This is my first time to write something about a restaurant on this website but i feel like i have to do it as the feeling is too strong to hold.
We went there with some friends and what a surprise when they tell you that 50% of the main dishes have to be ordered when you make reservation by phone. So what does that leave you (chicken beef or duck,oh no sorry no more duck). And what about starter? well sorry we don;t have anymore ham platter. So that leave you the choice of 2 startes choice and two for main dishes. And what about your beef of 500 grams is it good? And they answer you well usually we import it from Canada but we are facing some problem recently so we changed it to chinese ones ( and of course no discount on the price). Well the result is that the meat is terrible.
The service? Excuse me only one menu available for the whole restuarant so we have to wait for other people to order? ok i see, i'll wait then.
I feel sorry as i know how hard is it to open a restaurant but sorry guys i'll never come back again

A friend of mine told me about this restaurant.

The service is not that good. We had to wait at the entrance 5min because no one was here to give us a table.
There is a group of very noisy costumer next to us all over the dinner.
The interior design is normal.

So no the ambiance and the service is not the reason why my friend told me to go there...

But the food ... is really ... GOOD.
I was with 2 friends and we had a "gigot d'agneau" that was serve perfectly cook and serve with home made fries.
We had a bottle of French wine on side and when we receive the bill I was afraid but not at all the value for money was REALLY good.

I will not come back for the service or music/design etc... But for the food YES.
But isn't it the goal of a restaurant?

Le Bistro de L'Ouest is a non descript building (There's no sign) on Hunan lu half way between Wukang and Xingguo lu's. It is easy to miss. I lived down the street for a year and never knew it was there. Should you ever need to find it, it is next to Lapis Thai.

LBDLO shows excellent promise because they serve the best leg of lamb (served au jus) in Shanghai and its cheap. With the exception of the lamb (which must be ordered a day in advance) there isn't an item on the menu exceeding CNY 200.

At last nights dinner (4 of us) we ordered the charcuterie plate which while good quality, lacked variety and imagination. I understand one can only do so much with a plate of cold cuts, but three types of nearly identical thinly sliced smoked sausage is just a bit boring. This was followed with the foie gras terrine which was slightly undersized and lacked the balance and complexity of what is served at Mr. & Mrs. Bund and Franck. That said it was still a pretty good piece of pate.

The leg of lamb served au jus is the best in Shanghai. Go just for this dish. It is a leg of lamb roasted in which I believe was a subtle dusting of herbs and cooked to a perfect medium rare. Order a side of bread and soak up the juice. The lamb comes with a salad which was very average, and chips which were awesome. If you want the full on assault to your cardio vascular system order a side of mayonnaise and dip the chips in it.

The service was shitty. My girlfriend arrived first and was ignored by the staff for 5 minutes, before she was asked if she had a reservation and then seated. When I walked in I was greeted by the canto-parisan owner with a "Bonjour", and a mocking laugh when he ascertained that I did not speak French (I replied in Chinese). After all this awkward greeting and seating the serviced improved, but not to a standard that is representative of the food they serve. And after careful reflection; I don't care if the service is gruff. The lamb is excellent, and the other dishes are of quality not found at similarly priced French restaurants.

I will be back and if you haven't been yet I would recommend a visit.