Bistro Niko

We ended up at Bistro Niko partly because we were looking for a place to eat in the middle of the afternoon. The setting immediately made us feel we were in Paris. The waiter had a lovely French accent and was very solicitous. Good waiters are there when you want them and not when you don't. The food was excellent--white bean soup with truffle oil, the mixed green salad with a hint of mustard. This is not the kind of restaurant where they ask what dressing you want. The dressing is an integral part of the salad. The desserts were fabulous--baba au rhum, pot de creme, tarte au citron...mmm...magnifique! We had a wonderful time and will go again.

We had dinner 3 times since Bistro Nico opened. The food is very good, but the service is poor. Wait staff have had poor training. Kitchen can't get the food out in time. An average of 50 to 60 minutes for main courses is to long. French bread served is cold and not crusty like the Atlanta Fish Market. Too many apologies for bad service.Maybe in 6 months service will get better.FOB is much better all around.

Sorry, sheeple, I'm not there with you. Brasserie Le Coze and now FAB do it so much better. 8:30 reservation and didn't seat us until 9:30 without apology; extremely loud; arrogant greeters (although our server was terrific); food was good but not Joel or FAB good; and then after dropping $150 for dinner (for 2) I had to fork over $12 for parking - simply outrageous (won't valet after having 2 cars damaged). Similar experience to Pricci about 10 years ago and haven't been back. Oh, they'll survive without me, but there are too many other terrific places to eat here where they appreciate my coming in.

I also do not get the bias against BLRG. It's a homegrown locally owned family company. They have done a superb job with Bistro Niko. Salmon tart, the beef cheeks, the skate, even the roast chicken... YUM! Service was excellent and they nailed a the price point. Great wine list and one of the best vodka martinis in Atlanta. I would love a Bistro Niko in my neighborhood on east 14th street in NYC. The food reminds me of Payard's Patisserie. Can't wait to go again when I am back in Atlanta.

I eat skate every where I dine and I think you are just experincing the way the skate at Bistro Niko is cooked for the first time. I can tell because I am an expert on skate. They cut the wing in half and cook the top pice and bottom piece together like to filtes stacked on top of each other. Most places cook the top and bottom pieces seperate. I figured it out because I was wondering why the piece was so thick. So you get more tender meat on the inside of the crispy part. What your calling mush is really just more tender meat. Just thought you'd like to know. By the way it's definetly four AJC stars. Get The Skate!!

Having lived in France and visited countless brasseries and bistros, I've been anticipating the opening of Bistro Niko. To my delight, the Bistro not only met, but exceeded all of my expectations. The decor takes Parisian chic to an entirely new level, and the food was sensational. The cocktails were nothing short of fabulous, and I was very impressed with the service as well. Bistro Niko is a 5 star restaurant. Bon appetit!

Ms. Ford's review of Bistro Niko should have been preceded by a four or five star rating based upon her evaluation. My experiences eating at the Bistro have been great...the food and the service, as with all of Mr. Karatassos' restaurants, are top-notch! Please give credit where credit is due!

I am no food critic but I do know good food (to the detriment of my waste line). I've been hoping Atlanta could get a fresh French cuisine restaurant for years and now we have one that exceeds my hopes.

Is it just me, or does every review for Buckhead Life Restaurant Group start with a one star handicap? I'm surprised with the constant lack of respect Pano Karatassos gets from his local critics. Never is it more obvious than in this recent review. I've eaten there twice and have been blown away with spectacular food and above and beyond service. It has a beautiful kitchen and wonderful ambiance. They have a beverage list that would satisfy any king. The only thing I found more shocking than a 3 star rating was the very reasonable bill!

I think it's unfortunate that Ms. Ford-Goldman chose to only bestow three stars to Bistro Niko. If someone were to only read the top of the article, they wouldn't see how great the review is. Her comments about the restaurant are good... but the stars don't really reflect that.

I've eaten at Bistro Niko several times since it's opened and have been so impressed, in particular by the reasonably priced wine list and the more than 60 kinds of craft beer. No mention was made of that or the really great "vintage" cocktails that are made from scratch (if this would have been Leon's or Holeman & Finch, food critics would have been drooling over the cocktail list).

The overall article is nicely written would make me want to eat there if I hadn't before... but the stars just don't reflect what sounds like a good experience by Ms. Ford.

After eating at Bistro several times I am happy to say each experience has been outstanding. The staff are knowledgable & efficient, the atmosphere is buslty & energetic & as for the food all I can say is I have to keep going back because it is so enticing I have difficulty deciding on what to eat. I am suprised that Ms. Goldman ranks Bistro Niko as a three star resaturant. I have eaten at Market, BLT Steak, Craft & Trois when it was open & frankly am suprised that Bistro isn't in their company. She didnt even mention the amazing kitchen you walk through as you enter or the value. You can eat there twice for the price of the other mentioned 4 stars.
Regardelss my friends & I will continue to frequent Bistro as often as possible, I look forward to it each time!

This is a prime example of why critics in general dont get it. This place was incredible - very unique and one of a kind. While I understand this is one persons opinion - what I dont understand is how you can say very good after leaving this establishment. More like incredible is the word to use

I have eaten here four times since it opened. It is the best restaurant that I have eaten at in Atlanta and I find the AJC review well below par .

Have been several times and overall a very good impression. The room across from kitchen is quiet compared to main dining room.

I've had the pleasure to have dinner at Bistro Niko twice. Both times were amazing meals - wonderful food, fantastic service, beautiful dining room. This restaurant is certainly one of the best in Atlanta - do not agree with only 3 stars - I cannot imagine what Ms. Goldman expects out of a restaurant to warrant 4/5 stars.

I have been frequenting Buckhead Life Restaurants for years and I also read your reviews. I was glad to read a somewhat flattering article but I have to agree with the last user review on this one. I've been there numerous times and it's one of the best restaurants in the city and considering the other restaurants you have given four stars, the now closed Trois, the 3 stars for Bistro Niko do not make sense. Sorry they didn't get what they deserve.

I travel to New York, Paris and London frequently and eat only in the finest restaurants. Frankly, I am shocked by this latest review from the AJC. Bistro Niko is such a welcome addition to the Atlanta restaurant scene. I can't say enough about the quality and autheniticity of the cuisine, and the vibrant electricity of the atmosphere in the restaurant. Sometimes I wonder if the Atlanta food reviewers ever leave Atlanta. New York, London, or Paris would welcome a bistro of this quality! Judging by the packed house, Atlantans seem to agree!!

I visit Paris once a year. Aside form the utlra fancy haute cuisine there is no better meal in Paris than you will find here at Bistro Niko. I can't get enough of those mussels. I've been there five times and have brought a different friend with me each time and I make them eat the mussels and they are blown away every time. Love this place! Way to go Buckhead Life.