Bay Street Bistro

Lackluster experience. Waitress couldn't have been nicer, but service in general was very slow. The table next to us came in ten minutes after us and had their drinks, appetizers, and food (they also got steak) before us. Food is not on par for the price point, and quality and plating were not up to a fine dining standard. My husband got Beef Wellington, and said flavor didn't blow him away, it had too much salt, and the puff pastry wasn't browned. I had the filet mignon, which was pretty tasty, but a bit dried out on the top. The Cabernet reduction was ok, but I didn't like that with the plating, my steak was swimming in it. Garlic mashed potatoes were flavorful and had a good texture. The vegetables consisted of mushy cooked spinach with a couple soggy pieces of yellow squash, which was very disappointing. My husband got the tomato bisque and we both described it as canned soup mixed with too much sour cream--and a little garnish on it would've maybe helped the flavor and presentation (it was just a bare bowl of soup). Caesar salad was actually awful. Like the taste of wet lawn clippings mixed with anchovy mayonnaise chunks. Bread that came with the meal was hot and soft in the middle--great garlic butter. Hard to hear my husband right across from me because it's tiny in there and a lot of people, so a bit loud. The art on the wall really wasn't in line with what you'd expect from a higher-end restaurant. We're not planning to return unless we hear about significant changes being made. So disappointed.We really wanted to like this place, in fact, we went here about two years ago and had a similar experience and wanted to give it another chance.

Food is average and way overpriced despite great location downtown & fine dining ambiance. Server was nice and attentive but definitely need to step up food game based on what they charge.

Delicious food! Friendly Service, romantic , we loved their escargot , we been there twice already and every single time. We were very impressed.

Very average food at a very high price. Lack luster atmosphere and food. Service was excellent. Will not be returning.

The prices are high for Lakeland, especially considering that the food is slightly above average. The waitress that served me was very good and polite, really on top of things. The rest of the staff, could not be bothered. The ambiance is fine, but again, average. I do not think I would go back for a meal.

The menu is first rate. Tomato Bisque was very flavorful and smooth. Beef Wellington was large portion, tasty and well prepared. Cesar Salad bland and dry. Chilean Sea Bass presentation was first rate and nicely prepared. Seafood Vol-A-Ventwas exceptionally well presented and full of flavor!Unfortunately the Crispy duck medallions were somewhat underwhelming.Staff were busy yet service was inconsistent. I suspect due to a full house, however, for the price of dinner one expects better. The real damper on what was to be a fun enjoyable evening was the noise level. Difficult to have a conversation due to the volume and echo chamber of the dining room.

Horrible food poisoning and a rude owner. My boyfriend and I had dinner here last night to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We hadn't eaten that day in anticipation of enjoying a nice meal. The wait staff was lovely. My sea bass was very good. My boyfriend had the rib eye, which he also enjoyed, and we shared a creme brûlée for dessert. We left after dinner and went straight home to relax. A few hours later my poor boyfriend became violently ill with the worst food poisoning of his life - vomiting in the bathroom for several hours. Needless to say our anniversary was ruined. We called today to let the restaurant know of our experience to hopefully avoid others getting sick, and to ask for a refund of my boyfriend's entree. To our shock, when we called the restaurant the next day, the owner took our call and interrupted my boyfriend's report to him. As he informed the owner that a serious food poisoning incident happened as a result of eating at his restaurant, the owner reacted with incredible rudeness and disrespect toward him. I called back to try to speak with the owner myself, hoping he would listen and take it seriously. He told me to kiss his ass and hung up on me. I called back to let him know that due to his rudeness and lack of regard or remedy for a customer getting sick, I'll be asking my bank for a refund. Needless to say we will not be returning to support a local business that treats its customers this way and doesn't take health and safety reports seriously.

Food was good. Not great. Service was very slow. Very noisy. Impossible to have a conversation with others at the table. Surprised at other reviews that praised service and quiet

I've never been told, "I'm not sure where the confusion lies but the server was not wrong. We can make you another dish, however we will charge you for both." I'm a Lakeland local, and was so excited to finally dine here! My friend to my right ordered the sea bass with cumin, curry, and coriander vanilla burre-blanc sauce. I ordered the sea bass with lemon butter piccata sauce but they brought us both the vanilla sea bass. Risotto was over cooked, pair that with a vanilla sauce, it was a little more like rice pudding with fish. (It tasted as bad as it sounds)I will not be willing to try dining here again, the food was not fine dining quality, the prices were very high and I'm still shocked about the attitude.

Went there with my daughter on a Sunday night... just arriving from New York. Food is very average, service so-so; garlic bread had no garlic, I spilled wine on the table and had to call and ask the waiter for a replacement clean napkin... had salad and my knife disappeared along with the plate leaving without knife. And again had to call the waiter...Nothing " French " about this restaurant (if only the price, that by the way are up to 20% more than advertised online on the restaurant web site.)Will not be returning...