I still don't understand why this isn't one of the hardest tables to get. The food is outstanding and is beautifully presented. The space is lovely. The services is excellent and the price point is reasonable. Why isn't this restaurant jammed? I don't get it. read more

An upscale French restaurant that apparently doesn't know its own wine? We went to Voila in St. James looking for a special-occasion dinner and never got far enough to try the food. Voila needs to do much better for my business. First, the wine list. Most of the wines available by the glass that I checked were inexpensive, poorly rated bottles. They were the sort of wines I would never expect to see featured at an upscale French restaurant, and being offered at prices I thought were wildly disproportionate to what was being poured. I finally found a rosé that I couldn't find much information about, so I asked our server a very basic question: "Who is the producer?" His first response was that the wine didn't have a vintage. Okay. That wasn't what I asked. I asked again: Who makes the wine? His next response was that it was French. Yes. I understood that. Who makes it? What is the vineyard or producer? After this increasingly bizarre exchange, he became visibly annoyed with me and told me. He took on an attitude suggesting I was somehow out of line for continuing to ask, and answered that it was from Provence. "I KNOW IT'S FROM PROVENCE," I responded. I wasn't asking for its country. I wasn't asking for its region. I wasn't asking for its vintage. I was asking a very simple question for an upscale French restaurant: Who produced the wine? This time he shot back, "I don't know," in a tone that suggested the problem was not his inability to answer the question, but my having the audacity to ask it. And here's the thing: not knowing would have been completely fine. I was there for a nice dinner, not an argument with a server. He could simply have said: "I'm not sure who the producer is. Let me find out for you." End of story. Completely acceptable. What isn't acceptable is an experienced server in an upscale French restaurant becoming irritated with a customer for asking a perfectly ordinary question about the wine being served. At that point, I was done. We stood up and left. I have no idea whether Voila's food is good. But after looking at the wine list and having this exchange, I had very little confidence that spending considerable money there was going to produce the kind of special evening we were looking for. If the restaurant knows as little about food as it does about the wine, I would not anticipate a good experience. So congratulations to Voila of St. James, recipient of my August 2026 Vin Ignoramus of the Month Award for exceptional achievement in answering the question "Who makes this wine?" with everything except the name of the person who makes the wine. My recommendation: Avoid this place. read more

Voila the Bistro - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

We finally got here when I decided to surprise my husband for his birthday dinner. GREAT decision! 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! read more

Voila the Bistro - Our Mains from the incredible Five-Course tasting menu: Tuna and Filet Mignon! - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

Dined here last week for a friends birthday and had a really nice dinner! 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! read more

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I cannot believe how good and undiscovered this restaurant is in the community. I have been there with big and small groups and every time the experience is consistently excellent. Truly a piece of Paris and the French experience in St. James . Not rushed, delicious and excellent. read more

Voila the Bistro in Saint James, NY, is a five star French fairy tale that sneaks up on you like a perfectly chilled Sancerre and then explodes into a whirlwind romance of butter, brioche, and pure joie de vivre that left me floating out the door higher than a soufflé on its third rise. Hidden in a charming little storefront that looks like it apparated straight from a Parisian side street, this gem glows with butter yellow walls, crisp navy banquettes, and zinc topped tables scattered with tiny vases of lavender like confetti from Provence. The ambience is an intoxicating blend of cozy neighborhood haunt and upscale escapade, where Edith Piaf croons softly over the clink of silverware, candlelight bounces off polished copper pots hanging like edible art, and the scent of thyme roasted chicken mingles with fresh baked baguettes that practically levitate from the bread basket. Vintage French posters line the walls, a chalkboard specials menu teases daily whims, and the open pastry case at the entrance winks with éclairs and tartes so pretty you will want to propose on the spot. It is intimate without being stuffy, lively without being loud, the kind of place where solo diners feel pampered and groups feel like they booked the whole arrondissement. The food is a masterclass in French finesse that had my fork doing the cancan across every plate. We launched with the escargot en croûte, tender helix beauties bathed in garlic parsley butter so fragrant it should be bottled as perfume, tucked into puff pastry helmets that shattered with flaky delight. The onion soup gratinee arrived under a golden dome of Gruyère that stretched like mozzarella in a romcom, revealing a broth so deeply caramelized it tasted like the chef slow danced with onions for hours. For mains, the coq au vin was a burgundy soaked hug, chicken falling off the bone softer than a whispered je t'aime, accompanied by lardons that popped like bacon fireworks and pearl onions sweeter than a first kiss. I dove into the duck confit like a kid in a ball pit, the leg crispskinned and melting, perched atop frisée salad with a warm mustard vinaigrette that tied everything together like a silk scarf. The steak frites? A sizzling cast iron triumph, hanger steak charred to medium rare perfection, thin fries salted just enough to make you lick your fingers unapologetically, and a green peppercorn sauce creamy enough to bathe in. Desserts were the grand finale fireworks, the crème brûlée cracked with a satisfying tap to reveal vanilla flecked custard silkier than lingerie, while the chocolate mousse arrived in a coupe glass swirled with raspberry coulis and topped with gold leaf like edible jewelry. Portions are French generous, prices feel like a Parisian bargain ($28 to $45 entrees), and the wine list is a curated tour de France with a crisp Chablis that sang harmony with every bite. Service was the Eiffel Tower of hospitality, towering, elegant, and impossible to ignore, with a team that glides like figure skaters on beurre blanc. Our server Camille welcomed us with a lilting accent and a complimentary rosé kir "because beautiful evenings deserve beautiful beginnings," then pirouetted through the menu with suggestions so spot on she must moonlight as a psychic. She timed courses like a Swiss watch, bread basket refilled before we noticed it empty, and when I mentioned loving truffles she surprised us with a shaved black truffle upgrade on the frites "just because you seem fun." The sommelier swooped in with a Burgundy flight that evolved with each plate, decanting with theatrical flair, while the chef himself emerged from the kitchen to present the soufflé au Grand Marnier rising like a hot air balloon, poking it tableside so orange scented steam billowed out like magic. Water glasses stayed topped like the Seine in spring, plates vanished ninja style, and the manager floated by in a chic apron to gift us miniature madeleines warm from the oven "for the walk home, or the drive, we don't judge." Every interaction sparkled with genuine warmth, turning strangers into friends and dinner into a memory we will replay on repeat. Voila the Bistro is a five star love letter to French cuisine that makes you want to cancel your passport and just live inside its buttery embrace forever. Whether you are toasting an anniversary, wooing a foodie, or simply treating your taste buds to the vacation they deserve, snag a reservation, loosen your belt, and prepare to fall head over heels. I left with a blissed out belly, a pocket full of madeleine crumbs, and a calendar already marked for my next visit, this place doesn't just serve meals, it serves pure Parisian poetry on a plate. Magnifique, Voila, you have stolen my heart and my appetite! read more

Dined here for a Saturday dinner. We had 6 pm reservations and didn't wait. Parking is a private lot and easy. Their patio area looked cute. I could imagine enjoying dining there in warmer weather. I called in advance to make sure they could accommodate my daughter's allergies. I think it was the chef I spoke to. He mentioned he had allergies too and assured me they could accommodate my kid. Her absolute favorite dish is duck breast. She had no issues with the dish and enjoyed it. They modified it slightly for her. They had gluten free bread but it still contained an allergen so she couldn't have it. It was very thoughtful of them to give her a side of potato crisps instead since she couldn't have the bread. I had the duck as is and enjoyed it as well. We liked how they cooked the duck to order because we like ours on the pinker side. My 6 year old had the filet mignon and fries. He inhaled it. My husband had the lamb chops, which was a special. For dessert, we had vanilla ice cream and a hazelnut soufflé. The kids had sorbet and strawberries. Voila was good for standard French food. I appreciate that they were so diligent about my daughter's allergies and she ate everything without any issues. My only complaint was that there were some lulls in service as our main meals were completed and then during dessert. So our meal felt like it dragged a little in the end. read more

Voila the Bistro - Duck breast - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

Quite a good meal, and my friend enjoyed their soufflé but their creme brûlée was small, over cooked (the eggs cooked unevenly so it wasn't smooth like it's supposed to be. It's very hard to make I understand, but they're supposed to be pros) and I really didn't care for the bread pudding. I ended up not eating it. I lived in NOLA too long to eat bread pudding that isn't fabulous. But it might be a personal taste thing. I don't think chocolate goes on bread pudding either so that was a surprise I wasn't thrilled with and the chocolate was a bit bitter for my preference as well. To be fair, my friend had the beef bourguignon and it was quite good as was the prix fix pork medallions and the escargot en croute appetiser that I had. I would definitely have them again but would have dessert elsewhere. I got the French Connection cocktail and it was a bit too sweet for me, but again, this could be a preference thing. Two drinks each came out more than the food portion of our meal so keep an eye on how much your drinking if you are not sure if you have enough cash or room on your card. They do take credit cards but some of us love a bit too close to our limits, yeah I mean me. As critical as I am of their desserts, the meal was good as was the service, just have dessert somewhere else or have the soufflé if you like chocolate sauce which I'm not a huge fan of, but my friend enjoyed it and that is what matters. Desserts are notoriously harder than they look so it might just have been an off night and pastry cheffing is truly an art so make up your own mind. read more

Voila the Bistro - My friend eating a soufflé at Voila Le Bistro. - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

Hidden gem! After several visits, I can confidently say the experience is consistently excellent. Delicious menu, very attentive and friendly wait staff, and a leisurely, comfortable dining room experience. read more

Voila the Bistro is a LI gem of a restaurant. The 5-course menu is special. The service is excellent & the ambiance is chic. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

First time eating here and everything was delicious. Will definitely go back for special occasions. read more

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Just did a Google search looking for a French restaurant with a charming setting - this fit the bill and more. The owner was very charming and friendly. We started with the escargot which was nestled in a small pastry basket, and the cheese plate - both definite repeat items. read more

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This place is EXCELLENT!! Food was Delicious and atmosphere was quiet. Just like old school dining. Service was exceptiona!! Wait Staff and attention to detail were flawless!! Definitely a HIGH RECOMMEND!! read more

great service. food was delicious. price was on point. Had the duck. cooked to perfection

Food was subpar. Vegetables tasted like frozen vegetables microwaved. Lamb not very tasty. Service was just eh

Don't let the cover of the book fool you. This place was phenomenal! It's been on our list of places to try and let me tell you it did not disappoint. The pesto pasta was out of this world. The service was fast and the food came out very hot. The restaurant itself was very quiet, I don't think there was music on. Not sure if that's an everyday thing but it was nice. Went on a Saturday around 5:30, no reservation needed. Food was so good I forgot to take pics. Don't sleep on dessert, get the bread pudding! read more

Highly recommend this quaint gem! Food was delicious and service was amazing. A quiet elegant ambiance!!

And now for something completely different. A French restaurant on Long Island. A great restaurant with authentic French accent coming out from the kitchen. Fresh pleasantly presented dishes to a laid back appreciative clientele. Short ribs, beet salad and excellent service make me look forward to my next visit here. Easy parking. Reservations suggested. read more

I have been to this restaurant a number of times. The food is exceptional. French cuisine is one of our favorites and it is so nice to have this restaurant nearby. The service is always spot on and where else can you get freshly made Souffle for dessert!. The restaurant should be booked solid as a hidden gem. The location does not match the fine dining experience. Saint James has a winner here. read more

This is a very cozy establishment, the chef is very accommodating, you can order dinner items for lunch just call ahead of time, the filet mignon with the sauce is always excellent, scallops are good too, I also like their desserts, the tasting menu is really a bargain, the service is also outstanding, I would say this restaurant really treat their customers with extra care which is rare among most of the restaurants in NY, it's a great place where you can get really good food and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere read more

My husband, myself, and another couple went here this past Saturday night. We wanted to go somewhere we have not previously dined at. I can't compliment the food and the service enough. We had a beet salad and also a buratta special appetizer. For dinner I had the scallops, my husband had the Bronzino special, and our friends had the roasted chicken and pork medallions. One meal was better than the next. We actually sat and discussed what each flavor/seasoning/spice was. The staff was very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We look forward to going back. read more

Voila the Bistro - Scallops with mashed potatoes and spinach. - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

The ambiance was nice going on a Wednesday night. It wasn't busy at all just me and my boyfriend and one other couple. I got the chicken breast which was paired well with the mashed potatoes. My boyfriend got the filet mignon and a side of fries. I had the prefix meal where I was able to get the vegetable quiches. The quiches were very flaky and light. The salad dressing in the middle of the quiches was very acidic and vinegary so maybe if the dressing was on the side it would have been better. The chicken was well cooked and the gruyere tasted good on it. I thought the scalloped potatoes under the steak were too peppery but when I had another bite they were pretty good. The soufflé was light and fluffy. I've never had soufflé before but there were more savory bites in the dessert that I wasn't expecting. Overall the food was pretty good. read more

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Everything was just superb, food, Service and the ambiance. Nice quiet atmosphere for a relaxing evening. We've been back quite often recently and are never disappointed. Great value for an exceptional dining experience. read more

I came here for a business meeting, and this restaurant was perfect for that purpose. It's tastefully decked out with all the holiday decorations, and warm and inviting inside. The service was friendly and helpful but not intrusive. I had a three course meal-salad with basalmic vinaigrette, salmon, and chocolate mousse cake. The salad was pretty disappointing with only mesclun and overly salty dressing. The salmon however was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The side of rice was a bit overcooked. I love chocolate anything, and the mousse cake was ok but not rich enough in chocolate flavor. Overall, not a bad meal but nothing to write home about. read more

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Strong recommendation for souffle! Nice french restaurant to visit at St James. The food is great. I ordered the ribs but I guess they have plums in it which I can't bear even a bit sour (sadly goes to 4 and I will change to 5 if the next time I ordered a better dish). The crab cake taste great. Again the souffle is my favorite LOL read more

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Really deserves a little more than 4 stars but not 5 hence the 4 stars given. Nice quiet ambiance although was empty on a Friday night which can be of concern. I would skip on the drinks, not high quality. My wife had the foie gras and enjoyed it. Her main was the duck (pictured) which she also enjoyed. I started with the potato leak soup, it was excellent. Finished with filet mignon (pictured), very good. Food was solid. Service was excellent as well. read more

Voila the Bistro - Filet mignon entree - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

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My husband and I, along with another couple, ate at Voila the Bistro on Sat. evening 2/24. We had a wonderful dinner - great food, excellent service. We had a round table towards the back of the room - quiet. The highlight of the meal was the soufflé and I recommend leaving room for dessert. We'll definitely return to Voila sometime soon - I highly recommend going to this restaurant for a lovely night out!! read more

Restaurants are always busy on Valentine's Day, but this year was busy as usual, but the service was excellent. The special menu for the day included lobster bisque, crab cakes, salmon, etc., and everything we ordered was excellent. We always enjoy our visits to Voila - like a little corner of France in Saint James. read more

My bf and I were excited to try Voila because of the great reviews from a few places. We went yesterday for my birthday celebration. We dine out frequently but were never as disappointed with the food and lack of professionalism as we were yesterday. We noticed it being pretty quiet for a Saturday night. There were a total of 4 tables during the time we spent there. We tried their 5 Course Menu and ordered Foie Gras as an additional appetizer. The few upsides to this restaurant is that they are BYOB so we brought our own bottle of wine. Our first course was a potato purée soup. It was bland, not horrible but nothing special. The Foie Gras, actually was very good. We enjoyed the savory cherry sauce the chef had prepared with this dish. Second course we had the beet salad, which again, is nothing special. There were three pieces of beets with a crumb of cheese on top and a few dressed up pieces of mixed greens on the side. It was underwhelming and looked like a plate prepared to feed a toddler. We also had the Escargot. The escargot itself was cooked and seasoned well but I didn't care for it sitting in the phyllo dough because it gave a chalky texture. Third, we had the veggie quiche and crab cake. The veggie quiche was small. It was ok. Crabcakes were ok if you take away whatever sauce was smeared over the plate with the candied condiments that accompanied it. It strangely tasted like Chinese takeout rather than French cuisine/influence. Onto the fourth courses: We had the filet mignon but what came out was not what you would pay at a nice restaurant for filet mignon! I was struggling to cut it with my knife. It was so tough and unacceptable. We asked the waiter to double check what cut of meat it was and he returned to tell us "it's kind of like a steak". We also shared the pan seared sea scallops. It was cooked and seasoned well. However, when your menu states "sea scallops", you would expect more than 1 scallop. The plate had one scallop. The small portion sizes make me feel like the restaurant is cutting corners the same way the lack of quality of the "filet mignon" was cutting corners. We've been to the restaurant Mosaic which serve small portions but everything on its plate makes sense and is worth the price. Voila is horribly disappointing. We were hoping it would improve as the courses came out, but it did not. Lastly the dessert: the Lemon Custard was pretty disgusting to say the least. It tasted like cleaning fluid to me. My Creme Brulee had a very thick layer of carmelized sugar and the custard tasted old. Truth be told, we will not be returning or recommending this restaurant. Before we left, we left a note on our honest opinion of their place. I had an Instagram story up tagging their location before I knew it wasn't good so I followed up to let my followers know that I do NOT recommend the place. Voila actually reached out to me to insult the bottle of wine we brought as well as calling us rude and cheap. After a few exchanges, I decided to ignore their messages. They were very defensive and unprofessional. I can only hope that one day they take criticism in a positive light and make improvements to their establishment. If you're trying to decide whether you want to try Voila or not, we would urge you to save your money and go to the other amazing restaurants around the area. read more

I had lunch there with the Smithtown Seniors. I had the pumpkin soup which was delicious. The chicken was dry and tuff. The mashed potatoes were almost none existent! The half of a cupcake of bread pudding was dry and I didn't finish it. I never heard of this place and will never be back!!!. They charged extra for a second soda and a basket of bread!!! read more

Fantastic French/American cuisine. Great service. Wonderful atmosphere. It was very quiet, especially for a Friday night. But god, everything was amazing. Definitely coming back. read more

Really wanted this place to be fantastic. This is a French bistro! How do you over cook chicken breast!? This is st

My husband and I went in last night to try the tasting menu, we are so happy we did! We made the reservation for as early as possible as we were so excited to go. Each course was even better than the last, I felt like I was trying flavors I've never tried before. We were very impressed by the food. The service as well was very pleasant and helpful. All in all great dinner - we would definitely recommend :) read more

This was a quaint, romantic place to have dinner. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here. The wine selection was great and I was surprised how inexpensive it was. There isn't even a corking fee if you want to bring your own bottle. My wife enjoyed the short rib dinner and I enjoyed the chicken milanese. I believe there was a type of beet sauce on the chicken that I did not care for, but overall, was still good. They do offer a 5 course tasting menu for a little over $50 read more

I dined here yesterday and everything was amazing. The service was great, and the food was extraordinary. Even the presentations of the plates was top notch. I highly recommend this restaurant and you won't be disappointed. read more

Voila the Bistro - On the right is the Pork Medallions and on the left is the Atlantic Salmon. - New American Near Me - Saint James, New York

Absolutely horrendous ! Server was very pleasant and try his very best but the food was horrible. Pumpkin soup tasted like warm sugar water with pumpkin spice and some lamps garnish with parsley brown in color . Middle course - I had better cut of foie gras ( sauce was definitely overwhelming and it was swimming in it ) for the main course duck had a funky flavor is definitely too old to serve ,almost raw was chewy and had the same sauce from foie gras. We skipped desserts! .place was empty at 9 pm on a Friday I should know better.... I hate to do this but I'm in the restaurant business for over 20 years and this unacceptable ! read more

Dinner was delish!! Yummy French food. Lovely decor and excellent service!! We had the special appetizer of mozzarella salad, the quiche, the incredible French fries and the yummy seafood soup and crab cakes!! Would highly recommend. read more

Me and my fiancée had dinner on a Saturday night and it was one of the most amazing dining experiences we've had. It was a little crowded but the staff was very attentive and friendly. We respected the BYOB policy and brought a bottle of wine and ended up buying another. We had the tasting menu and the food was beyond phenomenal. She got the sea scallops as an entree and I got the duck breast and we ended with a hazelnut and a vanilla soufflé which was superb. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great meal read more

Wonderful 2-course lunch. Choice of 5 entrees and 3 desserts. Crab cakes were great as was the Chicken Milanese. Try it, you won't be disappointed. read more

Come often to this small French restaurant. Last time was during the holidays and the food was just ok. Service is always amazing. Wine selection is great. read more