Effortless elegance, timeless flavor, and a touch of Paris overlooking stunning waterfront views in Vermillion! Every bite and sip was perfection with the ultimate attention to detail! Phenomenal service with 2 wait staff! Jackets required inside for all men, no flip flops. We will absolutely be back! Street parking, valet and dock slips a Cocktails Espresso Martini Francois The French Blonde Cabernet Dinner Amuse-Bouche Cocktail de Crevettes Soupe a L'Oignon Gratinee Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup with Duck Confit Assiette de Coquillage Au Basilic Beef Wellington read more

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CHEZ Francois - Vermilion Our weekend experience along Lake Erie brought to mind several very nice dining experiences at CHEZ Francois - Vermilion. We fully endorse the dress code and expect other fine dining establishments to embrace: Gentlemen, Jackets Please "Recent phone call: She then asked if we ever have problems with customers and the dress code. I told her about a young lady who came in wearing flip-flops accompanied by her parents. We also felt her jean skirt and a tank top were inappropriate in our indoor dining room and disrespectful to our other diners. When I confronted her about her casual attires she began to cry and explained that it was her parents wedding anniversary. I relented and allowed them to sit in the dining room. I explained to the PD writer that occasionally circumstances dictate that we give the benefit of the doubt to avoid an embarrassing confrontation." We have excellent memories of Dayton and Cincinnati dining history which offered more than several fine dining experiences. We deplore the current practice of casualness and the proliferation of Sports Bars. We have delighted in several evenings of dining at CHEZ Francois - Vermilion. One consideration is Chef D'Amico's Prix Fixe Menu Six-Course Menu · $175 Per Person Wine Pairing · $75 Per Person 3oz per course Perhaps, Fruit Wood Smoked Salmon & Peekytoe Crab Timbale, Dill Remoulade Sauce Maine Diver Sea Scallop & Himalayan Morel Mushrooms En Croûte Bronzini Poêlé, Gremolata, Sauce au beurre de Verjus Seared Bronzini filet served over caramelized fennel and roasted fingerling potatoes, finished with a Plugrá Meyer lemon Verjus butter sauce and Gremolata and pickled fennel. Filet de Flétan, Croûte à la Truffe, Sauce au Beurre aux Herbes North Atlantic Halibut filet, sautéed, truffle and pine nut herb crust, grilled artichoke hearts, roasted leek mousseline, sauced with an herb butter sauce. Plateau de Fromages for Two, Montrachet Goat, St. Angel, English Stilton and Èpoisses, dates, Membrillo (quince paste) and almond/fig cake. In our view it is well worth planning a trip to Lake Erie to enjoy CHEZ Francois. read more

Chez Francois Restaurant - French Near Me - Vermilion, Ohio

I have been wanting to dine at ChezFrançois Restaurant for a solid 10 years but I've not had a chance to do so. I was finally able to dine here in July 2025 and the hype is real. This place is fantastic. It's not quite in Cleveland, but I would say it is top one or two within a short drive of downtown Cleveland. I dined in the main dining area and I was quite surprised that the interior is very rustic and it's a very old building. There are exposed brick walls and brick flooring, which was something I did not expect but is very unique. I do respect that they have a dress code and a reservation system so people off the street who aren't dressed to impress cannot just walk in. The service was spectacular and we were always taken care of every bit of the dining experience. Our dining crew stopped at the Touché bar to have a drink prior to dinner. Overall, our dinner experience was four hours, but it was well worth the time spent. A menu it was spectacular. The menu is huge and it really takes a long time to figure out what you'd like. It would be a good idea to check out some reviews with pictures so you can get an idea of this wonderful menu. read more

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The food is always fantastic and Matt always takes the time to talk to his guests and to get to know them. The attention to detail is impeccable. read more

My wife and I ate here for our anniversary dinner. The staff is very kind and knowledgeable on the drinks and food menu and specific ingredients and how the flavors come together. Our server did great offering suggestions that were very tasty. We sat outside by the water on a nice sunny day. Loved that atmosphere and vibe. Only reason I slightly downgraded atmosphere was because of the amount of flys while you're trying to eat. Big drink menu with lots of good sounding drinks. Our waiter also suggested a wine and brought one for us to sample, to which we enjoyed and ordered a glass of it later. Large menu with mostly seafood options. I'm not a big seafood eater, but was easily able to find some menu items without seafood if you also aren't into fish. They started out by providing us a complimentary app, maybe because it was our anniversary. Not something I'd typically order but was very flavorful and good. Apps mostly have seafood in them, and I was adventurous and tried the lobster ravioli. Very impressive flavors. For dinner, I ordered the beef Wellington and my wife got a veal dish with scallops. Well prepared, fresh, with good flavoring. My only constructive criticism on the food would be recommending more seasoning on the fillet. We opted not to order a dessert because we were full but our waiter brought out a complimentary cherry chocolate moose because of the anniversary celebration. Portion sizes are smaller and the dishes are pricey, but you are getting top tier food if you're celebrating anything special. Staff takes there time which won't rush you. Gives you time between each and every course. If you do drinks, apps, and entry, you'll probably be there for 2 hours. I would recommend them for special occasions! read more

Chez Francois Restaurant - French Near Me - Vermilion, Ohio

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Extremely slow service and below mediocre food that is extremely overpriced. We started off with their amuse bouche--why include an amuse if you can't execute? It tasted like a canned garbanzo bean salad and instead of the foam they touted, it ended up being a gloppy soup on top. The actually corn soup with scallops we ordered was decent. Everything after that was downhill. The fried artichokes were very soggy and tasted sour, our stuffed zucchini blossoms just tasted soggy and bland and had very little lobster. The beef Wellington was okay tasting--unfortunately the bottom of the puff pastry was soggy and one of the two sauces was completely flavorless and had a cornstarch film that developed which was extremely unappetizing to look at and even worse to eat. If we were to ever come back, it would to just get a drink. read more

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I think this place deserves the rating they have. If you come here, I recommend sitting in the riverfront area. You get a view of the river and it feels very private. The food was great. We all got the beef wellington and I see why it is everyone's favorite. Service was a 8/10 but it doesn't deter me from coming back. read more

I don't have time to explain how good this place is. From the service to the location (inches from the river), it's simply amazing. There's nothing on the menu you won't be talking about for weeks. Just go, you will pay for what you get, but never feel ripped off. It's the only place I've visited every single time I've been home in the last 25 years. Ok, there's one other place, but it's near Cleveland and a totally different vibe. Get the lobster ravioli, beef wellington and try to save room for them when the bread comes out. read more

Great restaurant!! We loved the food and atmosphere. Our reservation was at 4:30 and we had to hurry to get out by 7:45, so be prepared for a longer experience. We had a show at 8 so we weren't able to get any dessert. read more

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Tucked away on the lake in a sleepy little town this restaurant in so special. I had dinner here the weekend of my bachelorette and it was perfect. The cocktails were amazing as was the food. The staff were so welcoming. I'm dying to visit again. read more

Chez Francois Restaurant - The special dessert they gave me for my bachelorette weekend - French Near Me - Vermilion, Ohio

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Absolutely outstanding food, service, surroundings. This restaurant cannot be topped!!!!! The only issue we had as a group was navigating the many steps required for entrance, exit and visiting the restrooms. Wonderful restaurant and staff. I could not recommend more highly. read more

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What a lovely gem in the charming lakeside town of Vermilion, OH. Celebrating my birthday and on a friend's referral, we had an amazing dining experience. I highly recommend this pricey but well worth the price bistro! Food, service, and charming decor hit all the buttons. read more

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This was a birthday celebration for us. What a wonderful evening! We have been wanting to have a special meal here for sometime and it did not disappoint! The ambience was really beautiful and charming. It felt like we were actually in France. The service was impeccable. The food was excellent. We both had the Beef Wellington. It was so tender and delicious!I had the lobster bisque and it was amazing! Full of lobster claw meat and the pastry on top was light and flaky. We will definitely have to come back again read more

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I love a lot of restaurants in northeastern Ohio, but this one stands above the rest. The service is impeccable. The patio is beautiful with views of the river and beautiful decor with Persian rugs, pictures, live plants, and comfortable chairs. The drink menu was endless and our cocktails were fantastic ( Hugo spritz and Negroni). Our appetizer (lobster stuffed zucchini blossoms were perfectly cooked) and our entrees were delicious as well, but what I really loved were the extra touches like the aperitif and dessert drinks that were served with our dessert. We were so glad we tried a new place for our anniversary. Can't wait to go back! read more

Chez Francois Restaurant - French Near Me - Vermilion, Ohio

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If the server was doing his job, the food would not have been warm. Not a chef problem as the food was excellent taste. Not a bar service problem if orders were put in. 3+ hours service way too long. Long gaps between server activity, requests for drinks forgotten more than twice. Not worth the wait and poor service no matter how good the food. read more

Great special occasion spot! Highly recommend a riverfront reservation. Even on an 80 degree night, the breeze off the water was enjoyable. I am not a big meat lover so I often get salads and vegetarian options. I didn't see much available so I asked and I'm so glad I did! The veggie risotto was AMAZING. French onion soup has beef stock but was also tasty. Even had a bite of my husband's filet and loved it Still drooling this morning. Great service, expansive cocktail list (we had a few ). Splurge and go here at least once. $250 including tip for a few hours on a summer night to celebrate 13 years of marriage was a great idea. Thanks, hubs. read more

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We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at Chez Francois last night. From the moment we got to our table we knew this was going to be a memorable experience. The atmosphere was cozy and elegant--overlooking the Vermilion river Service was exceptional from start to finish. Dave is a wealth of knowledge and Max's attention to detail is amazing. Both were attentive and upbeat. Absolutely outstanding food. Every plate that arrived at our table looked like a picture, thank you Chef John! Dessert, coffee and after dinner drinks were the perfect end to a perfect dinner. Thank you Matt Mars and the entire crew at Chez Francois! read more

The food is excellent. Service is flawless. Chez Francois is wonderful for special occasions and for any occasion. The restaurant offers different venues with high quality food to ensure an epic often personal experience. Weather permitting, their outside venue is delightful. read more

6:30 pm reservations. 3 hrs 45 minutes from start to finish. The service charge for credit cards is tacky AF. I was there 20 years ago - tonight reminded me why it's been so long. Seems to be an establishment riding on its past reputation. The prochutto (sp?) was phenomenal. The French fries were lukewarm and soggy. The head server seemed disinterested or stretched too thin. Took a long, long time for anything bread-related to reach the table. I had a filet Mignon - it was meh. Splitting a check down the middle was met with a bit of resistance from head server. I won't get into details as I don't want to "out" my party. CF needs a breath of fresh air, a less complicated menu, and a faster kitchen. read more

Service was so slow 3 hours for dinner. Food average but overpriced would not go back read more

There is a reason that you're asked by every employee you encounter during your first visit, if you're there to celebrate anything. Is it your birthday? Your anniversary? You're asked because Chez Francois is categorically one of the best restaurants in the midwest, and certainly the top 5 in the state of Ohio, and it is the kind of place you want to take someone when you want them to feel extra special. Us? We weren't there to celebrate anything other than being alive, and after our dinner we have decided to come back often, to normalize the experience, to treasure the quality of food and service, and to enjoy ourselves as much as we possibly can while we're still upright and clear headed. We'll keep the birthday and anniversary dinners to places we don't want come back to too often. Chez Francois is somewhere we'd love to eat at weekly, if only we could justify the cost. Everything on the menu is expertly and classically prepared, using as much freshness and quality as you would hope for. The service we experienced was on some next level hospitality you would associate with truly fine dining, which this is. We've been talking about going for years. It's been on our radar as soon as we learned about. We've KNOWN we needed to go, but that 1.5 hour drive from Toledo to Vermillion always made it feel too out of reach. Now that we've visited, we're going to plan ahead, get a hotel room, and just enjoy the weekend in town as frequently as our calendars and wallets will allow. This restauraunt is perfection as far as we're concerned. read more

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Dinner on 11/13. Amazing as always. Terrific owner, wait staff and kitchen staff. We've been to many really great restaurants and Chez Francois is clearly on top. Already looking forward to our next visit in December! read more

Service was slow. Plan to be trapped for the night. 6:30pm reservation and couldn't leave until 10:50pm. Couldn't even order dessert because there wasn't any time. First cocktail didn't arrive until 7:20pm. Just terrible service. Had to ask them to correct the check three times. Just awful. Food was meh - nothing special. The slow service just ruins the entire experience. If you're thinking about going, try elsewhere. read more

This is killing me... I have been struggling over this review for more than a week now. Let me first tell you Chez Francois has been one of my absolute favorite Northern Ohio restaurants of all time. I absolutely would rank them with my top Four. Chez Francois - Il Venetian - Marble Room - Cru Uncorked; not necessarily in that order. My wife and I have been there many times over the past many years and it has always been so consistently excellent I just never give it a thought. When we desire a night of fine dining it is always on the top of my list. I can not fathom ever giving them less than 5 stars. It would be almost impossible... we have too much history... too much exceptional history. I will tell you right now before I write anything else; you must go to Chez Francois at least once. If you do not have the opportunity to leave the Greater Cleveland area, and are a fan of French cuisine, and fine dining. Do yourself a favor... just go. Okay, now the difficult part. I say all this strictly as a comparison to all my previous experience with this FINE establishment. OK, so we arrived on a beautiful late summer night. The breeze off Lake Erie was perfect. The temperature was mid-70's. Sunset was gorgeous. The Vermillion Lagoon was fabulous as always. Even though the dining room is beautiful, when ever the weather is like that I absolutely adore being outside on the back deck overlooking the water... it's heaven. The young ladies that greeted us were pleasant as always and set the perfect mood. We were seated right away in my favorite spot on the back deck. The view across the lagoon at the magnificent homes is always inspiring. The boats meandering back and forth through the water is so very relaxing, I love it. Per usual, each table always has two servers and both fine young men showed up immediately and introduced themselves. Nicely dressed, pleasing personalities, good sense of humor, well spoken. There was nothing unusual going on here. This was going to be another excellent evening at Chez Francois'. One little idiosyncrasy that I have come to know and expect when eating on the rear deck is the position of the backrest on the metal chairs. The chairs are very comfortably cushioned and easily good for 3 hours. However for some reason the metal back has always hit me in exactly the wrong spot and becomes uncomfortable quickly. Not a problem. I simply ask our server for a back cushion and immediately 4 perfect leather cushions show up... one for each of us. Problem solved very nicely. We ordered from an excellent wine and beverage menu. I had a nice Super Tuscan and my wife had a very pleasant Sauvignon Blanc. Our primary server explained the evening specials to us and said he would give us some time to relax and settle in. A few minutes later we placed our appetizer order and relaxed. So far, so good. A short while later the appetizers appeared and the presentation was beautiful as always. I had a "Cocktail de Crevettes" (shrimp) followed by "Cream of Ohio Corn Soup, Corn Nut Crusted Sea Scallop", they were both marvelous. My wife had "Artichaut à l'Alouette" (Artichokes)... first mistake. At the first bite she bit into a tough outer leaf that was impossible to chew. It was followed by another. Terrible, but anyone can make a mistake. This was certainly not enough to ruin, or even put a dent in our evening. We moved on. A short while later we ordered our entrees. I ordered a very nice Veal scaloppini with truffles and my wife ordered the evening special Walleye with peaches. Her walleye was excellent. My veal was tender and nicely presented but much too salty... second mistake. This was completely unanticipated. I have never experienced a poorly prepared meal in this establishment - ever. Okay, easy to overlook this too. The evening rolled on and everything was very pleasant. We truly enjoyed our evening. Time came at the end of the meal for our coffee and dessert. The coffee arrived and 3 of the four of us were served when suddenly our server was interrupted by the hostess. She seemed to be having a problem with someone's bill. He suddenly took the paperwork and moved off to another table to deal with the issue. As he did so he placed the coffee pot on the "floor". On the floor! He dealt with the issue in a few minutes and moved on with his other responsibilities, forgetting to return and fill the final cup on our table. When I asked if I was going to be served he got a bit flustered, searched for the coffee pot, finding it on the floor. He retrieved it and proceeded to pour my coffee. Really, from the floor, where anything could have fallen into it? No thank you please... third, and final mistake. We did not order dessert. Finished up and paid our bill. I still can not believe how disappointed I was. I have since decided our server was simply overbooked. He just had too many tables to be responsible for at one time. It's the only plausible explanation. We'll see. I'll be back. read more

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A very romantic and sophisticated dining experience where the owner and staff pay close attention to every detail. The food is excellent and level of service you receive is top notch! read more

3 of us "diners club" friends made a reservation for the patio on a Saturday night We were looking forward to this night after the 1.5 hr drive to get there! 5 stars all around, service, food and atmosphere. You pay the price but we loved it Amuse Bouche was a tomato gazapacho with a goat cheese foam and it was the perfect start to our meal We ordered artichoke app which was one of our fav of the night Salads with blue cheese that may be the best blue I've ever had. Creamy, tangy, rich Lobster bisque and corn soups were a tie. We enjoyed them both We had lobster ravioli, strip steak special with a peppercorn sauce and the beef Wellington All were wonderful. The only tiny mark on the whole did list was my strip. It was good...not great. I had had better steaks with more flavor prepared top notch Not complaining about this steak it was very good. The beef Wellington was amazing Desserts were bananas foster, cherries Francois and chocolate gateau. Each dessert is paired with a wine or port The cherries were my favorite The service may be the thing that is the very best part on top of all other areas being exceptional Friendly, relaxed, polished and professional Our server paced our night so perfectly. We never felt rushed and food showed up at exactly the right time. Always had what we needed without asking Cannot wait to make another time to go back! read more

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From the minute I made the reservation until we left the restaurant everything was perfect! The food, service and ambiance are all executed perfectly with great timing. It's expensive but worth every penny. Only downsides are parking & it was challenging for me with limited mobility. read more

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I proposed to my girl there the food was beyond comparison, the marriage not so hot, was cold and distant, No more wife but I will eat at the resturant...... Mike read more

Four of us had dinner here. I don't understand the high ratings. The food was very disappointing. I ordered a side of foie gras and a side of risotto along with my halibut dinner. Very average. The service was also poor and it was a slow night. We had to constantly look to find where he was because he was non-attentive. The meal for four of us came to around $450. I knew it would be expensive but was willing to pay for a high quality dining experience. I will not go back. Sad, I really had high hopes for this restaurant and wanted to like it. read more

This place is amazing. One of the best restaurants in the state. There are three areas to dine: outside by the water, inside the dining room where a suit jacket is required, or up in the bar area (this area is called Touché). We chose to sit in the bar area. It's a very cool design/decor! And casual attire is permitted. The food is expensive, but amazing. We splurged and just ordered without caring about the price. Even so, we didn't pay any more than we would have paid at a restaurant like Morton's or Ruth Chris. They have the best scallops I have ever tasted. We ordered the scallops appetizer to share, then I ordered a second one just for myself! My wife went with the filet. As good or better than any of the highly recommended steakhouse is in Ohio. Two fabulous soup choices are the lobster bisque or the seasonal Cream of Ohio corn soup. The menu has a wide variety of traditional dishes, meats, and seafood. We can't wait to go back again and sample more. This is the best restaurant in Vermilion and maybe even all of Ohio! read more

Chez Francois Restaurant - The upstairs bar area. Casual attire is fine. - French Near Me - Vermilion, Ohio

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Outstanding as usual. We celebrated my 60 th birthday and every detail was considered. The menu had my name on it which was a delightful surprise. The food was superb! There were four of us. One of us has a dairy allergy and her allergy was not an issue for them at all. The ambience is always so cozy and romantic. We were seated right by the windows like my husband asked for. It was a perfect evening !! read more

Second time visiting was wonderful. We sat on the patio and our server was very kind and knowledgeable. Portions are large and they take care with presentation. Wine bottle prices are a little over the top... we got one of the "cheaper" wines for $60!! It did not disappoint though!! The server even gave us a surprise sample of Chardonnay to pair with our appetizer and she gave several in our party extra tastes of port during the dessert round. Can't eat here every week... or month for that matter, but it's a fun treat every couple of years or so. The food was very good, especially the pea soup; and the little amuse-bouche was quite tasty. The wine list is impressive. I had the fish and it was a HUGE portion. We left stuffed, albeit slightly broke...very expensive! The only thing that annoyed me was that we made a reservation yet still had to wait almost a half hour for our table. The waiter was super friendly and joked around with us a bit, which was nice and made the atmosphere a little less hoity-toity. I was very annoyed with the water boy who dripped water on my lamb-skin leather jacket I bought in Italy. Now it has a water spot forever. read more

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Service was spectacular! Even the fellow regulars had sparked conversation making the atmosphere overall comfortable and very welcoming. We had planned this for a birthday dinner- the staff customized the menus and wrote on the plates for us, making it a personalized experience! If you have a curious or refined palate I would recommend this restaurant firstly. Courses were beautiful, delicious, and well portioned. read more

I loved it. I could not think of one possible reason for a four star review because they really were just that good. Our waiter was amazing. We went here for our anniversary dinner and it felt so special. We got a wonderful table. The place was really clean and the scenery was just beautiful. Our waiter was phenomenal. He was very attentive. He knew his wine selections well and you can tell he was genuinely nice. Our food was delicious as well. I'll be posting pictures but my husband could not get over how amazing their lobster was. Seriously, he could not stop talking about it which is how I know he really enjoyed the place. They are very good with paying attention to small details and honestly, I can't think of anything they could have really improved on. We will definitely be coming back here again. read more

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Great classic French spot, one of the best restaurants in the Cleveland area for sure. Everything we tried was excellent and the service was prompt and courteous. read more

We were celebrating a dear friends birthday. We were very touched by the personalized menu with his name on it the food was outstanding. So nice get the delicious spinach salad and squash appetizer, too. Waitress made great recommendations and was so accommodating. Trulia special event for all 4 of us! read more

Best place in all of Ohio for a find meal. Seriously. Maybe better than anywhere on earth actually

Chez Francois has a reputation for being one of Ohio's classiest restaurants. There's a very good reason. Few places still institute a dress code, offer true white glove style waiter service and do limited seatings per night. Snag your reservations on Resy as far in advance as humanly possible. If you're hoping for outdoor seating on the riverfront, you need to call them on the phone and ask for it far ahead of time, as I don't know anyone whose figured this out on Resy. If you come to Chez Francois, do expect to be here longer than you think. Because they offer limited seatings per night, it's not the fastest service in the world, but you're really here for the experience. They have an excellent wine and cocktail list and the chef often sends out a delicious amuse-bouche. Stay here and have a drink (or two). I can't attest if this is something you want to do during COVID, but pre-COVID I always found my experiences here to be a pleasant wait. For dinner, I recommend the Assiette de Coquillage au Basilic, which in basic terms is a delicious seafood medley with pasta. Some may have hesitations about ordering a seafood medley in a non-ocean coastal town, but the quality is outstanding. Also try the lobster bisque as a starter. So few places exist like Chez Francois, that it's worth the special occasion to experience this fabulous restaurant in Vermilion, a gem of a town. read more

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Probably one of my guilty pleasures of a restaurant....service as always is impeccable. Food is delicious. Some must haves: lobster bisque (rich, creamy, decadent). Mushroom soup (also rich and creamy and flavorful). The fish special was amazing. Beef wellington was also delicious (although i wish it was served with some sort of starch....). I have also come here in the past for their wine dinner which was amazing. The flourless chocolate cake was exceptional. Salads were fresh. We got three appetizers between the three of us and they were all delicious (zucchini blossoms w like a lobster cake stuffing, puff pastry thing w lobster and cheese and an artichoke cheese thing). I'm not sure which was my favorite. read more

We were traveling through Ohio on our way to NYC We ordered tomato salad with tuna which was dry as a bone with on thinly sliced tomato and coquille Saint Jacques, which house in a should have been dr3 really no sauce with mashed potatoes baby scallops in a reduced wine sausage, instead it was 2 large scallops with no sauce. Couldn't eat it My spouse had 5 Oz filet which was floating in a watery mashed potatoes and lots of oily butter We are accustomed to Michelin rates restaurants but this place was overly expensive and it felt like they were putting-on-airs and gouging customers Would never go back read more