While Joelle's serves bistro cooking, dining there is much more like a dinner party at a friend's home than it is like going to a restaurant. Gracious Gallic hospitality, superb craft cocktails, and sublime dishes. Whether it's a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or just a Wednesday, you can't have a bad meal at Joelle's. Not cheap, but worth every sou! read more

Joelle's French Bistro - Duck legs confit, mashed potatoes, braised spinach, and roasted squash. - French Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Amazing foods, great ambiance, and atmosphere, homey. Every taste is fantastic. Would be back again.

You know you have found someplace special when you feel like you are eating at a good friend's house. Joelle's is such a place. A lovely restaurant with an amazing patio with a lovely view. The food is amazing and skillfully served and prepared. The owners are so charming and welcoming. I cannot recommend Joelle's more highly. read more

Amazing food, service, ambiance!!! French cooking is c'est fameux!!! I can't wait to go back!!! read more

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My husband surprised me with a date night and reservations to Joelle's, after 10 years and many many more travels, this is still my favorite restaurant. It's divinely intimate any time of the year. They understand ambiance like few others- lighting, music, candles, flowers. The decor of this converted home is completely transformed for the holidays, every imaginable space is full of random artifacts that somehow go together; it give you the sense they are sharing the many gifts given to them over the years. And the food- reliably exquisite- I always order the special featured dishes of the night, my husband most often from their standard menu. Each feeling we've made the perfect choice, until we taste the other, then inevitably the sharing begins. read more

Joelle's French Bistro - The smaller more intimate dining room. - French Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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The dinner we had here was absolutely perfect in every way! Everything from the phone call confirming our reservation.... to our warm welcome upon arriving.... to the setting.... to the wine list.... to the service... to the food (!!!) was amazing. You could easily tell that this restaurant is a labor of love! We started with a crisp, dry French Rose'. Then I had the soup of the day: smoked pea and my dining partner had the Moroccan chicken cigars. Fresh (hot!) bread and sweet butter were brought to the table. My soup was as fresh and delicious as a spring day! For entrees I had the Moroccan meatball tangine and my companion had the rack of lamb. Both servings were both generous and lovely. My tangine had flavorful meatballs with chickpeas and dried fruit in a perfectly spiced sauce served along side a mound of couscous. Delicious! Neither of could finish our entree... especially since we wanted to save room for dessert. French desserts are delightful... and this lovely place offers an option for those unable to choose: a sampler plate with little servings of a mini-cupcake, creme brûlée, a macron, and chocolate mousse which (with it's hints of orange) won the taste competition at our table. And the complementary after-dinner servings of mango-cello were a lovely touch. read more

The whole evening was fantastic. Our host Alain is gem and a friendly gracious fella..this beautiful farmhouse outside of Skaneateles was converted to a charming bistro. Had the escargot with a confit of duck which were outstanding... the duck was crispy and the escargot had the right balance of butter and garlic. House baked bread. It's hard to find grouper in Upstate NY, they have it and was divine. Just a beautiful understated place...relaxed as most French bistros should be... I just hope we can get back here in the summertime when we can sit outside. read more

Went here for dinner while visiting Skineatlas. Everything was delicious and the service was 10/10. For appetizers we opted with a special which involved salmon and avocado. For dinner we ordered the duck, Moroccan meatballs and lobster ravioli, to name a few. Topped the night off with delicious wine and mangocello. Definitely plan on returning to this cute and quaint restaurant when I'm back in Skineatlas and recommend this place if you haven't been! read more

Joelle's French Bistro - French Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Excellent dinner last night on all levels. Wine, appetizers, and dinners were all delicious. Highlights were the escargot app and Moroccan chicken entree. Dessert sampler was just enough for two of us to split. Ambiance and service were spot on. Chef Joelle made her rounds to each table to greet people. This is a perfect date night restaurant and a hidden gem in CNY. read more

Finally tried Joelle's last night during our annual visit to Skaneateles. We always eat in the town itself but decided to venture out and see if there was anything "special" nearby. What a find in Joelle's! We arrived a little early for our reservation but were seated promptly on the back patio. The owner, Alain, made his first appearance shortly after we sat down to welcome us. We would come to find out that Alain's personality, combined with Joelle's culinary skills are the secret to the success of this small bistro. At Alain's recommendation I ordered the rack of lamb and my partner ordered the grilled shrimp entree. We each ordered a (different) salad as well. All of the food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. For dessert, again based on Alain's suggestion, we had the creme brûlée, which Alain flambes table side. We were also treated to a delicious house made liquor. Here's where it got interesting. As we were among the final diners left that evening, Joelle came out of the kitchen to see her guests. With only 3 tables of people left on the patio she was greeted with impromptu applause and an ovation by all of us. As we left the restaurant Alain made his way over with a hearty handshake and a "man hug", European style for me and a hug with an air kiss to each cheek of my partner. We felt as though we came as strangers but left as friends. It was a very special evening and one I will look forward to experiencing again someday. read more

Miam miam! Que c'est bon! A la campagne, à quelques kilomètres du centre-ville de Syracuse, ce petit resto qui a un charme très authentique gagne à être connu. On acclame: Le repas delicieux. Le confit de canard, l'agneau, la vichyssoise...tout était impeccable! La chaleur des restaurateurs/serveurs, l'acceuil aimable, souriant... La vue pittoresque! On aime moins: Les moustiques...nous avons été bouffés par les moustiques...!! Ce n'est pas trop mon truc le "lobster & shrimp cigar" Un conseil: Il faut faire une réservation à l'avance Eng: What a lovely restaurant with a charming, authentic feel to it! We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed excellent service for our meal. We ordered the vichyssoise (it is a potato and leek soup, traditionally served cold), the lobster and shrimp cigar, the duck confit, and the lamb...all was very good except that I was not a big fan of the lobster & shrimp cigar appetizer; it was a bit too heavily fried for my taste. We loved sitting outside with the beautiful view, our only regret was that we were eaten alive by the mosquitos...have to take the bad with the good though, I suppose. Maybe we could've avoided this by coming earlier. We recommend making a reservation in advance (call ahead), as this is a small restaurant and (deservedly) quite popular. read more

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The only French restaurant in Skaneateles! This is a great little find on beautiful grounds. Really great service and ambience. Very nice French food, nice portions and a wide variety of wines. Check out their website or become part of their mailing list for fun theme parties all year round. read more

Joelle's French Bistro - Joelle's French Bistro - French Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

Great date night dinner! Always a warm, friendly atmosphere! We usually call for reservations and request the outside patio if the forecast looks good. It does get a little "buggy" as the sun goes down. They have bug spray or bring your own. Hey it's CNY! Full drink selection with French wines of course! The gourmet menu is on par, next to none, and consistent year after year (we have been coming here since 2012ish) from the appetizers to entrees ending with their desserts. A must try for decerning palates. Pricing is right for drinks, food, and ambience. There were some families there with children, wanted to add that in to let you know it not a "stuffy" establishment! read more

Joelle's French Bistro - Duck Confit...nothing else to say! - French Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Great ambiance, amazing food and wine! Such a quaint little restaurant, definitely worth trying out!

SPECIAL NOTE: My husband and I were visiting Skaneateles for a weekend in November. We received a couple recommendations to try this restaurant from friends/colleagues back in Buffalo. So we ate there Fri night at the start of our trip. ENTREES: Skipping right to this because I didn't have wine or an appetizer (just wasn't THAT hungry after wine & cheese hour at our hotel - Mirbeau Inn). I had the dish that included grilled shrimp, polenta, and veggies. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sauce on it was creamy but not too heavy, a great compliment. The asparagus and carrots were great, though I was not a huge fan of the tempura fried beets (little greasy). The polenta and (I think) potatoes with it were great as well. DESSERT: Had something akin to an apple pie slice of cake and OH MY WORD it was delish! As a bonus, one of our two servers came around with homemade limoncello and poured us two shots, on the house! It was a bit strong for my taste (my days of drinking straight hard liquor ended in my 20s) but my husband really enjoyed it. WOULD WE GO BACK?: Absolutely! It would only be if we ever visit Mirbeau Inn/Skaneateles area again, but it was great and I'd love to try some of the other more "French" items on the menu. OVERALL: Great spot for a romantic night out, but also good for groups. Very cute off-the-beaten-path - only saw it in the dark but imagine during the daytime it's super cute! read more

A Gem - Well Worth the Trip. We all know that the stars on Yelp are inflated. One star which in most guides means something special - on Yelp is a dis. Four or five stars on Yelp usually means this is good. In this case, these five stars means that Joelle's is extraordinary. This is probably one of the best restaurants in all of Central New York. Alain and Joelle are an incredible team; Alain is a from a long line of restauranteurs - with stories of restauranteuring in Africa, France and New York City. Ask him yourself - the stories are as good as the food. He will delight you. Joelle makes an appearance out of the kitchen, when things calm down. It is always a treat to talk with her. We have brought visitors from all over the country (including New York City) - no one of them has ever left here unhappy. The place is lovely. The house is early 19th century and the dinning room small but very stylish - country. We have been three times, all them we have sat on the outdoor patio which is wonderful and has a view out over a meadow and the hills in the distance. Even in the spring and fall - there are heaters which keep the chill off and make the experience worth it. The wine list is very solid and Alain's knowledge unsurpassed. We had an Alsatian Pinot Blanc that was like being in Strasbourg - wonderful. Also the best ever Kir Royale. Joelle's food is from the gods themselves. She is a master at what she does. Tonight she prepared a chick pea risotto cake - as a side for swordfish and several other things. Now you may be thinking falafel - but this was light, fluffy and full of complex flavors. Her tagine is simply the best I have ever had. She also prepared a special of swordfish - with a fruit based salsa - wonderful. The special dessert was an apple crumble - which had a crumble that was light - not too sweet and perhaps a hint of almond paste. Her chocolate mousse is not to be missed. Go very hungry - eat well - and leave very very happy. read more

Always delicious, amazing service and a wonderful dining experience. Plan to spend a good chunk of time, but well worth it. the food and drinks keep coming and are always amazing. read more

The short form: awful service. The worst in my years of enjoying restaurants. And worse, from what we experienced from several servers and the ridiculous Maitre'd, it was systemic. Don't bother. It was the only restaurant I have ever walked out. The long form: Joelle's was recommended by the innkeeper of the exquisite B&B we were staying. We arrived just before our res time of 7pm. The place is small, with a lovely patio. It was full. With the rec and the number of patrons in what could only be described as a remote spot, things looked good. Unfortunately, things went downhill quickly. The Maitre'd was from the Basil Fawlty school - he confused bumbling incompetence (a litany of poor service decisions in a very short period of time) with charm. Sadly, the very poor service continued with the very pleasant young waitress. It would seem that training was not a requirement for hire at Joelle's French Bistro. So many negatives happened in the hour before the wine arrived, my typing skills on this iPad will not accommodate all the info. We are not food and wine snobs. But, we expect a decent standard when paying for 'fine' dining. I wish I could report on what looked like lovely food. But, after smiling about the service, then laughing it off, our feelings developed to incredulity. At that time (70 minutes and counting) we threw $60 on the table for the $56 bottle of Bordeaux, and left. I wonder if they noticed? read more

This was easily one of the best meals I have eaten in the Syracuse area, though it's not really Syracuse. A quick, 30 minute or so drive to the west will get you to Joelle's. First, make sure you make a reservation. I don't think you can just pop in here. I had made a reservation about a week in advance for the Saturday before Valentine's Day. Every table seemed to be full the entire time we were there, and I assume all were reservations. Their space, while not cramped, is fairly small so they most likely won't be able to accommodate you without one. The place, especially at night, can be a little difficult to find. If you don't know where it is, use your GPS. It's a very unassuming place with not so great signage. It just looks like a house (I mean, it is just a house). I have heard that this is on purpose. The owner doesn't mind being a little off the radar. We were seated right away. Because it was Valentine's Day, they had three separate menus. A Valentine's menu, which was a prix fixe menu, a bistro menu which was also a prix fixe menu, and then an a la carte menu. A little overwhelming, but our server did a fantastic job of explaining everything so it really wasn't any trouble. We decided to order off the a la carte menu. The food here was very good. I had a crispy sweet breads appetizer. Super tender with a bit of crunch and some lemon flavor. Delicious. Then I had a duck confit, which I think is a good barometer of a French restaurant. Crispy skin and tender meat. Also very good. We finished the meal with a creme brulee which was good, but our waiter poured and lit some orange liqueur on top which had too much residual alcohol burn for me. It really was a nice evening. My only complaint is that our waiter seemed to disappear for long stretches during the evening. I enjoy being able to sit and relax in between courses, but we sat for quite a long time while he set up another table for a larger party. Other than that, I thought everything was good. If you budget $200 or so for a meal here, then you won't be completely shocked. But I didn't feel like it was overpriced at all. The food is definitely worth it. Good place to go for a special occasion. read more

The setting on the patio was beautiful. The food was amazing! I had the tangine. Great portion of sweet and savory chicken and meatballs. Not something I thought I would get in upstate NY so delicious. I did try the dessert sampler which was good but the main dish was the best! Wish I had taken a photo. read more

My wife and hadn't been to Joelle's for quite a while. We recently went for dinner. It was a beautiful evening and we sat on the patio. I can't say enough about how good the food was. For appetizers I had the chicken liver salad and my wife had a lobster "cigar". Both were delicious. For entrees we had mushroom risotto and duck confit. Again, both were fantastic. We topped off the meal with creme brûlée caramelized at the table. We definitely will not wait a long time to go back again!! read more

We love Joelle's. The food is wonderful, the wine pairings are excellent and the ambiance is very nice. What is really most delightful, though, is the hospitality. Alain and Joelle make every guest feel like they have been invited to the best party in town. We have never been disappointed. read more

Winter is the perfect time to visit Joelle's. The restaurant is quiet and the service unhurried. Alain is as marvelous a host as Joelle is a chef. My wife and I enjoyed an evening there last night, replete with great flavors and warm comfort. She started with the pear salad, a delicious mix of warm pears, greens and balsamic. For dinner, she had the grilled pork tenderloins, which were cooked perfectly and covered with a sweet mango sauce. I had the Onion soup, filled with flavor. The rack of lamb was both beautiful and a delight to eat. Chocolate mousse and a rhubarb-raspberry tart for dessert and a few shots of "mangocello" with other guests capped a wonderful evening. read more

The absolute best restaurant in Skaneateles & surrounding area. Joelle is a phenomenal chef & host. When you eat at Joelle's French Bistro not only are you eating the best quality food, the service, and ambiance are next level! Try the shrimp,lobster, & crab roll. The escargot & NY strip are also amazing!!!! read more

This is our favorite restaurant, hands down. The service is superb, and I always wish Alain would just sit with us and tell his wonderful stories. But of course he has other guests, and they must be treated with his deft and gracious touch as well. He and his staff ensure that Joelle's fabulous food is enjoyed in their beautiful and relaxed environment. Our favorite is the steak and frites, with pepper sauce. With so many other enticing menu and special items, one could overlook the steak as ordinary. It is not. Perfectly cooked with a creamy pepper sauce that has just a faint hint of sweetness. But nothing ever disappoints. Linger for a taste of Joelle's homemade elixirs. Such a perfect ending... read more

WOW!! This was THE most amazing little gem we have ever encountered in Central New York. The moment you walk in the door it's like taking a trip to France. The ambience was so soothing and instantly relaxing. A small tastefully decorated parlor area was spectacular. The food was amazing and so well presented. The staff was simply spectacular and extremely friendly and just made you feel like you were special and family. This is our new favorite place in the region. I can't wait to take my son here who is an executive chef at a high end restaurant in DC. He will love this place. Oh and if they have the chocolate crème brulee on the menu that nigh you will think you went to heaven. We were so delighted that we finally stopped in here as we only live 1 mile down the road!! If you want a truly memorable evening make a reservation now. read more

Cannot recommend highly enough. This place has so much charm- its upstate New York at its finest! The food is SO GOOD and our waiter was so professional and lovely. The chef/owner even came out to greet us. Environment: A+. Food: A++! This is such a special place. read more

We were so terribly disappointed in our last visit to Joelle's. It had been one of our favorite restaurants until this experience. I could go into a lot more detail but suffice to say my steak au poivre was absolutely horrible. Honestly, it didn't even taste like a steak. To be fair they took the steak off the bill. Also there were so many insects in the restaurant it kind of spoiled my wife's appetite. There happened to be a large group in the next room (wedding) and I think the small staff was overwhelmed with that. I would have preferred they told me about the wedding when I made my reservation. I would have visited on another date. Sadly I probably wont return to Joelle's. read more

We were there yesterday evening with friends celebrating our wedding anniversary. This place is out of this world : quaint , charming. You can be inside or outside , the garden and patio is beautiful. The food is authentic French with a charm from North Africa in some dishes. The wines are beautifully chosen to be cost effective and delicious. This is a place I would recommend to anyone . The owners are terrific people , always here for you . Both present and respectful of your privacy. The pace is a nice French type dining place where you enjoy good food and take the time to converse with the people you are with. Great , keep up that very special place the very way it is , a gem. Joelle , Alain thank you. read more

This place is so wonderful. I had the crab soufflé when I was there and it was wonderful. Also, I had the best service. The owners came out and had me try different drinks that they loved paired with our food. read more

Exquisite a - flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution ex. an exquisite vase b - marked by nice discrimination, deep sensitivity, or subtle understanding ex. exquisite taste While dining at Joelle's for the first time with my wife and daughter I asked them to describe our experience. As they struggled with the question I admit it probably wasn't a fair question since I was already thinking about it. I think exquisite is a perfect description of the dining experience at Joelle's. Without going into long detail from the moment we walked in the door to 2.5 hours later everything was, well exquisite. Service was impeccable and the meal was delicious. If you're looking for a quick meal and out the door, don't go here. If you're looking for a great time dining with friends or loved ones then this is someplace you need to go so that you too can experience an exquisite evening. read more

This is a really great restaurant in an old farmhouse. Do not go here in a hurry, the service is friendly but on the slower side. The food is unbelievable, I've been here four times and it was better with each visit. I always opt for a fish dish of some kind. I had mussels (a special one evening) that were out of this world. Give it a shot, plus, they have outdoor seating :) read more

What a great find in Skaneateles Falls! Great service, very good food and a decent wine list. I'll definitely be back.

Best French meal I've had in almost forty years! Alain(our host) was welcoming and entertaining. Beautiful music...my son and his girlfriend actually got up and danced. We drove 61/2 hours to get there and believe me it was worth every mile. Afterwards we took pictures with Alain and Joelle. The ambiance, fabulous food and lovely people made this a magical evening not to be forgotten!!!! If there were a ten star that would definitely be my rating read more

Absolutely fabulous restaurant run by a husband and wife team! Joelle, a true french woman is the chef, and her husband is the lovely Maitre'd. My husband and I go to upscale restaurants all the time in Manhattan so we recommend this restaurant with complete confidence. Food was incredible. For appetizers, my escargot was the best I have ever had-stands out from what I remember eating in Paris. My husband had an excellent tasting and visually appealing salad:walnuts, cherry tomatoes, and romaine dressed in a raspberry vinaigrette. My husband raved about his duck, and my mushroom ravioli was decadent with truffle oil. For dessert, I had a coconut and rum creme caramel, and he had chocolate mousse. The $35 prix-fix that we each took advantage of, was an excellent deal. The restaurant's decor is very chic and romantic. The outdoor grounds are lovely as well. Our waitress was young and perky, yet very sweet and attentive. She let us cork our bottle of Louis Jadot pinot noir and bring it home to finish on the porch of the B&B we were staying at. Joelle, the chef also came by our table, introduced herself and chatted with us for a few minutes. All and all-a wonderful dining experience that I highly recommend. When you drive there, go slow on this country road as we missed it multiple times trying to find it! read more

Great restaurant including a cozy and relaxed ambiance, good food, and fantastic service. We would recommend to anyone looking for a solid dining experience. read more

Awesome atmosphere. Best French food in 200 square miles. Serves food fresh from their garden too.

One of the best restaurants in Central New York. The food is fabulous, and the atmosphere is truly French - you will think you are in Paris. The service is wonderful, and once you have dined there, you will certainly come back. read more

I took my girl friend here for Valentine's Day and it was well worth it! Their food is spectacular and the service was some of the best I've ever had. I thought it was very nice that the owner would take the time to talk to all of his customers, I'll be coming back sometime very soon. I love their escargot as well as everything else they have! read more

Having recently relocated to the area from a major city with many, many incredible restaurant offerings, finding Joelle's French Bistro was a revelation. We've exhausted the handful of local fine dining options--all relatively decent--and were looking for something truly special. Joelle's is a true gem. I was a bit tentative, based purely on the quirky exterior and empty parking lot. However, from the second I walked through the door, it was magic. The interior feels like you have stepped into a charming combination of historic home and French bistro, with a cozy fireplace and warm decor (all done up for the holidays!). The service was immediate, engaging, and attentive, even as the restaurant began to fill up. And the food.....best I've had since our trip to the French Alps last year. The rabbit terrine, Moroccan chicken cigar (sort of like an egg roll filled with a savory chicken mixture with a spicy dipping sauce on the side), duck confit and steak au poivre were all beyond reproach. The au poivre sauce was on a different level of yumminess. Truly a delicious meal and we left thinking, "we will be back often". read more