Bar Bouchee

Upscale French bistro with a limited but delicious menu and great serving staff. A large selection of wines by the glass and a tons of unique-ish cocktails. We had the salmon escalope, beef, and oysters as well as parsnip soup. In my opinion the parsnip soup should’ve had a bit of pepper or other spice but that’s my personal opinion and I was the only one at the table that thought that.

The best restaurant we’ve been to in Connecticut. Despite the usual French posters about absinthe and apéritifs, the room manages to keep an authentic bistro atmosphere, thanks to typical high chairs/benches (separated with plexiglas panels). The staff was super friendly and accommodating, which is the only part that didn’t feel typically French 😀 We had the hanger steak with gratin dauphinois, and it was flawless. The steak was actually rare (like we ordered), and tender. The gratin was creamy, with a touch of garlic. Only the greens were of questionable usefulness in this plate (since they brought more fat than acidity). We had the chocolate pot de crème for dessert. I expected something good but relatively heavy. It was surprisingly light (all things considered), and the chocolate was most surely French. We’ll definitely be back! PS: we came with a baby and the owner had arranged a table with more space, so we could keep the stroller with us.

Lovely, moderately traditional French cuisine. Seemed to be predominantly southern French but with a mix of some central French recipes. A few of the Americanized options that are unavoidable on this side of the Atlantic. Service was good and leaned toward the European style which I much prefer over the annoying, intrusive American style of service. Nice ambiance, not stuffy. All in all a really cool place. Nigel was our host and waiter, we thought he was great.

What a wonderful experience! Atmosphere had a great vibe and felt like a real escape from the everyday. Service was impeccable. Christina was wonderful, with a great humor, in-depth knowledge of the food and beverages, and definitely charmed us. Beverages were right on target including the espresso, falls bees knees and the wines. Food with perfectly prepared and presented. We enjoyed The Fennel and leek soup, local oysters, pan roast French chix breast, and the poached halibut special. We shared two desserts that finished the night perfectly. Prices were right on par and fair. Thank you so much!!

I appreciated the outdoor dining during this covid pandemic. The night was pleasantly cool. The restaurant provided outdoor heating, which was very nice. However, it did get uncomfortably hot. I still think it's great to have the outdoor heaters, though. The food was very good. Service was top notch.