bar les frères

terrible service, lastplacei would ever go to again! très mauvais service!! our waiter explained in great detail that we couldn’t get dessert for us because they have to turn tables quickly. apparently he cares not much about french speakers either, even though it’s a french restaurant. who cares about spain and mexico!!?!? i’m at a french restaurant and i’m paying for that experience... let me experience it for a minute! so disappointed! even got upcharged on a bottle of wine, lastplacei would ever go again. poor quality of people!

intimateplacefor delicious french food. a decade ago, the new yorker published "what happened to brie and chablis," a calvin trillin lamentation about the disappearance of so many delicious french foods from the american culinary psyche -- "and why did authorities ban / from restaurants all coq au vin?" well times have happily changed and i am pleased to report that many wonderful french classics are deliciously alive and well at bar les freres, including coq au vin, lobster bisque, lamb chops (with yummy gratin potatoes), a bibb lettuce salad that sparkled with herbs, chocolate mousse, blackberry tart. the atmosphere was lively, a touch of toulouse-lautrec -- a bit noisy inside, but we could actually hear each other at our table quite well. on the wine list they had a bottle of wine from the jura region (too much to consume on this visit, but next time!) service was friendly, knowledgeable, professional.

outstanding french cuisine and great service. try the lobster bisque! date posted: nov 16, 2013 category: french address: 7637 wydown blvd clayton, mo 63105 we originally came to bar les freres because we didn’t make a reservation at i fratellini and the wait was too long, with bar les freres being just across the street.  they are both owned by zoe robinson, with bar les freres being the newer of the two but none the less in quality. mussels with olive tapenade the ambiance is dark but warm, the interior looking like a true french bistro. unless you come during an off day theplaceis likely to be severely crowded, but they are expanding soon due to their immense popularity. new pal one visit and you will understand why it is so popular. just like it’s italian brother, i fratellini, the staff makes you feel like an honored guest and is super friendly, give great advice, and do their absolute best to ensure you enjoy your meal. endive salad not enjoying your meal would be a feat in its

hmmm. maybe. we stood awkwardly at the door for a few minutes, wondering where or whom to check in with. made eye contact with a couple waiters, finally one had to walk by us to serve a table and said they would be right with us. 8:30 reservations on a wednesday, all tables full except a giant banquet table. we opted to wait for a smaller table to open, just a few minutes at the bar.

menu is small but chock full of good choices. wines by the bottle are very reasonably priced, only a touch over retail, not the 3x more found in so many restaurants.

apps were fabulous, the cheese soufflé and the scallops. mains were good, nothing amazing, coq au vin and the toulousse sausage. too full for dessert.

oddities: just didn't feel very welcome, maybe because of the wait at the door? plus, venue is very loud, especially with groups of clayton soccer moms getting their wine on. theplaceitself looks like disney's version of a french bistro, very kitschy (not that i don't like it, it kind of reminded me of the haunted mansion.)

we asked the waiter for water around appetizer time. never got any until manager type came up to ask how everything was, immediately noticed and got water for us during mains. no big deal, we didn't re-ask because we kind of wanted to see what would happen.

missed the good french bread and butter usually served at places like this. so is it as good as brasserie? no. would we go back? maybe, but i don't have a burning desire.

you won't find a betterplacein stl. phenomenal people, outstanding food, romantic atmosphere...

mouth watering. if you're looking for a quaint romanticplaceto take you're sweetie, this is it. absolutely beautiful inside. our server was friendly and very knowledgeable, and the food is to die for. ordered the gruyere souffle as an appetizer and i could have licked the bowl! the duck confit was exactly what i was hoping for and holy cow, the potatoes it comes with.......all potatoes are now disappointing in comparison.

tiny bar packs a punch. quaint little space on wydown. exceptional service. once thisplaceexpands, it's sure to become the new clayton hot spot.