Chez Marie French Bistro — Restaurant in Florida

Being a Boca local I had wondered about this place for awhile and decided to try it on July 14th which is a celebratory day for France. It was a prefixed menu for 3 courses. 4 of us ate and all have different tastes. Nobody really liked the food. As a pretty diligent home chef and well traveled person, I have a good idea of French cuisine, how it's prepared and how it should taste. Of the 2 boeuf Bourguignon dishes ordered both of my party were let down. This is a classic bistro slow cooked dish that should be fool proof, the stew seemed to lack moisture and flavor. Not to mention at $65 a plate when this is a $10 Euro meal at any Bouillion Chartier, which do it better. The fish filet was small and very dry. Duck had lackluster reports, but I didn't try that because I don't like duck. The wine list is "so so." But the catch here is the bread.... they charge $7 for the bread basket. Apparently one small one arrived at the meal which was immediately gone between my 3 other patrons. I had the pate appetizer which only came with two crostini's so of course we needed more bread. They claimed the bread is imported so that's why the upcharge. But the way I see it, is, with a nice oven, good yeast and flour any self respecting chef can create a baguette. If not - many people chose to outsource these tasks to local bakers. But they don't upcharge patrons. I guess this was a product of old people ordering only a soup and tearing up multiple baskets of bread. But on a $65 per head meal, which was all casual options (no filet on the menu :) ) there shouldn't have been such a charge. Speaking of the soup, the French onion, also not good, it seems the onions weren't plentiful enough and hadn't taken the time to caramelize well to build the deeper color and flavor, there was no hint of brandy and thyme, just wasn't much flavor. The notes were just strong on chicken broth base with the cheesy topper. Desserts, husband had mousse and was happy, but who isn't happy with a cup of chocolate pudding. The cream brulee was lavender but a bit heavy on the lavender, leaving it almost like a perfume extract. It was certainly too forward. The service was extreme friendly and the vibe was nice. But that didn't over compensate for lack luster food at elevated prices in a strip mall next to Publix. I mean getting ripped off while looking at the ocean is one thing, but a strip mall? There was live entertainment, a singer with some of his patron friends hopping up from time to time taking turns. It was like French karaoke. So here's the take, nice people, food ok if you've never eaten french food and like to pay high prices for simple meals. And don't order more bread if you aren't down with the $7...

Ah, mes amis, gather ‘round and let me regale you with a tale of culinary splendor! For on a most special occasion—my dear mother's birthday, no less—I found myself ensconced in the warm embrace of Chez Marie, a bistro so authentically French, one might believe they had stumbled into Paris itself.

The evening began with the escargot, those tender morsels of land-dwelling delight, swimming in a sea of butter so luxurious, I half-expected to hear the distant strains of accordion music and the clinking of wine glasses in Montmartre. Each bite was a veritable passport to France, transporting me to a quaint café where life slows down and the butter flows freely. Truly, the finest escargot to ever grace my lips!

Next, the duck—a dish as noble as the bird itself. Cooked to perfection, it was a fitting entrée for the evening, though I must confess, the star of the show had already made its grand entrance. The duck, while commendable, stood as a handsome supporting actor in a cast of culinary giants.

And then, dear reader, we arrive at the mousse. Oh, the mousse! A dessert so rich, so decadent, that as I savored each spoonful, I was overcome with a sense of grandeur. Why, I felt like J. Piedmont Morgan himself, seated at the helm of a great empire of chocolate. This mousse was no mere dessert—it was an experience, a celebration of excess and indulgence that left me both satiated and yearning for more.

In the end, Chez Marie proved itself to be a bistro of the highest order, a place where the flavors of France are not merely replicated but celebrated. If ever you find yourself in search of a dining experience that will whisk you away to the boulevards of Paris, look no further. And should you partake in the escargot and mousse, I assure you, you shall leave feeling as rich as a tycoon and as content as a...

Chez Marie French Bistro made a lovely Mother’s Day even better!

This was my first time dining here and my mother and I will definitely be returning. JoJo our server was very nice and attentive, offering suggestions/opinions when asked and doing her best to take care of us. Madame Marie stopped by our table and even allowed me to practice my French with her!

Food: Warm bread and good butter; Mom’s iced tea was pleasing; the appetizers were delicious and plentiful and we had the snails, the shrimp, and the pan seared foie gras; Mom told JoJo that the onion soup was okay, but there seemed to be a slightly bitter aftertaste; we both had the braised short ribs “bourguignon” and the meat served was generously portioned, fork tender, and flavorful, although we both felt it needed salt; lastly we ordered the apple crumble and the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake with glasses of the Sauternes. The desserts were satisfactory and the wine was good.

Setting: the courtyard isn’t particularly inviting, but we enjoyed the breeze and the lights strung overhead and we never felt rushed or crowded by other tables/diners. There was a nice mix of patrons taking advantage of a wonderful restaurant.

The prices were inline with a place offering French cuisine of this level and the relaxed dress code reflected the bistro appellation. Compliments to the chef/owner and Madame Marie; next time, we may just come for the amazing appetizers and some...