“ a few years back we had lunch at R Bistro and Pastry. I have had shrimp and grits many times at many restaurants and nothing compares to R Bistros. The crawfish gravy was phenomena. I live in South Carolina but I want to plan a trip just to Fairhope just stop in and have their shrimp and grits again! ”

“ I don't go out to eat often, and even more infrequently go to "fine dining" establishments, but I decided to try Fairhope's R Bistro & Pastry. I know they have gotten a lot of recognition in the local culinary scene, and they are famous for their crawfish gravy. I went for a late lunch and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I ordered the Maison salad with a side of roasted vegetables. Both were excellent: the salad was not over-dressed, and the vegetables were cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also ordered an espresso and picked up a key lime tart for my mother. I wouldn't recommend dining at R Bistro during the pandemic if you're at-risk because it is quite a small place. The servers wear masks, but social distancing is not easy. Their outdoor dining is petite as well, and constantly has people trekking through it to get to neighboring stores. R Bistro does practice sustainability well! They have cloth napkins and real dishware, and the to-go container that I received was paper. Overall I had a good experience. I won't frequent this restaurant because it's far above my typical budget, but the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is very nice. I like eating locally when possible, so next time I need some corn & crawfish beignets, I'll definitely spend the extra $ to come here! I do wish they had more plant-based/vegan options though. ”

“ Was looking for a cute little place in downtown and this restaurant fits that description perfectly! This time of year, it is decked out with wonderful Mardi Gras decor and I couldn't be more thrilled for Mardi Gras season! This is a little cozy place with a welcoming atmosphere. When you walk in, if you glance to your left you will see a wonderful (and delicious) looking assortment of pastries... I couldn't resist! We were seated in the main dining area, although they do have bar top tables and a bar for seating as well. This place isn't huge so when it's busy I would imagine it would feel quite packed. As many restaurants, they served bread while you wait for your meal and it was really good, so I knew this was going to be a good meal. I ordered the croquet monsieur, it comes with a little spring side salad. The sandwich itself comes smothered in cheese which I completely underestimated. Great taste and flavor, although they Dijon definitely shines through.. The hubs ordered the tenderloin sliders, also very tasty. Now the side of the frites (fries) that comes with it are life changing. No ketchup or dip needed, it's just THAT GOOD. I had no idea what to expect when we came to this small restaurant but left very impressed. The menu does have a good amount of seafood choices (even crawfish beignets) but I think there are plenty of non-seafood choices for those that prefer more of an on land type meal. Will be back to try more yummies soon ”

“ I've been dying to try the pastries here, so the hubs and I decided to stop in for a post-anniversary dinner date! I was impressed with the stellar service from our waitress and the owner stopping by to check on patrons. We started with the French onion soup and escar-oysters, and both were pretty good. Hubs ordered a French 75, that was not his favorite. I tasted it also and was not a fan. (I warned him not to get a cocktail as we'd just stopped at Tongue and Groove for pre-dinner drinks-- they're hard to beat. But, he loves not heeding my advice. I digress!) For entrees, hubs had the short ribs and I ordered the shrimp and grits-- YUM! Finally, we had the cream brûlée for dessert and loved the anniversary decoration they added for affect! The creme brûlée itself tasted more like flan, but it wasn't bad. We ordered macarons to go (because the hubs loves them) but we were too stuffed to try them tonight (to be continued). All in all, my first visit wasn't comprised of the frills and thrills that I was expecting, but it was definitely worthy of a repeat visit when we're in Fairhope. ”

“ R Bistro is a small restaurant with amazing food and desserts. It's conveniently located in downtown Fairhope so you can shop, enjoy a local parade or just enjoy dinner and take a walk to browse the downtown shops. My husband and I drove to Fairhope to enjoy First Friday Art walk. We made a reservation to R Bistro so we could enjoy dinner and the event. We were greeted at the door by the hostess and taken to our table. My husband and I both enjoyed the shrimp and grits and a Cobb salad. Both were delicious! A warm basket of bread and butter were brought to the table to enjoy while we waited for our entree's. Remember to make a reservation so you won't miss out on a great dinner in downtown Fairhope. ”

“ Ate at R Bistro for lunch. Had the petite Shrimp and Grits. If you get a chance, give this little bistro a chance. The food is absolutely wonderful. Their Shrimp and Grits is the bomb. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ”

“ Hubby and I stopped in at R Bistro on a Monday afternoon before the dinner crowd arrived. Our intention was to try a couple of desserts. This was our second attempt at eating something at this quaint restaurant. The previous time, it was packed and the wait was just a bit too long for us. Insider tip: Make a reservation! As luck would have it, Joe the owner was in the restaurant and he promptly introduced himself! We sat at the comfortable bar and were prepared to eat our desserts and enjoy the jazz music. Joe came out of the kitchen with a sample sized gumbo and his crawfish sauce. Wow, after trying those we decided we HAD to eat something. We ordered the crab cake and barbecue shrimp from the appetizer menu. (Keep in mind that we stopped here for dessert...hahaha). The crab cake was incredible and served with a beautiful sauce made right there in the restaurant. The shrimp arrived accompanied by french baguette slices baked fresh. The perfect bread to soak up the delicious Barbecue sauce. Hubby is a home grown New Orleans native and he agreed that the Barbecue Shrimp at R Bistro puts Pascale Manale's to shame. We were raving over the food and listening to Joe's stories about the restaurant and his family. Joe is interesting and interested which is a wonderful thing to find in a fellow human being! His wife and daughter are both culinary trained bakers and keep the display case full of eye pleasing offerings. We could hardly wait to dive into our selections! Joe was not finished with us yet...he brought out another sample size of his Hometown Oysters over a plate of the BEST orzo I've ever had. The oysters were cooked to perfection. He told us that everything is made in the restaurant except for ketchup and mustard. Every sauce is created in the kitchen and he bottles the favorites to sell to the public. (We told another restaurant owner last week that he should bottle his sauces because they were so good). I was happy to see that Joe is doing that at his place. When you walk in you are immediately drawn to the beautiful display of pastries. The bar is just past it on the left and seats 8 to 10 people. There are plenty of tables ready to accommodate a romantic date night couple or larger groups. Joe gave us his card and said please call and make a reservation when we come back for dinner. This is fine dining with white linens in the evening, but the atmosphere is casual. There is a full bar with a healthy wine selection. There are dinner specials offered nightly. Okay, now to dessert. I love to bake but I don't make carrot cake, so I selected an oversized cupcake version. It was delicious and had the mark of a trained chef. The frosting was not too sweet and a perfect compliment to the moist cake. Hubby had the pumpkin pecan cheese cake and ate every drop of it without offering me a crumb - so I think he liked it!!! I must say that I am so grateful that we stopped in and cozied up to the bar. Joe was a delight to meet and he shared some of the best food I've had in Alabama with us. We are already planning a date night in Fairhope! ”

“ Very cute establishment in the heart of a quaint town. Our group got a salmon burger, shrimp poor boy and the chicken salad. The fries were Good, the sauces with the two sandwiches were good. The chicken salad was just so so. ”