Bistro Les Gras

A nice candlelit dinner, I had the pork tenderloin which was amazing and my brother had the salmon which he enjoyed. Our server Colleen is the best in the place! The oysters were fresh, pricey at $ 2.75 each but yummy. Would definitely come back.

(This is a review based on my experience on April 7^th)
A huge disappointment. Looking at other Unilocal reviews and pictures I was super excited. Maybe I was unlucky that day. The mussels we got as a group were absolutely horrible; the wine was not reduced all the way, my friend and I both tasted the alcohol. The mussel itself was also very fishy, some were unbearable. Then my seared scallops with pork belly came. I was really excited as it looked. pretty. I’m a huge sucker for nice plating and interior décor. However, the dish was simply not good. The scallops were good but the pork belly was just cooked too much; it lacked the juiciness I was expecting and was almost crispy and too tough. The sauce was too much as well, very heavy without much flavor in my opinion. Overall, the scallops, pork belly, green peas, and the sauce just did not play well together.
Our waitress wasn’t particularly nice either, I could tell that she wasn’t pleased with the group for some reason. They were also iffy about us bringing a birthday cake for my friend, for which they charged a cutting fee. I understand the cutting fee, just like a corkage fee, but why the iffiness?
My friend said this restaurant was good the past four times she had tried, so I’m planning on going back later. Hopefully it will be good then, but for now I’m giving two stars.

Love this place! Great food, and wonderful staff. They are also super accommodating to special dietary needs. My wife is vegan, so we weren’t expecting much, but it was honestly some of the best vegan food either of us have ever had. Great wine selection too.
Thanks Bistro Les Gras!

After reading numerous positive reviews, we chose to dine at Bistro Les Gras last weekend. Sadly, the experience was disappointing. We loved the quaint atmosphere, but given the very limited menu we were hoping some main course specials might be offered — none were.
We were also VERY put off by the $ 5.00 charge that showed up on our bill for requesting bread with our meal. Are you kidding… This is the FIRST time we’ve been charged for bread in a restaurant, and it wasn’t exceptional bread at that.
About the entrees: We ordered the «House-​Made Fettuccine» and the «Poached Haddock». Both dishes were excessively salted. The Fettuccine, while centered around a wonderful hand made pasta, was blended with a cloyingly heavy sauce that was FAR too overpowering for the pasta — it had cheese, butter, and lemon flavors that were bombastic rather than subtle and complex, making the dish way to heavy and rich for a full entrée. The Haddock rested in a broth that was so heavily salted, the blend of herbs and spices were sadly reduced to distant background role.
In short, this was a disappointment for our final «special» meal while in the area for a college graduation. As a side note, If reviewers are looking for a truly memorable meal for about the same price, we’d recommend the Blue Heron in Sunderland — by far, our best dining experience in the five college area.

Lovely bistro with a Provençal flaire. Service was attentive and the food was creative. We only shared appetizers, but our favorite by far was sirloin tartare, followed by the citrus cured salmon. Can’t wait to go back!

Each dish from the snacks to the entrees to the desserts had many components and were done perfectly. The seared scallops with pork belly, are you kidding? Excellent!
Steak tartare like you only read about. We ordered the bread and butter basket. The butter is made in house from real cream. It is unsalted, but I like it that way. I am not crazy about the fact that you have to order and pay for the bread and butter. But there are several types of bread in the basket. And the butter portion is small, but our server brought us more at no charge, so all is forgiven.
My husband had the Atlantic cod. It was flavorful and plentiful. He had a cup of coffee, and that was the only complaint is that the coffee wasn’t very good. But dessert was great!
They make their own ice cream. We had the ginger ice cream with the poached pear. I was afraid the ginger would overpower the ice cream, but that wasn’t the case. It was divine. We also split the lavender buttermilk panna cotta. Again, the lavender was not the star of the show, which is good (strong lavender in food is like eating potpourri out of your grandmother’s dresser drawer!). As a pastry chef, I would not be so bold as to do panna cotta with buttermilk because the tang would lose its distinction between that and yogurt. Which is what my roommate thought it was. I, however, did enjoy it.
The service is really second to none. Tip: make a reservation. We did for a Thursday night during Spring break, and we are glad we did.

Had a lovely experience here on a Saturday evening. They were nice about seating us despite not having a reservation, as it was on the early side and there were open tables. This is the place to go for a date night or special occasion. Not over the top elegant, it’s a bistro, but the room has a nice warm, romantic ambiance.
Food was amazing — we shared the chicken liver pâté, the frisee salad, an order of the house-​smoked salmon, and the trout entrée. Crème brûlée for dessert. Everything was just absolutely delicious and served in easily shareable portions. Would recommend all of these dishes. The smoked salmon was like butter, and came with crispy little fried potato things together with crème fraîche and a few little greens. So good. The liver pâté was light and not too intensely liver-​y so I suggest you try that, with the baguette slices, pickled red onion slivers, cornichons, and mustard that come with it. The whole trout was perfectly cooked and so tasty along with some mellow couscous, preserved lemon slices, and wonderfully bitter escarole for contrast alongside. Oh and a velvety brown butter sabayon sauce. Just super.
The crème brûlée was a must to share, very big and rich with a nice whackable sugar crust. Coffee and our red wines were great too. Service was attentive but discreet. As other reviewers have mentioned they aren’t real effusive here which might be a good thing if you are more interested in your date than knowing your server’s name.
I wonder why the three dollar signs? We found the prices very fair, and a bargain considering the quality. We can’t wait for another excuse to visit Northampton and Bistro Les Gras.

Simply the best dining experience around the area. Drinks are superb-​even the garnishes are delicious. The oysters are always shucked to perfection-​no shell, and always detached from the muscle. Fish is always cooked spot on and the charcuterie offerings are such that you really feel the passion from the kitchen. I literally dine there every week and have yet to be disappointed.

excellent dinner here before a visit to the Academy to see the Moth. We had a semi-​private table around the corner from the main area — started us off with awesome house cocktails — the English Heat was well done as well as the Taos cocktail. Others in our party had a nice prosecco and a Sancerre to start. We shared a special foie gras appetizer, as well as burrata & fried pickles — all were excellent. Our server was very pleasant & helpful — bringing over a brunch menu for one of my friends who likes to think ahead for another visit! — and recommending nice options — we ended up with 5 different entrees — the duck, scallop & pork belly, Haddock ‘en Persillade”, Thai Bouillabase and the Roast Pork Loin. All were very well made and we all agreed this was a nice find. Desserts are also well done — we shared a french toast type of dessert with pumpkin crème and others had a chocolate/​pecan torte. excellent wines, cocktails, food & service in a very nice location not far from the main street & The Academy.

Can’t recommend this place highly enough — really delicious food, pleasant atmosphere, wonderful service. What more could you want?

I manage a food & beverage establishment nearby, am very Mediterranean in my ways (read straightforward, slightly theatrical and transparent) and oh so critical– by professional default– whenever I enjoy the very rare opportunity to indulge in a proper dinning experience in one of the neighboring/​competing joints in Northampton.
I just left Les Gras twenty minutes ago and felt I should write down my critique before the pace of life makes me forgetful or forces me to relegate the process to an ulterior date.
It was good, very very good.
The service was professional, swift and courteous. No frills, but spot on. Only divas (all genders included) would ask for more or find something to criticize.
And the food… Every single produce was perfectly cooked, the plates were constructed in a classic way, the combinations of protein and sides were sharp and every item in a given plate was enhancing the others. I call this Food with a Soul, and a gifted Chef (with most probably a more-​then-​honorable brigade to second him — not a sexist presumption, it’s a him)!!
From the scallop crudo served on an indecently tasty/​smoky/​earthy bed of …(details at this point aren’t important, emotions created by a dish much more so– and I’m no food critic despite my 15 years of devoted passion to the trade), to the aged sirloin tartare (think of Vin Diesel dancing a tango on your palate) to the octopus terrine, firm-​yet-​not-​chewy and beautifully complimented by delicate pieces of potato and bacon/​chorizo (?).
I did have a cocktail, a good one, but I am taking this time to praise first and foremost the food and the kitchen, YOU MADE ME HAPPY, your plates spoke to me, of love and respect of produce and creative playfulness.
Merci Bistro Les Gras, a great experience, vous me reverrez tres bientot mes amis!
Oh, and it is not every day that you have the honor of seeing the Chef come to your table upon your request to hear you give your point of view on his food– mine was very positive but I feel like he’d have come out even if it was to endure the wrath of an entitled citizen.
WILL BE BACK, yessir!!!

Bistro Le Gras was the perfect setting for Girls Night Out! We ordered a plethora of things… each were delicious, and special. We had glasses of white French wine, corn fritters, Gruyère spread, bread, green salads, a burger with frites and the salmon. All were exquisitely executed and the favors superb. Our favorite were the appetizers. The fritters were crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The dipping sauce was a little spicy which complemented the sweetness of the corn. The Gruyère spread with the little pastries are not to be missed. Heavenly clouds of cheese dotted the plate… light little fluffy pastries… Just great! I subtract a star for the lack of a pot de crème on the dessert menu. For us the dessert selection fell flat. The waitress was very patient as we relaxed and looked at photos and finished our wine before paying. We will be back again! Thanks for a great evening, BLG!

We stopped in still in casual clothes from our boating outing on the nearby lake. Seeing others from our group, we asked if we could combine tables. The staff seemed quintessentially French in their attitude to accomodate us — they did it, but not with smiles on their faces…
The menu is small, but changes frequently, and had lots of things that sounded good. I chose the petite laitue salad, oysters on the half shell, and pomme frites. I was impressed by their selection of wines by the glass, and chose the rose.
The oysters were fresh and bright, a great start. The salad, with green goddess dressing, was divine — so well executed in its simplicity. The pomme frites were a great balance of crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, the perfect size for eating 2 – 3 at once. I also got a bite of the roasted chicken, and, as was the case with the salad, it was elegant in its simplicity and goodness.
The checks were a little complicated because we hadn’t asked her to split until the end, but she handled it well and everything worked out.

I came her for a celebratory dinner, and they were out of the burger (by 6:45pm), which was the dish my partner wanted. She ordered the shrimp and her dish was completely tasteless. We sent it back, and when the bill came, they charged us for it. I was horrified by this example of a bad business practice. That said, my dish, the beef shoulder, was quite good, and our server was very nice.

The menu is small and changes every night, but we had a vegetarian with us and someone who was allergic to garlic. They were very accommodating. I had the cauliflower soup which was amazing and the trout which was delicious. The atmosphere is wonderful. It’s not the place to go for a quick meal: worth savoring every bite!
You pay extra if you want bread and butter ($ 4) but then it’s unlimited and with it.
I highly recommend it.

Great food, Indifferent but polite service. I have been here twice and both times the food has been great. They have a nice beer and wine selection. The meat & cheese options are fantastic. The only reason I don’t give 5 stars is the serve staff doesn’t quite make you feel welcome.

Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants and one of the best in the area. It’s quaint, with a fresh, creative menu, great wine, and superb service. The menu changes weekly, sometimes even more than weekly, in order to utilize the best in local ingredients. There are some menu staples that are always on, like the burger, but most of the menu changes weekly keeping it fresh and interesting.
Bistro represents exactly what a restaurant should be. Creative, with consistent quality food and service. You will feel like you’ve stepped in France as soon as you walk in. The portions are smaller, allowing for one to try a few plates without Mc-​stuffing themselves.
To give you an idea of their level attention to detail, let’s take a look at their signature burger. They grind their own beef, the bun is made from scratch, they make their own pickles, they make their own condiments from scratch, (aioli, ketchup) and cut and make their fries from scratch! The end result? The best burger I’ve ever had hands down.
This is the perfect neighborhood restaurant for a light meal during the week, or if you have more time, a date night treat. Other than the burger I’ve enjoyed great steak, perfectly poached halibut, the lightest Parisienne gnocchi, and mussels, just to name a few. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

One of the best Bistros we have been to and that is saying a lot since we live 15 minutes from Manhattan.
Sat at the bar and got some help selecting a bottle of wine from their extensive list which covers all regions and budgets. Opted for a French Malbec which was excellent.
Had the charcuterie board and selection of cheese to start and all of them were outstanding. I particularly liked the local meats and pates which were full of flavor. The bread was superb and had a perfectly crunchy crust and chewy interior.
For a main course we split a croque monsieur with pommes frites. Possibly the best one of its kind. The ham was smoky and delicious and the béchamel was wonderful.
I ordered a French press (no espresso) with a vintage port and my wife got the chocalte soufflé. Fantastic.
The service was excellent, attentive and very accommodating.
Worth taking a detour to Northampton just to eat here.

Went to Bistro Les Gras with a friend for a quiet birthday celebration. It was a great experience. First, the atmosphere is lovely — very cozy and intimate without being too crowded. I was surprised that it wasn’t busier, but the beginning of September generally slows down for many restaurants. Small details were nice — filling water glasses with empty, unbranded wine bottles (instead of the standard pitchers), beautiful tiny (fresh) flowers on the table, a mix of jazz and French music in the background, a simple, one page menu… etc. The feel is upscale without the snootiness.
Our waitstaff was great; our primary waitress was all smiles, very friendly, helpful and attentive without being over the top helicopter-​hovering.
First — 2 glasses of bordeaux. Perfect. Food… We started with the cheese plate and the scallop appetizer. The scallop was just that — a single scallop — that we did cut in half and share — and it was delicious. The selection of cheese was amazing; one blue cheese, one goat (soft…very close to brie) and one hard cheese — along with a small serving a tomato tapenade and a separate mix of yellow cherries, spiced almonds and honey. A small bowl of thinly sliced bread was served on the side. We then decided to order the olives — a wonderful mix of green, black and heavily cured olives… delicious. We did ask that they wait a little longer to put the entrée order in, but it actually came out sooner than we expected (this worked out to be fine timing-​wise in the end).
I ordered the fish — it was a «loin of cod» if I remember correctly — a perfectly prepared white fish — crispy on the outside — moist and flaky on the inside. This was served in a rosemary broth (which they poured into the bowl from a small, separate carafe table-​side) — very light and aromatic. My friend had the duck breast — served rare. One of the pieces was very hard to cut (it was served in 2 large chunks; not sliced) — so that’s the main reason that this was not a 5 star review: that one piece was tough.
For dessert, we each had decaf (French press) coffee with cream (delicious), crème brûlée (reported as delicious) and the warm chocolate cake served with blueberry ice cream and blueberry compote (amazing). The cake is made to order, so it takes about 10 minutes to prepare. The ice cream was a dark purple — almost brown color and was less sweet than the cake — and the compote was a perfect balance of «berry bitter» to counteract the decadent cake.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience. With everything that we ordered (including 2 glasses of wine each), I didn’t think the price was unreasonable at all. I would definitely visit again when I’m back in town.

I had the delight of dining at Bistro Les Gras during a recent visit to Western Massachusetts. During my trip I made a point to seek out the very best of the Pioneer Valley and Bistro Les Gras did not disappoint. The ambience of the restaurant is cozy and romantic with rich butter colored walls and dimmed, golden lighting. Old-​timey French music completes the charming, intimate setting. The wine list is extensive and since it was just me, I was glad to see some expensive bottles were offered by the glass. I selected a beautiful old-​vine biodynamic red which the waitress Amanda described knowledgeably.
I began with escargot in a pesto butter sauce. It was exquisite. I had to restrain myself from licking the plate. The entrée was their pièce de résistance – the canard (duck breast) served with shaved fennel and baby vegetables. It was wonderful and juicy. The dessert was also sublime – chamomile panna cotta with cherry apricot marmalade accompanied by a glass of Muscat. Heavenly.
I wish I lived in Northampton so I could frequent this restaurant. Bistro Les Gras is a wonderful example of everything that is right with food today: high quality local ingredients, innovative flavor combinations, a passion for excellence, and a nod to tradition. I only hope that next time I can meet the chef, so I can thank him personally.