I was going to give this place a rating of 3 stars, but then I read the description: "a historic setting with time honored dishes". That is actually spot on. I found this restaurant to have an old feel. The building, decor and furnishings were all old. The menus were old, and finally the menu items were very traditional. I went there for a brunch, and they offered traditional breakfast items as well as a variety of lunch items. The meals were good, but there was nothing special about them. The service was phenomenal. Really enjoyed the old world charm of the waitstaff. That is something that never goes out of style. read more

La Mere Michelle - Sole with lemon butter sauce - French Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Yes, this place has a more traditional feel than some of the other newer and "trendier" places in the area. But do not let that deter you. Enjoyed a delicious dinner and wonderful service last night. I had the cream of broccoli soup and Petrale Sole. Partner had the wedge salad and filet mignon. Spumoni for dessert, of course! Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Our waiter was attentive and kind. read more

I'm sorry but a was very disappointed Service was good but the place so old and the food no too good We order pâté, French onion soup both was ok , scallopine Marsala and halibut no good. For me was the first and the last visit to this restaurant read more

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4 star for views inside and out. It's a big place and decorated with the family's photos and paintings tracing back to their European origin. 3 star for food. Tried seafood crepe, salmon, and bacon and egg during brunch. They all came with the same sides and the zucchini is a bit bitter. The sauce is buttery but not much creativity. The warned the bread for the table which is nice. The restaurant owner is an lady in the 80's. She loves to talk about the pictures and paintings inside the restaurant and her family. read more

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OMG what a terrible place. We went on 7/10/25 prior to a concert at Mountain Winery. Our first inclination that something was amiss was that we were the only couple there. The place was empty and it remained empty until we left. We wondered if there was something that the patrons of Saratoga knew that we clearly did not. Being the only customers you would think the service would be snap on but you would be wrong. The "waiter" first neglected to bring my wife a wine list but then told us they had no wine list for wine by the glass list but he would tell us what was available and then he couldn't remember. When he did finally come up with something it was brought in a glass that barely had more than a sip or two in it. The menu listed the main item food choices but no description or details of anything. There were two soups offered so I had the French Onion (this is a French restaurant after all) and my wife had the special. Neither was memorable by any means and took forever to come to the table. I then ask the waiter what the main course came with (I order a filet mignon and my wife ordered the sole) and he said that there was a mixed vegetable medley and mashed potatoes. What actually arrived bore no resemblance to that representation whatsoever. The potatoes were a few diced cubes that were fried and the mixed vegetable medley was four baby carrots that apparently were harvested in the 1900's and 5 pieces of sliced zucchini drowned in some unidentifiable sauce. The filet was nearly raw (I had ordered it medium) and the sole was unrecognizable under the same zucchini sauce. The food was tasteless and very poorly presented. We skipped dessert since we were heading out to a concert and we would pick up something there. So we waited but apparently La Mere Michele's telephone system apparently failed and they had to hand write out the credit card charge (and of course never said a word for ten minutes while we were waiting.) When we left we were still the only people there, which I now understand why. Avoid this restaurant as Saratoga has so many so much better choices. read more

Holy smokes. Everything you would expect. Excellent service. The food was incredible the Chef even came out to check on our meal. We will definitely return. Amazing read more

Terrible experience! We had a terrible experience at La Mere Michelle on Mother's day. I had booked a table for lunch for the three of us (my wife and son). When we arrived for lunch, there was no one at the reception. After waiting a bit, an older lady came by. It is hard for me to describe what happened next, because I have never experienced anything like this in 23 years of living in the bay area. This lady had a permanent scowl on her face. There was no greeting, no welcome to the restaurant. Instead, we were met with a tone of voice that seemed demeaning and condescending. She almost shouted at me when she asked for my name. Because it was mother's day, I had a camera bag with me that I had put down on the floor as I was waiting. She shoved my bag away with her feet. It was so bizarre. We thought she was having a bad day and decided to ignore it. We got a table, and we thought things would improve from here on. However, the server we got seemed to act the same. No greeting, no welcome. She just gave us the menu. No explanation of the menu or the specials of the day. When she came back, I asked her what came with a particular dish I was interested in. She replied that all dishes came with x y and z (I don't remember what they were) in the same condescending kind of tone. Even my wife commented to me that that just sounded so rude. From then on no one came by to ask how the food was, even though she did the same for the table next to us. The water glasses were never filled. When we finished, she came by and handed us the bill. We were thinking of getting some dessert, but this was never an option for us it seems. When we mentioned that to her, she said something like: "oh I'll get you dessert if you want". Of course we were never going to get any dessert at this place after this. We have never felt so insulted at any restaurant. We have lived here for over two decades and this has never happened to us. It was so bad that for the first time in my life I refused to tip and instead wrote an explanation, on the bill, of how we felt. I can't help but feel that somehow we were racially discriminated against. Now that I have looked around for reviews on Google, I see other mentions of racist owner. Stay away. read more

La Mere Michelle - a receipt with a picture of a person holding a cell phone - French Near Me - Saratoga, California

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2.5 stars. Dined at La Mère Michelle for a belated celebration for Father's Day with Dad and the boys on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Dad wanted to go to a restaurant that served escargot and duck à l'orange. Based on the menu posted on their website, Dad chose to go here as it had been decades since his last visit. This was my and the boys' first time. Venue: Situated on Big Basin Way with a parking lot, we found a space right in front of the entrance. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find that we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Our server said that we missed the 5 PM rush that emptied out for the comedy show at The Mountain Winery. No complaints here. Dad preferred the privacy and quiet. We were seated next to a front open window table, one of the best places in the whole restaurant to enjoy a meal. The interior decor was standard for a classic French eatery. I didn't see the back dining room, but the foyer and bar appeared to be the original, but well kept furniture and ornaments from the 1970's or 1980's. What was shocking to me was the filthy women's bathroom - upon entry, the first thing I noticed was the disgustingly dirty toilet in the first stall. I skipped that one for the other, which was better, but you could see the black mildew ring forming there. Clearly, cleaning the commodes has not been a priority of theirs. GROSS! Food: Heads-up; the online menu is misleading as it has many more offerings than the actual menu. Best to call ahead if you are craving escargot because they were not serving snails that night. Dad was disappointed. He ended up with the Chicken & Vegetables Soup of the Day which was nothing special at all. Both of the boys ordered the Classic Caesar Salad which they enjoyed. For my Appetizer, I had the Assorted Pates which came with a slice of Venison Galantine and another of Mousse of Duck and Goose Liver. The latter was my favourite between the two because of the creaminess, but Dad preferred the taste of the Venison Galantine. For Entrées, my eldest and I ordered Filet Mignon, but he had the Blue Cheese Demi-Glace and I couldn't pass up my favourite Cognac Peppercorn Sauce. Both were good, but the Blue Cheese Demi-Glace was the winner between the two. My steak also had a little bit of fat, unfortunately. My youngest was very happy with the Chicken Tarragon. Surprisingly, Dad skipped both duck dishes and opted to try the Wiener Schnitzel. Sadly, he was not impressed. Service: Our waiter was nice and attentive. My only complaint was that I had to practically force a recommendation out of him to decide between the French Onion Soup Gratin and the Assorted Pates (I'm always boggled by servers who don't offer their personal opinion on dishes.). A couple of days after our dinner, the restaurant texted me because they inadvertently charged me three separate amounts; $28,549.12 and $28,800.00 (both erroneous) in addition to my $288.00 total (An aggregate of $57,637.12 charged to my credit card). An honest human mistake it was, I completely understand, and I appreciate that they contacted me right away to inform me of the issue. The matter was resolved by mid-week; however, it did cause an inconvenience with a pending charge on my card. I definitely will not make a special trek to return to La Mere Michelle. If in the neighbourhood and craving their Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Demi-Glace, I would probably check out the lady's room before sitting at a table to eat. If their latrines are in the same condition as I saw them, I would lose my appetite to dine here again. read more

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My sister and I ate our Thanksgiving meal here. Pros: Service, service, service! Cons: Ambiance is very 80s. The decor and atmosphere make me want to listen to Tears for Fears and vote for Reagan. As far as the food, I liked that the selection went beyond turkey and stuffing. It was cooked well but pretty standard. A bit overpriced but we were grateful to have somewhere decent to go for the holiday. read more

Super good! The Baked Brie with Apricot was to die for! Everything was fantastic, a bit on the pricier side but everything was super good so it was worth the price. Service was great, and the waiter was super friendly and hospitable. read more

We went here for lunch a few days ago. It looks very low key from the outside and the inside is the same. I would describe it as an old-school restaurant not surprising because they have been here a long time. The rest of the clientele who were there were older not surprisingly. The service was very good and the food was OK. I had the french onion soup and filet mignon. I am glad I tried it but prefer the newer livelier spots down the street. read more

This place is amazing, the interior really matches the vibe of Saratoga village. Food was really good, that French onion soup is something else! Service is also super nice and caring. Would come again read more

Just happened to see the open sign on this place. I haven't been there in 20 years and was on a date with my husband so we went in. The place was empty and so 80s or even 70s at first I was not sure. We were seated and we ordered. The service was amazing. A professional waiter that made me feel very special and nostalgic for the decadence of a romantic night out with my love. The martini's were perfectly chilled and the food was amazing. I can not remember the last time I had such an incredible meal. Wow! and Wow! Don't let the bygone look of the place fool you, it is a real gem. It looks like it will be out of business soon so check it out before it's too late and it like so many others will be gone. read more

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We just had a delicious Valentine's Day dinner here. The set menu was thoughtful and the perfect amount of food. We had the mushrooms and smoked salmon to start which came with a small loaf of delicious crusty bread. Then we each had the Caesar salad which was perfectly dressed. My husband had the prawns and I had the duck- both delicious and nicely paired with scalloped potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. To finish we shared the carrot cake. We had the most courteous server who made sure our wine glasses and waters were topped often. We recommend this restaurant for a higher end date night. read more

Service was fantastic - such personal touch. The food is exceptional - it's like flying over to Europe and tasting authentic French and German/Austrian food at a fantastic European family restaurants. I say this because I have been there done that for years. This place is a hidden classic gem and an institution in Saratoga. The schnitzel is simply the best I have had in the US. As good as anything you will find in Vienna. The escargot is simply delectable - so authentic. Most escargot at other Resturants are just terrible and over done. Their's is just perfect. The streaks are fantastic - accompanied by great sauces. Then there is the prices - simply a bargain. Yes the restaurant decor is old and frozen in time but that's what makes the place so special and such a great experience. Like I said it's like going to a fantastic top notch family owned restaurant in Europe. Le Mere Micheal - What a treasure. read more

Service was fantastic. Soup was amazing. Wine was reasonable and great selection. Value was outstanding

La Mere Michelle hosted our wedding reception on Saturday Feb. 29th and it was an amazing night! Chef Marc, Madame Michelle, and their whole team really made this special for us. We asked our guests to get to the restaurant at 5:30, and they already had a special room all setup for us. I had been working with Marc in the days leading up to the wedding, he was a ton of help. Helped us get the room exactly how we wanted it and was even sending videos of the setup the day before. His great communication and confidence in the success of the night really helped put our nerves at ease. After our guests visited for a bit and had their wine served to us by a team of their staff, we started off with a delicious wedge salad. It had the perfect balance of Roquefort dressing, bacon, and bleu cheese crumbles. There was even someone going around with fresh cracked pepper offered to each guest! All the salads came out in a timely manner, with the bride and myself the groom being served first. The plates were quickly cleared when guests were done and it was on to the next course. Each guest was given a choice of a chicken, steak, or salmon dish. What I especially appreciated was that the guests had their orders taken on the spot - none of that needing to pick your option weeks/months ahead of time! Personally I was planning on the salmon, but that night I decided to go with the chicken. These entrees were served traditionally and also came out on time, with no guests having to wait any longer than the amount of time it took to walk back from the kitchen. The wine and water was kept pouring throughout this whole time. After dinner we were all served champagne for a nice toast and some speeches. The whole dinner, from the moment we arrived, we were waited on by at a minimum three staff. Not like they would wait other tables and come check on us when needed - they were there to help the whole dinner! They were also serving at the bar just outside the room when our guests wanted something different than beer. It was a really nice personal touch to have assistance the whole night. All the staff was nice and friendly, they were talking to us and the guests and added to the conversations but without being too much. Madame Michelle was also making her rounds, talking to the guests and giving us good marriage advice while also making sure everything was as perfect as we expected during this wedding reception. All in all this was a great place to have our dinner at. Chef Marc handled all the Little Details and provided us some much needed stress relief. The food was delicious, the service top notch, and everything was above and beyond what we expected. Looking forward to eating here again on our next trip to Saratoga! read more

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We had a delightful dinner there last night. Service was attentive, and the food was delicious and a great value , given restaurant prices these days. It's a great old-school vibe , which is always fun. We will definitely be back. read more

This place is such an embarrassment. Look at the reviews. Are you paying to eat this food or should be paid to eat it? The menu is a disgrace (generic). They buy most of their food from outside and call if "French" so they can charge higher prices. read more

La Mere Michelle is a very cute classic French bistro in Saratoga's charming little downtown. We went on a lovely warm evening and were seated by the open windows. Our server, Maury, was absolutely delightful. The food was equally delightful. Mushroom soup: I absolutely love mushroom soup and this one was pretty good. It was thick but not super creamy. It was a great start to the meal. Apple & endive salad (with bleu cheese): A very light salad with different flavors and textures that come from the various ingredients. The walnuts were a nice touch. Duck breast with Montmorency sauce: This was delicious! I love duck as a meat but it's often mishandled. The duck here was cooked perfectly - still a little pink and tender. The sauce was nicely tart without being overly so. I loved the well-seasoned vegetables as well. 12 oz. NY steak with mushroom demi-glace: Steak was a perfect medium rare. The sauce was very good too, a perfect demi-glace. Desserts (coconut cake & berry tart): Both were very good! It wasn't a huge slice (thank goodness) and was a perfect end to the meal. read more

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This old school classic French American restaurant was a nice surprise given that it has been around for many years. Stopped by on a Sunday night, which is a great time if there are no concerts at Mountain Winery as there is plenty of seating in this peaceful setting. Baked Brie - Wrapped in a light filo dough the brie was soft and warm and topped with apricots within this pillow and served over a raspberry coulis. Served with slices of baguette this was a great appetizer to start the meal. Onion Soup- Classicly baked with 2 types of cheese covering the entire bowl with crusted cheesy goodness on the sides and piping hot onions in a perfectly seasoned broth covering the floating slice of brioche. Duck Breast- 6 pieces of tender breast but slight overdressed with the cherry sauced reduction and served with buttered saute vegetables of mushrooms, zucchini, potatoes & carrots. King Salmon- Generous portion of freshly baked salmon in a lightly creamed burre blanc sauce and served with the same medley of vegetables. Hazlenut Chocolate Cake- A lite version of decadence, but could not make out the hazelnut flavor; however still a very enjoyable bite of chocolate. Overall, great service and simple dishes with good flavors. Since the number of diners were few it was surprising to hear that they ran out of duck so quickly, so you may need to be the 1st seated on a Sunday to get your share. read more

I've been eating at La Mere Michelle for over 50 years. While Michelle has slowed down a little, she is still a wonderful hostess. The service is always attentive yet respectful. Chef Marc has continued his father Josef's quality and consistency. read more

My husband reservation at this restaurant at 2/14 ,we came to this restaurant is first time ,this restaurant not call to us know for Valentine's Day the food can't choice menu food ,when we reach this restaurant,their only have setting menu must per person $125+ ,and the food no good,because the duck meat not well done and can't bite ,I was talking to the one of the service boy ,he said I will tell their,but he not help my meat send back to the kitchen more cook ,I just leave the food on the table,I just want the let other people know,this restaurant is not perfect. $125 just only for these three course. I will not come to this restaurant anymore. Taste like CAFETERIA FOOD and a racist old lady with a bad service... read more

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some dear friends wanted to go on Saturday, before the Covid Lockdown. As a young couple, it was there "we have some cash, lets treat ourselves" spot. I won't kid ya, Texas boy living in exile in CA for ~ 20 years - I didn't want to go to a "Fancy Saratoga Village" restaurant where the waiter is gonna sneer at me, and I'm never certain which fork I should be using. Arrived a bit early and walked down the street and back. Woo Hoo, even outdoor dining, the Village is still so fancy. I was getting quite worried. My party arrived, we went in to be seated. Madame Michelle was so kind and gracious. We were seated on the Terrace? not out on the street, distanced enough to feel comfortable, yet nice and secure. She made sure the party was happy and settled, then sent over the waiter. He was obviously running all the tables, a bit hurried, but made time to ask, help, guide, advise, as a professional waiter will. The décor is dated, you can tell it used to be super swanky at one point, and is lightly fading now. But still felt homey and relaxing. Menu? nothing like I was expecting. simple but good food. A simple menu lets you know the selections will be prepared fresh, no oddball ingredients, and the Chef (i found out, her son) KNOWS what he is making, and made it well. French Onion soup, traditional style, cheese over the bowl, cut baguette, thick and hearty. Schnitzel, because, heck, I cant FIND another restaurant serving veal in the valley. OMG. It was like home cooking. Ordered Creme Brulee and Lemon Cake for desert to share .. GET THE LEMON CAKE. yum. I understand, COVID has slowed things down. Last night before Covid shutdown, not a large crowd. However? Michelle came by to check in often, chat with us, be an entertaining host as in days gone by when the restauranteur actually CARED about the guests. She was a lovely hostess, and the meal was great. I never felt I was at super super fancy, because I wasnt I felt like I was at someone's home, and they were making sure we had a nice dinner. If you are expecting the trendiest, latest, nitrogen-infused, cooked upsidedown by acrobats, rare ingredients - maybe keep walking. But if you are looking for a calm, traditional, nice dinner? this place is good. I cannot recommend La Mere Michelle enough And if you are unfamiliar with the French Nursery Rhyme - here it is, .... I noticed no rabbit on the menu :) C'est la mèr' Michel qui a perdu son chat Qui crie par la fenêtre qui le lui rendra C'est le pèr' Lustucru qui lui a répondu : "Allez, la mèr' Michel vot' chat n'est pas perdu." Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du tradé-ri-dé-ra tra-la-la ! C'est la mèr' Michel qui lui a demandé : "Mon chat n'est pas perdu vous l'avez donc trouvé ?" C'est le pèr' Lustucru qui lui a répondu : "Donnez un' récompense il vous sera rendu." Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du trade-ri-dé-ra tra-la-la ! Alors la mèr' Michel lui dit : "C'est décidé, Si vous rendez mon chat vous aurez un baiser." Mais le pèr' Lustucru qui n'en a pas voulu Lui dit : "Pour un lapin votre chat s'ra vendu!" Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du tra la la la Sur l'air du trade-ri-dé-ra tra-la-la read more

Came here for the Escargot, but enjoyed the mushroom so much more. The mushroom appetizer were amazing! I order the scallop. You get 3 pieces. .... luckily i had other appetizer to get me full. The desert were decent. Get the shiiitake mushroom!!!! read more

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Drove by this restaurant hundreds of times and decided to go in. The Menu was good, all dishes sounded amazing and the prices seemed fair. The restaurant it self is nice and cozy. I ordered the Sesame Duck and I have to say the taiste was good both the sauce and the duck. I will certainly come back to try the lamb and another to try thr Salmon. 4 stars read more

La Mere Michelle - Menu - French Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Warning we did NOT eat here: It was a beautiful Wednesday in Saratoga, my friend and I wanted to get a mimosa and sit outside. We wandered in Le Mere and asked if they were open, the door woman sarcastically said "The door is open isn't it." Ok..... so then we said " do you have mimosas?" And she responded "is that all you want?" So anyway maybe the food is good, and maybe she was just having a bad day read more

Started our meal off with the pate appetizer, shrimps and French onion soup-- all excellent in taste. The shrimp was my favorite but the soup is a favorite of many people I know For the entrees, I ordered the filet mignon. It was good and tender. Definitely worth it's money but not on the same level as the other dishes my family ordered. The prime rib was probably my favorite (was a special for the night). Super tender, juicy, and humongous. The lamb chops were also superb. We ordered one of entree, don't remember which it was exactly. I just know that all the meats are exceptional cuts that are cooked to perfection. The sauces will vary depending on people's taste. Also, the vegetables that come with the entrees have great flavor to them. Definitely try the desserts-- these are 5 star. They look very standard but these homemade desserts are so scrumptious and delightful! This restaurant has been around for a long time and had maintained its reputation through the years. They offer personable service, outstanding food, large portions, all at a very generous price. read more

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Terrible experience and we never even sat down. I booked an 8:30pm reservation for 3 of us (Valentine's Day dinner w/ the wife and daughter) a week ahead, and we showed up a few mins early... To absolute chaos in the waiting area. The crazy continued as we and another party of two were asked to wait by a small unattended bar in the (empty?) dining room extension area off to the left of the entrance. The very nice elderly hostess/owner proceeded to forget about us, and we then watched her seat 2 other parties with 9pm reservations EARLY (8:45pm?). When we and the other couple came back to her after having waited 20 mins and witnessed this, she asked if we had checked in. FOR REAL. We tried, politely, for another 15 mins. Confusion was never addressed. She just kept throwing her hands up, making not-funny jokes, and saying "where are they all coming from" as more parties entered to check in and not be seated. Other employees and waitstaff were walking past making funny faces. Like they knew exactly what was going on but could care less. Finally at around 9pm we were promised the next table. We watched her/another member of the staff set it up with 3 chairs. Then she wandered around for 10 mins, came back and asked "ok who was next?". "Remember us? Table for 3?" I reminded her. "No, I have 2 tables for two" as she proceeds to seat another couple who showed up well after we had- AND REMOVES THE 3RD CHAIR FROM THE TABLE FOR 3 THEY HAD SET UP JUST 10 MINS PRIOR IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM A TABLE. We walked out- should have done just that waaay sooner. Ridiculous. Get it together people. Unacceptable nonsense under any set of circumstances- we never even got an apology during the course of this whole debacle. So no plans to ever try eating here again, and will try my best to warn friends away as well. read more

I hosted a birthday dinner here. The service was attentive and friendly. I loved the old school atmosphere with its indoor outdoor dining area. The food was delicious and arrived in a timely manner. The waiter brought a birthday without us asking and sang happy birthday along with us. I will definitely return here again. read more

We came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. The ambiance is an acquired taste that appreciates the charm of decadence in high class decades past. It's not updated to current trends but it holds its own and stands out if you can come with an open mind. We had great weather for our early dinner and were seated by the open windows and had fun watching cars and people walk by. We pretended we were in Europe. Our waiter was so kind and passionate. We loved that when we ordered our dinner items- the duck with cherries & the rack of lamb- we asked for wine suggestions by the glass (they don't have pricing listed btw for by the glass) he just said- for you a Pinot noir and for you a Cab. And he did not tell us the label or year, and we didn't care to ask. We saw the wine list- and not a bad one on there- so trust the adventure if you can :) The wine was delicious and perfectly paired. The food was not decorated or plated with instagram in mind. It's prepared with French culinary skills and the best ingredients, which you can taste and smell. If you don't cook you might not appreciate what they do here. The lamb was the most tender I've had and the duck's skin was salted and crunchy and was delicious without the accompanying sauce, though I would have licked my plate if I were at home. The veggies were cooked exactly long enough and the potato gratin was so packed with flavor I couldn't have eaten more than the small yet mighty portion served. Honestly, if you like a well prepared meal packed with loads of flavor and a great wine selection, give them a try. If you like French food, give them a try. If you want a trip to the past, come here. If you only go to dinner to take photos of your meal, then stay at home. read more

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We went for my grandmother's 91st Birthday and had a wonderful time. We started with the salmon and Brie appetizers and they were delicious! I had the Mahi Mahi which had a yummy sauce and fresh vegetables. The service was great, our waiter took excellent care of us. You will feel transported to France. It was a really special night. read more

Enjoyed our dinner here once again. The same waiter as usual was friendly and made sure our water was always full, explained the specials, and knows when to check on the table and when to leave us alone. The window seat is always a delight and the summer breeze was refreshing. The interior is older decor, but clean and welcoming. read more

This place was probably a thriving upscale restaurant in its heyday but definitely past it's prime. Service was great and the servers including Michelle herself were super friendly. Our server was attentive. High points were the escargot, French onion soup, and hazelnut cake. Don't pay much attention to the online menu. The actual menu is a stripped down version of the web menu and not in a good way. Many of the appetizers are gone and no foie gras (apparently now illegal, but still shown as a highlight on several dishes now missing). No lobster, no scallops, no Brie. I guess not a big deal if you know this in advance. Don't expect sophisticated cuisine here. More like ordinary cookbook food that does not justify the price level. I am guessing their chef is not formally trained. I wish them success but I cannot recommend La Mere Michelle. read more

Went here for Valentine's Day. The first surprise came actually the day before we went. My wife reserved a few weeks earlier, we've looked at the menu and it seemed reasonably priced. When we took another look at the menu on the 13th, it said that it would be a fixed four course menu (not uncommon for Valentine's Day) for $125 per person. This seemed a bit excessive for a restaurant where the most expensive item on the regular menu is priced at $42. As it's hard to find something else the day before we didn't cancel. When we arrived we were greeted and the first thing we were told that they were a waitress short, as she's stuck somewhere and can't get to the restaurant. So we were already expecting a bit of a slow service, but we didn't expect it to be that slow. As appetizers we've had the escargots and the salmon. The escargots were really good and the best food of the whole evening. The salmon was only two small pieces with a bit of dressing. Very minimalistic. Next course was a potato leek soup and a salad. The soup was good and creamy just not warm enough. My wife's salad was very minimalistic again, just a few pieces of lettuce with a bit of dressing and some croutons. A little bit more creativity would have been nice. The main course was a filet mignon and prawns. The filet mignon was good, the prawns too. Came with a buttery sauce and some broccoli, carrots and mash potatoes. Our dishes looked almost identical expect for the meat/prawns. I understand that on one of the busiest days of the year you try to minimize too much extra work in the kitchen, but the presentation on the dish was a bit underwhelming. (Once again with a certain price you set certain expectations). After the entrees we could choose from a selection of desserts. We went for a chocolate cake and a cheese chocolate cake. They were pretty good but took forever to arrive (which is unfortunate for something that doesn't have to be prepared freshly) Our waiter probably just forgot us. We've also had a nice bottle of napa Chardonnay with our menu. (Wine pairing was not included in the price) Our total time in the restaurant was about 2 hours 45 minutes. Some might say that's an authentic French dining experience as the French like to take their time with their food, but for us it was at least one hour too long. The staff was nice and our waiter tried his best, it were just too many people for the number of waiters. The interior is a bit outdated, but has its charm. They also had some electricity issues that made the lights flicker which was a bit annoying. In the end it was one of the longest and also one of the most expensive dining experiences we've ever had. Unfortunately the level of service, the quality and presentation of the food didn't justify that price. read more

I haven't been to this restaurant in over 20 years but have walked past it many times this last month. So last night we decided to give it a try for a family bday dinner, the bday girl wanted somewhere she hadn't been before, I have to say I'm glad we did. We were greeted by the owner, who was welcoming and cheerful. We had a reservation for 6 PM, so when we arrived, our table was ready. Our waiter got us seated and told us he would be back to take drink orders. The decor in the restaurant was a little dated, but it was spotless, and the table setting was pristine. Contrary to what someone said about the french onion soup, we all enjoyed it and thought it was better than other restaurants that served it in Saratoga and Los Gatos. The monkfish was on point. It was flavorful, and we had a generous portion. Both chicken dishes were delicious, vegetables cooked to perfection, and it was an all-around great meal. As we were enjoying our dinner, the owner wandered around and talked with guests, and the waiter was hustling as he was the only person working the floor. He did an incredible job of keeping things organized, tables, cleaned, glasses full, and getting our food out to us hot. My family and I left the restaurant last night, and we all said we would go back. So if you want excellent service and good food, don't give Le Mere Michelle a second thought. read more

Best French brunch I ever had. Best Escargots Bourguignon!!!! They have chili cream soup also. Best Shitake Mushroom Caps and Gulf Prawns, you can also dip your bread in the sauce. Lamp chop with English mint sauce is a bomb must try! Great service! read more

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Trust me, I didn't want to eat here as much as the waiter didn't want to serve me tonight as I walked in. They had a preset menu for Thanksgiving for $65 and I just wanted the salmon to-go. Again, wouldn't have even wanted to come here but it's the only thing open this late on Thanksgiving which I wasn't able to spend with family this year due to covid. But, the male waiter working tonight said food was "pre-packaged." Not sure what he meant by pre-packaged.. I needed to order the full menu? Anyway, don't see how he couldn't have boxed some salmon and charged me $40 for it. Very rude here. read more

No air conditioning in the middle of the summer, yikes! I wished that I was prepared. Waiter was very nice. The warm bread and butter was excellent. Baked Brie with apricots was delicious. The salad was okay. The $42 scallops were the worst scallops that I've ever eaten anywhere. They were overly saturated in whatever they were prepared in, almost like a stew. It was awful. read more

Have driven past many times and looked at mostly good reviews, so decided to give a try for my wife's birthday, which happens to be on Valentines Day. We reserved for early part of the day (11:30) so we could be elsewhere for the rest of Sunday. Outside area setup was ok but heat lamps could not keep up with the breeze/overcast sky, so a bit chilled at times unless wearing jackets. Appetizers ordered among the 4 of us were (1) shitakes w/ prawn (2) California wedge salad, (3) classic Caesar salad and (4) baked French onion soup au gratin. Visually, (1) and (3) left much to be desired, looked very beaten up and the Caesar overdressed, but reported to taste ok. The wedge I had was watery and the bacon was burnt and flaky. Bread they served was not very good, very much like Safeway baguettes in terms of taste and texture. For entrees, my wife had the scallops and the kids and I each had the lamb. I was curious about the prices because $18 seemed super reasonable for these entrees. Then we found out why, 2 thin lamb chops per person (towards the overdone side medium rather than med-rare) and maybe 3 scallops...all served with some unremarkable carrots, broccoli and mashed potatoes. As a general rule, other than the French onion soup, the portions were pretty meager and tasted just ok. Deserts fared much better ... people enjoyed the chocolate hazelnut torte and lemon cake and waiter was friendly enough. Hard to say if this should be chalked up to COVID, coming in early on a V-tines day Sunday, or something else given the other, relatively strong (but mixed) reviews. read more