I don't like leaving poor reviews. We visited this place of business about 10 days ago. The owner explained that they provided fine dining a few days a week and that a four course meal was about $150 each. It appeared that this would be a special place so we made a reservation for the next week, July 23rd at 6pm. On July 23rd, circumstances found us away from Charlevoix and so at 11:30am I called to cancel the reservation. Here is where it gets a little crazy. The owner answers and he becomes angry with me for canceling. He wants to know why. I explain we are out of town. He says, "Oh, so you are the only one with a life and you think you are very important". I apologize that we cannot make the reservation, he says,"Don't ever call here again" and then disconnects the call before I can respond. I was about to spend $300 to $400 on a meal at this restaurant, very strange customer service. Giving a restaurant plenty of notice (7 hours), I have never experienced rudeness on this level before. read more

Another memorable evening at Esperance. We took two of our children for dinner tonight before they depart for college. All of us were very happy with the evening and look forward to our next visit. read more

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So six months ago I could not get myself to be truthful about my experience here because it was hurtful and racist. The minute the owner (who by the way is black. Indian black, but black) saw me, it was immediately known to me he didn't want me in there. I'm a person of color, my husband is white. He walked up to us and as we spoke to him he was literally walking us to the door. My husband asked about reservations and the owner said they were booked all summer. He asked about fall and he said he wouldn't be staffed for fall dinners. When we got to the car, my sweet, naïve husband said, "did you get the feeling he didn't want us there?" I said to him, "no, he didn't want me in there." I share this story now, because I just met a man, who's ex wife is black. He visits Charlevoix in the summer. They share two black sons. This restaurant came up and he said that his mother, who is white, took the two boys to this restaurant and were refused service. After he shared his story, I shared mine. Shame on this owner. He has to know racism being a person of color. Someone should remind him...he's not white. read more

I just want to say thank you for enlightening my pallet last night. The wine was fabulous. The dinner was Devine. For the first time since moving to Michigan of six years I e been fully pleased with dining. Your food was creative, flavorful, beautiful presentation and exquisite to the pallet. You gained a life long customer. Fully impressed and so satisfied. Thank you for such a pleasurable evening. read more

Very, very rude and expensive! I am a cook and have wanted to visit to see what it was like.... Tiny portions, and way too expensive. The man is very mean and his wife is his cook. Save your time and money!! read more

Christmas baskets for family Wonderful French chocolate cake bread was magnificent And cost effective even with grande dame read more

Excellent staff Wonderful selection of specialty goods Beautiful wine collection The rewards they received from wine spectator are well deserved read more

Absolutely wonderful! The Morels in cream were to die for! We also had the Esperance Luna Pasta and Filet Mignon. Both were perfect. Great service, fabulous wine selection, and really delicious cuisine. The owner Pram is a true gentleman....he even loaned us his car for transportation to and from the marina as we came to Charlevoix by boat. Hope you like as much as we did.... were going back! read more

Esperance - Esperance Luna Pasta...yummy - Specialty Food Near Me - Charlevoix, Michigan

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Our family and friends visit Esperance as often as possible. Pram, Suzanne and their team combine to make a delightfully eloquent evening without being overly pretentious. The choice of what to eat is always very tough while the wine selection is eased some by the expert help of Pram. A walk through their well stocked cellar with Pram is like a wine tour around the world. Go a little early and enjoy a cocktail in the warm lounge or in the European style outdoor seating. PS - The deli market is also a special treat. read more

Esperance is quite simple the best dining experience in the area. The service, the meal, the wine is outstanding! The menu is small, but every item is fabulous. We had dinner last night and I can't stop thinking of the carrot ginger soup with perfectly cooked pieces of carrots and apple. Yum! The shrimp and langostines was delisted. My husband practically licked his plate. He had the lamp entree. Our friends loved their dishes, the vegetarian ravioli and the shrimp dinner. All of the desserts were outstanding. What a great evening! Can't wait to return. read more

Had dinner here is August and is was simply outstanding! Pram and his staff are amazing. If you can score a dinner table here, you are in for a fantastic evening. Esperance is the best restaurant up North. The food, the presentation, the wines were all amazing! read more

Pram is a sham. After many visits and many hundreds of dollars spent at Esperance, the experience we were just met with at the hands of the proprietor, will be a lasting and divisive memory. While we understand that the world is a different place, and when kindness and civility and patience should endure and inspire in times like this, the treatment we witnessed and received was unacceptable. After standing in the beating sun, while Pram obstructed the door, and argued with another guest on the phone, we were finally given the privilege of entering Esperance. Please let me repeat that we have frequented Esperance, and been delighted in the past. This visit was truly an out of body experience. Once inside, we were told, not asked told to "not touch anything, we are sick and tired of wiping and sanitizing" which was promptly followed by " we are all jerks here". To say we were in shock, was an understatement. After asking if Pram had Hundred Acre wine available, we were told no, we have Plump Jack (which we love, but hardly comparable). We wish Pram and Suzanne the absolute best, but we will never return. read more

I can't imagine why anyone would find Pram rude as I found him charming and he treated our party with the utmost care and courtesy. Our waiter was very professional and efficient. The menu was varied and tempting for every course and every plate was artfully presented. The decor was tasteful and interesting. The wine selection was outstanding and Pram was very knowledgeable and a great help in making selections. Two complaints: first, the filet, ordered medium rare, was a bit over cooked and served splayed down the middle, which made me think they knew it was overcooked and attempted to prevent it from cooking more. While it was not actually dry, it was not juicy either; it was red in the very center but gray for the first 3/8 inch on each side. For $49 it should be perfect every time. Secondly, we had two vegans in our party and called a day ahead to request vegan meals. They did a nice job with an appetizer, but the main course was two different rices and fresh veggies--all very nicely prepared, but hardly a complete meal. And for $33, not what it should have been. Vegans need protein too--beans, lentils, tofu, seitan, tempeh. Also, I have to agree the portions are not generous (which they should be for the prices charged); I found them adequate, but just barely. When a restaurant charges in the range this one does I go there for special occasions and I expect an experience that is outstanding in every way. In a lot of ways it was (service, pace, presentation, wine, ingredients), but the food, while delicious overall, did fall a little bit short. I would give it a 3.5 if I could, but for the money (over $100 per person) it wasn't quite a 4 and it should have been a 5, so it was a bit of a disappointment. read more

The food this year is out of sight! They have added another chef working with Suzzane. Had a fabulous vegetarian entree that was the best veggie dish either of us have ever had. We used Pram to pick the wine which is always a good idea since he is so knowledgeable. Prices were good and selections were both different and wonderful. There is an automatic 20% gratuity and the bill presentation is a little different, but tax is not applied to the tip as a previous reviewer claimed. read more

In addition to the many enjoyable meals we have experienced at Esperance, in this case, Pram and Suzanne provide an elegant location for a private dinner - a wedding rehearsal dinner. Starting outside in the beautiful garden, the evening progressed through a wonderful menu that Suzanne assembled from both local farm produce, and supplemented with a few favorites from further abroad. Suzanne's creations were only made better through Pram's expert pairing of wine. Strongly encourage you to enjoy their wonderful restaurant whenever you can - it rivals anything we've eaten in Paris, Zurich, New York!! read more

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This is the best restaurant in town. Sophisticated, delicious cuisine that is also imaginative. An unexpected gem in an unexpected place. Can't say enough good things about it! read more

Wow, just wow. Great food. It is expensive, but don't hesitate. It is definitely worth it.

wonderful wines, cheeses and meats! they are mask compliant and i therefore feel safe shopping there! kudos to the management!!

The pre-dinner cocktail - my favorite, but couldn't get the recipe out of Pram (I'll be back just for the drink one day I'm sure). The food - sensational and tasted as fancy/delicious as it looked. The service - exceptional. I also liked walking around the store mid-meal (we had an early dinner) and picked up a few things for friends we had visiting the next day. Keep up the excellent work guys - we'll be back! read more

The Food: One word, Fantastic! Local in-season ingredients are integrated into the menu providing fresh, flavorful, and creative dishes. The owners focus on providing the highest quality food for each dish, which is shown in the level of detail that the food is prepared. The staff and dining experience: It's obvious that the owners have passion for food, wine, and hospitality by the way Pram and his staff make you feel right at home in the cozy space. Esperance provides an amazing dining experience with a casual feel. The food is second to none (as stated above) and you'll be provided the perfect pairings through Pram's knowledge of wine. Bravo Esperance! read more

We have been to Esperance on numerous occasions and every time the food is fantastic. Pram and company change the menu throughout the year based on what is in season. Local ingredients are used and it shows. The trout was the best fish dish I've ever had in Northern Michigan. Ask Pram or any of his knowledgeable staff about the wine as well and you will not only be leaving completely satisfied with the food and drink, but also a little bit more knowledgeable about wine. You can tell that they really love what they do here. It is reflected in their food, service, decor, and customer service. Esperance is the perfect place for a special meal, whether it be a family gathering, date, or even to host a private event. I cannot recommend Esperance enough! It is the best restaurant in the Petoskey/Charlevoix area! read more

Ever want to visit an oasis? Then stop and meet Suzanne and Pram the proprietors of Esperance Restaurant located in Charlevoix and enjoy the experience. Great hosts, hard working and knowledgeable about their food these pleasant people use only the finest and freshest local ingredients to create an ever changing menu that caters to those who appreciate a fine meal. The service is excellent, the ambiance comfortable with a beautiful and welcoming garden. Make a reservation, we do and always try to get there when we are in town. read more

Expensive, but only for Northern Michigan. Felt like we were in a 5 star restaurant in NYC. Excellent wine list, superb food. Exceptional staff, especially knowledgeable about wine. A must visit. Only open part of week/weekends...call first. Wonderful store too! read more

The best part of returning to northern MiI is the opportunity to enjoy dinner at Esperance. The menu is off the charts and we have never had anything that wasn't the best taste treat available. Suzanne and Pram are the epitome owners of an majorally upscale restaurant. The food is without a doubt prepared with love and a fulll understanding of perfect preparation. Pram is a master at choosing the perfect wine to enhance your dining choices. It is not inexpensive but it is worth every penny in your pocket!! Beautiful sevice and lovely setting. read more

Definitely the best place in town! (It's actually a bit out of town on route 31) The food is tasty and the service is spectacular. Not a place for young children. They also have a nice bar area along with a market that is open during the day where one can buy delightful wines, cheeses, olives and other various sundries. read more

Pram and his crew are the absolute best and beyond knowledgeable. We have a wonderful time every time we set foot in Esperance.

We traveled to this restaurant based upon the suggestion our hotel concierge. We were seated outside and although the food was good, it was very expensive and not worth that level of cost. The owner, Pram, was offensive and rude to us on two separate occasions during our dinner. He made awkward comments to us, in front of our children and even when on to insult us as we were dining at his restaurant. Simply for that reason, I would never recommend this place to anyone. There is no scene other than the noisy highway outside and we found so many other restaurants in the area to offer better service, scenery and of course, food. Despite all of this, at least the waiter was kind and attentive. For a better experience, try Chandeler's in Petoskey or Cafe Sante in Boyne City that is less pretensious and better food! read more

Two years I have treated my husband on his birthday and both years the food, service and ambience have been spectacular. It is higher priced than surrounding restaurants but worth every penny! We spent years entertaining customers all over the US and sometimes out of country, and Esperance qualifies as one of the top 5 best meals we've ever had. Charlevoix and the surrounding communities are fortunate to have this fine dining establishment. read more

Went to Esperance last week at a friends suggestion. Pram, the owner, is a rude, unsmiling, unfriendly annoyance who over charges substantially for the wine purchased for dinner. I am sure his retail store does well, but when dining in the restaurant for dinner, not only do you pay retail for your wine, he adds a $15 charge as a corking fee! Really??? Then when the bill comes, no matter the number of diners in your party, you are charged an automatic 20% service fee (tip) AND THEN they add the tax on top of that. So essentially, you are being taxed on the tip you may or may not have wanted to leave. I think that this is actually against the law to charge tax on the tip. No where has this ever happened. NOWHERE! The food was very good although very small portions. A beet salad with lots of greenery and one tiny beet (no joke) was $15. This place is a total rip off. Don't go! Absolutely NOT WORTH IT. read more