We were visiting from out of state to this area of California. We had spent the day at an outdoor convention, and were looking forward to this particular restaurant. With the reviews on Yelp and the recommendation of our Air bnb host, this was a "must" during our visit. Nice decor and ambiance upon entering. Had a musician playing clarinet, which was beautiful. Unfortunately, we did not even eat here. As I stated, we had been at an outdoor convention- we were in nice jeans and ballcaps. This restaurant was not "suit" fancy, but we may have appeared underdressed with our ballcaps. Honestly we don't make a habit of dressing down and are usually overdressed lol. We felt judged the moment we walked in. They asked if we had a reservation. We did not but we were still sat. There was a wine tasting going on and we were asked if we would like to participate. We politely declined. The vineyard owner came over and talked to us. I politely declined again. The waitress never returned for over 10min. We hadn't even been asked about any other drinks, appetizers, specials of the house, nothing. The menu had some amazing dishes and appetizers that I am sad I wasn't able to try, but if you're going to make me feel less because I didn't have an opportunity to brush out my ponytail and change my shoes, then you're not deserving of the money we were planning on spending in your establishment. These Texas ranchers were very unimpressed read more

"Cute little place" is the exact way I'd describe this place walking in. They maximized what minimal real estate they have with wonderful date night ambiance, live music, and French/European vibe without feeling cramped. Very pleasant experience for a date night, with even more delicious food. I was here over a year ago and sadly forgot to post this review, so I don't remember what we had but I remember I thoroughly enjoyed it. The owner had a moment to chat it up with us and she gave us the story of their business and it was all just a pleasant time. This is definitely a gem of spot in this town. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Inside - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Really nice and friendly service but the food was just okay and expensive for the portion size. My bf ordered the truffle burger and a savory crepe and those two items alone just for himself amounted to around 70 dollars, so it is quite pricey. However the restaurant's atmosphere is super charming and there is live music so if you are looking for a cute little place to sit down and eat and drink some wine, this place works really well for that. read more

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We had a nice dinner here on our way to Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs. I really liked the live music from the clarinet - it gave the restaurant a really charming atmosphere. All the food was quite delicious and we saw a steady stream of customers coming in and out. I really liked the balsamic vinegar they used for the complimentary bread as well as the warm spinach and bacon salad. That salad was my favorite item of the night! The ravioli in lobster sauce was good but quite heavy. The aglio e olio had a nice kick to it and paired well with the salmon. The chicken and mushroom crepe was unfortunately very salty. For dessert, the lavendar cheesecake had a strong lavendar flavor but I would've preferred the cheesecake without the sugar/frosting glaze on top. read more

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Came here for a friend's birthday dinner and not only was the food delicious, but the service was wonderful. The owner was very accommodating in letting us bring our own cake for the celebration and the live music was such a nice surprise. Any time I'm in the area I will 100% be coming back! read more

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Monet's was right around the corner from the Airbnb where I was staying the night before heading to Sequoia NP. Was perfect for what was needed. Nice atmosphere, great service and good food. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - BACON BRIE BURGER & SIDE SALAD bacon, brie, caramelized onions, tomato - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Last night we planned an early dinner at Monet's to celebrate my 15-year-old niece's birthday. Unfortunately, the experience was incredibly disappointing. As I was just getting out of my car, my family was already walking out of the restaurant because the waitress had been beyond rude. It was upsetting enough that my niece was in tears on her birthday. We had traveled from out of town to enjoy a special evening together, and instead we were met with unprofessional and unkind service. Thankfully, we were able to change our reservation to the Visalia Country Club, where we enjoyed a beautiful dinner on the terrace. The service there was stellar, as always, and completely turned the night around for our family. To the owner of Monet's -- we will not be returning read more

Perfect place if you are celebrating a special occasion or if you just want great food. The atmosphere will turn an ordinary night out into something magical. read more

A gem of a restaurant in a little town. We went twice while staying nearby. Cozy atmosphere, delicious well prepared French bistro fare, well appointed wine list. read more

High quality dining in the sleepy town of Exeter. Great street location which makes outside dining interesting. The Pesto Salmon at over $30 for takeout was worth it. MY GRADE: A minus. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Takeout - Pesto Salmon. - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Had an amazing dinner! It's been a long time since I ate there while living in Visalia, CA, but it didn't disappoint. The owner sat us at our table and took our order. Very quaint. The hubs enjoyed is crab cakes! I took the 3 course dinner... pork chops (but don't remember the name) read more

Service was great, ambiance on point and it made you feel like you were in a little cafe in Paris. This charming-French restaurant in in the small town of Exeter, which you would only drive by if you were heading to three rivers towards Sequoia. Exeter has quaint vibe and some of the must adorable antique shops. The food was delicious, portions were good, and the dessert "Tres Magnifique". Our large party walked out happy from this donning experience. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - French Near Me - Exeter, California

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Their food is delicious. The service is great. The audience of downtown Exeter is something you have to experience, absolutely wonderful.

We had the best unexpected Argentine meal and wine pairing tonight. The atmosphere was friendly and cozy. The yucca appetizer was amazing. The Argentine New York Steak, chorizo, blood sausage, and polenta was phenomenal! The wine pairing was perfect. I highly recommend. We will come back for the French food!!! Service was also so friendly and casual, you will love it . read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Argentine meal - French Near Me - Exeter, California

We had a fantastic dinner with my family. Love the atmosphere and the food was very good. Ribeye steak was wonderful and the salmon was fresh and full of flavor. The menu is diverse with options for anybody in the family. Definitely recommend stopping by when you're in Exeter. read more

If you are looking for a romantic get-away or perhaps a special dinner with friends and family, Monet is the place for you. This charming little piece of France sits alongside the small and quaint downtown area. This charming restaurant is quite modest in the center, but the outside patio with exterior lights brings it the much needed attention it deserves. As soon as you enter, you can't help but notice the warm and cozy interior. The background tone is set by beautiful French music, which is played by a live musician on the clarinet. When we sat at our table, we were immediately greeted by the friendly staff. We were in a rush and the wait staff graciously adapted to our schedule. The short menu is full of bistro classics: escargot, duck, salmon, beef and pasta. Our order consisted of: -Charcuterie board The board was by far one of the best boards I have ever had in my life. The cheeses and jams tasted extremely fresh. -French onion soup The soup spoke not only of the seriousness of the kitchen, but its ingenuity in creating authentic French tastes. As someone has been to Paris on several occasions, this soup tasted almost identical to what is being served in Parisian cafes/restaurants. -Truffle burger The burger was cooked perfectly and all of the flavors meshed perfectly together. -Creme brûlée Very creamy and not too sweet. A perfect end to a delicious dinner. To sum up all of the above, you're going to leave depressed that this place isn't in your neighborhood. I certainly did! read more

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The waitress lied to my husband when he asked for lemon. She said they didn't have any. Then when she asked me how my dinner was I told her the duck was a bit tough and gamey tasting. Not at all how I like my duck. There were some olives served with the dinner that looked really old and horrible. She said they were marinated and that's the way they were supposed to be. Then she said "Oh did a couple of olives ruin your day. I requested to sit in the back room which I was told my party would be in back. They have live music playing in front. The room is tiny and you cannot hear anyone who's talking to you. When we got there she said my table had been given to another party. I'LL NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN read more

Monet's is a wonderful hidden gem in Exeter! The Vibe is perfect for those who don't want loud and fast paced! Completely relaxed atmosphere with the on site musician, who is a wonderful clarinetist. The service is superb! We never had to wave down staff, or ask for anything! Everything was offered to us and served in a reasonable timeframe. The menu is small which is something I always look for! It leaves room for the chef to create amazing dishes, which is exactly what happens here! The Lavender Brie is my fave! We also had the opportunity to meet the owners, who are absolutely amazing and kind! Highly recommended, will always return when I need to unwind and just enjoy myself. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Birthday Celebration for my sister! - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Rude rude waitress...a singular event that happens occasionally everywhere..however sarcasm has no place in an expensive restaurant or anywhere else for that matter. Discussion on several other issues as part of this dinner were held along with a promise of a reprimand. Hopefully, it may help. Unfortunately, we will not return. read more

What an absolutely lovely find. Visiting to see the giant trees and my friend found this place for dessert. I had a raspberry almond tart that was so good and tasted like it had been freshly baked. The raspberry coulee was a great addition. My friend had crème brûlée and it was quite flavorful and cooked perfectly. Would love to come back for dinner. We sat on the patio and service was great. They had a lovely gentleman playing clarinet and it made for such a lovely evening read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Crème brûlée - French Near Me - Exeter, California

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The day we visited Monet's was the day before Mother's Day, on a Saturday and also what seemed to be prom day for the local high school so as you can imagine it was a very busy day for Monet's and service was probably slower than usual. It took a while to get served water and it took about 1.5 hours until our appetizer came to the table. This was because the server also forgot to put in our order. We ordered a spinach artichoke dip with lobster for the appetizer and it came with some French baguette slices. The flavor of the cheese and lobster was very rich. We really enjoyed this dish! Next our salads came and it consisted of strawberries, cheese consisting of strips of purple in it (some kind of wine cheese), and walnuts came. I enjoyed this as well. For the entree I had a Filet Minon with mash and vegetables on the side. The filet Minon was cooked perfectly and the tomato based sauce added another dimension to it. The sautéed vegetables were also very delicious. I would definitely recommend adding a little more flavor to the mash potatoes though as they were a bit bland and too acidic. Lastly, we got three types of desserts. The crème brûlée, the raspberry almond tart and a lavender cheesecake. All three desserts were divine. The restaurant itself was very cutely decorated and it definitely dir give French cafe/restaurant vibes. Although the service was slow, the restaurant ended up compensating us all of our beverages as well as one dessert so I would definitely give this place another chance! read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Filet Minon with mashed potatoes and asparagus and carrots - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Well, well, well...what can I say about Monet's Wine Bistro in Exeter?..‍.. it's the BEST!! Come on down and check it out for yourself! You will hear me playing Jazz clarinet 4 nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday.. (unless I'm booked.) And speaking of bookings I am available for parties, weddings Etc. Inquire within, or better yet ask for my card! See you there!! read more

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Atmosphere is amazing. Staff is very inviting and attentive. Honey lavender drink is absolutely amazing! Pistachio crusted salmon cooked to perfection; possibly the best I've ever tasted. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - French Near Me - Exeter, California

Monet's food is top notch, service is outstanding, and the atmosphere is fine dining but still comfortable and welcoming. Let's get back to the food... it's so very good and obviously prepared by a talented chef. Saying the food is good or even great, doesn't cut it. It's a true dining experience. Get the Lavender Brie, even if you only go for that. read more

Enjoyed a chef's dinner! Too much food-- decedent, filling. Beef Wellington just slightly overdone for my preference but flavorful. Service was stelar for our large party. Love the jazz clarinet-- reminds me of a Woody Allen film. 4.5 stars read more

Ramon is an amazing chef and Jennifer, the owner, is wonderful! The atmosphere and entire dining experience is out of this world! My favorite! Enjoy the ribeye, special blend burgers, corned beef, and the jalapeño alchohol beverage! read more

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They have really delicious food and great wines along with music! It's fun to eat here

Ordered from the website and paid with Apple card. Card was charged, we drove from Visalia to Exeter to pick it up and when we arrived, we were told that they "didn't know anything about any order" because "they had just opened" and even after showing them our email and text saying our order was ready for pick up, would not refund us because "the owner was not around". We will NEVER go to this place again. Ever. read more

Food was delicious, nice ambiance, hidden gem in a smallish town. I stopped on the way from California to Oregon. 15 miles off the Highway. Worth the trip. read more

We came to Monet's for my parents 51st wedding anniversary and it was eight of us total with two of us being seven and five. Our waitress (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember her name) was the absolute best! She was very knowledgeable and extremely patient with all of our questions and especially my two kids. She even gave our kids color pencils that I believe were her own! Overall we had a phenomenal experience and would recommend 10/10. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - French Near Me - Exeter, California

This was such a romantic tiny restaurant. The food was fabulous and the service was great. Ordered an espresso martini and it was one of the best I have had. We ate here on vacation and it did not disappoint. read more

It's pretty rare that a restaurant absolutely wows me, but Monet's did just that. Wow. Just wow. The ambiance, the decor, the live music, the romantic lighting, the cleanliness and especially the food, drinks and service were all top notch. Wether you live in the area or are staying nearby to visit Sequia and/or Kings National Park (as I was), do yourself a favor and stop by Monet's. The restaurant is very quaint, cozy, well appointed and the atmosphere is classy and romantic. Lighting is dim and candles appoint each table. I'm not sure if it's a usual occurrence, but we were very fortunate to have a live music via an excellent clarinet player. He was a fantastic accompaniment to the experience. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. She was great at answering questions and keeping our drinks refilled. We ordered a charcuterie cheese board as an appetizer, a burger and french onion soup for entrees and polished it all off with an insanely good creme brulee. The charcuterie board arrived first. If you are a fan of meat/cheese boards, you can't miss this. It was one of the best I've EVER had. Everything looked and tasted fresh. The side of jam was especially tasty and sweet and a nice addition to the delectable cheese and meats. Next up were the burger and french onion soup. For starters, kudos to the chef for cooking the burger to perfection. I requested the burger to be cooked medium, which is typically pink throughout, and that's what I got. Like the charcuterie board, the burger and side salad tasted very fresh. It was all excellent. As for the soup, it tasted like it had wine mixed in with the broth. It was also fantastic. I was already pretty full after the appetizer and entree but with how great everything had been, we decided not to pass up on desert. We went with the creme brulee. And so should you. Like everything else at Monet, the creme brulee didn't disappoint. It was creamy and not overly sweet. The crisp cooked sugar surface was adorned by fresh whipped creme. It was definitely a good way to end the meal. Overall, if you're in the area and in search of an excellent meal and/or a romantic spot for a date with someone special, look no further. Monet has excellent food, great ambiance and quality service. read more

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Really good food prepared by a skilled chef. Very friendly and attentive staff, owner also stopped by the table to check in. It had a small French restaurant vibe. There was plenty of wine and wine testing if that is your thing. Cozy dining area with patio dining also available. Plenty of street parking available. There was a clarinet player performing, I'm not sure if that's the norm, but I went on a Wednesday so it's probably something they normally have? Worth the drive to Exeter. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Crème brûlée - French Near Me - Exeter, California

We had Monets cater our daughter's wedding for 150 people. The food was cooked to perfection. The salmon was excellent, the chicken was moist & tender, and the vegan/vegetarian dish also got rave reviews from the lifelong vegan/vegetarian guests. We also had them prepare charcuterie boards that were beautifully displayed and offered a variety of appetizing hors d'oeuvres. Added to this was excellent service. They were incredibly flexible and handled everything flawlessly. We couldn't have been more delighted! read more

Me and My husband LOVE Monet's! It's a cute restaurant/wine bar that we go to every month for date night. The food is always so good. Every wine we've had has been perfect with our meals. The staff is always great. They get busy so it might be better to have a reservation especially on Saturdays. I'm so glad we found this little place in Exeter. read more

Monets Wine Bistro - French Near Me - Exeter, California

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The food was real good. I had the ravioli in lobster sauce and added salmon to it. Great combination of taste. He enjoyed his burger. Cute place, I like the look of the inside and out. The only reason it's not getting five stars is because of the service. Allison was nice and courteous when talking to us but not very attentive. We needed refills on our drinks and I couldn't get her attention. I was staring right at her, waiting for her to glance our way, and she never glanced over. There were only three tables with people and the place is small so there was no reason not to check on us. I did let the tip reflect the quality of service we received. With that said, since everything else was OK, we will probably give it one more try. Maybe we'll get a better server next time. read more

Nothing but good vibes! At first this place seemed really strange and random. A highly reviewed restaurant in the random city of Exeter? I was skeptical, but so glad I came. I stayed near three rivers for sequoia parks this weekend and the food selection up there isn't the best. So I'm super glad to have found this place. I got the ravioli with salmon and it was absolutely delightful. The salmon was well cooked, ravioli was plentiful and that lobster sauce was divine. I also got the mushrooms as an appetizer. It was legit amazing. I believe it was flambéed with Burbon? Topped off with some blue cheese, eaten with some bread slices. This was super amazing, you can taste the bourbon they used and the blue cheese married the taste together perfectly. My fiancé got their July 4th weekend special, a salad with goat cheese, a New York steak with con on the cob and this potato thing, and it came with a dessert. Monets wine selection was impressive. The red my fiancé got was a perfect pairing. Service was stunning as well. We were greeted by this older gentlemen who was the epitome of elegance. He was drinking wine chatting with customers when we walked in, but immediately helped us find a spot. Super friendly. All the waitresses were quick, efficient, and exceedingly helpful. This place has lots of vegetarian options, and even a vegan option. They can accommodate parties of 8. Had live music! I can't wait to come back and try more of their desserts. I don't come down to the Visalia/Sequoia area often, but this place just became a future staple for me. read more

Awesome service and decadent food! I loved my experience here. They were busy but they squeezed me and my fiancée in without a reservation. The ribeye was cooked well with a beautiful pink center. Their flambéed mushrooms was unlike anything else I have tried. The taste of of the bourbon really shines through. And the panna cotta had a delightful velvety texture. There are lots of great wines to choose from. Their salad had a perfect amount of acidity to balance out the sweetness from the fruit. I am glad I had the privilege of dining here. The service was excellent despite it being a busy night. Thank y'all for a wonderful night! read more

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We made a reservation by phone to go to Monet's a few hrs before we went. It had been 10 years since I had been there. It was an extremely hot day and the restaurant, which has about 8 tables, was hot. A man was sitting toward the front playing wonderful music on a clarinet. We were seated by the window and promptly served water while we looked over the menu and decided on drinks. We ended up buying a bottle of pinot to share. Our meal choices were pizza, a panini and lavender cheesecake. Everything was plated beautifully and tasted amazing. It is a small restaurant and it is pretty loud inside with voices when full. Very elegant and fun. read more

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Here's the thing. This place is absolutely adorable. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable and as friendly as can be. They have non-alcohol options which was very nice to know. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I was not a fan of the flatbread pizza, at all. It was too thick and the bread itself overpowered everything else. However, the appetizer and the burger, along with staff and beer selection definitely saved the day. The food is definitely of high quality and is extremely flavorful. I will definitely come back and order something else the next time around! read more

Monets Wine Bistro - Brie - French Near Me - Exeter, California

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