This is quintessential French bistro cooking. I've been there a half dozen times over the past year and Bistr09 always delivers. Standouts are the pork schnitzel, beef short rib, and the basil vinaigrette dressing on the bibb lettuce salad. Those are just my personal favorites, tho, as my wife would undoubtedly give different answers. Cocktails are expertly prepared and the wine list, while short, has everything you need. Service is always very attentive without being intrusive. Ask for Enrique, if he's there. You can't go wrong at Bistr09. read more

We went to @bistr09 the other night for dinner. East Coast Oysters were on happy hour for $2 each, so we got a dozen to share. Hubby and I both got the Margarita. Hubby chose the Restaurant Week menu, starting with the Halibut Cheeks as his appetizer, Grilled Lamb Chops for the entree, and Chocolate Mousse for dessert. I had a taste of all his courses and it was a wise choice. Everything was delicious! They had a regular prix fixe menu and Dad and I shared this: Escargots, Sauteed Flounder, and Creme Brulee. Our food was equally good. Brian was our attentive server. read more

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Service was horrible. The Waiter/Host wouldn't even get off his duff to seat us. He told us to sit at the bar. I insisted that we sit at a table. After seated, we ordered. Lobster was great. Risotto had a lot to be desired! Flavor and consistency were way off. Steak had good flavor, but was very chewy. That is the second steak I have eaten their in the past year and a half that was not so good. Creme brulee tasted like butterscotch and was undercooked a bit - too runny. Chocolate Mousse was great. Service was not good, at all. Food was decent, but definitely not what it used to be - a high end, gourmet restaurant. Save your money and dine at Silo's on Austin Highway, or Flemings at the Quarry. Both are far superior and all about the same price point. I won't eat at Bisto9 again. It used to be superb a couple of years ago. Now, average restaurant, with an upscale menu and average food. read more

Very well designed in black, white, gold, and primaries. You pass a patio, then enter into a bar with a dining area to the right. The service was amazing .. though as they got busy about 6.30pm, service fell off a little. I do recommend a reservation for any time after 6pm. We started with small plates. The French Onion soup had a hearty flavor though it was more bread than broth. The Pear gorgonzola salad was amazing ... pears soaked in red wine paired with room temp gorgonzola, green and a light vinaigrette. The escargot brought yums. I had the braised short ribs. Super tender .. fall apart. I would have liked a little more veggies and a heartier sauce. The streak and fries was cooked and seasoned perfectly. For dessert, the creme brulee was glass on top and pure custard underneath ... perfect consistency. The mousse was a deep chocolate flavor with a tasty almond cookie. So many items I want to go back and try. Definitely recommend!!! read more

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The inside of this restaurant was very cool and the staff was super nice. The food was okay. The swordfish tasted a bit fishy and the risotto seemed to have been sitting out. The pear gorgonzola salad was delicious and the best thing we had. For the price point I think the are other restaurants in the area with better quality food. read more

BISTR09 - Flounder - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I really wanted to like this place, but the food wasn't the best. The bread they served at the beginning was good. The onion soup lacked flavor. The scallops with crab risotto were burnt. I did enjoy the risotto! I also had the duck confit. It wasn't good. but it wasn't bad. The first bite had me fooled. It was salty and a little dry. The fries served with it were delicious! The service was kind of slow, but the waiters were nice. The ambiance was nice, but more casual than I expected. I can't say I will return, but it wasn't a HORRIBLE experience. read more

BISTR09 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Bistro09 has amazing French cuisine, in my opinion it's my favorite French food in San Antonio. I also love their oysters and their happy hour. This visit was for a happy hour stop at the bar. Their drinks are wonderful and their happy hour appetizers are delicious as well. Their dining area is beautifully decorated with lovely art and an elegant seating area and the bar area has a French cafe feel with bright decor giving it a light and airy feel. The service is top notch with wonderful servers and bartenders every time we visit. read more

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2 orders of Escargot, 2 orders of French onion soup... Food: 1 out of 5. Escargot lacks 100% of flavors from fresh parsley, garlic and butter. Shells are pre-used/ escargot kits sold online. French Onion Soup - lacks aromatic flavors from herbs and the bread was too thick and absorbed 70% all the soup. The cheese lacked flavors of Gruyère and the beautiful torched crust. We also ordered salads and carbonara, which were below average in comparison with other fine dining French or Italian restaurants. Service: 4 out of 5. Nothing extraordinary, just met the industry standards. Although the wait time for another pour of wine or ordering of more dishes were rather unimpressive. Atmosphere: quite interesting division of ambience, perhaps for the clear delineation of statuses and socioeconomic classes. One side for those dressed as successfuly wealthy retirees, the other side for the rest. All in all, as a prospective future Michelin inspector and professional food critic, I generously offer a 2 out of 5 for this not-so-French, yet aspire-to-be-French restaurant. read more

Love this cute little bistro! The atmosphere is delightful and the service, food and wine unparalleled Friday lunch is the best ever! They have this seasonal melon salad right now that I could eat everyday! The steak frites is amazing and the ahi tuna perfection! read more

BISTR09 - Prosciutto and melon salad - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

What a charming place. Service was excellent, prices were reasonable, and most importantly the food was delicious. read more

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Can't comment on the food since I wasn't served. We got to the restaurant 5 minutes before our scheduled reservation time. We were seated promptly. After about 10 minutes, the hostess took our drink order. The restaurant was only about 1/3 full on a Saturday night (definitely a bad sign). When it was 23 minutes after our reservation started and we not only didn't have our drinks, but our drinks weren't even in the process of being made yet and our server hadn't introduced himself yet, we told the hostess we were leaving and proceeded to head to Bliss for an amazing meal. So I guess I'd say, don't waste your time unless you aren't that hungry and have a lot of time to waste waiting. read more

It's Restaurant Week in San Antonio which makes it a great time to try a new dining option on your list. B9 had a tasty-looking menu so we decided to give it a try. Located in Alamo Heights it is a trendy yet posh-decorated spot with indoor and outdoor seating. As soon as I walked up, the host opened the door for me. I was greeted by the waiter as soon as I sat down. The service was attentive and courteous throughout the whole evening. My friend and I ordered different items from the Restaurant Week menu so we could get a better range of their offerings. Here is what we had: house-made ciabatta, the Frisee Au Lardons (bacon salad with a poached egg), French onion soup, cod with shrimp, tarragon chicken with veggies, profiteroles, and Creme Brulee cheesecake. Every dish was executed beautifully. The bread and butter service was delicious. The French onion soup was savory and satisfying. The salad had a light dressing that worked well with the greens. The fish was delicate but packed a lot of flavor. The chicken was fall of the bone tender. The only thing I didn't care for with the chicken dish was that the sauce made the chicken skin soggy, so I removed it. The desserts topped the evening but I was so full I couldn't finish my Creme Brulee. I was very glad that I tried this restaurant and enjoyed the visit. read more

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In town to celebrate a birthday and was introduced to this gem by my Aunt. We had such a wonderful time. Our waiter Ray was probably the most attentive and accommodating waiter that I've ever experienced. Come to find out, he has been serving my Aunt for at least the past 20 years (that speaks to the confidence level she has in him). The ambiance was very nice and cozy. I ordered the braised short rib while my wife had the duck confete with asparagus soup. Our meals also came with some of the best bread I've had. Everything was delicious. As an added treat, my aunt introduced us to the owner Damian, whom she has also known for many years. When in San Antonio, this is definitely a spot to try. read more

BISTR09 - Braised short rib. - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I was scouting out a restaurant for a business event, so my husband and I dropped in for a bite. The wine and food were good and the service was on point. We did have our event at the restaurant a few weeks later. Everyone enjoyed the food and had a wonderful time. The menu was prefixe by our choice the kitchen was very flexible and helpful in working with our budget. The staff took really good care of us. We would definitely come again! read more

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Just got takeout, but the dinner was great. Best quail I've ever had at a restaurant! The risotto was nice and the lobster was tender and tasted great. The escargot wasn't served the way I expected, but it was my fault. Getting escargot for take out wasn't the best idea. I'd love to go back and dine in. The restaurant looked awesome, as did the bar. read more

Our final stop during Restaurant Week...this place was magnificent! The portions were huge considering RW menu, service outstanding, and the food...just wow! The flavors, the textures, the presentation...simply amazing! We loved the quaint feel of an authentic French bistro, with beautiful art and modern accents! We'll definitely be back! read more

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Second time eating here. Drinks good but expensive ($14 Bulliett rye + $3 "Old Fashioned" charge). Back in my day the mixers were included in the cost of the drink. Anyway, I started with lobster bisque and my wife had the frisee salad with a poached egg on top. The salad was tasty and egg cooked nicely, but overall overdressed and goopy. The bisque was cold and had a few pieces of lobster shell in it that got stuck in my teeth so I sent it back and got the salad instead. Main courses were fish stew for me and duck for my wife. The fish stew was great - massive chunks of monkfish with tender vegetables in a delicious curry broth. The duck itself was good, but the wild rice smelled like an ashtray. Very mysterious... nothing in the description about "smoked" wild rice, we surmised the cook dropped a cigarette butt into the rice pot, or maybe the waiter was being catty and blew cigarette smoke on it after I sent back the bisque. Off-putting to be sure but we didn't want to send two dishes back during the same meal. The desserts were good but took forever to arrive. My chocolate Napoleon was a bit of a mess on the plate and overcooked and dry. Most nicer restaurants would be horrified to know a dish was sent back for such obvious and clumsy execution mistakes, but nobody ever mentioned it again and the bisque was still on the bill which I had to ask the waiter to remove. A disappointing date night and probably our last time eating here. read more

GREAT service, GREAT food and GREAT company. Their outdoor patio is nice for small intimate parties. Their menu has a large selection. Their drinks are awesome. The truffle fries and escargot are a must try. read more

BISTR09 - Truffle Fries - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Absolutely awesome!! The food, service, and ambience were outstanding!! Highly recommended!!! read more

Met a group for Saturday happy hour at Bistr09 and really enjoyed this relatively new Alamo Heights addition. A few of us had been here before for happy hour, before the infamous pandemic, and I was glad to see it up and running. Their creatively named "Deep Space Happy Hour" does not have a large menu and the app selection is even smaller. Even thought that usually is an issue for me, this time I was ok with the small selection because the portions were not so small, and everything is $5! I order the Flying Cigar, at a friend's recommendation, which is a lamb filled roll, and a Margarita pizza slice. I enjoyed the cigar. It was quite good and I also enjoyed the pizza. I also wish I had tasted the truffle and Parmesan pizza slices since I love truffle. I did send my happy hour wine back, and ordered off their happy hour menu, instead. The HH wine selection had only three wine choices from their aptly named wine of the week selection. I ordered a rose, but it had a flat taste and didn't have the usual rose slight fizziness. However, a friend order their Shiraz blend, from the happy hour selection, and enjoyed it immensely. Overall, I enjoyed the place, atmosphere, service and my off happy hour menu wine. The food portions were a good size. The Lamb roll was large, and, I mean large, and the pizza slice was really two small slices of pizza. I will likely come back again and do recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Ate there 6/24. I've been going to this location since it was la llave, then l'toile, it might have been something else for a while and have only been to bistr09 for private functions. I was shocked that it was completely empty. the food and drinks were great, the service was wonderful & friendly. got the charcuterie & frites. was tempted to get mussels but we were already full. let's keep this place open. it's reasonably priced for quality of food. read more

Excellent service. Merari (not sure of spelling) was great with suggestions and was so friendly. The food here is amazing. Bread was warm and fresh baked. Seafood was incredibly fresh. Lamb cigar was a unique appetizer that was delicious with excellent seasoning and subtle kick. Must try! Crab and avocado salad was absolutely decadent and my favorite! Restaurant was beautiful with lots of art work throughout, and I loved the e patio with lots of cushioned benches to hang out. This is a fantastic place to have dinner. read more

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This is the best French restaurant in town. The food is very good. Their fish is always fresh and cooked to perfection. The staff is phenomenal and are trained to perfection. The value for the quality of food that you get here is outstanding. Definitely would recommend this place for a casual dinner or a nice date night. read more

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Simplemente lo mejor de la cocina francesa en San Antonio. Ingredientes importados hechos por el Chef Demian y su equipo de Chefs. read more

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While visiting my other best friend in San Antonio, I had a craving for high end food that didnt include fish. I had conquered every sushi roll and oyster in TX and was craving some red wine and carbs. With that being said, This review is a bit intimidating to write. @ RYAN M. knocked it out of the park publishing an award worthy novel describing every detail while utilizing big words; some of which the money my parents wasted on private education did not teach me. So good was this review, I made a point to visit prior to my departure. Therefor, without further ado, I pass the yelp microphone to @RYAN M. review likely temporarily below mine as he has 87097 useful likes and nothing I write will compare. PS: Shout out to RUDY for the fabulous service! Your hospitality echo'd every positive compliment Ryan mentioned. read more

BISTR09 - 5/5 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Had been to this restaurant several times in the past, always enjoyable. This visit was a Mothers Day brunch and the food and service were outstanding. A crab and avocado salad was great, as was the salmon Benedict, which I had never had before. Dessert was likewise excellent, with my 98 year old French Mother in law inhaling a Crème Brûlée and the rest of us enjoying a chocolate Napoleon. While quite busy, the wait staff handled all the tables well. A good place to try. read more

Came Saturday at 4:30, restaurant was dead, nice decor. Good escargot and ok drinks. Would come here again. Not 5 stars because we ordered the sazerac, the bartender tried making it twice then said "can you order something else....you don't want to know?" Hmmm not sure what that was about, we didn't even get to try it. Would come again though read more

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Bistr09 went above and beyond during restaurant week for their brunch specials. A three course meal with two options to pick from on each entree. I had the French onion soup, spinach omelette, lobster with vegetables, and a creme brûlée. The ideal cure for Sunday morning hangriness. This place is pretty fancy and decorations feel like I'm in an Art museum. It was pretty quiet and the patio area nice to sit at on a sunny day. Great brunchin here! read more

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If you want to have a gastronomy experience I'm Dan Antonio Bistro9 is the place . They had a special menu for the day flat rate $55 appetizer, entree and dessert you can't go wrong. I had the smoked salmon and crostini fresh and delicious, rib eye, French fries chimichuri and aioli for my French fries, the dessert a good and smooth crème brûlée, yes I had to take a drink. What else can i ask. I will be back read more

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As part of San Antonio Culinaria weeks we decided to check out Bistro09. I'll abbreviate this review by stating that the food LOOKED terrific but the taste and care in preparation was lacking. There simply wasn't any dish that we ordered that made us go "WOW, I'll come back for this!". The price point/satisfaction ratio is skewed here. There's no reason for us to try Bistro09 again. read more

What a fantastic brunch!!!! Atmosphere - mid modern bright and and fresh Service - Top Notch Chiliquiles Benedict - Amazing! Lemon Ricotta Pancakes- Mouth watering! Mimosa - perfect. We will absolutely be back ! Great job @bistr09 ! read more

BISTR09 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Good and service were great. Highly recommend this place for date night. We came for Sunday brunch and the food was spectacular. Plenty of parking so no worries there. read more

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I'm not sure why or when French cuisine became passé in the States, but most modern-day American and French-American chefs seem uncomfortable with the label, opting instead for vague/voguish descriptors such as "new world" or "new American." Perhaps the snootiness and stuffiness of traditional French restaurants are enough to scare off American diners, or maybe young restaurateurs are loath to pigeonhole themselves to such a dogmatic and disciplined cuisine. BISTR09 -- the latest venture from restaurateur power couple Damien Watel and Lisa Astorga-Watel -- is a celebration of two orthodoxies, both done confidently: traditional French (e.g., buttery sauces, duck, and offal) to satisfy the local francophiles, and an ingredient-driven "new American" bistro unafraid to embrace Asian and South American influences. Damien Watel's classic French training is evident in favorites such as seared foie gras and a gloriously fatty duck leg confit. On a recent visit, the former shared bragging rights with winter black truffles and two buttery scrambled eggs stuffed inside their respective shells. It was a $25 appetizer that could have easily come off as gaudy in lesser hands. At BISTR09, however, it was an unabashedly decadent (and delicious) showcase for three staples of French cuisine. That same evening, the kitchen demonstrated equal prowess with a duck leg confit (subtly sweet with a red meat finish) and its rich cassoulet of white beans and rendered lardons. The kitchen fares just as well with modern "bistronomie" fare, touting ingredients and cooking styles from across the world. A tempura-fried soft shell crab starter would have been a standout at any local Japanese restaurant, with a delicate flour-like gauze and a light, lacy structure. A twelve-ounce, grass-fed Argentinian ribeye bore a pleasantly herbaceous crust and rivulets of intramuscular fat. The side of chimichurri was "Argentino puro," but the accompanying legumes du moment and classic potatoes au gratin were unmistakably French. Desserts at BISTR09, courtesy of Lisa Astorga-Watel's niece, are spectacular in the literal sense of the word. The chocolate mousse cannoli came stuffed with Kahlúa-infused pastry cream, a mound of dark chocolate mousse on the side, and a creme anglaise spiked with espresso. The components sound overwhelmingly rich on paper, but the boozy bite of the Kahlúa, the high cocoa content of the mousse, and the velutinous anglaise complemented one another. Less successful was a towering apple tart that was more style over substance. The dish was simply too sweet and needed *something* (chocolate sauce or a pinch of fleur de sel in the ice cream, perhaps) to balance out the flavors. Service vacillates between laconic formality and loquacious informality depending on the vibe of the table. Old-guard '09ers tend to experience the former, whereas I (a young, inquisitive solo diner with deep pockets) invariably receive relaxed service and complimentary samples ("amuse bouches," to placate you pedantic francophiles). The informality, however, does not translate to laziness; team members are quick to refill glasses, clear used plates, and offer more bread. If I had one complaint regarding service, it would be the sheer number of specials the servers must commit to memory on a nightly basis. After listening to four or more specials, my mind begins to wander, leading to discomfiture between both parties. In this case, I blame the management, not the servers. Either limit the number of specials offered or print them out on a separate menu. Nitpicks aside, BISTR09 is arguably the best restaurant of its kind in San Antonio since L'Etoile, the bastion of French cuisine that once occupied the same space in Alamo Heights. Nascent CIA grads might consider "French cuisine" a curse word, but Damien Watel and Lisa Astorga-Watel would never say, "Pardon my French." To paraphrase Laurent Gras -- chef de cuisine at L20 in Chicago -- the overall quest for perfection and consistency is what defines French cuisine in America. That driving force is evident at BISTR09. read more

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Driving around San Antonio looking for a happy hour. Stop in to Bistr09. Very cute place, nicely decorated. We started off with drinks which were higher then the website list but still not bad. The bartender was friendly and kind enough to offer us a free appetizer as we were out of towners. The calamari was tasty but a bit too salty for my other half. read more

They do a great job here with outstanding drinks ,great food,and attentive service .Patio seating is great for a more relaxed atmosphere .

We had an amazing Mothers Day brunch. Wait staff was attentive and food was delicious. My only disappointment was they only had 1 high chair which was already taken so we had to hold a 2 year old during lunch. read more

BISTR09 - Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Bistr09 was a new venture for us on New Years Eve! We wanted to enjoy dinner and end 2021. Bistr09 was packed and I'm glad I got reservations early. They had a special four course menu to enjoy with our bottle of wine! First course, I had the lobster bisque which was decent with a strong smell of lobster more than other restaurants. Next course was a spring mix salad that's hard to mess up with. For my main entree I had the beef tenderloin that came with potatoes au gratin and vegetables. Beef tenderloin was okay, I prefer medium rare meat, but they brought it out medium cooked. There wasn't a lot of flavor to the meat and then the potatoes were very salty. Next we had the floating island for dessert, which wasn't bad at all, but the buche de noel was really dry! I like the intimate ambiance, but the food was so so. Maybe the regular menu is better! read more

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Our server Ray was great, very nice and attentive. My meal though, was far from good. I ordered the steak frites, cooked medium. i.e. some pink. What came to me, was an all pink... practically still moo-ing steak. After sending it back, it came back out still decently pink, but it was okay for me. Cutting it though, was practically impossible. The quality of the meat was so bad that there seemed to be a tendon in each piece, that was barely cuttable even with a large streak knife. I know that this is an established chef and not the first of this owner's restaurants. So maybe just give them a few months to adapt to the new menu and it'll be better? read more

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Our first visit to Bistr09 was a good one, and we plan to come back to this new neighborhood place. It's located in Alamo Heights near the Broadway/Austin Highway split. (If you drive past the Alamo Heights City Hall, you've gone too far.) We enjoyed quail risotto, sole meunière, a melon-prosciutto salad, and side dishes of mashed potatoes and extra steamed vegetables. The quail was full of rich flavor; a stolen bite of sole was tender and buttery. The space has white walls, contemporary furnishings, and whimsical art like Bite in Southtown. The dining room was quiet for our early meal, and the service was attentive. We would definitely go back again and bring friends. read more

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Order wine and was served warm. Good taste wasn't impress at all to be a French restaurant. Place is very nice. Service excellent. But food nothing impress as all French cosine read more