If you don't have the time to whisk yourself away to France for dinner, Bar Bouchee, Madison's tiny pocket of a bistro, is a wonderfully satisfying substitute. The decor and the warm staff (the owners are French) recreate the intimate and welcoming ambience of a century-old Parisian neighborhood haven, and the beautifully prepared comfort food is spot on. The menu is anchored by perfectly executed French bistro staples - like mussels in rich broth, steak frites with bernaise sauce, and tender roast chicken with potatoes and gravy - with thoughtful seasonal additions, and the desserts are divine. The well-selected wine list is compact but comprehensive, with something for every price range. Madison residents are lucky indeed to have this gem in the neighborhood! read more

We found this restaurant with yelp. It was one of our best restaurant experiences! Service is friendly and on top of everything. We had the mussels, the lettuce, the salmon, the steak and the veal. I had the chance to taste everything and I loved every single dish. This quality of food for this price is amazing! The deserts are really good and nobody should leave without trying them. Thank you for this experience we will be back soon! read more

Great find on a recent trip to Madison, ct. warm, inviting romantic, neighborhood, local atmosphere. Attentive service. Delightful French fare. Nice specials and appetizers.Only suggestion which would have resulted in fifth star: with today's health awareness, there should be at least one hormone free chicken and other meat fish..,, ps desserts were also tasty! read more

I took my elderly father here for an early dinner. The food is excellent but the space is too small and very cramped which makes it difficult to sit comfortably or have a conversation. read more

Always a great time. My all time favorite tartar, keep the capers in it please! Last time they loaded it with too much onion. A superb French 75 cocktail is a must try! read more

We just left dinner. Food is always good. We dine there when staying at the Scranton Seahorse Inn BNB when up to visit relatives. Always friendly, warm, quaint. Today they were off a bit. Escargot came with one empty shell. The bar tender grabbed my salmon entry with food left and reached to grab my drink before I was finished. She really seemed to be rushing us. We were there at 5:30 for a 6:45 reservation having arrived an hour early from a 4 1/2 hour drive from NJ. There were only 2 tables seated when we got there and I know they plan their times for tables carefully and let diners know that tables will follow them. Food great... rushing us was a little disappointing. They do seem to cater to the locals, understandably. We will still return. Cute place. read more

I love suiting at the bar. Cocktails are well crafted. The food continues to be over priced for extremely average cuisine. Tragic! I think they leave the culinary work to the JV team. read more

My girlfriend took me here for my birthday dinner and the food was excellent! I had the oysters to start and the halibut as my main course. I was too full for dessert, but had their coffee which was also impressive. The ambiance was warm and the staff was very nice and attentive. read more

Our favorite Madison restaurant. Great drinks, food and ambiance. It feels like your in Paris. Specials are delicious, and the regular menu changes seasonally. A special place. read more

Omg. This is an amazing culinary experience. The salmon special and chicken brought us to tears. Ate at the bar with michael. Please only come here if you are deserving. read more

Everything seems on the small side.Seating is tight and very few tables.Bar is small and tight.Menu is tiny, as are portions.Service really seems as if you are lucky you were given a table.Last time I went w/3 friends and had an early reservation at 5.We sat for 20 minutes w/no menu.When we were finished and considering ordering coffee we we told by the waitress that we needed to leave as another was here for their table!We had barely been there an hour!I have NEVER in all my years of dining on both beautiful and awful restaurants been told to leave b/c someone else wanted the table.Outrageous. read more

Michael is spectacular, we will be back just to be in his company ! The food was amazing we cannot wait to return

Nightmare experience! We went to celebrate a Valentine's dinner and ended up dealing with the police.We are a very respectable couple in our 60's and had legitimate questions about the wine that was brought to our table.The wine was not what we had ordered and was not on the wine list,and so the question arose as to what the price of the wine would be.Heidi the head of house called the local police to the restaurant ! Never had such an upsetting restaurant experience in my life. Food was good,place cramped and seating awkward and uncomfortable.Eat here at your peril! read more

Delightful, intimate dining experience with attentive staff. More adventurous daily specials and "safe" comfort food on regular menu if not feeling adventurous : spouse had salmon, which was delightfully prepared and I had hamburger because I was not feeling adventurous (yet it was an amazing hamburger!) They have a nice desert selection to wrap up evening Bar has seating for people without reservations but fills up early on Saturday (and people linger) so best to plan ahead & make a table reservation. Even though restaurant is small, you may find a wait for food. Definitely worth it (this is not a fast food joint) If you are not happy, tell the staff; they will address it! read more

I have been three times now and have had varying experiences everytime. Sitting at the bar, looking into the kitchen didn't want to make me eat there on our last visit. I won't get into the details, but my rubbernecking over the bartenders shoulder, watching the three guys work back there in heat and sweat dripping onto the prep counters didn't exactly make me want to order the cheese plate. My best experience was sitting outside on a spring evening. Inside you are ON TOP of one another in a room the size of a shoebox and just not my kind of crowd. One meal terrific and two not so good. My server Emily? was very nice and very polished. If only the food lived up to all the hype. Yes the hype that you read gushingly on this very page. read more

Par excellence service, wine selection, menu items, specials, and desserts! Only go here if you desire a fantastic, exquisite, and romantic dining experience! read more

A true bistro. Excellent food. Friendly staff. Great ambiance.

Entire experience was terrible from the food to service. I do not recommend anyone go to bar bouchon for dinner.

Very disappointed. Our second time here, the first being with family. It was our anniversary dinner and we were enjoying the excellent wine when our waitress began to rush us. She kept asking us to order (if we wanted another bottle of wine we were out of luck) then just as soon as we completed our appetizer she insisted on our entree order (saying it would take time to cook which it only took 5 minutes) even though we wanted to sit and just enjoy the evening with good food and drink. It continued down hill from there, completely souring the excellent food and our romantic mood. For the money we spent we certainly did not deserve this "cheap restaurant" experience. I recommend they get a new waitress. We will never return and we will not recommend this place to others. read more

I agree that Mike S.'s review is extremely suspicious. I ate at Bar Bouchon with my husband the first week it opened, and the food is as good as it gets in this area. Masterful preparation of some classic dishes; care is taken in absolutely every step. The charcuterie plate is made up of a really thoughtful selection, and the duck is especially fabulous. The service is very good; they are clearly trying to keep things casual, but there is NO sacrifice of quality in that regard. There's a very nice wines-by-the-glass list, and the decor is absolutely beautiful (again, look at the details... just flawless). The prices are great for the kind of quality ingredients they serve; incredible value! My only gripe: the people who go there. Pink whale crowd who scream (at their companions and on their cell phones at the table). The volume was deafening. Oh well...it's Madison. To be expected. read more

Hadn't been here since it opened. Probably wont go back for one simple reason. It is way too loud. Not that "i'm enjoying the sounds of diners and kitchen staff" loud like ZInc in New Haven but just plain LOUD. Plus I tend to like a little more diversity in the folks I break bread with if I'm going to be sitting right in their lap. Food was great. Oysters from Wellfleet were tasty and the crab was amazing. Wine was ok for a house Cab. The bartender was great as well but totally distracted by the loud overly suburban bunch at the end of the bar. read more

Went, spent 300 bucks for 4 people, food was good, not amazing. Really busy, really fun atmosphere.

The place is fabulous and fun, you never know who you're going to see there, so busy you need reservations. This is a bistro so if you're expecting quiet and romantic this isn't the place, but if you're looking to sit close like they do in Europe and get to know your neighbor this is it. It is a little bit of France along the Connecticut shoreline and Madison is lucky to have it. Tres Bien! read more

Surprisingly good French bistro in a lazy beach town. We ate there the past two nights. The food was excellent, the service pretty good, and the ambiance good. They were very accommodating. Coming from California, where foie gras is illegal, I saw a foie gras burger on the menu but was not interested in the burger. They made a foie gras appetizer for me instead. My wife got the summer corn risotto with truffles which was superb. My daughter got the croque Madame which was excellent. I had the fluke special which was also excellent. The peach Melba was a pleasant addition to the dessert menu. In general, the service was good except both nights, we had one five minute period where there was a wait either clearing dishes or taking the order. As others have pointed out, the restaurant is small, tables crowded together, and can be loud. It didn't bother us because we ate early and had an end table one night, and ate outside the next, but if we were seated next to a loud party, it would not have been pleasant. read more

Elegant French food in a casual relaxed atmosphere. Outstanding food. Fresh everything. Great specials. Interesting menu, excellent execution. I love this place. read more

Cozy, sophisticated & noisy. The oysters appetizer was good, not great. Ordered hanger steak rare, received one side cooked other rare, they forgot to turn. My wife had sole with a white wine buerre blanc , acceptable, not outstanding. Crepes for desert with blueberries, slightly soggy. Had reservation for 6:00 we were seated immediately service was outstanding. Would give it another try. read more

Without a doubt one of the top 3 for best cuisine in central CT. Luxury New York / London / Paris dining experience for 1/2 the price. Authentic French bistro with excellent service and professionally acclaimed world-class food. Try the trout dip and the creme brulee. read more

Great little spot....and I do mean little. We were lucky to score a reservation here, considering there are only about 10 tables and all of the shoreline wants to eat at the new hot spot. It seems like ever since a decent new restaurant has opened around here. My neighbor made the reservation, but the process sounds daunting; you can only call up to 2 weeks before you would like to be seated, and then it's like getting world series tix. They are going for the upscale neighborhood bistro theme (if your neighborhood is, say, Monmarte) and want to be casual and spontaneous, but clearly, eating here is not going to be a last-minute decision for quite some time. I've heard they are owned by Union League Cafe, so that sets the bar pretty high. It has that same modern/vintage feel on a more cozy scale. The black and white photos of local celeb and bon vivant Jacques Pepin playing boules are really cute and classic. The ladies in our party all agreed that the bathroom is beautiful, but the faux distressed mirror is just plain annoying, so girls, bring your own makeup mirror. Now for the food. Everyone told me, "bring your wallet(s)". I agree. It's not cheap ($9 for a minuscule, albeit French, ice cream sundae) but I think the prices are fair. I did see a Cote du Rhone by the glass for 6.25. They have sweatbreads. I've never had sweatbreads. They've always been the stuff of French chef legend. We tried them. Everyone tentatively sampled a small bite. We ordered another. And another. The charcuterie (cold cut platter) was equally addictive. My husband got the mushroom soup and OMG was it ridiculous. I also recommend the endive, apple, pecan salad. The entrees were very good as well, (beef bourguinion and hangar steak) but not as exciting as the apps, and by now we were pretty full. They do the same truffle oil fusilli at Union League, where it is Heaven in a Ramekin calories-be-damned. Here, just a very rich, guilt-ridden side dish. The service was great. We sat for 2 hours and the next wave of diners started to arrive. We heard the party that clearly was scheduled for our table very rudely complaining to the staff, even though they had only been waiting 10 minutes. (It's Madison after all. Sorry. But it is!) The staff never rushed us. We politely got up promptly after the bill came anyway. Save up. Call ahead. Go. read more

I am writing in reference to the negative review recently posted by my co-diner, Linda. I am so embarrassed that a restaurant experience that I had so excitedly touted to my out-of-town friend had resulted in such a profound disappointment. As a local businessperson, I will be hard-pressed to return, in spite of delicious food. read more

I loved this place so much, I came back a second time. The butter lettuce and beet salads were delicious and very light. We had the cheese plate and steak tartare which topped Wolfgang Puck's tartare. For entrees, you can't go wrong with scallops, cod, risotto or the chicken. The place was filled with regulars who confirmed that ANY choice you make, will be amazing. Christine, who will greet you with a smile and make you feel that you've known her forever, will keep you coming back. The service was prompt and the atmosphere, very intimate. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Just phenomenal. I had been here before and took my wife. We had the fragola pasta and the burger. The food was amazing. The drinks were incredible too with a vodka martini made with muddled olive and an Old Fashioned with bitters made by the bartender himself. Our new favorite restaurant . read more

Great staff. Great food, but the place was very loud. They need to install a sound muffling ceiling.

I love french bistros. From the tiled floors, to the dark wood and mirrored walls-there is just something about it that comforts me and promises me a lovely meal.I was giddy with excitement the first time my friend and I dined at bouchee-we walked in, it was small! It was so very french! I was in heaven. We opened the menu, and there they were, all my favorites. We started with steak tartare and escargots. We honestly found it hard to trade our plates-the tartare had the exact combination of tang, salt, and softness. The escargots in a herbed butter that begged to be sopped up with one of their perfectly warmed buns. With our starters we sipped their signature side car-a sumptuous blend of calvados and chartreuse-believe me, you will have one too many! For our entrees I choose the roasted chicken, while my partner decided on the coq au vin. Beautifully rustic, my chicken arrived with crisp, salty skin, and an artisitc swipe of squash puree. Simple. Delicious. My partner, a local oenophile was thrilled to choose a bottle of gigondas to add to our meal. His dish was gorgeous-hearty without heaviness, both delicate and rustic. With such beautiful color. Ours was truly a meal to remember. We have since made bar bouchee our fairly regular haunt. While we may not order soup to nuts everytime, we know that chef David will always inspire us with something beautiful, and manager Heidi will always deliver our side cars with a smile on her face and a funny story to tell. I wish I was there right now. Bon appetit! read more

Great staff, great feel, great food. If they have the couscous, ORDER it! I crave the food here; the drinks are unique and delightful. Make reservations if heading in Thursday or Friday night or you will not get in. I insist we stop here every time I am in town to visit family from out of state. read more

The food was good; the waitress was excellent. I wish I could give an upbeat, positive review. The head of house (Heidi) was rude and inconsiderate, however, and got into a heated dispute with us over an unpriced, unlisted bottle of wine. Tarek F does not appear to have been listening to the wine-related dispute. I (a/k/a the old man) inquired because the wine we were served was not what we had ordered -- AND was not even on the wine list! So I was merely trying to ascertain what its price would be, and how it was arrived at, since we had ordered an expensive "premier cru" but received a different vineyard, non-premier cru. Sadly, I could get no real answer out of Heidi, who asserted that the price "was the same" -- even though the vineyard and year were different, and the wine served was not shown on any winelist... Tarek, by the way, also was quite chummy with Heidi, so I am not sure his review would fall in the "objective" category. (Mine may not either, since I really did not appreciate Heidi summoning Madison's finest for no apparent reason other than to try to assert her power to charge whatever she wanted for an unlisted bottle of wine...) read more

The restaurant is beautiful. A work of art. My husband and I really wanted to love this place. We did not. We went twice for dinner- a year apart- hoping it would get better. It did not. The service was rushed to the point of rudeness. Our server barely spoke to us. And, when he did pop by our table, he literally had forgotten that he had taken our order 20 minutes earlier. The food looked beautiful but tasted horribly. The lettuce was wilted and bitter, the fries undercooked and the main courses, dry. We didn't stay for dessert. Quite a disappointment for what could have been a great restaurant in Madison. For now, we will stick with the always consistent Elizabeth's Cafe (Madison), Whitfield's (Guilford) and Cafe Routier (Westbrook). read more

Bad service. Dark haired French speaking man was our waiter, hugely unprofessional. What a disappointment because the food was superb.

Bar Bouchee has potential but they ain't there yet. The overwhelming feeling of the place is that they are out to squeeze every possible dime out of the space. It was crowded to the point of being uncomfortable. There was even a table right by the entry door making our 15 minute wait after our reservation time odd as we were pushing up against those diner's table. A three cheese appetizer was cold as was an Italian meat app. This made what were excellent cheeses and meats tasteless. The lamb and steak were cooked well and tasted fine. But the boar dish was cooked beyond taste. I mentioned this to our server who simply shrugged We felt that there was a rush-to-get-outta-here attitude coming from the kitchen. The prices were reasonable. I suggest they raise their prices so they can reduce the crowding, reduce the sense of urgency, and pay attention to some basics. read more

basically one of the best restaurants in Ct. The service is exceptional for a bistro, the food is consistant and brilliantly conceived and executed, and though not cheap, worth the cost. I have been there more than a dozen times and had one entree that I had higher hopes for and about 10 elements (the tar tar, the burger, the chicken most notably) that truly blew me away. my guess is the radically negative review or two have nothing to do with what is actually served here 7 days a week, but follow other agendas read more

This is one of the best places in CT if not all of New England. Prices are amazing for the quality of the food and staff is knowledgeable and efficient. It is tiny so can be a bit loud at times but it is all part of the atmosphere. The wine list is excellent with many values. All in all an extraordinary experience! read more