OK, I have been to this place twice now and twice it has been the #1 most indulgent and amazing meal I have ever had. Strangely enough going in January 2011 and 2012, I had the same waiter and same table like it had been waiting for me to come back. The chef is truly gifted and spares nothing in making the meal perfect. The wine list is comprehensive although a little too heavily French and the unique cocktails are as unique as the food. This last trip, I really wanted the chocolate souffle. The rules say 4 people minimum which I totally understand given the technically complex nature of the creation. They made an exception for me this time and I am so glad they did, it was amazing just like everything else. I had the Coquilles St. Jacques, Vol au Vent de Homard et Crevettes Sauce Homardine and I got the special fresh made saffron pasta with black truffles as my meal. My wife had the prixe fixe menu and absolutely loved it as well. We will come here every year we return. They give a cooking class on Sunday evenings but unfortunately didn't have one the Sunday we were there. I'm sure this guy could up my cooking game with an evening lesson. read more

During a recent visit to Vail, we dined two evenings at The Left Bank. The ambiance was wonderful and the view of Gore Creek, from our table, added greatly to the pleasantness of the evening. The food was superior, though extremely pricey, like all Vail. The wine list was excellent but, again, pricey. The Tiger Shrimp in a ragout were wonderful. The trout was excellent. However, the Grand Marnier Souffle topped everything. It was as nice a desert as I have had, anywhere. read more

The food was good, even though the price was a tab high for what you get. We ordered the Lobster Roll for $24 and the Pain Bagnat for $17. First of all, it would be unfair to compare the Lobster Roll you would eat in Colorado compared to what you would get in Maine, so don't even try. The roll was cold, but that was no surprise as we were told that before ordering. Plus it is located in a Ski Resort in Vail, so we are also paying an upcharge for the touristy ambiance. The side of potatoes and salad was delicious and the Pain Bagnat was decent too, although it tasted more like an olive sandwich with cod than anything else so beware of that fact before ordering. I would definitely come here again and recommended it to anyone who is not on a tight budget and who would enjoy a meal outside in the shade right next to the creek. Also, the restrooms were very clean and the inside looked fabulous too although it was closed due to C-19. read more

Absolutely "the best" food on Vail, hands down. This is a very special place. It has history and stands alone for French food in the valley. The wine list is powerful as well, there's something for every occasion in it, and they have a stellar cognac/Armagnac list to finish your night. Two big thumbs up! read more

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I agree with the review by Renato R. I grew up in New York, have travelled extensively and have been skiing at Vail for nearly 50 years. My wife and I always have our last dinner each year when we come to Vail at the Left Bank. It has remained consistently excellent throughout the years and the service has always been impeccable. The quality of the food, the presentation, and the service did not suffer at all when the new ownership took over from the original. The new decor seemed too "laboratory" and sterile to me at first, but I am getting more comfortable with it. I would differ only in one way from Renato's review and it is a mild criticism. Soufflés are challenging to make at high altitude but the ones at the Left Bank are beautiful with high hats and very genuine French consistency (usually a matter of cooking time and number of egg yolks used). But...the chocolate soufflé is a bit lacking in flavor. I have been making chocolate (and other flavor) soufflés myself for many years and my family consistently likes mine, which have a stronger chocolate flavor, to the ones at the LB. I personally prefer their Grand Marnier soufflé to the chocolate. read more

Outstanding! The renovated dining room is lovely. The menu has great variety and we thoroughly enjoyed each first course and entree. Steak tartare, oysters, lobster bisque, smoked salmon all excellent. Rack of lamb for two, Dover sole for two, lobster in pastry again all superb. Soufflé is a must. Service very friendly, appropriately paced and professional. The wine list has an extensive offering of French wines, less so new world and other and is pricey. read more

Last night in Vail we had dinner here since my brother loves all things French after living in France for 4 months during freshman year of college. The restaurant is old school and the decor a little dated, but it hardly takes away from the place. The service was wonderful and very helpful. The sommelier was very French, very cute, and very knowledgeable. The wine list is very extensive, but they have good affordable bottles to the extravagant bottles. They have a very nice cocktail list and started off my meal with a specialty martini which was very freshening and strong, not sweet. Everyone fully enjoyed their meal; everything was very well prepared. Although, I was a little surprised with how big the portions were. For the food, I would certainly recommend this place to anyone and would have given this place 4 stars if not for one horrible thing at the end....A little note to the owner/owner's wife or possibly just a horribly irresponsible maitre'd (not entirely sure who it was), you don't let your drunken friends come into the restaurant and allow them to ruin everyone elses' meal with their loud, rowdy behavior (we are talking bar room loud, not sitting down in a timely fashion, and bumping into other people's chairs). We told our sommelier on the way out who was completely astonished and very apologetic, but it was too late at that point to salvage our meal. read more

If you want what you can imagine Vail stodgies, New England preppies, and confused foreigners think is an opulent dining experience, Left Bank might be right for you. Sort of like a country club gone skiing. Or perhaps the owner is just a bit out of touch with modern. But maybe that's the point. This is fine dining circa 1980. And maybe that's okay sometimes. Rewinding a bit can be fun. You certainly won't feel any urge to be "hip" or "trendy." Overpriced? Absolutely. Go when someone else is paying for your standard French fare. Funny side note: I ordered a bellini because the waiter had already mentioned them. Then he came back and said they were "out of peach sorbet". Excuse me? You were going to make my bellini with peach sorbet? read more

Underwhelming. Came here for a birthday. Ordered truffle pasta to start, then bouillabaisse and sea bass. The truffles were great, but the pasta itself was congealed and not 'up to par' to justify pairing it with truffles. Moreover, one of their signature dishes, Bouillabaisse, tasted flat so-to-speak. $400 later--not impressed. read more

A well hidden gem in vail, very fine food and fabulous wine list like youd find in paris. read more

The Left Bank Restaurant - French Near Me - Vail, Colorado

Although my dinner experience at The Left Bank was special, I am not sure it was because of my food. The service we received was lovely as was the beautiful bottle of wine ($350 1996 bottle of red wine) we enjoyed. The escargot and first-course salad were just fine, but I was underwhelmed with the entree. I selected the seafood puff pastry dish at $45 dollars but didn't find it appealing. I understand classical French-trained chefs and how they create their works of art, but this one lacked a lot of heart. It should have been a lot richer in flavor and the selection size of the seafood and vegetable pieces were too large to accommodate what should have been a delicate dish. The service was very nice and for that, I give 4 stars. I bet this place is beautiful in the winter. read more

We (6 adults)were declined alcohol service while no one in our party was drunk or over served. We immediately left. We believe it was due to our political discussion that some staff and a table next to us disagreed with. We did not engage our discussion with anyone beyond our table, we should not be accountable or discriminated against for eavesdropping. We believe in equality for all I would never go to such a discriminatory place even though the lobster bisque was delicious. read more

Overpriced and underwhelming food. Over-cooked sole, wilted greens in the salads, my husband's trout was also over-cooked. There are plenty of other restaurants that offer great food for a lot less. read more

We had travelled from Breckridge (there on holiday from New Zealand) for the day to ski and my wife had scouted out Left Bank from some research she had done prior to our holiday with the main prerequisite being that Froi Gras (not something on any menu in NZ) was on the menu. We did not make reservation but the manager was extremely accomodating as we looked like we had just come of the slopes other than having changed ski pants for jeans. The restaurant has an up market feel to it, it is very tastefully decorated but not over the top pretentious. The service was excellent all night and the only niggly observation is that one of our party had not finished their meal but the rest of our plates were cleared. The food was excellent all night and the Froi Gras was amazing! Great night out thanks to everyone at The Left Bank. read more

The left bank has been by far one of my worst fine dining experiences. I have never left a restaurant so disgusted with the staff. We came in with a large group of 9 people. When we came in my uncle asked for a glass of sparkling water. Each of us chimed in and also asked for sparkling water. Normally, the waiter would use his noggin and ask "may I get you a bottle of pelegrino or some other sparkling water" instead he brought out 9 glass's of sparkling water. Generic stuff. They ended up charging us 21 dollars for this. Individual pricing... Nice right? The waiter didn't know the menu whatsoever. We ordered most of the menu. Including the oysters, which were great! Me and my dad ask the waiter what size they were and what kind. He told us they were the large ones... we ended up getting oysters the size of a thumb. We also order soups... for some odd reason they decide to bring out the soups with the appetizers! Making it VERY clear that they want us out. Who brings soup out with appetizers? The service was terrible. The waiter staff didn't give a shit when we complained. We ended up not even ordering main courses because we all lost our appetites. The food was delicious but the service was disgusting. Haha even at the bar. I was walking towards coatcheck and I realized I didn't have any small bills to tip the girl with. I walked over to the bar which was empty except for me the bartender and the hostess. I started asking the bartender for change when the hostess cut me off to speak to him about something. Completely disregarding me the bartender finishes the conversation with the hostess then turns to me. I ask him and try to hand him the 20 but he was busy cleaning some glass's so I had to wait for him to clean a few of them. I have my hand out waiting for him to hand me the change. Instead he decides to drop it bill by bill on the counter. Disgusting... was insanely rude and you could see in his face I was just bothering him. Guy has dreads by the way. Just in case the restaurant wants ask him about it. The only reason why I'm giving 2 stars is because the food was pretty good. Only complaint I have wthe food is the bread. French resturants are KNOWN to have the yummiest bread. So I really recommend you guys keep it fresh. Because 1000% it wasn't. Also, with the beef tartar... if your going to give crackers then make sure they aren't burned. They should be crisp, not black. read more

I was this weekend at Vail with my sweetheart. From 4 Restaurants the Left Bank was by far the best. It's a little bit like you are traveling in a time mashine back into the 70's. Decoration, food and service are old school. Just wonderful. I felt like a princess. The Foie Gras was cooked to the profection. The Lamb Chops exquisit. The chocolate souffle a delight. It was a little bit pricy but the perfect spot for a special night. read more

This was an incredible meal, we began with the foie gras, artichoke and avocado salad, and tomato soup, followed by the Vol au vent, rack of lamb, and steak au poivre. Finished by the lemon souffle, peach cobbler, and finally the amazing peach tart. I would highly recommend! read more

A very disappointing experience given all the good reviews I've read. PRESENTATION was nonexistent. Salad was sloppy and wet. Portions were huge (very un-French-like). No one really knew the wine list well. And while I'm at it, it was hotter than Hades and the lighting awful. read more

First I want to say my husband and I our restauranteurs and we are hard to please, with that said our experience from start to finish was amazing! The service was top notch the atmosphere and music was so intimate. The escargot & caviar were great then our main courses were both exceptional. I had quail and my husband had Elk chops we ate every last drop then had an wonderful dessert me a soufflé and he had a tart. We will be coming back and telling our friends. read more

My wife and I went here to give it a shot. As seen in other reviews, the decor is a tad bit on the campy side; but hey, it is a ski town after all. That has nothing to do with my review though. First a little background, my wife and I are huge foodies, it is practically an extension of our jobs anyway, so spending a night at a restaurant where the service and food is perfect is pretty close to our idea of heaven. Sadly, Left Bank is closer to that other place. Fortunately our service was good to excellent, otherwise the whole evening would have been a total loss. All of the dishes were significantly sub par and hugely overpriced, but nowhere was that more evident then the chlorine washed truffle pasta for a whopping $80 a plate..it tasted like a swimming pool. I've had fresh truffles, canned truffles, shaved truffles, truffle oil, Italian truffles, summer truffles, winter truffles, black truffles, white truffles, and truffle salt. What I was served was either the worst truffle of all time or a substitute. I will never return here, ever. read more

Our experience at The Left Bank was nothing but exceptional. We ordered a very nice bottle of Haut Medoc recommended by the sommelier. For our first course we ordered the escargot and the pasta with truffles. We loved it. I wish I'd had an order of the pasta for myself. For our main course we ordered the puff pastry with lobster and a king crab au gratin special they had. First off they should keep the king crab au gratin on the menu permimantly. It was absolutely spectacular and probably the sole reason why The Left Bank moved up to our number one restaurant in vail. The puff pastry was good but a little bland. The shrimps weren't seasoned and fell short to the lobster within the pastry. The chocolate souffle was smooth and the other desert we ordered with candied nuts and ice cream recommended by the waiter was sooooo yummy. The service was on point. We had water, warm entres, and full glasses of wine. The ambience was tasteful, romantic, and inviting. The couches are super comfy. We didn't want to leave. Excited to try the Dover sole at our next visit. Thank you for a wonderful evening. read more

Awesome dinner from start to finish. Best service I've had in a LONG time. We had the $40 prix fix dinner, which we chose to include: me: duck pate (really good and they gave me a LOT of it) small salad (wasn't expecting this; a nice touch) beef wellington (perfectly sized portion) brownie cake with ice cream him: (was very happy with all of the below) mushroom and parmesan appetizer small salad beef wellington ice cream Yes, it's an old school restaurant and probably not where the "cool kids" would go. But that is hardly a drawback IMO. I'll be back, again and again. Added bonus: they have a great/affordable wine list complete with half bottles. read more

We dined here this evening. Food was superb. The service was absolutely awful. I had to ask the hostess for help. She kindly took our order. We paid the check, again only after asking for it an hour and a half after we had been seated, without our dishes being cleared. The decor is ugly, the art worse. Not even close to being worth what paid for the meal. Not going back. read more

Came in with a larger party (8) for a New Year's Eve Eve dinner/birthday dinner. There was a bit of a wait. However. Cocktails and wine selection? Great. Food? Worth every penny--delicious. Meal pacing was excellent, despite a busy kitchen. Our server, Kurt (Kirk?) was *incredibly* attentive without hovering, had great knowledge of drink and food options, never rushed us despite the night being later (almost 10pm when the entrees came out), and made the overall night even more memorable. Kurt was PHENOMENAL. The one star off is purely for a staff member (younger white male, curly hair, terribly loud and mismatched blue/yellow shirt and tie--which was noticeably clashing with the rest of the staff in clean white/black). I'm assuming he was the sommelier on staff. He never actually said. He came over after we received our appetizers, asked who had questions on wine, and then without pausing informed us we needed to hurry up and order our entrees and better have our minds made up about dessert too, since we could inconvenience the restaurant's business. That would all be just a single sour moment, but the sommelier (we think?) continuously berated other staff members for serving drinks when customers asked for them, for not being stern enough and militant enough while training a new staff member, and for being generally personable to the customers (without delaying or hindering service whatsoever)--mind blowing things like that. And this was all done only FEET away from customers. Continuously. And loudly. Causing multiple parties to grow awkwardly silent from the scene he kept causing. I honestly thought he might have just been a random angry customer trying to cause a scene, he was so out of place at the otherwise excellent restaurant. read more

I stumbled across The Left Bank as most of the restaurants around were closed for the season. I'm so glad I did. The Lobster Bisque was heavenly. The steak au poivre could have been cut with a spoon. Everything was very elegant, and the service was fabulous. I definitely recommend this place. read more

The Left Bank Restaurant - French Near Me - Vail, Colorado

We celebrated our Thanksgiving Dinner here last night with their 4 course meal. It was busy but the staff was very friendly and helpful with pairing wine. The meal started with a squash soup that was the perfect combination of light and flavorful. The turkey main course was SO flavorful. For dessert my wife got the pumpkin pie and I got the lemon pie. The pumpkin pie wasn't overly sweet. It featured more nutmeg and cinnamon flavors and the lemon pie had the lemon flavor without the tartness you typically get. Both were perfect. The best part we left Thanksgiving meal without that feeling of guilt or like we just ate a lot of heavy food. We will definitely be returning to try other dishes this week. read more

We left ourselves in the hands of the staff and were thoroughly pleased. Recommendations of wine pairings were spot on. The meals were very well done to capture the natural flavors of the ingredients. I recommend the mushroom risotto and the blini caviar. For fine food, service and environment, the Left Bank is the place in Vail. read more

We had to ask to order drinks, after being passed by several wait staff, then asked for our salads. We never really had a waiter, just a hit and miss, whoever we could catch going by. We did not have a reservation, so I guess we were second class diners. Although there was ample wait staff, our service was poor to say the least. I can't say the food was all that. We can say we have been there, done that...no need to return. read more

My experience at The Left Bank has always left a smile on my face. I've never been a salmon lover, but after having their fresh grilled organic Wild-Scottish salmon, I find myself craving it more and more. It's so fresh and literally melts in your mouth! The Tartare de Boeuf is the best I've ever had - hand chopped and seasoned to order. You cannot escape without trying their authentic French Souffle, I promise it will not disappoint! The ambiance is beautiful and the service is lovely. A little bit of French delight in this beautiful resort. read more

We came here on the recommendation of the concierge after our first choice was fully booked. We walked to the convenient location, and was greeted immediately by a friendly host and the owner. The decor was nice but not to terrible gaudy. The lighting fixtures reminded me of champagne bubbles idk why but they did. The atmosphere was nice and pleasant and not pretentious. The wine list was good and a had an extensive choice of French reds however; they were marked up quite a bit, but that's to be expected. The fall menu was small but had enough variety to suit nearly all tastes. I enjoyed the fall menu special which included an appetizer a main course and a dessert. All of which where perfectly portioned (I don't like extremely large portions) and provided a taste of every course without feeling over filled. My saffron pasta with shrimp was cooked perfectly and had a well thought out balance of flavors. I would say that the left bank is a solid fine dining experience with a creative menu and nice atmosphere read more

We came here a couple of times just after Christmas, although it is pricey, the service and food is amazing. You really do get what you pay for here. The lamb shank was to die for, the escargot was amazing. i would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a truly amazing dining experience, service is faultless, food is amazing, and the atmosphere is romantic and upmarket! read more

This was the best steak au poivre i"ve ever had! The service was excellent and it was reasonably priced for a fresh, made from scratch meal.

My family and I ate here during our spring break vacation. It was amazing. The food was a little pricey but nothing out of the ordinary for the area. The restaurant has been completely updated, the staff were very nice, and the food was delicious and delivered in a timely manner. Notably the frois gras was incredible as was the tomato soup. Also, the chocolate soufflé was some of the best I've ever had (and I've had a lot). We will definitely be coming back on our next trip to vail. read more

We ate here on an early season $39 for three course special and were happy with the food, though the selection was limited. However, the wine list is outrageous even by Vail standards, with one red under $40, and hardly any under $60. ($59 for Cotes du Rhone???) read more

Surprisingly bad bread which is a big no no for a french restaurant. the bouillabaisse was outstanding as were the trio of cold soups, Other entrees at our table were very good. A; couple of complimentary appetizers and some freebie small pastries. Don't forget the soufflés. This is a very traditional french restaurant and could use a little remodel after 30 plus years. read more

It's pricey - but unlike most resort restaurants, you actually get what you pay for. This is our go-to fine dining spot when we're in the Vail Valley. I dream about the bisque. Mmm. read more

My favorite place to eat in Vail !!!!! The service, ambiance is great and the food is superb, We cannot wait to go back, keep up the great work read more

The food was great but the service subpar. The coat check gal was the friendliest and most attentive of the bunch, however turned us over to the hostess who didn't show up for 10 minutes with 3 groups waiting. Basic server etiquette and timeliness were non-existent. However the food was very good once the wheels got in motion. The 2 tables next to us were complaining about similar service. I'd go back because the first impression with the coat check girl was great and the food was good. read more

The Left Bank is the quintessential five star French restaurant. Contemporary in decor, yet classic in cuisine, Chef Jean-Michel never fails to surprise and delight. We've visited the Left Bank many times, over a period of many years. The service is attentive and flawless. The centerpiece dishes are prepared perfectly on every occasion. If you are visiting Vail or entertaining guests from out-of-town, this is a dining experience assured to reflect your taste and love of good company. On a recent visit in August we joked with Jean-Michel that while in Paris we tried to find a better French restaurant but came up missing the Left Bank. Our recommendations include the lobster bisque for its creamy elegance on the pallet, as well as the decadent truffle pasta, impossible in its simplicity but simply impossible to recreate. My eight year old son asks for the saffron pasta by name now, a lightly buttered, homemade past with delicious saffron sauce. I frequently indulge in the Steak au Poivre Blanc, an exquisitely aged filet topped with a flawless cognac cream finish; guaranteed to entice even the most discriminating patron to drag an errant finger over the plate for that last taste of sauce. Dinner is completed with the Left Bank's signature Soufflé au Chocolat, sauce Vanille, a luxurious affair, the desert equivalent to a stroll down the Champs Elysees with an open bottle of champaign in the moonlight. In all this restaurant is a quiet gem, a delight, a jewel of indulgent dishes and superb service in the heart of Vail village. read more

This wonderful restaurant has always provided excellent meals with elegant service. It is an institution in eh Vail Valley and a favorite of locals. We have had two delightful dining experiences within the last week. The Left Bank has just completed a total remodel with a beautiful more contemporary look. All new lighting, furniture and capet and a very clean less cluttered environment. This is a french chef owned (Jean-Michel) restaurant with the front managed by his very friendly wife Kimberly. Both of us had the green pepper steak on our first visit which was melt in your mouth tender. The sauce is to die for. On our second visit with friends we all enjoyed the Prix Fixe menu which was exceptional and a great bargain with a very reasonable wine pairing. read more