Boulon Brasserie and Bakery

Met a friend from out of state here for lunch. Everything was superb. Our cocktails were excellent. French onion soup was one of the best I've had...richly flavorful, with abundant cheese. NOLA Shrimp were tasty (shrimp could have been cooked a couple of minutes less) with the delicious sauce, and the little biscuits were crispy outside, tender on the inside. Got the pot de creme to go for dessert, will have that tonight.Anthony provided stellar service. The dining room and bar are beautiful. We would have eaten outside, vut it was a little too cool and breezy outside. There weren't a lot of customers there while we were there, so we enjoyed a leisurely lunch, with time to catch up after not seeing each other for over 7 years.Looking forward to finding another excuse to visit Tampa so I can return to Boulon.

To celebrate my wife's birthday weekend, we went to Boulon Brasserie & Bakery for Saturday brunch. Since I had made a reservation in advance, we were seated immediately upon arrival.Parking can be a challenge in front of the restaurant, but we found a spot in a public parking lot just a 3-4 minute walk away.Once seated, we were greeted by our server, Trey, who handed us the menus. Boulon Brasserie also has an open bar, so we started with a French Martini and a French Caribbean Spritz. For brunch, we ordered: Onion Soup Gratinee, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, Shrimp Po' Boy, Pommes FritesThe ambiance was beautiful, with a lively crowd enjoying food, coffee, and fresh bakery items.Our drinks arrived first and were a great start to brunch. Then came our soup and fries. The Onion Soup Gratinee had a rich flavor, but as we continued, it tasted a bit too salty. The Pommes Frites, on the other hand, were crispy, well-seasoned, and paired perfectly with the sauce.For the main dishes, the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict was a good brunch option, with eggs, bread, and potatoes complementing each other well. However, the real highlight of the meal was the Shrimp Po' Boy. The shrimp were marinated to perfection, well-seasoned, and cooked just right--we absolutely loved it!To end our meal on a sweet note, we ordered Honey Ginger Panna Cotta, which was beautifully plated, had a great texture, and was absolutely delicious--a perfect way to finish our brunch.Boulon Brasserie is a great visit on Water Street, offering a vibrant atmosphere, great drinks, flavorful brunch options, and excellent desserts.

This is a beautiful place for brunch, but do not expect a smooth experience.I had reservations for a late brunch. One of the kids dining with us had food allergies, and the hostess acknowledged that when I checked in, which was nice. We waited 30 minutes to be seated. I get that brunch is leisurely, but 30 minutes is a long time to wait for a table when I show up on time for my reservation. We sat down. No physical kids menus are available. I had to check online. After 5 minutes of sitting and not being treated by a server, I flagged down the lady who seated us, and she said the server would be by soon. It took 15 minutes for our server to come to our table.I get that brunch gets busy. But I eat out a lot, and usually a server will at least zoom by, say hi, and apologize that he/she is running late. Not ignore us for 15 minutes.We were ready with our orders when our waitress did show up. We ordered and asked that the kitchen expedite the order as we hadn't expected a 45 minute delay in service and had afternoon plans. She agreed to accommodate. While the hostess mentioned my son's friend's food allergies, the server didn't mention it at all. I thought that was weird.The drinks came out quickly. So did the food. Once we ordered, we were served and finished our meal and paid the bill within 45 minutes. I just wish that we were seated earlier and received more professional service from our server.The food was not great for the price. My husband thought his burger was fine. My kids got the fried shrimp, and my husband liked it, but the kids didn't. I tried a French fry, and it was not crispy and over-salted. I had the frisee salad, and it was sooooo salty. I couldn't eat half. The croutons were good. The gardens were okay. The egg was nicely runny but cold. But the vinegarette rendered the lettuce inedible.I can't say that I will return.

Stepping into this brasserie feels like being transported straight to Paris! The elegant Parisian décor, with its charming bistro-style seating and vintage touches, creates a beautifully authentic atmosphere.The food is absolutely divine--classic French flavors executed to perfection, from rich, buttery dishes to delicate pastries. Their martinis, scallop risotto, and crab beignets are my go to!The drink selection is equally impressive, featuring expertly crafted cocktails that perfectly complement the meal. The ambiance is warm, lively, and effortlessly chic, making it the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, a leisurely brunch, or a night out with friends. Aside from service, and reservation check in needing a few tweaks, this spot is truly a gem--can't wait to return!

Was extremely busy when we arrived. Sat at the bar ordered a few app like cheeseboard, bread, and soup. For the main I got the pasta which had lots of flavor. As a whole the food was good and the service for the bar was also as expected. The first drink I had didn't have much flavor and was bland but the second martini was delicious. Note that the bar seating area gets very busy and people are not courteous above personal space or the order area.

Everything about boulon we loved! It was an anniversary dinner, and the food and drinks were excellent. The lighting was perfect the only thing you should be aware of is the noise level. I wouldn't bring parents or grand parents here for dinner because they won't be able to hear you. But we will definitely be back

I really wanted to love this place, but unfortunately it was mediocre for me. Here is what I thought:Ambiance: Amazing, the place is absolutely gorgeous on the inside. This is the one thing I loved most about Boulon. It was clean, open and tastefully designed. The bathrooms were nice and clean. Always important when going to a restaurant. Service: Service was good. Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable. Food service was fast and tentative. Food: This is where I have to bump down my rating. We came here for brunch. First, we both wanted to order a nice coffee for a drink and was surprised when they had no specialty coffee menu. The only offerings were for any basic coffee drink with some syrup. For such a high end place I was shocked by that. If I wanted a speciality coffee drink I had to go to the bakery. That part just didn't make sense to me. We both ended up ordering a regular cappuccino. My mug came with a very obvious lip stick mark on it, so I had to ask for a new drink. I also noticed a table next to us point out a hair on their entree plate. Service can be more thorough on checking the plates before they go out. For an appetizer, we tried their "famous" 'Blue Crab Beignet'. I had high expectations because our waiter was boasting about it. It reminded me of a crab cake. It didn't really remind of a truly authentic beignet. It had good flavor, but it wasn't what we pictured in our minds. For entrees, my fiancé got their 'Brioche Crab Cake Egg Benedict'. He enjoyed his dish and said it was flavorful. I ordered their 'Croque Madame' the portion was HUGE, enough for two people. If I were to change it, I'd make the bread portion smaller with a larger side salad. It was heavy and I could barely finish half of it. It did have good flavor. Overall, the food was ok, I was expecting a lot more for what I've heard about Boulon. Also for a higher end restaurant, the plating could've been more upscale/picturesque. I'd like to try Boulon for dinner and see how it compares to their brunch. @living.with.reg

As Water Street continues to grow, I'm loving all the restaurants here. Boulon is another great restaurant. The ambiance is top notch. Very beautiful and classy. Food is solid as well. I love the French bistro vibes with a mix of more down to earth dishes, but with some flair. For instance, the crab beignets. Love the light and airy texture and the chunks of crab meat on the inside. The remoulade sauce was the perfect pairing. The burger was solid as well with delicious shoestring fries and a rich patty with both texture and flavor. I also loved their dessert choices, specifically the olive oil cake. Service is solid, although it can be slow at times if the night is busy. But other than that, solid place that is worth coming back to again :)

So, word on the street is that this place can get packed, almost like a nightclub. If you're after a more relaxed dining experience without the crowds and noise, I recommend going for an early dinner--my friends and I did, and it was perfect. Honestly, when I first looked at the menu, I wasn't blown away and thought the food would just be okay. But with a large group, we ordered a variety of dishes to try, and I was so pleasantly surprised by how delicious everything was. Standout dishes included the Plateaux Petit, Blue Crab Beignets, Salmon Carpaccio, Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, and the Coq au Vin. The service was impeccable, and the cocktails were fantastic--everyone who ordered a drink literally loved what they ordered, which is rare! This place definitely exceeded my expectations, and I'd love to return for brunch next time.

I don't know if they take reservations here. I came just before opening and was seated immediately upon them opening. Blue crab beignets are a must here!!! LOOVVEE. Shrimp po boy was good and perfect. The dish comes with their house made chips. Such a good meal. I love the service here!! They also have a cafe are if you want to pick up coffee or pasties to go.