Petit Louis Bistro: Experience Authentic French Cuisine in Baltimore

On my list of top 5 favorite restaurants in Baltimore! Great atmosphere, food, and overall dining experience. The duck confit is perfectly cooked each time and melts in your mouth!

We celebrated our 9-year anniversary at Petit Louis Bistro, and overall the experience was wonderful. The atmosphere was lively and authentic, though seating was quite close together, which made it a little noisy at times. Parking was also slightly challenging, but once inside we were immediately impressed with the warm service. We had reservations and, even though we were running late, the staff kindly accommodated us without issue. Dinner started with the Soupe à L’Oignon Gratinée—rich, flavorful, and a perfect classic—and the Tomato Bisque, which was creamy and satisfying. For entrées, the Flanc de Veau Grillé with caper brown butter and fennel & arugula salad was cooked beautifully, while the Steak Frites with pommes frites and beurre maître d’hôtel was hearty and delicious. We ended the night with a flawless crème brûlée, crisp on top and luxuriously smooth underneath. Despite the minor inconveniences, Petit Louis made our anniversary dinner truly memorable, and we look forward to returning.

French atmosphere with delicious dishes. I tried filet d’agneau grillé, boeuf bourguignon and velouté de marron (from the christmas menu). Highly recommended place!

Outstanding meal, service and restaurant. It was surprisingly very crowded on a Monday evening, but maybe that's how it is at this restaurant. Tables were sort of close together, but it is adequate. It wasn't overly hard to hear and talk. Our server Elliott was great and took care of all of our needs including my date's unusual requests and also her birthday. I had the French Onion soup and it was delicious. My friend's potato leek soup was also very good. I opted for the rainbow trout in a butter sauce over rice pilaf. It was big and filling and very tasty. The others had duck breast, duck confit, steak and the ham and cheese croquettes as well as the beef tartare. Everything looked delicious and since the duck was my second choice I was glad to hear it was outstanding! I saved room for dessert and had the profiteroles with the special cherry vanilla fudge ice cream. The others had creme brulee and chocolate mousse and though they looked good, you don't see profiteroles everywhere and that was perfect. Overall a wonderful meal, great waitstaff and though pricey, it was reasonable for a meal of that caliber. Do yourself a favor and check out this Roland Park restaurant.

Stopped in for a ‘civilized lunch’ on a frigid day. Super cozy inside with so much atmosphere. Prix fixe as well as à la carte options - and an extensive menu. We opted for potato leek soup, their salad ‘betteraves’ and the grilled swordfish. All were excellent - swordfish had a great caper/ olive finish which was so good. Impressive wine list - but I’m a big fan of Kronenbourg beer - thoroughly enjoyed. A great way to spend the afternoon - and good size crowd, so others had the same idea!

We were disappointed with our experience at this restaurant. We had a reservation and were told they were running 15 minutes late. Ok. We waited 30 minutes-standing- and we’re not even offered water. It is very loud in the restaurant-don’t expect an intimate meal. I ordered the Steak frites. Good frites but only half of the steak was med rare as ordered; the rest was medium. My partner had the duck breast with potatoes with duck fat. Duck was dry. The beautiful duck fat favor was cancelled out by the duck breast red sauce. The server confirmed our steak was not as ordered; we not sending it back. Very unlikely we would ever come back here. High point if evening was professional serving staff.

The food and service were outstanding. I visited for the first time during Baltimore Restaurant Week and it was worth the visit. The menu was well curated. I chose the eggplant as my app, rockfish for my main entree, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Every dish was delish. May I add, that it was a challenge to find parking due to mounds of compacted snow from a recent storm. We did call the restaurant about that challenge and I would like to thank the host for reserving our table despite that hiccup. Thank you!

Explore Baltimore - Petit Louis Bistro Tony Foreman is the visionary entrepreneur behind the most celebrated restaurants in the Baltimore area. His journey began in 1995 with the opening of Savannah Restaurant in the neighborhood of Fell’s Point, a collaboration with Chef Cindy Wolf that set the stage for his enduring legacy in fine dining and hospitality. Two years later, they launched Charleston, the cornerstone of Harbor East among the most acclaimed restaurants of the Mid-Atlantic region. Tony’s dedication to his craft continued with Petit Louis Bistro, a Parisian-inspired French restaurant in the Roland Park neighborhood where he grew up. In 2004, he unveiled PAZO, a vibrant Spanish and Mediterranean venue later transformed into Bar Vasquez in 2016, embracing the flavors of Argentine cuisine. In 2007, he introduced Baltimore to authentic Northern Italian dining with Cinghiale, complete with a traditional salumeria, followed by Johnny’s in 2012, a neighborhood retreat blending casual charm with global influences. In 2021, Tony joined forces with Chef/Owner Christopher Scanga to open The Milton Inn, a pre-Revolutionary War farmhouse reimagined into a cozy tavern and destination dining experience in Baltimore County. His latest venture, The Duchess, is a partnership with Chef/Owner Kiko Fejarang. Located on The Avenue in Hampden, it marries her Chamorro heritage with the convivial spirit of an English pub. Tony’s passion extends beyond restaurants. In 2001, he launched BIN 604 Wine Sellers in Harbor East, offering patrons a carefully curated selection of wines inspired by his restaurant lists. BIN 201 Wine Sellers followed in Annapolis in 2009, further cementing his reputation as a noted wine expert and enthusiast. Tony has a BS in Restaurant and Hotel Management from Widener University in Pennsylvania and holds a Sommelier Certificate from Colmar School in France. Patrick has been a beloved fixture at Petit Louis Bistro for over a decade, greeting each guest with his signature boisterous and friendly “Bonjour!” A native of Lyon, France, Patrick is a graduate of Jehanne de France and began his career in the bustling restaurant scene of his homeland. His deep-rooted passion for French culture and cuisine shines through in every interaction, making guests feel not just welcome, but transported. With his warmth, wit, and unmistakable charm, Patrick has become an indispensable part of the Petit Louis experience.