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Bistronomy By Nico

4.6 (198 reviews)
Open • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Bistronomy By Nico French Restaurant Photos

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BISTRONOMY BY NICO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Upscale
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Happy hour menu buried in the back of this clipboard menu.
Laura P.

We have been here a few times - the first was fantastic! The second was ruined by the bartender who kept asking us is it good? Isn't it just the best? So we never had a chance to answer. Well, second time it wasn't that magical. So we went back almost 3 years later with friends from out of town for the infamous burger special on Monday. We sat on the patio which was small but cute. We had one waitress in training and one who I guess was training. It really was like the 3 stooges - she got so many things wrong such as telling us to hurry up and get the burger since happy hour was ending etc. The burger was good - not a fan of the fries. The Maison fries are so good- these were meh. Anyway, that's it.

Anne O.

We've done couples date night here about 5 times now and love this spot. Each time we go we try new cocktails, starters, mains, and desserts. This is a an upscale spot that is sure to satisfy a foodie's palate. The staff is also wonderful and very friendly. Resy is best!!

Wagyu burger
Lindsay D.

Mondays are half price burger nights! Delicious Wagyu burger with caramelized onions, cheese, bistro sauce and pickles plus it comes with fries. They also have happy hour with $6 house wine, beer and well cocktails. Friendly staff and good vibes.

Flounder
Bari T.

We were looking forward to eating here. It's a cute tastefully decorated restaurant. Kristen greeted us and was an absolute ray of sunshine. She was fun, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the Baguette, Octopus, and Goat Cheese Spring Rolls. The Baguette and Octopus were delicious. The Spring Rolls were good and are very Goat Cheese forward. It took awhile for our food to come out but Kristen did a great job of checking in with us. We had the Bourride, Scallops, Flounder, and Burger. All of the food was good. None of them were stand out dishes for us. Give it a try and see what you think.

Kelly G.

Nico's never disappoints! This charming little spot tucked just off King Street is one of my favorite go to places for a consistently excellent meal and attentive service. The food is always flavorful and thoughtfully prepared. If it's your first visit, do not skip the goat cheese eggrolls they're amazing ! The escargot dumplings are another standout, rich, buttery, and perfectly balanced. For mains, the short rib is melt in your mouth delicious, and their rotating catch of the day is always fresh and beautifully presented. The space is cozy and intimate, but well laid out , you get that romantic, tucked-away feel without being cramped or too close to other tables. Parking: There's a small lot right next to the restaurant with a few spaces, and street parking nearby is usually available without too much hassle. Nico's is truly a local gem....perfect for date night, dinner with friends, or just treating yourself to a great meal in a welcoming atmosphere.

Espresso martini

We sat on the covered porch area which was very nice! We had 3 apps (pictured below) which were all delicious but honestly the Wagyu burger (which I did not get a photo of) was SO GOOD! Half off burger on Mondays!

Bee Stoned, burn sage - gin, apricot,  honey, lemon and sage.
Michael M.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE dining at Bistronomy by Nico! The service is awesome, with warm welcomes and great service each time. The interior had a nice long bar, with seating around the perimeter. Plus there is outdoor seating in the nice weather. We had a wonderful dining experience with friends on a Sunday night, and the night was so pleasant. The cocktails are amazing and the wine menu has many offerings. On this visit we had the goat cheese spring rolls and the salad for starters. Then the naked fish special was awesome. While the main offering was snapper, I had it with flounder and felt this was even better than the snapper. The fish was moist & delicate, and the coconut rice served added such a unique flavor. We splurged and had the Basque cheesecake afterwards, and a final round of expresso martinis to end the night. If you are looking for a superb dining experience, check out Bistonomy By Nico.

Patio area (Bastille Day)
Carly M.

I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Bistronomy is an absolute hidden gem in Charleston, and it deserves far more attention than it gets. I've now dined here seven or eight times, and each experience has been consistently exceptional. From the food to the cocktails to the service, everything at Bistronomy feels intentional, elevated, and genuinely inspired. Chef Jim O'Connor takes the time to think through each and every ingredient and dish placed on their menu. I wish I could deep dive into each dish I've had over time, but to try and fit all my praise into one review feels nearly impossible. Instead, I'll highlight a few current favorites, though the menu evolves regularly, which I love. First and foremost: the escargot dumplings. If you go, please do yourself a favor and order a side of baguette to go with them (a tip from Kristen, the incredible bar manager who always seems to have the best recommendations). They're rich, decadent, and beautifully balanced. The bone marrow is also outstanding. It's silky, savory, and served with thoughtful accompaniments. I keep returning to the beef tartare, which is always impeccably seasoned, and the tuna crudo, which is delicate and vibrant in all the right ways. Every dish I've tried feels like it's been perfected. Now let's talk cocktails--because they are truly something special here. My personal favorites are the Bee Stoned, Burn Sage (bright and smoky), and the Palm Down Have a Coconut (fun, tropical). The drinks are incredibly well-balanced and creative, and you can tell the bar team puts real thought into each ingredient. And if cocktails aren't your thing, the wine list is impressively deep, with something for every palate. Though I haven't made it in for brunch yet, it's absolutely on my list, and if it's anything like their dinner service, I'm sure it will be just as thoughtfully executed. Something that makes Bistronomy even more special to me: I actually had the opportunity to work here briefly for just a couple of months last summer before I changed careers. I've worked in food and beverage for a large portion of my life, and I can honestly say this is the only restaurant I've ever worked at that I continue to recommend to people, over and over again. Here's why: the kitchen is clean, the ingredients are fresh (and often VERY local), and the chefs are not only highly trained but deeply passionate about their craft. The service staff is incredibly professional and knowledgeable, and the overall vibe is warm, intentional, and welcoming. It's clear that management and ownership care deeply--not just about the guest experience, but about the people who make that experience possible behind the scenes. Whether you're a Charleston local or just visiting, Bistronomy should absolutely be on your list. I'm always surprised more people don't know about it, but in a way, that makes it feel even more special, like you're in on a secret. Try it. You won't regret it. In fact, you might just find your new favorite restaurant.

Steak, frites, and a glass of wine
Stacey P.

Bistronomy by Nico is fabulous. A bright restaurant slightly off the tourist path, but in easy walking distance Bistronomy was a very welcoming restaurant. I came in on a weeknight and was seated at the bar after a greeting that brought a smile to my face. Throughout the night the entire staff was extremely warm and gracious. People who were working at other parts of the restaurant would stop and strike up a brief conversation while filling a glass of wine or grabbing a cocktail. It just was lovely. I ordered the steak prepared medium rare and what an utter delight. It was cooked perfectly, was the best portion size, and utterly delicious. It just had enough salt to really capture the tasty meat. The hand-cut fries were spectacular too. I've been to plenty of restaurants that boosted about making their own fries and majority of the time the fries are limp and greasy. These were nice and crispy with a soft center - my fave! All in all a fantastic experience!

Scallops with coconut rice
Steve M.

One Dish kept this from being a perfect meal Our waiter, (Dexter), was great. We started this meal with Mussels and frits. The frits was prefect vessel to soak up butter, coconut lime broth For our second appetizer we shared softshell crabs. This crab was served on a bed of corn, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers and gnocchi. The corn medley was so good, I think Nico should incorporate it into their daily menu. If I could do it over, I would have taken the option of adding a second softshell and made this my main dish. The wife's Scallops were perfectly cooked served on top of an excellent coconut rice with snap peas and a green curry beurre Blanc. My Duck L'Orange, was the single miss step in our meal. The dish was a bland and the duck slightly undercooked. Compare the picture I posted with this review, to the picture on Nico's Facebook page, and it is clear this isn't the same dish. We finished with 2 deserts: Mine was a very nice Crème brûlée that was fired table side.

Brownie with ice cream, pecans, blueberries, and caramel sauce
Randy H.

This was our favorite Charleston restaurant. It is off the heavily tourist area but not too far away. It has a more relaxed atmosphere and not too noisy. The staff were excellent. We sat at the bar and marveled at the bartender, who happened to be pregnant, who was doing twirls while preparing drinks. A joy to watch. We started with the Tuna Crudo. I didn't get a picture of this one as my wife and I leapt right in and started eating. Even though jalapeños are in the dish, it is not spicy. The tuna with the watermelon and cucumber swimming in ponzu, sesame oil and sorghum was a delightful way to start the meal. My wife generally does not eat raw fish but she enjoyed this. My wife had the grouper special which she enjoyed and I had the scallops which were excellently prepared. Both of our dishes had the coconut rice & English peas. This alone was worth the meal. Topped with the proteins that were expertly done - awesomeness. We ended our meal with the deep dish creme brulee and the brownie desserts. The creme brûlée was bruleed at the table so that is fun. I forgot to talk about the drink - the buttered Old Fashioned - Excellent. For an excellent dinner - this is the place to go. It was also recommended by our Culinary Tour guide - Alice. Thank you for the tip!

Espresso martini
Shayla C.

My sister and I took a quick trip to Charleston to handle some business matters. While staying in the French quarter, we stumbled across a Bistronomy. We weren't super hungry so we decided to just grab a couple of appetizers and a couple cocktails. As far as ambience, this place is cute and quaint with a modern feel and indoor/outdoor seating. I think it would make a nice date night. We ordered two cocktails, me an espresso martini and my sister, a peach martini. Both were good, but nothing particularly special. I'm also a fan of being given a choice to have Irish cream added to my espresso martini, that did not happen. For appetizers, we ordered the toasted French baguette and two Shrimp Dumpling Soups. I will say the broth of the soup had a wonderful spice to it with a subtle sweetness that was pleasing to the pallet. The dumplings however, needed some work. I tasted a lot of rice, some minced shrimp and I believe chopped ginger and water chestnuts. I've had steamed shrimp shumai several places that are delicious and would have been perfect in that soup. My sister did not like it at all. I thought it was decent, but not something I would order again. We both made the best of it and dipped our hot crusty bread in the broth to feel satiated. The desert choices didn't sound that intriguing, so we decided to skip dessert. All in all, I probably would skip this spot the next time I'm in Charleston because I'm told by locals there are so many other wonderful food choices.

Tuna Tartare
Emma P.

This is going to sound crazy but their beef carpaccio taste like old school pizza parlor pizza ... and I'm here for it! There is something about the berry hoisin that just gives me that familiar taste. My favorite thing has got to be the curry shrimp soup. I recommend getting a baguette to accompany the soup so you don't waste a drop. The goat cheese spring rolls left a little something to be desired, I wanted a little better ratio of the pickled veggies to cheese, but overall a great option for the goat cheese lovers. I was not a fan of the brussels sprouts, and I love brussels sprouts. I would like to see these have a better crunch, perhaps crispy bacon on them... I also did not feel they were cooked enough. The cocktails here are delightful. They taste great, and the presentation mimics a high-end cocktail bar.

Creme Brule

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4 months ago

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Thanks, Jay! So glad you enjoyed your time and celebrating with us.

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2 months ago

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Thank you so much, Anne! So glad you enjoy dining with us.

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Thanks, Lindsay!

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Thanks, Hayley! So glad you enjoyed.

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3 months ago

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Thank you so much, Michael! So glad you loved it.

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Glad you enjoyed, Ava.

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7 months ago

A great late dinner, great apps, wine and desert with great service! Nice French touch.

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Merci Kevin! I hope we can see you again soon.

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Page 1 of 5

Ask the Community - Bistronomy By Nico

Is this place good for vegetarians?

Yes! We have many dishes that are vegetarian.

Do you have gluten and dairy free options?

Yes! We have many gluten free and a few dairy free options!

Is this place accessible for someone with a walker?

there is a very low step up before going into the door, but beyond that there should not be an issue

Is there a Dress code?

We appreciate you asking, Jeremy! Merci! We would suggest business casual!

What's the noise level like? This was a problem in the former restaurant at this site.

Very low

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Bistronomy By Nico - french - Updated May 2026

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