Bistro Joe
100 Front Street
New Richmond, OH
553 7500
The 100 Front Street building in New Richmond has been a bar/restaurant since
1902. Back in 1902 you had fresh local veggies and locally raised meats at
every restaurant in town. Slowly the economy grew and corporate giants emerged
into the scene.
Now 105 years later you will be hard pressed to find local ingredients at
any restaurant in town.
I’m sure there has been “many a box” of flash frozen “economy
viable” ingredients brought in the back door of the 100 Front Street
building during the past 5 or 6 decades....until now.
Bistro Joe now occupies the century old building and the concept of “ boxed
frozen ingredients” was tossed in the trash along with the antiquated
fixtures and decor. Chef Scott Mcdonald tailored the menu to please the pallets
of the bistro’s diners...be it a buffalo steak, burger or a grilled
turkey harvest croissant (divine!) Chef Mcdonald has gone to great lengths
to ensure the new menu features delicious fresh fixtures as well as local
ingredient inspired specials. A well rounded menu with with 28 permanent
selections is the foundation for the Bistro’s gourmet offerings. Daily
specials and soup de jour keep the mix interesting for the regulars.
The buffalo are raised locally and I mean locally...they could drive the
herd to the the restaurant in a couple of hours if they fancied. The deliciously
different buffalo meat can be savored in several forms; 8oz strip steaks,
burgers, bbq, bacon wrapped tenderloin and buffalo stew. For those less adventurous
if your not sure about the buffalo you can choose from fish, turkey, chicken,
salads or sandwiches. If you really want to try the buffalo but need a shot
of courage first, the bistro features a full bar. Just like the menu ingredients
the bar is chock full of locally made wine; Harmony Hill (Bethel), Kinkead
Ridge (Ripley) and Burnet Ridge (North College Hill) are just a few of the
hand selected local wines you can tailor to your meal. If the wine hits the
spot you can even get a bottle to go at a 20% discount. The emphasis on local
creations doesn’t stop with the food and wine either, even the art
on the walls is local at Bistro Joe. All of the original works are for sale
so if you can’t live without one, you won’t have to.
Focusing purely on quality Bistro Joe opted not to create their own breads
and desserts but instead purchases them from Jean Paul Belmont who bakes
them for the Bistro daily.
I doubt your going to find the fine quality, attention to freshness and flavor
like this any where for miles. Not to mention the fact that everything on
the menu is under $15. Most selections are in the $10 and under price range.
Live music is already in full bloom on Wednesdays with a live jazz trio,
weekend bands are in the works as well.
First class ingredients, great selection, superb local wines, live music,
oh yeah and all of it served with a complimentary riverfront view, what else
can you ask for? New Richmond has beautiful riverfront, a quaint wholesome
village appeal and great summer festivals...now they have a damn fine gourmet
restaurant. Put it all together and it’s well worth the 10 minute drive
from Anderson or Amelia any day of the week.
Bistro Joe is open everyday at 5 p.m. (they need the first half of the day
to prepare for dinner). Give it a go, we’d never steer you wrong!
