Best short rib I have had in a long time! Although they were very busy the evening I went, the bartender, Summer, kept me informed about any food updates and checked up on me from time to time. I was very impressed in how well she ran a busy bar and also catering to peoples food orders! Definitely a gem at this establishment. Oh and do try the blueberry butter…a perfect blend of sweet and salty which I have never tried before!

Bistro 197 has two very different personalities regarding its interior design elements. The left side is bright & more traditionally bistro feeling being very open, the right side is warmer, intimate & more upscale bar feeling, with two TV’s playing a mix of sports-ball & pro-wrestling. The staff is friendly. Our server did spill my wife’s serrano & peach pepper martini on my wife & forgot to take my dinner order & my friend’s dinner order & returned later with an apology to take them. Expect a fresh, playful, & tasty craft cocktail program with fresh garnishes & delicious ingredients. There are New & Old World wines for many meals & occasions, including some local CNY wines. The beer & cider list is varied & leans toward regional New England craft beer selections on draught & in cans & bottles. Swill beers are also available for troglodytes dining out trying to “keep it real”. The menus are wittily designed for the astute eye with puns & themes here & there. The oysters are fresh & shucked clean on the half shell, & are accompanied by a bright & lovely mignonette. The beef short rib & gnocchis was comforting & post food coma inducing. I like my short rib with more fat between the muscle fibers, this was a bit over cooked & leaning toward dry, but quite tasty, especially the balsamic BBQ sauce it was served with. The crispy spring rolls with a spare amount of duck, ample cream cheese, & fruity hoisin sauce was comforting & tasty, & large enough to share between two people. The cadence of service is leisurely & occasionally absent for extended periods, yielding way for ample engaging conversation time. As long as you know this & take action to speak up & order more drinks, then you will thoroughly enjoy yourselves. The live music was free but worth paying for. We tipped the band via the convenient QR code on the table. I will definitely return to explore more of the menu, including the handful of mussels dishes & more oysters. This is likely the best restaurant for intimate dining in Oswego.

The smash burger was excellent. The cocktail was just what was needed. Our waiter was the mixologist and saw to our table's needs. It was an lovely late lunch that was perfect to begin our afternoon in Oswego.

Absolutely amazing!! Food and service were outstanding. Mussels, black shrimp, and bacon balls were so delicious to start. Gnocchi were creamy and the red sauce so flavorful. The sirloin was cooked perfectly. The short rib was fork tender and melted in your mouth. Peanut butter creme brulee was amazing and a first. The peach crisp and vanilla bean ice cream were a great way to end the meal. Drinks are very well crafted. I had the butter beer for my dessert. Amazing!!

I have been hesitant to try this place because I am not a mushroom fan, and for a while it seemed like many of their dishes featured mushrooms. I hit a good time with in-season food that I knew I'd like and took the plunge. The food was amazing. My mom, who is a bit hard to please, said the burger she had was the best she had ever had. My mac and cheese was fabulous. And the drinks! They were incredible. The service was also really friendly and welcoming. Will keep an eye on that rotating menu of theirs and visit again!

This is a cool restaurant. They had live music, great food, and good service. It was BUSY. Highly recommend the apple cheddar galette.

Omg the food at Bistro 197 is nothing short of AMAZING. We’ve been wanting to try it out for a while and so glad we finally did. Everything we ordered was on point. It’s been a long time since we’ve been out to eat where the food wasn’t just mediocre. Loved the atmosphere and the staff was so friendly and welcoming. I don’t normally do reviews but this is worth mentioning. Highly recommend!

Lovely new vibe atmosphere and layout. The oyster Mignonette sauce was the best I've ever had. It had pieces of cucumber in it which was new for me. The had every fruit, vegetable, herb or bitter you could think of so making any cocktail under the sun would be no problem. I was surprised when they didn't have any WIFI for they're patrons especially when almost no cell service for Verizon in the restaurant and 3 separate networks available for the Bistro and all of them locked. Makes zero not to offer one to their customers.

We went on a Froday night and sat at the bar. There was live music and the place had a very cozy and warm atmosphere. The bartender was busy but not too busy. Long story short, the service was friendly but slow and not intuitive at all. We waited a solid 30 minutes for 2 oysters (which were fantastic). Waited quite a while for Drinks and our entrée. The food was absolutely delightful. The grilled octopus and clams were on the regular menu and it was fantastic. Just hoping this was an off night for the FOH crew, again friendly enough, but slow and upsetting or suggesting anything.... We still tipped 25%....

Went in at late lunchtime and it was not busy. They were out of several menu items however the menu is so well curated I still had trouble choosing! I usually avoid bars but it was worth it for the good food and this time of day there was no bar activity. The service was excellent and the food was scrumptious. I could’ve taken the music a little quieter but I’m a bit unusual when it comes to music 🙃

Nice atmosphere, old 60's 70,s and 80s music plays quietly in background. No TVs and it is such a relief! Feels like you are in a European bistro. The food was absolutely delicious. Onion soup w/ swiss cheese was superb Simple salad w/homemade red wine dressing excellent and the smash burgers were to die for with I am sure were homemade chips. Definite return to this place! Small amount of choices but all looked so good.Also vegan choices.

Visited for lunch and will be back for dinner. The burger I ordered was seasoned and cooked to perfection! Service was also outstanding. Bartender/server who works on Saturday is friendly, prompt and has a great sense of humor.

I have been a handful of times over the years. I always enjoy the atmosphere and delicious food. How the drink menu is written is hilarious and definitely a good conversation starter. Some of the chairs are squeaky and wobbly, not super comfy for bigger people. I’m writing my review tonight because I brought my dad there for the first time tonight at he LOVED it. He is hard to please and he was very satisfied! I loved seeing him happy with his meal and the live music was awesome!

WOW! This place was absolutely amazing. Every dish was exceptional. One of the best meals I've ever had. The presentation of every dish and cocktail was beautifully done and showed love and care that a great meal needs, and everything was cooked perfectly. Everyone was very friendly and the service was spot on she was very helpful and attentive. We got sat at a nice cozy table next to the windows, it was the perfect spot to see the action on the street and still hear the live music playing in the other room. This was a perfect date night dinner with no kids and we definitely will be back again. Food we got: Pork Belly, Bocce Balls, Beef Short Ribs, and Angus Reserve Stockyard Sirloin. Drinks: Gin and Tonic Wind and Spirit, other were Boom Sauce and Greed.

Brunch is phenomenal! They rotate through the menu, but highly recommend starting with the mimosa flight. Ask for Emily as a waitress.... so attentive and just a lovely person. Live music often adds a nice ambiance. Highly recommend and will plan on coming back!

Wonderful place, great staff, great food a must on your visit to oswego

We started off at another restaurant at the request of some friends and aside from it being extremely busy with parties we were told their internet was down and no cards would be accepted. We went to Bistro 197 and we were immediately seated in the cool and relaxing atmosphere. Our waitress was very attentive, our drinks and food outstanding. Live music was being offered and it made it just added to an already pleasing venue. I have never been disappointed here.

I love the atmosphere this restaurant provides. It has a small town cozy feel combined with a refined dining experience vibe. The decor is tasteful and appealing and the staff were attentive and overly accommodating. Although the menu is limited my party of 4 were all able find a variety of food items to select from. Each dish appears to have been cared for. The salads were dressed perfectly and the cauliflower appetizer was not over or under sauced. Our waitress made great suggestions and answered all of our questions and ensured our modifications were met. When daughter asked for pickles she obtained them from their sister restaurant. The food was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. It is clear they care about what they are doing and what the present. We had appetizers, entres, & desert. All were great. Even the coffee is serves in individual French press for a fresh cup. Easily worth the money as items are not over priced. We are excited to go back next time we're in town.