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Went to L'Albatros for a surprise date night. It was my first time and I was not disappointed. If you go here, and don't do the cheese presentation, you're missing out! The server was very well versed and educated in the boards selection. We also order two entrees and wine which were great. Come here when you have some extra money in your pocket and you want to have an educational show with dinner. Who doesn't like to learn right?
I am always impressed by the service and ambiance at this restaurant. They pamper you throughout your dining experience. I really have to come back in the summer to try the patio - I've eaten in every room otherwise. I have my usual Mussels with Pommes Frite. Wonderful as always. My husband tried the Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Sweet Potato and loved it. One of my daughters had the escargot and enjoyed the spices and the fact that they were out of the shell. My other daughter had the Cod and thought it was great! We'll be back!
Food Quality: definately one of the better one's in Cleveland (you can definately tell that Zack Bruell has very high standards). Our soup and appetizer were very good, the desserts were excellent (Frozen Souffle was an absolute standout). Service: While its quick and efficient, however, there is such a thing as being too efficient and too quick. We felt very rushed throughout the whole evening, we kept being interrupted by either a server/manager or combination. That seems to be the pattern for the whole evening (maybe this is because we came in at 8:30pm and they were just trying to get to the end of the shift) Ambiance: You can absolutely tell the difference between being seated outside and inside. Last time, when we were outside, its like you are in a different place. On the inside, you are very cramped, you can hear all the conversation for the tables nearby and you kept being bumped by server/managers (for the level of this restaurant, you expect a bit more). But the ambiance is definately upscale (you can definately tell Zach Bruell has very high standards). When/if I am back, this would only be for outside seating. I don't think I would want to sit on the inside
It was just okay for me. I have been hearing so many things of the location and the food was just ok for me. Portions small. Pricy. Service was fine, but nothing to exciting. Atmosphere was nice. $3 to pay for parking by CC only. Perhaps it's just me. If you're wanting to try, still go and try for yourself, but it was just okay for me.
Last night was a beautiful evening. We drove to the Case Western Reserve campus in University Circle to visit an establishment we have enjoyed for many years. The new school year has just begun and the activity level of the campus was very high. Young people were everywhere enjoying the evening. The frat houses were all partying out front. People were everywhere thoroughly enjoying themselves. When we arrived at the restaurant a pair of very nice young ladies greeted us. They checked our reservation and guided us to a nice table with a view of the central garden/patio. Moments later a gentleman appeared and told us his name was Ben and he was going to be our server for the evening. He was very pleasant and extremely efficient. After filling our water glasses he asked to take our drink order. The wine list is very expansive. There is an excellent selection by the bottle and by the glass. I had a very nice "Cotes du Rhone" and my brother enjoyed an Arnold Palmer. When Ben returned with our beverages he reviewed the specials for the evening and asked if we had any questions. There were several questions that he handled very effectively and he offered excellent suggestions. We placed our orders and Ben went off to place them. An appropriate time later our food arrived. I ordered the "Braised Lamb Shank" and it arrived served on "Beet Risotto". The preparation was exactly as ordered. My wife ordered the "Roasted Trout with Almond Crust" tomato concasse, haricots verts and truffle butter. It was perfectly prepared. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire meal. Afterwards we ordered coffee, "Crumble Berry Cheesecake" with blueberry & strawberry sauce, whipped cream, "Coconut Cake" with whipped butter frosting, fresh berries, and "House-made Pavlova" with fresh berries. All of it was marvelous. Throughout the evening Ben performed flawlessly. Between him and the staff that assisted him there was always someone there when we needed them but no one was ever intrusive. Our evening was excellent. The level of service was excellent. The food and beverages were excellent. L'Albatros is a fine establishment and I highly recommend it for a wonderful evening.
Great service. Duck confit was the winner. Drinks and dessert were alright. Dessert menu items seemed out of season
Been coming here for years. Recently stopped in on a Saturday Night (with a reservation) and was seated immediately in the newer room, off of the restrooms. It's a tight squeeze with little French ambiance but I was happy to be able to eat here once again. I opted for steak frites and it's was so lovely I forgot to take a picture! I also had the selection of cheeses and this cheese monger was very nice and educational! I was surprised to have the bottles wine list removed from my table before I could even review it. I had to opt for a few glasses of wine instead. I don't want to read into that but one should never assume what the customer may want to order. If you're looking for a place to celebrate or just to have good French food with a modern take, check this place out. Be prepared to pay for parking and secure a reservation in advance.
It does not get much better than this in the Midwest. Every dish was magical. The passion, the creativity, the flavor - it's all there. Visually stunning, endlessly satisfying. It's places like these that remind you how unworthy you are to sit at their tables. Bravo, L'Albatros!
a hidden gem tucked away near case westerns campus. An elegant French restaurant with good food and atmosphere. It's a little pricey but worth it for a nice date or special occasion. Recommend making a reservation! As a vegetarian, I found limited options but what they do have is delicious. My favorite is the mushroom French toast. It's listed as an appetizer but can easily be an entree with apps, sides or dessert! The cocktails and wine are also delicious There's a Parking lot you pay for but usually plenty of street parking
Food: everything we had was delicious, though I did feel that the sides were a bit repetitive, a lot of the entrees had the same braised cabbage side. Service: for such a hot summer day, I wish the water they served us was colder than lukewarm. Also when I asked about dessert and what the frozen soufflé was I was led to believe it was actually a chilled soufflé--not a frozen mousse, which is basically ice cream, something that is not very creative or unique. Overall I think the execution of the French food was there, but maybe avoid in the summer as the food all leans towards very rich and heavy.
I go here all the time because it's the best restaurant in the University Circle area for a long time. But it best the food is average, the service is very good, and the ambience is quite good. But again the food is only average. I think what it is is the ambience and the service set you up for high expectations and the food just lands flat for some reason.
This restaurant is amazing. The maitre'd was attentive and welcoming. Our server was a master of his craft. Each course was unique. We shared the "French Toast"This was grilled toast with mushrooms. Delicious and tasty. Not sure what the ingredients were, but wonderful. The steak was a perfect medium as ordered and seasoned frites were abundant. They were accompanied by a garlic aioli and catsup that were flavorful. My wife's pasta was lemony and unique as well. The cheese cake was tasty and unusual. See the photo below. The menu is extensive. Can't wait to go back and try some of the other choices. For some reason all the photos didn't upload
Made reservations for L'Albatros for my husband's birthday. I wanted some place nice and close to the Maltz Performing Arts Center that we were going to see a candlelight concert. We arrived on time. The parking was $3.00. The restaurant is in an old carriage house on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. We were placed in a the back room near a mini door by a window and a view of the patio garden. The inside was very nice. I am a bit claustrophobic so I sat with my back to the corner while my husband had a view of the corner. Fortunately, he could see the patio which he liked. The other downside, was the couple of flies that kept buzzing to and fro around the window, We joked that we wanted inside on the nice late afternoon / early evening to avoid bugs. Hahaha. We laughed at that too as our week had us on Lake Erie covered with midgies one day and then biting flies a few days later. Gotta laugh, but I digress. L'Albatros! Our server Kyle and the team did a great job! We had water, bread with olive oil, as needed. We started with cocktails and the "French Toast". My husband enjoyed a nice white wine and I had the L'Albatros Original ( Absinthe, Lime, Pineapple, Mint ). I loved the cocktail, it was just a tad sweet, but the flavor was super ! The "French Toast" was a substantial slice of French toast covered with ragout of wild mushrooms and balsamic syrup and micro greens and shaved parmesan. It was lovely. My husband LOVES mushrooms, so this was perfect. For our mains, he ordered the shrimp pasta. Kyle shared that the cream sauce is made with Pernod, which my husband is not a fan of Anise/ black licorice,so he would not enjoy. Kyle offered that they could do a vodka cream sauce instead. This was a much better option for him and he really enjoyed. I ordered the Root Vegetable Cassoulet. It was topped with some breadcrumb mixture. It was the least successful part of the dish. While I normally like a crumble, this has an odd texture. The root vegetables were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious. For dessert, my husband ordered cheesecake. I had a bite and it was tasty. I ordered a cappuccino and it was made perfectly. Definitely a place we would both be happy to return to. Well done service, food and ambiance! read more
7 days ago
This is my favorite restaurant in Cleveland. I know it's going to be enjoyable. The environment is a little relaxed and I like that. A little on the loud side but conversation can still be had. Food was outstanding as usual. Service was great. So here's my minor complaint. How many people are needed there? It seems like too many. Going to the restroom is like going through an obstacle course. If they're not doing anything they need to get out of the hallway. Also they need to level out the tables if two are pushed together. We came close to having an incident with a wine glass. So with those minor concerns, I'll see ya next month !! read more
22 days ago
Went to L'Albatros for a surprise date night. It was my first time and I was not disappointed. If you go here, and don't do the cheese presentation, you're missing out! The server was very well versed and educated in the boards selection. We also order two entrees and wine which were great. Come here when you have some extra money in your pocket and you want to have an educational show with dinner. Who doesn't like to learn right? read more
I am always impressed by the service and ambiance at this restaurant. They pamper you throughout your dining experience. I really have to come back in the summer to try the patio - I've eaten in every room otherwise. I have my usual Mussels with Pommes Frite. Wonderful as always. My husband tried the Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Sweet Potato and loved it. One of my daughters had the escargot and enjoyed the spices and the fact that they were out of the shell. My other daughter had the Cod and thought it was great! We'll be back! read more
Food Quality: definately one of the better one's in Cleveland (you can definately tell that Zack Bruell has very high standards). Our soup and appetizer were very good, the desserts were excellent (Frozen Souffle was an absolute standout). Service: While its quick and efficient, however, there is such a thing as being too efficient and too quick. We felt very rushed throughout the whole evening, we kept being interrupted by either a server/manager or combination. That seems to be the pattern for the whole evening (maybe this is because we came in at 8:30pm and they were just trying to get to the end of the shift) Ambiance: You can absolutely tell the difference between being seated outside and inside. Last time, when we were outside, its like you are in a different place. On the inside, you are very cramped, you can hear all the conversation for the tables nearby and you kept being bumped by server/managers (for the level of this restaurant, you expect a bit more). But the ambiance is definately upscale (you can definately tell Zach Bruell has very high standards). When/if I am back, this would only be for outside seating. I don't think I would want to sit on the inside read more
6 months ago
It was just okay for me. I have been hearing so many things of the location and the food was just ok for me. Portions small. Pricy. Service was fine, but nothing to exciting. Atmosphere was nice. $3 to pay for parking by CC only. Perhaps it's just me. If you're wanting to try, still go and try for yourself, but it was just okay for me. read more
Last night was a beautiful evening. We drove to the Case Western Reserve campus in University Circle to visit an establishment we have enjoyed for many years. The new school year has just begun and the activity level of the campus was very high. Young people were everywhere enjoying the evening. The frat houses were all partying out front. People were everywhere thoroughly enjoying themselves. When we arrived at the restaurant a pair of very nice young ladies greeted us. They checked our reservation and guided us to a nice table with a view of the central garden/patio. Moments later a gentleman appeared and told us his name was Ben and he was going to be our server for the evening. He was very pleasant and extremely efficient. After filling our water glasses he asked to take our drink order. The wine list is very expansive. There is an excellent selection by the bottle and by the glass. I had a very nice "Cotes du Rhone" and my brother enjoyed an Arnold Palmer. When Ben returned with our beverages he reviewed the specials for the evening and asked if we had any questions. There were several questions that he handled very effectively and he offered excellent suggestions. We placed our orders and Ben went off to place them. An appropriate time later our food arrived. I ordered the "Braised Lamb Shank" and it arrived served on "Beet Risotto". The preparation was exactly as ordered. My wife ordered the "Roasted Trout with Almond Crust" tomato concasse, haricots verts and truffle butter. It was perfectly prepared. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire meal. Afterwards we ordered coffee, "Crumble Berry Cheesecake" with blueberry & strawberry sauce, whipped cream, "Coconut Cake" with whipped butter frosting, fresh berries, and "House-made Pavlova" with fresh berries. All of it was marvelous. Throughout the evening Ben performed flawlessly. Between him and the staff that assisted him there was always someone there when we needed them but no one was ever intrusive. Our evening was excellent. The level of service was excellent. The food and beverages were excellent. L'Albatros is a fine establishment and I highly recommend it for a wonderful evening. read more
2 years ago
Been coming here for years. Recently stopped in on a Saturday Night (with a reservation) and was seated immediately in the newer room, off of the restrooms. It's a tight squeeze with little French ambiance but I was happy to be able to eat here once again. I opted for steak frites and it's was so lovely I forgot to take a picture! I also had the selection of cheeses and this cheese monger was very nice and educational! I was surprised to have the bottles wine list removed from my table before I could even review it. I had to opt for a few glasses of wine instead. I don't want to read into that but one should never assume what the customer may want to order. If you're looking for a place to celebrate or just to have good French food with a modern take, check this place out. Be prepared to pay for parking and secure a reservation in advance. read more
It does not get much better than this in the Midwest. Every dish was magical. The passion, the creativity, the flavor - it's all there. Visually stunning, endlessly satisfying. It's places like these that remind you how unworthy you are to sit at their tables. Bravo, L'Albatros! read more
a hidden gem tucked away near case westerns campus. An elegant French restaurant with good food and atmosphere. It's a little pricey but worth it for a nice date or special occasion. Recommend making a reservation! As a vegetarian, I found limited options but what they do have is delicious. My favorite is the mushroom French toast. It's listed as an appetizer but can easily be an entree with apps, sides or dessert! The cocktails and wine are also delicious There's a Parking lot you pay for but usually plenty of street parking read more
Food: everything we had was delicious, though I did feel that the sides were a bit repetitive, a lot of the entrees had the same braised cabbage side. Service: for such a hot summer day, I wish the water they served us was colder than lukewarm. Also when I asked about dessert and what the frozen soufflé was I was led to believe it was actually a chilled soufflé--not a frozen mousse, which is basically ice cream, something that is not very creative or unique. Overall I think the execution of the French food was there, but maybe avoid in the summer as the food all leans towards very rich and heavy. read more
5 months ago
9 months ago
I go here all the time because it's the best restaurant in the University Circle area for a long time. But it best the food is average, the service is very good, and the ambience is quite good. But again the food is only average. I think what it is is the ambience and the service set you up for high expectations and the food just lands flat for some reason. read more
5 months ago
This restaurant is amazing. The maitre'd was attentive and welcoming. Our server was a master of his craft. Each course was unique. We shared the "French Toast"This was grilled toast with mushrooms. Delicious and tasty. Not sure what the ingredients were, but wonderful. The steak was a perfect medium as ordered and seasoned frites were abundant. They were accompanied by a garlic aioli and catsup that were flavorful. My wife's pasta was lemony and unique as well. The cheese cake was tasty and unusual. See the photo below. The menu is extensive. Can't wait to go back and try some of the other choices. For some reason all the photos didn't upload read more
6 months ago
6 months ago
1 year ago
A classic brasserie - fine dining food quality and casual atmosphere, so feel free to dress up or down! Make sure you get a reservation as it is a very popular spot located on the Case Western Campus and near popular attractions like the Botanical Garden and museums. Many people celebrate big occasions like graduations here. The standout dishes were the cheese board and dessert. It was awesome to have a cheese cart and the server is great at explaining what type of milk was used, where they are from, and the flavor profile so we could avoid trying cheeses too similar to each other. Appreciated that the accompanying bread could be refilled to maximize the tasting experience. The dessert tasted like an iced raspberry mousse. It was definitely smaller than expected as we thought it would be the size of a traditional soufflé ramekin, but it made up for in deliciousness. The entrees were pretty good, although the one I ordered (seasonal) came off a little too fatty and hearty. They were worth the price since it was large enough to take home leftovers. read more
I have been dining at L'Albatros for about 15 years and have never had a bad meal. The experience is always exceptional and this is my second favorite restaurant in all of Cleveland. There aren't any French restaurants in town and this certainly is the best one. The menu is very good and it's hard to pick out a meal with so many selections. Their specials also offer great options. I highly suggest sampling the cheese car. They have so many cheeses from around the world. It's quite an experience. One specials menu item was a duck and foie gras sausage. This must be the best sausage I have ever eaten and it was very, very good. I was very skeptical to order this because I'm not the biggest Doug fan, but this was exceptional. It's possible they put it on their normal menu because of its popularity. read more
Very lovely date experience with incredibly attentive staff who kept our plates full of bread and refills. Food came out exceptionally fast! We started with the escargot (very yummy garlic butter sauce that we dipped our bread in) and flavorful entrees. We got the Duck Confit and Steak & Frites. It was a very romantic environment with the low dimmed lights. Can't wait for my next visit! read more
7 months ago
6 months ago
I had the French Onion Soup. It was hot and flavorful. I selected the Coq au Vin for my main course. The chicken skin was browned perfectly and the meat was tender. The only thing I didn't care for was the type of mushrooms they used. The service and atmosphere were great. I definitely would return to try some other entrees. read more
4 months ago
3 years ago
This was one of the most beautiful dinners I have had! My father has always wanted to try this place, so we were very excited! We made reservations beacuse it is usually very hard to get into without one. When we arrived they took us to the back room (which eventually filled up while we ate our dinner). The first thing we did was decide on a wine. The wine sommelier came to our table and asked us: what flavor we are going for, what food we will be eating, what cost we are willing to pay for a bottle, ect. With this information, she left and brought us back a bottle of wine she thought would be perfect for us with what we answered. - For us we got a very delicious red wine. As we enjoyed the wine and bread, we ordered our meals and the cheese presentation. The cheese presentation was an awesome experience, as every single cheese was described to us by tastes, where it comes from, how its made, ect. You then get to pick, out of all the options, which ones you want to taste - be careful though, some of the cheeses have a VERY funky flavor. For dinner I ordered the Chicken Confit and my father ordered the Choucroute Garni. Both dishes were absolutely delicious, but out of the two I would pick Choucroute Garni. The dish overall had more elements to it, somehow every piece had a delicious punch of flavor! It also was a big portion of food, so you won't leave this place hungry. The Chicken Confit was similar to a chicken paprikash and also was large portion of food. This is an amazing restaurant that will treat you to a wonderful experience. Definitely recommend this place, it is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner! read more
We had a fantastic experience at L'Albatros. We went after seeing an exhibit at the art museum on a Friday night with no reservation and they set us immediately. The service was great. They were very on top of things. We started with the croquettes which were delicious. They were on the specials menu as was the monk fish dinner. It had a lobster cream sauce that was amazing. This is a great restaurant for special occasions. The only tiny downside is that we were sat in a room that was a little cramped and so it felt like the tables were on top of each other. read more
L'Albatros is one of the stand out meals to have in Cleveland. Tucked into an unassuming corner of the CWRU campus, park in the affordable lot reserved for patrons and head on in under the faded and well loved sign. Upon entering, you'll pass the kitchen and then be greeted at the host stand. There are two main dining rooms here that sort of operate as separate wings of a house. When you're in one it's hard to remember that there is another space adjacent. It feels like eating in a family members cozy dining room. There is really no way you can go wrong on the menu, but here are a few recommendations: - the vegetarian cassoulet has a particularly good goat cheese cream sauce - if there are the truffle parmesan croquettes as a special, get them - the soup of the day is typically more spectacular than a soup has any business being. Especially if is the red pepper sweet potato or the butternut squash soup - skip the pizza. It's good but they do so much else so much better - always save room for dessert - I love the cherry jubilee Bon appetit! read more
7 months ago
L'Albatros has been one of my favorite Northeast Ohio restaurants for years, so it is with great disappointment I write this review. We came on a late Sunday afternoon - after being shown to our table we had to wait 15-20 minutes for the server to come take our drink order, as tables all around us were being seated and getting their orders in before ours. Finally the guy came and apologized for a "miscommunication" but then proceeded to serve in a robotic manner the entire meal, with barely a word during the final courses. He also insisted that they needed to have our full order all at once - this before we'd even received our drinks - so that the kitchen could "get everything in order" and organize when our dishes would be fired... what?!? Who says that? Bus staff looked preoccupied and kept swirling over incessantly to check to see if we'd finished our bread - I mean the whole set of interactions just stressed us out. Then the food - the Mountainman, one of my favorite of their cocktails, was loaded with Amaro and super bitter (it's a riff on an old fashioned); the oysters on the half shell came served with mignonette already poured over them (another bizarre twist I've never seen before); my wife's crusted salmon with ratatouille and lobster cream sauce had some kind of Asian component to it (hello, this is a French restaurant) and my coq-au-vin had more grease in it than vin, and tasted like it had been seared and cooked a few minutes before being served. For those of you who know this place this will all sound eye poppingly bad. My sincere hope is that this experience was the result of a management change or something that management will take care of promptly. It certainly wasn't representative of the excellent meals we've had here in the past. read more
7 months ago
8 months ago
1 year ago
Came here for Christmas Eve dinner. Friendly staff and great service despite how busy it was. Everything we ordered was delicious. Highly reccommend the French toast. Hope to be back in warmer weather to sit on the patio -- looked stunning. read more
Hubs and I had a fantastic meal. Our server was very helpful and we went with his recommendations of the cod and the cassoulet. Both were fantastic dishes. We also ordered the fois gras which was quite a large portion! I highly recommend the polenta cake ...so lemony and not too sweet. Be sure to get your wine recommendation from the sommelier ...they won't steer you wrong. Simply describe your preferences and price point and they will perfectly pair the wine with your dinner. We will for sure be back...I have to try the cheese board! read more
9 months ago
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Ask the Community - L'Albatros
How many private dining rooms are there and how is the experience of dining in them?
We didn't have a private room, it wasn't too crowded where we stay though
Is the seating spread out in a socially distanced manner to avoid coronavirus spread?
Seating is fairly close
Is the patio covered?
The outdoor seating area had no cover except the trees when we were there in September
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