I'm waiting for the perfect night to head back over to Milou. It's a fabulous place with very cool, very hip wait staff. They're polite and easy with their smiles. I went around 5pm on a weekday. Had a $10 martini (HH price), half dozen oysters, endive salad, French onion soup, and their crème brûlée... ate everything. Would have licked the plates. 1) it was a strong martini. Lovely 2) BEAUTIFUL oysters and I eat a lot of oysters 3) sweet and nutty endive salad. Crunchy from the nuts, crispy from the endives, sweet dressing with some chili flakes to wrap it all together. Didn't lick my plate, but I did lick my fork all the way to my fingers 4) hearty French onion soup. Wasn't too salty. Good amount of bread and cheese. Fabulous. Comforting 5) ended it all with crème brûlée. Not the smoothest, but they had vanilla bean in it and a nice crust on top, so I'm not complaining. read more

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After years of having this place on my radar, a friend and I finally came here for breakfast and we were not disappointed. We arrived shortly after they opened, the aesthetic is eclectic and simple. The seating arrangements are comfortable and available indoors and outdoors. We both got their classic breakfast with double smoked bacon; I opted for a beer ginger drink and my friend ordered a chai latte with oat milk. She really enjoyed her drink, and it was a decent size. Whereas my beer and ginger juice was delicious yet on the small side, especially since ice cubes took up a lot of space. As for the meal itself, the eggs with crème fraîche was out of this world! They were the most delicious eggs I've ever eaten. I wish the portion was slightly bigger. The double smoked bacon was perfectly cooked and not greasy. It was thick and not overly salty. They fill up the rest of the plate with 3-4 slices of sourdough and I appreciated that they butters the toast and offered us jam. Overall the plate was fresh and delicious. I' savoured each bite. The service was good, attentive and friendly. Towards the end of our meal, it was getting busy and the noise volume increased, so just a heads up to anyone who doesn't like loud spaces. The music was on point though and I can imagine on a warmer day, the patio would also be a cool vibe to experience. One note I feel is needed to mention is the bathroom. I almost missed the steps descending down to the bathroom because the area is poorly lit. This is a safety issue. Secondly, if you're tall like me, the stalls are very tight and claustrophobic. I barely had any room in the stall and it was very uncomfortable; be careful if you're bringing your purse/phone cause there's no space and I could easily see how things can drop in the toilet. I would highly recommend the business investing into this a little more. read more

Milou - Traditional breakfast with double smoked bacon - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We walk past Milou often, and often comment on the great vibe - especially in the warmer weather. We finally got round to booking a table - unfortunately it was a rainy day, we did get a table next to the large windows. The vibe didn't disappoint, and neither did the service. We ended up ordering two starters, one main and one dessert and sharing everything. For starters, we had the shrimp cocktail and the market option - a spicy tuna tartare with a quail egg. Both were beautifully presented, and tasted great - the tuna tartare was perfectly balanced flavours. The duck confit was strange, in that the meat was not shredded as expected. It was a great dish, though the duck we had at Le Baratin a few blocks up was better. The sauce and crispy rice were a great combination. We finished off with a great basque cheesecake. Overall, this was a great, vibrant, restaurant with very good food and service. Would come again. read more

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Walking in it is cozy but loud. Ambiance is like a hipster bar. We didn't have any reservations but there was bar seating available. There is a standing coat rack near the entrance. The entrance is two sets of doors so no draft when people come in and out! They have a very extensive cocktail and wine menu. There are also plates du jour (an entree and dessert). I ordered the duck confit over crispy rice and orange sauce. My companions ordered the chicken with maitake mushrooms and the burger. We shared the crème brûlée and basque cheesecake. I really enjoyed my dish! The duck was cooked perfectly. Duck was moist and flavorful. The crispy rice gave it a nice texture and helped make it a more filling dish. The orange sauce is a classic pairing with duck. The basque cheesecake has some delicious cherries! But the cheesecake itself was a little more burnt than I personally prefer. The crème brûlée had a very thick caramelized layer on top. But the creme was smooth and sweet. It'd be a great spot for a date night. But those with sensitive ears should proceed with caution. For three people I think it was about $135 CAD maybe $160 CAD after tax and tip. read more

Milou - Duck confit - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

After popping by for a drink in the summer, we'd been meaning to stop into Milou for a full meal for a while. We finally managed to make the time on a recent Saturday. For me, atmosphere and ambiance are just as important as the food and drinks, so I was more than a little disappointed when we were shown to a small table right by the door. We were so close to the door, in fact, that I found myself making awkward eye contact with everyone that walked in. Far worse, our table was about six inches away from the table next to ours, which made private conversation impossible and essentially killed anything resembling an intimate vibe. Thankfully the food and drinks made up for the lackluster atmosphere. I started with one of their martinis and it was absolutely fantastic. If there's a better martini anywhere in the city, I'd be surprised. The food was just as good. We started with their delicious bread and delectable butter, and followed that up with the above-average French Onion Soup. The Bitter Greens Salad managed the impossible: it made radicchio delicious. And finally, the Steak Frites ended the meal on an absolutely jaw-dropping note. I can't remember when (or even if) I've ever had steak this flavorful and this tender. Absolutely incredible. Aside from the far-from-romantic feel, I very much enjoyed my meal at Milou. Maybe we'll return someday and I'll request a more intimate table. read more

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A neighbourhood staple. I usually go for brunch (10/10 btw) so decided to try for dinner. IMHO I would come back for the tartare and steak frites but the chicken was a bit disappointing. Would happily come back but the dinner menu is a bit lean for my style. Menu is way more suitable for drinks and small shareable bites -- perhaps less so if you're there for an entree of your own like at brunch! Continues to be a great neighbourhood spot with impeccable service and vibes. I will definitely come back! read more

Milou - Steak frites, roasted chicken - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Vibe was nice inside, service was solid. Wine menu was really great and we tried a couple of hidden gems. Seafood was a skip for me but the mains (duck confit and steak frites) were delicious, and I loved the creme brulee. read more

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A cute little french inspired restaurant along Little Italy. The ambiance was great when you step in with good lighting and cozy candles on each table. Menu is small but simple and did take me back to Paris. Intimate date night or girls night out. Ordered the ratatouille and steak frites to share. If you don't like olives, skip the ratatouille. but otherwise it was tomato forward and tasty. Steak frites were done medium rare as requested and the peppercorn sauce went really well with th e steak. Not too many wait staff but the were attentive so it didn't feel like they were low on staffing at all. read more

Milou - steak frites - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Returned to Milou for happy hour and had some snack food. Ordered a half dozen of East Coast oysters ( forgot the name) and shrimp cocktail. Both of them were decent. Also enjoyed $10 Time & Place Farmhouse cider from Rebel, Guelph. They have Mon-Fri $10 Martini & Cosmo happy hour as well. read more

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My friends and I were in the area and ended up coming in for some food. The food was sooo good, although expensive, I don't mind splurging every so often for good food. I would've given this place a 5 star if we got better service. The waitress was quite rude from the beginning. But it wasn't a big deal to me as she might have been having a bad day. However, I thought it was rude and when she asked my friend "have you ever had a g&t before?" after my friend told her it didn't taste good and was a bit strong for her. We are all in our early 20s too, so maybe she thought we were young and didn't know what alcohol tasted like lol. On the other hand, our other 2 drinks were fantastic. It was super cute inside as well, would be great for a date night. read more

Milou - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Part of a longer review... The ambiance is just shy of romantic, with clean lines and furnishings that whisper rather than shout. An open kitchen and wood accents lend a warmth that balances the crisp, minimalist aesthetic, while a Rolex clock suspended from the ceiling hints at a touch of understated luxury. The ambiance is inviting whether you've come for brunch, a lingering lunch, or an evening dinner, shifting seamlessly from day to night with an ease few places master. read more

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Ok for some reason multiple people told me I need to eat here??? I was kinda late for my res and they were chill about it so A+ for that. Otherwise the service here was MAD SLOW !!!! I was bouta get up and leave. Genuinely it took like 1.5 hrs for our dishes to come out ... disappointing. Like did yall forget im here??? Wanted to like it more , the mushroom risotto and ratatouille made up for it but I also wonder if the food rly was that good or I was WAITING so long that it felt like it tasted that great. I'll give benefit of the doubt and say it was yummy. I'd kinda only come back if someone else was paying and I had previously ate , so that by the time the food comes out I'm hungry again. Lol read more

Milou - Ambiance - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I was a bit nervous about the menu as a vegan going to a somewhat mysterious French restaurant (tough to find a menu online!). However, super-friendly servers and good music and cozy atmospheres meant it turned out well! There was a vegan-friendly dish that was delicious, and I had so much fun trying the cocktails and interacting with the staff. read more

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such sweet staff and very quick service. a beautiful place to enjoy lunch and a drink! read more

Milou - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Wanted to try this French restaurant as we heard great reviews from friends. The restaurant is small but cozy, perfect for a night out with friends or a date. Service was fabulous from the start. We ordered a few happy hour cocktails before diving into the menu. We started with the steak tartare, french onion soup and bitter greens. The steak tartare was a bit spicy but not the best I've had in the city. The french onion soup had great flavour and crispy croutons but felt it was a bit thick and salty. Our table LOVED the bitter greens. The salad was so fresh and crunchy, perfect balance to the other apps. For our mains our table shared the steak frites and the burger. The steak was cooked perfectly and the fries were delicious. The burger was very good as well. I would reorder the steak frites again. The bill is a little pricey but seems on par with most restaurants in Toronto. read more

I rarely venture in this neighborhood, but I'm glad I did! We had an early dinner (~5:30pm), since we didn't make a reservation on a weekend. My husband ordered a French onion soup to start, steak and frites for his main. I wasn't really hungry, so I just ordered a main, duck confit. I liked how simple their menu is, there were only 4 mains to choose from. My husband really like the French onion soup. It had a hint of sweetness from the onion, which was enhanced by the savouriness of the melted cheese. He ordered his steak medium rare and it was cooked just right. I was glad the fries weren't shoe string fries. It paired really well with the aioli. The skin of my duck confit was crispy and the meat was tender. The compote was slightly tart which helped balance the richness of the duck. The confit was served on on bed of kale & green beans, making the presentation of the dish very attractive. Service was great! Our server was super attentive and gave us an extra spoon for me to try out my husband's soup. read more

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A couple friends treated to a belated Bday dinner and they took me to this cute French bistro on Dundas Street West. Intimate space inside with not a lot of seating. Tables were on the small and the menu was limited. We shared a couple sides and ordered our own mains. We started with the crispy mushrooms and Caesar salad. They both were good and decent size for sharing. The Caesar salad has a big strip of thick cut bacon which was nice and crispy. I wasn't blown away with the mushrooms they were decent but nothing to write home about. For my main, I ordered the duck leg confit. The duck itself was very good, crispy and tender. It had a nice dollop of sweet potato puree which tasted like it was blended with apricots. Very tasty and clever pairing. The greens on the bottom of the duck was not as memorable. A combo of Kale and green beans. I didn't find it very cohesive to the duck and it was a bit under and tasted like it was dressed with a little lemon. It seemed like a after thought. Our server was a fast talker and hard to understand. Didn't find him overly friendly but he did the job. read more

Milou - Duck Confit. The Sweet potato puree was nice. A good dish - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My son has been wanting to come to this restaurant and decide to treat us to a special dinner. On arrival we were promptly greeted and informed that at that moment, 4:45pm, they were only snacks. Dinner service would not start until 5pm. We decided to sit and wait. In the meantime, we were able to get a menu to review until it was time to order. At 5pm we gave our order. To start, we had the escargot. This was creamy and the snails were large, however, it was salty. This was served with toast, which had a nice crust. With the crust, it did make a good amount of crumb dropping on the table. Only to see the wait staff set our knife and fork for the main course directly on the table with all the crumbs. I would think for the caliber of restaurant, she would have cleaned the crumbs up before setting the cutlery on the table. We received our mains. Steak Frit and Duck Confit. The steak didn't really have much flavour. Nothing extraordinary. The fries were nicely done. The duck confit: The duck was just OK. Nothing special. The peach sauce on top was questionable. It reminded me of the Gerber baby peach dessert I would feed my babies. The veggies - the green beans were nice and crispy - totally enjoyed that. The kale was horrible. I might as well have been eating green paper. It was very difficult to chew. My son had an Aperol spritz. It came in a small wine glass where 3/4 of the glass was ice. While the drink was very well done, it was a ridiculous amount in the end for $16.00. Why didn't I say something? After my son was excited about taking us here, I didn't want to rock the boat. I would think with only 4 items available for the main choices, everything should be top notch. Sidebar: The toilets are in the basement where you have to descend a steep narrow stairs. Be careful going down. The toilet stalls are really small. On leaving my son did comment that it was overrated which I agree. Disappointing. read more

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Took my wife and son here for Mother's Day brunch. I'd previously reached out to the restaurant to confirm that they had high chairs, could accommodate kids, etc. I even offered to bring my own clip-on chair, just in case they didn't have one, but I was told everything would be all right. When we arrived, the host--who I was told is the manager?--was INCREDIBLY rude and condescending to my wife when she mentioned my request for high chair. I'd expect the bare minimum of politeness from staff anywhere--but to be treated with disdain when spending $200 on Mother's Day is absurd. To be clear: it's not about the chair. It's about deliberately choosing to make someone feel small with a cold, disrespectful attitude. I've been to Milou half a dozen times over the last few years. I won't be back, and I'd advise against it for anyone who wants good service along with their expensive bistro food. Credit where it's due: Gabe, our waiter, was lovely and the food was fine. read more

FOOD | Came for brunch with a couple friends! I got the Milou Breakfast ($18) which comes with a choice of mushrooms, bacon, or sausage. I actually think the mushrooms were the best part of the breakfast, they're sautéed in some garlic butter sauce (I think?). I also really enjoy French scrambled eggs, they're so soft and fluffy! I do think it was a bit pricey for what it's worth, the entire dish could probably have been made at home for a fraction of the price. AMBIENCE | The restaurant is sooo cute! There is exposed brick interior and an open-concept kitchen. It feels very homey and there's a really good buzz of energy indoors. SERVICE | They were so busy when we came for Saturday brunch, understandably so. Service was still great, our server came to check on our table pretty regularly. VERDICT | A bit pricey, but worth a try once! read more

Milou - Milou Breakfast (x2) and Croque Madame - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great French brunch spot in the heart of Little Portugal. The ambiance is very hipster chic with a little old school French cafe vibe. The service was amazing and very accommodating. The bathrooms are downstairs but be careful as their steps are very steep. As for the food, I personally had a Croque madame and it was one of the best ones I have had in Toronto. Prices are quite expensive but worth every bite. We also had the Bitter Greens which was a great little salad to share amongst two guests. Recommendation: Go there during the summer as they have the cutest little patio. read more

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Went for a celebration dinner. Usually we go to Chantecler but decided to try something new. Drinks-great Oysters-great Egg dish-awful. 2 eggs cut in half and doused with mayo. Had to ask for the caviar. Flavourless. Duck pate-looked like they dumped a big spoon of melting pate on the plate. Couldn't eat it... Steak-unseasoned and gamey Duck-no crispy skin. Beans were mush prob cooked the day before. $300 not well spent Go to Chantecler read more

Updated review: Been to Milou a few times after they had opened up their dine in service. Been for both brunch and dinner. Parisian vibes in Little Portugal, what more can you ask for? A chill, hip, low key restaurant service some great eats. The steak frites is amazing and the Milou breakfast is a perfect brunch dish (those buttery eggs and that bacon? you can't go wrong). A great selection of wines as well as caffeinated beverages as well. Service wise, always friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back for more in the future! read more

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My friend and I booked a Saturday evening reservation for dinner here. We had heard great things about this French restaurant in Dundas West. The vibes of this restaurant are pretty cozy, but we found that the tables were too small and it was too cramped to hold an intimate conversation. There were a lot of people and the music was quite loud so this is not the best spot for a date. We got the steak frites medium rare as well as the escargot which was served in a butter sauce and came with a few slices of bread. The steak frites was okay but nothing outstanding. The fries were not as crispy as I like them. The escargot dish was very rich but also just okay. We found both dishes quite salty. The server was very kind and suggested that we could hang up our coats as well as put our bags on the side because there was simply not enough room to place our phones on the table. The washrooms are downstairs and inaccessible. Overall an okay experience, but if I would come again it would be for brunch which Milou is known for. read more

Cool place we were sat out on the patio because it was really beautiful outside. I found that the service is really slow. We had to constantly ask to be topped up with our water or our drink and I also found the mimosas to be a little bit more expensive than a regular brunch spot. read more

Milou was a great spot for brunch but the group's consensus was that it was short from amazing. Between the group, we wanted to try the smoke salmon salad on top of our main. Turned out to be our favourite dish. I had the croque madame and although I was never a huge fan of ham, overall the dish was still good. Milou is a walk-in establishment and follows through with their estimated wait time. Also, worth it to get the mimosa for the table. read more

Milou - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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What a sweet little space in Toronto!! I came here on a Friday for lunch with a friend. The atmosphere of this restaurant is just so precious. I love the French bistro inspired decor throughout the entire vicinity. They had a really nice outdoor patio with quite a few tables. We sat outside for a bit but there were lots of bees so we asked to be seated indoors instead. Inside is just as cute as it is on the outside :) For drinks, we ordered a chai latte and mimosa. I had the chai latte and it was a little more on the milky side than I had expected, but it was pretty good. I also tried the coq au vin sando and it was AMAZING. Probably one of the top 10 sandwiches Ive ever had. I will admit the sauce they used for it really brought the whole thing together. Chefs kiss. Naturally, we have second stomachs for dessert and so we also tried the basque cheesecake. It was so perfect. Overall, such a fantastic experience here. Adding it to my list of favorite restaurants in Toronto!! read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while. Unfortunately it wasn't super exciting. The mushrooms and bacon were super oily as was the sourdough. The eggs were good. The restaurant is beautiful but the food was not worth the price. Will not be going back. read more

Milou - Milou breakfast - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Food here was very good and although we showed up on a Friday night, without a reservation, we were able to get a table outside. We started with the cheese and bread and for mains we got a burger and duck confit. It was a charming little restaurant on the corner and really fit the Dundas west vibe. If you're looking for a nice place to eat for a quick bite, I would recommend checking this place out. read more

Milou - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Friendly service and well-portioned food in a classic French bistro/bar setting. Did not have to wait for a table at Sunday brunch and many patrons elected to sit outside. read more

Milou - Milou breakfast (with mushrooms) - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cool ambiance, service was a bit slow and the steak was a bit too salty. Excellent steak tartare. read more

Milou - beef tartare - Bistros Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place has been on my list for years and I wish I came to try it sooner! The brunch menu was pretty limited and our attempted to bribe the wait staff to bring some oysters failed lol. We had: Croque Madame: 9/10 times I've had this at other restaurants its been dry from layers of bread or just lacking flavor. But WOW Milou really knocked it out of the park. The ham was thick, the swiss cheese dijon gave it creaminess as well as tanginess, the bread was fluffy and the fried egg was perfection Salmon Salad: This was okay, there were generous cuts of salmon and the citrus cut the creaminess of the dressing but didn't wow me overall Scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms: The eggs were so creamy, the bacon was thick and not overcooked and the mushrooms had tons of flavour! Really delicious classic breakfast I loved the aesthetic as you genuinely feel like you're in Europe without being in Europe. I would have liked there to be more appetizers or some of their dinner menu during lunch but I guess that means we just need to come back. Try to come early as there was a wait (but worth it) read more

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Milou is a solid option for traditional French Bistro food. Everything is always on point, tasty and reliable. I've been here for brunch, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is super quaint, cozy and date -night friendly. I love it when restaurants serve the croque madame and it's done very well. Also really enjoyed this duck confit for dinner. read more

One of my fav brunch place here in Toronto! The croque madame, burger are too must! Juicy and beefy burger with nicely toasted brioche bun. Croque madame is also exquisite, love the small chucks of scallions, so good! read more

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(2.5) An unfortunate experience recently at Milou during a recent weekend dinner service. Reservations seemed to be difficult but based on what we had heard, we were excited to try. Milou is a dimly lit corner restaurant on the west end. Along with cocktails, we the French Onion Soup, the Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Caesar Salad and a selection of vegetables on the side. The soup was lacking salt, to the extent where the table beside us asked the server if the kitchen forgot it entirely. The beef of the tartare seemed to be fresh but they missed the point with seasoning, sadly falling flat. The steak for the steak frites came out room temperature and the bacon on the Caesar salad was incredibly chewy. Our mixed vegetables seemed rushed as everything blended and tasted the same, with the couscous it came with being really undercooked. Our least favorite part of the night wasn't the food, but actually the service. As soon as we sat down, it felt as though the staff was rushing to turn the table over. They repeated the specials to us twice and brought us the wrong drink, which we didn't bring up, and also seemed annoyed when we were taking time to read over the menu. Don't think I'll be returning any time soon. read more

We stumbled upon this spot while taking a walk down Dundas - it's super cute both inside and out. They've got some nice pantry staples like chestnut paste, preserved lemons, and kosher salt along with a wide variety of beers & wines. We've tried a few sandos, the beer & lentil salad, and the charcuterie. The coq au vin sando was the most special - deep wine and mushroom flavours. Can't go wrong with a good ham & cheese either. read more

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Great food, great wine and a casual atmosphere. It's a shame that dundas west is a bit of a run down area. If the surrounding area was a bit nicer it would make the patio even better Service was great but the waitress was kind of rushing us. Either ways would recommend for the food alone read more

Dropped in for a later-night bite to eat and a glass of wine. Service was efficient and fast, wine was great (my selection around $20/glass) and came quick. The place is super cute and nicely laid out. I stupidly ordered the corn fritters to start (I had a memory of incredible fluffy ones in mind from another place and times gone by....) These were absolutely terrible. Five small rock-hard nuggets of nothing, with a blah sauce that salvaged nothing. And $15 to boot! Thankfully we'd ordered a steak frites as a main to share. That was delicious. Lovely steak, perfectly prepared, lovely sauce au poivre, standout fries. As we finished the head person was hastily cleaning up, dragging chairs around, and trying to gently shoo people out. That detracted from the French vibe Milou is going for. Still, it's a cute place worth trying out. Go with the steak or other recommended plates. read more

Every time I've been to Milou the vibes have been right. The staff are easy-going but attentive and I never feel rushed. The menu is perfect for sharing, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's a go-to spot for me. PS. Try the cheese with honey. read more

Loved the vibes, food was great. Staff were attentive. The steak was a perfect medium rare. It was my friend's first time trying escargot and she really liked it! Good job Milou for making escargot taste amazing! French onion soup was good as well. read more

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