"Montgomery's first French bistro, opened in Cloverdale in 2024 with steak frites and a real cocktail bar — try it for a first date."
About Frenchie's
Frenchie's opened on Cloverdale Road in June 2024 as Montgomery's first French-focused restaurant, a bistro and cocktail bar from Vintage Hospitality Group. Chef Eric Rivera built the menu; Brian Morrison runs the kitchen day to day. The cooking is classic bistro — steak frites, moules, croque monsieur, coq au vin — with a bar that takes its cocktails as seriously as its food. It is small, it takes reservations on Resy, and it has given Cloverdale a Paris-leaning room it did not have before. Reckon on $25 to $50 a head depending on how you drink.
The Kitchen
Frenchie's is the work of Vintage Hospitality Group, the Montgomery restaurateurs behind several of the city's better tables, in partnership with Tyler Bell of Il Panificio. Chef Eric Rivera, the group's executive chef, designed the opening menu, and Brian Morrison now helms the kitchen on Cloverdale Road. The cooking is unapologetically classic bistro: steak frites as the dish to judge it by, moules to start, a croque monsieur at lunch, and homier plates like coq au vin and a lemony shrimp provençal. The smoked trout dip and a tuna niçoise round out the snackier end. What sets the room apart in Montgomery is that it is a cocktail bar first, so the drinks list is built to stand on its own rather than to prop up the food. Frenchie's sits at 514 Cloverdale Road, Suite B2, opened in June 2024 as the city's first French bistro, and books through Resy. For the wider city, read the Montgomery dining guide and our seven signs of a great restaurant.
The Room
Frenchie's is a small, dim, bar-forward bistro in the middle of Cloverdale. The bar runs the length of one side and is where walk-ins land; the tables are tight and few, which keeps the room intimate and a little loud once it fills on a weekend. Lighting is low and warm, the kind that flatters a date. Dress runs a notch above ordinary Cloverdale dinner because people come to drink as much as to eat. It opens Monday to Saturday from 4:30 pm, closed Sunday, and with limited seating the bar fills first while tables turn through the evening.
Best for a First Date
Book Frenchie's for a first date because a small French bistro with a real cocktail bar gives a date room to breathe: start with a drink at the bar to take the edge off, move to a table when one turns, and keep the evening loose. The steak frites is easy, shareable common ground, and the low light and tight room do the rest. Reserve a weekday table on Resy for the calmer version, since weekends get loud. Cloverdale is walkable afterwards if the night is going well. For more, see the best restaurants for a first date.
Not for
Not for a big group or a quiet conversation: seating is limited and tight, the bar crowd makes weekends loud, and there is no large-party room, so a team of ten will struggle to be heard or seated together.
Frequently Asked
Is Frenchie's worth it?
Yes, if you want bistro cooking and a proper cocktail in Montgomery. Frenchie's opened in Cloverdale in June 2024 as the city's first French-focused restaurant, from Vintage Hospitality Group; chef Eric Rivera built the menu and Brian Morrison runs the kitchen. The steak frites is the order to judge it by, backed by moules, croque monsieur and coq au vin. Reckon on 25 to 50 dollars a head depending on how you drink.
How hard is it to book Frenchie's?
Book ahead for a table; the room is small. Frenchie's takes reservations through Resy, and walk-ins are taken at the bar first-come, first-served. It opens Monday to Saturday from 4:30 pm and closes Sunday. Weekend evenings fill quickly given the limited seating, so reserve a few days out, or come early and start with a cocktail at the bar while you wait.
What is the dress code at Frenchie's?
Smart-casual, leaning a little dressy. Frenchie's is a cocktail bar as much as a bistro, so the evening crowd tends to dress up a notch from a normal Cloverdale dinner. A collared shirt or a nice dress fits the mood; jeans are fine. There is no jacket requirement. Dress for a drink and a long table rather than a quick bite, especially on a Friday or Saturday.
What should I order at Frenchie's?
Order the steak frites, the dish regulars point newcomers to. Start with the smoked trout dip or the moules, and consider the croque monsieur or the coq au vin for something more comforting. Because it is a cocktail bar at heart, let the bartender build the first round rather than defaulting to wine. The menu is classic bistro, so order the way you would in Paris: a starter, a main, a drink.
Is Frenchie's good for a first date?
Yes. A small French bistro with a cocktail bar is close to ideal for a first date: you can start with a drink at the bar, move to a table, and keep the night flexible. The room is intimate and the steak frites is easy, shareable common ground. Book a weekday table on Resy for the calmer version, and let the bar carry the start of the evening. For more, see our Montgomery dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve on Resy
Book through Resy or call 334-239-7119. Open Mon–Sat from 4:30 pm; closed Sunday. Walk-ins at the bar.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address514 Cloverdale Road, Suite B2, Montgomery, AL 36106
NeighbourhoodCloverdale
CuisineFrench bistro · cocktail bar
PriceAbout $25–50 per person
HoursMon–Sat from 4:30 pm; closed Sun
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ReservationResy
