Bijou Restaurant

We had a great time at Bijou and I don't agree with any of these negative reviews. To me a chalkboard menu and higher prices reflect this restaurant's commitment to local food and keeping things interesting during changing seasons. I respect this restaurant for providing quality food and taking their time rather than taking a touristy "more bang for your buck" approach.

One that note though, I did notice the service was a little slow. Not really slower than I'd expect considering the care that goes into the food, but if you're rushing to catch a show this place is maybe not your best bet. When we had our Stratford trip we made our reservation on a night where we weren't seeing any shows and got to appreciate a slower paced and delicious meal.

Squirreled away off the main downtown parking lot on Erie Street, this culinary gem is well worth the price (a prix fixe menu (2 courses or 3)). The food items (both appetizers and mains) are fresh, tasty, complicated with a surfeit of interesting flavours, artfully plated and presented by a group of knowledgeable, warmly personable servers (if you ask for a name you get a handshake and are asked yours...and they will stop and chat).

DO try a cocktail. We had “French 75", a delightfully spritzy, refreshing mixture of gin, lime juice, simple syrup and champagne.

Order different appetizers and mains do share so you get to savour as many of the delightful assemblages on the blackboard as you have people in your group. Despite the silly complaints, the board is not difficult to read and allows for maximum daily flexibility of product. My trout app. was marinated in soya and sake and served raw accompanied by jicama, sesame and coriander (just to give you an example of the extravagant range of flavours and textures you'll discover here).

Wines are bottle/glass and in the regular price range.

For dessert we sampled the artisanal cheese tray. Two days later I can still remember the blue cheese from New Brunswick (go figure how someone sourced this).

I have to say, Bijou was a big let down for me, as I think it is middle of the road.

First of all, it's located in a back alley in downtown Stratford, and not exactly the most picturesque entry point for any restaurant of note.

Secondly, it is really annoying that they do not spend money on proper menus, as it is too hard to read their one blackboard menu from afar. Some guests in my party had serious trouble reading it, so, I had to read this out to them which my experience difficult in the end.

Thirdly, I found the noise level to be really irritating (purchase some sound boards please), as well as the mis-directed table lighting, to messy looking cutlery and cheap glasses, which really shows their lack of attention to details.

Lastly, the food is alright, but, what really annoyed me was the total lack of service - we waited over ten minutes patiently before I got up and flaged a waiter to take our apperitif orders...

Again, this place was a let down - it's not detailed enough for me to return to spend the money I wasted there.

I'll be sticking to my favourite spot in town: Rundles, and their new Sophisto-Bistro, as it is better value for money in the end. You get what you pay for.

This is one of those Stratford Restaurants that gives the town its reputation as a fine dinning destination.

We have eaten there twice now. Once about a year ago and again about 2 weeks ago. Both times were excellent. First trip we had the veal cheeks as our main course and they were melt in your mouth tender and wonderfully presented.

Second trip we had the Salmon appetizer. It was a piece of "cured" salmon with a very light sauce. Excellent flavour. The main was the pork tenderloin and was perfectly cooked. The atmosphere is a little spartan but it suits the space. The semi open kitchen is a nice touch. The menu is on a chalk board and changes regularly. It is however hard to read.

Although this is not a cheap place I found the food/atmosphere for money ratio to be quite within reason. Two courses each, a couple glasses of wine and the martini for just under $100.

Would dine there again in a minute! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere very intimate.

We go for our anniversary every few years and have not had a bad experience yet.

The staff is helpful and are willing to give as much time as you need to order and then to linger over your meal. No rush here.

Keep it up!

Bijou is my faveourite restaurant in Stratford. I'm sure it helps that I worked there for a season. But I've never eaten anywhere that like it. The staff are friendly and welcoming, the ambience is great and the food is perfect. I love the chalkboard. With a menu that changes everyday it would be ridiculously expensive to print a new menu for every table everyday. I love that its tucked away where you have to actuyally look to find it. I love entering off of the back of Wellington street, the entrance has so much more character and Beauty.
My faveourtite part of the menu is the portion sizes. I don't leave hungry, or feeling bloated. I'm always satisfied and it is definitly worth the money. The food at Bijou isn't just some generic stuff Aaron pulled out of his ass. He's puts a lot of TLC into the food and it shows. I can't wait until it opens again for the 2008 season!

Our meal was an explosion of flavour - absolutely delicious. What all of us commented on is that we loved the portions - did not feel like blobs afterward but were very satisfied. I myself had been to this restaurant once before and immediately thought of it to celebrate a friends birthday on this particular evening. On both occasions that I have visited this restaurant I have not felt disappointed in any way and plan to return when I can. Kudos to Aaron and the employees for making our evening memorable and very satisfying.

Having eaten at Bijou several times a year for several years, it's our favorite place in Stratford. We actually appreciate the chalkboard, as we know the menu reflects current local seasonal offerings. We always go to second seating so we can take our time to enjoy. While the portions are not huge (perhaps some of you should try the all you can eat places) they are more than adequate. The flavors are what sets them apart. The seasonings and sauces are first-rate, and very unique. Sauces are not heavy or overwhelming, but compliment the meat, poultry or seafood. Wine list is not extensive, but varied enough that everyone can find something to their taste. Servers are polite and professional, but can answer questions about the evening selections. While they don't have a neon sign flashing outside a pretentious entrance, it's not the outside that counts.. It's the quality and tastiness of the food that brings us back time and time again.

I read the reviews online before we went, so I knew about the alleyway entrance and the chalkboard menu. We visited also later (8pm) on Sunday evening, so we didn't have reservations and we were seated right away. All I can say is excellent!!! My meal was a taste sensation. Every bite was an explosion of flavours. With a meal this satisfying with taste, you don't need huge portions. The salad had every kind of tomato imaginable and they were so fresh. The whitefish was done in a curry sauce with zuccini. I tasted a little hint of cinnamon as well.It was divine. Dessert was heavenly and again just an explosion of flavours. The wine list was a little bit limited, but our server suggested a nice merlot and we were not dissapointed. Service was excellent!. If you are looking to fill a void in your stomach then maybe go somewhere else, but if you are looking for a fabulous dining experience, look no further... this is the place!

I completely agree with the poster below. I too was shocked by the bare plates, the pretentious nouvelle cuisine rip-off that left me hungry and annoyed. The only reason that the proprietors of Bijou get away with serving such scandalously small portions is that almost all the fine dining restaurants in Stratford do the same. They are almost all stuck in the 1980s, but the prices are very 2007. I’ve been visiting Stratford for years and, in my opinion, the only fine dining restaurant that offers good value for money is the Keys Stone Alley Café. If you can’t get a reservation there, the picnicking is a very good and pleasant option.