We had the winning bid on an auction for a free stay at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge. We…read morebooked our stay for a Saturday night. We looked online for local restaurants to dine at during our stay. Neither my girlfriend or I have ever gone to a French restaurant, so we decided on The Metro Bistrot, due to all the fantastic reviews. I called and spoke with Jay (chef and owner) a week prior to make the reservation. We took an Uber from the hotel, as it's BYOB and brought a couple of bottles of wine. This was a Saturday before a big snow storm the following day. I think due to this, the restaurant wasn't as busy as usual. We ended up being seated in the back room all to ourselves. It was a very nice room that had about 4 tables. Stephanie, our server was an absolute delight! Turns out she works for the hotel as well and she's the one I spoke with when we booked the room. She opened our Beaujolais for us and brought some wine glasses. She kept the bottle chilled in the fridge for us. She went over some of the specials being prepared that night and was able to make some nice recommendations. My girlfriend ended up with the special seafood soup special with a lobster stock as a base. I ordered the escargot. Both were absolutely fantastic. She kept our bread basket filled with wonderful fresh warm bread to soak up all the goodness of the soup and escargot. My girlfriend ordered the boar shank and I ordered the stuffed quail that was stuffed with foie gras and pate. The boar meat fell right of the bone and was some of the most tender meat we've ever had. Both dishes were phenomenal. Jay stopped by our table to chat. He's super nice and even took some photos with us. We ordered 3 different kinds of cheeses prior to ordering dessert. All three we ordered were great! Stephanie also brought us a bowl of crackers to go with the cheese. For dessert, my girl had the cheesecake with an oatmeal crust and fresh berries. I'm not usually one for sweets, unless it Crème Brûlée, so I opted for the Boursin stuffed Shrimp, forgetting it wasn't an appetizer, but a main entree. It was out of this world! All the fish Jay brings in are always fresh and NEVER frozen. He even poured me a small glass of some white wine and it went so well with the shrimp. We cannot wait to go back. The prices are very reasonable and the service and food is second to none. Cheers!

Our second time here and one we make as a destination spot. It is so unique and in tucked away that…read moreit always feels like you are in on a secret. It is small and quaint. One chef and one server. It is byob and the menu isn't extensive. But it is mostly local and classic French. It is accessible and not pretentious. A place where the passion for French cooking is designed for locals. The food is interesting and has a casual vibe. Like a small village in France where farmers and artisans come. The space is small and seatings limited, so by the end of the night you can meet new friends if you want to. I would encourage you to bring an extra bottle of wine and share.

When my husband and son went to Le Mazet for lunch and brought me their leftovers, I knew that we…read morehad to go back that very same week for a family meal. We returned for Father's Day and we were seated immediately without a reservation, though I think we just got lucky so I don't recommend this. We all shared the warm olives, the croquet poulet sandwich, the fries, the quiche lorraine, the chateubriand, the roasted beets, and the strawberry ice cream. It was all a hit, and when a 3.5-year-old and a 22-month-old are enjoying your food without any coaxing or help, you know it's fabulous! My husband got some cocktail and I got the phony Negroni mocktail. Service was great and the atmosphere is chic without being uptight or snobby at all. We all left really happy. I still dream about that sandwich. I'd love to go back and try other things on the menu. I'm sure they knock everything out of the park. I am hoping Le Mazet will be our special occasion restaurant.

Easily a 5 star establishment. Do not sleep on Le Mazet! We've walked by so many times and I regret…read morenot trying this place sooner! Definitely need a reservation to get in on the weekend fyi! When we arrived we were seated at a beautiful booth. The interior is gorgeous here. Our server was fantastic I wish I remembered his name! He suggested some great items. We started with their steak frites and I cannot rave more about it! First this plate is definitely shareable. Among myself, my husband and young toddler we destroyed this. My daughter was eating so much of this steak and so were we! It was sooo tender and we loved the gravy on top. The fries were amazing and when they were drenched in that gravy it was chefs kiss! What really brought it all the together was the salad paired with it- it was light and refreshing and the dressing was so good! For dessert our server suggested the chocolate custard so we got that and a berry handpie. We ate both and kept saying "oh my god" with each bite. My daughter especially loved the chocolate custard but my husband and I loved both equally! We immediately said after our meal how we have to come back. We cannot wait to try other menu items and their cocktails next time. We are huge fans and will definitely be back!!

We were a party of 8. We felt welcomed, every guest was very pleased with their dish ( picked from…read moretheir traditional menu and from the specials) and their drinks. We left the restaurant feeling very happy to have come to celebrate at this wonderful restaurant.

Rossa Negra absolutely delivered. The food was muy delicioso from start to finish, and the…read morecocktails... well, let's just say they're the kind you need to keep an eye on. They go down way too easily. Do yourself a favor and order the pistachio martini -- dangerously smooth and totally worth it. The restaurant itself is super easy to get to -- it's right in a shopping strip near I‑95, and there's plenty of parking, which is always a relief. Inside, the vibe is simple elegance. You've got options: table seating, counter seating, and a full bar if you're in a cocktail mood. We couldn't decide on just one thing, so we went all‑in on appetizers: * Tuna Tartar - super fresh and flavorful * Calamari Ecuadorian Style - tender with a sauce that was different in the best way * Trio Empanadas - the Colombian beef and Ecuadorian chicken were my favorites; the plantain & cheese one wasn't really my thing * Chickpea Salad - the dressing deserves its own award And shoutout to Fausto, our server. He was knowledgeable, charming, and on top of everything without hovering. Just really solid service all around. Already thinking about what I'm trying next time.

Back when I lived in Astoria, Queens my buddies and I had a few regular spots that had specials on…read moreweeknights for wings, burgers, and steaks. We affectionately termed these "discount meat nights." The Cafe's $10 burger and fries on Monday nights is easily the best Discount Meat Night deal around in 2026. Don't get me wrong, I still love High Hope's $20 smash burger and beer on Wednesdays, but The Cafe's killer au poivre burger and fries for $10 is just a monster deal. The cost-taste ratio is off the charts. It was tough to get a good picture of the burger in the vibey bar room, but check out their Instagram for some drool worthy shots: @thecaferi

The service was excellent. I have no complaints there. I cannot say the same about the food. We…read moresplit a roasted oyster appetizer that was more cheesy cream than oyster. I had a French dip never in my life. Have I had to have a French dip with provolone cheese and I have to tell you it was disgusting. My sister had the mushroom hostage dish which she said was OK but very bland. The noise level is beyond loud and it was freezing cold in the restaurant. Not impressed at all.!!

Service: gracious Ambiance: cool space…read moreFood: excellent We both had the Curried Carrot Soup for starters. Very good. And both of us ordered the Shrimp and Avocado Salad. I was EXCELLENT!!! Enough shrimp to make a meal; dressed to perfection.

I had heard wonderful things about Le Central and was looking for some place to take my partner who…read moreloves French cuisine. The place felt somewhat unassuming when we first walked in and I felt like it might be more of a Cafe experience, but as we sat there, the true depth of the place revealed itself. The cocktails and wine list were varied and impressive. The French Onion Soup was the best I've ever had as was the Duck Confit with sweet potatoes puree. The staff was attentive, professional and knowledgeable. An inauspicious gem not to be missed!

We finally got here when I decided to surprise my husband for his birthday dinner. GREAT decision!…read more It was early on a Thursday, so when we arrived, the place was empty. We were still greeted with kindness and a generous pour of complimentary Prosecco to start the celebration! We both decided on the Five-Course tasting menu and added the wine pairing. For $84/pp including a wine pairing...wow. And the portions were NOT skimpy at all. Complimentary WARM rolls with butter were presented. The brown seeded roll was very nice. I didn't care for the white roll--it was flavorless and really didn't have any distinct texture. First course, we both had the potato leek soup. OMG, it was delicious. Not overly creamy or goopy, but very nuanced and delicate. The hit of fresh-grated nutmeg was such a spot-on addition. We were both oohing and ahhing. Paired with a full-bodied Pinot Noir, which was great! Second course; husband had the beet salad and they replaced the goat cheese for him since he's not a fan. Beets were tasty, almost pickled? A nice dressing. He said he encountered one or two nuts that weren't great...but otherwise, loved it. Paired with a Rose. I do not like Rose, but I did taste it, and it was pleasant enough. Our fabulous server overheard me...and switched up my pairing for my main course without even me having to ask! I had the Escargot. WOW! First off, not in shells, so no fumbling at the table. The garlic/butter sauce was obscene. I really didn't want to eat more bread with such a big meal, but had to do one dunk-YUM! It was served in a crisped wonton wrapper (didn't see layered enough to be a pastry dough), squared off to create a cup--cute. Mine was paired with a Sauvignon Blanc for me. I tend to be fussy about my blancs...I only like them from Marlborough and have often found California's to be too sour. I'm not sure where this was from, but it was lovely! Then we both had the crab cake. SO good--hubby's favorite course. Packed with crab, barely any breading, just enough to hold its shape. Served with a basil oil and a basil aioli with a perfect hit of acid, and I think a pickled cabbage salad? SO good!!! This wine pairing was the only "miss" in our opinion. It was served with a Riesling. I get that the sweetness was meant to cut through the richness of the aoli, but for us, a Riesling is a better dessert wine...but it was a nice Riesling despite it not really working as a pairing in our opinion. Mains: I had the tuna medium rare. Cooked to PERFECTION and crusted with a hint of horseradish that really woke up the taste buds. As mentioned prior, our wonderful server swapped out the intended Rose and substituted a lovely Cab. PERFECT! Husband had the filet Mignon. I'm not a meat eater, so I didn't taste it, but he said it was cooked perfectly to his request of medium rare. I can't remember what wine was paired...but I think it was another Pinot Noir? Dessert...I was too full...and had a surprise planned afterwards, so I just opted for a dish of ice cream to have a spoonful. It was a bit icy. Not as luscious as I would expect at a French restaurant. He got the bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream. Oh. Dear. Lord. Well, I intended only a taste. It was SOOOO warm and chocolaty and decadent. We practically licked the plate clean! The service was incredible. The ambiance was quaint, cozy, and lovely. We both HIGHLY recommend. This is definitely added to our "must take friends" list. Fabulous!

Dined here last week for a friends birthday and had a really nice dinner!…read more Very nice place with solid food quality. I was expecting a more of a French vibe and food but I would say it has more of an upscale America style feel. The menu had the usual suspects of French cuisine ie, escargot, boeuf Bourguignon, souffles etc. but the flavor is more "Americanized". For example the boeuf Bourguignon tasted like grandmas homemade beef stew which was delicious just not French flavoring. The chocolate souffles was good and came with a side of chocolate sauce but just a little too eggy (tasted like scrambled eggs). Service was excellent. Had reservations and was sat immediately. It was especially nice because we were the only ones in the entire restaurant so had the whole place to ourselves (Tuesday at 7pm). All in all a really decent restaurant serving French/American cuisine. Would highly recommend checking out. Bon Appetit!

Omg the lunch special 3-courses for $25 was such an amazing deal for the portions! Everything was…read moredelicious! I ordered the cheese plate, croque and the crème brûlée yum! Seriously everything was so tasty and I overate.

I was traveling for work and shared a meal with my coworker at a'vert brasserie on a Tuesday night…read more The restaurant was pretty empty unlike some of the other popular restaurants in the area. We were seated by the window and were given freshly baked bread. We ordered the French classics: mussels, escargot, duck leg confit, and steak and fries. The mussels came out first and were pretty average. I usually like sipping the wine broth it comes with or dipping fries/bread into the broth. The escargot had plenty of oil and seasoning. It was actually too salty even though my coworker requested less salt on everything. I enjoyed dipping the fresh bread into the oil. Lastly came the entrees. I was a bit disappointed in both of them. The hanger steak was cooked medium rare like I wanted but the texture was not great. I was hoping for a more tender cut and this was a bit tough and lean. The frites were cooked well and very crispy. The duck confit was very tender but I didn't think it was amazing. Overall I don't think I will be returning to this restaurant with so many other great options around. I might be biased as I am not too familiar with French cuisine but we already sampled most of the classics already.

We dined here last evening and were not disappointed! Well…read moreappointed interior, excellent service and the cuisine was pristine! Loved the pork chop with mashed potatoes. We shall return. William Perrelliphoto.com Flickr: perrelliphoto Instagram: perrelliphoto

Service was wonderful, food was delicious. The bartenders were incredibly thoughtful and took care…read moreto refrigerate the beverages of some patrons that left the bar to smoke outside -- an unnecessary but kind gesture. Overall vibe seemed coastal and fairly casual, I didn't realize this was a primarily gin bar but that was a lovely surprise. I will say the gin fizz was lacking. The bartender apologized for the amount of fizz which seemed absurd given the name. Otherwise drinks were well done. The flavors of the food may not have always been perfectly balanced but they were bold and creative and I appreciate that more than anything. Will venture out this way again

Another truly wonderful evening at Audette! On a beautiful July evening that saw lower Thames…read moreStreet bustling with activity we stepped inside Audette to find Carmen and her team seamlessly entertaining a full house. Settling in with Dan, our captain, taking care of us in the way only he can, we enjoyed hearing about the summer additions to the menu. Deciding between the very tempting options we chose the Crudo, Beef Tartare, Octopus, Lamb Saddle and Tuna au Poivre. Each dish was amazing. The Crudo with its combination of flavors, including grain mustard, was the perfect starter. The Octopus prepared confit style was incredibly moist and tender on the inside while having the perfect pop on the outside due to being finished on the grill. With a bit of backside spicy heat in its flavor profile, it provided a wonderful contrast to the cool of the crudo. The Tartare remains outstanding and a go to. The Lamb Saddle was to quote Dan a perfect lamb filet mignon. With a touch of harissa in the sauce it makes having additional bread a must. The Tuna au Poivre, having come from a freshly caught whole yellowfin, was amazing. Pepper crusted and seared rare with a Bonito brown butter sauce. Special mention to Max and his updates to the wine list where he is broadening countries of origin - think less French centric. One of his additions is Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2024 from Sicily, which Dan chose for us, and which was delicious and very approachably priced. Ending the evening as we always do with grand marnier souffles and Dan & Julia's espresso martinis, Carmen graciously accommodated our request to move from our table to the always inviting bar, this despite the approach of closing time. As always Audette delivers the special experience!

When I saw "Fine French Dining" as a dinner option in Newport, I was excited as we were celebrating…read morea birthday and also because I was trained in classical French cuisine. Upon arrival we were greeted quite quickly and my coat dispatched to the cloak closet. The hostess took us through the bar to a two top and let us know our Captain would be with us shortly. While waiting my partner and I both selected cocktails from the menu. The Captain arrived and took our drink orders, also letting us know that there would be two dessert specials, both of which required ordering at the beginning of the meal as they took time to prepare. Both the Grand Marnier Souffle and the Tart Tatin sounded wonderful. Cocktails came after a short wait, and we put in our order: To Start-Beef Tartar and Sweetbreads, followed by Caesar Salads for us both; and then Duck for my partner and Filet for myself (both medium rare). We selected a hearty Pinot Noir to go with the apps and entrees. This would be one of the few times we saw the "Captain" throughout the meal, and to be honest I'm pretty sure they were short at least one server, as most of the food was delivered by the bus boy (I can't give him the honorific of commis or assistant) or the bar tender. Bread and butter were dropped unceremoniously on the table, and that's ok because the French bread was average and the slice of butter tube was nothing special. A few grains of black or pink salt would have kicked it up a bit, a short spiel about the local bakery that makes the bread could have been nice, something about the local herbs and honey in the butter could be good (there wasn't any but hey I can dream...) Our Waiter returned with wine and offered to pour early so it could breathe but no need as it's a Pinot Noir and we have some time as we were both finishing the cocktails (which were also very well made and tasty), but the offer was appreciated. Appetizers came , and the bus boy had to be told who got which one, but to be honest the sweetbreads were just fantastic. The beef tartar was good but nothing amazing. The wine went very well with both. This is where the night turned a bit south, as the "salads" came out. Using a 6inch ring mold, the kitchen chopped romaine to the point where it was smaller than ¼ inch by ¼ inch sized, then tossed that in a very light dressing consisting of mostly anchovies. Finally the entire ring of lettuce was crusted with bread crumbs (and I assume parmesan) providing a 1/2 inch tall salad 6 inches across with gritty topping and tasting very much of umami but not so much like Caesar salad. To the point where we couldn't eat them and they had to be taken off the bill. Entrée Time. Once again the inability to code the ticket so that the servers know which entrée goes to which guest is just subpar. The duck, while crispy on the skin was way past medium rare and seemed a bit small for a full duck breast. Sauce and Rillette was pretty good. Filet (when I pronounced the 'T' during the ordering process the server didn't understand, but I guess that's just me being picky) was also well past medium rare, the bordelaise was fair and the beets were great. We ate the food as it was there and we were now hungry and realizing this was not to be the amazing meal that we thought it would be. Our bus boy came back to clear and take coffee orders. I was also going to get a Grand Marnier to go with the souffle and cork the remainder of bottle 2 of the Pinot Noir but when I asked for an Americano he was completely lost so I just asked for a 'cup of coffee' and my partner had a double espresso. I didn't want to burden this poor guy with more things he didn't know about like aperitifs. The Souffle came out and busboy tried to make a show of breaking the crust and adding crème anglaise to it, but it just didn't work for him, maybe because the crème anglaise was so think it didn't pour it kinda glopped off the spoon. That's OK because when we broke into the souffle it turned out to be fancy scrambled eggs (so they overcooked or overwhipped or both). The tart tatin was again 6 inch ring mold sized and looked like a fried egg white on a piece of toast. True it tasted good but it was in no way shape of form a decent Julia Child like tart tatin. The server came over and I asked him to remove the souffle and also informed him that his tip wouldn't be so very good as he didn't check on the cook on the entrees nor the dessert until it was pretty much time for the check. After removing the two salads and the desert, our bill was still over $400 for the meal, which is, to be completely honest, about $200 more than it was worth.

Wonderful staff! And the food is truly French, fresh, and so worth coming to this charming bistro!…read moreWe will be back as often as possible.

Birthday Luncheon at Bar Bouchēe...Both had the Croque Madame, one of my favorite Parisian…read morespecialities when ever I travel. The runny egg over the Gruyere encrusted ham and cheese in a winner. A very good facsimile here with a glass of Sancerre. She had a Ginger Martini to start. The Peach dessert on the menu was not available so the Pastry Chef created something on the spot which was delicious with the French Press Coffee. Why can't you be closer!