I loved our entire experience at La Mere Michelle: the food, service, ambience, and even the French music they were playing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rick
Our waiter was very good - attentive and sensitive to our time constraints - but the food was well below our expectations. Onion soup had an overwhelming flavor of vinegar - bizarre. Would not recommend.
KenP
We made reservations to celebrate Valentine's Day at this restaurant, but we left after: 1) The greeter did not look at us or welcome us when we checked in; 2) The room smelled musty; 3) The chairs were creaky; 4) We waited 10 minutes but to no avail for a waiter to come by to go over the menu, offer us water and bread, etc. In fact, one waiter cleared a table next to ours without even acknowledging our presence or saying something like, "I'll be with you shortly." Bear in mind that the restaurant was charging $125 per person for this special dinner, before tax and tip and excluding any drinks. For that much money, we expect much better service.
KeithK
Never Again! Our Valentine's Day dinner at La Mere Michelle was without question one of the worst dining experiences we have ever had. When we arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, and although we were seated promptly, there were no menus on our table even though it was a prefix meal. We had to request menus, water, and bread for the table. I asked for a wine list but after waiting 10 minutes I hunted one down on my own. We both had the Caesar salad, which was at best unmemorable. I had the “rack of lamb“ which, although cooked well the flavor was nothing special. The side of scalloped potatoes had no flavor, and both the green beans and carrots were so overcooked that when we put our forks into them , they slumped over and fell off the fork. My girlfriend had the shrimp with butter and lemon sauce and it was served literally swimming in the sauce which also had very little flavor. The scallop potatoes and vegetables on her plate were exactly the same as mine. For dessert, she ordered the “chocolate cake” which actually was more of a chocolate tart that clearly had only recently been removed from the freezer . Not only was it nearly frozen in the center of the slice it also had ice crystals and melted ice crystals on top of it ...think drops of water...I had the cheesecake which was probably the most flavorful dish of the entire meal, but even that was served on a plate that was hot, as it had just come out of the dishwasher. Not what I would expect with a dessert that is serve chilled or at room temperature. Our server seemed overworked and stressed out, and every time he came by the table the poor man was barely able to speak above a whisper as if he was out of breath. At this point the restaurant was less than 50% full. When I asked for the check I noticed that we had been charged for a third glass of wine. I pointed this out to our server and he corrected the error. At $125 per person this meal and experience was a major disappointment.
Ali S.
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.
Disappointed. Our server was wonderful. The French onion soup was terrible. The broth had too much sherry. Couldn't eat it. I ordered Chicken with Wild Mushroom Sauce. Sauce had no mushrooms in sauce. There were some sliced mushrooms on top. Sauce tasted like flour. The other dish, Duck was smothered with a sauce that had strong pepper and or cloves. Couldn't eat that dish either. Even the app Brie with apricot sauce was smothered with sauce and couldn't taste the Brie much. We were so exited to dine there, but regret that we did. Again, the server was very nice and apologetic about the food. Won't be back.
Lovemegoodfood
This classic restaurant is such a treat. The food is amazing! The service is friendly and attentive. A must try. Yes, the place is dated, but it is part of the charm. The Wei we schnitzel is the best I have ever had!
JoeyV
Marc is an outstanding Chef. We had the baked Brie, Pepper soup, Filet of Sole and homemade Napoleon dessert. The meal was exceptional. Maurice, our waiter, was wonderful. This restaurant is a treasure.
Farrah J.
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.
Duck
I have eaten at La Mere Michelle several times a year for over 10 years and always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. In my recent visit the quality continues and the prices remain quite reasonable.
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.
Stephen Los
Food selection good. Restaurant Needs updating especially road front room. Open large windows creates a nice atmosphere.Enjoyed dishes but could have been hotter.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Original Wiener Schnitzel, Sauted Mixed Mushrooms in Garlic Butter, French Onion, Escargots Bourguignon
Hallie R.
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.
Pv R.
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.
Becca B.
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.
I loved our entire experience at La Mere Michelle: the food, service, ambience, and even the French music they were playing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our waiter was very good - attentive and sensitive to our time constraints - but the food was well below our expectations. Onion soup had an overwhelming flavor of vinegar - bizarre. Would not recommend.
We made reservations to celebrate Valentine's Day at this restaurant, but we left after: 1) The greeter did not look at us or welcome us when we checked in; 2) The room smelled musty; 3) The chairs were creaky; 4) We waited 10 minutes but to no avail for a waiter to come by to go over the menu, offer us water and bread, etc. In fact, one waiter cleared a table next to ours without even acknowledging our presence or saying something like, "I'll be with you shortly." Bear in mind that the restaurant was charging $125 per person for this special dinner, before tax and tip and excluding any drinks. For that much money, we expect much better service.
Never Again! Our Valentine's Day dinner at La Mere Michelle was without question one of the worst dining experiences we have ever had. When we arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, and although we were seated promptly, there were no menus on our table even though it was a prefix meal. We had to request menus, water, and bread for the table. I asked for a wine list but after waiting 10 minutes I hunted one down on my own. We both had the Caesar salad, which was at best unmemorable. I had the “rack of lamb“ which, although cooked well the flavor was nothing special. The side of scalloped potatoes had no flavor, and both the green beans and carrots were so overcooked that when we put our forks into them , they slumped over and fell off the fork. My girlfriend had the shrimp with butter and lemon sauce and it was served literally swimming in the sauce which also had very little flavor. The scallop potatoes and vegetables on her plate were exactly the same as mine. For dessert, she ordered the “chocolate cake” which actually was more of a chocolate tart that clearly had only recently been removed from the freezer . Not only was it nearly frozen in the center of the slice it also had ice crystals and melted ice crystals on top of it ...think drops of water...I had the cheesecake which was probably the most flavorful dish of the entire meal, but even that was served on a plate that was hot, as it had just come out of the dishwasher. Not what I would expect with a dessert that is serve chilled or at room temperature. Our server seemed overworked and stressed out, and every time he came by the table the poor man was barely able to speak above a whisper as if he was out of breath. At this point the restaurant was less than 50% full. When I asked for the check I noticed that we had been charged for a third glass of wine. I pointed this out to our server and he corrected the error. At $125 per person this meal and experience was a major disappointment.
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.
Disappointed. Our server was wonderful. The French onion soup was terrible. The broth had too much sherry. Couldn't eat it. I ordered Chicken with Wild Mushroom Sauce. Sauce had no mushrooms in sauce. There were some sliced mushrooms on top. Sauce tasted like flour. The other dish, Duck was smothered with a sauce that had strong pepper and or cloves. Couldn't eat that dish either. Even the app Brie with apricot sauce was smothered with sauce and couldn't taste the Brie much. We were so exited to dine there, but regret that we did. Again, the server was very nice and apologetic about the food. Won't be back.
This classic restaurant is such a treat. The food is amazing! The service is friendly and attentive. A must try. Yes, the place is dated, but it is part of the charm. The Wei we schnitzel is the best I have ever had!
Marc is an outstanding Chef. We had the baked Brie, Pepper soup, Filet of Sole and homemade Napoleon dessert. The meal was exceptional. Maurice, our waiter, was wonderful. This restaurant is a treasure.
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.
I have eaten at La Mere Michelle several times a year for over 10 years and always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. In my recent visit the quality continues and the prices remain quite reasonable.
Restaurantji Recommends
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.
Food selection good. Restaurant Needs updating especially road front room. Open large windows creates a nice atmosphere.Enjoyed dishes but could have been hotter.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Original Wiener Schnitzel, Sauted Mixed Mushrooms in Garlic Butter, French Onion, Escargots Bourguignon
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.
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.
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.