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    Bistro 218

    4.2 (204 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Bistro 218 Photos

    BISTRO 218 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Bistro 218

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    Nancy C.

    Our first vid it before a movie at the Sidewalk theatre. Cute place. We had a drink at the bar first. Disappointed that they had so many selections for Chardonnay but none for a Moscato. We were seated upstairs. Food was great. Service was stellar. Will come again. Maybe next time the will offer the Moscato!

    Meagan A.

    My boyfriend and I snagged a last minute reservation while we were out Saturday night. We sat in the bar dining room which was nice. We enjoy sitting at the bar and having a meal, but this was a bit more intimate and perfect for the night. Sadly, I was way too excited about our meals to remember to snap a pic, but he ordered the steak frites and I had the duck compote. Both were amazing Lastly we ordered the dark chocolate olive oil cake for dessert and it was wonderful as well! Definitely could have eaten it all on my own

    Dulce R.

    Everything was delicious and the service was phenomenal. We went for a friends birthday and they had a birthday card on the table for her, it was a very cute touch. Everything we ordered was a 10/10 and we will definitely be coming back.

    Harrell B.

    This is truly one of my favorite Dinner spots in the 'Ham. The setting is refined, yet comfortable and inviting. The staff and service are quite exceptional and the food is beautifully prepared and presented. A fine wine menu and craft cocktails are complimented by an array of epicurean appetizers. The entrees and deserts are on par with any fine French Creole New Orleans restaurant. Well done folks, I'll be back for more.

    Redfish
    Sara W.

    Highly recommend! Great date night or girls night spot. Our waiter, Mark, was wonderful and so friendly. The food was outstanding! I will be coming back soon!

    Rod G.

    If you're looking for an elegant fine dining experience in the downtown Birmingham area, Bistro 218 is an excellent choice. It is described as a French-inspired bistro fare serving entrees such as duck confit in a brick-walled space with a warm and intimate vibe. First, they offer a convenient valet service if you don't want to circle around in search of street parking. This was our second experience and thankfully it did not disappoint. We were promptly seated by a friendly hostess and then greeted by our enthusiastic server, Chad. He was completely knowledgable about the menu items, made recommendations and worked diligently to provide us with a great dining experience. There is an extensive wine and cocktail menu to browse. All entrees are thoughtfully conceived and utilize fresh local ingredients in many cases. Everything is made fresh in house. Our party of four selected a variety of delicious items from the menu including fried green tomatoes, charred Spanish octopus, Maryland style crab cakes, blackened wild Louisiana redfish, chicken paillards with risotto, vanilla bean Crème brûlée and coconut cheesecake. I believe the menu changes daily but seems to include a few standard items. Overall, this restaurant checks all the boxes... elevated cuisine and excellent service in a pleasing environment. We will definitely be back!

    BLT Salad
    Alison L.

    Very kind and attentive service and a classy atmosphere. The highlight was the house cured pork belly, which was perfectly crispy and melted in your mouth. It was delicious over grits with a runny egg. The charred Spanish octopus was tender and delicious with romesco and chorizo. The bone marrow was good, but did not stand out in comparison. The BLT salad wasn't special, but the bacon in it was amazing. The red snapper was a bit salty, but it was tender and soft. The beef Wellington lacked complexity of flavor, and the quality of meat could have been a little better. The chocolate olive oil cake wasn't anything special. However, the Caramel French Press Coffee Martini is a must.

    Vanilla Creme Brulee
    Jade T.

    Had a wonderful time! Amelia gave us the best service and the food was so delicious. We had a very nice table up on the loft, would definitely recommend opting for that spot. We will absolutely be back!

    Sarah W.

    Elegance .... Seems like a NYC fine dining.... Easy to listen and talk because the noise level is low. Excellent cocktails. My favorite restaurant anytime... but especially for special occasions....

    Maryland Maryland Style Crab Cakes
    The C.

    Before we get into the food, let's talk about the service: I'll get right to it: we had the best service that we've ever received in our lives. Mark took care of us from beginning to end with no complaints. He made wonderful suggestions from starters, drinks, entrees, to dessert -- they all were on point. Now as for everything else: I had made reservations for my girlfriend's birthday and, we thought it to be a nice touch that they had separate areas for casual-ish dining and the "more exclusive" experience. We sat alone for about an hour in a nice dining area as we were served water and a delicious French bread which name escapes me. Mark recommended the Maryland Crab Cakes as a starter with a smoky style chili oil and lemon white wine butter sauce. EASILY the best crab cakes we've had. Full of tender, fresh crab meat and the exterior had a light but firm crunch. The entrees were also fantastic. Girlfriend had the Free Range Chicken Paillards that she fell in love with and I had the Steak Frites. The steak was tender and to my liking, although I probably should've went with a medium option rather than medium well. Frites were delicious and didn't taste of any grease whatsoever. Dessert was on the house for her birthday so she chose the créme brûlée. I myself am not a fan of créme brûlée, but she is and she loved it. Drinks were also good! Overall, we enjoyed our experience -- 5/5. We will return.

    $52 New York strip. Awfully cooked. A trow away
    Max F.

    Really bad food experience this time! The appetizers are, at most, OK. Odd mix of flavors. Some came out kind of cold. My $52 new york strip steak was the worst steak I ever had at an upscale restaurant. The overall flavor was OK, but they turned a medium to medium-rare order into a well-cooked cheap hamburger! My jaw got sore the day after because of how hard that thing was to chew. I could not make a scene during the meeting, so I swallowed it in a one-hour-long process, but in any other situation, I would have talked to the manager. A colleague with whom I shared a few bites of it afterward told me, "That was not a medium-rare". Also, no aging whatsoever; salty seasoning; ...it was an awful thing to eat!! The ambiance is always great. Service is stellar good! Parking wasn't too bad this time. The music, though, was way too loud; we had a hard time talking to each other, and considering we were there for a business dinner, we may have to scratch this restaurant off the list just because of this issue. We'll pass for a while

    West Indies Salad, Watermelon Salad
    Timothy B.

    I've been here half a dozen times or so and tonight was the best yet. The team did a great job from the seasoning on the ciabatta at the start to the freshness of the "West Indies Salad" and the cook on the chicken paillard, (atop a well-executed "mirepoix risotto" ) my wife and I enjoyed a meal with my father on a random Friday night: no special occasion, the room was clean, quiet, and the mood was just pleasant. Good coffee too! Four stars only because we found the deserts (blueberry tart, peach tart) to be a bit lack-lust, maybe just slightly less than fresh, though tasty. But my dad very much enjoyed the cherry chocolate cake option. And that has been my experience here, the meal is phenomenal up until the deserts, which underwhelm. But this is becoming a go-to place for us, it's classy and never stuffy, always welcoming, and with friendly staff who are relaxed but prompt and professional. Thanks for a good dinner! Reasonably priced for 3 courses for three people!

    Connor H.

    Fantastic dinner experience in downtown Birmingham. Incredible flavors, friendly and attentive staff, and a lovely dining room that's great for an intimate dinner for two or a larger group. Will be back, and I highly recommend for any occasion.

    Snapper. Yom Yom Yom Yom!!!!

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    9 months ago

    Never disappoints! Atmosphere, food and service is excellent. One of the best bar seats in Birmingham.

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    Ask the Community - Bistro 218

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    Bistro 218 - french - Updated May 2026

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