I am pained to write this review and give it any less than 5 stars. When I lived here a decade ago, this was my favorite nice restaurant to go to. This is the first time I've been back in several years and I'm disappointed. I'm really trying to find the positive notes because I loved this place but there are truly more negatives than positives. I probably should be giving it a 2-star review. We shared the crab cake. The meat and ingredients in the cake were good, fresh. However the sauce is just a watered down thousand island dressing. The salad that came with our entrees was just chopped romaine and a wet, flavorless dressing. Nothing special, nothing repulsive--I didn't eat much of it, it was just meh. We shared the sole piccata and the beef medallions. The mains were good but overpriced. The piccata sauce was very nice, no critique here. The fish was cooked nicely. The sauce on the beef was quite good too. It was not as heavy as it looked and the mushrooms in it were quite nice and still had some texture to them. The beef was very tender. However I feel like I could've made this beef at home in my pressure cooker and it would've turned out just as well. Not worth over $50 for the entree. The sides were disappointing. There was nothing special about the mashed potato's. The carrots had clearly been cooking all day as they were complete mush. All entrees were served with the same sides. When you're paying $40-$60 per entree, the sides should be appropriate for each dish or at least seasonal, or fresh, or outstanding in some way. The server was polite and friendly. She didn't really know the menu or the drink menu. It was obvious that nothing in the restaurant had been updated at any point. It's just kind of slowly dissolving into disrepair. The paint and bathrooms could use a refresh. The trash can needs replaced. A deep clean hasn't been done in some time. The silverware should be matching. The flower arrangements on the table should be fresh, not poor looking silk. We ordered a Campari soda and it was released to us that they did not have Campari even though that's a commonly requested drink there. The whole thing just feels like the owners said 10 years ago "this is good, let's never change anything" and then that's what they did. I kIf they're going to be charging these premium prices, they need to be providing a premium dining experience. I wish my review was different. This will be the last time I'm willing to go here and pay these prices unless I hear there's been a substantial change. I'm disappointed. read more

The food and service was great! The outside of the restaurant might make you think otherwise but I would recommend going. I had the beef short rib and it didn't disappoint at all. They only have a limit amount so once it was gone it was gone. read more

Chez Yasu - Beef short rib - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Really excellent food and service! Nothing fancy inside and the exterior doesn't exactly have appeal, but Chez Yasu is absolutely worth a visit. Tyson is a friendly and accommodating server. read more

On Friday, February 13 my spouse and I went to Chez Yazu for an early Valentine dinner. Made reservations for 6:30 and arrived on time and seated. Our waitress immediately asked us if we were ready to order when we had barely had time to read the menu. We asked for some time and she left without asking if we'd like anything to drink. We had to wave her down to order wine Again she wanted our order like she was in a rush and wanted us out of there as fast as possible. The waitress also couldn't answer our questions about the menu. Also tried to take our bread plates even though we weren't finished with them. Again rushing us. We finally placed our order. For starters I ordered the goat cheese salad. Menu said it came with goat cheese, tomato, strawberry and green vegetable. What I got was a little pitiful slice of tomato, little slice of a cucumber, a strawberry and thin slice of the goat cheese. Wasn't the great salad I was expecting for $10. After we were through the waitress then informed us that our entrees came with a small salad and did we still want that. We declined. Wouldn't have ordered that crappy salad had I known one came with the meal. Their menu doesn't state what comes with the entree so I had assumed if you wanted a salad you had to order the goat cheese salad. one All in all for an almost $200 meal we expected much more. read more

We enjoyed our evening Friday night very much. It's such a charming place. The service was prompt and attentive The fish with glazed carrots and mashed potatoes was excellent The cherries jubilee dessert was perfect! read more

Let me start by saying that the atmosphere here was great. Small, cozy, and intimate. The bread and carrots were the highlight of my meal. I believe that meat should be seasoned and my food lacked that. There were more mushrooms and carrots than anything else. 5 unseasoned scallops and a cafeteria scoop of non fresh mashed potatoes. The cost of that alone was $37.00, unbeknownst to me when I ordered, and I did ask about the price first. It was very unclear from the server. He was very vague. The crab cake was okay but had alot of celery in it and alot of shells. I can't really put my finger on what they cooked the scallops in but it tasted like some cheap wine that hadn't been cooked off all the way. Very bitter and acidic. The crab cake was $15. My colleague order the chicken, which, all meals come with the mashed potatoes and carrots. She also did not enjoy her meal and we both left more than the most of the meal, on the plate. When asked do we need a box to put the leftover food in, we declined. Our combined meal total was $105.00. I was irritated and still hungry. 2 stars for great bread and carrots. read more

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Save your time and money, this restaurant is not worth it. The service is poor, it took 15 minutes to get our drinks, 25 minutes to get our salad, and the salad was just cut up lettuce. The mashed potatoes were runny, the wine sauce was very thin and tasteless. The bread was something that would be found in a grocery store. This used to be a great place to eat, but not now. read more

Great food, atmosphere and service. I love the Sole Piccata and my hubby got the Seafood Crepe - both entrees were excellent. It was our 45th wedding anniversary and this is our favorite special occasion place. read more

Very 1980's like food. Cheap looking interior for the price of the meals.I am allergic to mold and could not stop sneezing.

Our go to restaurant in town when we want a really special dinner. We always have great service and the food is always great. The seafood crepe is ridiculously good. read more

Valentine's Day dinner special was worth the reservation! Quaint restaurant - converted house with cozy seating. Wait staff and the owners were attentive. The poached shrimp stuffed pastry was light and flaky. Although I wasn't impressed by the salad, the main meal overcompensated for this. The ribeye was tender and flavorful, with mushrooms in a delectable garlic butter sauce that balanced the taste. Nothing here overpowered the main course. The additional treat was dessert! The berry crepe could have been a meal in itself. Fresh and cool with a light custard filling. Yummmmmmm. read more

Chez Yasu - Valentine's Day menu - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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Warm and inviting atmosphere, excellent service, delicious food. This place is a must try! Highest rating is only 5 stars or I would go higher! read more

The food is delicious. The service is personal and nicely paced. A wonderful relaxing special place to have dinner with my husband.

This french restaurant with a Japanese chef has two attractive dining rooms, very good service, and very good french food. The restaurant is missing some of the features that would be expected in a really first class french restaurant, but what they do offer is very enjoyable. For example, they do not have espresso or french press coffee, only regular coffee. Although they have a full bar, they do not have any dessert wines, other than a port wine. They do not offer a cheese plate. Although there are many seafood choices on the menu, all come in frozen. They do not have fresh seafood, which is surprisingly difficult to find in Topeka restaurants. In addition, the salmon is farm raised Atlantic salmon, as opposed to the preferable wild caught salmon. The server said the problem is caused by the Topeka suppliers, who do not provide adequately dependable fresh seafood service to restaurants. In contrast, many restaurants in Kansas City and Lawrence receive regular deliveries of fresh seafood. The server at Chez Yazu told us that the only way to get fresh seafood in Topeka is to buy it yourself in a supermarket that has some available. We also were surprised to find that both of the soups, including Vichyssoise, which would normally be vegetarian, contained chicken stock or beef stock, or both. Despite those limitations, we enjoyed everything at our dinner there. If we had not been told that the seafood had been frozen, we would not have known. The salmon, the Dover sole, and the sauteed shrimp were very good, perhaps because they defrost only enough each day for that day's servings. The Dover sole was the real thing, imported from Europe, although I would have preferred fresh Pacific Dover sole from California. The french bread was simply outstanding. Although we ordered appetizers, the entrees alone are enough for a dinner, since include a salad, a vegetable, and potatoes. If your expectations are not based on what would be at a really first rate french restaurant (at much higher prices), you would likely enjoy a dinner at Chez Yazu very much, as we did. read more

Operating from probably the worst location in the city, you will be surprised at how wonderful this food is. The Salmon is fabulous, also the Chicken, and I think they have steaks too but not sure....I've never ordered beef.....I'm stuck on the salmon. The menu is rarely changed, (if it ain't broke, don't fix it !) the fresh items are always fresh and the service is great. No more pricey than other high quality places in town. And as for the location which used to be a beauty salon, at least there's adequate parking with little walking. Pull in for dinner, you'll be glad you did. read more

Please support this local business. It's amazing food. We had the crab cake, salmon, and seafood crepes. We highly recommend everything. read more

Chez Yasu - The salmon menuier pictured was delicious. My husband had the seafood crepes that were amazing. We highly recommend the crab cake too. - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Hands-down my favorite place to eat in Topeka. Fabulous food, impressive service, lovely atmosphere. We have never had a negative experience and every menu item we have ordered has been excellent. I can't say enough nice things about this place. read more

Chez Yasu - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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I am not a French Restaurant connesieur, but I would say this place ranks up at the top of lot of the fancy restaurants that I have eaten at in the Topeka area. The restaurant is a little small and has that intimate feel to it. The lightling is a little on the dim side which adds to the ambience. The quality of the food was excellent !! Their menu selection is a little limited and consisted of about 2-3 salmon dishes, seafood crepe, a sole dish that I can't pronounce but was a piece of fish that was wrapped in a pastry and served with a cream sauce. There was also a chicken dish, beef dish, rack of lamb dish, and the chicken Picatta. I went with the Veal Picatta which came with a mashed potatos, green beans, and a small house salad. I also had the Gateau Formage for dessert and to wash everything down, I went with the house Pinot Noire wine. The veal was very tender, and coated with a glaze/sauce that really brought out the flavor of the dish. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a fancy dinner. Your total dinner bill will be expensive compared to the other restaurants in the area, but the quality of the food will more than make up for it. If you are looking to impress your date or want to celebrate a special occasion, then this place is worth checking out. read more

Such an elegant and scrumptious little restaurant! My time in Topeka was ending and we went out to dinner here this week. My friends who frequently come here said that there's not been once that they've ordered something that wasn't absolutely delicious. We started out with the scallops appetizers and of course, some fresh-out-of-the-oven sliced baguette. The scallops were so tender and yummy and I had no shame in dipping the baguette into the sauce leftover. I restrained myself from licking the plate. Next we had soup --my friend ordered what she always orders: the cold potato and leek soup, and I tried the squash soup. And boy am I glad I did. It was so, so good. It tasted like fall season in the summer. So creamy and buttery and yummy! More bread-dipping ensued to get every last drop of that soup off the bowl. And finally, I ordered the teriyaki chicken. The chicken was cooked just right and came with a sweet teriyaki sauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans, all on a bed of rice. It was good but I think next time I'd try some of the seafood that my friend ordered! My chicken was good but slightly chewy in some areas. We had attentive service and it was so lovely to find a good French restaurant in the middle of Topeka! read more

My second time here, classic French menu. Food is great, service is very knowledgeable and friendly. Small menu but all the French cuisine classics are there. Reasonable priced for the quality. Rather Simple small wine list but also reasonable priced. read more

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Topeka is my home but sadly overrun with chain restaurants so a place like this is a treasure. It is pricey, but it is so unique & has a special feel that it is well worth it. I usually have to travel away to get this level of good food. I tried the French onion soup. It was served without holland rusk or melty provolone, but it was so delicious & cheesy bread comes with it. The onions were not giant chunks, which I enjoyed greatly. I got the crab cakes as an entree, as I was not very hungry, and could only eat one. It was one of the best I have had, light & lots of real crab I took the other home & my daughter loved it. My visiting friends from Jersey said they have tried every dish on the menu and all are good. So I will be returning to try some other dishes. read more

Great Restaurant, one of Topeka's best restaurants!! Highly recommended for a great experience!! I'm

Pros - great food (I had the duck), elegant table settings, and friendly staff. Cons - outside design is perplexing, French onion soup could be better (soggy crouton), and as it filled up it got noisy quickly. read more

Did Valentine's Day lunch here. Wife had the quiche and it was too shelf. The crust was like eating a croissant - to mix French food metaphors. I had the beef medallions which were very tender and marinated to perfection. The salads and vegetables were perfect with a hint of cinnamon. Fresh bread was great as well. Prices were a bit high but service and ambience get high marks. If you go for lunch - not a huge need for reservations. Dinner - best to call and get reservations. read more

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I had the most amazing yellow squash soup followed by a fantastic light salad. The soul with lemon sauce and capers was slightly overdone but the lemoncello desert more than made up for it. Quiet little French restaurant I was surprised that the staff was Asian. read more

Chez Yasu - Not much to look at on the outside - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Chez Yasu (Topeka, Kansas): Good, Overpriced French Cuisine With A Japanese Flare Prices: $$$ A French restaurant in Topeka, Kansas with a Japanese chef? Seems a bit odd, but hey, it works! We arrived exactly on time for our 7:30pm reservation, but had to wait 15 minutes for our table ... STRIKE 1! While we waited, we had a view of the prep area where a server was taking cherry tarts out of a box that looked like something from Sam's Club ... STRIKE 2! The prices on the menu were significantly higher than the menu on their website ... STRIKE 3! Normally an "out", I have to admit that we enjoyed our dinner and may very well return to try Chez Yasu again ... MAYBE. I love escargots (snails - $7.95 online, $8.95 in reality) and their buttery, garlicly goodness, rarely having the opportunity to order them in culturally challenged eastern Kansas, so I did (as an antipasto). Sans shells, they came six on a plate accompanied by a couple sliced mushrooms and doused with a savory garlic, parsley, and butter sauce. They were good, but nowhere near the best I have had and definitely some of the priciest at $1.50 a pop. My wife had the potato and leek soup (potage - $3.95/$4.95) which apparently comes either hot or cold because when it arrived, it was ice-cold! We asked the server to please bring her the warm version. The soup was decent, moderately flavorful, but a little too watery for my taste. It could have been thicker with a bit more seasoning, but the bread made up for it. The server brought more freshly baked bread as needed and was actually one of the highlights of the night The Poulet Sauté, thinly sliced chicken breast served with a light teriyaki sauce ($16.95/$19.95 - also available with an herb or peppercorn sauce), was moist, light, and succulent with just enough teriyaki to flavor the dish without overpowering the poultry. I would have preferred the herb or peppercorn sauce in a French restaurant, but my wife does not appreciate pepper as much as I do and because she was eating it, I happily succumbed to her decision. The potatoes, not plentiful enough to last as long as the chicken, were light, good, and creamy and the green beans crisp with just enough butter and seasoning. In my opinion, $16.95 for a basic chicken dish is probably at the top of the scale, but $20 is excessive. Not a great value. Boeuf Borguignon ($21.95/$24.95), braised boneless beef short ribs, onions, and mushrooms in a red (burgundy, hence the name) wine reduction. Accompanied by the same mashed potatoes and fresh green beans, the plate was pleasing to the eye and very good. The burgundy sauce was perfect, but for such a small and inexpensive cut of meat, a couple mushrooms, potatoes, and beans, the price we paid was easily six times the food cost and again not a great value in my eyes. I believe the advertised $21.95 would be more appropriate and $19.95 would be a much better value, earning an extra bomb, maybe two in my book (or blog in this case). The house wine (Root: 1), a deep red, full bodies Chilean cabernet with intense fruity tones was the perfect accompaniment to the boeuf borguignon, but at $28 it was the least expensive option on a small wine menu with most bottles coming in at $40 or more. Now do not get me wrong, I have no trouble paying top dollar (or Euro) for a top-shelf meal worthy of a Michelin Star or two, but Chez Yasu will not be getting that star any time soon. I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world ... Brussels, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, Seoul, Budapest, you name it ... and although decent, this small French restaurant in Topeka, Kansas is overpriced in my opinion. By comparison, one of my favorite French restaurants, Le Central in Denver (Colorado) has a much more extensive and affordable wine list, a menu offering a comparable number of options (plus an elaborate offering of mussel dishes, with unlimited French fries by the way, for under $10) all under or close to $20, and superb cuisine prepared by real French chefs. In that comparison, Chez Yasu does not even come close, hence my rating of "value" .... CombatCritic Gives Chez Yasu 6 Bombs Out of 10 ... Les Bombes Sont Bon! read more

Eh, I wasn't impressed. The "house" salad is just lettuce with dressing and the sea bass did not taste fresh. The sauce that paired with the sea bass was almost like gravy, which is a weird combination to me. The fresh bread was amazing and the service is quite good. read more

For a hole-in-the-wall joint, this one is pretty good. Service: 5/5 stars. Selection: 3/5. Food quality 4/5. Food quantity 2/5 Service was perfect... the way a restaurant should be run. Whenever the water glass was emptied, it was filled by whomever noticed it, including waiters who were not tending our table. Menu selection was lacking in choices, but maybe that's because we went there for lunch. Perhaps they have a larger menu for dinner. Two sides were served with the entrée without any alternates available. No starch was available as an option, other than the sliced warm baguettes. The meal started out with a crab cake and calamari for appetizers. The crab cake is perhaps one of the best that I've ever had at a restaurant that isn't overlooking the ocean. The calamari was perfectly cooked and the sauce was an amazing accent to the rest of the dish. Food quality took hit with the poached salmon. Everything about the dish was delicious, and would have been delectable had it not been that the fish was dry. I don't know how someone dries out fish that's bathed in a white wine crème sauce... but they managed it. The sides were hit-and-miss. The carrots were horribly over cooked and under seasoned, whereas the snow peas were cooked and seasoned perfectly! The seafood crepe was in a word: phenomenal. Shrimp was slightly over cooked, but the scallops were cooked perfectly and succulent. The crème brûlée could only have been better if it were served with a couple of fresh berries as a garnish. The vanilla custard filled pastry drizzled in a tart cherry glaze was sublime. The quality also took a hit when I observed one member of the wait staff take bread from a basket just retrieved from a table and place the bread therein into the same bin where I had observed other wait staff pulling bread from that went out to tables. I don't want food served to me that has been on someone else's table where they may have fondled it. I'm pretty sure there's a health code violation there. Food quantity is getting low marks because the quality and portion sizes were a bit small for the price paid. Had my wife and I not had an appetizer each and dessert, we both would have left there unsatisfied and still hungry. All in all, it's a good place, but we probably won't be going back. read more

By Topeka standards, this is a decent restaurant. However, there really isn't anything special or memorable about this restaurant. Food quality is good, but lacks imagination - which one would expect from a French restaurant. However, I would definitely eat there again. read more

We have never been to Topeka before and didn't know where to get good food. After searching Yelp, we decided to try Chez Yasu. I had the medium hot Crispy Garlic Chicken . It was great! It was freshly made, tender, and seasoned just right. My travelling partner had the Wide Noodles with Shrimp, seasoned as "hot". He reported that the dish was really good . Our host came to the table and gave us glasses of lemon grass lemonade to try. The waiter (owner) of the restaurant that is tucked into a corner residence that was probably built in the 1920's also provided us with sample dessert of sticky rice with strawberries and orange slices . All the food was beyond delicious and the friendly attitude of the proprietors was the icing on the cake. I may not ever get back to Topeka again, but if I do, I'm going to go back to Chez Yasu. I wish I could praise this restaurant more highly, but words fail me. I highly recommend calling ahead for a reservation as this restaurant is quite popular and you might not get a seat. read more

A diamond in the rough. Best restaurant in Topeka. If you like wide variety: go to Chili's, you rube. If you like fantastic food: come here. read more

Finally got here and glad. Decor could use an update but all else great. My wife had squash soup which was incredible, I had French onion, Rich and delicious - wished for more onions. She had short rib beef bourginion and that was also marvelous. I had veal piccata cooked tender with lemon sauce and capers. Served over rice which I thot odd with (great) mashed potatoes. Only complaint was the green beans while crisp and good were cold. Our waiter could not have been better. We'll be back read more

Every meal I've ever had at this restaurant--and I've been going since it opened--has been excellent. Sea bass is my favorite fish but the salmon is always excellent as is the sole picatta. The herbed chicken is also very tasty. The soups are fabulous especially the vichyssoise as are the deserts. Try the creme brûlée. Overall it is consistently excellent, the owner is almost always there and knows her customers and is so welcoming. I go knowing I'll have a good meal. read more

Funny name, in the most unlikely location- Topeka, KS! French food with an Asian twist. It's classic French dinning, white table cloths, cloth napkins, candles with a French menu, English descriptions. Wine list is Superb a bit pricy for some of those bottles. Food is excellent as is the service! Best bets are the daily specials. I haven't had a bad meal there yet and I have been several times. If you are tired of steak and potatoes give this place a try. read more

You can go eat food anywhere. This is a dining experience. You simply cannot understand how something so amazing can be hidden away, but as you dine you quickly understand the locals are carefully guarding this treasure. I challenge you to find something wrong with the menu offerings. One of the few times you will find yourself floored and with a complete lack of words to describe your experience. Everything the chef touches is magical and well cared for. While the venue is small it contains an epic experience where you can quietly converse and enjoy life. The owners are very humble and obsessed with the perfection of your dining experience. If you want food go elsewhere. If you want a life experience then this is your destination. read more

The food was amazing. Especially the soup...and then the entree and desert made the whole experience exceptional. Took my future daughter-in-law out to dinner 9 days before she marries my son and it was the perfect place. Great service. read more

Chez Yasu - Out front. - French Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

The peppercorn chicken was very good. The prices were a bit higher than I would like to pay for lunch, but the food is very good. It's definitely a place I'd like to try again. read more

Was a great restaurant. I got the beef wellington and it was delicious. The puff pastry it was wrapped in was very good. Boyfriend got the veal piccata, which he said was very good too. We got an order of escargot, which was good, and I used the extra garlic butter sauce with my bread, gave it a yummy taste. And the salad was very simple, just lettuce and salad dressing, but I normally don't like salad dressing, and their's was delicious. A little zingy but not too much. The gataeu chocolat was small but very rich and tasty, and pretty cheap too. The meal was a little pricey, but it is definitely a special occasion place and has a very quaint and homey atmosphere. read more

Our first visit for a special family event. Would recommend a reservation even on a week night. The small room filled up quickly and most tables were reserved, with a nice sign with your name on the table. Highly recommend all of our dishes: escargot, calamari, goat cheese salad, and the soups. Bread was warm, yummy, and frequently refilled. Also appreciated the frequent refills on our water glasses. Negatives would be the attire of the staff. Very casual for the menu prices. As mentioned in other reviews, the lump of plain mashed potatoes and string beans were less than flavorful or appealing on every.single.plate on the table. Beans were included in the salad and I didn't need a repeat. I think other potato and green vegetable options could easily to offered, too. We'll keep Chez Yasu in mind for another special occasion celebration. read more

Absolutely outstanding. We had plenty of space to feel safe from other diners, had a extremely professional and accommodating and helpful waiter, some outstanding escargot and our main dishes were stellar. I cannot say enough about how special our dinner was and how much I look forward to going back! read more