Au Midi Restaurant & Bistrot

True French cooking, absolutely divine. Proprietor checks on you, may even wait on you. Very helpful.

A wonderful gift to our community. The menu is limited, but varied, something for everyone. The service is impeccable, and the food always has interesting flavors. Food is always cooked to perfection. Excellent wine list. I would recommend it to anyone.

The couple that owns this place provide a top notch dining experience. The food is fresh and local. It’s a very continental place to dine. The wife is the one who prepares the food. Her husband greets customers very warmly. The food is incredible. Go there when you have some time to enjoy what you are eating. Fast food, it is not. My only complaint is that they have limited hours. Call ahead.

Ate there 2 months ago based on recommendations. Did NOT regret it. Modest small setting, wonderfully prepared food. We brought two different French bordeauxs and a Coravin to decide which one we wanted but forgot the needle, one was brought too us so we could sample both wines. Very surprised. We went with recommendations to add to our main courses and they turned out to be the star of the night, though there was not one course served that was not delicious, clearly made by someone who cares about what they serve.
I lived in Santa Cruz county for 9 years, this is by far the best meal I have had anywhere in the county. I want to go back!

This review is long over due.
I accidently stumbled across this restaurant while traveling for work and have now been at least 6 times.
Wonderful! A true gem. There is nothing to eat in Santa Cruz and this is worth the drive. Michele & Muriel, Je vous remmercie pour vos merveilleuses recettes! C’est un grand plaisir de pouvoir deguster votre menu quand je voyage dans la region!
I travel a lot for work and good food is so hard to find. Absolutely without a doubt the best food and best service. Muriel herself will even come out to greet you during the meal. I hope Aptos recognizes the amazing culinary creations prepared with such precision and care.
You will not be disappointed here and are missing out if you have not had the opportunity to try.

Incredibly high quality, delicious food. Not only is it prepared in a heavenly tasting way, you can tell that the raw ingredients are all sourced from the best sources — most definitely pastured and organic. My favorite place to eat in all of the Santa Cruz area. Great wine list too!

My husband and I have been in search of a good french restaurant in santa cruz area for my birthday since we don’t want to drive over the hill due to bad weather condition. I found Au Midi on Unilocal and decided to give it a try. Au Midi is a little restaurant in aptos next to a yoga studio and crossfit/​karate studio.
For an appetizer, we ordered Foie Gras and for the Main course, I ordered the Sea Scallops and my husband ordered the Sea Bass. The presentation was excellent as expected, the food was tasty and cooked to perfection. The portions are just right. For dessert, they gave us Floating island for my birthday.
The price is cheap compared to other French restaurant over the hill. I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to try a French dining experience.

I mean this in a good way but the food was surprisingly refined for the area.
Wifey and I came here last night, wait staff were excellent, food was top shelf. only two dings were it was a little cold in the restaurant and a little void of ambience for the price.
Suffice to say if you live in the area, like refined French food and don’t want to trip into the bay or Carmel then this restaurant is highly recommended.
We shall definitely return.

I went there about 2 years ago and it was superb. Went there last week — based on the food and experience, I’m not going back.
First, the appetizer, snail ravioli had a frothy sauce that looked like spit. I’m all good with adventurous eating, but isn’t french cooking supposed to look appetizing? Also, quite bland.
Second, I ordered the duck and my wife ordered the seabass. Both had the identical same sauce. Really??? A $ 30 plate of food and the sauce is not crafted specifically for the protein? There’s only one word to describe this… LAZY!
Third, the service was pretentious and the tables are too close. The only thing that is more uncomfortable than being pandered to with a fake-​soft voice by the waitress or listening to the conversation of the couple next to us, is listening to the waitress pander to the couple next to us.
And… Why do they offer the same lame beer selection even after two years? Hint, Parisian food is about fresh local fare, and that should include the regional beers — of which there are plenty to choose from here in the Bay Area.
This place used to be awesome. Now, I think it’s time for the owners to find something else to do

This is one of the top 2 restaurants in Santa Cruz county. The impeccable flavors and artisan feel of the food is amazing. You can expect an incredible meal every time.

I loved this place. The witer may have been the owner, charming and great service. The rosé was perfect and everyone loved their food. Great hidden gem. Looking forward to going back.

Service staff was excellent and attentive just to the extent that was needed. The chef here is creative. The quality of the dishes show that only the best organic ingredients are used.
The dishes are exquisite, hearty and presentation is excellent. In most restaurants we cannot finish the food and bring some home. The food here is such good quality that you don’t feel bloated half way through your meal and we ate every bite of every course. Just amazing, and the price was very reasonable for the quality of food, service and ambiance.
Corkage fee is also reasonable at $ 15.

Came here again for my boyfriend’s birthday. Although they didn’t do anything special, we had a wonderful meal.
Started off with a beer for him and a glass of wine for me.
Decided on something different and ordered the snail ravioli. Wow, very different, flavorful and delicious! I was quite surprised because I thought I wouldn’t care for it.
I ordered the salmon and it was cooked to perfection and the dish was fabulously delicious!
BF ordered the duck magret as it’s always a favorite and still did not disappoint.
We usually get the floating island (YUM!); but again wanting to try something different so we opted for the vanilla panna cotta. Super good! It had strawberries and rhubarb and was such a nice light dessert.
The service was great and we’ll be back for another special occasion.

Unfortunately, I didn’t even have the chance to try the food. The owner, Michael, made a remark with anti-​american overtones that really turned me off to the place. He used the word «redneck» to describe something that just simply isn’t. He said that only rednecks set their table with the fork right-​side up. I know plenty of educated, well-​mannered people who begin their meal with the fork in such a position. I suppose the idea is that anything that isn’t french is low-​class. Honestly, this county just doesn’t have room for business owners who don’t like their locals. Aptos is changing, quickly, and there are plenty of people who would love to have a storefront here before it booms. If you don’t like Aptos or its residents, then please go elsewhere. Preferably, back to where you came from.

Awesome food!
After a long time I had such a good food. Their warm salad is a must try. So many different flavors in every bit!

Seriously, pure snobbery or sexism must be the reason that the Michelin Guide hasn’t yet starred this woman chef in a café tucked in the literal corner of a small shopping center. Walk through its unassuming doorway into the best of Provence without the expense of airplane fare. It’s half the price of similar big-​city eateries, too, so my fellow San Franciscans: Get in your cars and drive down the gorgeous Northern California Coast to Au Midi!
An innovative French chef that never rests on her laurels — that’s Muriel of Au Midi in Aptos! Seasonal cuisine — like the south of France where co-​owners Muriel and Michel acquired their passion for fresh, delicate flavors — in a relaxed artful atmosphere is the hallmark of this charming bistro. Get the best Floating Island dessert this side of Paris.
The moderately priced wine list groups entries into local, French, white, red, dessert. We savored a bottle of divine Vouvray for only $ 38.
Because it’s summer and fishing boats abound in Santa Cruz County, Chef Muriel is all about fresh fish perfectly poached with delicate herbs garnished with flavorful foams or light broths. With compassion for us Americans who get yearnings for French classics like duck breast in orange sauce or beef bourguignon or snails, Michel and Muriel keep favorites on the menu. My vegan friends travel to Au Midi just for the perfectly prepared ratatouille.
I mean it, foodies: Don’t bother flying to France when you can eat Muriel’s cooking at Au Midi! Hey, and practice your French with Michel and Muriel without corrections or «attitude» — a bonus of this relaxed gem of a place.

Snail ravioli was delicate and flavorful. The onion soup was another favorite.
Halibu was perfectly cooked and everything else on the plate was lovely as well. Delicious mushrooms and bright tomato ravioli.
The apple pie was great, but the panna cotta changed my life.
The service was not very good but the food definitely made up for it. I’ll be back.

Au Midi is all about the food. If you are looking for good service or nice ambiance go elsewhere.
The restaurant is situated in between a yoga studio and a Cross-​Fit gym in a mini mall next to KFC. It just feels like the wrong location for fine French food. Once inside, the restaurant space is uninspired and feels like it could be a shoe store, craft store or the restaurant it is. Feels very much like a restaurant in a strip mall. The brochures displayed on the shelf near the register in plastic holders complete the tackiness. I didn’t bother to read for what or who they where advertising.
The Service was curt and very unfriendly. We didn’t feel like the staff cared one bit about our dining experience. With a long slow dinner service, there was ample time for the wait staff to shine but they did not. While sitting here writing this review the next morning and thinking back through the dining experience I’d use the word «baffled» as I recall the ridiculously indifferent service. We had a 7:30 reservation for two. It was my wife’s birthday and we were dressed nicely for a special night out. We are very friendly folks who fully engage with wait staff to have the full experience of a restaurant and Au Midi served us a lump of cold coal.
Also, make sure you dress warmly. It was not a particularly cold night and the restaurant felt drafty and cold at times.
The food is excellent. Fine French food in small portions that will have you wanting to lick your plate.
The overall dining experience was sub-​par and I would only recommend Au Midi for the food but not the service or ambiance. Not a very warm experience in multiple different ways.

You don’t have to drive to San Francisco to
find excellent French food. It is in our backyard.
We have been «regulars» for several years,
and whenever I want to dream about provence,
I come here. Started the meal with Dungeness
Crab Remoulade, my husband chose the
Spring mix salad. The crab Remoulade was
beautifully presented and was so delicious.
Next course: Sea Bass with herbs on a bed of
clams and sweet onion risotto, Filet mignon
with morel and Madeira sauce with a tart of
potatoes, dessert: Floating Island (my husband’s
favorite), and I had the vanilla panna cotta
with strawberries. Wonderfully presented and
melt in your mouth good!

Such a cute, intimate place! Great place to go on a date.
Food was amazing as well, delicate and tasty!
I’m thankful for Groupon for introducing me to this place.

Excellent restaurant français dans le village d’Aptos, à quelques minutes de Santa Cruz. Les propriétaires, tous deux français, font souvent le service en salle. Excellent soupe du jour, très bon cassoulet, nos amis ont commandé le veau à la sauce café: riche et original. Si vous êtes dans le coin, pourquoi né pas y passer une petite soirée fort sympathique?