Bistro Du Marché

The food and service were both wonderful. But the noise level was so high we had difficulty conversing. If the noise were not a problem, I would rate this place at four stars.

I would frequent Tapenade so when I found out they closed and opened this place, I had to try them out. I always order the mushroom raviolis. The taste and quality here seemed the same, which is a plus.
Everything else I wasn’t a fan of. At Tapenade, they would give free bread with olive tapenade dip. Here, the bread didn’t seem like it had as high a quality as Tapenade. It was hard and chewy. They charge for the olive tapenade now. Instead, you get butter.
I also ordered the crab and mango salad expecting a plate of greens with some crab sprinkled on top. Instead it was a mound of crab meat (almost like a crab cake except not fried) with maybe 5 pieces of greens on top. The dish was good, but I was hoping for an actual salad.

Excellent food! The staff is wonderful and the food is fantastic! I hear they offer great deals during happy hour 5pm to 6pm daily. I am looking forward to going back. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

Well deserved of these 5 stars. My boyfriend and I came here for our valentines dinner & immediately we received the hospitality of the waiting staff. While waiting for the final touches to get our table ready, we were offered to wait at the bar. Within 30 seconds we were instantly acknowledged & our drink order placed. Our waitress was simply wonderful, and extremely attentive. We had the burgundy snails as an app, I got the halibut & my boyfriend the duck confit. I can’t speak for his meal, but my halibut was incredible (days later & im still dreaming about it!). Every element was flavored deliciously & cooked well. It was my first halibut experience, and what a great one! The snails were by far one of the best I’ve had, and their wine was wonderful. We even over heard others saying how delicious their food was & how impressed they were with the staff. We can’t wait to come back again. What a divine dining experience!

My boyfriend took me here for Valentine’s last night and it was fantastic. Had to call a week in advance for reservations and we still weren’t able to get a table till 8 pm which wasn’t bad at all.
Our waiter was super attentive and funny. We got the duck and salmon both were fantastic. Got the meringue for dessert. Highly recommend this place.

Even though it was kind of hard to get a reservation on a Thursday night, they managed to give us a table. The interior isn’t the most modernest out there, but it’s cute and cozy, and the place also has a full bar.
We were recommeneded to try the appetizer of cream-​brulee like dish, oh my, it is yet the best I’ve ever had! Creamy and not all sugaring, it has just the right amount of sugar. Spread it on a piece of toasted bread, hmm… yum! The onion soup is also great, unlike some places, it keeps the original flavor without overaddressing salt at all. Followed by foie gras, it makes you eat like unstoppable!
They have good varieties of main dishes, we picked duck confit and the sweet bread with truffle. Every truffle bit makes you melt… definately recommended.
Servers were friendly and are very knowledgeable with the dishes. 5-​star rating indeed!

came here for lunch was excellent food excellent ambiance Gustavo was a consummate professional he provided wnderful first class service solid 5 stars coming bak for sure steak and fritz was particularly great! ok the mushroom raviole to die for! ate it b4 i could take a pik… why would anyone give less than 5 stars i dont understand and im veeerrryy picky

Very nice place great experience. Very europian, Rose wine was great for brunch. Those croissants are the best in Las Jolla. Deffently will become regular here.

Came here for a friends birthday, really enjoyed the atmosphere. Order the gnocchi which was really good. Also tried escargot noir the first time which was amazing with the sauce they used.

The atmosphere is wonderful. But I did not like the Croque Monsieur. It had one slice of ham with a lot of bread and too much sauce. One of guests had the same dish and felt the same way. Very soggy.
The salad needed a better dressing. Service was ok. I have seen better.

I went looking for a restaurant that would accomodate a large group. A local steakhouse was my first choice and I tried to arrange a reservation. Our group of 16 was treated more like a nuisance than an opportunity. We would have been met with a fixed menu and there was a $ 3,500 food and beverage minimum. That’s right, approximately $ 220 per person. I won’t name the establishment, but they need some help with their spelling.
Needless to say, I went looking for a different option. I found Bistro du Marche and the friendly manner in which they welcomed our group was the complete opposite of our first, rather unsuccessful, option. Bistro du Marche would be happy to accomodate us, without a fixed menu, without a minimum and although they would have trouble fitting us all in, they would worry about how to get us all in. With that alone, they showed that they know how to handle potential customers.
We arrived at 8:15 p.m. on a Saturday and were promptly seated. The restaurant itself is bright, roomy and warm. It is loud, which I understand has scared off some of the well-​aged customers of the former Tapenade, but the noise is not overly distracting and there is a vibrancy that did not exist at Tapenade.
For appetizers we ordered the escargot, the smoked salmon plate and a foie gras terrine. The escargot were traditionally made and excellent, although perhaps a little extra bread would have been appreciated. The foie gras terrine was perhaps not the prettiest of dishes, but the silky texture and rich flavor made up for any visual shortcomings. The salmon is very nice, although I couldn’t help thinking that I was eating breakfast as an appetizer.
I ordered the scallops. The scallops were plated beautifully, sitting atop a slightly sweet butternut purée, and were cooked to perfection. Other stars at the table were the halibut and the pasta special. Both looked wonderful, although I did not taste anything other than my plate.
For dessert, the profiteroles were as advertised, but I found them to be lacking just a little bit in taste, though certainly not creaminess. The Clafoutis, with salted caramel, was a much better option in my opinion.
Overall, a great dinner with warm, friendly service, a reasonable price tag and wonderful company. Will definitely go back.

I was a big fan of Tapenade in La Jolla, granted it was a restaurant for special occasions and not every day dining out. You always left with a deeper appreciation for food. I was excited to hear that Bistro Du Marche was open, and they had some of the same items on the menu that were served at Tapenade.
I came here for dinner on a Friday night. We were able to get a reservation easily enough and found street parking. If you dine out in La Jolla, you know how amazing it is when you get a great parking spot right in front of the restaurant. Bistro Du Marche is more casual than Tapenade was, and has a bustling feel to it. The tables are a bit closer together and I brushed against a few chairs while we make our way over to where we were seated against the wall. As the restaurant got busier, it also got pretty loud. Since the tables are close together, you can easily talk to your neighbor. We were also able to easily check out what they ordered. Be warned, it might take all your energy to not reach over and sample your neighbor’s food. The older couple sitting next to us had been there for happy hour and then went on to have dinner. When their plates came you could smell how wonderful everything was.
We started with an appetizer of the crab and mango salad. This was the most amazing dish, and trying to describe it might be impossible. The textures, the presentation, the flavors were perfectly done, and I will be ordering this on every single trip I make to this restaurant. We also had a bowl of the Onion soup but it is not your normal French onion soup, as this has beef shank, and is missing the cheese and bread, but actually you will not be missing it. The bold flavors are extremely filling. We split the Coquilles St Jacques which was our main dish of scallops, endives in a butternut purée with chestnuts; amazing dish and I can say the sauce was wonderful and not your typical sauce that you would have with scallops.
When we used to go to Tapenade; tapenade and bread came to the table complimentary. This time we paid $ 6 for the tapenade and had it after the meal and found it less satisfying (maybe because we just gorged on such amazing food). We also had an order of ratatouille so we could get our fill of vegetables, and that was ok, just not the highlight of the meal. We were full, but couldn’t miss ordering a dessert. The one that sounded the most amazing was the Floating Island, and I could have floated away on this dessert of meringue, caramel sauce, crème anglaise with toasted almonds. It was fabulous.
The food was so amazing and I love this Bistro, but I do admit our waiter was not the best. We did get our bottle of water, but he didn’t pour it for us. When the dishes were brought out to our table, we are used to the French wait staff explaining what is on the plate again to refresh our memory. There was very little eye contact. Our waiter wasn’t rude or anything, but we hold waiters in French restaurants to a higher standard. We are paying more for the food and part of the art of it is in the delivery.

Thank Goodness the Diot family did not give up on La Jolla and came charging back with Bistro Du Marche after successfully running Tapenade for over 15 years. It is The Happening Restaurant here in town: a cozy, casual, yet bustling elegant French Bistro that takes you to Paris while here at home. What great ambiance: bar as you walk in with its dazzling array of drinks;the attention to lighting; the use of the color red and rich woods;the Mercury mirrored wall and the Wine Wall are both knockouts!
I am taken by the waiters in blue casual shirts who give the same diligent attention shown at Tapenade. Now led by Adrian, this team offers something to drink as you sit down and seem to have their eyes on you all night long. The food is delicious; menu is evolving and seasonal.
Of course, Michele and team are fine tuning this new winner as weeks go along (who wouldn’t be?) but what a great addition to the neighborhood; millennials, Baby Boomers — actually — all generations, seem to be having a great time. I know we are!

Chef Diot has another good restaurant. The crab coconut salad was excellent, as were the escargot, and the pork rillettes.

First the good. The service was good. The beet salad and mushroom ravioli was very good. The bad… the venison was the worst I have ever had. However the manager did offer to bring out something else and bring another glass of wine. That saved this from being a 1 star review.

I went here on a Monday night. It was kind of empty at first but got busier later. The service was mediocre. Our waiter was nice but no one once asked us how our food was. We got bread on the table but had to ask for butter. When we asked for serving spoons (since 2 of us wanted to share our entrees), we received one and had to ask for a 2^nd one. We had to wait and ask a 2^nd time for that serving spoon because the busboy never brought it. The acoustics in this place made everything echo and so conversation was difficult, as all the ambient sounds were quite loud. As for the food — it was nothing to write home about. I wanted to like this place, but unfortunately was disappointed.

Extremely overpriced for the poor quality of food; very disappointing. Service left much to be desired as well.
Hopefully they manage to bring up the quality.

Bistro du Marche is so awesome. I love that it has maintained the same amazing service as its previous location on Fay, but it definitely seems more relaxed and inviting this time around! The food was incredibly prepared as expected :) and the happy hour cocktails are perfect! Definitely looking forward to coming back :)

The food is amazing, the owners are French and the recipes are very French country with a little California fusion! We had the Croque Madame, the sauce and cheese was delicious and a perfect pairing. It’s a nice ambiance and there’s plenty of parking on Girard.

I cannot think of better circumstances to dine-​hanging with some of my favorite people, going out for drinks, wine and French food and then the safety and convenience of walking home after imbibing. I’m being especially kind on this review because #1 I didn’t pay for the meal and I’m trying to hold back from giving anyone a more critical review than they deserve unless of course they poison me. I ate at Tapenade in its former location more times than I can count mostly because I enjoyed the less stuffy Bar and the Bartenders superior service. The other reason I dined at Tapenade was because it was the default of a few older friends waving the flag for Continental standards.
If you’re expecting a gastronomic experience in the newly named newly christened new location it’s not here. Consistent yes but exciting no. I liken it to slightly better than average Hotel banquet. Pricing is high for the basic dishes-​not out of line were it more memorable food. Portions are sufficient and the quality of the ingredients seem good but the dishes lack depth and creativity. Service is exemplary and the Dining Room is pleasantly decorated and lit. I understand the older crowd seeking out places like this as they did with Tapenade in the past because it’s comfortable and familiar but given the experience of the Chefs and Staff I expected more than a pretty dining room and friendly service.

Great experience and value
Nothing better than a good French restaurant which is very rare in San Diego
Brought my family a party of 7 for Thanksgiving
We all had the prix fixe and wine pairings
1^st course onion and beef soup was fantastic paired with a French Pinot noir
2^nd course young hen Turkey two ways was tender with terrific baby vegetables and duck sausage stuffing paired with a Red Burgundy
3^rd course they split the pumpkin pie brûlée and pecan tart for my wife and I paired with an Australian Guwertztraminer
Only thing better than the meal was the service
Friendly attentive and prompt
We all loved it and will be frequent customers
Formidable

Anticipating a moderate priced bistro with real bistro food, we were sorely disappointed. That foundational French dish, onion soup, turned out to be nothing of the sort. Filled with beef, and not having that classic melted cheese topping, we wondered what had happened. Our waiter said that for 15 years the chef has refused to do the classic version, opting instead for the version he presented which was supposedly based upon the recipe of another region of France. Was there notice on the menu, or a mention by the waiter, that theirs was different from the classic French version that all persons at our table were expecting? No. As to another French classic, coq au vin, theirs was only average and overpriced. Will we eat here again? No.

We were regulars at the former location and loved the menu and food in the bar area. Here, it is louder, more expensive and disappointing. From the frozen French fries — formerly real pomme frites — to the increased prices to the load noise and terrible escargot, I suggest he start eating there himself. This opinion is written by someone who has been to the new location 5 times and the food is a bit worse with each new visit. I have talked with several diners at the new location and they all feel the same. I can walk there and truly would like it to succeed. If this were the old Paris it would be closed up already!

My wife and I went there for a romantic date. We were recommended by close friends of ours who live in La Jolla, and what a find! The restaurant looked like a neighborhood gem, filled with locals, who all seemed to know each other. The service was professional and friendly, and our waiter was very knowledgeable about wines. The cocktail list was very interesting, and we enjoyed the selection of beers. We were recommended the mushroom raviolis, which we shared and loved. My wife had the scallops, which she found delicious, while I had the tournedos with the blue cheese sauce.
Definitely recommend the place and definitely will be back!

Eight of us recently had dinner at the new Bistro du Marche, looking forward to a good experience based on having eaten at Tapenade often over the past years. We were very disappointed when four of us received the mussels we ordered for our entrees. They were cool, slimy, and poorly formed mussels. I’ve eaten mussels many times and never have had such bad ones. When we told the waiter, he apologized, then offered us another entrée, which we didn’t accept since the rest of our group had finished eating. We asked to talk to the manager, and he said he had taken care of it. We assumed he had removed the charge for the four mussel entrees from our bill. Later after receiving our three desserts we ordered, he sent two more desserts to the table which we hadn’t ordered, or wanted. When the bill came nothing had been credited for our problem. $ 88 for the mussels had been charged. When we tried to talk to the manager again he shrugged us off, offering no comment or apology. As the eight of us walked out the manager could hear us talking about how disappointed we were, but said nothing.
Since we live within two blocks of this restaurant we were looking forward to the continued Tapenade experience, and were very disappointed in this very poor service from management.
I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone, because if anything goes wrong you can’t count on them to take care of the issue. I can’t remember having this poor customer service at any other local restaurant.

We live in La Jolla and have been eagerly looking forward to the opening of this restaurant, especially since we were regulars at Tapenade before it closed. Finally this new restaurant opened and 8 of us had dinner there this week. We were so disappointed, could hardly believe it. Several of us ordered mussels for our entrée. They were awful – worst mussels ever. Tiny, almost ridiculously small and slimy, as well as cold. Although we told the waiter and he apologized, he did not offer to remove these entrees from the bill.
Later, our group ordered 3 desserts to share and we were told the desserts were «taken care of.» In fact, we received 5 desserts, so 2 more than we ordered. That seemed generous until the bill came — not only were we billed for all the orders of mussels ($ 88.00 worth of absolutely awful mussel!), but we were even billed for all 3 desserts we ordered. The only thing not on our bill were the 2 desserts we did not order. We thought there was some mistake, but when we spoke with the owner/​manager, he rudely pointed out that we were not charged for the two desserts we DID NOT order. DUH! This is a terrible way to begin serving your local clientele. We will not be back, considering the poor quality of both the food and the management’s attitude towards its guests.
Cannot recommend Bistro du Marche!

I’m so glad that Tapenade has reopened as a more casual bistro. The feel is great. Love the décor. Service was top notch. Food was great. Would love to give 5 stars, but I feel like they should have come down a notch in their price point when moving to a cheaper location and a more casual motif.