Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
98 Provence
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for 98 Provence
Review Highlights
18 reviews in English
-
Review from Sara D.
Somerville, MA
8/22/2011
My boyfriend and I visited 98 Provence during our weeklong vacation to Ogunquit ME. We walked to the restaurant from the cottage we had rented in town (about 10 to 15 minute easy walk, but if you are driving, I believe they have a private lot). This turned out to be exactly the type of meal we like - - top notch food in a non-pretentious atmosphere. As my boyfriend puts it, we don't like places "where they put the napkin on your lap for you," (but we do like places where the napkins are cloth, ha ha!)
We arrived hungry and ready to throw down. We started off with a bottle of sparkling wine. I actually disagree with one of the reviewers below who said that the price point for the wine was reasonable. Honestly, I thought the wine was a bit pricey. I get that it's a profit center for any restaurant, but I think there should be at least one $40-$50 dollar bottle, at the minimum, on the menu for each type of wine (white, red, sparkling, etc.) Here, the least expensive sparkling was, as I recall, about $75. That's a bit much, particularly when the bottle was one that I could get for less than $20 at home. Don't get me wrong, when I go out for an expensive meal, I don't mind throwing down my hard earned cash (as indicated by our menu below), but I still want some value for the money spent. Call me old fashioned. (But really, it's because my boyfriend and I fall into the "2 bottles of wine with dinner" category of patrons!)
Onward to the food: For appetizers, we ordered the mussels special - the mussels were prepared in a delightful broth of chorizo, onions and a light mustard flavoring. The broth was not overpowering at all, the chorizo was super tasty and we sopped up the broth with the delicious house made bread. We also ordered escargot for an appetizer - - after all, when in a French restaurant, you gotta try the escargot. The escargot was excellent. It was served out of the shell, with what I believe to be some polenta and an excellent sauce over it. The escargot was tasty, not chewy like some places. Also, while the sauce was garlic based, it was not overly garlicky, which you often find with escargot. Overall, excellent preparation.
I should also mention that our waiter provide fantastic service. No complaints. He was funny and not too pushy, but knowledgeable when we asked him questions. Great service.
For dinner, I ordered the duck. It was a boneless breast, prepared with a raspberry sauce. It was really good - - the sauce did not overpower it, nor was it too sweet. Just right. My boyfriend wanted to order the house speciality, which is a veal mignon wrapped in applewood smoked bacon. Unfortunately, we got there late (8:30 pm) and they were all out. They substituted Filet Mignon for the veal and it was excellent. I tried it - - delicious. There was a wild mushroom cream sauce with it, which complimented the smokey bacon flavor. Overall, the entrees were delicious.
For dessert, we shared the pavlova, which was a lemon meringue type dessert with homemade berry ice cream. It was both tart and sweet. A nice ending to an otherwise heavy meal.
Overall, I would highly recommend 98 Provence and I will definitely return the next time we are in Maine. -
Review from George T.
Ogunquit, ME
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friends took me to 98 Provence for a special night out.
We had expectations of an exceptional meal. Regrettably our expecations turned out to have been misplaced -- we were all disappointed.
My food was so poorly prepared and plated that I actually took some pictures of it with my iPhone. I thought after reading some great reviews online I almost had to have photos or no one would believe that we were served such uninspired, poorly prepared meals.
I had the three course halibut dinner. The trout appetizer was okay ... basically it's kind of a tuna salad made with trout, served in a tea-party sized ramekin with a three tiny crackers on the side. The entree, a baked halibut, was overcooked and tasteless; totally unmemorable. Dessert was listed as a crepe flambe, but there was no flambe and the crepe was raw. One single, lonely, tiny, very cold raw crepe rolled up on a huge plate with some rasperry puree strewn about. It looked so sad, and tasted even worse than it looked.
My friends, who are much less critical than me when it comes to food, nonetheless gave their meals thumbs down also.
We decided that our venture to 98 Provence was an expensive mistake that we won't repeat in the future. Total tab per person with wine and a drink was $80 each. You can do ever so much better in Ogunquit for that kind of money. -
Review from Bill W.
Pittsfield, MA
9/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
New for 2011-breakfast. Absolutely the best breakfast I have had in my 68 years.
Seafood Crepes, roasted red potatoes, the best bloody Mary. -
Review from Josh B.
South Hamilton, MA
6/26/2011
While the atmosphere is clean and pleasant, the service was unprecedentedly atrocious and the food overpriced.
I had booked a table for three for a retirement celebration. Upon arriving, we left our car with the valet who I found to be a perfectly congenial young man. However, why the restaurant needed a valet when the lot was adjoined so closely to the restaurant was something of a mystery to me.
Two of us had arrived fifteen minutes before our reservation time and were awaiting the arrival of our third-party guest. We checked in with the hostess and waited at a table in the foyer. The bartender, while very friendly, lacked the variety of ingredients that would allow me to classify the liquor services at this establishment as a "full bar."
When our third guest arrived, we approached the hostess to claim our table. Without acknowledging me, she walked away. I turned to my guests with a look of disbelief, as I heard the hostess beckon, "This way." Oh. Ok. Thank you...
Our waiter could most accurately be described as awkward and tired, or morose (think Timothy Spall as Nathaniel in Enchanted). We were seated upstairs and to bring any food from the kitchen, the waiter had to walk up and down the stairs. He could only carry two plates at a time, but there were three of us. Apparently, there was no coordination among waitstaff, or a sufficient lack of waitstaff, to work together to deliver a table's food all at once. Rather, our single waiter had to make two trips to serve the three of us, so two-thirds of us waited with our food in front of us until our third guest was served. By the end of the evening, our waiter's face was drenched in sweat.
Each of us ordered a three course meal (appetizer, main course, dessert). The zucchini soup we ordered, at the recommendation of the waiter, was like drinking green cream - delicate and flavorless.
The hanger steak I ordered consisted of three, small, thinly-sliced pieces of steak and some sort of cooked, cheese/bread roll. On the three strips of meat, out of the nine bites it took to finish, two had un-chewable bits - not something I would expect to encounter on a $25 plate. A $30 filet mignon at somewhere as common as the Cheesecake Factory or Burton's would have been a finer meal.
For dessert, the Chambord truffle I ordered was easily the best part of my experience at this restaurant. The hazelnut, chocolate cake one of my guests ordered, again at the recommendation of the waiter, was declared less enjoyable. Purportedly, it was to be served with "expresso" ice cream, which apparently tasted more like pistachio, and the liqueur soaked cake itself lacked any hint of it having been soaked in liqueur. The coffee was fine, and the waiter was attentive at making certain we had enough of it.
The toxic cherry on this mediocre evening, however, was that at 9:00pm, having sat down at 6:15pm and ordering a three-course meal that cost more than $175 (tip included), very shortly, too shortly, after signing for the check, we were asked to move downstairs to the tables in the lobby so that our table could be used to seat other guests. We were not even offered free drinks or anything downstairs to help minimize the insulting nature of the request. The three of us were so stunned and offended by the request that we quietly vacated the table and left the restaurant. None of us has ever had such an experience in our lives.
I understand that a business exists to make money, and that it can be rude to sit at a table for ages while other diners are waiting for a seat, however, in this instance, all parties at the restaurant made prior reservations. Having to ask guests to leave could have been easily solved by the restaurant not overbooking their tables. We ordered everything promptly, ignoring that our waiter seemed to be hurrying us to order. We had not been lingering after we signed the check and were asked to move to another table. I have never in my life been to a restaurant where such a rude and outrageous request has been asked of me after I spent so much money for a leisurely evening of celebration with my closest friends.
Although this is a French restaurant, I cannot bring myself to call this a fitting example of French hospitality. All of us have lived and traveled in France and had wonderful experiences with the people, the culture and the cuisine. The only conclusion I can draw from this experience is that the establishment is in dire need of a personnel and management overhaul, from the kitchen to the dining room.
I hope the party they sat in our place was worth it to them, because neither myself nor my friends will ever return to the 98 Provence, and will henceforth discourage anyone from wasting their hard-earned dollars at such a subpar and uncivilized restaurant. -
Review from Matt B.
Everett, MA
8/11/2011
Both my boyfriend and I consider this to be the best restaurant we have ever been to. The food is out of this world, and I hope that you (like us) will feel nothing but joy when you finish it, and rave about it to all your friends later on. We didn't get up to Ogunquit this year, but we have already talked about making a day trip before the year is over just for this.
Aside from the food being incredible, the environment is also cozy, romantic, and classy. It's a very hard balance to find without coming across as pretentious, but I think Provence manages just fine. -
Review from Jane K.
Milwaukee, WI
8/16/2011
i need to give this place two separate reviews. one for dinner an one for breakfast -- as they were two totally different experiences.
on a recent trip up and down the coast of maine and the last stop was ogunquit. it was the only dinner i didn't research out or plan. it was 4 pm and i called to see if we could even get in. they were totally booked but said they could figure something out. that was the first sign of the customer service we received that night. everyone was so nice and accommodating.
we arrived and the cutest little table was set up right inside the door. sat down and the dinner began. so many wonderful choices. our server happened to be the chef's wife and she was awesome. i got the frog's leg provencal appetizer and the fisherman's soup. my partner got the yellow tomato gazpacho and the yellowfin tuna salad nicoise. we then had a cheese plate and split a dessert of passionfruit pot de creme with homemade macaroons. all paired with delicious wines.
frog legs: perfectly cooked. so tender and delectable. perfectly seasoned. fantastic.
fisherman's soup. now i know why people got mad when the chef tried to remove it from the menu. such a light complex flavored broth with fennel, a little tomato and finished off with pernod. the mussels, fish, clams and shrimp were perfectly cooked -- just done.
gazpacho. unbelievable. i can't even explain how fresh it tasted.
nicoise. the presentation was a clever riff on the classic with perfectly seared rare tuna medallions placed around a white bean salad encased in a cucumber wrapper and topped with thin slices of egg and an anchovy.
dessert. amazing. the currants on top were a perfect burst of flavor.
i didn't love ogunquit but i lived this place and would go back for dinner in a minute. what a gem. FIVE STARS FOR DINNER.
dinner was so good we decided to stop for breakfast on way out of town. what a different experience. it was almost as if they hadn't cleaned up or prepared for the morning from the night before. the hostess was mildly responsive and awkward. there were dirty tables and noone in the dining room. and when i went to the restroom there was standing water on the floor which i promptly reported.
i ordered earl grey tea since i'm not a coffee drinker and they were out -- in fact they didn't seem to have any caffienated tea available -- only herbal left in the box -- but after searching multiple tea boxes i found one bag of english breakfast. we were seated under the music speaker which was blaring pat metheny and other strangely 80s smooth jazzy tunes. and we could hear verbal complaints coming out of the kitchen in reaction to orders. the vibe was such a let down from the amazing experience just 12 hours before.
the food was still fantastic so i would go back but have to downgrade BREAKFAST TO 3 OR 4 STARS because of the service and the atmosphere. winderful homemade pastries and jams. perfectly cooked french toast and eggs as well as delicious french stewed beans.
i'm a huge fan of this place and hope that monday morning breakfast isn't always this way. -
Review from barbara k.
Seattle, WA
9/12/2011
We had eaten here on our last trip a few years ago, and couldn't wait to go back. The food was excellent, presentation and taste much better than the description sounded. Our service didn't quite match though, he seemed inexperienced with a busy Friday night. We got abandoned for way too long when I needed another minute to decide on a wine by the glass. Also, my husband pointed out to him that a man at the next table had dropped his napkin on the floor, and he told us that they were slippery, and didn't pick it up!
We returned for breakfast, and that was a good experience. Again, fabulous food, and better service til we needed our check and had to wait too long. Then the owner noticed and took care of it.
When you go there, pick anything that sounds remotely good to you, and I guarantee you'll be pleased with the food. -
Review from Brett J.
Billerica, MA
8/24/2011
Simply outstanding, from service right through the meal!
Celebrating our 10th anniversary, we decided to spend our first night at 98 Provence. Although they were completely booked when we called, they held a couple of seats at the bar until we arrived.
We enjoyed a wonderful meal with great conversation from a friendly and down-to-earth staff. Each item was perfectly prepared and presented and our only regret is that we didn't have the time to try more of the items there.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Blueberry Martinis expertly prepared by the wonderful bartender Michelle along with her homemade vanilla rum concoction. Thankfully we could easily walk back to our inn.
A must visit restaurant if you are in the area! -
Review from Bryan S.
Roslindale, MA
9/3/2007
French dining at it's finest (with the influence of fresh Maine seafood). Call ahead for a reservatoin, this local favorite is full every night. This family owned eatery is a sure thing. I have been here several times and have sent many friends and family members - all were more than pleased.
Listed in: Ogunquit Good Eats
-
Review from Beth G.
Somerville, MA
9/15/2008
I'm still thinking about the mussels and chorizo app I had on Saturday.
Fresh, quality ingredients prepared with real skill. It's one of the few restaurants I'm willing to travel for. -
Review from David L.
Tewksbury, MA
7/6/2011
Wonderful dinner and GREAT professional knowledgeable wait staff. It is refreshing to see a wait staff who knows there product and knew not only the food but the wine. We loved are dinner and is is a great value. The price points for both wine and entrees is reasonable. The frois gras and veal are a must have.We went July 3, 2011 and I will return. You should make reservations ahead of time. The only negative would be the country chic design and really ugly chickens dotted around the restaurant. The decor could use some help but the wait staff and quality of food far surpasses everything else in Ogunquit
-
Review from M B.
North Salem, NH
7/30/2009
Excellent example of French cuisine and at a good value. My husband and I stop here for dinner each time we are in Ogunquit and we have never been disappointed.
-
Review from JACOB B.
Middletown, NY
8/6/2010
Country french cozy atmosphere..... smart casual dress is appropriate...The yellow tomato gazpacho blew me away .... the veal filet rapped in serrano ham was one of the best veal dishes I've ever had, the duck in their cherry sauce was also worth 5 stars ....the escargot sitting insde a shelled tomato fell short, because it needed a garlic/butter drenching rather than their creative but not especially enhancing sauce...if it were not for the escargot, Provence would have gotten 5 stars..service friendly, informative and informal
-
Review from Kevin W.
York, ME
5/19/2011
Superb meal & service - we'll be back!
-
Review from Maggie M.
Brooklyn, NY
9/6/2011
Great wine list. I was all seafood-ed out so I got the roast chicken, and it was amazing. Tender and flavorful in a yummy herb broth. Love the chocolate truffle for dessert, as well.
-
Review from Debra H.
New York, NY
10/18/2009
My family enjoyed two wonderful evenings at Provence this past summer, and we plan to go back before it closes in December. The food, staff and ambience could not be more welcoming. Wonderful wine list as well. The chef's sister always greets you at the door as if you are a friend, very warmly and with absolutely no pretense. The specials as well as the standard menu were always interesting and beautifully prepared. I think it's really one of the top 3 restaurants in the area. They also have a charming bar area. I look forward to returning, and encourage you to try it soon. Merci!
-
Review from will r.
Smyrna, GA
8/14/2009
I had a religious expereince eating there.. Seriously
-
Review from stephen s.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
8/20/2008
one of the best restaurants in the area. and good value for the quality of the food. everything we ordered from the fresh baguettes, apps, entrees and desserts were excellent and the atmosphere is charming. and service was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. will certainly return when in the area.
