Really enjoyed our experience here last night! This family run bistro provides caring, attentive service and no detail is left unchecked. We had the veal medallions and St Jacques scallops. The charcuterie board was delicious as well. They also had a very delicious bottle of Cotê du Rhône at a fair price. We will be back here on our next visit to IRB! read more

The exterior isn't very impressive. Food was great. Interior decorations provides cozy atmosphere. We enjoyed our time there.

Ok, the food was amazing and been to Paris many times. The foie gras was light but the canard a L'Orange was top notch. My wife had the pork medallions with mushroom sauce and it was first rate. Tres bien... read more

In a word, terrible. Let me begin by saying we've been to many amazing French restaurants, here in the US and in France. This was our one and ONLY visit to Gulf Bistro. Hearing that everyone in there was French, we thought we were in a for a treat! We were greeted and seating in a surly manner. My wife asked if they had French wine by the glass and told no...only Californian. Really?! In a French restaurant? French wine only came in a bottle. Since we don't drink much, we opted out. We then ordered pate as an appetizer. It came out in a cold hard slab that tasted just this side of lunch meat. Maybe head cheese. Not kidding. We were given a complimentary salad of wilted BAG lettuce. Finally the the entrees. "My I had a little lamb"...and I mean LITTLE, not the price of course, that was plenty high. The French green bean medley was absolutely from frozen, as were the potatoes. My wife hated her meal as well. I'd say if you're looking for French food, don't look here. read more

We LOVE French food, but a few weeks ago we were extremely disappointed. Our escargot and mussels were COLD and not edible. The pate and foie gras tasted like they were made weeks ago. Nothing was fresh. Unfortunately, the lobster bisque, wine and the bread were the only items we could stomach. I hate to leave bad reviews but this was ridiculous. Maybe they serve leftovers on Tuesdays and we picked a bad night? Either way, we can not recommend. Also, very over priced for food that was not fresh nor delicious. None of our food looked like any of the photos. Perhaps the quality has went down lately. I want to give it another try but after paying $150 for two and eating three bites, I just can't imagine going here again. No, no, no can not recommend. read more

What a lovely dining experience. The food was fresh and amazing flavors. I did the full meal to experience the many courses. The bread was fresh from the oven. The onion soup was good but had a very thin broth. I guess I will always prefer the rich French Onion Soup at Famous-Barr Department Store in downtown St Louis from years gone by. The dinner salad had a delicious house dressing. I had the special snapper with shrimp and bay scallops in a light lobster sauce. The snapper was fresh and meaty and perfectly cooked. Everyone at our table enjoyed their dinner. The pork shank was tender and a huge portion. The pork tenderloin with Brie and berry sauce was tender and delicious and the final entree was the grouper which was also well liked. Deserts were beautifully presented and tasted Devine. The profiteroles were delicious and the ganache was rich and creamy. The owner was also our server and handled all of the tables in this charming cafe'. The ambiance was an unexpected surprise considering the location in a strip mall. It was a delightful evening with my Florida Family. Glad we tried a restaurant none of us had been to. And thank you Yelp for helping us find this gem. read more

Gulf Bistro - French Near Me - Largo, Florida

See all

My parents have been raving about Gulf Bistro for years and now I finally understand why. This is a fabulous restaurant, although you'd never know it to see it from the outside. It's the kind of place where I could have eaten until I made myself sick, it was so good. We tried the Chef's Table D'Hote Special (aka the 4 course prix fixe menu). This is a great value, btw. The lobster bisque was the best I've had in years. The Chateaubriand was simply incredible. Tender, rich, savory. I'm still thinking about it. We sampled a variety of desserts around the table and all were delicious. The chocolate crepes were my personal favorite but the chocolate mousse was also very good. I love that this is a family operation. The owners definitely recognized my parents and were so happy that they brought us (their daughters and sons-in-law) to dinner. They chatted with us throughout the meal and I left with the feeling that we had just had a lovely evening in the owner's home. Great experience, and I look forward to our next visit. read more

Wonderful experience. The place is a hidden gem. It's next to a dry cleaners on the right side as you are heading north on Gulf Blvd. Beautiful decor, cloth napkins and french music. I had the frog legs, escargot and creme brulee. I wasn't really hungry and that's a shame because based on the little dishes I had a full meal would have been a masterpiece. Please do yourself a favor and get dressed up once during your beach vacation and have food that would not be out of place in a high end new york restaurant for a fraction of the price. read more

Gulf Bistro - Front of Restaurant - French Near Me - Largo, Florida

See all

Hidden gem. Do not be discouraged by the outside. Inside it is very charming and intimate. The food and service was wonderful. Many seafood choices. We will definitely return. read more

Our first visit to Gulf Bistro was wonderful! The service was warm and friendly. The French Onion soup was delicious, especially on a chilly night Ike last night! My husband had Duck l'Orange and it was outstanding as was the Bouillabaisse that I had. For dessert, my husband had the Creme Brûlée with flambé Grand Marnier. I had the Crepes with orange marmalade and flambé Grand Marnier. C'est manifique! read more

Gulf Bistro - Crepes with orange marmalade and flambé Grand Marnier - French Near Me - Largo, Florida

See all

I checked this place out with my girlfriend, who spent time living in France, and we were both blown away. It is small and quaint - the perfect date location and the food is amazing yet very reasonable. I was actually shocked that even with four glasses of wine and dessert our total was under $120. I had the veal sweetbreads and it was amazing - as good as anything I have had in the Tampa Bay Area and my girlfriend loved the duck. If you are in the area it is definitely worth checking out. read more

What a wonderful unpretentious and high quality gourmet experience. Gulf Bistro has been serving Classical French cuisine for 16 years. Run by Marie & Frederic, from central France with all of the charm and perfection of true French style. Small and intimate. We were celebrating our 20th Anniversary and hoped for perfection. We got it, without any compromise. Absolutely superb meal, start to finish. Escargot, salade, entres and dessert. My wife enjoyed perfectly prepared Grouper and I had the Confit de Canard. The duck, with a deep-flavored brown sauce was the best I have ever experienced. French wines from the Langedoc region, served by the glass were our choices and were excellent. Crepes and berry a la mode completed our meal to perfection. C'est Magnifique! Merci Marie, Frederic et Isabelle. read more

Three of us went here for dinner on the strength of Yelp reviews, and they did not disappoint. The food was outstanding, especially the fish entrees. The server, an older woman possibly also the owner, was absolutely charming. She noted that everything was homemade, and you could tell by how good the food was. The restaurant itself doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside it is super cute. We were there for a casual business dinner, but I would definitely consider this place for a date, as it is intimate and uncrowded. read more

Very good. We went based on yelp reviews and we were impressed. Did not expect to find a classic French place here. Small, no view, but romantic, intimate, homemade scratch food. Can get pricey if you allow it, we did, but much different than all the other seafood shacks up and down the coast. Nice to see something unique. The special was a flounder in a light egg batter and white wine cream sauce. Fantastic. Deserts were awesome. We will visit again. read more

Beautiful hidden gem! Such a great local catch and family owned. Ambience is perfect for family dinner or romantic night out. Food was delish! Loved the asparagus, French onion soup and escargot and the dessert was incredible. Fantastic service and such a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a high high high recommend! read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service and fantastic ambiance. Highly recommended!!! The onion soup is amazing, they had a Sand Dab special which is delightful and I 'd also recommend getting the Escargot! Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu! read more

First time last night. We all started with Lobster bisque....wonderful. We then enjoyed a wonderfully simple , but tasty salad included with entree. My wife had the Coquille StJacques shrimp and scallops and I had the Snapper Luce. Both dishes were well prepared and outstanding. The service was great. The French Pinot was very good and reasonable at $41.00. French food is my favorite and I am anxious to come back to try many of the other menu items. Well done! read more

First time last night. We all started with Lobster bisque....wonderful. We then enjoyed a wonderfully simple , but tasty salad included with entree. My wife had the Coquille StJacques shrimp and scallops and I had the Snapper Luce. Both dishes were well prepared and outstanding. The service was great. The French Pinot was very good and reasonable at $41.00. French food is my favorite and I am anxious to come back to try many of the other menu items. Well done!! read more

My boss gave me a gift certificate at Christmas and he's a foodie! He has great taste and let me say this place was amazing. From the wine to the dessert. Loved it! You should try read more

Gulf Bistro - Mmmm - French Near Me - Largo, Florida

First time here. Driven by many times. The inside was very nice. Definitely a good place for a romantic evening. I knew it would be pricey and was hoping the food would match the price. I think it was very close. Food and service were both very good, but nothing really stood out as unforgettable. We had the lobster bisque and the French onion soup to start. Again, very good but not the best we've tried. Main course was the surf and turf, filet and lobster. Both were delicious. Wife got the Sea Bass, and again, she said it was good but not memorable. We decided to have dessert also and we enjoyed the chocolate mousse and chocolate pouf pastry. Would I recommend the Gulf Bistro? Yes, but with the understanding you will be paying a high price. Will you enjoy it? Yes, but you might get the same experience at another restaurant without the $$$ cost. read more

Gulf Bistro - Nice atmosphere. - French Near Me - Largo, Florida

Wow just stopped in here for a quick bite to eat and wow hands down amazing the food is fantastic and the staff is on top of it and very nice such a beautiful atmosphere as well I will definitely be returning I think the mussels were the best mussels I've ever had in my life yum totally recommend read more

I came in expecting a decent meal and was pretty disappointed. This restaurant pretends to be fancy but imitation lobster meat looks very sad in a French restaurant dish. The sauces are good but the meat and fish is bland. read more

We had an excellent experience at Gulf Bistro. Ordered a fantastic bottle of wine - I think it was called a Vaqueryos? Then we both chose the complete meal option which adds an appetizer, salad and dessert to your entree for just $14. Started with lobster bisque and French onion soup, both delicious. Good house salad. Then we had the duck leg confit in berry sauce - amazingly tender, great flavor, with three sides - and the mahi mahi with onions, mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and sesame butter sauce - perfectly cooked, really delicious. But the star here was dessert: creme brulee with flambeed Grand Marnier - creamy and smooth with a perfect sugar crust - and nougat glace - some kind of frozen almond mousse drizzled with chocolate and caramel and almonds - we've never had anything like it and it was excellent! Service was prompt and considerate, decor is lovely, and the food is spectacular! Definitely a great spot. read more

See all

Best meal I've had in a long time! And the service was awesome. Very Friendly and the pace of the meal was perfect. The veal sweetbreads were so tender and the mushroom brandy sauce was savory and delicious. I can't wait to go back. I think I've mentioned my dinner from last night to everyone I've talked today... I can't get it out of my mind. read more

Food was fabulous!! Place was immaculate and the host was amazing! Highly recommend this place for birthdays, regular romantic dinner, or just for great food!! Will definitely recommend and visit this place again!! read more

What a lovely place! The meal, the service, the hospitality- all superb. Best French onion soup I've ever had. Amazing duck. Dessert crepes wonderful. Fantastic French wines. Can't wait to make this a regular place! read more

This bistro is fantastic. Food is so consistent. Haven't had a bad meal. Mary provides exceptional service with a great personality. We had dinner this evening and felt very comfortable with the safety measures in place. Appropriate distancing and mask protocols in place. Hanger steak, lamb chops and pork dish were all on point! read more

We moved here from France a few years ago and can say this is the most authentic French restaurant around. Absolutely lovely.

A hidden gem on Madeira Beach. I was blown away by the quaintness and quality of the food that was being prepared in this French bistro. I found the service to be fantastic and the food to be even more extraordinary. My favorite had to be the French onion soup that was served bubbling hot and cheesy. The French wines offered where very adequate and even better priced. I would recommend this bistro to any other that I have frequented on the beach. Plan your next evening at the Gulf Bistro. read more

What an amazing experience! Enjoyed every moment of our dinner! The service, food, atmosphere!

You don't tend to find a place like this at the beach. It's not kitchy. It's not a chain. It's not fried fish. It's not typical "beach food." It's a cute little French bistro right on Gulf Blvd with tons of less interesting, more "expected" options around that are pretty much all alike. These guys are a standout. The food is solid. It's not amazing, but it's pretty darn good. It's owned by a couple -- he cooks, she serves. They have a special 4-course meal... just add $8.95 to any entree and get one of a select group of appetizers, a salad, and dessert. We did, and we enjoyed it. (I thought the porc a l'Ancienne -- a mustardy pork loin with julienned ham -- was pretty near perfect.) I found the food a little "country" as French food goes, and that's perfect for the beach, perfect for what I wanted, and I'll go back. My one piece of advise would be to work on climate control. It was a bit stuffy in the dining room. read more

This place was awesome. Expect to spend some time as everything is freshly prepared as ordered. The appetizers are great and the wine selections were even better. I had a duck Potter with preserves and it was awesome. She had the pork loin and it was tasty as well. I will be going back in the future. Be sure to make reservations if you aren't there when they first open. read more

What a find! After owning a beach condo in the area for over 4 years and driving by this small, unassuming restaurant thousands of times, we finally gave it a try. We went for the Bouillabaisse and it did not disappoint!! It was wonderful. The ambiance is warm and inviting. Don't let the outside fool you. While I cannot vouch for other menu items, we are looking forward to going back and trying more of the French Chef's dishes. The owners are a French couple; the husband is the chef and the wife handles the dining room. Our service was prompt and friendly. read more

Amazing French cuisine! Excellent customer service! Romantic atmosphere! You feel Like you are literally in Europe! My husband is Belgian and he said the food is very authentic and he loves to speak with the French couple that own and run the place! It's like going home for him. I love the lobster bisque soup, all the fish entrees and the creme brûlée dessert, out of this world! Yum! read more

I'll admit I'm not a French food connoisseur by any means, but I definitely feel like I've been missing out now. A very good restaurant both in food and hospitality. Definitely feels family-run and the people couldn't be friendlier. Small and quaint but popular so reservations are recommended. My wife and I like to share the country salad and soup first and they happily will split the salad for you. Entrée s all are very chef inspired and fresh. For those of you who are skeptical about French food there is nothing to worry about they serve things you would eat at other restaurants with a little twist that makes it all the more delicious. Make sure to try the Grand Marnier creme brulee and leave time to relax and enjoy the laid back atmosphere here. This isn't a rushed restaurant like Chili's. read more

This place is a hidden Gem. Our food was great and the service was even better. Really cute place for a hot date. Love it

After a failed meal at Cafe Largo during a prior visit to Tampa Bay 6 months ago, we were seeking a French cuisine restaurant in the area. To set the stage my standards for french food are high based on their food culture. The 3 star rating is based on mixed reviews in our party of 6. Some pleased and others not. For me individually the same experience...parts of the meal good and others not. The French Onion soup was very tasty however the special for the night, Coq au Vin, was overcooked and I ate only a few bites. Soooo our search for a good French restaurant in Tampa Bay continues....Parts of Paris in Safety Harbor...the Black Pearl in Dunedin...any in Tampa? read more

J'adore!!! Love love this place. It's run by a lovely couple. She works the front and he works the kitchen. Great ambiance, service amazing and the food c'est manifique! read more

What wonderful food! Great little quiet place. Our best meal all week. The sauces that they use are to die for! Don't pass this one by. Our server was friendly and wonderful. The best stop on the beach. read more

What a wonderful break from the fried fish joints. I had the bouillabaisse converted into the four course meal and I strongly suggest the four course option. Great flavor, kind attentive service, a real peaceful atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great French food. The chef's wife is the server and she was amazing. What a nice place! GO HERE! read more