DB Bistro Moderne

Great happy hour!. Came with a big group of 15 and the staff was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the menus and all the drinks and food were great. The Moscow mule was awesome and the flat bread, pomme frites, cheese and meats platter and chocolate dessert were all delicious. 5 – 7 they have $ 1 oysters! We got there too late but will definitely come back to try it next time. Great variety of food and drink. Prices normal for downtown avg $ 8 drinks and apps.

We were staying at the JW Marriott Marquis (a FANTASTIC hotel by the way) and decided to try db Bistro Moderne. It was described as a «contemporary interpretation of a French Bistro», but the menu seemed a bit schizophrenic. It had small bites described as tapas, appetizers, and entrees, but honestly, I was hard-​pressed to find many things that interested me.
We started off with the gougeres, hot from the oven, just cheesy goodness. The Maine Lobster Salad was about as good a salad as I have ever had. It was loaded with tender, perfectly done chunks of lobster. It had disks of hearts of palm, a mix of mesclun, chunks of watermelon and tomatoes, tender-​crisp haricots vert, and a lovely avocado purée. It was a perfect blend of acidity, bitterness, sweet and salty. It was light, refreshing, yet satisfying… I would return just to have that dish. The rock shrimp al ajillo was a nice take on the classic Spanish tapas dish gambas al ajillo… the bits of rock shrimp wonderfully fresh and perfectly tender, nestled in a sinfully rich lemon butter sauce laced with garlic, garnished with crispy fried garlic chips. This dish left me licking the plate.
I got the db burger… I don’t really understand the acclaim heaped on this dish. The accompanying frites were kind of soggyand oversalted. The burger itself was deceptively juicy… the first bite, lots of grease and juice squirts out and on the plate… however, the burger itself was made from tough sirloin, something you could taste. This was not helped by being stuffed with dry, stringy braised short ribs… the resultant texture was actually quite unpleasant. I could not find any of the advertised foie gras… it probably ended up in the puddle of grease on my plate. The pumpkin agnolotti were tasty, but frankly, not very exciting… after the first few bites, they became rather motonous.
Overall, despite exemplary service, I was disappointed with our meal… I would probably return for the bar menu, especially the dollar oysters on the half shell.

I have been to DB many different times. I really love it as a whole. I love the fact that it is located in Brickell. The bar and wine cellar look cool and unique.
We have received great service on each of our visits. The food is always amazing.
On my last visit Ricardo was our waiter. He was so kind and lovely. He wasn’t intrusive and never made us feel rushed.
The manager is always friendly and personable. He visits every table and converses with the guests.
I like the decorations but i wish that they were more modern and chic.
The DB burgers is soooo good and different. I mean how can you go wrong with a burger stuffed with short ribs and foie gras? Exactly you can’t!!! Bottom line this is a great French restaurant with reasonable prices.

One of best atmospheres and services. I recommend this place for business, family, dates, or by yourself if you are a loner :)
Next to the river, so close to a ice water front walk.

I give it three stars because the drinks are too expensive and they taste like juice. I suggest getting a drink on the rocks to really get the bang for your buck. Presentation is really nice. The drink was tasty but just felt like I was drinking a juice.
The little bites they have in the lounge are really small and pricey as well, but tasty!

So we’ve been to this place for happy hour and I can tell you only the $ 3 items and 2 items on share portion of the menu are actually happy hour price. The rest of the menu you can get at any point of the day.
First we started with the Mezze plate– pistachio hummus: green, thick nutty and flavorful and the pistachio was unique. Lemon ricotta– perfectly whipped with a hint of lemon zest probably Could be inside a cheese blintz or crêpe. Baba ghanoush — very flavorful and smooth although I’d like the consistency a bit thicker! These were served with warm pita/​naan that they constantly replaced!
The next was the meat plate: it was served with spicy pickled peppers and cauliflower and carrot, relish and Dijon mustard with crispy sour dough. The boudin blanc which is usually a mix of pork and chicken was very tasty. The liver pâté was pretty good, good consistency and not gamey like most liver Pâté. The last item that was green and white and pork based was a bit off– the cartilage wierded us out.
The torta Espinola– was tasty fluffy egg layered with spinach, cheese and roasted pepper– loved this!
Camaron Ajillo — this was heaven. Perfectly cooked shrimp in a butter garlic sauce, with parsley so good! We used pita to dip in the sauce.-must have!
Porkbelly on toast– succulent pork with a yummy almost Indian flavored chutney on sourdough like bread.
Pan con tamate– bread with tomato purée and iberico ham was classic
The octopus on Melba like toast was my favorite and actually had a tandoori seasoning feel, I ordered another!- must have!
Sardine on tamate pan– with a pickle peppered husband enjoyed and said it worked well together.
We also had a deviled egg with shrimp and pickled pepper and it had the right amount of bite
In the past we had the stuffed dates with almond and blue cheese and ham croqueta and loved them! They’re pulpo salad is divine too.
Last but not least was the amazing dessert of maple ice team covered in chocolate then marshmallow merengue and bourbon sauce with lemon zest madeleines on the side! Fabulous! –must have!
Their wines run about $ 7 – 10 per glass, and cocktails are $ 10 happy hour is 5 – 8 and if highly suggest this place if your pockets are full and tummy is empty! We will definitely be regulars!

Dining in the coeur de Brickell one always is prepared for either disappointment or an extremely gratifying evening. Which is why I was surprised that the pendulum didn’t swing in either direction at Bistro Moderne…
We each ordered different plates to try. The «famous» burger, the coq au vin, the halibut, the duck, the seafood tower. It was all nicely presented as described. We took turns sampling and drinking wine all throughout the evening. But something just wasn’t «on point».
Now don’t get me wrong, the service was very good and our team of waiter and servers made sure we were well attended. The problem for me was the food. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Bistro Moderne carries the famous Daniel Bouloud name and rightly so. The menu is classic yet inventive and brings a modern twist to traditional french cuisine. The décor is nothing short of spectacular and the wine selection is second to none. If you are dining with a group, like I was, it is a good idea to make reservations ahead of time and ask for a secluded part of the restaurant so you can be as rowdy as we were. Yes, we tend to get a bit outta hand with at our parties. It is good to be us!
I am cautiously giving Bistro Moderne four stars for ambiance, service, and overall experience. In the future, when I dine here again, I will update my review on the food.

Always very well served. Food arrives at the table on time, and delicious. I definitely recommend their burger!

My family and I took advantage of the annual Miami Spice deal: a three-​course meal with 3 or 4 choices each of one appetizer, main course and dessert for thirty-​nine dollars. This was our first visit here and I was a little skeptical. Driving to downtown Miami, where db Bistro Moderne is located, can be a pain, especially during heavy traffic hours – our reservation was for 6 p.m.
Travelling the expressway was surprisingly uncluttered and the downtown exit was minutes away from our location. Once off the expressway, the traffic was heavy, but close to the Marriott Hotel, where the restaurant is located in.
The staff was friendly, attentive and efficient. Surroundings were modern and lovely. I was skeptical ordering from the Miami Spice menu, but I was proven wrong. The food was delicious and the portions were generous.
The restaurant serves a combination of (in their words) traditional French bistro cooking and contemporary American flavors.
For my appetizer I had Heirloom Tomato with avocado hummus, basil and watercress. In a word it was amazing. The flavors were delicate, enhanced each other and left me craving for more.
My main course – Tarragon Chicken with yellow beans, pearl onions and basmati rice – was succulent, not too heavy and the juice from the chicken and spices blended perfectly with the rice.
Tropical Fruit Sunday with vanilla Chantilly, mango sorbet and coconut ice cream was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal. Again, the flavors were light, delicate, creamy and a perfect counter-​balance to Miami’s heat and humidity.
Each member of my family (4 of us) mostly had different meal choices, and each one raved about their food.
I would gladly come back here again and recommend it to anyone, though their standard menu can be expensive.
Two tips: 1) Be sure and park in the Marriott Hotel garage. The restaurant validates parking for their customers. Parking is very expensive, otherwise.
2) An 18% service charge (tip) is added to your bill, which considering what we received in return was more than reasonable.

The service here was really bad. The wait staff was so friendly and the Maitre D /​Hostesses were so nice. My issue was the bus boys or whoever is in charge never took up the dirty plates. Some times a few in our party would get their plates picked up, only 2 or 3 would have their water refilled. It was so strange. When my appetizer came out, my plate was obviously dirty from the seafood tower we had ordered first and he never changed my plate. It had shrimp shells on it! It was really weird. We were a party of 8 and it didn’t feel smooth at all
When the steak came out, it looked like it had been thrown onto the plate. It looked so bad. I wish I had a picture.
Food was hit or miss. Most of it was pretty good. I felt some of the dishes were very overpriced. Their alsacian tart was described as a rich tart and I imagined a true tart in a home made tart shell. It should’ve read «flat bread» or something like that. It was a store bought thin tortilla toasted with some cheese, onions and bacon on top. So disappointing.

This is the best restaurant in Miami no doubt, ambiance is beautiful and classy, makes you feel like you are in Paris, service is just extraordinaire, specially for a city as Miami that totally lacks of such.
We started with some white cosmos that have had on previous visits to the restaurant they were made to perfection, the frozen orchid gives it that special touch that Daniel Boulud is famous for.
Food is delicious, you can taste the freshness of the ingredients and the attention to details in the presentation. I had the Duck confit that was juicy and crunchy at the same, no doubt that this kind of technique can only be achived by a great chef (Jason Pringle). We finished with theirs famous Madeleines basket which were warm and fluffy, literally melting in your mouth.
Will definetly go back very soon.

My friend and I arrived for dinner on a Friday night around 8:00pm, and the restaurant was only half full at the time. We were greeted and sat right away. During the summer months, Executive Chef Jason Pringle re-​creates fan favorites from Chef Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen and Bar from New York City, so you can essentially order off of menus from two different restaurants. We ordered mostly from the DB Bistro Moderne menu but opted to try one item from the DBGB Kitchen menu (the «Thai» dish). We tried:
–Complimentary Bread & Butter (
): Solid bread and butter– it’s difficult to stop eating, so we asked them not to bring us a new basket.
–Complimentary Gougeres (
): Delicious, and they were light and airy.
–Maine Lobster Salad (Mesclun, Avocado, Haricots Verts, Hearts of Palm, Watermelon, $ 24,
): Our favorite dish of the meal– the lobster was tender and perfectly cooked, and this salad was really refreshing– recommended!
–Thai (Pork, Lemongrass, Red Curry, Green Papaya Basil Fried Rice, Chili Sauce, Quail Egg, $ 13,
): Eh, not so great. The pork was salty and overcooked, and the flavors in this dish really clashed. Also, the fried rice was hard and clumpy– skip!
–The Original db Burger (Sirloin Burger, Braised Short Ribs, Foie Gras, Black Truffle, Served on Parmesan Bun, Pommes Frites, $ 35,
): Super disappointing! I didn’t like the bun at all, which I thought was dry. The burger was also really oily but somehow managed to be flavorless. I could barely detect any foie gras, and didn’t think this was worth $ 35. However, the pommes frites were nice and crispy and very delicious. I would order the fries again but not waste the money on the burger.
–Crunchy Chocolate Bar (Caramel/​Praline Glaze, Brownie, Candied Hazelnuts, Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream, $ 11,
): Good, and nice and chocolatey, but not quite as amazing as I anticipated for a Daniel Boulud restaurant.
The service was good, and very attentive. Overall however, the food was disappointing, especially the famous db burger. Based on this last experience, I doubt I would return. We didn’t drive here, but there seems to be limited parking in the downtown area.

I dined here last Summer 2014 opting for the Miami Spice menu. After hearing first hand, and reading, many great reviews, I had my expectations up high. They were unfortunately not met. The food was just bad. Admittedly, I did not know before hand that this dish would be in a gelatin mold, but The Jambon Persille was just gross. The ham tasted old, the eggs spoiled. I didn’t finish it. Then the Seafood Cassoulet tasted old, barely any shrimp, and all the clams were not fresh. The only course I enjoyed was the Dark Chocolate Pave. The waiter was literally no where to be found after taking my order — a blow off due to Spice Menu I assume? I had to ask a busser to have my check brought over. I’ve never returned.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE. I’ve been to db Bistro about six times: a couple of romantic dinners with Mr. Wonderful, a couple of Miami Spice lunches with friends, a wine dinner, and I once organized a dinner for 12. In all this time, I just haven’t felt impressed enough to pick up a pen and share. It’s a very nice place named after a famous chef in a fancy part of town, but it hasn’t ever moved me.
When it comes to the food, the best dish I’ve had was Croque-​monsieur sandwich on last year’s Miami Spice menu. This should tell you something. Many of the menu items are exceptionally beautiful, but they lack soul. I can picture the photographs posted in the kitchen, so the line workers can assemble them with drone-​like precision, each product selected for its shelf-​life and cost. Take the Liverwurst with peaches, almond, and celery on this year’s spice lunch. The peaches are poached, not crisp and fresh, the almonds ground, the celery sliced in curly ribbons. It looks pretty because it’s colorful, the Liverwurst is cut in precise triangles and the curls stand up on the plate, but what am I really getting here? Desserts are always visually spot on; but again, the «wow» is in the plating, not the product.
As for the service, it’s very Brickell. I have never been greeted by name, or with the slightest glimmer of recognition, or even with the vaguest semblance of interest. Maybe I’m cranky because our waiter forgot to bring our wine yesterday? But seriously, at this price point, you can find establishments that will make you feel more fabulous than you really are– this one has the opposite effect. Maybe that’s why obnoxious patrons like the lawyer at the next table need to whip out their cell phones and yell about money during lunchtime?
There, there lawyer-​boy, the hot hostess made me feel like a nobody, too.
As for the atmosphere, the dining room is elegant with high ceilings and plush furniture. The view is of a street corner that is a constant traffic snarl. You have a partial view of the river if you look past the street.
When it comes to db, I go because other people like it. They like it more than I dislike it.

Since it’s been nearly 1 year since my last review on db, I figured it was time to update readers on its excellence. Christoph and the whole db staff continues to offer excellence in service each time I go. The Miami Spice menu has been great as usual but there are just a few certain things that you can’t leave the restaurant without trying. The escargot might be the best in town and is a must-​try even if you’re not a fan of snails. The swordfish entrée that is on the Miami Spice menu should seriously be considered as a permanent menu item (I don’t think it is) because it’s literally the best swordfish I’ve ever tasted. Although some dishes are better than others, I have never had a bad meal here. Oh, and I always need at least 3 of those delightful little gruyère puffs they serve with bread! DB is incredibly consistent and that is why they will continue to serve amazing stuff. Go go go!

Downtown has a lot of very decent fine dining options, and service in this area is a little more upscale then you will find on the beach. The clientele also runs more business-​attire, because this is a «power lunch» or «after work» dinner for many of the customers.
db is an outpost of the NY empire of Daniel Boulud of course, and I think this location represents: the service, wine list, and the care in presentation and quality of the food is top tier.
They enthusiastically participate in «Miami Spice» in August and September, changing up the menu weekly and offering an amazing fine dining value that almost makes me wish I worked across the street as I did years ago (before db came to town, sadly).
It can be expensive, making it a great option on somebody else’s dime (if there is any better option in the area, it might be (the even more expensive) Zuma across the street, which also comes with a view to impress, which is one thing db lacks).

Excellent time was had for my Birthday party and have to say that from beginning to end we were taken care of very well.
Our party was a large one, about 25 people so after waiting for the whole party to get to the restaurant by the bar outside we were showed to the dinning room.
I should mention the place is gorgeous, nice decorations and beautiful spaces.
We had a semi private room, but luckily there were no other people than our group in that room so we had it all to ourselves.
The servers were a bit overwhelmed with the huge party but they handle it very well, keeping up with our endless drink orders.
The food took a bit to come out but i have to say it was worth the wait. I had the Coq au vin and it was superb.
All of my friends also liked their dishes and everyone seemed happy with their dishes.
Good wine and bubbly selection. We had a bottle of bubbly and it was nice!
Great romantic place for a date or a special dinner. Will be back when i can concentrate more and focus on the food better.

Looking for something different to do tonight? If this is the case, which is should be, then head over to db Bistro Moderne and indulge in their Charcuterie Night. Every Monday night you can pick up unlimited plates of charcuterie from their «wine cave,» plus a glass of wine for only $ 35. Talk about a GNO!
So what kind of charcuterie are we talking about? You have pâté, terrines, sliced meats, cured meats, which will come with all the fixings (olives, mustards, marmalades, cornichons, pickles vegetables). I specifically tried Truffle Boudin Blanc, Smoked Liverwurst, Pâté Champagne, Duck and Foie Gras Pâté Encrout, Prosciutto cotto, Tete de Cochon, and Mortadella.
Besides Charcuterie Night you can also take advantage of their stellar happy hour menu, which is from 5 — 8 p.m. I ordered their Truffle Pizza (with fine herbs and some sea salt), Mezze Plate (with smoked eggplant, ricotta, and hummus), and their «Frenchie» sliders (came with rillion, morbier cheese and caramelized onions).
Keep in mind that their wine selection rotates every week with selections by Sommelier Alan Feldman, so every Monday night is different!

Beautiful high end restaurant… however it was not what I expected.
We went with a group of friends at the end of September to check this place out with Miami Spice. A few us had the Miami spice a few us didn’t.
Below is my rating broken down because I hate to give this this place 3 stars. Here is my personal breakdown.
–AMBIENCE 5 STARS
Amazing restaurant, the vibe is very impressive, definitely a great place to impress a date or business client.
–SERVICE 3 STARS
Service started out to be excellent. Then it just seem to die down. It wasn’t bad but we felt they just stop coming around during out meal.
–FOOD 3 STARS
The presentation was very nice. Although my soup was a bit salty and my stuffed fish was a bit bland. I ordered the cheese plate as dessert but everyone’s else’s desserts were pretty good.
Not sure if my expectations were just a bit high but I wasn’t blown away. I may give this place a second chance someday.

So… I think I’m still high from the excellent service received at DB Bistro. It’s a shame that one forgets how well you can be treated and how much the service impacts your dining experience.
Coming from work after being stuck in terrible traffic, I finally arrived to the J&W and was greeted by a kind gentlemen at the valet ($ 12). I dropped off the car and went straight to D&B. This place is gorgeous!!! We had a 7:30 reservation and the hostess was more than understanding that I was late, apparently there was a concert this evening. My next move, straight to the bar to unwind after dealing with that traffic.
The bar is beautiful, so modern and sleek. Their wine cellar is a site to see, with so many selections. I waited there for a few until my friend arrived and ordered a grey goose lemon drop martini, $ 17 (ouch). I’m at Brickell, that’s what I get lol
After my friend arrived, we lingered at the bar for another half hour. Oh no! We got sucked in, but can you blame me?! This place is so nice you don’t want to leave. We walked up to the hostess expecting to have to beg for our table but she was excited to see us. She asked how we liked the bar and proceeded to show us to our table.
I love the set up at DB. The tables are split in different rooms which gives you a different feel. We were seated in a corner booth/​table that is shared with others but it was still private. The ambiance is so relaxing. Here’s what we had from the Miami Spice Menu
We started with a nice bottle of Hugel, Classic Pinot Gris
NINE HERB RAVIOLI– Very light, not overwhelming at all. If you like vegetables, this is a perfect dish for you. The sauce was creamy and went well with the beats and green beans. This is a very nice starter.
JAMBON PARSILLÉ– (sampled) If you enjoy gelatin this is for you. This is a very light and clean dish. Generous pieces of ham and a qual egg to balance the gelatin.
COQ AU VIN– I seldom order chicken when I dine out, however because this is a typical Parisian dish, I went for it. The red wine reduction was perfect. Smoky but not over barring. They offer a generous portion along with house made pasta. Christophe, one of the managers, suggested I dip it in the sauce. So I did and was very pleased. Ce poulet est superbe!
THAI MUSSLES– sampled a few of these and they were quite good. These are large mussles and were served in a sweet and savory sauce made with coconut milk.
KEY LIME BRÛLÉE– I wish I was having this again lol texture is important with this dessert and they hit it spot on. You have your creaminess from the brûlée and the crispy caramelized crunch from the sugary crust… I’m drooling… Flavors were well balanced too, not too sweet and not too tangy. The raspberry sorbet was the perfect addition!
CHOCOLATE BROWNIE– This was an infusion of chocolate and coffee. It was very nice. If you enjoy a deep dark chocolate flavor you would love this!
We had such a great time! The manager, Christophe C. was wonderful. He gave us suggestions on how to enhance our dinning experience and he was just so pleasant! He was attentive and made it a point to service the table or refill our glasses.
My only negative thing to say unfortunately was the bathroom. Although it was beautifully decorated and clean, there was only one stall for both men and women.
You must try D&B!