+33 4 93 76 84 97+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Mon
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tue
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wed
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Thu
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Le Bistrot de Gillou
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
French
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
features
Is this a French restaurant?
Details
CUISINES
French
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
5.0
198 reviews
Excellent
163
Very good
32
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Warren Caragata
Vancouver49 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
It’s a fairly small place that runs across two storefronts in a quieter part of central Nice. But it runs as if it was a bigger and more ambitious restaurant and it doesn’t miss a beat.
For a kitchen smaller that that found in some apartments, Gilles (nickname Gillou) offers a fairly extensive menu and does so with inventive panache. The front of the house is managed by Gillou’s wife, Cathy, who does so with competence and a smile. There’s only the two of them and when it’s busy, as it seems to be even in winter, a lesser couple could become overwhelmed and let things slide. But on the second night In a week that we were there, a group of 16 seemed easily accommodated without bothering the rest of us.
The menu, which changes often, runs a happy gamut with a nice range of appetizers and desserts, several fish and seafood options, meat dishes including a satisfying portion of steak tartare from Charolais beef, served with the hard-to-resist fries, rabbit stew, and pasta, plus regional dishes like pissaladière. Everything is full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The wine and beer list is not extensive but well chosen.
We’ll be back!
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Thank you so much
Written March 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
unlovedgirl
Southern Finland26 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
This was our first stop in Nice, went for lunch straight from the airport. We didn't have a reservation but got there before the busiest lunch time and got a table. It seemed it was quite a popular lunch place.
The waiter didn't speak much English and we didn't speak much French, but she was very helpful trying to translate the lunch menu for us.
It's a cozy little place and the food didn't disappoint. It was a nice start to our holiday and nice introduction to the town.
Written July 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
thank you for your visit see you soon
Written August 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fillone
Castel San Pietro190 contributions
May 2022 • none
My fiancee and I often go to Nice to take a walk on the Promenade and to check out some stores. We have never cared too much of eating, normally stopping for a sandwich or a burger, but this time we put some thought into it and found,by pure chance, Le Bistrot de Gillou, which is a very nice, typically French small restaurant owned and ran by what I assume is a couple: she takes care of the customers while he cooks. Since the restaurant was full of locals, they offered us to seat outside, on the sidewalk, on a small but cozy table. The menu was brought to us on a blackboard and has about 5 or 6 choices for each course. We have asked for some suggestions and were happy to follow them, as everything was very good. We loved the atmosphere and the food, as well as the kindness of the service. We left happy and we will be back for more next time., The prices are surprisingly fair for Nice, 2 appetisers and 2 entrees, water, beer and 2 coffees came out at around 70 euros, which we found absolutely reasonable for the area and the quality of the food. Definitely 5 stars, well deserved!
Written May 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Merci beaucoup pour votre message au plaisr de vous revoir
Written June 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barretta
178 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
Rave reviews drove us here for dinner on 12.03.20.
No reservation and the only people in the restaurant we thought we were in for star quality food and service.
The service was good and the place quaint but the food very disappointing.
I had asparagus advertised with a thyme cream sauce. The asparagus were boiled to death, lifeless and only warm. The cream sauce was out the fridge served with a twig of thyme just stuck in the plastic pot it was served in. My husband enjoyed his hot cheese dish but was not as big as the waitress indicated with her hands.
My main local fish was served again warm as though it had been sat on the side. The skin not crisp and the mash potatoes it was sat on were grey and tasteless. Nothing we ate had been seasoned. My husband had a local beef dish which he was underwhelmed by again warm and not seasoned. A real disappointment......
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher N
Edinburgh20 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
Nice is the home to a multitude of bland tourist eateries. So it was good to track down this small bistro where the gutsy flavours of the old France have not been forgotten. Although fairly central, it is not on the tourist trail but seems to be well frequented by locals, always a good sign. Plenty of old favourites and some with a new twist figure prominently on the chalk board menu. When, for instance, was the last time you were offered Pain Perdu as a dessert in a French restaurant? The heterogenous crockery give a authentic bistro flavour to the ambience which, hopefully, will benefit in time from kinder lighting.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Thank you so much see you soon
Written March 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Warren Caragata
Vancouver49 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
30 rue Alberti, 06000 Nice
+33 4 93 76 84 97
Le Bistrot de Gillou is a friendly and compact neighborhood bistro but what sets it apart is the quality of its food, the variety of its blackboarded menu, and the warmth of its welcome.
There are restaurants in Nice that are just as good but serve large plates of pretension along with the food, or where the staff would clearly rather be somewhere else. Not the case here. It’s a family-run place that takes pride in what is served and how it is served.
That pretty much sums what I said about the place when I reviewed it back in 2020, a review under a headline, “Well Worth Repeat Visits.”
So, we were back in Nice in 2023 after the peak of pandemic and I am happy to say that at least some things haven’t changed: Bistrot Gillou is still well worth repeat visits.
Gilles is still the chef, still up in a back corner of the main room behind a counter piled high with plates, on top of which sits a music player with the volume turned down so only Gilles can hear it. As before, he’s always good for a welcoming nod and a smile but this is a one-person kitchen so he’s busy prepping and cooking and plating.
Cathy still handles the front of the house. She’s also the server and wine steward and, even when it’s busy, she still manages it all with warmth and cheer.
The menu on the blackboards, one on the wall and the other a large portable, changes frequently but always offers a variety of entrees, mains, and desserts. On one of several days we were there for dinner, there were six entrees, nine mains and eight desserts.
The mains usually include one or two fish or seafood dishes, often cod (cabillaud) or cuttlefish (seiche), one or two meat dishes including a wonderful and very fresh steak tartare, and a pasta. Pissaladière, an onion tart and Niçois speciality, is often offered as a starter, alongside a herring salad, eggplant caviar or grilled peppers. If Gilles has his vegetable velouté on the menu, don’t miss it.
One dessert standout is the clafoutis, which Gilles makes according to Cathy’s recipe. As well, there is often a cheese dish and perhaps a pear crumble.
Bistrot Gillou hasn’t missed a beat. It’s not the fanciest place in town and there’s no sea view but the prices are reasonable, the menu avoids the cliches of French tourist cuisine, and the food and the warmth all still make it well worth coming back for more.
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merci pour votre visite ainsi que votre commentaire nous sommes très heureux que le bistrot vous ait plu encore nous sommes heureux de vous revoir bientôt
Written March 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Neil W
18 contributions
May 2024 • couples
This a very friendly, small restaurant at which we recently spent an excellent evening. There was a good, but not overly large menu on the board, which changes on a daily basis. The food and wine was very good, as was the welcome we received. I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a quiet, intimate meal at a very fair price.
Written May 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David
Edinburgh94 contributions
Apr 2022 • friends
This is a lovely little local restaurant slightly off the beaten track serving great quality ingredients, cooked well and with a clear passion for good food. This was our first visit and it definitely won’t be our last. Great wine list, reasonably priced.
The friendly, attentive service was a joy to experience.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Merci pour votre venue ainsi que pour votre message a bientôt
Written June 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MaureenCaversham
Reading18 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
It was towards the end of lunchtime but this delightful lady welcomed us in. The menu was very interesting and the gluten free herring salad was such a joy, my partner’s gazpacho was a tasty surprise, the main plates were delicious and then the pièce de résistance: crème brûlée which had an orange flower flavouring. Great wine, reasonably priced and delightful service. Such a talented team really made our visit. We are telling everyone we know to go when in Nice.
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Merci beaucoup pour votre message a bientôt
Written October 10, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LordRawdon
Kronberg im Taunus407 contributions
May 2024 • couples
The place is not big, and not in the bustling main districts of Nice. But this makes it very nice, as often. Short but creative menu. We have a nice Pissaladière as starter, an excellent beef tartare with fries, accompanied with a very good house red (cote du Rhone) and followed by excellent desserts (clafoutis and crème brulée).
And really good value for money.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PlsTripResponsibly
London76 contributions
Sep 2022 • solo
I really enjoyed my lunch today. I had the Boeuf tartare which erased a poor version I had in Paris years ago and I'm so glad I tried it again. It was delicious. I had a great crême brûlée, some rosé and coffee. I also brought a Pissaladière au Rouget Home for supper and enjoyed that with its little salad. The service was very warm and friendly. I paid €39 euros which is bang on. Very fresh and nicely done. Thank you.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Thank you so much
Written September 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nancy F
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
French bistro food at its finest! Small menu and they do it exceptionally. Such a great wait staff. One waitress and she works her tail off. Highly recommend.
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lottall
Finland27 contributions
Jul 2022 • solo
Super cute place with great atmosphere. Food was tasty and service excellent. Loved this place and highly recommend eating here!
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Merci beaucoup pour votre attention
Written August 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Scielbi
Santa Fe1285 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
We had a good lunch here. Simple food. We were the only foreigners in the restaurant. Obviously a local hangout. Blanquette du veau was passable, not great. Simple wines also.
Written November 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen R
Victoria340 contributions
Oct 2019 • couples
Thank you Trip Advisor friends. We hunted down this lovely little bistro ( seats about 30) due to the comments about market fresh daily menus on the ardoise. The lunch "menu" is only 18 euros for an entree et plat or plat et dessert and excellent value for the very flavourful dishes. We both had the salade de hareng with several pieces of excellent herring, fresh micro greens, a perfectly ripe tomato, and very light olive oil and white wine vinegar. My spouse enjoyed the stuffed sardines but kept stealing frites from my bavette with bleu d'auvergne sauce. The pichet of red wine was chilled but quite acceptable as it warmed up. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. Thank you to the chef.
Written October 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streetfood06
Merci beaucoup de votre visite
Written October 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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