I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Meritage. My bestie and I celebrated her 30th birthday and wanted to be somewhere that felt like a Parisian restaurant. We were not disappointed. Our server, Freeman, was attentive and gave great recommendations. He was knowledgeable on the menu and spoke french! He was such a joy! We ordered the chicken liver smear which tasted sweet and salty. It was the perfect first course to start our meal. We then moved onto the cassoulet. We did not enjoy this, the duck confit base was a bit too heavily oiled for us so instead we ordered the steak frites and burger. We loved our second choices and were happy with those selections. Then, we ordered affogato for dessert. Meritage makes their ice cream homemade and it was a good ending to the meal. The restaurant was busy but voices did not carry. It was a beautiful dinner and I would recommend anyone who likes French cuisine to visit! read more

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I went here on a Sat night before the ballet at the Fitzgerald. Easy walking distance with parking behind the building. I started with the escargot that was perfect. I followed it with steak frites with bearnaise. I ordered medium rare as so many places tend to overcook. It came out closer to rare. Note for next time. I paired it all with a French Pinot Noir. The wine came quickly after ordering. Service all around was prompt. The place is very cute in an old building. read more

Meritage - Steak frites - French Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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We went here for a promotion on steak fries. The fries were amazing, as was the French onion soup. The steak was good, but a little fatty for our taste. Our server was attentive and friendly and answered all our questions. Parking is a little annoying, but I was fine driving around the block a few times. The atmosphere was nice overall and very cozy. read more

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We got a back room before lady Gaga concert and my friend who is a regular knew what to order. Little sample plates of soup and tacos were well received. A shrimp Louie was a good choice and a few people had hamburgers and fish and steak which all looked amazing. read more

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My absolute favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities! The food, ambience, and service are ALWAYS fantastic! Always a great selection of oysters and on our past visit the selection was amazing. If you're looking for some bubbles or wine to go with the oysters they have an incredible wine menu! Don't skip on the escargot! The food...I can't say enough. I ordered the Assiette of Lamb and was impressed by the three different styles of lamb. The braised shoulder was amazing. Creamy and almost melted in my mouth. The rack of lamb was cooked perfectly. We also ordered the Roasted Whole Dover Sole. It is everything you want from a fish dish. Light, tender, buttery and almost sweet. Service is always perfect, never disappointing. Take advantage of the valet service here. Parking isn't easy in downtown and $20 is reasonable for valet service. read more

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I had high expectations for this restaurant, because I've read good reviews. We opted for the tasting menu. However, the whole experience was disappointing. The server asked if we were watching a show after, and we said no. It seems that we should have said yes because the wait per course was longer than other places I've been to. The food itself was mediocre too, some of it wasn't even hot anymore. I might be wrong but it seems that the people who are rushing had their food prioritized. The setting is ok, very refined but won't go back again. read more

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I would say what stood out the most were the starters. The oysters were delicious and fresh, the frites (especially the dipping sauce) were perfectly crisp and yummy, and the crab louie redux had a great balance of flavors. Overall experience was good! Beautiful space and kind, attentive staff. read more

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So my husband and I signed up for Meritage's 4/20 prix fixe dinner, intrigued by the idea of a cannabis-infused meal at one of our favorite French spots in St. Paul. We're casual cannabis users and were excited to see how the kitchen would play with infused flavors in a fine dining format. My husband and I signed up for Meritage's 4/20 prix fixe dinner because we were interested in the idea of a THC dining experience at that type of restaurant. When we got there, our server let us know that almost none of the dishes were actually infused with THC, aside from the dessert. The big focus was on THC drinks- which isn't really that unique or special anymore. That part definitely caught us off guard. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but the way it was framed had us expecting a different type of journey. They started us off with these little savory puff pastries that were really good. Then there was a small tasting of cauliflower soup, and even though it was tiny, it was really delicious. The first course after that was a mix of thinly sliced tuna and salmon. Absolutely loved that one. It was so fresh and I could've happily eaten an entire bowl of it. Then we had a spring pea tortellini, which I wish I could say something nice about, but... I really didn't like it. The presentation wasn't great, but more than that, the flavor just didn't land (for me). The main dish was a roasted chicken that was to be expected and the mushrooms in the dish were a pleasant surprise. The dessert was a vanilla butter cake. It was delicious, soft, and just sweet enough. Overall, we had a fun time. The vibe was still very Meritage, with a fun mix of people. I would go to another experience dinner there, but I'd want more clarity on the specifics of the experience next time. read more

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Our fav fine dining restaurant in the twin cities! The Chef's Five Course Tasting Menu is always phenomenal. Come either hungry or starving because it's a lot of deliciousness. Ambiance is old school classy and extremely romantic. This is a perfect place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any special occasion for someone who enjoys gourmet French cuisine. Service is top notch - just like everything else here. Pro Tips: try to find street parking, but valet is available when parking is difficult. Reservations highly recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Our favorite dishes: BILLI-BI SAFFRON-MUSSEL SOUP (10/5) tiny but mighty. Rich and delicious to the last drop. Raw Oysters (5/5) fresh as can be. FOIE GRAS (5/5) they always have the best four gras at this place. Perfection. Sea Bass Carpaccio (5/5) the tiny green apple cubes were surprisingly delightful and crispy. MARINATED & GRILLED QUAIL (3/5). Skip this one. Ours was dry and there are much better options on the menu. read more

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This is my husband and I first time coming to Meritage. We made reservations and came for date night. It is classically beautiful on the inside. The food and staff are equally as wonderful, especially Hannah our waitress. She took time to explain everything and when the food was dropped off, it was explained again. The chefs in the kitchens were able to accommodate my restrictions due to kidney diease. We started with the braised oxtail strudel then moved on the Minnesota foie gras, next was the lobster and crab claws, then came venison pate and escargot. Finally was the famous pom fries, rabbit spatzel, and roasted half chicken. Let me tell you, we were rolled out of there in -1 degree weather, in the snow. Luckily we valet parked. We are definitely coming back for dinner but brunch on one Sunday morning soon. read more

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We sat in dining room since it was too hot outside but with marbles and tiles it is great. The service is truly exceptional. Freeman was our server but everyone in service team was checking in, cleaning and making sure everything was great. The food is delicious. We had oysters, chicken liver schmear, crispy leg of duck confit, roasted mushroom in garlic butter (which we dipped bread in it) was delicious; definitely would go back. For desert crème brûlée with raspberry on top, marquis au chocolat with pistachios was stunning and with extensive digestif selection it was a great meal. Chef was present and checking in with tables as well.. read more

Honestly my expectations were pretty low here as I've never found French cuisine all that inspiring. Meritage barely hit that very low mark. Service was good but not great. Food was pretty poor with an undercooked tough pork chop and over cooked half chicken. Cocktails were decent and we did appreciate they are very flavor forward and not sweet at all. Oysters were good though I didn't care for the mignonette sauce rather preferring a bit of spice to the very vinegar forward sauce. The fact they had several bottles of wine well over $1000 a bottle seemed so odd given the very blasé nature of the food. Far to many much better options in this price range. read more

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We have come to meritage for brunch every weekend years ago. It was absolutely Devine! We finally went for dinner and the experience wasn't the same. The music wasn't French, the waiter was awkward. The sole meunière was wonderful but small for the price and very overcooked yet still delicious! The mussels were good, not my favorite mussel sauce. The steak tartar was great and mussels were very fresh as well. read more

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Grabbed dinner at the bar after attending a special event Oyster School. The event itself was amazing, and the food after did not disappoint. The server found a great balance between attentiveness and not hovering (much appreciated!) and the food... I'm both sad and thankful this restaurant is a plane ride away from me. I'd be broke if it were closer! And with the snow, looking out the window felt like a hallmark movie- made even a solo dinner at the bar feel charming. read more

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Ambiance was delightful prior to the opera. Our server was knowledgeable and kind helping us new patrons Most impressive were the other attendants for our table. They were pleasant, polite and made certain our every need and want was fulfilled. We read the menu beforehand and was prepared for limited choices but was underwhelmed by the food. read more

I am surprised that I have not been here yet. We came here ahead of a show, it did not disappoint. I had the iconic steak frittes (delicious) and the hubby had the beef cheek ravioli (special that day)which was also very good. Our service was impeccable; our server was so attentive and made wonderful wine suggestions. He even asked if we were heading to a show and made sure we were done eating so we could arrive on time! The chef also made the rounds to inquire about our experience. I will say what I said there, it was lovely! read more

This was my second time at Meritage & it was well worth the wait! We were a fairly large group & the staff were so accommodating for us, which was amazing. We got a few appetizers: oysters, steak tartare, & pork pate. I don't really eat meat but wanted to try those items for the first time, & I think they were worth breaking my vegetarianism! I had one bite of the tartare & the pate; they were served with a delicious toasty bread & house-made wavy potato chips. The oysters were salty, briny, & fresh. For dinner, I had the apple & squash tart. When it came out, I was amazed! It was beautiful AND delicious. The space itself is really pretty, with separate dining room and oyster bar (both of which are comfortable). Our server was also excellent. I highly recommend this spot for a fancy night out! read more

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Generally enjoy traveling to eat here. Today (3/18) I wanted to make a reservation for the steak frites night. Had trouble with completing it online so called. Boy was that a mistake. I'm assuming I was speaking to Resy. Neither person I spoke to knew what day of the week it was and one didn't even know what month we're in. We possibly may have been put on a wait list but who knows. I sent an email but no response yet. read more

It's a bummer that I live on the opposite side of town, but it's totally worth the drive. Great service and food, a beautiful space, Meritage is definitely one of the best in the cities. We attended one the special events that they frequently host. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook and you'll be notified. The most current one was a French chef, Julien Martel. It was an amazing four course dinner. They actually grilled the beef on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, over grape vines! They just recently added a 3 course menu for $45. Cannot wait to go back. read more

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Way overdue review but I went here almost two years ago for my birthday, and I am giving a 5 mostly because of the efforts that the restaurant have really put into shaping my experience. If it was just because of the food itself I would resort to a 4 instead, but the details and attention all make up for the lack of economical advantage here. I was given a birthday card which was already a nice gesture. The details they put into the food was just astonishing, such as the bit of the sauce they placed next to the foie gras, the dots that were around the chocolate dessert, and more. The food definitely tasted good, ranging from the savory raviolo to the duck breast that had a very good combination of sweet and savory, and the risotto that absorbed the essence of crab and shrimp. They all tasted very good, albeit all very expensive. Nowadays, their menus have changed, so none of those items are available anymore, but I do still see a dish called Seared Foie Gras for $29, and a Duck à L'Orange for $46, and so on. I will say that it will take one more than one dish to be full, so I would advise those who try this place to go on a special occasion, like a date, as it is most definitely not an everyday spot. read more

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What a wonderful evening! The Hamm building is positively gorgeous. Finished in 1920, it's a beautiful example of early Deco architecture, and it's worth arriving early so that you can enjoy the details. The restaurant also has a timeless elegance with its dark wood, white table linens, and warm lighting. It's a beautiful place to enjoy a good meal. The service was wonderful: knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in giving guests a good experience. (They absolutely did.) The bar at the Meritage is excellent. I'm always on the lookout for great mocktails (and other zero proof options), and Meritage has a highly respectable selection. I ordered a wonderful cherry sarsaparilla soda and had every intention of trying one of the other offerings until I had my first sip--this unique beverage was just so good that I had to stick to it. Yum. Wine fans will love perusing their extensive wine menu--there are some real gems to be found. The food was delicious. We loved the locally-baked bread and house-whipped butter. For my starter, I ordered the organic lettuces, which came with shaved vegetables and was lightly dressed in vinaigrette that complemented the fresh greens while still allowing their distinct flavors to come through. My dining companions ordered the crab Louis and salmon rillettes and said they were both delicious. For my main, I had the root vegetable pot pie, which was a perfect winter dish. Topped with black truffle and served with a vegetable jus, this pot pie has a lovely tender pastry and a comforting, creamy interior studded with lovely cubes of root vegetables. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and spaetzle as our sides. They're absolute winners: the chili on the Brussels added a perfect level of heat, and the Gruyère sauce and toasted onions on the spaetzle were just divine. Dessert offered many choices, including vanilla bean crème brûlée (always my choice when available) and crêpes Suzette--one of those nostalgic delights that is tough to find. The crème brûlée was amazing, and as for the crêpes Suzette, not a drop of the orange caramel sauce remained. All in all--success! Add this restaurant to your list. read more

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i went with my mom before an Ordway show, and we had the BEST duck ever. perfectly plated, and perfectly paired w/ pinot noir. the server was excellent! read more

Meritage - French Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

How did I miss this restaurant after all these years? I left dinner last night believing this was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. We started with one of their non alcoholic cocktails which was really good and came from an impressive list of mocktails. I started with a salad then we shared the tuna tartare. We then shared the cous cous dish and ended with the chocolate dessert. Loved all the dishes. Loved the French influence with interesting culinary twists. Our waiter Tyler was warm, engaging and allowed us to dine without rushing us through dinner. I have a lot of years to make up here so I guess I will have to go again soon! read more

Meritage - The best chocolate dessert I have had in a long time! - French Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Yet another of my catch-up reviews for a place we'd been to lots of times but for some reason I never wrote a review. My wife and I love Paris, and when we miss being there, we go to Meritage. This time it was for our 40th wedding anniversary! We decided to splurge and arrange for the Duck a la Presse meal. It's not on the menu or website, you just have to email them. It's a unique experience not offered by many restaurants in the world. We've had it here three times! One of the best parts is being served personally by James Beard nominated chef Russell Klein. He's a great guy, who knows how to treat his customers right. And man, can he cook! We started with cocktails. I had what was easily one of the best Manhattan's I've ever had. My wife had the Pimm's Provencal, which she loved. I got a taste and liked it a lot too. Starters aren't included with the duck preparation, and not necessary as you're getting a whole duck with sides, but we were celebrating and wanted to indulge. They do include a free Amuse Bouche to all diners. This night it was two small Gougères (Gruyere cheese in a Choux Pastry Puff). My wife had the Foie Gras, which was served with a mulled wine reduction and a miniature Apple Pie. The latter may sound odd, but my wife said it worked beautifully with the Foie Gras. I had a half-dozen oysters and a few cocktail Shrimp. Oh, so good. Meritage always has the best selection of Oysters. In the past, we've had the Onion Soup and Escargot; both are excellent. We've also had a number of their regular entrees, and all have been hits. Back to the Duck. It was huge! You get a perfectly roasted whole Duck. They slice away the breast meat and take it back for slicing and presentation. Meanwhile, the rest of the carcass is broken up and placed in the press. A few turns of the press wheel and all of the juices are pressed out of the remaining meat and bones. These juices are then cooked table-side, with a few fabulous flare-ups, into a dark red luscious sauce which is poured over the sliced breast meat once brought back to the table. Chef always looks like he's having so much fun when he's making this dish. I forgot to ask how often it's served. The end result is served with sides of earthy Lentils, roasted vegetables, and a baked apple chunk. I don't know how to describe just how good this meal is. And the best part was that we had enough left over for another night. The reservations can be made for 2 or 4 people. We barely had room for dessert, but who can resist Crepes Suzette. Chef also sent us a duo of mini Opera Cakes for our anniversary. It couldn't have been more perfect! read more

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I came here after seeing a Sunday matinee show at the Ordway. We were promptly seated and the waiter really knew his wine! We started with the lump crab, and it was simply divine. We followed with an apple/squash tart and the special--a lamb shepard's pie. A bonus was the amazing brussel sprouts! 10/10 across the board. read more

This is a classic French restaurant. Ate here on Friday evening which was quite busy. We had made reservations and were promptly seated. The decor was classic. Our server was excellent and the meat entrees were excellent. Our dishes included the boar pot pie (very hearty), pork roast, cripsy chicken, and meat stew. Our three deserts were amazing. read more

First off, the food was spectacular. All the staff were dealt with were great with the exception of our waiter unfortunately. He seemed annoyed he had to wait on us and was grumpy when we needed an extra minute to go over the extensive wine list. Friends of ours said they've never had bad service here so maybe he was just having an off night, but if we go back we will definitely be requesting a different server. read more

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Yum! This is truly a gem tucked away in St Paul. We made a reservation in advance which I'd recommend as the place was packed! You honestly felt like you were walking out of St Paul and into a restaurant in France. The lighting and ambiance is romantic and feels upscale. We started with drinks and got the braised oxtail pastry "amusement". Honestly could have eaten 10 of these! They are bite sized and you have to get at least one per person. So yummy and delectable, 10/10! We got table bread which was nice while we waited for dinner. I got the chicken with the macaroni gratin while my date got the steak frites. Chicken was perfectly done with a yummy au jus that kept it crisp and moist, would absolutely recommend 9/10. The steak frites was a huge portion you won't leave hungry. The fries were yummy and the steak was flavorful and done exactly as we'd want! The one thing we didn't like at all was the macaroni gratin... love the idea but it was Mac and cheese with a gratin type cheese sauce that missed the mark. Had no flavor and was just overdone pasta in a milky broth for me. Would not get again and would steer towards other sides. Overall the experience was really good! Great date night spot, service was on point and food came out timely. No big complaints and would return! read more

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French Cuisine at Meritage Fresh Oysters (West+East Coast) Teeny Tiny Tuna Tartare Taco Duck Liver Schmear Escargots Bourguignon Prime Steak Tartare Gâteau L'Opéra Overall Food, Service and Vibe 8/10 read more

Meritage - Fresh Oysters (West+East Coast) Teeny Tiny Tuna Tartare Taco Duck Liver Schmear Escargots Bourguignon Prime Steak Tartare Gâteau L'Opéra - French Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This restaurant is like stepping into a Parisienne cafe... wine and cocktails are wonderful... everything we ate was amazing and authentic!! Fancy side and it comes with a price... but well worth it! read more

I like Meritage, everything was well done, well prepared and excuted. I would go there just to appreciate the classics of French Cuisine. There are 3 rooms that you can book, we ended up in the oyster bar- which technically isn't an oyster bar but near the bar (drink bar). It's beautiful decorated with French touches of dried lavender and a chicken. We started off with oysters, not know what to pick our we choose half a dozen and left the choice up to our server. We were not disappointed, all of the oysters were delicious. There is bread service, sadly it was cold that night. Followed by appetizers, we had the escargot burguinon, it was buttery and the escargot was perfectly cooked. I love dipping my bread in the sauce. We also had Steak Au Pouvire which was split for us in the kitchen. Beautiful cooked steak, nice sear and evenly prepared. Last Crepes Suzette is a must, it comes out warm in a delicious orange Grand Marnier sauce. Meritage is a nice place to have a celebration or if you want to just enjoy great food. read more

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Another lovely dinner at Meritage. Delicious food, we loved each course and wished we had more room to eat more! Wonderful ambiance, chic design, felt intimate, loved the soft lighting. Great service, very attentive without feeling as if they were hovering, and not pushing us out the door. Perfect spot for a date night or a celebration. read more

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Four or five it's a great place with atmosphere and terrific food. The fact that they've been delivering great meals for 14 years says a lot. We had the seafood tower and with the exception of the clams it was awesome. Oysters, lobster, spread etc. Fries and chips are amazing. The venison special was so tasty with a special sauce. Two people had the trout. And as the wonderful waitress said, best chicken in town was true. I had the octopus appetizer which was ok. Might have been too rich for me. But again all so good. We ordered dessert too. Parking is easy even on a wild night. Make a reservation and enjoy a great meal etc etc. read more

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We are in St. Paul this weekend, visiting from LA. We just walked in a Thursday night around 7:30 and got a table without a reservation. After our drinks were served, they brought us two light gougères and then some warm baguette chunks with butter. We ordered some of the tiny amuse-bouches which packed a lot of punch into bite-sized tastes. These included a demitasse of a saffron mussel soup, an oyster shooter with a splash of vodka, and a tiny tuna tartare taco, whose shell was dried taro root. The mussel broth was so good that the best part may have been the soaked boozy bread at the bottom of the pot with fennel pieces. The fries came with a sinful bearnaise sauce. Everything should come with bearnaise sauce. I had a carrot soup that was nothing short of magical- must have been all the cream. I also had a springy salad with peas, mint, arugula, and ricotta. We were so full we opted out of dessert and our gallant server brought us little bites of chocolate with bits of nuts and fruit embedded in them. Atmosphere is quiet and elegant. Great place for celebration, conversation, date night, pre-event dining. read more

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I last dined at Meritage some 20 years ago. For no reason in particular, I have not been back because I just don't get to St. Paul very often. Chalk that up to a major life mistake because I just had the opportunity to come back here a couple nights ago and realized that I have missed 20 years of joy. Meritage hangs on the border between a true bistro and a brasserie. If you made everyone in the place speak French and you added in a bunch of people smoking outside, you would not know that you were in the middle of the US. It has a bustling, almost crowded feel to it but still preserves enough privacy for it to be an intimate enough space for a good date. Valet parking is available as is street parking if you are lucky in your timing. They take reservations which I would recommend but even more is my recommendation to arrive early and pass the time at the small but well-stocked bar where you will be in great hands of some experienced barmen. They often have a daily invented cocktail and they can certainly do any of the French classics perfectly. In good weather, they have an outside spot on the front sidewalk which is tough to beat when conditions are perfect. The wine list is tome-like. Voluminous and easy to read because it is broken into regions and varietals that makes sense. It is somewhat French focused which seems appropriate and there was something on there at just about every price point except for maybe the Mad Dog genre. I could have spent the night just reviewing the list because it was so interesting and thought-provoking when trying to match up what everyone in my party was going to order. The food is really the thing here though and much of it is classic French. Raw oysters with mignonette, savory and garlicky escargot and crusty baguette with beurre sel only serves to whip up your appetite for things like steak frites or a classic beef tartare. I do remember having one of the best renditions of cassoulet here many years ago but on my most recent visit, it appeared to be a lighter menu more appropriate for summer dining in warm weather and it was sans cassoulet. It gives me a reason to go back for sure when the weather turns cold. I have nothing bad to say and so it gets my highest Yelp endorsement. In case you cannot tell, I really like this place. read more

Meritage - Escargot (fantastic!) - French Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Fantastic! If you want a mini French vacation, this is the right place! Friendly professional service, great atmosphere and,oh! Oh,the food is amazing! The maigret duck was so great! Perfect medium rare with a squash puree and fall fruit (apple,pear and pomegranate) Amazing!. If you prefer simple food they have pomme frites (fries) and an amazing burger Love this restaurant read more

Could not have had a better experience last evening! Freeman's remarkable and professional service was unsurpassed, and the food lifted the bar immensely! You can't go wrong - the best restaurant in tow! read more

We had a wonderful server. She was pleasant, efficient, and charming. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to her level of charm. The treat of splurging on a foie gras starter was compromised by a piece that was stringy and fatty rather than rich and buttery. Crusted trout tasted fine but was mushy in texture. A pork roulade was dry and oddly combined with flavors that did not meld. A recent trip to Charleston emphasized the limits of Meritage. read more

A great French tasting menu experience at Meritage. Go with time as it's a gourmand experience that comes at a slow pace, but with everything delicious and beautifully plated, from start to finish, and with great service. The space is beautiful, reflecting a French bistro to detail. Started with a few amuse bouche treats, including a delicious saffron mussel soup. The first course was the crudo, light but very creative with a mango yolk. The Alaskan halibut was cooked to perfection, same for the foie gras. The duck breast was also perfectly cooked and the duo of Iowa pork an highlight, especially the braised pork cheek. It all ends well with the delicious meringue dessert. Highly recommended. read more

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Exquisite service and cuisine. Great dinner place after a concert at The Ordway. Great martinis too!