Alex's Bistro

Just had an amazing experience at Alex. The service was excellent and the food was great. The Pork Dijonnaise with Braised red cabbage was sumptuous and the banana's foster crepes... well I almost licked the plate. However, the service was the best part. After spilling a drink on the plate (there were only a few bites left), the Chef (Alex) INSISTED on providing a replacement even after we said it was not necessary. In addition, a young man proposed in the restaurant (the girl accepted amidst applause) and Alex provided a small bottle of champagne to the happy couple to celebrate. A lovely evening and fantastic dinner. We WILL go back. BTW, the prices are excellent for the quality of food. more

My wife and I have dined at Alex's for over 15 years....as much of their clientele are regulars who frequent this delectable little bistro. It is the most authentic bistro fare in the city and imitations are plentiful. When we are in the mood for a high quality meal prepared with classic tried and true style, we head to our favorite place. It never let's us down. It was surprising to read that a first time customer had become ill as most customers who eat there all the time keep coming back. A stomach virus undoubtedly. Although, switching from a burgers and fries diet to real food could be cause for digestive uproars. Some of the items we love are the super fresh Atlantic Salmon with either b?arnaise sauce or lobster-dill sauce, Filet Mignon Gorgonzola, the veal when on special is outstanding; for lunch, salads are incredible, soups are the best in town; quiche or chicken tea sandwiches are great for a light lunch. Creme Brulee is the real thing and my neice's favorite is the chocolate mousse. Bananas Foster Crepe......a winner. Friendly, accommodating staff will make your visit memorable. Pros: Nice patio, cozy & romantic atmosphere Cons: No childrens menu more

My wife and I were recently there for the first time for dinner. I had french onion soup and crepes and my wife had crepes. About an hour after eating neither of us felt too good. She ended up in our downstairs bathroom with diarrhea while I was in the upstairs bathroom vomiting and with diarrhea. We won't be going back. more

I travel a lot for business and am always happy to return to Alex's bistro as one of my favorite all-time restaurants. It compares to the best bistros in NYC, Paris, San Francisco ot Chicago. Yet, it is unpretentious, the staff is helpful and friendly....and, it does not have the BS that corporate chains fuel with their sond & dance server pitch. This is just a great low-key place with great food and drinks for a relaxing meal that will make you want to go back again. Alex is from France with roots in Italy, so you get the best of all worlds. When we have friends or business associates in town....this is the one place we take them....always a great dining experience!!!! Pros: good value, unparalled bistro fare, parking, well-located more

Alex's bistro offered an unforgettabale eveing. Starting with forgotten appetizers, forgotten salads, and general poor service. The crepes arrived so burnt you couldn't dislodge them from the dish and the ""seafood"" inside the crepes were lacy skeletons. We sent the unedible crepes back and the manager then YELLED at us. Yelled at us for sending the crepes back and advising""they are only a little crispy"". We will not be back Pros: close to home Cons: rude management poor service more

I agree with tastetester that the food has been the best since Alex is back heading up the kitchen. He has a way with sauces and flavors that we have not found in other restaurants locally. Being a French trained chef, it shows through in each dish. When we were in last week, he was telling us about his recent trip to France whcih sparked some new creations. This bistro is the real thing. It's awesome!!! Pros: authentic ambience, best quality food, good value, great daily specials Cons: n/a more

My wife and I have frequented Alex's Bistro on and off for many years and generally we know what to expect. The food in the past was usually pretty good but a little inconsistent, likewise with the service. The bar is very limited other than some good wines , but if you're a Scotch drinker I'd find a place that had more than one option to choose from. My wife and I had all but given up on the place until some friends of ours recommended we give it another shot, that there was a new chef. We decided to trust their word and give it a shot and we were blown away. The food was excellent, I mean excellent. We have since returned to the restaurant many more times over the last six months and have had the chance to talk with chef Kirk on numerous occasions. Needless to say we were very disappointed when we dined earlier this week and found out that chef Kirk was no longer there. He will be greatly missed and we wish him the best of luck. With talent like his I'm sure we will be seeing his name again somewhere. As for Alex's Bistro chances are we will not be returning. more

My husband and I dine frequently at Alex's. Our first visit was when we first began dating. It is one of our favorite restaurants and that of many of our friends. It has never been better than the past two months since Alex took back the kitchen. You see, there is a huge difference when Alex is cooking, just ask his regulars. This first rate bistro servers honest french fare from Boeuf Bourgignon to Crepes, Leek Soup to Gruyere-laden Onion Soup, Chicken Parisienne and Veal Blanquette, Steak Frites, Filet Mignon Roquefort and Pasta to die for....and, the best Creme Brulee in town, not to underplay the outstanding Bananas Foster Crepe..yum!!!. Pros: high quality bistro fare at a fair price, candle lit tables, feels established, good parking Cons: n/a more

I've dined at Alex's bistro several times and I find it to be the most authentic bistro this side of the Atlantic. The food and service are always superb and the menu is varied but well edited. I am suprised that this hidden gem is not featured more often in the press. It is an excellent place for a cozy meal that will take you away from it all. more

We went on a Tuesday night after 8p.m. The ambience is very nice. So dark you cannot read the menu easilly. The wine list is good and the glasses are FULL, not some stingy Euro half glass. They must have thought no one else was coming as when we showed up they quickly put some bread rolls in the oven. They came to the table burned and almost inedible. Pulled the unburned part off and ate. We like that you can get little mini entrees of interesting items. The seafood bisque was terrible, no bits of seafood and if you can burn bisque, I think it was burned. The menu clearly said on the Ceasar salad item it came with anchovy. Both salads came without and the server seemed surprised when we asked for it. The owner and server were both very friendly and attentive. Would we go back for dinner? Probably not. Maybe older patrons don't care about the way food tastes if they like ""Mary"" in the bar. Maybe for lunch, I will try it then and report back. Pros: Full wine glasses, good value, smaller mini entrees, good idea Cons: Too dark, burned rolls more

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I was really mixed on this place. The decor and intimate feeling is quite nice, and I must admit that food was quite good. The wine list could use a few more by-the-glass selections, but it was fairly priced and didn't seem to be too outrageously marked up over retail. Our server seemed knowledgeable and recommended a very decent bottle of Cotes du Rhone under $30. On the other hand, the menu was pretty limited, with probably less than 10 entrees. No website made it hard to pre-scout. The cuisine has a few French-inspired dishes, but it seemed more Italian in influence. Finally, at age 37, I'm not used to being - by far - the youngest patron in the place. It seemed like a fine neighborhood place, and I might go back, perhaps more so for lunch, and it was admittedly a good value (about 2/3 the price of other French restaurants in the city). But certainly nothing that will knock your socks off. Pros: Food quality, parking, value Cons: Limited menu selection, overall experience more

It was a recommendation that got me there - but it is the food that keeps me returning. Alex's has become one of my favorite restaurants in town. The atmosphere is charming. Go there after work to relax and feel like a regular in the cozy front bar or dress up for a romantic date and be tucked away in an intimate booth. The menu is equally versitile - with a great combination of lighter (and less expensive) fare balancing out some truly extroardinary meals. I've become addicted to ordering the bistro salad and one of the pasta dishes (the tortellini, when it is on the menu, melts in your mouth!). On special occasions, I've splurged and ordered everything from filet to lobster. Alex's menu entices gustatory risk taking because everything is phenomenal. But, make sure you save room for dessert. The tart tartin tastes like home... and the chocolate cake - like sin. Take your time, savor each mouthful. The service at Alex's is impeccable: the perfect balance between attentive and obscured. Pros: It is just like eating in a little bistro on Ile St. Louis; the food IS the reason to go! Cons: Not in the "restaurant district"; not much to do off Henderson Rd. more

GO....You won't be disappointed. This is a one of a kind restaurant in Columbus. Pros: romantic, good value, excellent food Cons: crowded weekend nites more

I usually don't venture very far from downtown/short north/german village, etc. For my friends birthday, she wanted to go to Alex's Bistro in Upper Arlington. I went with her and much to my surprise, this small, intimate Bistro provided an incredible evening. The food was extraordinary, the service impeccable and the atmosphere/ambiance was quaint and relaxing. I loved the fireplace in the dining room. The only complaints I had were that some of the patrons at the bar were slightly boisterous and loud. Nevertheless, I will definately be back. My friend and I plan on making reservations for my birthday! Pros: fireplace, food, service Cons: slightly loud bar, oversized menu, a little overpriced more

We arrived without a reservation on what we were told was an unexpectedly busy night. No problem, we sat at the bar and had a drink. Once we were seated we had one of the best dining experiences in quite some time. The food and service were top notch. The menu is a bit large and slightly overpriced, but everything we tried was superb and worth the money. Many quality choices on the wine list also. I highly recommend this restaurant. Pros: excellent food, outstanding service, cozy Cons: slightly overpriced, smoky bar more

My wife and I recently tried Alex's for the first time. The entire experience was most enjoyable. A small bistro set away from major traffic yet close to everything. The food was simple but very, very good. The staff was attentive and professional. We just wish we had found this place years ago. We highly recommed it and will be back many more times. Pros: great food, professional staff, quaint more

I thought I was in France when I entered this great little bistro. It is so authentic and the owner is from Lyon!! What a find. The crabcakes are the best and the ceasar salad and creme brulee were to die for. Sweet little bar. Romantique, sophisticated and, but, not pretentious. Will be recommending this place to all my friends. Ask for the private round table in the corner of the dining room for 4-6 people. I think it's table 10. Bon appetit. Pros: relaxing, romantique, high qualtiy Cons: busy weekend nites more

This place has really changed. Service has always been varied, but my last visit was a shame. A few weeks ago I took my wife to Alex's for her birthday and we waited much longer than other people who were obviously regulars. We were happy to see the new menu with more modern food but our waiter didn't really know what some of the items were. When he wasn't lavishing attention to all the other tables around us, he seemed to be entertaining the female servers. For a nice French meal, we'd rather go to L'Antibes or the Refectory where the staff is more professional. We will not return to Alex's more