Small menu but everything on it is near perfect. Fish Wellington and gnocchi especially

The options were limited. What I did have was very good but it's very expensive. I know, quality is not cheap. But was hoping for escargot, and it was not an option. I'd go back again, no doubt, but I'm not going to change other plans to go anytime soon. Ambiance was nice, tight seating but cozy. The wait staff switched between a waiter and bartender, but very attentive and knowledgeable. read more

I will give them a little break for just moving. The location is very nice, and the staff was great to deal with, but the food was lacking in variety, and quite a bit in flavor. We started off with the French Onion Soup (One of the best dishes we had) and the Petite Assiette (Cheese & they worked with us to switch to a different meat they were running, so flexible) and a few Oysters (decent but not great.) For dinner we had the Spaghetti (It was ok, but lacking a lot of flavor, and smelled SUPER fishy) Bucatini (This had good noodles with a sauce that tasted like watered down Chef Boyardee) Steak Frites (Flat iron it was one of the best meals we had, but the meat was missing a bit of meaty flavor) and the Roasted chicken (Flavor was good.) For Desert we had the Chocolate pot de creme. The flavor was pretty good, but the container they used made it hard to get out the last few bites. Overall, for having a limited menu, I really expected a better taste experience. I hope they can pull it together and add the flavor back in to the French food. read more

Salmon rillette. Steak frites. Very, very good. Steak was prepared medium rare and dude.....it was perfection! Service was good. Greeting (Maitre d') was welcoming and friendly. Drinks were just ok. Outside and inside seating were available. Nothing special regarding ambience but we were not really expecting anything special. Wish we were staying longer to try more on the menu. read more

What a hidden gem in downtown Kennebunkport! Perfect for a romantic dinner, but I was with my five sisters--so, you know, no romance happening there. The service was spot on and well-paced, allowing us to casually gossip between courses. We had Kirsten as a server and loved her. We kicked things off with the warm baguette and brown butter, and let me tell you, resisting the urge to devour the entire basket was a feat of strength. As the lone brave soul who dared to order the pâté, I indulged all by myself (no regrets). For my entrée, I went with the toasted gnocchi. It was good, but I was kind of wishing it had been a bit fluffier to really soak up that delicious sauce. Meanwhile, I couldn't stop eyeing my sister's chicken dish... Talk about entrée envy! Dessert was a shared affair--because who can ever choose just one? We got the crème brûlée (classic) and the Basque chocolate cheesecake, which the waitress swore was "light." Spoiler: it was not light, but it was absolutely delicious. If you're looking for romance, just don't bring your sisters! read more

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Good food, but slow service and our waitress had so much perfume on that it was nauseating and distracted from the meal. The French Onion soup and mussels served on bucatini were both very good, but our pre-meal drink and the volume of our wine pour were disappointing. With a limited bistro menu, missing the squash offering (not available despite being on the menu, even with an early serving time) also was info. We miss Old Vines at this spot, and this local establishment is good but not great. read more

Chez Rosa - Mussels bucatini - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

A Hidden Gem with Heart -- Chez Rosa Bistro Made Our Anniversary Unforgettable We had the most wonderful anniversary dinner at Chez Rosa Bistro in Kennebunkport, and I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. From the moment we walked in, the cozy, rustic atmosphere made us feel welcome and at home -- and it only got better from there. Chez Rosa is not just about good food, it's about food with purpose. They proudly source local ingredients and are part of the Ocean Friendly Certified Restaurants, which means they truly care about the environment and the community -- a detail that we really appreciate. For starters, we had the French Onion Soup, rich, comforting, and done to perfection, and the Chicken Liver Pâté, smooth and flavorful -- you could immediately tell the quality and care behind each bite. Our mains were just as impressive -- I had the Pollock Wellington, a creative, flaky, buttery dish that's both elegant and comforting, and my husband had the Summer Valley Chicken, perfectly cooked with fresh, local flavors that tasted like summer on a plate. We ended the evening with a silky Crème Brûlée, paired with an amazing French wine, recommended by the staff -- the perfect finish to an incredible meal. But what truly made the night unforgettable was the personal attention from both the manager and the chef, who went out of their way to make our anniversary feel extra special. You can genuinely taste the love and passion in every dish, and it's clear the whole team takes pride in what they do. Chez Rosa Bistro is more than just a restaurant -- it's a labor of love that brings together local ingredients, sustainability, and French comfort food in the heart of Kennebunkport. We can't wait to go back! read more

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My sister and I were staying in KBP for a night and chose Chez Rosa for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but were able to sit at the bar. The bartenders were so fun and knowledgeable. Very attentive as well! We started with the chicken liver pate- Delish!! We had the steak frites-Steak was tender with a scrumptious sauce and the fries were crispy and seasoned well. We also had the local pollock wellington. This was amazing! A nice sized piece of fish wrapped in a puff pastry and an amazing sauce inside. We did not have room for dessert! Would recommend reservations but sitting at the bar was great too! ( The bar had comfy seats, IYKYK!). read more

I very much enjoyed the chicken liver pate and the Haddock Wellington, although I thought the sauce on the Wellington could have used a bit more flavor intensity. Service was very good, friendly and prompt. Really, no complaints. I would eat here again. read more

Chez Rosa - Haddock Wellington - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

My husband and I dined here for our anniversary! We had a lovely meal with great service (minus the somewhat unpleasant hostess). Let's get into it. We showed up at 7:15 for our 7:30 reservation. We understood that they may not be able to seat us early but figured we'd try. After waiting at the hostess stand for about 6-7 minutes (so it was then 7:21 ish), the hostess finally greeted us and told us that we needed to LEAVE and come back at our reservation time. Again, totally understand that they couldn't seat us early. The part I didn't like is why we had to LEAVE - we should have just been politely asked to wait on the sofa for the 9 or so minutes until 7:30, as there was no one sitting on the entryway sofa. But anyway we left and came back around 7:31 ish and there was a line to get checked in at that point. This encounter isn't that big of a deal (hence the 5 star review still) but I didn't appreciate that the first interaction with the restaurant was odd. After we got to our table, everything was great! We got oysters, chicken liver pate, salad, steak frites, and crème brûlée. The oysters were so fresh, the pate was one of our favorites we've had, and the fries with the steak were fantastic! All around good food. Our server was also nice and attentive. read more

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A sensational evening. The host, Amy our server, the food, the ambience, the whole experience is off the charts impressive. If you haven't been here let me tell you in no uncertain terms get you derrière here sooner than later & enjoy this French Bistro. Tonight I wanted a1/2 dozen oysters with a wine mignonette unfortunately they were all sold out. Do I order french onion soup or do I just jump in & go with The steak frites? or should I have the day boat scallops? I'll tell you I'm having a very hard time deciding on what entree I will have. What do i do??? Ok I've decided I'll have the French onion soup & steak frites. I'm stuffed I have to take home 1/2 my dinner. Not a bad thing to enjoy some steak tomorrow morning. No room for dessert but the deserts sounded wonderful. Oops all my pictures somehow disappeared. I can tell you they were great pictures of all our food & the menus. read more

Made a same-day reservation easily, but there is a required deposit. We tried to call and move the time up, but it was too busy on a Saturday night to make changes. The menu was more limited than others in the aren't, but we still found some good options. We ordered a dozen oysters that were super fresh and tasty. The French onion soup was actually better than the traditional -- slightly sweet with great flavor. The steak and fries were decent, and there were a lot of fries. The drinks were really good, especially the Little Miss Sunshine, which we'd definitely order again. We sat outside with heaters, which made it nice despite the cool evening. Service was just okay -- nothing bad, but nothing stood out either. A solid place overall with good background music, but go in knowing the menu isn't huge and the experience is more laid-back. read more

One of our favorite dinners in Kennebunkport. Excellent service, attractive space. Good selection of wine by glass and, happily, even a couple of (unexpected) draft beers. At the server's strong recommendation, tried the pate and it was fabulous. Highly recommend. If you're on the fence about pate, be just a little adventurous and give it a go. Had the chicken as my main. They'd just changed to a fall menu, and was now served with a celeraic apple puree and cider turnips. A few thick slices of breast and a large knob of boneless leg meat. It was a pretty plate and pleasantly flavored. Chez Rosa is a good place to be just a little adventurous, and will be on our short list when we return to Kennebunkport. read more

Chez Rosa is excellent. We had the Fish Hallibut, the oysters and the cheesecake. All were delicious. Katie our server was super friendly and welcoming. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Best restaurant in the area, possibly the best restaurant in Maine. Excellent all around can't wait to return! read more

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I'm a local who brought some visitors during Christmas Prelude. I have dined here previously. First we were seated in a section that was VERY cold. We asked to be moved to another table. The hostess needed to check with another individual who reported it wasn't possible...her reasoning was the 4 top would later needed to be broken down to a 2 top. This didn't make sense since the table we were seated at had been put together to accommodate our party of 4. She said she would increase the heat but during our stay it never warmed. One of our meals was sent back due to under cooking. Another was also under cooked but was not returned. All and all a disappointing experience. read more

This place was perfect from start to finish. My husband and I were visiting from out of town and other places didn't live up to the hype of yelp, but this place absolutely did. First of all the service was amazing, incredibly thoughtful, and constantly aware of what you might need. Second the food was incredible, easily our best meal in months. Lastly the vibe of restaurant was romantic and modern. If we come back to this area we will a 100% be coming back here. The steak frites and lobster were highlights for sure! Great mocktails as well! read more

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The patio is NOT enclosed. Both sides of it were wide open and the heaters don't work. Instead they offer you a blanket. We were ready to leave, but there's no other restaurant for around 24 miles that is decent. I had a reservation and we were early around 5:30 but they refused to let us dine at the empty bar seats or at any of the empty tables inside. read more

My wife and I had dinner at Chez Rosa a few days ago after reading reviews. The high rating is absolutely on point. Our server was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable of their menu. Our meals were both fantastic. I tried their cod Wellington as it was something I've never had before but love beef Wellington. It did not disappoint. We both had dessert and loved both. I had crème brûlée and my wife the chocolate cake. She pointed out that it wasn't too rich, which I feel is fairly commonplace. The ambiance was warm and inviting as well. Overall, we'd highly recommend to those traveling to Kennebunkport. read more

Really cute restaurant that was especially charming in some light autumn rain. Front of house staff were terrific, especially the hostess who was moving quickly! We sat at the bar while we waited for our table and ordered Rosa's toddy which was warm and delicious on the rainy night. They also made a mean martini. Once seated we ordered the fondue appetizer which didn't last long enough for a photo! For entrees, the special Sunday pork schnitzel and butternut risotto. The schnitzel was to die for and was balanced well with dressed greens. The butternut risotto was a bit under seasoned and lacked much butternut or non rice substance. We ended with the crème brûlée which was sadly a huge disappointment. The custard was too warm and was not set and the sugar top was preheated and cold. I believe there was apple in the custard which overpowered the simplicity of what crème brûlée should be. I will say the wait time was very high. We had a 5:15pm reservation with the restaurant opening at 5:00pm. It took over 30 minutes for each course with us leaving at almost 7:30pm. The food was overall good and I will definitely give this place another try, perhaps for their exclusive bar snack menu during happy hour! read more

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Asked how much of the lobster was in the meal and they said the all the meat. Only received less than half a lobster tail and didn't even taste good. Wine was ok. read more

Chez No-sir... We were so looking forward to this splendid restaurant that we previously dined at in their former location. What a disappointment. My wife and I and another couple were 20 minutes early for our 6:30 reservation and were told we needed to wait even though it was half empty. So we waited at the bar and were greeted by a rude bartender. While my buddy ordered a gin martini I asked about the vodka selection and was told I didn't want his opinion on vodka, it's all filtered 5 times, there's no taste, waste of time.....ooookaaay. Next we were seated and greeted by a very friendly waiter who would happily chat with us but then would disappear for extended periods of time. Waits between courses took forever. We ordered wine, appetizers and our meal. As we finished the appetizers (all were good, smoked salmon and the cheese fondue was excellent) still no wine. We asked and he thought we wanted it with our dinner and was waiting?? Then came the main courses, our two wives got the Sumner Valley Chicken. The description is a breast and thigh and it was only the breast. The meal was small portion, the sauce way too salty and for the price no where near the value and flavors we experienced at their old location. I had the home made spaghetti with Jonas Crab. There's was merely a few flakes of crab in what was essentially a plate of ordinary pasta. Lastly my friend ordered the steak frites and went all out getting the 16oz bone in ribeye for $62. What arrived was an ordinary steak way undercooked. Generally with bone-in you leave the steak intact but this was cut in strips off of the bone. We were there both celebrating our anniversaries and while we passed on dessert, the brought us both 2 plates with a lit candle on them. A very awkward moment. A dessert or a piece of chocolate or anything. But a lone candle on a plate kinda was a fitting empty feeling to symbolize the meal. While I get a new location has to work out their kinks, I expect it in the staff but not a drop in the quality of the meal. read more

Had a wonderful dinner last Saturday, February 10, for my birthday. Chez Rosa never disappoints. We enjoyed a shared appetizer and had a warm and flavorful cassoulet and spectacular scallop dish. Every entree was delicious and absolutely seasoned perfectly. Add a carafe of yummy wine, cozy environment and really balanced and attentive service, I could do this every night! read more

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Was able to secure a reservation during prelude and got the brunch. I ordered the Pate, croque misuer and both were absolutely flawlessly done. The service was excellent. Waiter knew about the food, flavors and ingredients. Owner came over to introduce herself and she was a gem. Cannot wait to go back read more

We went to this restaurant with no reservations and had a little bit of a wait, but the hostess ensured we had a drink while we waited, which was very nice. We sat at the bar, ordered food, and chatted with other patrons. Every single person was wonderful there. The ambiance was exceptional, the food was equally as good, we just had an overall wonderful evening! read more

Chez Rosa - Steak Frites with fries - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Second time at the Prelude as well as Chez Rosa. Once again they proved to be one of the premier restaurants in the Kennebunkport area. A very professional waitstaff and a very involved owner. Talented bartenders whip up great drinks and the wine list is a joy. They genuinely care about your experience. This time we had the hake Wellington and the beef bourguignon. Both were excellent dishes. A shared Crème Brûlée finished the meal. Maybe we shouldn't wait another year to go again! read more

We went back here recently and little did I know, it was going to be the night that my boyfriend proposed! So now this place holds an even special place in my heart. The food was still fantastic- steak frites is my favorite entree. Loved the pate and baguette to start. We also tried the fondue this time and it was so good!! read more

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Adorable restaurant with great service and food. It was our first time trying this place and it was overall a great experience. Will go back again for sure! read more

Chez Rosa - Lobster vol a vent was amazing!! - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Went in for a special occasion while on vacation - birthday and anniversary. The restaurant came highly recommend by a friend. We weren't disappointed by the food or ambiance at all, but the service was a bit interesting. The food was delicious - we started with the fondue, oysters and mezcal drink. For mains we had the chicken, the Wellington pollock, and the steak along with the house red and white. Dessert we had the almond cake (the special for the night) and chocolate cake. I highly recommend the chocolate cake. It was the best thing I ate all night! As mentioned, the service was interesting ... When we arrived it took a good 5 minutes for anyone to greet us which I thought was odd. There was a lot of staff walking around and someone folding silverware close to where we were waiting. A simple welcome we'll be right with you would had done wonders. Instead we just stood there awkwardly until the hostess came over. Once seated, they offered complementary pink sparkling champagne for the occasion which was a nice treat. Our waitress was extremely friendly, just perhaps lacking a bit of experience? We wanted to take our time placing our order, but were told we needed to put everything in at once. Saturday night is the dessert special which we were excited about, however our waitress forgot to tell us the special. I had to ask after hearing the waiter next to us offer it to their guests. We hoped the food would come out slowly, but it felt a bit rushed. ... in fact I was still had half of my dessert when they brought the check over. There was also an issue with our bill - they forgot to charge us for the glasses of wine and needed to send us over another check. I'm more then happy to pay for what I ordered, but again for such a nice restaurant.... And all the things combined. The food certainly made up for the interesting service! read more

Chez Rosa - The folate and almond cake - chocolate cake was the best!! - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

The food was incredible. I asked for recommendations from the server and it did not disappoint. I don't normally order chicken at a restaurant but it exceeded all expectations. I couldn't stop eating. The bistro salad was simple, light, and soo delicious. The dressing was great. I would love to come back. read more

Chez Rosa - Sumner valley farms roasted half chicken - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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This place was fantastic and a surprising find once we got to Kennebunkport. It was not on any of the "top places" lists that we found online before our trip. The vibes are super cool, the service was awesome, and the food and wine were incredible. The oysters were some of the best I've ever tried and the gnocchi entree was very flavorful. I will come back here every time I come back to KPT. It might have been the best food we had in Maine. This is a really nice spot that will leave you very satisfied. Price was very reasonable as well. read more

Chez Rosa - Gnocchi and French Onion Soup - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Best steak frites of my life. Beats La Grande Boucherie in the city. Please don't stop using bone marrow in the butter until at least this time next year so I can have it once more. Crème brûlée proper. Fantastic service with proper French food. Thanks for a great meal read more

Ok, I know I am a little harsh on this review. First we arrived on time but told to wait. There were tables un occupied. So we waited 15 minutes out side the restaurant. My pass experience in French restaurants , is the more they charge the less food you get, It is very fair to say this about this restaurant. The water glass were for 2 year old kids. Very weird. The restaurant little wooded chairs were very uncomfortable. spend a little money and provide cushion for your chairs. read more

We were seated by the kitchen after asking not to be The menu is small and the options are mediocre, the service was good but the food was average not worth the price point Not again read more

This is the most delightful little French bistro - with oddly the best gnocchi I've ever had (sorry, all of Italy. The Americanized French inspired has ousted you in this category). Everyone from the servers to the owners were friendly, helpful, and always readily available to ask any questions and check in on how our experience was. It was like fine dining combined with the care and thoughtful warmth of dining at a family friend's house. The restaurant itself is decked out with hanging planters and French inspired art lending to such a warm environment. Top it off with a super friendly staff and it's just the most amazing dinner setting. We started with the charcuterie platter and French onion soup and dived into the gnocchi and braised beef - both incredibly well cooked and simply delicious. I'm already looking forward to bringing friends and family here, it's seriously on my top 10 spots in southern Maine now:). read more

Chez Rosa - Braised beef - French Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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A very happening place and quite crowded. We had reservations so we didn't have to wait. I ordered the steak frites because I saw it on several other customer's plates. Our table service wasn't great and it took well over an hour to be served. When my meal came it was disappointing. Other people received about half again the size of mine. It took so long and then arrived so small it made me feel like they had run out and scraped together a small portion to serve me. read more

We somehow landed a last minute reservation here and we're so glad we did!! This meal was incredible from start to finish, and so was the service. We took all of our servers recommendations, and they were spot on. We will be back!!! read more

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Food was good, but we couldn't get past the attitude of this restaurant. I guess you could say the food was not good enough to come back. So, if you want a French restaurant, our opinion is go to France! read more

The service was really good. However, they were training a new server and seemed a little uptight about trying to provide a high end experience. I felt the ambiance was a little off, but I think their new space will be great. Food was okay. I will definitely try again once they move. read more

Full disclosure/context: The last proper French meal we had was in Brasserie Prince in the grand Balmoral Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh in late August. Setting, service, food was 5 out of 5 from the moment we stepped in out of the rain. Fresh Scottish ingredients, French cooking = perfection. But how could that not be in the back of our minds as we entered Chez Rosa, which is not an inexpensive menu? Food: Solid. Our table had a cheese board with chicken liver pate, gnocchi, orzo, steak frites. Everything was decent; no one was particularly impressed. My wife's gnocchi was impressively light, almost fluffy. Unfortunately, the delicata squash in the dish seemed to be pickled and was so strong that it overpowered everything; while a bit of acid/sharpness can enliven a mellow dish like gnocchi, it should not be so strong it becomes the sole flavor. My steak was cooked properly medium rare. Frites were quite crisp. Mayonnaise tasted out of jar/tub, not house-made. I watched other steak frites arrive at tables around me with a pat of herb butter on the steak (as noted on the menu). My steak arrived with none. The fault for this is also on the server, who should have noticed before serving. Which brings me to... Service: Chaotic. Untrained servers for the supposed standard of restaurant they're working in; our server would have been much more at home at, say, Applebee's, from overall "vibe" and knowledge/ability to clothing and presentation. Front-of-house needs a lot of training and strong leadership. Ambiance: Bright. Sterile. (This was in the extension off the main dining room.) Verdict: The food was not so specular that it outshined/made up for the service. For our money, if we're driving over to the Kennebunks, we'll stick with 50 Local. Chez Rosa is in its aspirational phase: it wants to be more than it is capable of being. Detail: + As we sat down and our water glasses were being filled, I said we'd like to start with the two cheeses and chicken liver pate board while we decided on our cocktails. My dining companions were starving and I wanted to get them some cheese and bread to go with the drinks. The waiter said "no," he couldn't do that because we had to order all our food at once. He'd be right back, he said, for our drink order. This set the tone for the quality of service. + Drink order: No locally made Roundturn Bimini Gin for my companion's gin and tonic. This is minor, I know, but also: Come on. (When the waiter repeated the order, he said, "Okay a tonic and gin." Odd, eh? Maybe it was his first night ever waiting tables?) I ordered a Sidecar. "What?" asked the waiter. I repeated myself and he wrote it down. "What's in that?" he asked. I said cognac and then...and then caught myself from listing the ingredients of a drink with three things in it that's been around for more than 100 years. "Your bartender should know," I said. "Okay," the waiter said, "I just need to know for when I enter it in," and pointed to the computer in the corner. What eventually arrived was easily the worst Sidecar I've ever had. + Cheese Board: Delivered with three plates and two cheese knives...and not a single word about what was on the board. If we'd asked for the menus to be returned, we could have read about the two cheeses ourselves. But there were also five other accoutrements on the board. One of my companions asked the server what one of the items was. "Ummmm," he replied, "I'll have to take that question up the ladder." He later returned and told us it was a kind of jellied honey; the flavor was subtle/interesting but the texture was like gelatin and left us wonderful: Why not just include some real local honey, which is abundant? + Mains: After our cocktails were finished, and the cheese board was cleared away, no one asked for our wine order. And then, bang, mains arrived. We then had to ask for wine, which arrived after we'd started our mains. No one ever asked if we'd like a second glass; so no one ordered one. + Dessert: We ordered the crème brûlée and the special, an odd butternut squash custard with some apples (I think) and oat streusel. And a decent tawny port. The desserts arrived. We then asked for silverware so we could eat it. Silverware was brought. The shell on the crème brûlée was solid, nicely caramelized, edging toward burnt, but not burnt. There was an apple compote of some sort at the bottom. If you are a "French restaurant" and you think you are going to "improve" on the classic crème brûlée by tweaking it, you'd better knock it out of the park because a very solid crème brûlée is a must/standard for any establishment claiming to be a French restaurant. This crème brûlée was meh. The special dessert, which a companion was "curious" about, was gross. I know it's autumn and everyone thinks they can do something edgy that's not just with apples or "pumpkin spice," but this butternut squash thing was ill conceived and ill executed. read more

Food was solid but took way too long. Server was good but kitchen was sloooow. Yelp reviews are excellent so maybe it wasn't their best night. read more