Bistro Le Relais

Went to Le Relaid with a friend for dinner. The background is Bowman field which allows for a unique experience and nice view of the planes. They have outside seating but we opted to sit inside. It felt like a true Paris experience because the service is slower and they don't come to your table a lot. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and able to provide a description of the various options. One complaint is that it took a week to close out my ticket. The tip charge hit my account a week after I was at the restaurant. The food was delicious. I got the Steak au Poivre ($43). Fair warning due to the peppercorns, it is peppery. The fries were thin, crunchy goodness. They needed a touch more salt. I wanted ketchup but could not find my server and he did not come back until I was basically done.

Group of 11 diners for a 6 PM reservation on a Thursday for our monthly fine dining club excursion. We initially gathered on the large covered deck attached to the back of the building and adjacent to Bowman Field airport. The airplane and helicopter traffic was fascinating and quite enjoyable to watch as we started off with a cocktail and conversation at 5:30. The breeze and shaded seating made the outdoor experience much more pleasant on such a hot day of 90+ temperatures. The seating was scattered around the patio with plenty of elbow room. Decor with live potted plants was beautiful. I started with a key lime martini (Absolut vodka, fresh lime and pineapple) which was sweet, tangy, fruity, and citrusy. We eventually migrated inside to our reserved table, which consisted of 5 chairs and an L-shaped banquette to seat the remaining 6 diners. This involved a lot of sliding and scooting for the patrons seated in the middle of the long bench. Linen tablecloths, tabletop votive candles with shades, vases with greenery, water carafes, and place settings were all components for a lovely tablescape. We perused the usual menu as well as a smaller special menu featuring current seasonal dishes. A wide range of choices was featured and sounded very intriguing. I began with the grilled peach salad (mixed greens served with red onions, toasted almonds, feta cheese and grilled peaches, finished with house made vinaigrette). I learned later from one of my table mates that this was available in full and half sizes -- I wish I'd known this prior to ordering. As far as a salad goes, it was fairly nondescript, likely not a repeat for me. I selected the duck confit for my entree (hind quarter served with celeriac puree, glazed carrots and grilled bok choy with bacon lardons, finished with duck demi-glace) after a glowing recommendation by another table mate who had prior knowledge, and it was a home run. The duck was a bit salty for my taste (personal preference), but rich and flavorful. The purée was divine. Yummy yum-oh. Finally, we finished with what had been presented on the menu as a Grand Marnier soufflé, which we'd been advised we would need to order in advance of the meal. I wish I'd had the foresight over 2 hours prior to forgo this particular dessert. It was sour-tasting and we were all fairly convinced it was lemon flavored and each diner concurred there was no hint of Grand Marnier. We left almost 2/3 of it untouched, which did not solicit an inquiry from the waitstaff -- that is, if they even noticed? Yukky yuk-yuk. The restaurant is darker wood tones and decor, retro artwork and posters, a bit noisy during a fully-populated dinner service. Bathrooms are dated and could benefit from an update. Service is above average, but not to the standard expected. We waited an extremely long time between courses with little to no explanation, watched multiple other patrons arrive and depart during our 6 to 8 PM dining, had to request water glass or carafe refills a few times, and servers sometimes reached crossways in front of and over diners instead of between and choosing a straightforward route, which led to some uncomfortable encounters and concern for food landing on one's head or lap. By the time checks were settled and we landed in the parking lot, the sun was low in the sky and close to 9 PM. A 3-hour tour with a $100 price tag (plus 28% tip). I do intend to return to this restaurant in the very near future to give it another try, likely with a party of less than 6. I want to sample more dishes and perhaps take advantage of al fresco dining on the patio with the added benefit of the airport "show" during our next visit. I'll update my review at that time and determine if it's worthy to be added to our rotation. Or not.

Enjoyed a date night here. Was very much looking forward to the soufflé! Unfortunately, it arrived completely deflated. Which is bizarre because the other soufflés ordered by surrounding tables were not so pathetic. I'm actually surprised that the attendant who was not our server, who brought it out to me, did not offer to make it again when I expressed my displeasure. Otherwise, my steak was cooked to my liking. The frites were delicious. My dates fish dish was good but lacked salt. The crab cake was the star of the evening; Would recommend it. Had a glass of wine. Had perused the menu online prior and was very much looking forward to an interesting glass of red, but alas, the wine menu no longer included it. Oh well. Parking is plentiful. The attire is dressy. Noise level is low. I would go back but please use more seasoning on your fish and don't let the soufflé fall in the kitchen!

Le Relais at the Bowman Field is a wonderful experience. We dined with our restaurant club this visit and had a magnificent trip. From food to service, the experience was fantastic. As there was eleven of us, the service was much slower than usual but the previous trips my wife and have had here were perfect.

The place hasn't seen a remodel in what looks like 40 years. Old old old...Tables are really squeezed in. It was much louder than I would prefer for a fine dining experience.The food was good but not that good. When you compare to the other fine dining experiences, the food is meh. Note - you will enjoy it, but not more than the next $100/person restaurant.I ordered the sea bass with brussel sprouts. Unfortunately, the brussel sprouts came out cold. They were corrected quickly, but this should not have been an issue.While the food and service are adequate, there is not value in the price. There are better fine dining restaurants in the city.

Rich atmosphere! Greeted warmly. We're here on a Wednesday evening so only one other couple was there. Good cocktails! As an appetizer I got French onion soup and my wife got the oysters Rockefeller. She said they were very good as was my soup. We split a Guyere salad that was ...okay...I had the Cassoulet and it was very well done, very good mix of flavors. It had a little thin sauce but it was good. My wife had the Duck Confit. She said it was good.

I recently dined for the first time at Bistro Le Relais for a work dinner. First of all, I had no idea this lovely little place existed, and in such an unexpected location on Bowman Field. The front of house staff, from the host to the server to the busser, was efficient, pleasant, and thoughtful.Being a plant based eater, I was concerned there wouldn't be many options for me, and although the menu is entirely devoid of vegan choices, our server and the chef were happy to accommodate some modifications. I very much enjoyed the Fall Squash salad (without feta) - the fresh chopped sage and basil added a nice depth of flavor. None of the entrées are vegan, however I was able to craft my own by ordering several sides prepared with olive oil instead of butter. The ratatouille is fantastic - eggplant, peppers, onions, and squash stewed in a delicate sauce - ultimate comfort food. The sautéed Brussels sprouts stole my heart - perfectly seasoned, excellent texture. I could eat an entire bucket of them for dinner quite happily. I ordered decaf coffee during dessert, however our server made sure I was aware of the mango sorbet which is vegan. The coffee was legit - which is not typical for decaf.Overall I enjoyed the experience more than I expected. If it were just about the food I would give 4 stars, however the fact that they don't have any vegan options on the menu detracts a bit, and the pricing is slightly higher than I would prefer to pay for a salad ($13) and some veggies ($16) - even though they were delicious. If, however, you enjoy more carnivorous options and are looking for a unique view and some very tasty bistro food, definitely check it out.

A lovely building, charming interior, it has a very 1920's vibe to it.Started off with the Escargots de Bourgogne: snails cooked in garlic herb butter. My first time having snails! They were good, but probably nothing I would order again, it was sort of a "ok I tried them" type momentMy entree was the Seared Sea Scallops: champagne tarragon beurre blanc, served with ratatouille and mushroom risotto. Delicious, the scallops were the star of the show, they were huge and meaty and so delicious.For dessert I had the Crème Brûlée: vanilla bean custard topped with a layer of hard caramel. You can never go wrong with creme brulee.I guess if I had any criticism, it would be that I made the reservation because it was my birthday, and noted that. When we arrived the man greeting us asked us who made the reservation. I said I did. He then went on to say Happy Birthday to my friend! We corrected him and he then acted weird, like it was the most unusual thing to make your own reservation, and I felt like he thought we were lying or something. Then throughout the whole meal the service was excellent, but it was like any other day. I don't expect free things or a show or anything but maybe ANYTHING to note that this was a special occasion for me? Like to write happy birthday on the dessert plate or something? Anyway thats the only thing. Like I would come here again but probably not for a special occasion.

Dinner at Bistro Le Relais in Louisville, KY was nothing short of amazing. The cocktail I had is one of the aviation themed drinks called Paper Plane. Vacherin potatoes was one of the weekly specials - creamy, aromatic Swiss cheese...need I say more? The scallops with champagne tarragon beurre blanc, ratatouille, mushroom risotto were the best, melt in your mouth scallops I have ever had. I wish I had room for dessert - next time!

Great spot for a date night. Food was delicious. Atmosphere was great. Service was awesome. Highly recommend.