Emile's Restaurant
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
33 Reviews for Emile's Restaurant
I, at one point, considered Emile's to me my favorite fancy place to eat in San Jose. I used to rave about it and tell everyone it was the best French food around. My husband and I went there after about a 2 year hiatus...and it will be at least that long before we go back. Something is just missing and I am not sure what it is.
We each had a salad, his the mimosa, mine the beet. 1/2 of the beets in my salad were amazing. The other 1/2 were completely undercooked. The mimosa salad was quite nice. My entree was good (I had a steak), but nothing superb. My husband had a seafood dish and was quite happy with it, but again, it was not enough to blow him away. All dinner choices seem to come with the same vegetable selection...and for the money, I would expect to see a little more creativity with the sides. My dessert was light and refreshing and overall, the meal was fine - I just expected more for the price and I know they can do better.
Judging from the number of people in there, (there were only 2 other tables seated at 7:00 on a Friday night), I am not the only a little disappointed in what used to be a fabulous restaurant.
omg.... by far the worst place i have ever been to in my life.... i had better service out of a vending machine first of all when you walk in the door old hag at the front desk could use a lil work to clean herself up a lil. and who is the clown on the picture by the door she looks like a drag queen take that down pleeeeaaaasssseee . my boyfriend thought it would be nice to take me to this dump for our anniversary i could have killed him.
for the price you pay you'd think that their decor would be a bit more fancy and the lighting would be better its so bright in there. their whole menu is like the size of a 3x5 card and there isn't much to choose from and get some servers that speak english i couldn't understand a word that man said. the whole place look like a old retirement home. or maybe the old dead people from the funeral home go over there and have diner i was so amazed to see that a side salad was $10.00 and it wasn't even that great the food was not bad i mean it came out boiling but not at all good i mean if your starving you'll eat anything right..... i think i would have rather gone to applebees or mc donalds when we got the bill i was so upset because for the way the service was and how their food taste it really was not worth it at all.
thank you emiles for the worst anniversary ever i will never forget that horrific day
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It's been several years since we ate here. I'm sorry to say the food isn't quite the same as I remembered it.
Here's what I ate:
1. Daily special soup
2. The "Filet of Trout, Grenobloise"
3. Tiramisu
The main objection is that I expect more for an establishment like this. For instance, the "seasonal vegetables" was the same for every dish; the only thing different was the main entree. Also, the service was average to slightly above average.
Note: I have to commend the staff for making a soufle for three though. I've never seen a soufle so large.
Sublime starters, dismal entrees, uneven service, staid atmosphere. Bottom line: I won't be spending my time/money/calories here again.
Any kitchen that can put out vegetables and starters with such attention to detail really ought to be able to come through on the meat and entrees. Unfortunately, both entrees exhibited a staleness that spoke to time in a freezer. The service was eager to impress yet inattentive. The sommelier/server asserted his credentials and pushed us to upgrade our $75 1996 Cote du Beaune red wine to a more expensive bottle, but we wisely declined (our bottle was lovely.) We asked twice for water, but it never came. After the musty/bland entrees, we didn't choose to risk desert.
Details:
Filo "flower pot" with creamy goat cheese and "vegetables." (Turns out that "vegetables" = mixed baby lettuces. Why not just say so?) The lettuces were lightly dressed and beautifully presented in said "filo flower pot" with an ample amount of goat cheese at the bottom. Simple, fresh, elegant, tasty.
Truffeled egg with caviar: Wonderful truffle-y flavor permeated the homogenous egg, which was nicely balanced with a dollop of good quality caviar, served with carefully prepared toast points. Simple, flavorful, excellent.
Napoleon of Gravlax: This is one dish that really rewards the intricate presentation: The layers of crispy wanton skins and gravlax really highlight the texture and flavor of each element. The crme fraisch and caviar take the dish to sublime. Probably the best dish of the evening.
Entree's (both gruesome):
Duck breast with Grand Marnier sauce, vegetables, wild rice. The duck carried flavors from the freezer and was bland and chewy. A real disappointment. Wild rice was dry but OK. Veggies (green beans and carrots) were handled with care and a real treat - but not enough to overcome the disrespect paid to that poor duck.
Veal slices and mushrooms in demi-glace with vegetables and Swiss potato "rosti." I think this dish must be the kitchen's vehicle for disposing of low-quality veal scraps - I counted four pieces of true gristle in my dish. The veal is swimming in thick, dull gravy (not demi-glace as I know it...) that seemed specially-formulated to help the gristly-bits slide down. Yuck The freezer-burn on the exterior of the mealy, horrible potato rosti was all too evident. Inedible. Thank goodness the bread was still on the table!
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Went for Valentine's. It was OK overall but I had expected more.
We had reservation but had to wait for about 10 minutes.
Owner talked to every table which was nice.
Fixed price menu for the night, $90 per person. I saw at least two couple who made reservation but were not informed of the price arrangement. They got seated but decided to leave on hearing the price tag. I bet their experience was not that pleasant given that they went for Valentine's dinner.
Soup, salad, and dessert were good but the salmon dish was just OK.
Four courses were ok but it was so much food. I would have been happier if it were half or two thirds of what we got and they could have charged people a little less.
Service was average. Wait was long initially.
Ambiance was nothing special either.
This was my first visit. I would rather go somewhere else for my next Valentine's dinner.
This was the worst restaurant I have eaten at in years. The service was terrible and the food was horrendous. It seriously was worse than airplane food. I will never dine here again.
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For such a smallish sized place, I had much higher expectations for personal service and atmosphere. Even though it was valentines day, the hostesses were frantic and disorganized (we had plenty of time to witness this since we got to sit in the entryway for 15 mins) and our waitress was quite inattentive. Was further disgusted with the car salesman sommelier brandishing a laser pointer in my face. Aside from the corn soup with crab and the beef medallions my date got, dishes were disappointing -lacked the sophistication one would expect from an established french restaurant.
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We did not eat here as patrons. We did a cooking team event here. For the team event, we were taught how to prepare a meal and we serve one another. It was fun. The class was educational and it was fun to get to visit their kitchen. We learned to make chocolate mousse, gnocchi, and etc.
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We dined at Emile's last week, with another couple, for the first time in several years. Sorry to say I was disappointed. Emile's (along with Eulipia) is a downtown mainstay that I want to support because they were downtown when no one else cared to be there. But....
Thumbs up: the owner Alexandra came by to introduce herself. Carrying on this nice tradition of former chef/owner Emile is gracious and sweet. The menu still included the wonderful filo flower pot salad. It was beautiful and full of interesting color, tastes, and textures. The selection of wines by the glass was nice and reasonably priced.
Thumbs down: the service was marginal. We had a show to go to and spent a lot of time discussing it with the hostess. Didn't seem like she mentioned it to our waiters, who were nice but disorganized. Too much time between their visits even though the place was not overly crowded. Too much dressing on the salads and sauce on the other dishes. No excuse for the exact same vegetables on four dinner plates (two duck, one fish, one baked pasta) in an expensive restaurant. No excuse for the same giant pile of leaves on top of two salads that should have been very different (one beet, one heirloom tomato).
Overall it was not the level of service, presentation, and food quality I expect for the price.
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Good choice if you have to eat in SJ downtown.
Onion soup and souffle is what I get there.
Hi Everyone. My name is Alexandra Dorian and I am the new owner of Emile's Resaturant. I want to thank all of you for your reviews, good AND bad. Without honest feedback, I cannot improve my restaurant.
My family has owned and operated restaurants for over 150 years. I absolutely love what I do, and care very much about my customers.
I invite you to email me at my personal email address: alexkane@aol.com and would very much like to be able to respond to your comments personally.
I also invite you to upload whatever pictures you have of Emile's. I will upload the ones I have.
Thanks once again for your comments, and keep on yelping!
Alexandra
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I really don't know what to say about Emile's except that I just feel ... *sigh* ... disappointed. After reading the reviews in Yelp, I thought I made the perfect restaurant choice for my fieldtrip to San Jose on Friday. "Cozy", "amazing" and "exceptional" suggest something far from what I experienced on my recent visit.
I'll start with something positive. I made an 8.30pm reservation and showed up much earlier due to a change of plans, and the hostess was very gracious about accommodating us immediately.
Now, the negative...
It was 7pm on a weekend evening, and the place was pretty empty. That was a surprise to me considering all the glowing reviews I had read on Yelp (apparently, there are two separate business entries for Emile's, and I had the misfortune of only reading the higher ranked entries) and the prime dining hour. The lack of clientele was NOT a surprise, however, considering how similar to the smell of stinky gym socks the place reeked of due to the gruyere fondue they serve. They need a better ventilation system or should shampoo the carpet. The air was so thick with stinky cheese-ness that my intestines were starting to gurgle and get lactose-intolerance cramps just from by breathing.
My boyfriend and I got the distinct impression that everyone related to the place was trying to upsell us on everything. When we pulled our car into the lot adjacent to the restaurant and walked to the front of the restaurant, we noticed the valet and asked him if it was okay to park next door. He told us that if we gave him $5, he'd take our car to the back instead. So were we allowed to park there or what? I had to ask the hostess inside to get a straight answer, and I ran outside to tell my boyfriend to move the car before the gates closed and the car got locked in. Is it too much to ask for a straight answer?
The moment we were seated, two waiters approached our table and introduced themselves as our waiters. Plural. I don't know why, but having two guys show up to assist us felt kind of impersonal ... although I'm sure that others might have been thrilled to have so much attention. I guess the problem is that we just wanted to be left alone, but we constantly had company at our table.
Before we had a chance to open our menus, the new owner came over to our table to introduce herself and make her sales pitch, letting us know that "Emile's will now be open for brunch and lunch... and that means Mother's Day and Easter!!" Woo. Hoo. That wasn't a happy woohoo. That was a sarcastic woo hoo. We hadn't even ordered. We hadn't even been served our water. How about greeting us with a hello and "thanks for coming" or "I hope you enjoyed your meal... I'm the new owner" AFTER we've eaten the food? After we've enjoyed our experience? Why all this pestering?
The food was mediocre at best. The beef was ordered medium, but came out mooing ... could have used some more time in the oven. My seafood melange in a puff pastry bowl was too bland and flavorless. It was served in a mysterious orangey cream sauce that didn't really taste like anything ... not even like seafood. I also tried the onion soup because I'm usually a big fan, but this one was too watery. It was topped with fried onions and not enough cheese (maybe it was being saved for the fondue). Eh ... skip it.
We didn't have dessert. Before our entrees arrived, we knew we were ready for our check. The overpowering smell of cheese and the omnipresence of every Emile's employee felt suffocating. The dining area was very empty for a Friday night out, so the large number of employees gliding around the room felt oppressive.
Not terrible, but Emile's is not someplace we feel we'll come back to. We wish the new owner the best, though....
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I am not too impressed..Food is ok. A guy took me to dinner here on our first date. He likes the place it's just ok to me..Won't be coming back here again.
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I didn't know that San Jose could have an "exceptional" restaurant like Emiles. When looking for fine dining, I used to go to Peninsula or up to SF, but Emiles has totally changed my opinion on San Jose restaurants scene.
***Food***
I went here for Valentine's Day dinner... so they had a special Five Course V-day Menu lined up with wonderful choices. We were able to try many of their signature dishes such as Sturgeon Caviar on truffled Custard, Beef Tournedo with Lavender Rosemary Demi Glace, Filet of Beef Neptune with Tiger Prawns and Dungeness Crab Mashed Potatoes, Grand Marnier Souffle etc.... Everything I noted here were purely ambrosial. Beautiful presentation for your eyes and excites your taste buds with every bite you take.
***Service***
We were a bit "confused" about the location of Emiles... It was located a little away from the heart of downtown San Jose... in somewhat "shady" part of the town SJ next to a liquor store and Ramada Inn Motel. We parked at the garage on the 2nd st. and started to walk north not knowing that Emiles is on the south 2nd...Our reservation was at 9pm, but got there about 20 minutes late, however, they greeted us with big smile and long stem roses.
Emiles was packed b/c it was V-day so we were seated around 9:30, and with 5 course meal and enjoying each course by taking time, we were there eating until 12:45am. By then all the other customers were gone, staffs were already off duty, having B-day party on the other side of the restaurant (they shut the curtain to separate the room so that we wil be in "private" setting) but the owner or waiter NEVER rushed us.
Excellent service, exceptional food and I will totally recommend Emiles to anyone who is looking for a truly FINE dining experience.
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Wow. Totally overrated. The service was VERY slow...the server had little personality, and not much to offer in terms of insights or advice about the food. The sommelier was obnoxious and a little slimey. He pushed his credentials hard. I figure if I'm paying that much for a meal, my sommelier better be credentialed! I don't need to hear about it! The owner came by the table, to push the fact that Emile's is now the oldest French restaurant in the US...or in California...I actually don't remember. She was intrusive, in my opinion, and didn't really seem interested in whether we were happy patrons. The wine list was expensive, with no real options under $60/bottle. The corn chowder starter was really good, but the rest of the meal was not memorable...definitely not worth the money we plunked down. I'm giving it 2 stars because they ARE trying, but it's just not living up to the Emile's name.
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I think I went here on a "perfect storm" day for a bad restaurant experience--Valentine's day crowd, new ownership, etc., but several people told me how great this place was, so I still gave it a shot.
The first thing that stands out is the (lack of) service. We waited at least 15 minutes to even have a waitperson acknowledge that we were there. I realize V-day is one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year, but still, I'd think you'd staff more in preparation. The service continued like this throughout the night, with waters not being refilled, waiting forever for a dessert and the check to be delivered. This wasn't an isolated incident--the couple next to us actually complained to the owner about the service and were told "Give me a break, I've only been here three weeks." Classy.
The food was good. I've had better, but it's definitely high end French cuisine. The menu was limited on V-day, so I'm feeling I might not have been as impressed as on a normal night.
Very good wine list, and we enjoyed an excellent chardonnay. However, back to the service. After the customary initial taste/pouring, we had to refill our own glasses. I'm sorry, but for the amount I'm spending on this meal, I expect a little more attention.
The staff does seem very willing to accomodate your needs, when you can get their attention.
All in all, I'm willing to give it another try. Let the new owner work some kinks out, and go on a weeknight or something, and see what happens then. But for now, no way is this a five star experience.
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I went here a few weeks ago for dinner.
I can start out by saying that the atmosphere is cozy and the hostess was very gracious.
The food was flavorful. We started out with the crabcakes and that was pretty tasty. We also had onion soup and that was very good.
The entrees were not as good as the appetizers.
We wanted to order the souffle however, the waiter did not tell us in advance about the souffle for dessert so we decided not to waut another 20 minutes for it.
The food is decent overall, but I thought it was a bit pricey. I would go back, but I would just try the souffle this time.
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I have to give this place 5 stars because not only was my dinner delicious and highly satisfying but it was free!!!!!!! I would give it 4 stars if I had to pay for my own meal. It lacked just a little something something that I can't put my finger on (great writer, huh?)
I ate: Spinach salad with scallops (good), seafood (lobster, crab, etc.) in a pastry shell with fresh seasonal veggies (good), and Grand Marnier souffle (bland and disappointing). The bread served before the meal was some of the best I've had and the wine was yum and perfect with what I ate. I tried one of my dinner companion's snails and it tasted like garlic and butter, just as I've been warned. The meal would have cost me over two hundred dollars, which I would never spend on myself and, if I did, it would have to be pretty fucking fantastic, but, as I say, I didn't have to pay, so I can honestly say it was a fabulous night, magical in many ways due to the company (funny and smart), the food (comforting and rich), the ambience (warm and twinkly), and the service (adequately kiss-ass).
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Emile's is the superb landmark restaurant in San Jose period. Nothing else even comes close.
Took my wife there last night for our Anniversary. They have a tasting menu paired with wine. I called a day in advance, and talked with sous chef Josh. He made some great suggestions and set up a 5 course meal.
We arrived on time and were greeted warmly. The hostess sat us in a nice cozy room up front. Very nicely decorated inside. The surroundings compliment the meal. A very nice crowd was already seated, yet the noise level was at a quiet hush.
Now, the sous chef Josh came out and greeted us and explained all the courses, and the wine pairings. This was an adventure in fine cuisine. We started with an appetizer to die for which was shrimp on polenta covered by a special sauce. Scrumptious. A nice sauvignon blanc was chosen which was just right in being not to fruity, but just crisp with a nice finish.
Next is the butternut squash soup. Chef Emile puts Amaretto in the soup, and it was truly world class. A chardonnay accompanied the soup course. Next up a delicious fresh green salad with vinaigrette dressing, pears, and a Roquefort style cheese. More sauvignon blanc to accompany. This was pure style and each morsel was consumed with glee.
Main course was rack of lamb cooked medium rare. Chef Josh explained that over this level, lamb gets tough and gamey. Now, I usually like my meats medium, but I took his advice and went with the flow. Chef Emile had chosen a special Napa cabernet to accompany. No pain by now, and the lamb was the best we have ever eaten. The wine was delectable as it was a perfect match for our meal.
And, to finish, Emile' s masterpiece, Grand Marnier Souffle. The sauce is a special recipe of Emile's and truly is scrumptious. The accompanying wine was a sauterne that matched the souffle perfectly.
Our server was prompt, polite and very professional. What a total exquisite experience from start to finish. Tab for the total experience was $100/person which included the 5 dinner courses and the 5 wine pairings.
Emile's in San Jose, the place for the highest quality food has my highest recommendation.
We'll be back, often!!!
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We went there for our baby's birthday celebration.
Service was very nice and excellent (they gave us a private room, we appreciated it and they were honest enough to acknowledge it was also in the interest of their other guests).
Food was good but not outstanding, wine was amazing. All in all I would say it is a good restaurant but clearly overpriced for the value. Although, it is only vaguely French cuisine (I'am french).
I have not spent much time in San Jose, every once and a while I go to a Sharks game or concert, but I generally avoid it. This is a place that makes me want to do more in SJ. The grand style of the dining room, the super polite hostess, and the FOOD is what makes this my first five star pick in California. The Grand Mariner Souffle is amazing... leave room for it, if you can.
Emile's menu is so packed with food you want to try that you will have a hard time deciding what to order...no worries, let me help!
Start with a bottle of Merlot, Rosenblum, Lone Oak Vineyard, Russian River. Let that settle while you figure out the appetizer, I suggest the "Gruyre Cheese Fondue" - for two, with Kirschwasser and a touch of roasted garlic. Next it is time for a bottle of the Cab. Sauvignon, Algren, Harvest Moon Valley, to help wash down the cheese, and prepare for "Beef Filet Tournedo " - with a Rosemary Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce, a slice of Blue Castello Cheese, mashed potato and medley of vegetables.
This is the greatest dinner you have experienced in a long time, and it's in San Jose! Don't thank me, I just ate there...this guy is amazing!
update: new ownership Emile retired...haven't tried it yet, but given Emile's was Emile it takes some of the fun out of it.
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Excellent food, indifferent service.
Let's start by saying I enjoyed every dish I had. The crab cake was good, the spinach salad with scallops and honey bacon vinaegrette was excellent, the seafood in puff pastry and grand marnier souffle were also decent to good. I had tastes of the filo flower pot and the beef/lamb/veal trio as well and enjoyed them. Strictly based on the food, I'd call this a 5 star restaurant.
However, for the price point, the service is a bit sketchy. We were left to wait a while longer than I expected, the waiter neglected to mention specials to us...basically there were a lot of little things that weren't quite right. It felt like the waiter was having an off night, but the quality of the service was more or less on par with any random chain restaurant. For $100/person, I expected a bit more.
Emile's looks nice and fancy on the inside, but it's also sort of between the relatively nice parts of downtown and the sketchier areas. Also, you can definitely get in while wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
All in all, it may well be the best place to eat in San Jose, but it's just isn't really in the league of a Gary Danko, Fleur de Lys, or even Alexander's.
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I've been on a fine dining kick lately....and let me tell you.....Emiles is most definitey impressive. I can honestly say that this is my favorite restaurant so far in the downtown san jose area. And yes! The chef came out to greet me too, which I think is always a nice personal touch! I reccommend this place!
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i have to take away a star just because it has been a while since i've been here... yet i still wanted to yelp about it...
i believe i had the crab cakes to start off with... and or the soup of the day.... i know i've had the onion soup... gruyere being one of my favorite cheeses...
i have also had the pleasure of having the roasted new zealand rack of lamb... quite a big portion... roasted very nicely...
the roasted moscovy duck breast a l'orange was tasty as well....
and you cannot forget the grand marnier souffle!
even though it has been a while, i'm still able to remember, so that should mean something!
The decor is outdated. The food is pretty good, but very traditional French with some Swiss twists. Price point is high for the quality of food you're getting. Servers are unpolished for the price point too. Atmosphere is pretty noisy and unromantic with many families coming dressed VERY casually and some even bringing roaming-around toddlers.
Positives are their wine list and their Grand Marnier souffle.
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Good but way Overpriced
Emile's is a decent restaurant but is overpriced and living more on it's reputation than the food quality. The real pro about this restaurant is the service I received there was excellent and top notch. Food quality was ok and so was the portions, but the food did taste like it was reheated instead of cook fresh. I was there with a party of 6 and I noticed that the vegetables were all the same regardless of having a fish or meat dish. For the prices you pay at this place you should have vegetables paired with your meal instead of giving everyone the same thing. If a resturant is interested in giving you a good food ezperience they will design the side dishes around it and if they are interested in just getting the next person in they will not. Unfortunately this is what Emile's has become.
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This place has a charming old-school French feel to it. I had the filet mignon + lobster tail (might as well go out all out at a place like this!) and it was exquisite! I never knew lobster could be THAT tender! I just thought it was naturally chewy all the time. The creme brulee was delightful with a crisp orangy sugar glaze, YUM! The portions aren't as petite as most people associate with French cuisine. We were already full as we were scrambling to finish every last morsel.
The crowd is a lot mature, but nonetheless, you can sense the joy of the patrons there. The passion was apparent in the service...from the very accommodating maitre'd and waiters...to Chef Emile himself making rounds to each table to ensure that his creations were satisfying everyone in the joint...SO AMAZING!
It's expensive, but nonetheless, the expectations were surpassed. If you really want to know how a restaurant like this can be that much more impressive than any other restaurant, bust out your piggy banks!
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I've been to Emile's three times. The first was great, went on a date and the food and service was excellent, or so I thought. Either something changed, or I was punch drunk with love, because I returned a few months later with a large party including my parents, expecting spectacular meal.
Instead we got terrible service, totally ignored for 45 minutes, had to ask for our orders to be taken, etc. The food was not great. It was good, but not great. For the price, it's no where near where it needs to be. Same with the service. Nice folks, but not quality for the price. It if was 1/2 as expensive I would go there often.
Their souffle is excellent, maybe I should go there only for dessert. I haven't delved deeply into the wine menu, but the wines I saw and had were good as well.
Another complaint I have, and the straw that broke the camel's back: Their front desk service is absurd. Every time I've gone there, with reservations, I've either been ignored, literally not even hello, for 10 - 15 minutes, or I've been asked to wait for 20 minutes. Being ignored is not something I would expect of anyplace in San Jose! Get over yourselves.
Food is good, dessert is great. Chef is nice as he does his rounds, but the service is not up to par and the food just isn't worth it. Better off going to AP Stumps for my money. between 2-3 stars.
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It's interesting to see such a wide-range of feedback for this place, but from my personal experience, it ranks as one of the best restaurants in the area. I guess I've been fortunate, but the service has been great every time I've dined here, and the dishes have been excellent. I'm in love with their Grand Marnier Souffle, which is now a staple for me when I dine here. I also love their Beef Brochettes, which just melted in my mouth every time I've ordered them. Their Duck Breast is also nice and tenderly cooked, which is how it should be done... and their simple side dishes (mainly vegetables) make it better for me. I'm not really into the fancy accompaniments, particularly for an upscale restaurant, since I would like most of my money to go to the main entree, rather than the side dishes. Their appetizers are also quite nice, although I would like to see them add a few more options in the near future. As for the ambiance, the place is definitely date-friendly and intimate. It's not a big place, so you won't see a crowd of people lined up to eat here, or a college crowd making a lot of noise. It's much more friendly to private parties or couples. The fact that the new owner visits the individual tables and converses with them makes the service commendable, and the servers in general are quite friendly and attentive. Maybe if you've done something worth apologizing to someone... bring them here and order a Grand Marnier Souffle and the end of the meal and cross your fingers that you'll be forgiven.
Heard a lot of hype, thought the food was nice, atmosphere serene, but did not walk out of there wanting to return back.
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Went there recently with a friend before going to the ballet. Had a wonderful experience. It was pricey, absolutely, but not way out of proportion to the level of the food and service, in my opinion. The food was fantastic; particularly recommended are the crab cake and the gnocchi and sausage appetizers, the Grand Marnier souffle, and the filo bowl salad. The steak and lobster combination was excellent; it's the first time I've really understood why lobster is so esteemed, in fact. The only food that wasn't top-notch were the soups (we had both their French onion and their daily special, a creamy vegetable soup), which did not arrive hot enough, and were good but not great. The service was impeccable; they even called a taxi for us, and they arranged everything so we got to the ballet at exactly the right time. My friend forgot an important notebook in the taxi, and when we called the restaurant to track down which taxi company they had called for us, the restaurant took care of the whole issue; my friend just stopped by to pick up her notebook the next day from the restaurant. Worrying about it would have ruined the ballet, so they really made our evening. That's service. Good wine list; they had a favorite (Guigal's Chateauneuf-du-Pape), which was just as yummy as I remembered it, but with more time there was lots of room to explore. It was very quiet the evening we went there (a Thursday), and the atmosphere was fairly good although the dining room is a bit small and claustrophobic. The main downside: it's in a very, very bad part of town. Take a taxi to and from the door, otherwise you really do risk being mugged or worse. They've been there for many years now; I guess the neighborhood has gone downhill around them. They ought to consider relocating, there's nothing but drug dealers and flophouses around them.
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Last night was my first time dining here. I had often read about this restaurant so my bf and I decided to try it. We made our Open Table reservation. It was a nice small restaurant with a French atmosphere. It took awhile for the server to greet us. We did take our time in reviewing the menu as there were so many dishes to choose from. For appetizers, we tried the Sauteed Tiger Prawns Bordelaise. It came with tiger prawns on top of grilled risotto with butter, garlic, and white wine sauce. It was tasty. I had to try the French Onion soup, but this ended up being bland and not to my taste. For dinner, we had the "Les Grenadines des Trois Roi" which came with filets of beef, lamb, and veal. We also had the "Beef Filet Tournado." The presentation of the food was excellent! The meat was cooked to my liking. For dessert, we had to try the Grand Marnier Souffle. It was a huge souffle and definitely for two people. This was really good! I did order coffee with it and I was happy that every cup of coffee was piping hot and fresh. When I asked for refills, it took awhile to get it, but the server advised that it took long to bring me a refill because he was making a fresh cup. That was satisfying because for me, dessert can taste bad if the coffee is cold. This ended up being a 2 hour dining experience, but we didn't mind. The chef did come out to greet us, which was nice. The staff was great! It was an expensive meal, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, they don't accept Passport cards anymore. =(
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My husband and I use to go to Emile's a while ago. We stopped going because there seemed to be a lack of concern fort the customers. We returned because we heard that there were new owners. Wow! were we impressed. We went on Valentine's Day. It was raining outside. It was so nice to come into the restaurant. Although the place was packed, we were greeted warmly by the host staff, and seated within a few minutes upon arrival. The room is beautiful, but dated. The flowers in the center of the room were beautiful. Our waiter was a gentleman named Carlos. The service was excellent. Probably the best service I've had in quite some time. However the food was fabulous! The truffled caviar was sublime, as
was the steak and prawns. After our entrees, we were were served a light salad. This is hardly done anymore. We were very impressed. For dessert we ordered the Chambord Raspberry souflee on the owners suggestion. Heavenly ! Everything was just perfect. However we were very impressed with the new owner. She was very charming and gracious. She came and chatted with us many times throughout the evening, and even gave us a gift certificate to invite us back. She informed us that her family and friends were all working that evening. She even had a young man handing out long stem roses. Very nice touch. We were very impressed. My husband and I will definitely return to Emile's Restaurant. Definitely 5 stars!
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