French Crust Café and Bistro

Went for the lunch tray special. It is $18 per person at lunch time on Wed-Fri. It's only served at the bar. Given this is fine dining, it's definitely a more affordable way to try out the food. The meal was excellent in terms of flavors. The only reason I dropped one star was purely on quantity. I definitely left a little hungry but I think the meal and portions vary week to week, so I would go back for sure.
Apr 4th, 2024

We had a great time here. It says that they are closed from 3 to 5, but that is inaccurate. They are open, but as they transition to dinner, they only have a limited menu at the bar. I have attached a picture of what is available. We were served by the bartender, Billy, and had a great time with him, giving us the history of this restaurant, as well as other notable things around Cincinnati. The Coque Madam, I am told is a staple for the French. I dont know about that - but, if not, it should be - haha! Also had the Baked Camembert must try. Its decadent. We were celebrating a closing today & so cocktails too. We tried an old fashioned (really good) but the star was Jardn de Moines. Highly recommend- both refreshing and different.
Mar 23rd, 2024

Great place. Lunch was delicious.
Mar 22nd, 2024

Mar 21st, 2024

We were excited to see this restaurant but unfortunately cannot recommend it. The service was very slow -- we strolled in from the market for lunch on a weekday, the place was fairly empty, yet it took over 5 minutes to be acknowledged and seated, then another 10+ minutes for someone to come by for a drink order, another 10+ minutes to take a food order, and then the kitchen was slow. I'd understand on a busy day but the place was nearly empty. Luckily we weren't in a rush. The service was professional enough but lacked the friendliness and charm we found in other places around OTR. We ordered french onion soup, salad, and a sandwich to share. The soup was bland and unremarkable. The sandwich temperature was not right (hot bread -- cold chicken -- hot melty cheese) and also bland and flavorless. The salad was pretty good -- the house mustard dressing was nice. With regard to drinks, our server also knew nothing about wine -- its a French restaurant, I don't expect a sommelier, but having a basic understanding of what is at least on offer with a recommendation is a bit of a foul. I also kind of hoped there might be a house Bordeaux for a reasonable price, but alas, no. The bread, while good, is apparently flown in from NY. We wondered why this restaurant isn't partnering with a local bakery (there are several in OTR) to get something fresher and support the local food scene. On the plus side, the atmosphere is chic. We loved the vibe when we walked in. Our advice? Save your money. Hit the wine store across the street, get a bit of local bread, cheese and meat from the market, and enjoy a charcuterie in the market.
Mar 14th, 2024