Bistro Gitan

First time there, food excellent, brilliant perfectly cooked pepper steak.
Yummy desert, Good atmosphere.
Excellent customer service

The décor and atmosphere were great but the coffee and food were not… The food was too rich and dominated by sauce. The waiter did not know the menu well enough to explain what I was getting. Great location but another South Yarra disappointment…

See my tips below. This place can be good– but is inconsistent — and when poor simply not worth it. If you stick to the steak and the wine list you will not be disappointed on a quiet night. If busy, expect to wait… and the food to be affected. Was very disappointed tonight.

«I’ll go ahead and see if they have room for us; it’s sure to be busy and I’ve been turned away before on a Friday night,» I said to my HBF.
Bistro Gitan remains a popular spot with locals, several years after opening, and having been here a handful of times to eat, and many more for an apéritif at the bar, it is easy to see why: it’s the service.
Sure the space is well designed and simply set out, as a bistro should be. Yes, the menu contains the standard bistro choices, seafood, proteins, sides and desserts (plus a few cray-​cray things you wouldn’t see on a more traditional French menu).
But it’s the service — warm and efficient, professional, with an eagerness to please — that really differentiates this as a fave French bistro place for me. There’s nothing to fault in the professionalism and attentiveness of the floor staff, even when I was turned away on a recent Friday night when they were full, nabbing the remaining bar space.
Last night, a plate of aged jamon, pan fried gnocchi, flank steak with sides of fries and salad, set my date back $ 140 (including one cocktail and two glasses of sparkling wine), making it a pricier place for a grab-​and-​go dinner. The food was good, not stellar, but done without fault.
Maybe it’s the drop-​off in service at many other places that sets this place apart. Regardless, the modern French bistro formula here works well, and I’ll be back again sometime soon.

Nice place to go for some pre-​dinner drinks and snacks. Excellent french food — garlic snails are amazing! Beer menu is somewhat limited for a place like this; would normally expect a good selection of some nice microbrews. Wine list is fantastic. Can be a bit pricy, but it’s worth it for such a nice atmosphere.

Desserts to die for (don’t try to avoid the beignets). Amazing food, French with a light modern touch. Very friendly courteous service. Highly recommended

Excellent food and atmosphere. A bit pricy, but for a high energy buzz, yet very relaxed and casual with upscale food off the beaten path it all balances out. Good experience.

Really good food, mostly good service (some are fantastic some ordinary). Can be a little bit expensive but highly recommend for a lazy Friday afternoon lunch.