I have enjoyed dinners and lunches here for 17 years and it remains my favorite for all special occasions! Give it a try for high quality food and service. We also live in the San Fransisco Bay area and it is just as good as the restaurants there for half the cost.
(5)
Vivian H.
I was very disappointed. The service was slow and our waiter was incompetent . they were out of the wines we wanted and the red wine was on the warm side. Our dinner were so so. I was told mine came with potatoes and I was served rice. The waiter then told me " so you got rice" . The steaks were over cooked. The crepes were stale and cold. We shall not be going back. the next day I called the restaurant ,all I got from the manager was , sorry. Well, there were four of us, and none of us will be going back. I use to love that place. It has changed, for the worse. Don't waste your money or your time.
(2)
John L.
What was once my favorite (and one of the few fine dining) restaurant in Melbourne is now utterly a disgrace. I felt embarrassed bringing my guests there and I even felt embarrassed for the owner. We had an 8PM reservation on New Year Eve and from the moment we arrived it was a "sh!t show". Here is a list of unacceptable behaviors I witnessed: 1. When we walked through the door, we heard the owner/GM (lady with French accent in silver dress) saying to her staff "Oh great, everyone decided all to show up at 8PM". Great way to make your customers feel welcomed! 2. We waited for 15 minutes before someone came over to take our drink order and it was well over 35 minutes before we got our bread. The entire dinner took over 2 hours. 3. My guests ordered a bottle of Chardonnay and it took them almost 15 minutes to tell us that they were out. 4. The staff: even though it was our waiter's first day, he is the most pleasant of them all. One of the waitress was dressed for Walmart than for a French restaurant: she did not even tuck her white undershirt in. To top it off, she looked miserable and complained to us that she can't be at all the places at the same time. With the exception of our (rookie) waiter who was probably their best and most professional, the rest of the staff is just not properly trained. 5. Food: our escargot appetizer was cold and the Avocado salad was completely crap my guests took one bite and left the rest. My ribeye cut was USDA Standard/Choice but by no means it was a Prime cut. Waffle House serves better tasting steak...really. 6. The bill: they automatically slapped on a 20% gratuity. That is a practice you only see with large parties or at tourist traps restaurants. It's just insulting. (See pic) for horrible food and service. I don't know what happened to this place from two years ago, but the owner obviously has little clue in running a high end restaurant or she just doesn't care. It's really a shame as this place was once quite spectacular. Please don't waste your time or money there this place does not represent fine French cuisine.
I came here with my grandmother and mother for brunch, which ended up really being lunch. I wanted to give this establishment 4 stars, but it gets knocked down for several things. First, I had the escargot appetizer. It came in a nut butter. While good, I was under the impression from the sparse wording on the menu that it would come in a traditional garlic butter sauce. Still was good, but not what I expected. Second, when I went to the bathroom, there was a Corona bottle in the sink, no toilet seat covers, and no paper towels. Really? I would expect better from a restaurant that at least tries to masquerade itself as being a nicer establishment. As to my meal, I got the ahi tuna wrap. It was good, but the creamy sauce it came with wasn't exciting. I ended up eating with soy sauce and that was pretty good. Our waitress was attentive and service was otherwise good, aside from the dirty bathroom.
Not bad. Pretty average considering the hype. Not overly priced but I expected better.
(3)
Elio R.
I was extremely dissapointed on my last visit to Continental F. I had special guests which I had highly recommended the restaurant to and couldn't wait to visit it. When we arrived at the restaurant we had to wait about 15 minutes to be greeted at the door. Afterwards the waitress went to the back for 5 more minutes only to come back saying we had to go. It was offending not having at least a wait time where we could make the decision to wait or go. The restaurant was not busy at all. There were empy tables in their main sitting area, not including their second room of tables qhich was completely empty. I used to love this place, but they have lost a loyal customer. There are other places where customer service means something. No more recommendations from me!
This used to be my go-to spot for fine dining on special occasions, and always worth the price. On a recent visit however while I was back in town, they were rather unremarkable. Four of us recently dined here, and all had unremarkable meals... especially for the price point. For the appetizer, two of us ordered the avocado with salsa - and the avocado was seriously under ripened, that it tasted rubbery and was way too firm to bite into. Very disappointing. The salads were all just pretty bland and common place. For the entrees, two of us had the shrimp and parmesan encrusted mahi - which had some nice flavors in the sauce (which was way too scarce), but the fish was seriously dried out. The other two in our party had the peppercorn steak, which was a bad cut of meat - very grisly and under flavored. The desserts were mostly ok. Two of our diners had the creme brulee' - which was nice. I had the bannanas foster -which was excellently decadent. However one of us sprung for the chocolate lava cake, which was very dry and mostly unremarkable. All in all, dinner for four at $160? Not worth it. This place has definitely gone down hill in the years since I moved away. I'd definitely not be itching to return here anytime soon.
(2)
Alicia M.
We've been there twice and had a very good experience both times. The food was great and the server and owner were very nice.
(5)
Margo H.
The food was excellent. Unfortunately I have had better service in a New Jersey diner. Our server didn't take all the menus back after we ordered, left some dirty plates on the table, insisted we leave our dirty silverware on the tablecloth instead of replacing it, and handed plates to us put down on the table instead of coming around to put them down. My husband asked for help with the wine selection as the list was excellent, but the server knew nothing about the product. Nor did she bring anybody over who did. Service was too slow. The three hour dinner could have comfortably taken 1 1/2 to 2 at the most. The waiting was exacerbated by the fact that our party of 7 was seated at a table directly under an AC vent that was going full blast in November. We had to wear our coats throughout the meal. Yes- we did ask them to turn it down. The surprise ending was an automatic 20% tip added to our check for service that was less than stellar. If they get their act together this place could be outstanding.
(3)
Navin R.
On my first visit here I didn't have a reservation, so I had to wait about 45 minutes. Normally this would be a bad thing, but they own the Lexi Martini and Tapas (that's where their drinks come from), so they gave me a two for one drink voucher and had me hang out there until a table was ready. I'll do a separate review for Lexi. I usually go with the Prix Fixe menu option, this gives you the best bang for your buck (and a big buck at that). For one price you an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. I usually get a soup for my appetizer. Before you're meal starts, they'll give some bread, which comes with roasted garlic and butter. On my last visit I had a beef and potato soup. The beef was very tender and came apart very easily, hardly any chewing required. For entrees I've tried the blackened chicken and well as the filet mignon. The chicken was a little too dry for my tastes, but the filet mignon was like being in heaven. The filet mignon was cooked just right, it came with caramelized onions and was topped with a bearnaise sauce. The atmosphere is great and so is the service. But the portions are so small for the amount you are paying. Just keep the bread coming and I'll be fine.
(4)
L.A. S.
I went here with a friend not to long ago. My friend was visiting from out of state and really wanted some local seafood. I ordered a simple caesar salad, so that was alright...however my friend ordered a dish with crab, because remember he wanted fresh seafood? We were served our food and about 2-3 minutes later the waiter comes back and says that the crab meat was spoiled. We then watched a guy trying to sneakily carry a can from the back room up to the bar area and vwala, there was a fresh plate delivered to our table. Seriously can't believe they served spoiled canned crab. I won't even give them a second chance.
(1)
Dub T.
We knew we would probably like the food here, as we had eaten their tapas at sister locale Lexi's. even still we were very pleasantly surprised at just how good the food was! Every bite of our four course meals was devoured, and my belly felt very happily satiated afterward :-) we both got the specials - his was the Caribbean jerk steak, mine the snapper Oscar - and the were rich and flavorful, without feeling heavy. Even the house salad nicely tickled the taste buds, and the ahi tuna before that literally melted in my mouth! As the former governor of California would say, I'll be back....
(4)
Rodney L.
The Continental Flambe is the best Downtown Melbourne. I love the coconut shrimp, crabcakes and the creme brulee. Service is excellent, staff is great, restaurant is very clean and Valerie is cool.
I would give this 2.5 starts if I could, but we'll go with 3. I went last night with my husband on a whim, we hadn't been in years. Years ago when we went, we made the mistake of going for a "special occasion" (Valentine's Day or something like that), and the Prix Fixe menu was limited and not so good. However, a few years later I went there for lunch with a friend, and it was delicious, so my husband agreed last night to go. No reservations were not really a problem, but they were very busy, so I was expecting a great meal. And parts of it were fantastic! We both got the 4 course menu, which was under $30 each. I ordered the escargot, which were good, and my husband ordered the goat cheese & edamame appetizer, which was AMAZING. Next, we each had the house salad, which was nice and light. The entree course was the diver scallops for my husband (which were cooked PERFECTLY), and I ordered the mahi, which when I got it was WAY overdone. I had to send it back (and I"m not one of those people who normally does). The next I got was cooked nicely. My dessert was the warm blackberry crêpes, which were good, and my husband got the cherries jubilee, which hadn't had all the alcohol all burnt off so was too strong. The wine list IS extensive, but overpriced. We ordered a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse, and it was $40. It was a good bottle, but not $40 good.... The homemade (?) bread they bring out in the beginning is very good, and it came with roasted garlic, which was awesome. Our waiter David was fantastic! Basically, the reason I say 2.5 stars is a combination of our first experience, my mahi, my husband's dessert, and the overpriced wine menu. I feel like it could be a "hit-or-miss" kind of place. I would go back for lunch however, as my salad that day was incredible.
(3)
Rob F.
Good French food. Pricey dinners, but a good wine selection and good lunch value in one of the nicer restaurant setting in old downtown Melbourne.
(4)
Cindy S.
This is a fine restaurant with great food. I love the emphasis on French cuisine. The seafood newberg crepes are divine. Friendly, attentive service along with and an incredibly extensive wine list...it does not get any better.
(5)
Jan R.
Continental Flambe holds a recurring "Wine Tasting Dinner" - 5 courses, $65 per person. We went last night to celebrate my birthday, and I am sorry to say the experience was disappointing. The wines were nice, the food was mediocre, and the service was definitely sub par. Our complaints: *The wine sommelier\owner poured the last dregs of a bottle into our guest's glass. Our guest requested a fresh glass and a fresh pour, which was accomodated by trading his glass with one on another occupied table(!), followed by chilly service from her for the remainder of the evening. *The french onion soup was overly sweet and under seasoned. *The beef short ribs were *very* fatty. In fact, I couldn't even eat mine. When the server asked how our meals were and I said "In all honesty, mine is very fatty and you can probably see it yourself", she replied "Oh, yes, I see that". But then did nothing to ameliorate the problem. *The zabbione dessert was very odd - it seemed like a little glass full of slightly flavored marshmallow filling. *Overall, we had hoped to hear some details from the sommelier about the wine pairings she chose, but there was nothing other than pouring and basic reading of the label. *A 20% gratuity was added to the entire bill for our little party of 3. We asked for the gratuity to be removed so that we could add our own and were at first told No! But when pressed, she did remove the gratuity, which was exorbitant given the service and the fact that it included expensive wine. I'm not sure we'll ever go back. We'd been one other time and we were one of only 2 tables and that previous experience was wonderful albeit still quite expensive. Maybe they just struggle a bit with serving large groups...
(2)
Tricia J.
This was one of the recommended restaurants in Melbourne when asking locals. I actually went hoping to have a glass of wine and appetizer after work. Their menu is set up as a prix-fixe dinner at a reasonable price compared to South Florida. An entire four course dinner is under $30.00. Their wine list was good, a little pricey but I was very disappointed in learning the house split of champagne was J Roget! So much for being a champagne affectionado. The waiter was kind enough to let me sample the B&G vouvray before committing to an entire glass. The food was acceptable but not memorable. My main course was Parmesean encrusted Mahi mahi. I got the impression I was eating a re-heated doggie bag dinner. The entree was dry and the accompanying sauce was heavy. They seem to try hard but miss the mark. Nice ambiance. Young servers were polite. No bar to sit at. The chocolate hazelnut sauce on ice cream was plain chocolate syrup. I had higher expectations. May try again. Cheers.
(2)
Amanda P.
I've been here twice, once for dinner and just yesterday for Mother's Day. Their menus is good and food is has been good both times. They have a good selection and the staff is great and very attentive. I would recommend for a nice place to eat dinner.
(4)
David T.
I like this restaurant because its one of few around here that are actually worth going to, but only for special occasions. The food is well prepared and I've never had bad service here. If you like wine, the list is rather extensive. Its not me though. My recent visit was for lunch, which I think is a better value. I went for dinner on New Years and the regular menu was doubled in price with nothing special added. I'm trying not to sound like a cheapskate, but for $50/seat prix fixe I'd expect something over the regular menu.
(4)
Tom W.
Arguably, one of the top restaurants in Melbourne. Nice ambience, good service, and unique menue. Super wine selection. If you're lucky, one of the many freight trains will go by (tracks are about 10' from the building) during your meal, and all drinks will be "shaken-not-stirred"
(4)
Road Warrior D.
Fine dining in a romantic setting. Wonderful selection of continental cuisine and a very nice wine list. The make their own deserts too.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Layne M.
I have enjoyed dinners and lunches here for 17 years and it remains my favorite for all special occasions! Give it a try for high quality food and service. We also live in the San Fransisco Bay area and it is just as good as the restaurants there for half the cost.
(5)Vivian H.
I was very disappointed. The service was slow and our waiter was incompetent . they were out of the wines we wanted and the red wine was on the warm side. Our dinner were so so. I was told mine came with potatoes and I was served rice. The waiter then told me " so you got rice" . The steaks were over cooked. The crepes were stale and cold. We shall not be going back. the next day I called the restaurant ,all I got from the manager was , sorry. Well, there were four of us, and none of us will be going back. I use to love that place. It has changed, for the worse. Don't waste your money or your time.
(2)John L.
What was once my favorite (and one of the few fine dining) restaurant in Melbourne is now utterly a disgrace. I felt embarrassed bringing my guests there and I even felt embarrassed for the owner. We had an 8PM reservation on New Year Eve and from the moment we arrived it was a "sh!t show". Here is a list of unacceptable behaviors I witnessed: 1. When we walked through the door, we heard the owner/GM (lady with French accent in silver dress) saying to her staff "Oh great, everyone decided all to show up at 8PM". Great way to make your customers feel welcomed! 2. We waited for 15 minutes before someone came over to take our drink order and it was well over 35 minutes before we got our bread. The entire dinner took over 2 hours. 3. My guests ordered a bottle of Chardonnay and it took them almost 15 minutes to tell us that they were out. 4. The staff: even though it was our waiter's first day, he is the most pleasant of them all. One of the waitress was dressed for Walmart than for a French restaurant: she did not even tuck her white undershirt in. To top it off, she looked miserable and complained to us that she can't be at all the places at the same time. With the exception of our (rookie) waiter who was probably their best and most professional, the rest of the staff is just not properly trained. 5. Food: our escargot appetizer was cold and the Avocado salad was completely crap my guests took one bite and left the rest. My ribeye cut was USDA Standard/Choice but by no means it was a Prime cut. Waffle House serves better tasting steak...really. 6. The bill: they automatically slapped on a 20% gratuity. That is a practice you only see with large parties or at tourist traps restaurants. It's just insulting. (See pic) for horrible food and service. I don't know what happened to this place from two years ago, but the owner obviously has little clue in running a high end restaurant or she just doesn't care. It's really a shame as this place was once quite spectacular. Please don't waste your time or money there this place does not represent fine French cuisine.
(1)Stephanie J.
I can't believe I'm giving this place 2 stars because it was a place I used to rave about. We went for Valentine's Day dinner and from the moment we walked in the door it was disorganized. After we were sat at a table with one chair, it took about 15 mins for anyone to acknowledge us and get our drink order. The waitress seemed stressed but was friendly. After we finally ordered it took a while to get bread, which was not fully cooked in the middle. Also they usually give roasted garlic and butter with the bread which I always look forward to and this time there was oil and herbs, which was already on the table when we got seated. Appetizer was great, I've always loved the baked Brie and apple crepe. The salad was ok. After a while the entree came along and mine was pretty bad. I got the grouper and it tasted really old and fishy. Not how fresh grouper tastes. It was a little tough and the sauce was very salty. Very disappointing. The dessert was good. I had the brownie and it was one of my favorite parts of the meal; however, my fiancée got the creme brûlée and it was very runny. I noticed people that were sat about 30-40 mins after us were getting the same course at the same time as us. We did a lot of waiting. There were empty tables around us and the staff still seemed super stressed. There was even a sign on the door saying no walk ins for the night. Not sure why you would do that when there was room! Another thing that has gone downhill is the staff. They used to be very proper and really good at their job. Our waitress kept using terms like 'sweetie' and 'honey' which reminded me of being at a diner. She also didn't know much at all about the menu or wine. Another little thing I noticed is that the restroom used to be all cute and have mouthwash, mints, etc. which are now gone. However, I don't go there that often to know when that change occurred. The soap dispenser was empty and there was a kitchen like squirt bottle filled with soap and of course with soap covering the bottle which was lovely. We actually went here last year for Valentine's Day and had bad service too but at least the food was better. That's probably the last time we will be going there unless they make some changes and stop cutting corners. It's really sad because I've been going there for 10 years. It was the first restaurant I went to in Melbourne.
(2)Paul K.
I came here with my grandmother and mother for brunch, which ended up really being lunch. I wanted to give this establishment 4 stars, but it gets knocked down for several things. First, I had the escargot appetizer. It came in a nut butter. While good, I was under the impression from the sparse wording on the menu that it would come in a traditional garlic butter sauce. Still was good, but not what I expected. Second, when I went to the bathroom, there was a Corona bottle in the sink, no toilet seat covers, and no paper towels. Really? I would expect better from a restaurant that at least tries to masquerade itself as being a nicer establishment. As to my meal, I got the ahi tuna wrap. It was good, but the creamy sauce it came with wasn't exciting. I ended up eating with soy sauce and that was pretty good. Our waitress was attentive and service was otherwise good, aside from the dirty bathroom.
(3)Hayley M.
Disappointing Valentine's Day dinner. The house Pinot Noir was probably the best part of the meal. The service was fine. The tuna appetizer was nothing to rave about either. The grade was pretty rough to be served raw. I received a small spoon with my lobster bisque rather than a soup spoon. Not a big deal, but for a "fine dining establishment", they should have the eating utensils down. The Caesar salad was soggy and had more croutons than salad. The croutons were for sure not homemade. The duck was prepared like a baked chicken thigh. It was extremely over cooked, yet it still managed to have soggy skin. The balsamic/port reduction was more like bbq sauce too. The Creme brûlée was flavorless. No taste what so ever. For sure a different recipe that has some flavor would be a good idea. Also when we walked by the restaurant today their prix fixe menu that was in the window showed a different price and menu options (better options). We are visiting here, but it looks like this place has been here for a while and been under the same ownership for quite some time. We are surprised they have gotten away with ripping people off for so long. The ambience was very nice and it was an excellent place for a romantic dinner, but the quality of the food was way out of line for the price. It honestly tasted like cruise ship food.
(1)Larry B.
Not bad. Pretty average considering the hype. Not overly priced but I expected better.
(3)Elio R.
I was extremely dissapointed on my last visit to Continental F. I had special guests which I had highly recommended the restaurant to and couldn't wait to visit it. When we arrived at the restaurant we had to wait about 15 minutes to be greeted at the door. Afterwards the waitress went to the back for 5 more minutes only to come back saying we had to go. It was offending not having at least a wait time where we could make the decision to wait or go. The restaurant was not busy at all. There were empy tables in their main sitting area, not including their second room of tables qhich was completely empty. I used to love this place, but they have lost a loyal customer. There are other places where customer service means something. No more recommendations from me!
(1)E K.
Not impressed at all. Went to celebrate on Christmas Eve with our adult children and had the worst service ever! Waitress never introduced herself and had no idea what the specials were for that evening! In fact she went to find out and came back and forgot that she was asked to find out what the Specials were for the day! After asking her twice she had another waiter come to tell us. She was never around to refill our glasses and when she came to fill them up, she filled only Half the table. We had to ask her to come back again! She then slammed our glasses on the table after filling in disgust that we had her come back! When it was time for dessert she never cleared our table off completely it still had our dirty dinner dishes, plates, glasses and bread left on the table. We proceeded to clear it ourself in hopes she would get the hint. Not! We then placed our order for desserts, we got cherries Jubilee and banana foster and finally lost it when we realized that they lit the ice cream on fire to only make soup flambé and to our surprise to find one banana slice in the banana foster and three cherries in the Cherry Jubilee! Never again!
(1)Cherie V.
This used to be my go-to spot for fine dining on special occasions, and always worth the price. On a recent visit however while I was back in town, they were rather unremarkable. Four of us recently dined here, and all had unremarkable meals... especially for the price point. For the appetizer, two of us ordered the avocado with salsa - and the avocado was seriously under ripened, that it tasted rubbery and was way too firm to bite into. Very disappointing. The salads were all just pretty bland and common place. For the entrees, two of us had the shrimp and parmesan encrusted mahi - which had some nice flavors in the sauce (which was way too scarce), but the fish was seriously dried out. The other two in our party had the peppercorn steak, which was a bad cut of meat - very grisly and under flavored. The desserts were mostly ok. Two of our diners had the creme brulee' - which was nice. I had the bannanas foster -which was excellently decadent. However one of us sprung for the chocolate lava cake, which was very dry and mostly unremarkable. All in all, dinner for four at $160? Not worth it. This place has definitely gone down hill in the years since I moved away. I'd definitely not be itching to return here anytime soon.
(2)Alicia M.
We've been there twice and had a very good experience both times. The food was great and the server and owner were very nice.
(5)Margo H.
The food was excellent. Unfortunately I have had better service in a New Jersey diner. Our server didn't take all the menus back after we ordered, left some dirty plates on the table, insisted we leave our dirty silverware on the tablecloth instead of replacing it, and handed plates to us put down on the table instead of coming around to put them down. My husband asked for help with the wine selection as the list was excellent, but the server knew nothing about the product. Nor did she bring anybody over who did. Service was too slow. The three hour dinner could have comfortably taken 1 1/2 to 2 at the most. The waiting was exacerbated by the fact that our party of 7 was seated at a table directly under an AC vent that was going full blast in November. We had to wear our coats throughout the meal. Yes- we did ask them to turn it down. The surprise ending was an automatic 20% tip added to our check for service that was less than stellar. If they get their act together this place could be outstanding.
(3)Navin R.
On my first visit here I didn't have a reservation, so I had to wait about 45 minutes. Normally this would be a bad thing, but they own the Lexi Martini and Tapas (that's where their drinks come from), so they gave me a two for one drink voucher and had me hang out there until a table was ready. I'll do a separate review for Lexi. I usually go with the Prix Fixe menu option, this gives you the best bang for your buck (and a big buck at that). For one price you an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. I usually get a soup for my appetizer. Before you're meal starts, they'll give some bread, which comes with roasted garlic and butter. On my last visit I had a beef and potato soup. The beef was very tender and came apart very easily, hardly any chewing required. For entrees I've tried the blackened chicken and well as the filet mignon. The chicken was a little too dry for my tastes, but the filet mignon was like being in heaven. The filet mignon was cooked just right, it came with caramelized onions and was topped with a bearnaise sauce. The atmosphere is great and so is the service. But the portions are so small for the amount you are paying. Just keep the bread coming and I'll be fine.
(4)L.A. S.
I went here with a friend not to long ago. My friend was visiting from out of state and really wanted some local seafood. I ordered a simple caesar salad, so that was alright...however my friend ordered a dish with crab, because remember he wanted fresh seafood? We were served our food and about 2-3 minutes later the waiter comes back and says that the crab meat was spoiled. We then watched a guy trying to sneakily carry a can from the back room up to the bar area and vwala, there was a fresh plate delivered to our table. Seriously can't believe they served spoiled canned crab. I won't even give them a second chance.
(1)Dub T.
We knew we would probably like the food here, as we had eaten their tapas at sister locale Lexi's. even still we were very pleasantly surprised at just how good the food was! Every bite of our four course meals was devoured, and my belly felt very happily satiated afterward :-) we both got the specials - his was the Caribbean jerk steak, mine the snapper Oscar - and the were rich and flavorful, without feeling heavy. Even the house salad nicely tickled the taste buds, and the ahi tuna before that literally melted in my mouth! As the former governor of California would say, I'll be back....
(4)Rodney L.
The Continental Flambe is the best Downtown Melbourne. I love the coconut shrimp, crabcakes and the creme brulee. Service is excellent, staff is great, restaurant is very clean and Valerie is cool.
(5)Kim P.
For Cocoa Village, it was def worth the visit.
(4)Gloria M.
Continental Flambé for Fine French Cuisine and Service - Try Their Continental Bleu Martini This gem of a restaurant is located just on the edge of Melbourne's Historic Downtown Area. For many years, I intended to dine here - just never did. When I recently receive an invitation to attend a special group event luncheon here, I was thrilled to accept. I was not disappointed. The high quality restaurant has received many awards for its fine cuisine and extensive wine list and deservingly so. I thought that parking might be a problem but we found a space right on the street near the restaurant. When we arrived, I noticed the inviting ambiance of the main dining room with its charming bar, open kitchen and beautifully dressed tables with red table napkins. I knew that we were in for a special treat. We sat in a private dining room off the main one. We sat at two long tables dressed with white linens and real velvety roses. A printed menu sat at each place setting. We had a choice of several crepes. After giving our beverage order, we perused the menu. One diner asked our server, which was the best crepe, she replied the Beef Tenderloin Crepe (on the regular luncheon menu for $11.95.) Some of our group went with her suggestion. All Crepes or Croissants, $9.95-$12.95 arrive with a choice of salad - Caesar or House. Both Salads are chilled, fresh and delicious with crisp greens and tasty dressings, served in a bowl. I, myself, could not decide whether to order the Chicken with Walnuts and Apples Crepe or the Chicken with Shrimp in Béarnaise Sauce Crepe. My husband made the decision for me knowing that I love shrimp. I was glad that he did as each crepe contained several large sized shrimp. The two large crepes were tender, filling and delicious. I appreciated the care that went into the presentation of each dish. A friend across the table from me ordered the Chicken with Walnuts and Apples Crepes & said that was wonderful, too. Those diners that chose the Beef Tenderloin were equally pleased with their choices. My husband ordered the Grilled Vegetables with Provolone Cheese in a Spicy Tomato Sauce and enjoyed it too. It was not too spicy and had a variety of veggies. I think no matter which Crepe or Croissant that you order, you will be please with it. There are so many other choices on the menu besides crepes that you may find it hard to decide what to order. If you wish heartier fare at lunchtime, I saw plenty of Entrees ranging in price from $9.95-$16.95. Go for broke with Filet Mignon topped with Béarnaise and Caramelized Onions for $21.95. It is a meal in itself served with Salad & Starch, as are the other 15 Entrees. The Dinner Menu has even more choices- many with a strong French influence. After perusing the Appetizer Menu, I want to come back and order either the Escargot with Garlic and Hazelnut Butter in Puff Pastry with Spinach Ragout, $6.95 or the Coconut Crusted Shrimp with Orange Glaze Sauce, $8. Then I would have room for the Crème Brulee, $4.50 or Banana's Foster, $4.50. There is a Prix Fixe Menu, which includes Appetizer, Salad, Entrée and Dessert for $27.95. With 10 Appetizers and 23 Entrée choices, everyone in your party will find something tempting. Some of the more expensive Appetizers & Entrees may incur an extra nominal charge of $3-$6. Diners with smaller appetites can order Ala Carte Salad & Entrée for $23.95. If you are a dessert eater you will find lots to droll over besides the two offerings listed above: Crepes Suzette, French Apple pie, Chocolate Lava Torte (oh my), Cherries Jubilee, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, warm Blackberry Crepes, etc. Need I go on? All priced $4.50 - $5.50. Perhaps come in after a show for dessert and coffee. Maybe try their famous Continental Bleu Martin or one of the 800 wines they offer. Our service throughout the luncheon was friendly, efficient and professional. The server patiently waited while each diner decided on a choice, assisted with special requests & served us baskets of warm bread and butter. She and her team refilled sodas and water glasses without us needing to request refills. All service came with a smile. Before I left, I requested a Take Out Menu for future reference. First, the server said I should pick one up outside the restaurant. Then, she actually went outside, picked up several and handed them to me, which I distributed. Will I be back? You bet. Moreover, I am bringing a big appetite and saving room for dessert. I highly recommend this restaurant for its convenient location, ambiance, upscale offerings, presentation of dishes and excellent service. You may think that the restaurant is pricey but the dishes are worth every penny. Continental Flambé is a great place to celebrate a special occasion or a meal with someone special. You will enjoy excellent fine food and service. If wine i
(5)Dana B.
I would give this 2.5 starts if I could, but we'll go with 3. I went last night with my husband on a whim, we hadn't been in years. Years ago when we went, we made the mistake of going for a "special occasion" (Valentine's Day or something like that), and the Prix Fixe menu was limited and not so good. However, a few years later I went there for lunch with a friend, and it was delicious, so my husband agreed last night to go. No reservations were not really a problem, but they were very busy, so I was expecting a great meal. And parts of it were fantastic! We both got the 4 course menu, which was under $30 each. I ordered the escargot, which were good, and my husband ordered the goat cheese & edamame appetizer, which was AMAZING. Next, we each had the house salad, which was nice and light. The entree course was the diver scallops for my husband (which were cooked PERFECTLY), and I ordered the mahi, which when I got it was WAY overdone. I had to send it back (and I"m not one of those people who normally does). The next I got was cooked nicely. My dessert was the warm blackberry crêpes, which were good, and my husband got the cherries jubilee, which hadn't had all the alcohol all burnt off so was too strong. The wine list IS extensive, but overpriced. We ordered a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse, and it was $40. It was a good bottle, but not $40 good.... The homemade (?) bread they bring out in the beginning is very good, and it came with roasted garlic, which was awesome. Our waiter David was fantastic! Basically, the reason I say 2.5 stars is a combination of our first experience, my mahi, my husband's dessert, and the overpriced wine menu. I feel like it could be a "hit-or-miss" kind of place. I would go back for lunch however, as my salad that day was incredible.
(3)Rob F.
Good French food. Pricey dinners, but a good wine selection and good lunch value in one of the nicer restaurant setting in old downtown Melbourne.
(4)Cindy S.
This is a fine restaurant with great food. I love the emphasis on French cuisine. The seafood newberg crepes are divine. Friendly, attentive service along with and an incredibly extensive wine list...it does not get any better.
(5)Jan R.
Continental Flambe holds a recurring "Wine Tasting Dinner" - 5 courses, $65 per person. We went last night to celebrate my birthday, and I am sorry to say the experience was disappointing. The wines were nice, the food was mediocre, and the service was definitely sub par. Our complaints: *The wine sommelier\owner poured the last dregs of a bottle into our guest's glass. Our guest requested a fresh glass and a fresh pour, which was accomodated by trading his glass with one on another occupied table(!), followed by chilly service from her for the remainder of the evening. *The french onion soup was overly sweet and under seasoned. *The beef short ribs were *very* fatty. In fact, I couldn't even eat mine. When the server asked how our meals were and I said "In all honesty, mine is very fatty and you can probably see it yourself", she replied "Oh, yes, I see that". But then did nothing to ameliorate the problem. *The zabbione dessert was very odd - it seemed like a little glass full of slightly flavored marshmallow filling. *Overall, we had hoped to hear some details from the sommelier about the wine pairings she chose, but there was nothing other than pouring and basic reading of the label. *A 20% gratuity was added to the entire bill for our little party of 3. We asked for the gratuity to be removed so that we could add our own and were at first told No! But when pressed, she did remove the gratuity, which was exorbitant given the service and the fact that it included expensive wine. I'm not sure we'll ever go back. We'd been one other time and we were one of only 2 tables and that previous experience was wonderful albeit still quite expensive. Maybe they just struggle a bit with serving large groups...
(2)Tricia J.
This was one of the recommended restaurants in Melbourne when asking locals. I actually went hoping to have a glass of wine and appetizer after work. Their menu is set up as a prix-fixe dinner at a reasonable price compared to South Florida. An entire four course dinner is under $30.00. Their wine list was good, a little pricey but I was very disappointed in learning the house split of champagne was J Roget! So much for being a champagne affectionado. The waiter was kind enough to let me sample the B&G vouvray before committing to an entire glass. The food was acceptable but not memorable. My main course was Parmesean encrusted Mahi mahi. I got the impression I was eating a re-heated doggie bag dinner. The entree was dry and the accompanying sauce was heavy. They seem to try hard but miss the mark. Nice ambiance. Young servers were polite. No bar to sit at. The chocolate hazelnut sauce on ice cream was plain chocolate syrup. I had higher expectations. May try again. Cheers.
(2)Amanda P.
I've been here twice, once for dinner and just yesterday for Mother's Day. Their menus is good and food is has been good both times. They have a good selection and the staff is great and very attentive. I would recommend for a nice place to eat dinner.
(4)David T.
I like this restaurant because its one of few around here that are actually worth going to, but only for special occasions. The food is well prepared and I've never had bad service here. If you like wine, the list is rather extensive. Its not me though. My recent visit was for lunch, which I think is a better value. I went for dinner on New Years and the regular menu was doubled in price with nothing special added. I'm trying not to sound like a cheapskate, but for $50/seat prix fixe I'd expect something over the regular menu.
(4)Tom W.
Arguably, one of the top restaurants in Melbourne. Nice ambience, good service, and unique menue. Super wine selection. If you're lucky, one of the many freight trains will go by (tracks are about 10' from the building) during your meal, and all drinks will be "shaken-not-stirred"
(4)Road Warrior D.
Fine dining in a romantic setting. Wonderful selection of continental cuisine and a very nice wine list. The make their own deserts too.
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