10/10 from my best friend and I! We decided to do dinner here on a girls trip and were so impressed. We got the last reservation of the night at 8:15pm and from the moment we arrived, the ambiance and service was great. The vibe / decor was calm and cool. We were seated by the kitchen, which I liked that it was open, but it was pretty bright! That's the only barely negative thing I could say. We got the cheese fondue, steak frites, gnocchi, espresso martini, mocktail & red wine and everything was delicious. I'd recommend making a reservation if you plan to go because it was packed but clearly for good reasons. It's a fan favorite for locals and visitors. Good pricing, cute bar area. We definitely will be back! read more

Chez Rosa - Cheese fondue - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

The service was really good. However, they were training a new server and seemed a little uptight about trying to provide a high end experience. I felt the ambiance was a little off, but I think their new space will be great. Food was okay. I will definitely try again once they move. read more

Full disclosure/context: The last proper French meal we had was in Brasserie Prince in the grand Balmoral Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh in late August. Setting, service, food was 5 out of 5 from the moment we stepped in out of the rain. Fresh Scottish ingredients, French cooking = perfection. But how could that not be in the back of our minds as we entered Chez Rosa, which is not an inexpensive menu? Food: Solid. Our table had a cheese board with chicken liver pate, gnocchi, orzo, steak frites. Everything was decent; no one was particularly impressed. My wife's gnocchi was impressively light, almost fluffy. Unfortunately, the delicata squash in the dish seemed to be pickled and was so strong that it overpowered everything; while a bit of acid/sharpness can enliven a mellow dish like gnocchi, it should not be so strong it becomes the sole flavor. My steak was cooked properly medium rare. Frites were quite crisp. Mayonnaise tasted out of jar/tub, not house-made. I watched other steak frites arrive at tables around me with a pat of herb butter on the steak (as noted on the menu). My steak arrived with none. The fault for this is also on the server, who should have noticed before serving. Which brings me to... Service: Chaotic. Untrained servers for the supposed standard of restaurant they're working in; our server would have been much more at home at, say, Applebee's, from overall "vibe" and knowledge/ability to clothing and presentation. Front-of-house needs a lot of training and strong leadership. Ambiance: Bright. Sterile. (This was in the extension off the main dining room.) Verdict: The food was not so specular that it outshined/made up for the service. For our money, if we're driving over to the Kennebunks, we'll stick with 50 Local. Chez Rosa is in its aspirational phase: it wants to be more than it is capable of being. Detail: + As we sat down and our water glasses were being filled, I said we'd like to start with the two cheeses and chicken liver pate board while we decided on our cocktails. My dining companions were starving and I wanted to get them some cheese and bread to go with the drinks. The waiter said "no," he couldn't do that because we had to order all our food at once. He'd be right back, he said, for our drink order. This set the tone for the quality of service. + Drink order: No locally made Roundturn Bimini Gin for my companion's gin and tonic. This is minor, I know, but also: Come on. (When the waiter repeated the order, he said, "Okay a tonic and gin." Odd, eh? Maybe it was his first night ever waiting tables?) I ordered a Sidecar. "What?" asked the waiter. I repeated myself and he wrote it down. "What's in that?" he asked. I said cognac and then...and then caught myself from listing the ingredients of a drink with three things in it that's been around for more than 100 years. "Your bartender should know," I said. "Okay," the waiter said, "I just need to know for when I enter it in," and pointed to the computer in the corner. What eventually arrived was easily the worst Sidecar I've ever had. + Cheese Board: Delivered with three plates and two cheese knives...and not a single word about what was on the board. If we'd asked for the menus to be returned, we could have read about the two cheeses ourselves. But there were also five other accoutrements on the board. One of my companions asked the server what one of the items was. "Ummmm," he replied, "I'll have to take that question up the ladder." He later returned and told us it was a kind of jellied honey; the flavor was subtle/interesting but the texture was like gelatin and left us wonderful: Why not just include some real local honey, which is abundant? + Mains: After our cocktails were finished, and the cheese board was cleared away, no one asked for our wine order. And then, bang, mains arrived. We then had to ask for wine, which arrived after we'd started our mains. No one ever asked if we'd like a second glass; so no one ordered one. + Dessert: We ordered the crème brûlée and the special, an odd butternut squash custard with some apples (I think) and oat streusel. And a decent tawny port. The desserts arrived. We then asked for silverware so we could eat it. Silverware was brought. The shell on the crème brûlée was solid, nicely caramelized, edging toward burnt, but not burnt. There was an apple compote of some sort at the bottom. If you are a "French restaurant" and you think you are going to "improve" on the classic crème brûlée by tweaking it, you'd better knock it out of the park because a very solid crème brûlée is a must/standard for any establishment claiming to be a French restaurant. This crème brûlée was meh. The special dessert, which a companion was "curious" about, was gross. I know it's autumn and everyone thinks they can do something edgy that's not just with apples or "pumpkin spice," but this butternut squash thing was ill conceived and ill executed. read more

Food was solid but took way too long. Server was good but kitchen was sloooow. Yelp reviews are excellent so maybe it wasn't their best night. read more

Absolutely amazing French restaurant in the Kennebunkport area of Maine. At first they put us in a back table near the open kitchen but once a few seats opened up at the bar, we snagged them. A better view from here! Another great selection of French wines. We weren't all that hungry so we shared a few dishes. Everything was so fresh and the staff were wonderful. We ended dinner with a Cortillo, a Mexican espresso drink it was delicious. read more

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Chez Rosa! What a gem!! We've lived in Kennebunk almost 3 years and had only recently heard of Chez Rosa (somehow?!) - so I was thrilled to make a reservation for my bday dinner. We were seated promptly at our reservation time and there was even a bonne anniversaire message on the table which was so cute. The woman who seated us (I think one of the owners) was extremely friendly and welcoming. They also offered a complimentary sparkling rose toast for my bday which I was so excited about The menu wasn't huge, which I appreciated. Our server gave some suggestions, which we happily took! The snap pea salad was fresh and delicious, and the pate grandmere (though not my cup of tea) was quickly devoured by my husband. The fish Wellington was so unique and delicious. It was very delicate and light (I assumed it would be heavier!) And the Parisienne gnocchi was cooked perfectly and were little nuggets of heaven. My white burgundy wine was a fantastic suggestion from our server - it paired with my fish just excellently. One thing worth noting- the dining room can be quite loud. It personally did not bother me at all- I liked the lively energy...but I know some people don't love that, so figured I'd share. If you're taking a trip to Kennebunkport any time soon you must make a reservation for Chez Rosa!!! read more

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Great food, great atmosphere, great service! We were celebrating our anniversary and started with the cheese fondue and the French onion soup. The French onion soup was among the best we have had! We both decided on getting their signature dish, the Pollack Wellington. It was delicious!! The crème brûlée was fantastic with the layer of blueberry compote on the bottom. A++ read more

Had a great dinner at Chez Rosa last night. Everything we ordered was excellent. We started with the petite assiette, chicken liver pate, two cheeses, figs, just well presented with grilled bread, absolutely delicious start on a fun meal. Next up was the white asparagus salad went nicely with the pollock Wellington. The lemon, caper sauce was so good with the pollock. We finished with the crème brûlée. We had their house red wine, went well with the every dish. The service was excellent, and has great ambience. I look forward to returning on my next visit. read more

Another amazing meal at Chez Rosa, Steak Fritz and Pan seared Chicken with Polenta, we always sit at the bar with reservations and enjoy meeting others. Gluten free selection is outstanding. read more

Chez Rosa - Chicken with polenta - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

I think this review may have been altered if I ate here in person, but this review is solely on takeout from this restaurant. Unfortunately, on my most recent trip here to visit we were so excited to finally try this restaurant, but they no longer have outdoor seating. As we were traveling with our dog, we had to do takeout. We arrived to pick our food up at the estimated ready time, and it was COLD! We tried the salad, the sea bass, fries and the gnocchi. The best dish we tried was the gnocchi. It had a delicious cream sauce and a little bit of different texture in the mix of the sauce. Unfortunately it did need to be reheated in the microwave on arrival, but was great after that. We were not impressed with the fish. Cold fish has the worst texture. Even after we put in the microwave, it still had a tough texture and was not appetizing. The fries had lost all texture since they had lost their warmth. I definitely think I would return here but only for in person dining. read more

Chez Rosa - Fries - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Fantastic ambiance in a tucked away locale in kennebunkport. Excellent service from a knowledgeable staff. Small but vibrant menu with items that are prepared with care and precision. We were a party of 8 and when the entrees were ready all of our entrees came out together by several waitstaff at the same time and delivered at your seating simultaneously and correctly!!!!Love that!!!! None of that awkwardness when you are waiting for all of your guests to be served and the waiters do not know who got what even though they took the order;-) We we're celebrating a bday and the waitress served a complimentary glasses of chilled rosé for the table! So gracious and unexpected...plus there was a Joyeux Anniversarie sign on the table. Made our bday gal feel extra special. Long story shor: charming ambiance of delicious food from owners and staff who are foodies and care! read more

It may have been an off night but the vibe was very uncomfortable. We were a bit early but hope to catch a drink at the bar. The mixologists were way overwhelmed and there was nowhere to stand. Finally we scored a couple of seats at the bar, still a very uptight vibe from the bartender. Wanted to leave at this point but now that table was ready. Server was great and food was terrific. In retrospect there is a very nice space outside when you arrive and that would make a good overflow area for cocktails read more

Paul B. We had dinner here several times in the past three years. The restaurant's welcoming has gone from bad to awful. We have never been seated on time, there are typically 8-12 people waiting to be seated in a tiny entrance hall. The Hostess is ambivalent as to reserved guests waiting (who had to apply their credit cards in case of a cancelation). The menu has been downsized each year which leaves about six entrees and two deserts to choose from in 2024. These entrees have never been updated so they look like the same old items. The air conditioning this summer was very poor which made for an uncomfortable evening. The food was good but not worth the lofty prices. There are many other excellent choices in town you should check out instead. read more

Staff is great and food is amazing every time we go. Perfect spot for celebrating any occasion or just a date night. I have dreams about the gnocchi it's so light and fluffy. My fiancé has raved about every item he's ordered on the menu. Fondue is fun for the group. Portion sizes are perfect, not too much but leaves you feeling full. Can't recommend them more!! read more

You can't call Chez Rosa the new restaurant in town anymore because of its widespread fan appeal by locals and tourists alike. This is a great addition to the Kennebunkport restaurant scene adding a taste of French provincial cooking. The restaurant has a bar, open kitchen concept and tables both in this room and another more intimate room. The restaurant in the main room can be a little loud given all the activity. The night I was there most recent there was a mix of people there, but it seemed like a lot of couples having a date night out which was nice to see. There were some larger groups and groups with young adults as well. The cocktails are creative and different and there is a selection of French wines to choose from. The menu has a variety of great offerings that they update as seasonal produce and offerings change. For food -- I had the French Onion soup as a starter which really highlighted the flavor of the onion and not overwhelming the dish with a beef stock. It was nicely balanced and a pleasant soup with of course plenty of yummy gruyere cheese melted on top. For my entrée, the Cod Wellington was a phenomenal new take on an old classic and is something that everyone in the area has been talking about (now on menu as Pollock Wellington - again they source locally fresh ingredients and will update as needed). The dish was accompanied by green beans almandine, farro, lemon fennel velouté which all complemented the dish perfectly. The velouté was light and bright with the lemon fennel flavors which is a perfect offset to the rich wellington preparation. The fish inside was perfectly cooked and moist. The pastry around the fish was also expertly cooked to perfection. The server was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and answered all questions. The server and other team members checked in on us frequently despite the restaurant being completely full. There was a good attention to service detail. The overall atmosphere is fun and a blend of casual and upscale. I saw some people a little more dressed up while others were dressed in typical resort wear, but both were equally appropriate for the setting. I can't wait to return and try more of their menu again the near future. If I can secure a reservation that is. :) read more

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I made an advance reservation for a Sunday night which proved to be fortuitous as the restaurant was almost entirely occupied on our arrival at 6:30PM. Our dinner proved to be a mixed bag with the $14 shared heirloom tomato salad with peaches, basil pistou and fromage blanc awarded first prize for being the most overpriced dish of the entire trip. Very little tomato and almost no pieces of peach. Can you hear me grown? Meanwhile entrees of Pollock Wellington with green beans almond, farro, and a lemon fennel veloute were well received by both attendees, those being me and my wife. Service throughout was quite good. read more

Chez Rosa - Pollock Wellington - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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What a magical meal. Cooking like this can usher in an age of world peace. Can someone gather all the fighting nations and send them to Chez Rosa? The dishes were expertly crafted, perfectly seasoned and stunningly beautiful. I've never had more fun eating than last night at Chez Rosa. We had the baguette, pate en croute (highly recommend), steak frite, beef borg, and the citrus cake. The dessert was a celebration of citrus. Run, don't walk, to this restaurant. The service was also exceptional and a perfect compliment to the amazing meal. The server was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The ambiance is understated, but elegant-a great place to take anyone. read more

We LOVED our experience dining at Chez Rosa for a winter getaway. We ate at the bar and the staff was lovely. They had great recommendations and really made us feel welcome and excited for our meal. The beef bourguignion was the perfect winter dish, and I really enjoyed the parisienne gnocchi as well. The cocktails were excellent and the atmosphere was perfect - the right blend of warm and romantic & exactly what you're looking for on a chilly winter's night. read more

Great food, amazing service and friendly staff. Went there for celebrating a birthday and they graciously offered a free glass of Rosé. Would definitely recommend! read more

I was coordinating a dinner for my parents 50th wedding anniversary, and I chose Chez Rosa for a dinner venue based on the great online reviews. It turned out to be an excellent choice! I had made my reservation over the phone and mentioned my parents milestone and when we got seated to our table the restaurant had provided a celebratory toast of rosé for all of us. There was also a little miniature chalkboard that had a French written message of happy 50th anniversary. It was a very nice touch and it made my parents feel very special. Thank you for that Chez Rosa! We had five people in our party and everyone loved their meals. I had the steak and it was cooked very well. The fries were particularly excellent. Some of our party had the chicken and were very pleased with the meal and how it was cooked. My dad had the risotto and thought it was great. We had French onion soup and bistro salads for starters and they were delicious. The restaurant has a very homey and pleasant atmosphere. The room we were in was welcoming and warm, not too crowded. Bathrooms were very clean. The service was extremely professional and friendly but also felt very personalized. I highly recommend Chez Rosa for date night or any occasion. I will definitely be going back again. Its fancy but still causal at the same time. Parking is a bit tricky in Kennebunkport and the restaurant does not have its own parking lot so word to the wise about that. We were a bit late getting all members of the party to the table because of the parking situation and the staff was very patient with us! I really appreciate them for that and for making my parents 50th anniversary a special night. read more

We were there for the second time last week, and the whole place was just amazing. The owner was super accomodating after we walked in without a reservation. The food was really, really good. I had the Steak frites, which for some reason is rarely great even at well received restaurant. It was really, really good at Chez Rosa. Further, our waiter was super nice. We asked him how long he had worked there, and he told us he followed the owner from another restaurant she was managing, and that her husband is the executive chef. We noticed that the chefs and sous-chefs were really polite and kind to each other (it's an open kitchen), which is rare. Overall I can't say enough good things about this place. The building is also super cool. A timber frame barn converted to an upscale continental theme. read more

This review is for takeaway. I really wish I could leave a better review. We've eaten in Chez Rosa restaurant, but I ordered curbside pickup this time. When I arrived, no curbside because they weren't answering the phone. I had to illegally park and go into the restaurant. Front desk was deserted but very nice once she appeared, and she put our items into two bags, one for cold charcuterie platter, the other for hot Parisien gnocchi pumpkin main dish. The gnocchi dish was cold & coagulated, with a strange vinegar-tart taste, too salty, just gross. Apart from the cheeses which we could have bought at Biddeford Nibblesford with a baguette from Boulangerie, the rest of the dinner was in the Kennebunk trash next day. read more

When my wife Karin and I were planning a vacation to Kennebunkport Maine, our friend told us "you have to try Chez Rosa, you will love it". And she was right. We visited Chez Rosa on our third night, loved it, made reservations for the next night. The ambiance, a former produce barn and a lovely dining room with plenty of windows, makes the place special. We were very comfortable and enjoyed our meals very much. Yazmin, our host was very charming, efficient and handled the dining rooms gracefully. She checked on all the tables, cleaned tables, brought food from the kitchen and interacted with the diners. She was interested to hear comments about the food and our experience. The servers were knowlegeable, social and professional. We interacted not only with our server but other servers as well. They made good suggestions and were very pleasant. The food here is delicious. Chef Kyle creates wonderful flavors, he shows creativity, sophistication and great technique. Everything we ate on both nights was delicious and we would order them again. We tried the oysters (shucked well, briny water intact, a nice red mignonette), the soft cheese from Burgogne (a rich, buttery soft cheese served with grilled baguette, marinated grapes and a berry jam), and the tasty French onion soup. Karin likes to order the French onion soup whenever it is on the menu and loved this version. So did I. We tried three entrees. The most unique was the Hake Wellington. I wasn't sure how that would work but it was very flavorable. The combination of the pastry and the cooked fish was really special and the lemon mustard sauce made the dish sing. I loved it. Karin chose the Ratatouille. It was perfectly cooked, the vegetables were not 'mushy', the bell pepper tomato sauce added a wonderful flavor to the dish. It was topped with tasty fried chickpea pieces. The lobster vol au vent was another creative delicacy. A puffed pastry filled with vegetables and fingerling potatoes sitting in a lobster cream sauce with chunks of lobster meat on top. Again, the vegetables were not "mushy" (my least favorite way to eat vegetables), still a little al dente. I had lobster many ways while in Kennebunkport but nothing like this dish. Touchee Chef Kyle. The desserts are not an afterthought here. There were only two on the menu. Both were delicious. The creme broulee with blueberry compote was so tasty, it seemed different from other versions. The pot de creme was rich chocolate with a touch of sea salt and creme fraiche. Both were a wonderful end to our culinary experience. The French wine list is well done. Good selections in all price ranges. It was put together by a knowlegeable wine lover. The pours were more than ample. It's been a while since we enjoyed two dinners as we did at Chez Rosa. I hope we make it back to Kennebunkport so we can dine here again. read more

Solid place all around. Excellent service by the guy we had. Really reasonable everything and the presentation was excellent. Not to mention. The best bread and lyonnaise sausage you will have. Just excellent. The steak frites and the chicken with lentil and mushroom dish was excellent read more

What a great addition to the sometimes-monotonous Kennebunkport dining scene (sorry, but discovering a new lobster roll not that thrilling). Fabulous and personal service, excellent cocktail and wines, and every dish we had was perfectly executed as these pictures show. So happy to have a new K-port favorite! read more

Chez Rosa - Cod Wellington - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Very authentic and delicious desserts and drinks. Will return to try the full menu. Relaxed and cozy vibe. Warm and friendly staff. read more

Chez Rosa - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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We came to Chez Rosa after a long day exploring Kennebunkport. Our group had an advance reservation and we were seated quickly. We were a big party and unfortunately they were not able to seat us all at the same table. We ended up with 2 tables right next to each other. Something to make sure you check with the restaurant beforehand if you have a big party! We ordered almost everything on the menu and our favorites included the charcuterie board, asparagus salad, and pollock wellington. The pollock wellington was the stand out dish and something I would come back for! The steak was not cooked well and the pork was dry. I personally didn't like the gnocchi because the texture was grainy but some of my friends liked it. Overall great option if you're looking for something nice in Kennebunkport. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. The service was outstanding and the food was equally impressive. We had the salmon special appetizer and some oysters. Both were delicious. The chicken entree was so good I've been thinking about it since I left. Very lovely place and I cannot wait to go back! Thank you Chez Rosa! read more

From the minute we walked in, to the minute we left, we were taken care of by the most welcoming and skilled wait staff who worked as a team! The food was perfect; incredible flavor, beautiful presentation and very fresh. This was by far our best dining experience in the area and the price for our family of four for what we ate and drank was very reasonable. I can't say enough good things about Chez Rosa! I will be retuning again and again! read more

I found the ambiance and food disappointing. Our server was attentive and professional - she was the most pleasant part of the evening. The food was ok, some things better than average, some things just average. The room (the larger, back room) was noisy with screaming kids and loud teenagers and dropped glasses and cell phones and video tablets. Not the romantic fine dining experience we had hoped for. The cheese tray was nice and my wife really liked the gnocchi. I thought the steak frites was just ok, and the heirloom salad was weak. The place seems overrated and I would not recommend it. read more

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Service was impeccable! We Haven't see so many service staff in a restaurant in a long time. All were friendly and professional. Ambiance was refreshing even though we were indoors it was bright, airy, full of plants almost a garden feel. Food was very special. It was amazing and tasty. We asked for help to pair the wine with our food and our server made great selections. We had mussels and oysters for an appetizer then a fresh garden salad. Our entrees were pollock wellington and and the steak au poivre. The kitchen is open for viewing and it was like watching artists! The food was beautifully presented and very delicious! Yazmine the hostess was very busy visiting with people and checking on meals and service. We can't wait to come back and try more of their exceptional dishes. Don't forget dessert! The crème brûlée and chocolate pot de creme was fantastic!! Very reasonable prices. read more

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The food was very good but not wow, amazing. Sadly after receiving our water it was about 1/2 hr before anyone came to the table again. I would have thought with all the activity in the room someone would have noticed we were just sitting there. The prices are very reasonable and as said the food is good but not memorable read more

Lovely restaurant. Great ambiance. Terrific service. Absolutely DELICIOUS food! Would return and highly recommend to others.

Amazing. That's the review. The food, the aesthetic, the service everything. We were seated immediately, the atmosphere is quint little bistro with a open kitchen. Loved every morsel of food, from the bread to the proteins. Would love to go back again. read more

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We love Chez Rosa. The service is impeccable, the food is well curated and the atmosphere keeps us coming back. Kyle, Yasmin and their team create something wonderful. If you are one of the people who complains because your seating time is 15 minutes later than requested, if you complain because your phenomenal meal takes a smidge longer or you don't feel like you received pre-pandemic "attention" to your every needs --- please go someplace else!! If you are like us, come in and enjoy. We love this place. read more

An update to an update! I've had takeout from Chez Rosa a few times and it was very good, but last night I dined in for the first time and it was a whole new world. For starters, there's a labor shortage out there and almost every restaurant I've been to on this trip has been dealing with it. I've been patient and understanding, you won't find a complaint about any of those places from me. However, Chez Rosa's service was 100% on point. Attentive but not overbearing, helpful with recommendations, and very friendly. And it was packed since it was raining and all of the patio reservations (like mind) had to be moved inside. For a cocktail I had the Claude Monet- tequila, hibiscus, bitters. Pink, beautiful, well balanced and interesting. It was delicious I started with some Maine oysters, a perfect start to the meal. I was strangely impressed with their mignonette... super tangy and fresh. Next course was the heirloom tomato salad with was basically summer in Maine on a plate. Delightful. The star of the meal, though, was the cod Wellington. I've had this dish before but it was takeout. It was very good but I cannot say enough about having this served right out of the kitchen. It was PERFECT. I ended the meal with the creme brûlée. It was, of course, excellent. Chez Rosa was by far the best meal I had on this trip. Everything was outstanding. Service, atmosphere, food, all excellent. read more

Updating my review because original review was from 2020 when they were doing take out during height of the pandemic. Happy to be able to dine in their cozy bistro style dining room. The food and the service have been consistently excellent. The pollock wellington is my go to dish, but it is off menu (temporarily!) and replaced with delicious and generous scallop dish served over creamy polenta. Didn't think I'd find a dish I'd like as well as the wellington but the scallop dish was wonderful. Drinks are always creative and staff is professional and welcoming. read more

Absolutely the best! Chez Rosa has quickly become my favorite restaurant in southern Maine. Don't miss out on the Pate or French Onion soup! Have been quite a few times and honestly cannot wait to go back because every aspect is on point every time. They never miss here! read more

Just a charmer, this one. Warm, delightful restaurant with a thoughtful, well executed menu. Everything from the kind, attentive service, to our outstanding meal--start to finish--was outstanding. We will be back & will highly recommend. read more

This is the best meal I have ever had, not to mention the service was impeccable! It was my 21st birthday and they made sure to make it a special experience. Such a cozy vibe, as well. Will have to come back on our next trip to Maine! read more