We sat in the bar side of the restaurant and it was comfortable and lively. The servers were very attentive and quite handsome but that has nothing to do with the review lol. We got the meatloaf which was amazing and the steak fajitas tacos that were just as incredible. Big portions and fast service. The creme brûlée trio is a must at the end, regular, espresso and a passion fruit brûlée... 10/10 no notes. :) read more

My daughter and I went on a Wednesday around 6 PM to try this place out. We were welcomed by the host but were told to go to the bar. At the bar, we were told there would be a 25-minute wait, even though the dining room had many open tables. We were then told we needed to grab a drink and "wait it out," which made us very uncomfortable. Eventually, after asking three times, we were seated in the dining room, which clearly wasn't busy. At that point, we decided to leave and go somewhere else. The entire experience made us feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. read more

Decent dinner in the bar area.. dining room is a little snoozy. I had the zucchini fritters which were super soggy, not crispy which was a bummer. read more

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We started with a special, the tuna Crudo nachos, which were so good that I'm going to try to figure out the sauce so that I can serve them at home I chose the duck with the Thai fried rice and my wife had the hanger steak. Each was perfectly prepared, and the sides were familiar, but updated creatively. I didn't expect the Thai fried rice to so perfectly complement the duck, but the richness of the duck balanced the dish. The wine menu listed Pez 734 / 2nd Pez, a rich and powerful wine from Saint-Estephe, as a perfect match for duck and beef - the menu was exactly right and we were very happy with our choice. We had never been here before, but came as recommended by our cousin - everything was so good and the menu had a bunch of other options that we wanna come back to try, so we will definitely return when we're back in Connecticut. read more

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5 Star service and ambience. Mocktail (ginger based) was pretty decent. 3 Stars for the meals. Meatloaf was okay. Ditto for the burger. Shumai ended up as the best of our order. Food was just fine but not really special. read more

Started with Fried calamari tender and crisp. Bulgogi very tasty . Excellent NY Strip steak, juicy and tender. Cooked perfectly! The frites, not really impressed, just your average fries . If I'm being honest they are Exactly like the frozen fries I buy at restaurant depot. I was Expecting a more homemade look/taste. The osso buco special was very flavorful and tender. All in all A delicious meal and excellent service . read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

On mother's day l ordered the Campfire Trout because l was told by the server it doesn't have any bones. Well it was loaded with bones and when l told our server she just looked at me and said ohh really it's not supposed too and walked away. I was like you miserable old bat. Food was good. Not in a rush to go back. My wife said that's the 3rd time the servers we had were miserable. read more

It had been quite some years since I've been here and I'm really glad we came back. Excellent food, reasonable prices, ever changing menu with both seasonal and regional focus. Service was fabulous and I like that I had some privacy to talk with my husband at dinner we weren't crowded in and the little booths are cozy. We had the butternut squash soup, Brussel sprouts and I had steak while my husband had trout. All was perfect. I'm adding Cafe Routier back to our regular rotation. read more

My husband and I made reservations for a Thursday night at 5pm before we went to a comedy show. The reviews and the menu looked promising so we figured we would give it a try. Service was pretty good. Not terrible, not fantastic. We had a nice booth in the dining room and the restaurant seemed to fill up quickly within the time we were there. They have quite an impressive wine and mixed drink menu along with an expansive beer list which my husband appreciated. We had mussels for the app. Really great, nice flavor, all cooked properly and presented beautifully. My husband had the duck duet and I had the pan seared chicken. My husband loved his food. He said it was really flavorful and cooked perfectly. I don't care for duck but it did look delicious. The pan seared chicken came with a large homemade ravioli that had mascarpone and black truffle. The ravioli was solid, the chicken left a lot to be desired. It was really underwhelming and needed a lot of seasoning. I was hoping that the sauce they served it with would have been a bit thicker and it left me feeling confused - it was more of a soup consistency with little pieces of carrot and asparagus throughout. Nothing stands out from our meal other than the food being plated exceptionally well. A solid choice for dinner though I'm not sure the price justifies what you get. My husband had 2 beers, we had an app and 2 dinners and paid $135, without tip included. Seems that this is a place the regulars frequent. The extensive drink list and bottled wine menu is for sure their money maker at this restaurant. Probably won't be back as there are other great options in town that give Cafe Routier a run for its money. Out of 10, I'd give it a 6.5. read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - Duck duet - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

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I don't rate places with 5 stars often. If I had any criticism, it would be our server could have sold us another cocktail. We had supper in the dining room instead of the bar. The setting was comfortable and not too loud. Our server, Andrew, was fantastic despite being very busy. He was attentive, kind and very helpful because of his knowledge and experience with the menu. There seemed to be a service team who helped each other when someone was busy, and service was fast though we never felt rushed. The food we choose was outstanding overall from the duck a l'orange app, to the small plates of coconut curry mussels, Thai fried calamari (best we've ever had, BTW), Korean bulgogi and on top the large portion vanilla bean creme brulee... with a candle for our anniversary. It was an overall fantastic dining experience and I highly recommend. read more

There was nothing here not a 10! Except maybe the crème brûlée. It was too early in the evening to have it. It has to come to room temp. Dan is the man!! And his instructions to a capable chef made for a memorable meal. Memorable , this was beyond that. You have to come here!! Best (so far) on the shoreline. Enjoy!! read more

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This used to be one of my favorite upscale restaurants on the shoreline. Now I will never be coming back. To spare the details, someone threw up on the table right next to me and was allowed to stay there and order dessert with the wait staff knowing what occurred. The table was wiped off without being sanitized. We respectfully brought up the incident to the waiter after the couple had left, and he simply responded, "ok." He dropped off the check and grunted at us and walked away. I know this was a difficult situation but I'm horrified at how the restaurant handled this. read more

I had wanted to try this spot for years. While I enjoyed our meal, I don't think it matched expectations built by word of mouth and spectacular food porn on social media hyping it as one of CT's best. First off, the vibe is quite clubby and local. Lots of patrons known by name. The bar may be more popular than the dining room, with tanned "fifty somethings" who summer at the shore. Service is capable but informal. The food is simple and straightforward. No unpronounceable ingredients or cheffy plating. A nice steak frites? Check. Roasted bone in chicken breast with confit raviolo and jus? Done well. Campfire trout or other expected local fish grilled with beurre blanc or served in a flour tortilla? Got that too. Cocktails were well made but again nothing you haven't paid 17 bucks for in other nice restaurants The beet salad was good; sourdough bread with oil was as well. Do try the truffle fries! I was satisfied but didn't walk away feeling like "I need that recipe" or I can't wait to show my foodie friends this presentation. All in all, a good meal but I doubt anything will be remembered a month from now. After a lot of longing, it was kind of a kiss on the cheek....review is really 3.5 stars but yelp does let me do halfsies read more

First time visitors. We sat at the bar. The bartender greeted us quickly and we ordered a drink. Took menus but said we wanted to wait. We asked the bartender his name "Anthony" we did ask what time the kitchen and bar closed, kitchen at 9:00 and then bar follows suit. We got there around 6, Away for just a quick weekend. Shortly after ordered a small plate to share then another. The food was delicious and the menu unique which we love. We then met the other bartender Merideth who was so absolutely friendly and wonderful. She assured us there was no hurry and to take our time. Merideth suggested a few dishes. Shortly after it seems she left. At 8:30 we asked Anthony if we could order he said yeah if you hurry the kitchen is closing. We decided to order an entree and a side dish to share. The steak frits, really good. Through the evening had several cocktails small plates and an entree and our check would not be huge but not small. We appreciate good service, good drinks and good food. I asked the manager Kevin when the bar closed he said there is no hurry we are here if you're here. We met nice people to chat w finished dinner at about 9:30 and asked for a drink, we were served by Anthony w an attitude. They proceeded to put the bar stools up around us as we were finishing our drinks. We noticed Anthony put his jacket and hat on left the bar and was sitting in a booth waiting for us to leave, which who would not at this point. As we were leaving 10:00 Kevin ( manager ) walked back in and we said well this is super uncomfortable he said what is uncomfortable? We said we were finishing our drinks Anthony put his jacket and hat on ( never mind the attitude all night ) and they put the stools up all around us. Kevin had nothing to say. I really don't leave reviews but the owner needs to know the staff, other than Meredith (and food runners) have horrible attitudes, this place needs new management and certainly needs to hire another Meredith. Our check was over $200 which is not much for us, we go out often. I don't understand the uncalled for attitudes. You are doing your job, be grateful you have one. What a shame. It's so easy to be nice and kind, you won't find it here unfortunate as the food is really good. Left 30% for Meredith. Anthony find another job rather than giving you miserable vibe From the other side of the bar. read more

Excellent! Cafe Routier is always great and tonight was no exception. We celebrated my sister's birthday and everything was fantastic. We had appetizers (fried oysters, ravioli, and brussels sprouts), various drinks (great wine selection), dinner (duck, trout, steak, veal) and dessert (coconut cake and various types of crème brûlée - espresso, passion fruit and vanilla) and we loved everything. The staff was stellar and the ambiance is always on point. read more

We sat near the hostess station and seemed like there were many repeat visits by locals. Requested a different table in empty restaurant and it caused a bit of a problem as if all other tables seemed to be reserved for certain people. Told only two least popular tables available. Minus one star as a lot of tables still empty when we left.. Large menu of full dinners and many small plate options for those repeaters. Dry January so Virgin Bloody Mary and a tasty orange mocktail to start. Shared app and dessert meant we left stuffed. Food cooked as ordered. Only food critique was more mushrooms than gnocchi in appetizer but as it was shared husband ate all the mushrooms and I the gnocchi. Large portion of duck and hanger steak with tasty sauces. Will think twice about going back even though we are now locals. read more

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the butternut squash ravioli, and I mean one giant ravioli!!!, is really mozzarella cheese with maybe one or two small pieces of ravioli in a sauce lacking any flavor. just awful, had to refuse to pay for what I hoped would be a delicious meal. love the cafe but this was a fail. how about just regular ravioli with butternut stuffing??? read more

Great Service, excellent food. The atmosphere is a little noisy but get the French fry appetizer and you won't care. Parking can be tight on busy nights. I do wish they'd strike a deal with the property. Next door. Mom's meatloaf with mashed potatoes (2024, $30) is my go to but I've had the hanger steak and specials. Brussel Sprouts are all that as well. I highly recommend making a reservation (only accepted for the dining room) just in case. There is a smaller seat yourself bar as well. The shoreline cognoscenti can be found there. read more

My Wife and I visited for our date night this week. We've lived in the area for 7 years, and somehow always found a reason to not give Cafe Routier a try. After visiting, our only regret was that we waited 7 years to come here for dinner! The service was top notch. Very professional and highly attentive. Our dinner was equally as amazing. We tried items from the spring menu, and stuck to the Iberia region offerings. The Moroccan half duck, Lamb Kefta, and Pollo Pepitoria were all delicious and extremely well prepared. Highly recommend, and we look forward to making an excuse to visit Cafe Routier more often from here on out! read more

This was my first sit down meal at a restaurant since the lockdown. I was pleased that I went here; what a great meal. First of all I felt very safe, everyone social distanced and all utensils we're in little bags. For an appetizer we the Broccoli Rabe, it had white beans, garlic, cherry peppers, roasted tomatoes, olive oil, sausage and Parmigiano with elephant ear pasta. It was so flavorful and it had just enough heat. My main course was Seared Scallops, it was served over sweet potato puree, corn, bacon, and scallion ragout. What a great mix of flavors. For dessert I had a rich chocolate cake with ice cream, it came with candy walnuts and caramel sauce. So rich and full of chocolate flavor. I tasted some French fries that were very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was a little pricey, but well worth the money read more

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First time eating at Cafe Routier did not disappoint! We went here for a date night after a few neighbors had recommended it. We were really happy with all the food we had. We shared a bunch of small plates and apps. We had the fries- made them truffle fries and they were so delicious! The Brussels sprouts were perfectly crispy and had truffle honey on them. Also went for the ahi tuna "nachos"- delicious. We added 1extra because they came in an order of 3. We split the scallop dish for our main and it came out plated nicely on two separate plates. Our waitress was so nice and warm. She explained the menu to us- it's always changing and has different themes. They do keep some favorites- like the fries always on the menu. There were definitely a ton of regulars here and a reservation is highly recommended! Easy to do on open table! read more

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Stopped in spur of the moment best Cosmo. Food looked great, but we didn't get a chance to have any.

We had never even noticed this little place until the owners of our favorite restaurant suggested we try it. This was our second experience here and we absolutely love it! The service is impeccable and presentation is over the top, but the food is where they get you -- everything tastes absolutely amazing. Cooked to the correct done-ness and served at the correct temperatures, this place rivals some of the best restaurants I've been to in NYC! Don't forget to order dessert. We mentioned we planned to share and they split our Turtle Cake in the kitchen so that we each got our own plate. (They toast the pecans and make their own caramel to drizzle over the ice cream!) Both times we were seated in their Lounge, but we plan to make a reservation for the dining room on our next visit and will update this review then. read more

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Very nice ambience, excellent food (not your typical fried shoreline food), attentive service. Conveniently located on US Rt 1, just east of Westbrook Center. read more

This has become one of our favorite spots. Advice... get there early. Once they open, bar seats get taken quickly. It is popular and patrons are friendly so chances are you will chat with someone near you and be able to see what others are eating to help you decide. The most popular item appears to be the pommels frites which rightly should be!!! They are perfect crisp fries with a hint of rosemary. The dipping aioli which is a Mayo base is addicting. A single order easily can be shared although you may not want to!!! The onion soup is unique with a deep flavor and layers of onions both cooked and crisped. The tuna wasabi tartare nachos are fabulous, spicy yet crisp and fresh tasting. The menu has something for everyone. Light bites, tapas and full meals changing seasonally. The cocktails and bartenders are second to none. Always great conversation and mixology. read more

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Big mistake going here tonight. We followed them on Instagram and always see them busy but what a let down... Apps - burratta special.... Burratta served over a tomato/cucumber/onion salad. This salad was made clearly earlier today and refrigerated because the tomatoes were incredibly mealy. Veal chop special - very strong (and burnt) parmesan crust with very heavy and cheesy corn risotto. Raw Squash salad which was meant it seems to cut the richness didn't quite work in my opinion with the dish. Monkfish - bacon completely overpowered the monkfish and the pea risotto cake it sat on top of was burnt on the bottom also. Nice place inside and it was pretty busy but the experience didn't match the hype whatsoever. Nothing seemed to just work with every dish we had. read more

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Made a reservation on open table. Requested a table in the bar When we got there we told the person at the host stand. He turned out to be the GM. We told him we had a reservation and we would sit in the bar. His response was "next time , don't make a reservation. Both my husband and I have been in the restaurant business for 40 years. My response to a patron, would have been " of course, let me show you the way". Curse me after if you want , but treat your guests better We have eaten there multiple times and thoroughly enjoyed everything. This time the food was mediocre and horribly overpriced. Maybe it was an off night for all , but that is never the guests fault read more

After going my 4th time now for a nice dinner the service, food and atmosphere were all perfect. Very personable staff, that all work in tangent to ensure your dining experience is what you pay for you, and although the price might drive you away you will leave full and happy. read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - Egg rolls and Fried Macaroni - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

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We had an excellent dinner at this restaurant (October 2021). The food was wonderful, I highly recommend the sliders if you have a small appetite, and the service was the BEST we have experienced since early 2020! Cost is a bit expensive, but we are on vacation and in this case I truly believe " you get what you pay for." I mentioned to our waiter that we last ate at this restaurant 20 years ago when we lived in Madison. We try to come back to the CT shoreline as often as possible now that we live in Ohio and we will have at least one meal here the next time we visit! read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

This review is not about the great service. This review is not about the fabulous filet. This review is not about the liberal pour from the attentive bartender. This review is not about the TVs in the bar - gladly changed to my request of the PGA golf event. This review IS about the pommes frites, french fries, little perfectly fried potato pieces or whatever you prefer to call them. Someone, that I trust for their foodie knowledge, recommended the Cafe Routier fries to me so, I had to give them a try. OMGeeeee. They are simple. They are perfect. They are simply perfect. Golden crispy outside, creamy inside. Twice fried? I think so..... Lightly dusted with flakes of salt. No ketchup within miles - the way god intended. With a little vessel of aioli - egg, oil, lemon juice - light and just the correct amount of lemony brightness. Absolute perfection. Just go and try them yourself - do not take my word for it. A photo to support. read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

I was visiting family in the area, and found Cafe Routier on this site. I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of food, the ambience in a fairly simple layout, and for a dinner crowd it was rather quiet and easy to communicate with my table partner. Overall I was extremely pleased with my meal! And I thought the value of the evening was excellent! read more

I didn't expect the bill to be so expensive, I should've left the moment I realized the ambient. Food was tasteless, servers were antipathetic and the room stank. Never coming back again. They need a better service. read more

Amazing food, great service. Tuna was the highlight of the meal. Muscles were fresh, scallops cooked perfectly read more

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Well we hadn't been back for a little while because we don't live in the area however upon our return I must say that I am disappointed in a big way. First of all the portion sizes are cut in half now I don't mind if they want to raise the prices adjust some- as food and labor costs are always increasing and that's understandable but the cut the portion sizes in half is ridiculous. I also noticed that the quality went down. Basically we had three appetizer size portions three beers and one glass of wine for $105. Needless to say I won't be returning anytime soon there are many other good restaurants locally that you don't have to walk away starving for over $100. It was good while it lasted. read more

On March 29, 2023 Randy Hodge, the manager was rude and condescending to me as a customer because I told him the truffle fries were soggy and limp. His response was that's what potatoes do. I disagreed and said that fries should be crispy and not limp. He was very argumentative and rude to me as a customer. He ruined our dining experience with my two friends. They could not believe his response as a manager of a fine dining restaurant. Remember Randy that customers matter every day and should be treated with respect. Listen to customers complains to make your food better without an argument From the manager.. read more

Food is usually very good. Tim at the bar is a gem. The "manager" is another story. I was told he is the cousin or something like that of the owner. He is rude, unfriendly and downright obnoxious. Apparently he is only cordial with some regulars. Hard to believe a restaurant of this caliber would keep him in a position of authority. Clueless jerk who is not doing the restaurant any favors. read more

Overall, we had a very good experience! Staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and prompt throughout the meal. Ambience is pretty traditional, but it is spacious and clean. Spring menu had some great choices, and the Gulf of Mexico dishes offered a wide range of options as well. We had tuna nachos with mango salsa--excellent; fried oysters--very dense and bready, but crisp; pea risotto--surprisingly soupy, but tasty nonetheless; southern seafood cake--excellent; mango sorbet--excellent; and creme brulee--excellent. Our wine recommendation was a little sweeter than expected, but worked well with the range of dishes we had. We both left satisfied, but not blown away. The name made me expect a lot more French that was offered, but I like the seasonality of the menu. If I could do 4 1/2 stars, I would--we'll definitely be back. read more

Came here last night to celebrate my best friend's birthday. She had been here before and wanted to come back for the rhubarb crisp. Sadly, it was off the menu but we were able to find other things to make us happy. We sat on the lounge/bar side and had a comfy corner booth. It was pretty empty when we got there, filled up a little during our meal, and then emptied out again before we left. She noted how unusual it was so be so empty even on a Sunday evening. Upon sitting, we were handed a drink menu (we declined drinks), the lounge menu, and the dinner menu. I kept flipping back and forth between the two and was seriously conflicted. The dinner menu had three sections - a regional menu (currently Charleston), a seasonal menu (currently Spring), and the standard menu. Each had 4 or so small plate options and then another 4ish entree options. The small plates were each around $10 and the entrees closer to $25-30. After picking our way through a bowl of fresh, warm bread with olive oil, we started off by sharing a mug of their famous fries. Even knowing I had more food coming, I wanted to eat every last fry. DEFINITELY order these if you're coming here. I ordered two small plates - the brussel sprouts (divine, with a sweet glaze) and the fish tacos. I brought home 75% of my brussel sprouts and one of the two fish tacos because I was so full. My friend ordered the lettuce wrap and the broccoli rabe, and brought home most of the broccoli rabe for her husband. Our total bill was only $49, which was shockingly low to me considering how much food we ate and the quality of the food. Not drinking helped keep the cost low, but still. We didn't end up ordering dessert both because we were stuffed to the gills and because she had a birthday cake back at her house. In hindsight we could have each ordered one small plate, shared the fries, and still had enough food - but I'm so glad we totally pigged out instead! I'm hoping to start coming here a few times a year so I can experience the rotating menu. read more

Cafe Routier, Bistro & Lounge - Brussel sprouts - New American Near Me - Westbrook, Connecticut

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Service is outstanding. Got to try the Thai steamed muscles and the fries with aioli - both are terrific. Also had the scallops and they were amazing. A must go. read more

Fantastic food, nice ambiance. The Brussels sprouts were $, Red Pepper Hummus and Scallops too!