Celebrated my birthday dinner there with friends I had the C'EST LA VIE BOUILLABAISSE - shrimp, scallops, mussels, white fish, saffron aioli, crispy baguette - It was awesome from the service to the food For desert had the Dubai Chocolate Definitely going back and highly recommend this place to enjoy a great meal, conversation with family and friends read more

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My second dining experience here at C'est La Vie. My first C'est La Vie discovery, earlier this year, was al fresco dining; today, a lunch with girlfriends from Philly. It looks like any time is perfect for a fabulous dining experience at C'est La Vie. The lovely gold holiday decorations contributed to the festive atmosphere, perfect for this time of year. We appreciated Kerri S's attentive service and patience while I waited for my girls to arrive from Philly. The food and service were excellent and consistent from my al fresco summer dining. read more

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I had the espresso martini which is a bargain at $8. Thought I took a picture but it didn't go through. They also had a cosmopolitan Maritini which I had. Kinda strong for me but well done and also $8 during happy hour. The blood orange Panna cotta is superb. I thought this was Josephine's but Josphine's is downstairs and lends itself to wearing business casual although I don't feel they would refuse you if you want to give them business too. read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - Blood Orange Panna Cotta - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Normally excellent, but we went for their restaurant week special recently and had a disappointing experience. The French onion soup was almost like a dip, it was so thick, the crab cake was essentially a medallion and the mashed potatoes were overly salted. As a contrast, my boyfriend got the filet special and it was excellent. Not worth the price overall, but at least the service and dessert were great. read more

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I was here for a Company dinner. It's a beautiful restaurant. The service was great, we had Mike and he provided excellent recommend. The food and the drinks were top. read more

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I love coming to Lancaster because despite coming over here a lot, I had no idea about this place. We sat outside on a perfect fall night eating dinner. It was absolutely perfect, food was delicious, service was great. I'd highly recommend. read more

I really enjoyed my experience here! We were staying in the area and the restaurant was within walking distance from our hotel. The restaurant was very cozy and nicely decorated for the holidays. Our server Benjamin was great! He was very attentive during our meal. The french onion soup was delicious! I also really enjoyed the Croque Monsieur. My husband and I shared the Crème Brulé, it was the perfect ending to our meal. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Service - top notch service from Benjamin, our server. He was very attentive, replenished our beverages when he noticed them getting low, gave menu recommendations based on our indecisiveness, and was an overall joy to have as our server. Not to mention he's also from Maryland - which is where we are from. Visiting the area we were excited to give C'est La Vie Bistro a try - and as you can see we are glad we did! It's a beautiful bistro which was also beautifully decorated for the holiday. Everything was delicious, for starters we ordered the mussels, deviled eggs, and shrimp cocktail. Our entrees were the fried chicken, veggie pasta, crab cake, pizza, and short rib sandwich - the meals were plentiful and we all enjoyed every bite. For dessert we had the carrot cake - which was a tad dry BUT the filling was so amazing it made up for the slight dryness of the cake. Not sure when I'll be back in the area - but C'est La Vie has made my top places to visit when I am! Thanks for great service and great food! read more

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Great service and the food was amazing! The surf and turf special was so delicious! And the crab cake was made to perfection! The overall placed was comforting and relaxing! read more

Our waiter was Amazing! I have to start texting myself servers names so I remember them when I get to the review. Since the night was not too hot we sat outside. We started our meal off with blue crab deviled eggs. There was a nice piece of blue crab on top of the egg. Nice but probably not something I would eat again. Our meals - Lamb Tenderloin was just as it sounds nice and tender and the mushroom risotto creamy and perfect. My sandwich would have been better in my opinion as an entree with no bread. The brioche bun could not stand up to the moistness of the meat and the bun fell apart. The fries were crispy with the perfect amount of salt. Now our desserts were stars - mine the cake version of the candy Roche. Dreamy with smooth chocolate and crisp from hazelnuts.. My husband's cake was beautifully presented. Almost like a cheesecake by fluffy and creamier. read more

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We requested a four top in a small little private room by the entrance, but we did not get that. They gave us a regular table in another room which we had to wait for for over 20 minutes because people weren't finished. It's more of a Gen Z hang out with pizzas and burgers And the entrées were fairly expensive. Our server was very nice, however, but I guess I was expecting a little more. There are a lot of fine restaurants in downtown Lancaster. I'm not sure if we will be coming back here or not. Parking is also a horror show down there next to the restaurant. read more

Came here for a girls lunch on a Saturday and had a lovely time! the ambiance was really relaxed but modern. We sat at a high top and started with some yummy cocktails. I got the mushroom soup and a blt. The soup was very watery and not a lot of flavor but the blt was yummy! read more

Food 4.5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance (atmosphere) 5/5 Great place! Suggest their pizzas. Servers were great and the restaurant is a great place for a family dinner. Definitely will be coming back. read more

Great local restaurant adjacent to the central market. Good food and service. So nice to sit outside on a nice day and take in the fresh air. read more

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Brilliant, absolutely bloody brilliant. We had gone to Lancaster for the day to peer into the lives of the Amish for our personal enjoyment, as is customary amongst the English. The first thing on the menu was to find a menu, because it was lunch time and if Lancaster is known for anything, it has got to be its French cuisine. Actually, our original plan had been to find something in the Central Market but man, what a mad house. Finding a seat in there is damn near impossible at peak times, which is basically open 'til close (6am - 3pm) on Saturday. After escaping to the alley to regroup, we saw C'est La Vie across the way. Good news is it was 11am right on the nose, and they were about to open. Bad news is we didn't have a reservation and they are strongly encouraged. The hostess made it sound very exclusive and was about to apologize when she jury-rigged a last second solution - we could be seated immediately if we didn't mind sitting at a "hybrid" table. You see, sliding glass doors out front open up so that people can dine outside and enjoy the hustle an bustle of the nearby farmer's market. Our table straddled the inside and outside. This ended up being freakin' awesome. We got the peaceful calm of the inside mixed with the cool breeze of the outside. I guess most people like to either be one or the other completely - there's no middle ground with them. Table extremists, as they're known in the biz. Lunch will be composed of handhelds for the most part with a wide array of sandwiches and brick oven pizzas. But don't get me wrong, if you want to indulge on a $49 filet at 11:30am on a Tuesday, then by all means. Personally I went for some type of burger topped with caramelized onions and Swiss. Handhelds come with tots. The site says fries, but maybe they were out on this day. Tots were fine, and they came with a tiny single-use Heinz ketchup bottle. I am such a sucker for these miniature jars. Like, I freakin' adore them and want to take them home with me. The flounder sandwich was nicely breaded and fried to to a deep brown. Maybe the panko crust was the fryer a bit too long. Either way, it still boasted tremendous flavor. There was a smattering of remoulade on the brioche bun (note: this was supposed to come on a toasted croissant) with a thin layer of coleslaw for a nice vinegary crunch. When it comes to the short rib sandwich, it was just balls to the walls nuttiness. I'm talkin' a generous portion of braised beef, horseradish aioli, and tomato chutney. Perhaps the best part of this was the layer of provolone on top that looked as though it were hit with a blowtorch - super melty with the ends bubbly and crispy. You know when the cheese slightly burns and gets that delicious crispy texture? You get that here, all along the edges. Those first bites must have been heaven. Ambiance is super classy and modern. The wiry lamps overheard look like traps from Saw. They have to be from some local artist. I'd have to describe the interior as.. Industrial Chic? This would absolutely be a prime date night destination. If you get the opportunity, try a hybrid table (warmer months, obviously). You truly get the best of both worlds. I don't even think I'd want to be fully outside with all the people jetting by. You'd be right in the action, at least on Central Market days (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday). Parking will need to be wherever you can find it. This place is tucked in the market square, so there's no dedicated parking lot. It's jungle law, man. Every man for himself out in the streets. But hey, that's life! read more

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The crab cake sandwich was fabulous. The crab cake has absolutely no filler and was served on a light croissant. The flounder sandwich was panko coated and served on a croissant with coleslaw in it. It had a perfect amount of crunchiness. Both came with a large serving of russet potato fries that were also great - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. We discovered this by accident and will tell friends who come to Lancaster about it. read more

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We had a largely positive dining experience at this quaint eatery. Service by Benjamin was excellent. Drinks and several appetizers started the evening. The margarita pizza and beef tartare were excellent. The escargot was the only disappointment. A more simplistic approach of butter and garlic would have been better as the dish was over complicated with flavors that didn't really work and a ring of squash that was undercooked. That said, the presentation was appealing. Most of the entrees were exquisite. The surf and turf was excellent. The crab cake had no filler and the filet was first sous vide and finished on the grill. Compliments to the chef as this was perfection. Do scallops, mushrooms and cheese go together? Yes! The coquille Saint Jacques, while rich, was very good. The duck was a mixed bag. While the risotto was a 10, some of the duck was dry while other bites were moist. Desserts were good...beautifully presented and well plated, but were nothing to write home about. The restaurant was clean and comfortable on a cold night. read more

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Charcuterie board was disappointing . There was little flavor in the meat and cheese and the crackers tasted like a first holy communion wafer. read more

Easily one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The service was absolutely top notch. The server was such a sweetheart and on top of it, seriously the best service I've had. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. The food was absolutely incredible! My friends and I shared the fig and goat cheese pizza, escargot, crab deviled eggs, and the most interesting salmon macarons. I can't wait to come back here in the future when I back in town. read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Food taste and presentation were great, but I will simply return because of the service provided by Ben. Very personable and attentive. He made a lovely dinner all the better. read more

Came here last minute after our volleyball tournament. Service here was great and everyone was proper and attentive. We REALLY loved the mussels- highly recommend and we loved every bit of it. The complementary bread was also very delicious with this. I got the corn basil pizza and I kind of wish I got something else. It was a bit too doughy for me unfortunately. Wish I loved it! read more

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I usually stay calm, but when it comes to discrimination, I have to speak up. From the moment we walked in, there were no accommodations or customer service. If you don't match the local demographic, you won't have any luck here. Despite having a reservation, we were told there were no available tables after giving them our last name. To our frustration, there were six empty tables outside and an entire bar area free of patrons. Next time, I'll make sure to not give my last name and look more like the local demographic. read more

The food is a little pricey for burgers and fries. Besides that the service was great , michael (waiter) was friendly and patient with me in my order in being my first time visiting the restaurant, Lastly the restaurant was very clean . read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - Grapefruit rose -drink. - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lovely holiday decorated restaurant seemed well managed with friendly staff. No reservation for Tuesday lunch so had a seat at the bar. Bartender was great. First visit so not inclined to order a $40 entree just to be cautious and feel the place out. Went with the croque monsieur which was very poorly prepared. I am a French classically trained chef and culinary arts teacher so feel qualified to critique. Sorry.....not even close to the classic French preparation. Basically slop on a plate. So disappointed. No excuse for that sorry to say. Happy I didn't order an entree. Probably never go back. read more

Outstanding bistro style French cuisine in the heart of historic Lancaster PA. C'est La Vie is adjacent to the Lancaster Central Market and tye menu is a nice mix of French specialties such as Bouef Borgingon and Coq Au Vin as well as more American fare such as steaks and a crab cake sandwich. The bistro features charming, Parisian style outdoor seating in addition to indoor tables. I enjoyed a Croque Monsieur sandwich while my companion enjoyed vichyssoise and the C'est La Vie salad. The salad featured a creamy onion and sweet corn vinaigrette which was excellent. Service was fast and attentive. Our server, Bernard, did a great job of being friendly snd attentive but not intrusive. We are looking forward to a future, leisurely evening visit to sample the French entrees. Most entrees are $25-$30 but well worth it based on our experience. Reservations recommended. read more

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Good food, Great Server Brett Baker be sure to ask for Brett if you want great service. read more

Tables outside are for dining only, that isn't written anywhere or said when being seated. When told, it was after after drinks were delivered basically forcing us to get food at that point. Clear communicating and courteousness goes a long way unfortunately we were met with neither. read more

We've been here so many times! Hard to believe I've not previously reviewed?! The food here is stupendous! The service is wonderfully attentive. The decor is lovely, modern with some French-inspired flare. The outside seating is also really nice--right next to central market-- with awnings, umbrellas and heaters so it's good for a whole host of weather scenarios. And most important...they have a new top ranked French pastry chef and it shows! Kate the bartender is also great and makes epic cocktails. I would recommend this place to anyone! Their menu is also varied enough it can accommodate a snack, something simple and delicious like a wood fired pizza to wonderful fine dining. It's also in a PERFECT spot for a pre/post dinner stroll around the most charming areas of downtown Lancaster. read more

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If you haven't been, you have to make it your next stop in Lancaster. The Christmas decor is stunning with excellent food/drinks. What really stood out was the service. We had a fabulous waiter, Brett. He went above and beyond to make our experience special. I can't recommend it enough. read more

Our evening at this lovely bistro was wonderful. Our server, Scott, was funny and helpful, and we ordered everything delicious (including cocktails and wine). We started with the bacon appetizer, and then enjoyed a salad, the poutine, and shared the crab cake main. We also had both the crème brûlée and a flourless chocolate dessert. Delicious! If we are ever back in Lancaster we will be sure to return. read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - Bacon appetizer! Delish! - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Outstanding atmosphere. Friendly service. Great selection of drinks and fare. Stopped in for a glass of wine and an app. Chose the French Onion soup. Just delicious. Perfectly prepared. Home made croutons, great consistency, and... perfect char on the cheese. Looking forward to going back for entrees. read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - French Onion soup. - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

I had high hopes but nothing stood out. I ordered a ribeye sandwich I believe, it was just OK and not to complain but they did put a ton of meat in there, like two sandwiches worth, for me I'd rather just have enough meat because it was challenging to eat and wasn't that tasty. Service was decent, outdoor seating pretty nice but the inside looked really romantic and cute. I might come back and try other things on the menu but I wasn't blown away with the selections. read more

I heard they're known for the crab cakes and it lived up to the hype. Big chunky pieces of crab - no ground up fillers in there! Delicious. Nice outdoor dining area and friendly staff makes this a worthwhile stop read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - Crab cakes - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

My husband and I stopped here while having a lax night in Lancaster. We walked through here once before to visit Josephine's. The place is gorgeous and inviting, but I love that it's tucked away. The staff was warm and inviting, especially the bartenders (we opted for the bar). Tia was great and her coworker was just as bubbly and helpful! We wanted to just grab some drinks and apps. I got a filthy martini and I LOVED it. It was made perfectly while having REAL blue cheese stuffed olives. My husband enjoyed his cocktails as well. We started with the cocktail shrimp and charcuterie board. Originally, we were going to get the chowder, but the male bartender stated that there was bacon in it, which I'm glad he mentioned as I don't eat it. The food came out SUPER fast even though it was relatively busy. The cocktail shrimp were large in size and the cocktail sauce was delicious as it had a bit of a kick. I thought the presentation was on point! The board was huge, especially in comparison to one we had nearby a couple of months back. Overall, I really loved this place and wouldn't mind coming back for a meal as well as try some more items out on the menu. The prices were on par, especially for what you got. I highly recommend! read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - Cocktail Shrimp - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Went here for Mother's Day. The ambience and food were amazing. Our waiter Ben took great care of us.

We celebrated my mom's 80th birthday here with lunch and it was a great experience! I highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back. Our waiter Michael was fantastic! He had great suggestions, friendly banter and made sure my mom had a very special day. We especially loved the mussels and desserts, but our pizza and sandwiches and drinks were delicious as well. We all cleaned every plate. My mom is still raving about it. Thank you Michael and the restaurant!! read more

I really like the concept of the restaurants in this building. C'est La Vie is the upstairs, somewhat more casual, but still very classy restaurant/bar. Softer light, comfortable seating - a very pleasant environment. The menu available when my fiancée and I went for Valentine's Day had a wide variety of choices on the relatively small menu. Definitely French-inspired, but not inaccessible for those less adventurous. I got the poutine as an appetizer and my fiancée the French Onion Soup. The poutine was tasty, but too much on the salty side. The curds tend to be salty, and I'm not sure if it was added salt to the gravy or fries. The cheese curds were among the freshest and most flavorful I've had. My fiancée's French Onion Soup was very good too. Onion rich, plenty of cheese, great soup base. For dinner, I got the Central Market pizza and my fiancée the steak entree. That day, the pizza had mushrooms, onions, and pepperoni on it. The dough was the perfect balance of doughey. I wish the cheese were shredded and more evenly distributed on the pizza, rather than sliced. Her steak was cooked exactly how she ordered it. The potatoes and asparagus that came with it complimented the meal well. Service, courtesy of Cassandra, was exactly what you expect from this sort of place. The meal was capped off with complimentary chocolate-dipped strawberries for V-day. read more

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We had a wonderful meal anchored by fabulous, personal service by Tia. My sister and I went out early to get a birthday dinner on a super-crowded Saturday. We split the Brie appetizer- bacon jam - because it makes everything - even Brie - better. She had the coquilles and I'm serious, if I turned my back she might have licked the plate. My coq au vin was delightful. And the end of the meal is where service can be challenging, they were prompt and the to go back saying thank you in multiple languages is just a nice touch. We will put this new-to-us spot in regular rotation. PS - nice wine list, reasonable choices. read more

C’est La Vie Bistro - The to go bag - French Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Amazing food and service! A beautiful bistro with great customer service! Absolutely recommend!

We had a wonderful first experience here on a Friday night with 6:45 reservation for four. We were seated promptly indoors. It was fairly mild that night and they did have plenty of outdoor seating with heat lamps. Our server was friendly and prompt with everything. We shared several plates including the smoked fish charcuterie which was outstanding & their silver turtle platters are so cute. We then shared crab gaspacho soup, tuna poke bowl and two brick oven pizzas, one regular crust, one cauliflower crust. So they do have some GF & vegetarian/vegan options on the menu. The ambiance indoors is nice with artwork and exposed brick. Cocktails, beer & sparkling options were all pleasing. We would definitely dine again. read more

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