Bouchon Bistro

Bouchon Bistro is the Coral Gables home of Thomas Keller’s beloved French bistro, the first Florida outpost of a concept the celebrated chef first opened in the Napa Valley. The setting could hardly be lovelier: the historic La Palma building, dating to 1924, with its Mediterranean-revival arches and courtyard, restored into a warm, authentically Parisian room of zinc, mirrors and banquettes.

The kitchen does the classics, and does them properly. French onion soup, steak frites, roast chicken and the catch of the day are the heart of a menu that prizes technique and the best ingredients available over reinvention. Fresh baguettes and pastries come from the in-house bakery tradition that made Keller’s bistros famous, and the wine list leans, naturally, toward France.

This is comfort food executed at a very high level, in a room that feels both grand and easy. It is dressier and more polished than a neighbourhood bistro, yet warm enough for a family lunch or an unhurried weekend brunch. Coral Gables suits it perfectly, elegant, leafy and a little old-world, and the bistro has quickly become one of the area’s most charming tables.

Bouchon is ideal for couples and families who love classic French cooking done with care. Reserve for dinner, or for the popular weekend brunch and lunch. It is about a twenty-five-minute drive from the residence, a worthwhile trip from South Beach to one of the most pedigreed kitchens in the city.