We love Lemaire & we've been three times in the past year after we moved to Richmond. The decor of the Jefferson hotel is just so classy & timeless, the food are well presented, the plating is always beautiful, and the food delicious. The is THE SPOT for fine dining in RVA. The staffs were friendly & professional, and our waiters have always recommended us good wine to pair with our meal. The desserts are so fun & tasty, definitely a must!! The only thing that was I would opt for bottle of wine instead of the cocktail, the two cocktail we tried were a little underwhelming for the price, but the wine has always lived up to the hype read more

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The Jefferson Hotel should be a stop during your visit just to witness some of the history and the elegant design. While there, check out Lemaire, it's restaurant that provides locally sourced ingredients, seasonal menus, and great New American food. Admittedly, we were a little hesitant to come with our 3 1/2 year old for an earlier dinner, but staff quickly assuaged any concerns. The staff was friendly and accommodating and we were able to get a seat outside on their patio. Our servers were great - welcoming, flexible, and quick. We ordered the risotto, crab cakes, and a few appetizers. They also have a kids menu (the Mac n cheese was a big hit). We enjoyed our dining experience and while inside is beautiful, it's worth sitting outside of the weather cooperates. read more

I celebrated my birthday here. Initially Couldn't make a reservation online because everything was booked and couldn't reach their line. But didn't realize staying at The Jefferson hotel would help get a reservation. The raw oysters were so good and sweet. I ordered the Herb Roasted Rockfish and it was delicious. The sweet potato purée and perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts with bacon was a really good trifecta. read more

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This place is wonderful! The atmosphere was just great. The restaurant is beautiful and jaw dropping with much splendor. ALL the staff were super friendly, attentive and kind. We had a fine dinner here and then breakfast the next morning and we had equally great experiences here and with everyone we met. The food was delicious! The fresh fried oysters, the salads, the soup and entrees... everything was super fresh, well seasoned and just perfect! I loved the creativity with the pursuers that came with a bit of house-made hot sauce and blue cheese sauce. The Caesar with white anchovies was super tasty. The halibut was perfectly cooked. Every bite was wonderful! And breakfast was awesome too! Especially the eggs Benedict and the grits!! read more

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The restaurant was more than half empty tonight. We were seated, ordered, and enjoyed our appetizers. Then we waited an exceptionally long time for our entrees - more than 45 minutes! As soon as we complained that we had not received our main course, we were told that they were serving a large group in an adjoining room. We questioned if we were ever going to be served our meal, suddenly our dishes were scurried out as if they had forgotten about them. The manager asked if we were satisfied with our meal, and we said no. The food was good, but overpriced. The service was TERRIBLE! read more

Bartenders were nice and quick but the espresso martini was sooo watered down. It was definitely not made with real espresso. I could see straight through the drink. It tasted like an iced coffee when all the ice melts. The glass was hot out of the dishwasher too. Not the most appetizing for a martini read more

Unfortunately my experience dining at Lemaire last night was less than acceptable. This was an annual tradition of going to dinner and then seeing the Christmas decorations, but by far my worst experience dining here. The waitress was very rude, short and inattentive from the start. When fine dining, you are paying for the experience and she certainly made sure it was a negative one. All of the food was cold and subpar. The $24 crab cake appetizer was extremely salty and I found multiple shells in it. The Mac and cheese was very cold and my friend's beef tenderloin entree that mind you was $58 was over cooked and you guessed it.. cold. They were not serving any oysters due to a salmonella outbreak (not their fault) and yet did not offer any specials leaving 2 items off of an already small menu. I will not be returning and for the price point they need to do way better when it comes to the staff's attitude and food quality. This was supposed to be a good experience and ended up being far from it. Luckily Richmond is filled with amazing restaurants that know how to do the dining experience right. read more

We just had the most wonderful meal and overall experience. I made the huge faux pas in not double-checking my reservation date. My sister and I are in Virginia to visit our grandparents for the holiday season. The entire place was paceked to the brim, a huge private party was booked downstairs and I was crushed to see that I had mistakenly booked for three weeks out. Liam and GG were at the front - it was a chaotic night and they both were the most kind and respectful. Liam graciously offered to look for open seating. Then, Melissa came in. She was able to seat us after a cancellation - a Christmas miracle. We were stunned and ecstatic to say the least. Our server was Ray - again, kind, warm and professional. The bar delivered SUPERB incredibly dirty martinis, with an attention to detail. I enjoyed a Sangiovese. Then, the food. We had the chicken, rockfish and salmon. All mouth-watering and delicious. Finally, to top off this treat of an event, we shared the crime brûlée which was out of this world perfection - light, not too sweet and a touch of nutmeg perhaps? Overall, I understand the care this team took - on a busy Saturday night in the start of December. We were so fortunate and we thank the restaurant so much for accommodating us. We will continue this tradition every year (except next time, I'll be sure my reservations are correct beforehand!!!) Cannot say "thanks" enough from the "Jan 2,2024" crew. We appreciate you! read more

Delicious! Ate here for my birthday dinner. I loved the tenderloin main course especially the mushroom and leak bread pudding!! My wife loved the rockfish almondine with the wild rice with a subtle hint of apricot. The caesar salad was perfect for sharing. For drinks, had the old fashioned with bulleit rye and my wife ordered the espresso martini. the martini was very good but not extraordinary. For dessert, we split the cookie cheesecake. Interesting choice with a biscoff cookie on top ("speculoos" cookie) , but it worked! Waiter was very professional. can't wait for the next special occasion! read more

Lemaire is everything you could hope for in a fine dining setting. I'd classify the menu as "old school" with a twist. We started off the evening with a drink in the lovely bar area. My husband had his usual bourbon and water, and I tried one of their signature cocktails - a mix of gin, lemon, and lavender served up. It was delicious and refreshing. We were seated in a small room facing the front street entrance to the hotel and enjoyed watching passers-by. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive, and the meal was paced appropriately. The wine list is excellent! We drank wine by the glass since I was eating seafood and my husband eating steak. For starters we had the little gem Caesar and summer squash risotto. My husband eats Caesars whenever they are on the menu, and said this was some of the best dressing he's had. The risotto was creamy and light, with tender chunks of squash, and a sprinkle of chiffonade cut radicchio that added texture and freshness. Sublime! We had the sea scallops and flank steak for our mains. The scallops were served with a poblano sauce, spicy slaw, and well browned polenta cakes. The slaw went well with both the scallops and the polenta cakes. The "perfect bite" was scallop, slaw, and a swipe of the poblano sauce. The flank steak was served with chimichurri and Carolina gold rice. My husband loved the tang of the chimichurri and steak, and I kept sneaking bites of the creamy, delicately seasoned rice. Since it was my birthday, I splurged and ordered the lemon Bavarian for dessert. It was the perfect light touch after dinner, with a complex sweet-savory flavor from the olive oil cake, tarragon-laced cream, raspberry ganache, and fresh blueberries. Lemaire is an elegant restaurant, not trendy, and is the perfect spot for a celebration dinner. read more

Hotel restaurants always over deliver due to location, in my opinion. This place contain great lighting quiet setting, and even elegant decor. It was a classic fine dining! The drinks definitely hit, so you'll definitely leave satisfied. I can say it hurt that dinner didn't start until 5 p.m. although I was just looking to grab lunch, I waited for dinner, and to my surprise the Flink Angus steak was worth waiting for. This place is definitely a great setting for lovely business meeting or perhaps a couples outing. I definitely recommend if you're looking for something upscale in Richmond. read more

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I loved the flank steak from my last visit here. Todays visit was just for desert and the chocolate cake did not disappoint. So decadent and indulgent! The service here is always excellent! The hotel is beautiful and a lovely stop in the downtown area. read more

Lemaire Restaurant - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My husband and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our 7th anniversary of marriage. We are both vegan and asked them if they had any options for us food wise. We arrived early, so we sat at the bar until our table was ready. They showed us to our table and presented us with a separate vegan menu! We were so happy! Each dish was amazing, and we even got a dessert, which is so rare at places that are not typically vegan. It was so good that we are having our daughters 18th birthday party there in September. The room is beautiful. The only complaint is that the AC was under the window where our table was. It was freezing. read more

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I'm a little surprised to be giving LeMaire 4 stars but the takeaway from a recent dinner was that the restaurant didn't live up to expectations. I had the Crispy Chesapeake Bay Oysters and Bar Harbor Maine Mussels for appetizers, the Ancho Chili Rubbed salmon and Vintage Grass-fed Beef Tenderloin for entrees and added a side of the mac & cheese. Dessert was the strawberry leches cake. The hotel is elegant with a classic touch. The restaurant has different atmosphere's in the bar/dining area near the entryway as compared to the patio seating or smaller dining rooms in the wings where I was seated though I imagine they all offer pleasurable experiences in their own different ways. From a mile high I must say the meal was good and service was fine. Perhaps it's due to the grand list of dining experiences I've accrued over the years that LeMaire falls well lower in the ranks than I might've expected. The restaurant of Richmond's only five star hotel doesn't compete with Tarrant's, Millie's, or the Boathouse. It's true peers are Richmond's best, Chez Max, Julep's, and Buckheads which, along with others stand at the highest tiers of the city's dining landscape. The meal was fine and the food was tasty, but for an establishment like this 'tasty' doesn't cut it. All was good though but uninspired; though I didn't expect perfection I was looking for an incredible experience. Service was attentive but surpassable. We had no problems to speak of but I will say the farro verde that came with the salmon was too salty and wasn't eaten. Forgoing a stiff drink or wine I went with the seasonal IPA which was nice though made water the preeminent beverage of the table which surprisingly hit bottom a couple times during the meal. For $130 I expected a more memorable and rewarding experience, one that left me buzzing rather than being forgettable and overall - underwhelming. read more

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This sunny morning we decided on dining in the restaurant instead of orfeeing room service again. My party of 4 enjoyed a simple sunlight corner table this morning. We were quickly seated and paper menus were placed on our table clothed table setting. I always appreciate a proper tablesetting, cloth napkins with table cloth. Quality utensils that were clean and probably polished when the table was set. Our waiter was very friendly and wore a mask, but Jadens smile was in his voice. He filled out sparkling clean water glasses and asked if we would like coffee. Offered s selection on milks or creamer. I went with OAT MILK!!! Although I do not use any sugar or sweetener with my coffee I noticed about 5 different varieties. He went for our coffee which gave us time to make meal selections. I went with Belgian waffles chose the banana compote with hazelnut spread and toasted hazelnut it arrived with a dollop of whipped cream. Hot and fluffy it did not call for extra calories by adding butter. I poured the warm syrup on top and dove in. I enjoyed a side of stone ground grits with melted cheese. Hubby and went with Bacon egg and cheese toasted Crossiant with a slice of tomato and I believe spinach. Bro in law had a crab stuffed omelet with a side of smoked salmon(my fav) my lil sis went either the Lemiere platter scrambled eggs, bacon, warm Crossiant and delicious diced potatoes. Jaden offering more coffee when I enjoyed. A variety of juices are also available. All in all we totally enjoyed our breakfast, service was excellent as well. We agreed to dine here again even when were not staying in the hotel read more

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Had a lovely breakfast and lunch at Lemaire with partner's family - the service was impeccable and we enjoyed both meals. I especially loved the Hot Honey BLT and Barvarian as dessert; it was a very filling meal and the ingredients tasted fresh. read more

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We didn't eat at the restaurant (unfortunately). We happened to walk by this building and oh my gosh it's beautiful! We stopped inside to take a peak and we hope to stay at the hotel as guests one day. The inside is equally incredible. We grabbed a drink at the Lemaire bar. The drinks were good. I felt undressed (wearing casual clothes touring the city) but the staff was very friendly. Classy place and based on the service I'd come back. We had "The Riviera" and the "Gin Ruby" cocktails. read more

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The food itself is a solid 4, but the environment from what I notice during my past 2 nights in RVA is a solid 5. I couldn't pay to stay here a night, but why not check out the lounge for a drink? Whether it's a small hotel like Days Inn or something bigger like Bellagio, hotel lobbies are usually busy or loud with children. The Jefferson is a well kept luxury hotel, no signs of children anywhere. $3 draft beers, $5 cosmo or old fashioned for happy hour. I settled for a beer and shared 6 oysters for $15. Refreshing and delicious. I love how despite it being HH I didn't feel rushed, the servers weren't waiting for us to order more food, and other patrons kept their conversation to an appropriate volume. Mom and I decided to check out their dinner menu and settled for a medium rare filet mignon and seared scallops. She enjoyed both, but I vote for a solid 4 based on flavor. After dinner I highly recommend spending another 15-30 minutes or so relaxing in the hotel. The staircase is a beautiful spot for photos and there's a small exhibit showcasing the history of the hotel. read more

Lemaire Restaurant - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Amazing. Every detail. You will leave only wanting to eat their food for the rest of your life. Gorgeous ambiance, great date spot or special occasion, can't wait to go back! read more

Lemaire Restaurant - Salads & Crab-cake - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I spend a good amount of time in Richmond perusing around and I've always wanted to go Lemaire. My previous coworker's son used to work there and definitely recommended the place, along with their drinks. And so, I went there with my fiancee to celebrate our anniversary. Ambience? Divine Service? Phenomenal Food? Pretty good. Bread? Plenty. Our waiter was so fancy sounding I feel blessed just hearing his words. Steak was cooked how I wanted it, drinks were affordable yet fancy, and my lovely date had a great time. Thanks Jefferson/ Lemaire . read more

Went here for my bf's birthday. Made a reservation online and they called and texted me to verify. Easy to do. For the food: AMAZING. The butternut squash soup was heavenly. We had crab cake, grass fed tenderloin and my bf had the scallops. We also had beer and wine, as you should, to celebrate a birthday! Overall, pretty delicious . Also, the hotel is beautiful! Lots of history there to look at and read. read more

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My three positives and a negative because the world needs more positivity: + it was a good friend's birthday and Bruce took great care of her (her menu even had happy birthday written on the top) + the scallops were divine (just three for over $30 but melt in your mouth delicious + the frozen s'mores was not something I would typically order but yum. So much to like about it - it was a little bit unkept. There was a fork in the corner & one of our wine glasses was not clean. Still a great experience but not quite to standard read more

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I didn't love it. And I hate saying that. The Jefferson is such a gorgeous hotel venue in downtown Richmond. Absolutely stunning. So of course I've had the hotel's famed restaurant bookmarked pretty much since I moved to Richmond a couple years back. An opportunity arose to dine in for Easter dinner with my mom who was visiting from out of town. We walked in at our 5:30 p.m. reservation time and were seated in front of the fireplace...potentially the best table for a couple [and/or a mom-daughter combo]. The chandeliers were beautiful and, as I overheard, made from murano glass straight from Italy. Nice! I also loved the crown molding -- such detail. The tables were decked out in classic white linens, and the whole feel of the space was very sophisticated and well done. So why three stars? The food and service. It felt more like being in a high-society performance than an actual high-quality experience. I did enjoy the strawberry-topped salad enough, but the chicken entree (which sounded promising with an array of add ons such as spaetzle and cabbage) was just so bland and not even entirely warm. The raspberry chocolate cake was average but not worth the price tag. All in all, the meal reminded me of an ensemble you'd taste at a wedding venue. I think all the dishes were immensely overpriced and presentation was valued over culinary sophistication. If I was to return in the future, I'd opt for bar seating without a doubt. The bar looked a bit more modern and inviting than the formal dining room. I'm pretty bummed that neither of us were 'wowed' by the meal, but it was nice to step out into the hotel lobby and admire the spring decor and ornate workmanship. read more

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We ate here for dinner before our date at the theater. We had reservations which I would recommend unless you wanted to try your luck at the bar. We were there at 5pm on a Saturday and it was pretty crowded. They bring you fresh sourdough bread when you are seated. The dining hall is gorgeous, just like the rest of the Jefferson Hotel. We ordered the Crab Cakes as an appetizer and they were perfection - perfect texture and seasoning, not salty or mushy at all. Then we ordered the Scallops and the Duck Breast for dinner and both were delicious. For a romantic date and some scrumptious French cuisine this place is a winner. read more

Had my husband's birthday here tonight. Very nice and accommodating staff. Service was excellent and the food was wonderful. We have a couple of vegans in the family who were able to have delicious meals which is rare, and we never take for granted!! Highly recommend. read more

Haven't been to Lemaire in quite a few years. What a great Valentines meal! Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. Spaced out, private seating, which is a plus. Great atmosphere. We got both specials, the halibut and the ny strip, everything was delicious! read more

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Came here for another date night with my boyfriend and it was great! Fine dining etiquette to a T! Great food portions and ambiance. The only thing was I had ordered their lamb option medium well and it came out medium rare. I did have it sent back, in which it came out medium rare again lol. The waitress was really embarrassed, which I told her it obviously was not her fault. They care about customer satisfaction, so at that point the restaurant manager came out to see what happened. At that point he took my dish and brought it to the kitchen himself. He came back out and it was exactly how I wanted it, so I was really appreciative of that. read more

Lemaire Restaurant - So handsome - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Good: 1. The food was delicious. 2. Friendly staff. 3. Server was pleasant. Not so good: 1.We waited almost 15 minutes to be seated. 2. Bread plates and butter knives were set on the table, but they did not serve bread. Someone in our party settled for a burger when they were interested in a soup, salad and bread combination. 3. Their menu had vague descriptions (ex. One of menu items had poppy seeds on the bun and we would have ordered a different menu item if we knew that ahead of time). read more

Lemaire Restaurant - No complimentary bread during lunch service but they provide a bread plate and butter knife... - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Well it's been a year since my wife and I tied the knot. While the whole year had been magical, I can not say that I expected to spend half of the first year of our marriage locked in a house with my wife due to a pandemic. In order to celebrate we decided to go out to a luxurious dinner at Lemaire and it was as amazing as our first year together. Right now reservations are readily available so I was able to get one on short notice and appear to my wife as if I had been planning this for months. When walking in they have someone at the door verifying your reservation and that you are wearing a mask. Once inside the host congratulated us on our anniversary which was very nice. Once seated he presented us with paper menus that also said "Happy Anniversary" across the top. I started with a delicious draft cocktail, essentially an old fashioned. We then ordered two appetizers, the fired green tomatoes and the crab cake. The tomatoes were served with succotash and shrimp and were incredible. The crabcake was incredibly tender, and served overtop an avocado, pistachio pesto. It was full of crab and delicious. When it came time to order entrees I went with the filet mignon while my wife ordered the cobia. When the filet was set down in front of me, I was astounded, it was a beautiful cut of meat served with potatoes and broccolini. It picturesque in the way it was presented. It tasted even better than it looked, full of flavor, incredibly tender and cooked extremely well. My wife raved about the cobia as well as the rice it was served with. Typically we share bites of our entrees but we enjoyed them so much we were not willing to even sacrifice one bite. We wrapped up the meal with crème brulee which was the perfect sweet taste to end the meal with. Overall, we had an amazing experience. The tables were spaced out appropriately, it was quiet enough to have a good conversation, and the service was amazing. I cannot wait for our second anniversary so we have an excuse to come back. read more

Lemaire Restaurant - Filet Mignon - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The Jefferson is closed to public because of covid unless you have a booking/reservation, so we decided to have a nice Saturday dinner in Lemaire since we were in town, the Jefferson is a place to see for first timers in Richmond and Lemaire has good reviews! We arrived for 8pm seating, I asked for outdoor seating and was lucky because we were the only ones outside at 8pm. However, the service was sacrificed since we were outside and the servers were focused inside. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, but we only saw him twice, once when we ordered and when we were ready to pay. We couldn't ask for salt/pepper or even let him know we decided we wanted all the meals we ordered out together. My husband and I ordered one beef tenderloin each, his was cooked medium and mine cooked medium well and mushroom risotto to share. You know, it would have been 4 stars because we enjoyed our beef tenderloin a lot!!! It was cooked to perfection and the portion was perfect as well. The mushroom risotto was okay, perhaps would be better with salt and pepper, but we never got the opportunity to ask for that since no one ever checked how we were doing. Nevertheless, my husband and I had a good time together. It was pricey, but we were expecting that. We just weren't expecting the service to lackluster. Good thing we got to see the hotel afterwards! read more

Lemaire Restaurant - Mushroom risotto - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Visited Lemaire Restaurant yesterday and had a wonderful time. Our server was Jarrod and he was awesome. Had the shrimp cocktail, peanut soup, and turkey sandwich with a tossed salad and for dessert, had the eggnog cheesecake and they were all terrific. We go to Lemaire every Christmas to enjoy all of the beautiful decorations at the Jefferson Hotel. Such a wonderful place during the holidays. read more

Lovely little restaurant in the Linden Row House. The dining room is quiant and intimate. Our dinner was very good and the staff was friendly. When the weather is warmer, would love to sit in the courtyard. read more

The ambiance was great but the food was unseasoned and mediocre and the service was poor.

If you like slow undercooked food, this is your spot! I'll be reaching out to the health department Monday morning. Sad. Great location.

Fantastic food, a little pricy but worth it!, Great service. Beautiful restaurant in a historic hotel.

Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.0/5.0 Value 2.5/5.0 Decor 4.0/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Great restaurant at the excellent Jefferson Hotel. Stopped by dinner, and everything was at least good. Would come back (and stay at the Jefferson next time)! read more

Great spot for celebrations. Excellent food and drinks. Knowledgeable staff. Make a reservation! You can have a great time at the bar, if you can get a seat. read more

Amazing service, delicious food and definitely worth the price. We went for breakfast after staying at the Jefferson for our anniversary and the smoked salmon royale was one of the best breakfast plates I've ever had. Above and beyond service from our waiter, he was so attentive and made sure everything was just right for our experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

I absolutely love Lemaire. The farm to table menu never disappoints. My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a dinner to Lemaire. While most people shy away from eating at hotels locals frequent Lemaire for it's delicious food and intimate atmosphere. We had the risotto as an appetizer and for dinner I had the pasta with fresh veggies and my husband had the duck. Both meals were cooked to perfection and the right portion size. We finished with an amazing deconstructed peanut butter pie. When I say it was good... that doesn't even begin to describe it.. it was the most amazing thing I've eaten in a long time and I would go back to have another in a minute. Added bonus, they will sometimes have a local wine distributor that will talk about some feature wines from Virginia. I just adore the way this restaurant involves the local community and the region in delivering outstanding food. That always hits the mark! Can't wait to come back. read more

For dinner I chose the Duck breast and was not disappointed. The Duck was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing with the mix underneath. The vegetables were a nice mix of soft and slightly crunchy for the carrots and the sweet potato was so light and delicious. The huckleberry Demi tasted great with the duck and with the vegetables. The table also ordered a side of apricot wild rice which was delicious and sweet with a nice variety of texture. The Chocolate mousse cake was very light and sweet, it wasn't overwhelming at the end of a meal where I might feel like I ate too much. The room was beautiful and had so much detail inside the hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend trying Lemaire. read more

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