The Bistro Next Door: Taking over the space once occupied by Mrs Pound, Bouillon is a cozy neighborhood joint inspired by the casual bistros you see on every street corner in France.

Look & Feel: In the style of a casual French bistro, Bouillon keeps things simple. It’s a small space with just a couple of tables and a vaguely Roccoco design feel. Red banquette seating, gilded mirrors and soothing greens amp up the aesthetics, while the central bar offers a convivial space to pop in for a casual drink and bite. In the back of the restaurant, footage of Paris and French culinary icons play on a loop, while visual displays of bottles underline the fact that wine is a staple here.

http://www.instagram.com/p/CGNEJ4ojY1_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

On the Menu: Bouillon is all about simple, classic bistro fare. The menu includes plenty of shared plates and expected items – think foie gras and steak – alongside heftier mains like duck confit ($198) and beef bourguignon ($248).

We started with basics – the beef tartare ($188) was perfectly put together and came with a side of incredibly moreish fries, while the tuna tartare ($148) was light and fresh. We also sampled the onion tart ($128) – which was a well-balanced blend of sweet and salty – and escargots (that’s snails, for the uninitiated, $88) which were soaked in a delicious garlic butter, though their coming deshelled kind of ruins the fun of eating them. The rice pudding ($88) dessert was delicious, though not exactly something I expected to find at a French bistro.

Overall the food is exactly what it’s supposed to be – simple, classic, and delicious. There’s also a surprisingly extensive wine list, but these are only available by the bottle. If you’re just looking for a glass, you’ll want to check out the chalkboard above the bar – I ordered a Beaujolais ($118) at the sommelier’s suggestion, and while it was a good foil for the food, it was also the most expensive by-the-glass wine available.

Jeng: This is French comfort food done right. You can’t go wrong with well-executed dishes, some good wine, and a relaxed vibe.

Not So Jeng: Bouillon feels very much like a place exclusively for French people (or at least those who have native language proficiency). While the service was adequate and done with a smile, it was clear that those parler-ing French got more attention and more genuine service. There was also some confusion over our order and billing – our foie gras never showed up, and we were charged for the tuna tartare that we’d been told was compliments of the chef – but I’m willing to chalk this up to the fact that they’d only been open four days and we’d gone in on a typhoon night.

Meet the Chef: Bouillon’s menu is masterminded by Johan Ducroquet, who was formerly at Le Bistro Winebeast.

Great For: Small groups and casual dinners.

FYI: Bouillon offers a solid happy hour on Tuesdays-Fridays, 2pm-7pm.

Check out Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars here.

This writeup was based on an anonymous dining experience that was fully paid for by the author. See our editorial policy here.