I shouldn't read others' reviews before writing my own, because now I feel like I want to put up my dukes over the pommes frites. Oh, they were salty. Oh, that garlic aioli paired perfectly. Oh, they came on a big plate perfect for two to share. No complaints from me! I've been to Barbette twice during visits to Minneapolis and had a lovely experience on both occasions. The first time, I sat indoors with a group, and the noise level made it challenging to hear one another. I seem to remember a problem with my drink order, a champagne cocktail, but as I can't remember what the problem was, I'm sure the drink did its job. Cheers. This past time, I sat on the patio with a friend, and we ordered from Barbette's menu of Old Fashioneds. (I'd look up the menu to specify which drinks we had, but the website appears to be down.) Mine was delicious, and I'm picky about my Old Fashioneds. My only complaint is that I saved the cherry for last, and it was but a cherry stem -- no cherry. The tricksters. The service here ... Well, I can't say I really noticed it. Both visits have been so pleasant and with engaging company that the service doesn't play a role. And that's how it's meant to be, isn't it? When you want stellar service, it's front and center, and when you want to focus on your friends, it's in the background, taking care of you without a peep. read more

We have breakfast there every time here in town. Always scrumptious! Today we had the egg crape and the special hash, which was made of steamed veggies and poached eggs. All were just wonderful! If you can, come during the week, because weekends are very busy. Regardless, worth the wait! read more

I've been to quite a few bad restaurants and I've always talked about writing a bad review, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the effort. That being said this place was so bad it drove me to finally create a Yelp account. We went there on a Monday around Noon and the place was dead. They were out of pretty much everything so our choices were limited. No big deal, I didn't need a muffin or a scone. Anyways we got 2 orders of the Vegetable Hash (one with chicken) and a sausage omelet. The food took like 30 minutes come out and there was no one in the restaurant. There's no reason there should have been a hold up. When we actually got our food the only thing that looked like it was prepared fresh was the omelet. The hash was pretty much just one ladle full of their hash. Which was pretty much just chicken broth with a few sprigs of kale and one golf ball sized potato sliced into the smallest wedges imaginable. The Chicken Vegetable Hash also included about 2-3 small bites of chicken (for $4 of course). And of course it was topped with 2 poached eggs which must have been quail eggs cause I've never seen such small eggs. Not much to complain about the omelet it was just an omelet. Just holy shit, I don't see how a ladle full of soup and a small slice of a baguette can be $13. I was fucking famished when I left the place. I was aiming for something healthy, but I didn't want a child's portion. There couldn't have been more than 250 calories in my entire meal. There is nothing special about chicken broth and kale. I don't even see how it qualifies as a hash. To be fair about everything, the food tasted fine. It was good for what it was, but it wasn't much at all. In the time it took to come out, I could have gone to the store, shredded up a rotisserie chicken, sliced up a golf ball sized potato, and cooked the kale in some chicken broth in less than 30 minutes. read more

First time customer. I've walked by this place so many times I finally had the chance to check it out with my family. Definitely a new favorite spot! The food was amazing and our waitress was so sweet and friendly . Great aesthetic vibes. A cute, cozy little spot. The Palmer punch is highly recommended! Can't wait to come back. read more

Ordered: Tartare: Luke warm and served quick. Too quick. Maybe it was somebody's return? Soup: - Wife adored the soup. Butternut squash type thingy. We ordered the peppercorn stake (to share) and asked for the chefs recommended doneness. Waitress said that is going to be medium rare. 1 hour and 37 minutes later we were served a rubbery, over well-done, just nasty steak covered in coffee black goopy peppercorn sauce. One bite and we were both done. Fries were served soggy and cold. Wife begged me to not complain because it was her birthday. $100+ mea and we both drove home fuming with a box- to- go of a nasty puck of a steak with soggy cold Frites. Not glowing from a delish meal which was what we intended for her special birthday night. Emailed Barbette twice to explain how displeased with the quality of the product. But.. Lo and behold. No response back and that was 2 weeks ago. Lazy waitress, Disgusting $47 steak, LONG wait time, No response from management. So very disappointed in this establishment. Won't be back. read more

Stopped in last night to round out the evening for a night cap and...wait for it.....OYSTERS! Who really gets cravings for oysters? Me. And to my surprise it was easy to find a seat at the bar (for future reference, it was around 10pm). But there were, of course, plenty of people at the tables as usual. Before I tell you my order, I ask you not to judge me. You should know first, that I was accompanied by my Beau AND we were coming from a work function where I really didn't eat (too much talking!) So, I have a good excuse for what comes next... Vodka Soda (boring)....1/2 dozen oysters.....Small order of mussels....ANOTHER 1/2 dozen oysters. Okay, okay...the small order of mussels is 1lb....but that just sounds bad, so I'm sticking with "small". Hey...I skipped dinner!! The oysters clearly did not disappoint and the mussels were plump and in good shape. I don't know how they do it, but their white wine sauce for the mussels is so great! I will need to pick their brains on this one, because mine is not even close. You will want/need more crusty bread to make the most of it. So this update really isn't a review as much a testament to the oysters and the mussels (and how much I eat...sorry). And if you happen to see a couple with piles of oysters shells in front of them on your next visit, stop by and say hello! We would love to meet you. read more

I was excited to try this place with all the rave reviews, went with a group of friends and was left a bit disappointed. I loved the ambience of the place - the cute French bistro, mismatched art, mismatched colors, super adorable. I will definitely be back just for that, esp since the prices are pretty reasonable. The seating options are great, they have some booths, some square tables, some rectangular tables, and they have a great bar area with a C type marble slab table in the front. The food is where I was left disappointed though. I got the two eggs with the hash and sausages, comes with sourdough toast for about $8. Portions were good - could be considered disappointing since it's smaller than diners, but for eating more correct portion sizes, this works. The hash browns were made perfectly, the eggs were of a different variety somehow, they tasted of more substance. The ham & gruyere omelette was pretty good - it had caramelized onions, sharp gruyere and ham in a fluffy omelette. It was accompanied by a frisee salad, which was $11. The bloody mary was pretty good (~$8) was in a tall glass accompanied with two green olives, a pickle, and a cucumber. Yum! I'll likely be back to bring friends and family that visit because of the ambience, it's unique, it's cute, it's affordable. But I wouldn't set their expectations super high like I had going in. Great location too! It's a few blocks away from Calhoun Square and a few other stores for shopping in case you feel up for it and want to bring friends and family for some things to do. read more

Three Stars for dinner, four for brunch and late night happy hour. It's not a place I rush to go for dinner, but it's a place I don't hesitate a second to go snack and hang out. This is a terrific place to imbibe (solid cocktails) and eat enough good bistro shoestring fries so that you're not idiotic drunk. Mussels aren't bad, I'm a bit snobbish about inland seafood and these don't suck. They don't light my world on fire either. They sure do lay on those fries for your five bucks, way more generous with starter food than a lot of competition. Olives, similarly generous and nice selection, good oily. I've had good burgers, OK hangar steaks, some not that memorable dinners, fantastic soups, consistently, and some very stellar brunches here. Barbette is best at its low lit snack cheap drink lavishly HH. read more

I can't believe it's taken me so long to dine at Barbette, especially considering I live so close! We sat on the patio that's perched against a vine-lined wall and lots strung from tree to tree - making it feel like you're sitting in a French alleyway. Our server had a great attitude and was so friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable of the menu, providing several great tips. Dogs are welcome, and our server offered ours water and a free plate of chicken liver pâté. We started with the charcuterie plate and the half pound of mussels. The charcuterie was a bit oddly paired, with only 2 small cuts of cheese and simple salami and bologna paired with pickled carrots, beets, and actual pickles. The balsamic/honey soaked grapes were an excellent addition, though. The mussels were perfectly cooked and the white wine sauce divine - we soaked through all the bread we were given and even drinking some of the leftover sauce. We ordered the burger and steak for dinner - both of which were delectable. The bearnaise sauce was very buttery, but I wasn't complaining, and it came with a TON of green beans and french fries (unfortunately for my belly.) read more

I grew up in Minneapolis area but only come back occasionally and I must say, when you need to showcase the great service and gay-friendliness of the Midwest Minneapolis shines. I had a Maker's Manhattan and smoked trout salad; she had a side car and a brie omelet. We shared fancy french fries of some type...ah a few hours away from the kids! The service was warm and lovely and quick at lunch. The patrons were attractive, well-to-do, not showy but rough-hewn Minnesota types with raggedy kids like I'd see back in the SF bay area. I was so pleased to spend a winter afternoon here. Good happy hour started at 3 too. read more

After our horrible Amore Victoria experience, Barbette more than made up for it. We walked in, we were seated immediately, they apologized up and down for our bad service across the street and got to work! We had gnocchi and risotto that were delicious, the brie and bread for a starter had a lovely contrast. Our server gave a very quick and confident wine pairing that was spot-on. SInce it was nearly an hour after I had tried to get dinner at Amore and I was starving and thirsty, I was very impressed with how quickly someone else made up for the experience. I am not a French food person but wouldn't consider this the usual, fussy and intimidating meal. It was approachable and fabulous. Thanks for rescuing our evening, Barbette! read more

Despite receiving confirmation of a reservation, when our party of 4 arrived, we were informed no reservation existed. Showed a screenshot of the confirmation and the host insisted that was not actually a confirmation. No effort was made to accommodate. Our group was surprised by the unwillingness to identify a solution despite it not being very busy and the host informing us they had no reservations for the day. Was not offered to wait even or provided a time frame of when a table is oils be open. Dismissive, rude and made to feel unwelcome. Very disappointing. was bringing friends here after hosting a business lunch and enjoying the food. Will not be returning socially or professionally. read more

Barbette is the first place I want to go when I visit Minneapolis. Not only is the location ideal (in the heart of Uptown and within walking distance of Lake Calhoun and the indie theaters), but Barbette is unabashedly weird, romantic and unique. Check out the website: www.barbette.com. When they say "amusements", they aren't kidding. From the whimsical colored glass to the local artist galleries, Barbette carves out a special niche of Minneapolis space and time, its own cozy little dimension of delightful strangeness. From that niche I have derived many powerful memories: of big, fluffy snowflakes drifting down through street lamps among Christmas lights through Barbette's huge streetside windows over fondue and cider; of not minding while I wait for oddball dates to show up so that I can sample selections from the latest wine list on a lazy sunlit afternoon, or one of Barbette's many fresh and perfectly appointed salads. Barbette is a place of art, whimsy and memories that could only be created by someone who lived in France long enough to bestow some of the many gifts of its older, less modest and more wistfully amused culture to Minneapolis. Enjoy and cherish the oversized panache of this little café. Bonuses: wonderful modern music and a supporter of local artists and sustainable food practices. When you patronize Barbette, you give back. read more

A friend and I wanted to try a new place in the uptown area for dinner, so after clicking through Yelp for a few minutes, we decided to try Barbette. We went fairly late on a Sunday night and there were maybe only 10 other people in the restaurant, but that's to be expected. We decided to share everything and ended up ordering way too much food, but here's my take on everything we ordered: Tomato basil soup: This was the soup of the day, and I usually avoid ordering tomato because restaurants tend to make it too salty for my taste, but my friend decided to order it and I am so glad she did. It was a creamy tomato which I prefer, and it was probably the best tomato soup I have ever had. Highly recommend it if it's available. Pommes Frites: I had read on Yelp that these were delicious so we decided to order them, but I was a little disappointed. Firstly, it was a mountain of fries that we could not finish alone (we even ordered the smaller plate), but the saffron aioli was delicious. The frites themselves, however, were kind of limp and stringy...not what I expected. My friend loved them though, so I suppose this may just be a personal frite preference. Herb Whipped Brie: Again, this had amazing reviews from my fellow Yelpers, but I was a little disappointed. Maybe I'm jaded in terms of my experiences with cheese, but I know good cheese when I see it, and this dish was ehh. It reminded me of eating herbed butter on a baguette, so it was still pretty tasty, but it was missing the bite I was expecting from the truffle. The reduced balsamic was a nice touch though. Mushroom Risotto: I believe they change the menu seasonally because online it only lists Sweet Corn Risotto, which was not on the menu as of Nov 10, but the mushroom risotto was amazing. Even after being pretty satisfied after all of the small dishes, this was still the highlight of our dinner. Possibly the best risotto I've ever had. Chai crème brulèe: It was actually as amazing as it sounds. Perfect for two to share. Cappuccino: Standard cappuccino. Not much else to add there. One final thing I would like to add - the service was great. Not that there were tons of other customers to divert our waiter's attention, but he was knowledgable about the menu and very nice. I ordered a glass of wine and he asked to see my ID which I did not have, and a few minutes later he started walking toward me with a glass of wine, then turned away and said "Oh, I am so sorry. I forgot about our previous exchange..." It was a little awkward, but not a big deal. Once we requested the check, however, he comped us the cappuccino in apology for the wine mishap, which was unexpectedly cool. Basically - good food with some items that shine, others that are average, none that were bad. Great service, nice atmosphere. Not what I would call "trendy," but a nice place to bring your parents when they're in town. read more

5 stars. This place saved me a flight to Europe :) I came here for brunch and was seated next to the large front windows. The mimosa I had was delicious...the orange juice was fresh and not too sweet the way the wannabe ones are. The brie omlet was light and cooked to perfection. I took small bites of egg, melted brie and spring greens. It was like a group hug in my mouth. I also impulse ordered the pommes frites aka french fries. The saffron dipping sauce was a perfect pairing. I love the decor and can't wait to come back to this cozy gem! read more

Here's what I've had at Barbette: wine, steak, steak tartare. But oh, do they ever do those things right. Their house wine is quite good (and relatively inexpensive). It's a great place to sit at the bar, watch people filter in, and enjoy a few glasses. The steak tartare. I'm a *sucker* for a beautifully-done steak tartare, and Barbette is about the best place in town for a fantastic steak tartare done right with all the trappings. Perfectly cooked egg with yolk oozing seductively onto your raw meat? Foodgasm. It was DELICIOUS and so worth it. The steak was cooked properly. Not a standout ah-mazing, you-gotta-go-here-for-it steak, but delicious and flavorful; so much so that I didn't even think about getting grumpy about the price. It was lovely. Plus, as others have mentioned, sitting at the bar and eating a meal is a total treat. The bartenders are attentive and pleasant (and one guy is really, really cute... not that that should matter, but *ehhem* I do like ambiance), and the bar-seating doesn't diminish the meal experience. read more

After not having been to Barbette for some time, I took a recent trip here with my wife for a late night (at least late for MPLS) this past weekend. I got the lamb chop special, she got the mussels, and we split a side of brussel sprouts. All were excellent. Yet another successful visit to Barbette. read more

I just had the best chicken I've ever eaten! Yeah, chicken sounds like a tame option compared to the other dishes on their menu, but no way. The juicy baked chicken was placed on a cake of grits (don't knock it until you try it) on a bed of arugula. I don't know what the glaze is on the chicken, but it was awesome: not too sweet, but full of flavor. The chicken was in two pieces, one with a handy little leg bone sticking up (so you can grab it and eat every bit of the savory meat on it) and the other is a fillet of juicier chicken. There was no skimping on skin, which may be a turn off for some, but for people who love flavor, it's fantastic. The grits cake was cooked in something delicious (maybe more fat....after all, it's a French restaurant! No fear of fat here!} The taste of the chicken, grits and arugula together was something to remember. Barbette is a funky little restaurant with a kicking kitchen. The waitstaff was friendly and efficient. (The chicken was her recommendation....and I'm so grateful!). I can't wait to return and try out some of the other options. read more

Came here for brunch to have a low key celebration for couple august birthdays. Wait staff here is super nice but the seating is a bit limited particularly if you want to hold group events. The earliest reservation I could get was at 1pm which was a bit late for brunch. + : Food was pretty good. I got the lamb burger, medium done and it was delicious (very juicy). It came with chips and salad. Other birthday girl and friends got more breakfast items but they all enjoyed it as well. The croque monsieur is on smaller portion side but the ham and cheese was melt in your mouth good. The portion sizes were average (although it seemed like the people who got vegetable hash had a tinier meal). - : the coffee drinks here are meh. I got chai because I needed just a teensy bit of caffeine to wake me up from yesterday night out but the chai was very much watered down. Other friends who got their coffee (hot/cold) was also meh about their drinks -- the iced one was a bit watered down (too much ice in proportion to coffee) and the one with hot coffee thought it was comparable to any other chain coffee shop. However, other birthday girl got a bloody mary which she said was pretty darn good. Service: The food came out pretty slow. We ordered within the half hour of getting seated but probably waited about 45 minutes to an hour to get our food. It seemed like they were bit short-staffed. I felt bad because people were starving by then (past 2pm) as most people didn't eat before coming. They charged for cake cutting fee ($1 per person) since someone brought a cake. Overall, I haven't been here for a meal besides happy hour snacks and drinks. But I was pretty pleased with the meal and service (minus the bit longer wait). read more

I'm done with this place. Kitchen refused to make the mussels without the white wine though I've had it here in the past. I explained that to the sever who was kind enough to explain that to them but to no avail. Service this time around was really good but as I mentioned in my previous review, it's extremely inconsistent. Ranges from good to terrible. Again, too many good places around Minneapolis to settle for inconsistent service and a stubborn, arrogant and moody (no pun intended) kitchen. I'll definitely miss some good unique plates, but oh well, it was oooookay while it lasted. read more

I had a great experience at Barbette based on food and wine. Service can be inconsistent depending on how full the restaurant is during dinner. The one time we had a long wait to get our entrees, the waitress made up for it by handing out free pommes frites tokens. She acknowledged the delay and apologized up and down for the service. I came here recently on a cold night and had the larger portion of mussels and the chicken entree to share which hit the spot. I was also happy with the wine selection and ended up with a recommendtaion from our server. I'll be back to check out the brunch menu. read more

Barbette rocks. I had a group of about 8 eating there a couple of months ago, and the service, food, and beverages couldn't be any better. I'd never eaten here when I lived in St. Paul, but now it'll be a stand-by when I go back. UPDATE: So I've now been back to Barbette 5 times since I moved away. It is a MUST EAT place in the Twin Cities. Be sure to ask for Gerald as your server when you're there, he's been great every time I've been there. I wish they had a Barbette in LA, I'd be their most loyal customer. read more

My daughter turned 11 a few days ago. The thing she wanted was to eat, Mussels, oysters, and a charcuterie plate. We headed to Barbette, for their happy hour. Since it was not busy, we really got great attention paid to us, which made our daughter super happy. (I am in no way saying we would have gotten bad service if it had been busy.) Our waiter's name was Peter, and he did a great job making our daughter feel important., as well as providing great service. We had: mussels, oysters, pate, olives, and pomme frites. Because we came before 5, they did not have the charcuterie plate, which almost made her cry. So, we had our food, which was all very good. (I think the mussels could have had a little more flavor.) Then we walked around the area for awhile, and came back for the charcuterie plate. We sat outside and it was quite lovely. Our server was a woman with a pretty colorful skirt on. I had being those people that come and order one thing, but we told her our situation, and she treated us just fine. Our daughter wanted to try head cheese, so she was very happy it was on the plate. She didn't like it, but she loved everything else on the plate, and so did we. The chicken mouse was amazing. All in all it was a great time, and a great food, and a great experience. I am looking forward to going back and trying more items on the menu. read more

I just moved to the Bay Area a few months ago, and one of the things I miss the most about living in Minneapolis is dinner at Barbette. I spent many an hour in my younger days languishing with friends at Cafe Wyrd. The Wyrd grew up and became Barbette at exactly the moment when I grew up and started ordering wine with dinner. The food is always good. The mussels, the cheese plate, the Amish chicken, the pomme frites. All of it, always good. And the steak au poivre - the most expensive item on the menu - is seriously worth the $$. I recall particularly spirited waitress who told vivid stories about the cheese on the cheese plate. If you're having issues with the staff, it's probably because you're being an asshole. read more

Went to Barbette with some coworkers today for lunch. I can say that was beyond unimpressed. I ordered the hash and what I got was an extremely under seasoned bowl of broth with shaved yellow potatoes, a few strings of kale, over cooked slices of carrots and some flavorless steamed broccoli. This was served with a small slice of what I believe to be French bread.. I could tell it was not fresh. The worst part was the hash was served with poached eggs that were over cooked. Poached eggs should have a right golden yellow yolk. Eggs weren't fresh either and I could tell by the light yellow yolk. This dish cost $12. $14 if you added chicken. Why would I want chicken with poached eggs and this odd hash? Maybe brisket or pork.l but chicken with eggs? No. My coworker ordered the beet salad. I think this was also in the $12 range. What she was given was a few over cooked and chewy kale leaves, a few tiny pieces of beet and walnuts and cheese. (The walnuts and cheese were not visible so who knows where in the dish they actually were...) Sometimes flavor and quality of a dish over powers the price, but this was the opposite. The lack of flavor and skill and the salad which should be advertised as a Starter for $7. I do not think I would ever return to barbette. read more

This is by far one of my favorite local spots. The brunch is great. One of my favorite is the veggie hash and they change it up depending on the season and what is available. I've been here about a dozen times and usually get the same dish but because of the change it feels different every time. The other thing I love about this place is the fresh oysters. Not a lot of great spots in Minneapolis with oysters. I love their happy hour menu a lot! Whenever I have friends from out of town, I always take them here! read more

Hands-down best restaurant in Minneapolis. Barbette is always my first recommendation for friends/family visiting the city, date nights, first dates, special occasions, and brunch. The staff here are incredible and inclusive. They pay attention and always make you feel like your table is their favorite. The food and drinks are excellent and consistent. Favorite dishes include: Steak Frites, oysters, french fries with saffron aioli, and any of the eggs benedict (they always have traditional, vegetarian, and a rotating special). The molten chocolate lava cake is not to be missed, and the carrot cake deserves a mention as well. Any of their specialty cocktails are outstanding (especially Noah's Bad Decision). Perfect sidewalk seating in the summer, and a cozy/whimsical/intimate interior space for the other seasons. read more

Barbette is a magical place, especially in the evening. I went here recently on my birthday, and the ambiance was enchanting, and extremely cozy. A terrific spot for a date night out. Being a Frenchie at heart, the traditional chevre chaud salad has been on my radar since I've been back in the states. Barbette didn't have one, BUT I did manage to find one with my beloved goat cheese. It was a wonderful mix of duck confit, goat cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. It was a perfect portion, to act as my main course. Lots of flavor, and the perfect amount of dressing. My date & I also had the steamed mussels with coconut lime sauce, per our servers suggestion. Tres interestante, as the French might say, or I wasn't exactly a huge fan. I think mussels just aren't for me, so this was just a bad call by myself. I am very eager to return again for happy hour, their late night music, and especially for brunch. Oh, and for their house wine, as Melissa C. stated is quite delicious & not too bad on the wallet. read more

There hasn't been a lot of hanging out on Lake St so far for me, but I was there Sunday morning for brunch at the behest of a friend. So, this was my first visit to Barbette. The vibe was a little bit NYC (Village) and the combination of light and shadows made it cozy. No smoking in the Twin Cities, but I could almost see the ghostly smoke drifting slowly through the sunbeams. The waitstaff was very friendly and the leisurely pace of the meal suited me just fine. I ordered the Royale With Cheese w/ a half order of Pomme Frites. I mean, how could I resist the Pulp Fiction nod? The half order is about the size of a full anywhere else. The Royale was considerably undercooked, but still tasted good enough for me not to complain. However, the combination of cheese and meat grease turned it into a runaway train of a mushy mess. The roll only lasted for about 2 bites before it disintegrated under the fatty assault. The frites were well prepared but the dip was a little bit of a near Hollandaise overkill. In my judgment, the food was overpowering... just too rich. I have become a big fan of subtlety in cuisine and Barbette needs to work on that a bit before I can heartily endorse their style of Twin Cities French. read more

Wine list - Large Food Selection - Expensive & short Out door seating - Yes Takes reservations - Yes Wait staff- Very nice So all in all I'll give it a 3 because the food is generally good though highly buttery, the pomfrits (thin fries) are quite nice and the fondue is a good appetizer to share but in general the food is generally pretty spendy for what you get. All the times I've eaten here I've been satisfied but not blown away. They have a large wine list and the prices are fair and they have a good cocktail selection also. The atmosphere is great and the outdoor seating is a must if you can find some. Best time to go would be for a happy hour or brunch that's when the food is the best for the best prices read more

Barbette is a great place for happy hour & Sunday brunch. I went for breakfast this morning & had excellent food and service. I ordered the daily quiche which was onions, peppers, spinach & swiss. It was the size of a large piece of pizza & came with a small green salad. It was absolutely delicious! The entire menu looked delicious for that matter. Great atmosphere & a lot of food for $8. I look forward to coming back soon! *Check in on Yelp for HH drink deals! read more

Loved Barbette. Great date spot with incredible ambiance and charming waitstaff. Mussels in Red Wine, Tomato, and Garic: Perfectly steamed and cooked mussels that came with crispy toast. A well done dish. rating: 8/10 Steak Au Poivre: Flat iron steak pan cooked very well. The meat was the perfect temperature but I didn't care for the peppercorn sauce. As everyone mentioned, the pomme frites are fried just right with a lemon aioli dipping sauce. rating: 8/10 Red Snapper Special: Light airy fish with excellent accompanying aioli. A great dish at an affordable price. rating: 8/10 One neg. The food came out pretty late so it may be a good thing if you've got a hot date (which I was lucky to have). We'll be back soon B. read more

The mussels are to die for. In the butter garlic cream sauce....Wow Most nights you will find live music ranging from a two person acoustic set to a string quartet. It is a classy yet casual environment. Come early because the place is small. Great selection of french wine and vegetarian items. This is a rare find in Uptown and a great place for a date. read more

First this isn't french, making some fries and calling them 'Pomme Frites' isn't french. The starters were -across the board- unacceptable. The Oysters were runny and previously frozen (nasty). My Kir Royal was good. My Main dish was fair (Artic Char) my table faired ok, one other dish (the chicken) was flavorful but very overcooked, and the Lamb chops were tough (poor meat selection). Desert was spice cake with strawberry rhubarb. Dry flavorless read more

I first went to Barbette around 2014. It was incredible. Amazing atmosphere, exotic menu with game meat and unusual dishes. I went again last year and it was extremely disappointing compared to my first experience. Lackluster menu, morose waiter, bland food. I won't take the risk of disappointment again unfortunately. read more

I went to Barbette last night with friends and it was so so good. Food, atmosphere, service. Definitely a great place to go to catch up with friends! read more

One of the best chicken dishes I've ever had. Charcuterie is delicious & the drinks are tasty! Not too sweet!

Beautiful little spot, feels very French in a lowbrow/sexy way. Great savory pies, French Roast coffee, and as everyone says, a great late night menu ($5 for a 1/2 lb of steamed mussels!). Their current "Tasting of Peaches" dessert is amazing as well, which consisted of peach jellies, peach-infused honey, half a peach with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on-top, and a tiny peach shake. Great sexy waiter on top of it all. Clearly, you just can't go wrong with this place. GO NOW. read more

2.5 Stars. This place has potential, but all in all, if it's trying to be a french brassiere it's got a long ways to go. I always think the owners ate at Pastis or Balthazar in New York and ripped the concept in a half-assed way. Everything could be better about this place. What works for me is quiet weekday breakfasts at the bar. Always good service, though the kitchen is slow no matter where you sit. Outside is hit or miss. If they remember that you're out there it will be slow and bearable. If not, it will be slow and unbearable. I've eaten in the dining room at the tables a few times and every time I regret it. It's challenging for some reason. Takes forever and usually something in my order gets screwed up. I also don't like that this place seems to chew through talent in the kitchen, seems like someone different is always cooking and it shows in the consistency of the food. read more

Disclaimer: I've always had a thing for French bistros. I can't help it. I think they're romantic. Cozy. Specially suited to good wine, warm olives and wearing those new jeans I just bought. The thing is, here in Twincy, there just ain't too many good French joints. We've got Tim McKee's wonderfully expensive and over-the-top La Belle Vie. We've got Vincent. And, here comes my S. Mpls bias, we've got a gem in Barbette. Atmosphere alone with get you in the mood for food and love. Breakfast and lunch bring an airy, sunny feel to the restaurant. Something between coffeeshop and early morning bar, Barbette is quiet, respectful and yet still edgy in the morning. And the crepes. Wow. Evening, though, is where Barbette shines. Golden lighting and dark wood trim give the restaurant clubby feel. Windows overlooking the busy Lake Street give it urbanity. The food makes it monumental. I'm a big fan of nearly everything on the menu at Barbette. The steak frites is a classic and well worth the money. The daily seafood specials are always delicious, and their mussels are to die for. Still, I like to pick my way through their small plates, or in French, amusements. Warm olives and a cheese plate are a near perfect way to start a night. The olives are salty goodness paired with baguette. The cheeses, always rotating based on seasonality and freshness, give your mouth a creamy introduction to dinner. $6 for the olives is a deal. $11/$17 for the cheeses is spendy ($11 for two cheeses, $17 for four), though they're ridiculously tasty. Next up, the pommes frites (fries). Barbette makes a special brand of fries, and you either love them or hate them. Personally, I think they're spectacular. Thin, crisp and well seasoned, these aren't overwhelming bunches of salt and flavor, just good fries with a good sauce on the side. I'd shoot through the whole menu for you, but that'd take waaaay too long, so I'll say this: try out Barbette. Dance through their small plates, or dive into their full dishes, but give it a try. Their culinary mastery is well worth the dollars, and far and away the best bistro experience in Twincy. read more