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Bistro Moulin
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 9 pm
Sun 5 pm - 8:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
147 reviews for Bistro Moulin
Review Highlights
"...was reasonable compared to other Cannery Row restaurants."
(in 18 reviews)
"We also had the confit de canard, a beautifully prepared..."
(in 5 reviews)
"Their escargot is truly the best I've had anywhere."
(in 27 reviews)
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147 reviews in English
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Review from doreen g.
San Jose, CA
10/14/2011
We came here for my birthday and had an amazing experience!
The food and the service are excellent and the ambiance is perfect!
I had made reservations and we were running late, but they were considerate enough to call and see where we were! Upon our arrival we had a huge candlelit table set up for us.
As for the food, the spinach gnocchi is hands down amazing!
Other delicious dishes were the Coc Au Vin and the Poulet Roti.
I would definitely recommend this cozy taste of France by the beautiful Monterey Ocean! -
Review from DUC P.
Saratoga, CA
12/27/2011
Classic French cuisine, the chef is from Normandie.
The spinach gnocci appertizer was served in a small skillet. The cheese sauce was rich but not overwhelming. Tasted good, but likely not healthy.
Today's roasted quails special was tasty. 2 quails, lightly roasted served with red cabbage in a port sauce.
The osso bucco was too salty, and the accompaniment reminds me of Vietnamese ragout. The marrow in two bone-in pieces of meat was nice, but probably not heart healthy either. -
Review from charley w.
Monterey, CA
11/28/2011
Excellent spot down on Cannery Row, but just slightly up on Wave, so it escapes the full brunt of the tourists in the summer. Small, so best to go during the week. Really outstanding value, as you can get an outstanding meal for two for $50-$60 and you can't do that too many places on the Peninsula.
We had the escargot in butter sauce as an appetizer, along with a very reasonably priced California chardonnay, and followed by the duck, prepared the way it needs to be, not overcooked, juicy and flavorful. Just like you were in France.
It really is a 4.5 stars, and would be 5 stars if they restored lunch, and you could get in the door on the weekend. -
Review from Lori H.
White Salmon, WA
11/12/2011
We were disappointed! We were hoping for the French meal of a lifetime (granted that is a tall order)...and it was marginal. Good service...but the food was (for the most part) bland.
Escargot was good. Bread good...
The Coq au Vin...described as super rich...was very bland. I had the Vol au Vent Normand - which tasted very similar to a chicken pot pie...sans peas...good...but nothing to write home about.
Decent wines by the glass.
Won't go back for the price. -
Review from Elsie S.
Fremont, CA
2/9/2012
Ate here based on Yelp recommendations. I ate late after working on a Friday night in the area on a rainy day and was able to be seated without reservations. Ordered the Spinach Gnocchi appetizer as every Yelper raves about it. The sauce was rich and tasty, but the spinach gnocchi did not melt in my mouth and was not as soft as I was expecting. I was a bit disappointed that I had better gnocchi elsewhere. I did soak up the sauce with bread slices. I ordered the escargot which has plenty of garlic and salt. I do not use salt in my food, so this saltiness was a bit disappointing and overwhelming. It was late close to 9 - 9:30 PM and I did not want a heavy meal, so 2 appetizers were plenty for me. Maybe next time, if I come back , I 'll try an entree instead. However, service was great.
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Review from Greg H.
Mountain View, CA
1/24/2012
I dream about this place in my sleep. Been here twice and thoroughly pleased with the dishes I ordered - excellent presentation and food quality. They have a nice selection of wines and if you get it by-the-glass, the pour is generous. Definitely save room for dessert though; I'd be hard pressed to choose between the chocolate mousse and the crème brûlée. The wait staff are also pleasant and efficient, I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Hendrik S.
Carlsbad, CA
1/3/2012
Another great restaurant my wife and I visited while vacationing in Monterey. I loved this place for its intimate and friendly atmosphere. The food was fantastic. In particular the spinach gnocchi were amazing.
Very reasonably priced. Highly recommended. -
Review from Funfloury N.
Houston, TX
12/26/2011
Quaint restaurant with a lot of flavor! Service was great and food was delicious. We ordered Escargots as an appetizers and they came out boiling hot. We enjoyed dipping the free bread in the garlic butter sauce. Let's just say we didn't leave anything left for the imagination. Hubby ordered the Coq au Vin. He's not a fan of dark meat but was complimenting how delicious it was. The meat fell of the bones so no knife needed. I ordered the nightly special Truffle gnocchi.cream sauce was delicious! My only complaint was the dessert. The profiteroles tasted stale and store bought. Seemed like they drizzled Hershey's chocolate on top. Other than that the experience was great.
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Review from Yamona S.
Pacific Grove, CA
10/12/2011
Stars for the service.
I asked for a special pasta - just penne with a little ratatouille. There is only one other vegetarian option on the menu - the Spinach Gnocchi - which is wayyyy too creamy and filling for my taste.
The pasta arrived - it was okay - big pieces of peppers which are always unappealing to me. Apart from being unappealing they are somewhat of a sign of being disinterested in a dish. There was no sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly though. Every meal that I have had in the past at Bistro Moulin has been excellent, including a halibut dish that I had more than two years ago which I still dream about to this day.
Total price for meal $99.00 plus tip - $119.00. That's a restaurant which is pricey and not the $$ that it gets. -
Review from Ami T.
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Traveling with Yelp app on your iPhone beats any guidebook that's out there. Hubby and I were going to be in Monterey on a Saturday night and we wanted to go out for a nice dinner. He found Bistro Moulin and we made a reservation in advance (so glad we did, because it was really busy there that night).
For our starters, I got the soup of the day (tomato soup) and he got the salad. They were both good. Their bread was served warm and it was very good.
After reading rave reviews, I had to get their Spinach Gnocchi. I love spinach, I love gnocchi, I love cream sauce. So it was perfect for me. The cream sauce was SOOO good!
Hubby got the Steak and Fries. He absolutely loved the steak. I thought it was pretty good, but the sauce was just okay, in my opinion. Fries and the garlic aioli were good too.
We shared chocolate mouse, this was delicious. He didn't even want desert, but when it arrived, he stole half of mine! It was that good. :)
The service was kind of slow. But the food was 5 star worthy. -
Review from Mitra W.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just think of anything that would be great about a restaurant and apply it to Bistro Moulin.
You should try the gnocchi. They are like little pillows of heaven that melt in your mouth. -
Review from Michelle S.
Los Alamos, CA
11/28/2011
We enjoyed a lovely dinner here when we were in Monterey for a weekend visit. The atomosphere of the place makes you feel like you are somewhere in Europe.The food was delicious, but rich. You will definitely have a food hangover the next day so be prepared. The escargot was delicious! They have a nice selection of wines by the glass. Our creme brulee was perfect.The service was excellent. I highly recommend this place and would go back again on another visit to Monterey!
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Review from Brent V.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Updated - 1/20/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Bistro Moulin continues to be my favorite French Restaurant..... The food is fantastic and the Service is friendly and unpretentious :-)
1 Previous Review:
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5/9/2011
I eat here often and I believe this is, by far, the best restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula.....
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Review from Alexis B.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2011
This place is small and friendly. The menu only has about 6 or so options of apps, entrees and desserts because each one they do perfectly! There is no need for an extensive menu of mediocracy which this place gets.
The woman seating us was the chefs wife so it really has a warm family vibe to the place. Everyone was so helpful so the whole experience was great from start to finish.
We were able to try a couple of their by the glass wines as well as some bottles and each wine was wonderful and reasonable.
We started with the ham and cheese which was delicious with the reds, a simple green salad for an app which fresh and perfectly tossed, the hanger steak - done perfectly with amazing fries and chocolate mouse and ice cream. Yum! I know I am a pig - but it was soooooo damn good I couldn't help it. -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small place, seems they get crowded because they seemed hesitant when we walked in without a reservation (luckily we were kind of early for dinner so they seated us)
I love a place that gives you something a little special with your bread. The tapanade (with I think tomato or carrot or something) they started us off with was nice.
I had the moules frites - the mussels were a plenty and the broth was delightful. I enjoyed dipping my bread and frites in it...as well as just slurping it alone. The frites were not as shoestring as I'm used to, but still crispy and good.
The chicken with green beans was good...I love any kind of roasted chicken (I think this was pan roasted). It wasn't mind blowing though.
Overall, a nice little place, would definitely go back when in Monterey!Listed in: Bonjour!
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Review from Bill H.
Monterey, CA
8/12/2011
Didier was the chef at Casanova for years, and deserves credit for most of the fare on the menu of that Carmel landmark.
He has brought his talents and obvious passion for food to Monterey. If you want the Carmel experience in Monterey, this is the place. -
Review from Nicole D.
Monterey, CA
Updated - 8/7/2011 7 photos
Had an incredible dinner last night at Bistro Moulin.
Stuck with my game plan and ordered the spinach gnocci. Based on my bf's recommendation (he had it as an appetizer on another occasion), Yelp reviews and my supreme love for cheese, I knew this dish was going to be an out-of -the-park hit! Spinach bathed in the most warm, rich and creamy cheese sauce, something I thought I would only taste again in Paris.
This place is the real deal! From the escargot in a garlic butter sauce with crostini toast and French bread to the turtle chocolate ganache tart screams passion and perfection. My bf got the osso bucco Milanese with polenta for the third time. He loves it and claims that Bistro Moulin falls within his top 5 restaurants of all time!! The chocolate ganache tart with caramel and pecans was amazing and a dessert engineered with the utmost care and passion. Ooh la la!!
The service was superior -- friendly, caring staff that prides themselves on fine food and a festive/romantic atmosphere. We ate dinner by candlelight and enjoyed all the splendid aromas from the kitchen wafting through the restaurant. Quite lovely!
I get it now -- why all the raving reviews, packed weekends. I'm now fully enlightened and a full-fledged Bistro Moulin fan!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2011
Went here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. My boyfriend loves this place. I've been to Paris and… Read more »
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Review from tom w.
Monterey, CA
11/2/2011
Great little spot on Wave st, just one block above the Aquarium. Small, so you will need a reservation, at least on the weekend. Way better than most of the tourist spots a block down on Cannery Row itself. Lots of scrumptious Mediterreaniun dishes, at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, only for dinner now. I don't think you can go wrong here. If in doubt, try the Spinach Gnocchi or the Roti.
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Review from Valerie N.
Salinas, CA
8/14/2011
Let me start out saying I am a creature of habit. I don't tend to branch out into new things very often. Well this time I'm glad I did. I got on yelp early yesterday to get some ideas. The ratings on this restaurant were phenomenal so I figured we would give it a try.
Parking - not good. It's in the cannery row section of monterey, so show up a little early to get a parking spot.
Atmosphere - it was cute inside. A lot of things to look at but not cluttered. It had a romantic ambiance to it. It was quiet too, probably because it is very small so MAKE A RESERVATION!
Service - Our waitress was very nice. I had a bit of a tough time understanding her because of her accent, but she was very helpful to us in choosing our meals. Never had empty drinks for more than a moment.
Food - We had the Spinach gnocchi to start! It was delicious! Like a little spinach marshmallow (not sweet though!) is how I described it last night. I had a strip steak that was cooked perfectly and was super tender. I normally wouldn't have had fries,I didn't know they came with the meal, but they were very good too. My boyfriend had the sea bass with mango and loved it. He even got me to try a bite (I am NOT a seafood person) and I found it quite good also. To close we had the creme brule and once again, delicious (although after this meal I do feel the need to run about 4 miles!).
Overall, I highly recommend this place. We had a great experience here. -
Review from Deborah M.
Pacific Grove, CA
Updated - 7/1/2011
In response to the owner:
I would not say I didn't care for the dish, that's not it at all. I love mussels and have had them at many restaurants. The mussels here had tasted definitely spoiled and when I smelled them they had a smell that... well was like poop (really no other way to put it). Also my mom ate a couple and later was feeling sick. I do believe I have a right to post my honest experience on Yelp and keep in mind this was my particular experience. Clearly there have been many people who have enjoyed your food. Indeed freshness is of the utmost importance especially with shellfish and if I was a business owner and had any complaints I'd take them very seriously and look into it and not just blame the customer.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/30/2011
The atmosphere was nice and the service was warm. We started off with the pate and beet salad.… Read more »
Comment from Didier D. of Bistro Moulin 7/1/2011
The freshness of food products and proper food handling is… More » -
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Review from Anna B.
Pacific Grove, CA
We left Los Laureles pool Sunday early evening and headed over to Toast, one of our favorite spots in the valley, only to find that they were closed. With steamed mussels already on the mind we headed straight for town to hit up Bistro Moulin.
What's better than a delicious meal after a sunny Sunday swim? Feeling completely at ease in swim suits and sweats and getting great service.
I love fresh, simple, flavorful food and to me that's what French cuisine should be. It's a shame that French is often associated with globs of butter, cream and meat. There is much pleasure to be found in a few very well chosen ingredients working together to create a masterpiece.
We were started off with a delicious, light Carrot Tapenade.
We had the Beet Salad, Spinach Gnocchi appetizer and the famous Mussels. Everything was perfect. The greens were super fresh, the gnocchi was piping hot and the mussels had a ton of leeks, onion and garlic in a totally clear broth without butter which is why I prefer theirs over Toast's... but you still gotta try Toast when you're in Carmel Valley.
$50 including tip. -
Review from Aaron A.
Monterey, CA
7/10/2011
Welp. Yelp. Yep! I put faith in you on a daily basis and this is the reason why.
I'm tempted to rate Moulin a full five stats, but will need to go back again and again and again and again until I have devoured the entire menu. If all goes well and I don't die of a heart attack first, this rating will change. For the better. Stay tuned. -
Review from A M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tapas platter was superb. Each individual item (giant beans, toasted tomatoes, artichokes, and sausage) was good, but together were exceptional.
The coq a vin was well above average, and the spinach gnocchi was the BEST I've had at a restaurant. It is made without potato, and melts in your mouth.
Wine list was full of French bottles I wasn't familiar with, not much from local area. Skipped dessert as the portions were perfectly sized to fill one up without feeling stuffed. -
Review from Edda O.
San Jose, CA
7/19/2011
Was looking at places to try for dinner, that is not a tourist trap but served honest good food.. and found it!
I made reservations about 5 days in advance, Lady on the phone was really nice. Great start.
Got there 15 mins before reservation, got seated right away.
We ordered:
Spinach gnocchi - amazing fluffy things swimming in rich creamy sauce.
Escargot - escargots were tender but way too salty so i had to turn the dish back.
Duck Confit - Amazing crispy skin, salty and flavourful meat. It was everything a good duck confit should be. Accompanied by simply seasoned lentil and baby carrots. The duck just left the best aftertaste that I can't get over.
Seabass special - I could not get enough of how delicious the cubes of mixed veggies were and I am not even a vegetable person. The beurre blanc was great on the basil crusted fish and veggies. The only sad part was the generous filet of sea bass was way way way overdone. Not a tad but very.
Chocolate tart - I am all about the visual, even before looking at the dessert menu I saw this tart and decided I wanted it. A tad disappointing, the ganache was grainy. Tasted good but textures off.
Coffee - good coffee
Reisling - for $7.75, what a steal! generous pour and tasted amazing.
To be honest, the flavours of the entrees were spot on but the execution was a tad off. That being said, I would not hesitate to return because the good outweighs slight food issues.
Service is pretty good, when I mentioned that the escargot was way too salty, without hesitation or any rudeness, it was removed from the table and we were asked if we wanted to change it. The rest of the evening went well. Dishes cleared promptly, check backs and water refills.
But I do have to mention that the moment the coffee cup was placed in front of me, we kind of lost the attention of the server. No offers for more coffee or check back on the dessert.
P/S: They took the escargot off the bill, greatly appreciated.
The prices were great as well. All that food for less than $100 after tax!! -
Review from Chris N.
5/22/2011
If you're staying near Cannery Row and the aquarium, I highly recommend this little restaurant for dinner! Easily the best food we had during our stay.
Excellent wine selection and quality bread on the table. We started out with a cheese plate, which had some interesting and tasty offerings (sheep's milk cheese? Wild).
For dinner I had the gnocci au gratin, which could have been a little more substantial for a main course but was delicious none the less. The gf had jambalaya, which she loved (even if the little tiny squid tentacles were kinda freaking me out).
The service was great and the prices were reasonable for a classy joint. They take reservations, which you'll probably want to make because the place is pretty small. All around we had a lovely dining experience! -
Review from Cassie P.
Updated - 6/2/2011
Since my last review three years ago, they are no longer open for lunch. Last night we had an earlier reservation. They are a must, don't even try walking in.
I am not a foodie and def not a French food BUT three things here are the bomb for me. Spinach gnocchi, French fries and chocolate mousse. Good thing I ran 5 miles and I'm about to do the same run right now to make up for the fries. I ate the whole basket. Worth every calorie!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/14/2008
We parked right in front of this cute bistro with our sights set on a Harry Otter t-shirt for our… Read more »
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Review from Laura C.
4/26/2011
Two dollar signs are misleading. I would put $$$ at least.
Food here is excellent buy the service a found a little slow.
We got the escargot which was so good and buttery.
We got the two daily specials. The lamb leg with potato au gratin and asparagus. Tender and juicy
I got the sea bass. Fresh flarvourful and flaky. With butter shallot sauce and on top of spinach
For dessert we got the chocolate mousse. It was good but seemed pre prepared. ($8)
It was quite romantic. Great dinner yo splurge on.Listed in: California
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Review from Liza T.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
A great dinning experience.
This restaurant is conveniently located near the aquarium. It was a small restaurant, so reservation was a must. We arrived there 30 minutes prior our reservation but good that they still had table for us.
The atmosphere was causal and cozy but pretty romantic. The hostess and staff were super friendly and very welcoming.
They started us the aoili was very tasty. Then they gave us a warm basket of bread and was very good too.
The menu was very simple but the selection was comprehensive.
Here are what we ordered:
Crêpes Normandes: two crepes with roasted chicken & mushrooms. The presentation was so nice and the taste was GREAT. The sauce was so tasty but not heavy at all.
Coq au Vin: braised chicken in a red wine sauce with mushrooms, lardons, and penne pasta. The chicken was tender and the sauce had great flavors.
Pommes Frites with Aioli: The fries was so crunchy.
One issue that I had was it took quite a while for the food came out.
Overall, I still had a wonderful time there. I will go back there when I visit Monterey again. -
Review from Tara D.
Albany, CA
10/11/2011
The food was delicious, we even got a free-bee appetizer of carrot pate!
Unfortunately, from my vantage point in the small restaurant, I saw the hostess (who could have been an owner, or the owner/chef's wife maybe?) do some terrible things: yell at a waiter - she even followed him to continue yelling!, and put a bite of something into her mouth in the kitchen (yes, she put her fingers into her mouth), then resume her work. At a restaurant as nice and classy as this one, one would expect a more professional hostess. -
Review from A X.
Atwater, CA
5/10/2011
My first impression was I DID NOT LIKE IT.
My 28 dollars meal: french fries with steak. I am not sure what this is all about but it was not worth 28 bucks.
I had better french food and were disappoint with this restaurant.
However I gave 2 stars: the inside of the restaurant is very nice and romantic.
I definitely won't come here again :-( -
Review from Jeremy L.
4/22/2011
This is quite a little spot for a romantic dinner. It's spunky in the inside with walls of wooden shelves showcasing their collection of wine and their random dresser or desk that gives the whole restaurant some character. Every staff in Bistro Moulin are very hospitable and accommodating, which adds to the dining experience nicely.
Be warn! It is small! Really small! Reservations are definitely recommended! When my wife and I arrived at around 7ish, it was pretty packed and there was more patrons trickling in!
Anyway, down to the meal! For starters, it was the Escargots! I'm big about strange food and snails are pretty strange to me! The Escargots came in a porcelain...dish that had six cavities in it where the escargots rest. Now the escargots were cooked in butter, garlic and hazelnut oil! I thought it was well-made! And if you like, you could use the bread from the bread basket and dip it in that aromatic butter and garlic!
For our entree, I had the Confit de Canard (Duck Confit) and my wife ordered the special of the day: Sea Bass. First off, my duck was extremely moist! It was fall-off-the-freakin'-bone good! One of the best duck dishes I ever had! My wife's Sea Bass was equally awesome! Creamy, flaky and fresh sea bass!
Unfortunately, this is where dinner ended. No dessert...but this is a great place! Great staff, tasty food and comfortable ambiance! If you are planning a romantic dinner, this is a good place to start! -
Review from J K.
Honolulu, HI
7/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yay for my yelp app! After running through the aquarium we were tired and oh so very hungry. I yelped the area and decided to give this place a try because of their reviews. We were not disappointed!
Of course we didn't have a reservation but it was a week night and they sat us immediately. The service was excellent! I forgot our waitress's name but she was very helpful and patient with us. The food was better than average but not the best thing I've ever had. We had the escargot (excellent!), mussels (awesome!), some kind of fish (which I didn't really care for) and a lemon tart for dessert (very awesome!).
Parking is horrible so you're better off parking on the street.
If any of our friends ever ask about this area we will definitely recommend this place if they are looking to have a nice dinner. -
Review from Bella F.
San Jose, CA
Such an amazing dinner here. The Brut rose was fantastic and my chicken was tender and finger tasting good. It's set up like a cute french bakery/wine shop. They have french music playing in the background and the staff is friendly. My boyfriend ordered the Spinach gnocchi and he said it was phenomenal! We also took home a chocolate pastry which we enjoyed at home in san jose with a bottle of champagne.
The table we were using was a bit wobbly, but overall experience was delightful. I will come back and try other items on the menu. It is a block and a half from the aquarium and away from the row. Very easy to miss, but don't because this place is a gem :) -
Review from g m.
San Francisco, CA
10/23/2011
Wow. That's all I can say. I really thought this place wasn't going to be good since it's a block from the monterey bay aquarium and is flooded with horrible touristy restaurants serving food that is mediocre at best.
When we walked in the place was dead so I was kind of scared. After eating there I became certain that I will never visit monterey again without making a stop here for a meal. Service was great. I had some of the best escargot of my life here and a gnocchi that was tied in first place with gnocchi that I've had at Fleur De Lys in San Francisco. Maybe they had Chef Keller hidden in the back of Bistro Moulin.
If you are at the aquarium and don't want the garbage they serve at the restaurants on cannery row then definitely check this place out. It's only 1 or 2 short blocks up (3/4 of a city block) and is a hidden gem. It's not cheap but it's also not expensive. Great place! -
Review from Topher M.
Monterey, CA
3/29/2011
RESERVATIONS. Make reservations, people. This place is way très petite. And bring coins for the meters outside. Enough quarters for four loads of laundry. What a racket, the parking patrol around Cannery.
Bistro Moulin has all the ambiance of family-run, romantic, tiny and fun... and there are party hats hidden all over the place. And boas. I imagine what happens here when the doors are locked? Well, look on the restaurant's facebook page. The hats are used.
Started with escargot - nothing out of this world, but the little guys were swimming in a pool of olive oil and herbs that were tasty when soaked in the free bread.
We chose the hangar steak with pommes frites - and baked sea bass (special for the evening). The steak was awesome, fries crispy and plentiful. I was fortunate enough to be offered a taste of the sea bass, prepared to perfection.
This is not your run-of-the-mill heaping-portioned American restaurant. Of course it's not. So come here if you enjoy authentic French fare and pleasant service to boot.
Last, but not least, I can't wait to come back and try the "Soupe à L'Oignon" that I admired from afar... -
Review from John K.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2011
I've been here twice and both times it was a wonderful experience. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is charming and the staff is friendly and helpful.
Last visit I had the confit de canard and it took me right back to dining in France. This visit my partner had the osso bucco and I had the filet of sole with meyer lemon sauce. Both dishes were sublime and we again left thoroughly sated and pleased with the experience.
As others have said, it is small so do make reservations. I like that it is not as touristy as many of the places nearby. While it is not cheap, it is good value for the money. I'll return again next time I am in Monterey. -
Review from John T.
Gonzales, CA
10/2/2011
I apologize this review should have been posted in Sept 2010:
Saturday eve, I made a reservation the week before.
I had one of the specials, totally forgot the name but is was either manicotti or a crepe stuffed with fresh seafood and it was amazing!
I was very surprised the dish was only $19.00 and change as I would've paid $30.00 without hesitation.
My date had the Coq au Vin, it was the first time she ever tried the dish. She was very pleased - I had to try her dish (first time for me too) and the everything about it was fantastic, the penne, the chicken (leg and thigh) were cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious!
Highly Recommend! -
Review from Roxy S.
Benicia, CA
3/8/2011
Hands down best French food I've had since my last trip to Paris in 2009, and the cafe ambiance was romantic and authentic. We arrived at 8p with no reservations (what we were thinking, I don't know), and they seated us 45 minutes later (time to go to a bar down the street for a glass of vino).
The Soupe à L'Oignon (french onion soup) was out of this world. I never wanted it to end, and I regretted my decision to share it with my man. I literally haven't enjoyed soup like this since stumbling upon an alley cafe near Odeon.
We were served by a mother and daughter who were friendly and didn't at all mock our mispronounciations of the menu items (we are Spanish speakers).
The wine list is stellar, and if you need help deciding just ask. I am normally a red wine drinker but enoyed a lovely Pinot Gris from Oregon, in the spirit of branching out.
Did I mention the soup?? -
Review from Mia S.
Phoenix, AZ
5/29/2011
Ambiance- Wonderful! after a 15 hour day it was nice to head out for dinner at a low key place.
Food- Good. The escargot was amazing. I had the duck confit which was tender but not crisped as I had hoped. Everyone else at the table seemed very pleased with their choices
Service-Excellent, Excellent!
Other Comments: I was expecting more California wines on the wine list but most were French. -
Review from Bruno B.
Oakland, CA
9/24/2011
Quiet, quaint, rustic. Excellent food, service, and price. What's not to like?
