Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie: What's the deal
Tucked away in the quaint cobblestone-lined Distillery District, Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie is a beautiful, sprawling restaurant. Brick walls add a down-to-earth charm to the elegant French bistro, while the intricate details on the floor and ceiling pull the eye in every direction. In the warmer months, it's also got a beautiful garden patio.
While the dinner menu is more magnificent, the brasserie menu is a curated selection of simple dishes and light bites served in the front bar area of the restaurant, Monday to Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Better still, if you time it right, you can sync up with their daily Cinq à Sept (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) happy hour that sees a small list of cocktails, wine and beer knocked down to half-price.
Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie: What's on the brasserie menu
The dishes on the brasserie menu really range in size, so let your server know if you're peckish or ravenous. The burger and steak frites are more filling options while the chicken chop salad is on the lighter side — dressing, chicken and all. The small but hearty French onion soup is one of the best in the city, loaded with cheese, glazed onions and a rich beef broth.
Desserts like the chocolate ganache with white chocolate crumble and mango ice cream, and the vanilla crème brûlée really shine.
Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie: What's on the drink menu
From the happy hour menu, the Nuage de Lavande is a sweet, floral cocktail with butterfly pea gin, lavender, lemon and egg whites. The Figue Écrasée is another great, somewhat unusual option. It's a slightly stronger bourbon cocktail with a hint of sweetness from fig syrup, balanced with lemon and mint.
There are also mocktails, beer, and red and white wine by the glass available for half-price during happy hour.
If you visit Monday to Wednesday evenings, you can get the best of both worlds with snacks from the brasserie menu and half-price drinks from the Cinq à Sept menu. Weeknight dates: sorted.
Dinner and drinks from the brasserie and Cinq à Sept menus: around $60 before tax and tip.
