I had the pleasure of returning to Touché for a second visit on Saturday evening, and once again, the experience was exceptional. It's not uncommon for a new restaurant to impress the first time, only to fall short on subsequent visits. Touché, however, proves to be a welcome exception. Their continued commitment to quality, creativity, and classic French influences remains evident in every aspect of the dining experience. Several days before our reservation, I received a courteous text from the charming and attentive hostess, Bridgette, requesting details about the members of my dining party, including names and dietary restrictions. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by name and seated at a table adorned with a personalized name card--an unnecessary but thoughtful and memorable gesture that set the tone for the evening. I selected the very reasonably priced three‑course prix fixe menu ($70), while the rest of my party opted for the Steak Frites. My starter, a colossal scallop, was beautifully seasoned and perfectly cooked. While the nettle purée could have used a touch more vibrancy, it still complemented the bright yuzu dressing well. The main course--a perfectly cooked half duck breast accompanied by roasted celeriac purée and a currant‑cassis jus--was a standout. The deep berry notes paired beautifully with the richly rendered duck fat. Although I typically gravitate toward savory dishes, the dessert was an impressive finale: a Sablé Breton with blood orange cream, thyme Chantilly, thyme jam, and a rocher of coffee ice cream. The combination of sweet, salty, and herbaceous elements was wonderfully balanced and thoroughly enjoyable. I was fortunate enough to try a few bites of the Steak Frites, which did not disappoint--nor did it for the other members of my party. Our meals were complemented by excellent cocktails from the well‑stocked bar. The bartender was knowledgeable, skilled, and engaging. The open‑concept kitchen is also a delight to observe, and I look forward to reserving a seat at the chef's table on my next visit. One of the ongoing challenges in the Syracuse dining scene, in my opinion, is a general lack of restraint. Touché distinguishes itself with its thoughtful menu design, technical precision, and appropriate portion sizes. We left feeling thoroughly attended to and perfectly satiated. I sincerely hope Touché continues its pursuit of excellence both in the kitchen and in the dining room. Syracuse needs restaurants of this caliber, and I eagerly anticipate their spring and summer menus. read more

Chef's tasting menu for our anniversary. We got a taste of spring with some lamb & a few seafood dishes, Brie cheese ice cream & even the garnishes were delish. They included the cutest personal touches and confirmed these with me prior to arrival. We watched them craft each dish & others, such as a very fancy looking smash burger & fries. The courses definitely got better as we went on, flavor & presentation wise. Definitely want to come back for another season, though I believe they change up the menu every 2 weeks - month! read more

It was our first time at Touché, I chose it for our date night. First impression walking in was a cozy intimate atmosphere. The hostess was very friendly and so was our waitress. We ordered the pain which was the house made baguette, focaccia and brioche bread. We enjoyed them wish they were a bit warm, my fave was the brioche. I chose the wild boar for my entree which I never had before. It was delicious and the accompaniment of the mushroom ragout and sour pork jus paired well. My husband had the burger, fries and house made root beer(which he loved). He enjoyed his meal, said the burger was a bit salty but not overbearing that he couldn't finish it. Overall it was a relaxing evening, the hospitality was amazing. We'll be back to try their ever changing menu. read more

See all

You say Syracuse is under appreciated for French cuisine? Well Touché. Located in the original location of La Melange they kept the open kitchen, which I love. Reservations are made on Tock, a deposit is required but it isn't clear now many days before your reservation you can cancel without penalty. It also appears there is chef's counter seating for $150 a person on Tock but no mention of this is mentioned on their website. Got the pain (bread) which was delicious but quite pricey at $13. An add on of foie gras was available which I highly recommend. The Coquilles St Jacques was very pretty and tasted great but not a lot of scallop so don't know if I'd get it again. The steak frites and canard were both amazing. Nice ambience for a date. Very friendly service. Reasonably priced wine list. Would definitely go again read more

See all

Best restaurant in Syracuse hands down. Don't miss this spot! I'm constantly disappointed by the food scene in CNY but this place definitely wowed me. read more

Touché is cozy and has beautiful esthetics. Service was also great; at one point, it got drafty where we were sitting and I told our server, and the temperature went back up shortly after. In our group of six, two got the dining week option and the rest of us ordered off the main menu. I thought the portion size on the duck was quite small, with one larger and smaller piece of duck (cost of $33). I know it's fine dining, but I have been elsewhere with a more significant portion size. Portion size aside, I think the berries were undercooked (maybe by a minute or two) so they were quite crunchy; however, the sauce was delicious and I was still hungry so they were eaten! The dessert menu was...Strange, as someone else already mentioned. Maybe the combination of flavors would work, but for the price point, I wasn't willing to give anything a try. My hot take: It was a one and done for me. If Yelp did half stars, it was more of a 3.5. The service was the standout, but if I was going out for a special occasion, I would choose a place where you might get a bit more food for the price. read more

Touché - Duck - French Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Had a delicious brunch at Touché for my friend's birthday. We enjoyed Champaign cocktails with rhubarb infusion and the Chartreuse swizzle, both excellent. We shared the Dutch baby with sliced apples and chantilly cream (sweet and light), eggs Benedict with pork belly, a brunch staple and very well prepared; and an omelette with short rib and oyster mushrooms, great combo of flavors. The atmosphere was elegant and the service was very attentive. We shared an almond tart for dessert, which was crisp and loaded with almonds for a perfect finish. read more

See all

Place just opened yesterday and wow, very great food! The menu was thoroughly thought out and the pairings for the dishes we had were well prepared for a great French cuisine experience. Ambience was very relaxed and very up to date. Upscale dining with a modern touch touché is sure to impress. Prices are VERY fair for the high quality food you get. Portion sizes are moderate as I enjoyed how well the flavors paired with different aspects of each dish, a lot of preparation went into the development of the menu and it was well thought out and executed. Appetizer we ordered an escargot tart, flavor was wonderful, cooked very well and a vinegar based side salad. Main courses were Steak frites cooked medium rare which was an exceptional cut of meat, frites were delicious. The maquereau was seared Atlantic mackerel served over a black lentil purée. This dish was very good with tons of different flavors throughout. The fennel crab apple salad was absolutely fantastic. The owner and all workers helped one another clear tables, checked in with patrons multiple times and we had a good view of the chefs as they prepared dishes. It was nice to see them at work and how things flowed seamlessly between them all. Staff are well versed in appropriate and acceptable recommendations for each dish. Being the second night and how busy it was, Touché had no issues with providing a great experience with very comfortable ambience with very exquisite taste for each dish. Touché is the new hot spot in downtown Syracuse you don't want to miss for something casual or a nice date night. read more

Came here for dinner with wife for a nice date night meal. What a great find. The host quickly seated us. The menu/options were well set up and I did pick the wine pairing with the meals (see pics). The bread was phenomenal. The staff was friendly and attentive. Was told that the deserts were cooked by a chef from France and it was extremely delicious. Would recommend. read more

See all

My friend chose this lovely French Style Bistro for her Birthday dinner and they did not disappoint! The ambiance is cozy and welcoming with an upscale vibe. We each ordered the three course dinner for $65. This is a phenomenal price and included the freshly baked French selection of breads with house made butter! Adam waited on us and kept a steady flow of dining service, great to experience restaurant with hands on owners. They have a curated wine collection, and offer pairing with your meal. I do regret not selecting that option. $35 for premium and $65 for high end pairing. I stepped out of my comfort zone with the Rockpool for 1st course. It is served chilled oyster, clam, squid in lobster consommé. It was exquisite. My friend started with the succotash and took notice of farm to table freshness and quality of ingredients. NY Strip aged steaks prepared to tender, and juicy, could be cut with a butter knife. Toasted plums with yogurt sorbet, and Apricots Hazelnut Cremeux with lavender ice cream for third courses. Both unique, and flavorful refreshing sweet. I would definitely recommend for a special occasion or order a la carte for more casual meal! Bon Appetite! read more

See all

We had a great experience with the gastronomy of the food design and presentation. The food was tasty, often surprising elements (like fingerling limes) and so well prepared. Three things could have made the experience exceptional. 1. Only the steak was hot. Every other meal was lukewarm. 2. When the dish has sauce as a major component of the experience, why not share a large spoon for the eater? 3. The cooking area was fun to watch but the backsplash was extremely greasy from our perspective. We had an early meal so it wasn't from tonight's service. An expensive experience. Fun and tasty. Could be exceptional with a few tweaks. read more

See all

Excellent brunch service, quiet and relaxing environment, and very attentive. We went for Mother's Day brunch and tried multiple menu items. It is a limited menu for brunch but they have a decent selection. Lots of drinks to choose from and price was very reasonable. Will definitely be back! read more

This place is such a nice addition to downtown. The vibe is very cool without being pretentious. We walked in on a Saturday night with no reservation and sat at a high top bar table. The bartenders were so attentive and we never waited for anything. The bread app was very good but the butter was amazing. Got an order of steak frites and the hamburger. The steak frites were well seasoned and the only thing short of making them perfect was a little too much fat on the edge for me but my husband loved it. The greens it was served on were so vinegary and salty. I could have eaten a whole bowl of just the greens. The burger was the star. Seemed simple ingredients but it tasted amazing. Got a coffee to end the meal and it came in a French press with fresh cream and was sooo good. Give this place a try! read more

See all

My wife and I had diner here last night. In one word, Amazing! We chose to have the prefix 3 course meal with the standard wine pairing. It was so much fun! We ordered different course and so we were able to try many of their dishes. The service was top notch. The French cuisine was impeccable. Thank you Touché for a wonderful evening! read more

Beer recommendation: $5 Little Sip of Sunshine. Yes. $5. Touché joins the ranks of the best restaurants in Syracuse by providing exquisite food, wonderfully attentive service, and cocktails that put Emerald, Gilded, and Tallman to shame. A menu that is reserved in size hides well prepared options at reasonable prices for fine dining. Duck, beef, a burger, and salmon were cooked perfectly, balanced, and hard to not indulge quickly. Rare that a restaurant uses entree correctly, try the Duck Confit Cake, which is a delectable melt in your mouth bite after bite after bite... This is a welcome addition to the city. Something anyone should consider for a nice dinner. read more

À très bien cozy, casual French bistro in the heart of downtown! My husband and I ventured here for dinner and had a lovely experience. The staff and service were wonderful- everyone was so kind. We started our food journey with the fresh bread which consisted of 3 different types along with their take on French onion soup which was so light and refreshing. For our main entrees, we had the duck that was cooked to perfection and the steak frittes, a well executed staple. The apple tart tatin for dessert was a delightful ending to our meal - not overly sweet. Excited to have this new addition to downtown! read more

See all

Today was my 4th time at Touché and we had another incredible experience! This time we went for their brunch. They knocked it out of the park with flavor for their brunch items and unique pastries that seem to change each weekend. We shared a bit of everything and left full and satisfied. We also got several of their sides you can add to your brunch-- great portions for the $6-$7 price point for the high quality. Definitely check it out for a unique and more upscale brunch experience, with high quality ingredients, a beautiful ambiance, and some very kind staff! read more

See all

I was super excited to try this place after reading the reviews but I was met with disappoint shortly after arriving. The restaurant was very understaffed. This is understandable due to shortage of food service workers but there was no acknowledgement from the restaurant until someone from my party had to flag down a waiter after waiting 30 minutes to get our drink orders taken. The owner/chef was very apologetic and explained many people called out which again is understandable if we were told from the jump. He mentioned he would comp a round of drinks (this never happened). The food was disappointing. We started with the cheese plate and bread. This was the saddest $22 cheese plate I have ever seen. It MAY be adequate for 1 person but 3 tiny slice of cheese with 3 halves of bread was unacceptable. (you couldn't even bring 4 halves for each of us??) We were not told what each of the cheese were or anything after they were dropped at our table. They were fine.. the quarter bite we each got. The bread and butter were delicious but to split between 4 people was almost a joke. If you are going to charge this much for bread make it a decent portion. I will say that the burger and steak frites were both excellent. I ordered the vegetarian option which was essential roasted carrots with cabbage. This was nothing special and again for $26 it seemed like a rip off. The dessert options were odd. The ingredients and flavors were trying to hard to be something unique but ultimately we were not interested. Touche is not at the top of my list to try again but maybe I will reconsider that one day. I think there is potential but definitely a few areas to improve upon first. Wishing them the best and hope they work out these kinks. read more

See all

Great food, even better staff. Wife and I tried the chefs table tasting menu. Everything was delicious and the staff were super personable. Would definitely recommend. read more

Good service. Great presentation. Nice ambiance Had the New York sirloin. Cooked perfect to order. Two 1/4 slices of a steak. Didn't fill me up. I get the French portions but wasn't adequate for the money. read more

The ambience was very nice and the restaurant was clean. The wait staff was attentive. The food was delivered in just under an hour. I had the flat iron steak, which was very difficult to chew due to the fat content. Just a bad cut I guess. The fries were delicious and the salad was good. My wife had the burger which she said was good. $142 included tip for these two meals, 2 glasses of wine and two cocktails. Pricey and due to our food quality we will be hesitant to return. read more

Outstanding food and interesting menu. Well crafted culinary experience. One item better than the next. European portions, just fine with me. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Delicious food, the cheese plate for dessert was to die for, the onion soup was delicious , and the cocktails were amazing ! Perfect spot for a date or for a friends night out read more

Touché - Cocktail with Laphroig in it ... Delicious - French Near Me - Syracuse, New York

food is delicious. portions are small. the ambiance and service was fantastic. not inexpensive but not insanely priced for the quality and flavor of the food. I had the lamb and it was fantastic. would go back in a heartbeat. lovely for a special occasion. read more

Excellent, creative dishes, accompanied by a large selection of wine in all price ranges. Service was relaxed but professional. We are lucky to have such a great restaurant in our midst. Go. You'll be glad you did! read more

Last year we had steak-frites at a French bistro in Washington, DC. It was a memorable experience that we look back upon fondly. Not so, I'm afraid, with Touché - except in the opposite direction. What better way to test a French bistro but to start with the basics - steak-frites? We were, in a word, disappointed. The sliced beef Touché serves (as opposed to strip steak) was tough and flavorless. The frites were several notches below McDonald's. The small salad was, well, lettuce. Neither of us finished our steak, instead taking it home as a treat for our dog. I'm writing this now at home mulling over what snack to fix myself to stave my hunger. All this said, the decor is sleek-modern with perhaps 10 tables. The drinks list is fine. Our French 75 cocktail was made to perfection. Wait staff are attentive. Given that it took us three weeks to reserve in advance, I must conclude it wasn't worth it, certainly not for $100-plus for two. We won't be returning. read more

Loved our meal here. Food was great, as was the service. Menu, decor, everything was very thoughtfully done. Syracuse needs this place and more like it! read more

The food was definitely good. But $180 spent on a drink, appetizer, and entre each for two and a shared dessert is too much to spend and leave hungry. My wife and I aren't used to eating copious amounts of food, but decided to go to Apizza for something else to eat before going home. Portions are too small, or not appropriate - two fingerling potatoes do not an accompaniment make. read more

Touché is a warm and welcoming dining spot on a snowy winter evening. The atmosphere was perfect and the food and cocktails were both masterly prepared. The one very disappointing element was the service. Super long delays in being served made the dining experience a bit irritating. We were seated in front of the open kitchen and couldn't help but watch the constant confusion of plated items, the servers and chefs. The presence of a strong general manager might alleviate this flaw. The steak and burger were both highlights!! I hope to see this restaurant succeed, clearly a talented chef! read more

Delightful French style bistro. Service was solid and never felt rushed. Steak & Frites featured a chuck eye steak. Small portion, but felt just right. Tremendous beef flavor. read more

I think we were the very last customers for the valentine's prix fixe. The ambiance is comfortable and unpretentious but still upscale. Really solid date spot. The staff is awesome, super pro and super friendly. The cocktails are the best and most creative in town. The wine pairings were thoughtful and really beautiful with the food. And the food? Incredible. Some of the best chef work being done in our little city right now. The duck confit was a particular standout and was everything duck confit should be. Thank you for an amazing dinner, we will be back. read more