wine list but the simple Bordeaux we had was very enjoyable. All in all, we agreed that this was one of the best meals we have had in some time and while the total cost, including two glasses of wine, was approaching $200 with tip, the quality of the food and overall experience made it a good value. We will be back!
Once again we were very satisfied with the food, atmosphere and service! Richard and Michelle are gracious and distinguished hosts (and cook!) and made us feel special and welcome! We'll be back again and again. Pierre & Pamela B.
I’v tried all the French restaurants in Sarasota, this is by far the most authentic. The menu has a handful of items, each dish is equally delicious. I enjoyed the escargot, a steak au poivre, and lamb chops.
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