Brasserie L’Oustau
1716 Depot St, Manchester Center, VT, 05255
Brasserie L’Oustau Menu
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Address :
1716 Depot St
Manchester Center, VT, 05255 - Phone (802) 768-8538
- Website https://www.brasserieloustau.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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K L.
I had my doubts when my wife and I wanted to dine here last year. We walked in without a reservation they wanted to seat us at the bar so we passed on this place since there were plenty of other options in town. Seemed like a stuffy place with the host who seems to be french (or pretending to be french? ok.. maybe he is really french). We returned few months later, got a table and the food was decent. My wife loved the french onion soup. Good bread and good food. The creme brulee was excellent! We'be been back few time food is consistently good and the host i think is really french :-)
(4)Jack B.
Dined here Monday evening as my wife and I were celebrating birthdays. Got placed in the corner next to the serving station for the better we had a fabulous server Sherrie. We started with 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate followed by appetizers. The escargot were a bit rubbery and way over salted. The seared Foie gras was quite nice with a very nice taste. TheTuna tartar was any upgrade from the appetizer at a large increase in price. Served with a side of fries it was certainly overpriced and the taste eminently forgettable For all the choices in Manchester Center, this one is easily a pass.
(1)Alli M.
Update: thanks for your response but it's absolutely inaccurate. I forgot to mention that the hostess told us (after sitting at the bar and staring at us for 5 minutes) that the restaurant closes between 9 and 9:30. First, who does that on a Friday night? And second, you can close whenever you want, just be consistent with your signage and online presence! There will be bonus points if your help is more polite...
(1)Zsolt M.
Great meal all around!! The waitress was friendly and helpful in adjusting selections for our dietary needs. The muscles, stake, the fish and the vegan plate were all amazing. Prepared just right. The vegetables were prepared perfectly... As all of them disappeared off of our kids plate. I believe everyone cleaned their plate. Very accommodating with kids. Crayons and drawing/activity mats.
(4)Danielle M.
Great food. Michele is so sweet. My friend's son has a nut allergy and he seriously went out of his way to make sure we had a great time! So sweet!
(5)Nicole L.
Spot on a perfect French brasserie experience. We went at 5 pm and were the first customers there. I love going to a restaurant when the staff is fresh and ready to serve. Apart from the friendly and efficient service, the food was perfect. The French onion soup was savory and rich with miles of stretchy cheese. The bread basket was warm and the bread that that perfect crispy outside and glutinous inside, perfect for dipping in my terrific moules marniere. The frites were perfectly seasoned and delectable and I devoured them! My husband had the steak au poivre Sunday special and said it was perfectly cooked. All in all exactly what you'd expect for classic French comfort food. Great ambiance and sexy music too!
(5)Jessica L.
I was here with my sister and her boyfriend this past weekend - I will try not to be too repetitive as she has posted a review as well! I was searching for a restaurant for my birthday dinner and had read that when designing this restaurant the owners toured several brasserie's in NYC for inspiration and one of them being Balthazar - where I have had one of the best meals of my life - so I knew I had to try here. The ambiance is a mix of modern and rustic - so you had a nice home-y feel, but with the jazzed up feeling of your modern restaurants as well. Our waitress - phenomenal! I tend to default to steak and frites as I just love steak - and I wanted to not do that here (but obviously still get frites because its frites, its necessary!) So not knowing a lot about french preparations of meats or what would be my better options - I asked the waitress for recommendations and she gave me great, mouth-watering recommendations, and sold them all to me so well. Her suggestions were the beef bourguignon or venison dish - as the meat is local. I ruminated on this thought and ordered some bourbon cocktails - one with a name I can't remember and the other being the Magnolia - both delicious, full of body and packed with bourbon flavor. Both tasted kind of like spins off an Old-Fashioned. I ordered the Escargot for an app - these are quite salty but in a delightfully delicious way. To me, the texture of their Escargot was comparable to a succulent clam, and the sauce of Pernod, parsley and other fixings so delicately paired with them. The Pernod really is the star of the sauce, and counters the salty of the snail itself - and then you get a bite of the puff pastry and all its buttery goodness and its really a wonderful bite. Then the finishing touch - take some of their delicious baguette and soak up that sauce and you will be in food heaven! Then just keep eating the bread with the whipped butter because the bread is just that good. You'll see it in all the reviews - its all about the bread! I had the venison for dinner per the excellent sell of my waitress - it came with Pommes Anna and had a delicious sauce with bacon over it and brussel sprouts. Now I have really tried to warm myself up to any vegetable that looks like a tree, so being that brussel sprouts look like little bushes, I was worried I wouldn't like them that much. I can assure you, these little bushes were little bushes bursting with delicious flavor as they were swimming in the venison sauce. The venison was very tender - and per the waitresses suggestion, I had it cooked medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. The Pommes Anna, nice and tender, buttery, and getting a bite with the venison and brussel sprouts gave such a complex bite of flavor between sweet, savory, salty, creamy - just so good. We also ordered the Pommes Frites w/ garlic aioli because like I said - it is necessary to get frites. For future diners - skip the aioli - you dont need it. These frites are nice and crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Perfectly salted and they come out piping hot. They taste as if they go through a double fry process - not sure if they do, but they have that quality of taste to them. If you get an entree with a sauce to it, soak them in there, but otherwise, just enjoy them in all their unadulterated glory - they were the perfect end note to my entree. We ordered an array of desserts, the tarte citron, profiteroles, and pot de creme - the tarte citron tasted like a decadent lemon bar. The pot de creme, nice and fluffy, rich chocolate flavor - a good selection. Their profriteroles - a must try. These come with vanilla bean ice cream sandwiched in between with chocolate sauce drizzled (and by drizzled I mean poured) over top - and the profriterole itself was nice and fluffy and didnt sit too heavy, especially after such a big meal!
(5)Kenan F.
I wasn't expecting food in VT to be so good. Then again, I haven't been here in a while. Everything we've had so far has been mostly delicious, fresh, local but this one takes the cake. We started with mushroom soup, tuna tartare and mussels frite. All were good but mussels were the standout. The sauce was richer and more complex than your usual white wine garlic. And the mussels were tender and fresh. For entrees, we had the cassoulet, beef bourguignon and squab. Squab was the standout, perfectly cooked, delicious sauce which was savory yet tangy. Spinach and butternut squash with barley were also amazing, each with their own set of complex flavors. For dessert, creme brûlée was the most perfectly executed that I have ever had. The crust was uniform in crispness throughout and there was not one bite that was lacking in crust nor burnt nor undercooked like I've had at other restaurants. The creme itself was also perfect in consistency and flavor. Profiteroles are good, but I've had better.
(5)Alejandro N.
Very good taste and friendly staff, the atmosphere was amazing. We had the short ribs and they melted in your mouth. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Lucy K.
Solid dinner spot, it seems like they get better every time I go. There's nothing better than dinner on the patio on a nice night. I just loved the salmon and the beets on the prixe-fixe menu, which is also a good value for the restaurant. Lovely cote du rhone.
(4)Osvaldo B.
45 minutes to get the appetizers. Going on 1 hr and 20 minutes for the entrees. Enough said! If they wanted to loose my business, they have succeeded!
(1)Joseph B.
4.5 star! Great restaurant and a good mix of food. Definitely will go back when in VT! Clean place with very good service. All the food was very tasty! You must order desert.
(4)Brian M.
A WNR - will not return. It was a good start - onion soup was nice and tuna tartare was better than expected. After two returns on the steak - one aged in salt -it seemed and the second way undercooked - raw- I gave up. Oh - the frites were also heavy handed on salt. The duck confit was not well presented and was a dry and the skin far from crisp. The seating is awkward under the skylights and the servers struggle to access the table due to the light fixtures - it all is a bit distracting. But servers are well trained and caring - but interruptions from management were many to see how we were doing before we had any issues and it was too much- overdone. The owners were disappointed we did not have a good experience and showed concern. But for me and our experience -in the end it is a solid WNR.
(1)Kristen C.
After a day of non-stop shopping, my friend & I saw this place on the way back to our motel. My dogs were barking and all I wanted to do was sit down, sit still & order a super frosty martini. We walked into this place & were asked "may I help you?" (I found that to be ridiculous at a restaurant at 6pm on a Saturday, but...). We were told that the restaurant was booked solid with reservations. Luckily for us, the bar was empty and they served food there. The bartender was delightful (Sunny) and she kept us stocked with bar snacks and little extras that made us grateful for our decision to eat there. She also allowed us to take our time ordering - which we really appreciated. I ate the onion soup (of course it was fantastic, it's French after all) while my friend had the salmon 3-ways (we made snarky comments about that, too). A bottle of Bordeaux later, I ordered the filet and my friend ordered the charcuterie and the cheese plate. Everything was superb. We are so glad we stopped here and we will tell everyone what a pleasant experience we had. We will definitely make it a point to come back again.
(4)Rob P.
I can't say enough good about this place. My boyfriend and I went here for dinner last night after having a hard time finding reservations anywhere else. The staff that assisted us with reservations were very accommodating and professional. The service once we arrived was impeccable, and the food was delicious. The onion soup was perfect and the entrees were cooked just right. I had the short ribs and my boyfriend had the venison. Both paired well with the Pinot Noir that our server suggested. In addition, the decor is really lovely, and the external appearance really doesn't do the restaurant justice. I'd definitely come here again for a romantic dinner or even just a classy-casual evening with a few friends!
(5)Deb H.
Went on a weeknight between Christmas and New Year's for a quick meal. We were welcomed warmly and sat in the charming bar where we enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and exquisite food. Recommended dishes were the salmon four ways and the crabcakes. Can't wait to return!
(5)Diane H.
We were a party of four. The Host noticed my crutches and changed our table from one up some stairs to one on the main level (thoughtful). Our waitress was aloof and disinterested. The appetizers were delicious...tuna tartar. seared fois gras (cooked perfectly), and oysters on the half shell. We had great expectations from the Yelp reviews and the appetizers. The entrees came and after a couple of bites of Skate (fish) my friend said that all she could taste was ammonia. Not good. The rest of our party had steak and pommes frites. The chef oversalted the steaks and pommes frites to the point that the potatoes were almost unedible and we left most on our plates. It took a while for the waitress to return to see how dinner was and she did offer to exchange the Skate for another entree, but it was too late. She did remove it from the bill but didn't even bother to let us know that she had done this for us. We won't be back.
(1)Dorania M.
Great food. Brunch was fantastic cannot wait to try this place for dinner. Service was superb and host makes the guest feels like you are the only one.
(5)E B.
Decided last minute on a Sunday night in Manchester to have a "classy" dinner. Thanks to Yelp, we were directed to Brasserie L'Oustau. Though the interior seems a bit quirky for a French bistro, the food was spot-on. I had the scallops with a saffron cream sauce, risotto, and rock shrimp, and the manfriend chose the bacon-wrapped quail stuffed with fois gras. Both were incredibly delicious, as was the creme brulee we just couldn't turn down. The only misstep was the MF's Americano cocktail - no fault of the Brasserie, Campari is seemingly a bit of an acquired taste. Finally, can't say enough about the wait staff - despite us being the second-to-last party that night, the hostess, waitress, and busboy were all extremely warm and attentive without being intrusive. We also appreciated that they never made us feel rushed, despite finishing dinner well after their 8pm closing time. Definitely worth the money!
(5)Dawn M.
Excellent. The owner runs a tight ship. Menu is fairly priced. The prix fixe flat iron stead was delicious.
(4)John A.
We were there for Thanksgiving and couldn't have had a better meal. The food was perfectly cooked and amazingly tasty. We decided on the normal menu instead of their turkey special. The mussel appetizer was very fresh and delicious and surprisingly came with fries. I had the NY strip which was cooked perfectly with a pepper crust and a choice of sauces. I swapped out the fries for whipped potatoes which were sublime. The wife had Tuna Tartare which she said was very fresh if not the best she has ever had. The décor was upscale but cozy. Some people in jeans, some in blazers and dresses. The wait staff are meticulous in preparation (watch them set a table) and checking up on you. I never had to look for somebody to help me. Pricing was normal for a bigger city, and much cheaper (and tastier) than my hotel. I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I was ever back in the area.
(5)Abby M.
Oh my gosh! A tasty bit of heaven in every course! Attentive service, inventive fusion of French cooking and VT resources. My main course was brioche stuffed bacon wrapped Cornish hen... and it was out of this world and indulgent. My friend and I both ordered martinis which were inventive and smooth. So we ordered more :) I tried going back the next night too, but they're closed Mondays. I will definitely plan my business trip back around being able to eat here!
(5)Robin F.
Very good French restaurant. Good service and pleasant atmosphere. Food is consistently good and worth a visit.
(5)Jeff S.
I've been twice and enjoyed both of my dinner visits. Service has always been attentive and professional. Two items disappeared from the menu between my first and second dinners that I hope reappear at some point in the future: Frisee Salad with Lardons as well as Blanquette de veau entree. Both items aren't served in too many restaurants.
(4)Christine P.
Had a delicious French dinner here on a trip to Manchester. The service was fantastic and the food was great. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant and will definitely be back!
(4)David S.
When I came to Vermont I never thought to come across any French restaurant. Thank goodness I decided to try out Brasserie L'Oustau because it's an outstanding restaurant. The staff, including the owner, are so polite and attentive. I'm just going to jump straight to the food - oysters on the half shell were chilled and amazingly delicious. The french onion soup had a perfect cheese layer with a nice thick piece of bread. The soup itself was slightly sweet which was pleasant because all the other versions were salty to say the least. Speaking of bread and butter, the bread was warm and the butter was at a perfect room temperature. My entree was a perfectly cooked lamb steak(?) with spinach and something that tasted like potato. At least I think it was potato, but it was delicious regardless. Topped off with creme brule and a double expresso. Kudos to whoever made my whiskey sour because it was mixed just right and it complemented my meal. As a side note, some Yelp reviewer by the name of Samantha T gave a vague and poor review because "it wasn't what she expected" and now it mysteriously disappeared. In case if anyone is confused as to what to expect - expect a great restaurant with wonderful service.
(5)Megan P.
Wonderful food, beautiful atmosphere. The tuna tartare is divine!
(5)Denis A.
From my daughter : The food was great the service was great you probably earn 5 stars great job keep going
(5)JC E.
This place is a secret gem in Manchester. In the summer sit on the patio, even bring fido. Enjoy fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere. It seriously has some great French cuisine. The service was fantastic and welcoming. TrupTry it, you'll be back. Travel and Leisure Magazine names it in top 10 French restaurants in the US!
(5)Peter B.
Also will not return. I took a date here for new years 2014 and the food was decidedly mediocre. Very pretty menu, great linens, and nice design inside the restaurant but the food was really diner quality. I expected a lot more for the price tag and while I'm usually pretty easily entertained really this place was such a let down. I told of our dissapointment to our B&B host and he told us about how many other fantastic options there are in town. I know they sponsor Yelp, but my recommendation : find one of them!
(2)Kathleen B.
Having just had a heavy French meal the night before, I was not particularly excited to have French again, but was very pleasantly surprised. Service was very friendly and attentive, and food was delicious and prepared well. I had a great martini to begin, followed by a champagne cocktail which was forgettable. To start we had the croquettes and the mussels, both made very well and we were impressed. My boyfriend had the whole branzino and side salad, which was much better than the vegetarian lasagna that I had ordered. The side salad to the fish was fresh, light, and dressed well, and I definitely domineered this dish. For dessert we had what seemed like a cross between a chocolate mousse and pudding, also forgettable. Overall, we had a nice, quiet and enjoyable evening here.
(3)Tammy G.
Based on the reviews we tried this restaurant excited to have French cuisine in the area. Upon arrival we had a server and asst.'s(2 of them) we ordered cocktails and 15 min later server came and asked if we were ready to order. We ordered and then finally received our drinks. Ordered soups those came without soup spoons we waited and asked two times soup was really good just not hot at all. Ordered two apps as well agnolotti and macaroni truffle gratin both were fabulous. Server and asst came by to see how everything was but never removed all the excess dishes until we asked never reset our silverware. Entrees came about 40 min later which was not a big deal we were not in a rush, but again never saw our server for another cocktail during that time we even got up and had to get our own water refilled. we ordered 3 different entrees the venison which was great but te outside was too charred so it left a bitter aftertaste, chicken herbs de provence which was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the short ribs which i did not personally try our friend said they were good. dessert we had the lemon tart and pot de creme both i loved. bottom line here just could not get any attention from our server the asst was nice but young and needs knowledge of the menus. Our server stated he had 4 tables and that is why he was not spot on- I asked him when he started working here he stated July so in my opinion by December you should be able to run 4 tables of 4 no problem. We love dining out and the food here is spectacular I just don't understand why every server and asst does not have the menu, ingredients and service procedures memorized before they are allowed on the floor. The ambience makes you expect greatness right out the gate at this restaurant. I feel that if you can get your service staff up to par you will definitely be a destination people will return to. It would be a shame to have such great food disappear from our area due to lack of education and training servers. Because the chef is definitely amazing!
(3)Steve W.
Wifey and I tried this restaurant for the first time since we had been in Manchester the year before. Although a French restaurant the menu contained many choices. Wifey had the steak frites with bordelaise sauce, which was a nice steak cooked the way she ordered. I had a broiled whole trout which was very light and well executed. We shared the cheese plate after dinner, choosing three from their selection of Vermont and French cheeses. The baguettes they served with dinner were amazing. This dinner was on the expensive side, but the food was good and the service excellent.
(4)Corey S.
Had a really great meal and overall experience at Brasserie; when we entered the restaurant we were greeted warmly by the host and we chose to eat a casual dinner at the bar. We got their Maine oysters (among some other appetizers) which were some of the BEST oysters we have ever had.....they were a perfect size and the flavor/tenderness was unparalleled. For a meal, we shared their gruyere burger and it was perfectly cooked, very juicy and really great. The bar tender was a really nice guy....attentive and good with pouring our wine. I was very impressed at the end when he shook both our hands and thanked us for coming. Overall it was a really great night and we will be back again. Thank you!
(4)Rick M.
This is as authentic a French brasserie as you will find anywhere. My wife and I had lunch and dinner on separate days. Both experiences were excellent. The food was terrific. I had the steak and it was done perfectly. At lunch I had a panini and salad. Best panini I have ever had. The place is beautifully done and the service was impeccable. They have an outdoor patio with a fire pit. Several people were sitting around the fire having drinks. The owner, Michel Boyer, was present both times and made sure everything was done to make our experience memorable. The place was pretty full for dinner so make reservations to be on the safe side. The wine list was very fairly priced and had some labels that were new to me. We are definitely going back! I guess it would be fair to say that it is as close to being in France without actually being there.
(5)Katherine K.
Great service, terrible food. We were hugely disappointed after all the positive reviews. We shared the foie gras appetizer, which was just OK. For our entrees, my boyfriend had the salmon and I had the scallops. The salmon had no flavor, the scallops were extremely rubbery. We shared the bread pudding for dessert - also not good...how do you mess that up?! Too bad because the service was great from the hostess to the waiter. Oh, and the couple next to us was also talking about how dissapointing the food was...they had the salmon and the bouillabaisse.
(2)Betty W.
Fantasic waitstaff, excellent food! The drinks were phenomenal (kudos to the bartender). My husband had the oysters and the steak. I had the onion soup and bouillabaisse. Everything was delicious and the portion was just right. We had the soufflé for dessert -- light and delicious. We will definitely come back next time we are in town.
(5)Ed K.
While visiting Manchester we found this wonderful Brasserie, where we had a most enjoyable time and food. Service was excellent even though there was a private function and lots of customers. The owner/host was most gracious in seeing to our needs for children and adults. We will definetely go back. In fact we are sorry we didn't discover it sooner on our visit or we would have dined more. Drinks from the bar couldn't be beat.
(5)Steven K.
Not a restaurant I will return to. Very limited, quirky menu, way overpriced and we found the service to be very polite but extremely slow. Perhaps my review is a bit tainted by the fact that we had confirmed 7:00 reservations for a SPECIFIC area and were not able to be seated there until 8:05. The Owner/Host tries very hard to please, but none the less, the food value versus the cost makes this restaurant one to skip when you visit Manchester, Vermont. Far better choices in the area.
(2)Tom H.
Wonderful experience!! Very attractive decor inside and out. Michel was the best as was all the staff. We had a wonderful dinner, the beet salad was really nice! Our dinners were very good, and prices very reasonable for the high quality. I would highly recommend trying while in town.
(5)Harry K.
Great addition to the very competitive Manchester restaurant scene. Once you eat here the others cannot hold a candle to it. Totally professional approach to fine dining.
(5)Peter P.
This was delightful. Great salads for starters. Classic fare such as mussels and pomme frites was well-executed. The monkfish also was very good in a tomato sauce with fingerling potatoes. Certainly the best of the restaurants on Rt 30, it is a place to which we will return and we're glad we tried.
(4)Amy B.
Came here for a late (2pm) lunch after a drive from NJ. Love French food, but there's nowhere to get it near our home. The host (owner?) was very welcoming. The place has a great atmosphere and lots of natural light. Our waitress was lovely. The menu is wonderful and it was hard to decide, but I chose a frisée salad and the steak tartare. Both were excellent and large portions, and they were both appys! The bottle of French wine we shared was lovely too. We split an excellent creme brûlée and our coffees were also good. Would highly recommend this place and wish it was closer to home!
(5)Susie C.
Was on wait on the Phone for atleast 10mins to make a reservation. Someone hung up on me. I Called again. Waited for another 10mins finally made a reservation, the reservation was for 9pm according to the restaurant. My party of 4 showed up 15mins late due to a huge storm. We arrive at the restaurant, we were told since the Internet is not working, they couldn't serve us. Our reservation was declined, due to Internet failure. What does internet failure has to do with anything?? Basically we were told to leave because they were slow and they wanted to close early. Horrible customer service! Extremely Rude!!!! I really wanted to try this restaurant but after the extrrly ridiculous excuse I will never come here again!
(1)Frank S.
Enjoyed the meal. Had reservations for five to celebrate my dads 75th birthday. The staff were wonderful and found a candle to put in his desert. Everyone loved the meal, even the hard to please in our group. Nice place.
(5)John L.
Elegant food options. This restaurant was formerly Laney's and they did a very nice job converting it for their purposes and upscaling it. We all had the prix fixe (3 course) which seemed the best option. It is pricey but was expected for its rating and for Manchester. The bread was from Tribecca which was spectacular. We thought it was very nice and we enjoyed an elegant lunch outside which was very pleasant, and there was a little street noise, but it was nice. I chose the onion soup which was good, had Croque Madame for the main course which was good although the bread was a little overdone, but was still good. The other three in my group had the salmon which they all enjoyed. The Creme brûlée was very well done and a nice end to a nice meal. I have tried nearly every restaurant in the area over the years, and we recommend this restaurant for a nice lunch, and we expect would be a nice dinner. Enjoy!
(4)John W.
Been here a few times, as a part time resident of the area. Walking in to the space the first time, I was amazed at how they transformed an old barbecue restaurant. The interior is beautiful - can't believe it's the same place. It's big and open, but at the same time it feels intimate. And as wonderful as it looks, you can feel perfectly comfortable dressed casually. The staff is warm and welcoming, and the service is top notch. Loved the menu, for the most part. A few disappointments - would skip the escargot, for one. But the pate was awesome, as was the Vermont quail. There have been a few of my old favorite restaurants in the Manchester area that disappeared over the last few years, and the area has been hard hit by a few less than stellar ski seasons, but my hope is that this place is here to stay. It's definitely a winner. Give it a try, but make a reservation. They are becoming very popular, and I can see why.
(4)Elizabeth D.
We just ate here with our 3 children. The outside seating was beautiful, the host and waitstaff were incredibly gracious. The wines by the glass were great and the food was simply amazing. My son's ham and cheese was to die for... Salad, salmon and burger were amazing too. We would be here once a week if we lived here. They did a great job with our kids who are between 4 and 9, which also deserves credit! Wonderful meal, wonderful experience. Highly recommended.
(5)Rich A.
We dined here Saturday October 4th on the recommendation of a friend. The space is very large and separated into smaller dining areas. We shared the tarte with goat cheese,bacon, and carmelized onions. Except for not being hot and just warm it was delicious. The base was flatbread. We both had the same entree, short rib bourguignon. It was excellent with two big short ribs that were cooked perfectly. It contained very tiny thin carrots,lardons,mushrooms,and mashed potatoes. Even though I was full I could not stop eating it. We both shared the citron soufflé that was lemony,light, and fluffy. We will be going back here again. Diner with 2 1/2 glasses of wine,1 appetizer,2 entrees,1 dessert came to approximately $130.
(5)Jeff C.
Very nice restaurant, worth a repeat visit. Came on a rainy weekend, but the warm atmosphere cheered everybody up. The waitress was extremely nice, and all the customers seem to be in happy mood. I am a big fan for Skate, and good French restaurants like L'Oustau really mastered this dish. Everything else from Salmon appetizer to French Onion soup, to bread, to dessert, it was near perfect. Highly recommended if you visit Manchester next time.
(5)Roman K.
Have been meaning to stop in for a while, finally did on Thursday 6/26. As a solo diner I decided to have my dinner at the bar. A warm greeting from the Maitre D who led me to the bar & a warm greeting from the bar tender. The bar was empty, although the dinning room was filled. As a solo diner I decided on having appetizers, started with two, appetizer portion of Moules Frites Marnieirs & Escargot Bourguignon in puff pastry. I was asked which would I prefer first - muscles, then escargot. The muscles were cooked perfectly, plump, juicy, sweet & the broth was absolutely divine. They should sell it separately. Next came the escargot. Nice pastry shell, flakey & oh so buttery. Digging in the escargot were also cooked perfectly. Wanted to try steak or tuna tartar but I was full. The four stars are simply because the review is based on two appetizer. I shall be back & probably have two or three appetizers again & update the review. If your looking for a nice diner out with some very good food give Brasserie a try. Oh, the the bartender (name withheld) was very attentive & cordial.
(4)Jeff F.
My skepticism based on the location and exterior was instantly put at ease once my wife and I walked in. We enjoyed exceptional service from Shannon - great recommendations and perfect pacing. I highly recommend both the Steak Tartare (exceptional) and the Tuna Tartare (very good.). The Escargot Bourguignon is unique (or very traditional) take on escargot depending on how much French food you've had in your lifetime. The Steak Frites were good, but not necessarily mind-blowing. My wife loved the Profiteroles while I didn't really understand them. If you're in Manchester, this should be on the short list. If you're looking for a dinner option on a Sunday (when almost everything is closed), this is it.
(4)Anik M.
Excellent out door seating with a huge fire pit. The service was attentive and polite and the food was delicious. The patio is also dog friendly.
(4)Tim T.
Very nice restaurant. Service was perfect. Atmosphere great. I had the Pan-seared Halibut with velouté . I would have liked more potatoes and mushrooms as they were both hard to find in the delicious sauce. I'm glad I ordered the Braised garlic greens as a side dish. The Charcuterie Mason & Artisanal was wonderful and should be shared, as it is too much for one person. I also had the lobster salad which was on the small side for $12, but very tasty. This was my second time for dinner and I will probably return even though the price is $$$$. Not NYC $$$$, but Vermont $$$$. Just sayin. My wife had the scallops, and thought they were great.
(4)Carissa L.
Excellent restaurant! This was our second time here. We live in NH and recently returned to Vermont for another little getaway. The service was great! Very efficient and polite waiter. We ordered the prix fixed dinner for $38 a person. I had the beet salad, the salmon and the creme brûlée. My boyfriend had the French onion soup, the flat iron steak and the chocolate mousse. My boyfriends only complaint was the steak being a little tough, but not uncommon for that cut of meat. My meal was perfect! We got sparkling water that was kept in a wine chiller next to us and promptly refilled when our glasses were low. We also got a nice bottle of Pinot noir to split, but we were too full to finish it! Great evening!
(5)Ellie B.
To start off with, they have this new soup which is fantastic! It's some kind of parsnip with fennel pollen deal, order it! I had the venison which was okay; the Brussel sprouts that came with it were really good. for dessert I had the dark chocolate cake which was also really good. my only complaint was the waiter seemed to be a bit confused about the foie gras. there were two foie gras items on the menu for appetizers, a torchon and a seared. he told us that they were BOTH pâté, so I did not order the seared foie gras, but as it turned out, the seared one is the liver. was disappointed about that.
(4)Steven H.
Had an August Saturday dinner here and was sorely disappointed. Had the salmon 4 ways. Meh. Had the NY strip w bearnaise. Good sauce, fibrous steak. Service was slow and kind of inept. My daughter had a very ordinary crab cake Not at all what the reviews had led me to expect. Maybe an off night, but during the height of summer tourist season? Unacceptable.
(2)Brit B.
With the first bite of my potato/leek soup, I was stunned. Then, my second course, butternut squash, Farro, & Brussel sprout risotto, had me floored. The amount of flavor that is infused in each bite of each dish was overwhelming--In the best possible way. I have raved in the weeks since I've been here that my dinner was likely the best meals I've eaten in well over a year. My boyfriend, who also fully enjoyed his meals, agrees. I could even be persuaded to say the best meals I have ever had. The friendly, competent staff only makes this dining experience an even more memorable one.
(5)Roger G.
Eaten there twice. Not cheap by any means, but the food is superb. Pleasant ambiance, outside seating not bad at all. These people really know how to cook. If you want a bit of a splurge, this is an excellent place.
(5)Camila C.
Try the oysters! Just amazing..... Great service...great food ... Great rose wine .....
(5)Eric D.
Very good. The wait staff were very polite, the food was great. Escargot was good, though I prefer the more classic style, this was under a pastry dough, short ribs melted in your mouth as other have said, and the steak frites were amazing. My only complain is that the appetizer could have come out a little faster than it did. But it really was not an issue, would recommend!
(4)Rita V.
I was smitten from my first call in to ask about the dress code. A fatherly french voice enthusiastically chirped "Come as you like. Come in flip flops. You are on vacation. We will take care of you!" BINGO! My open table fate was sealed at "elo". Old school charm, high ceilings, unpretentious and a unforgivably clean kitchen. Simply stated elegant staff - caring and proud of their work. THey take it serious but not too serious. But thats just the owner and his team. The food? I just LOVE the sophisticated restraint with seasoning, yet the subtle indecent flavor of french cuisine. Not too much thyme - but its there. Pornographic amount of butter. The right touch of salt. Splash of wine. The steak tartare with a poached quail egg - a delicate jock - sexy yet gentle. Mussels and frites? OH MY! The local supplier offered these little runts of specimens, some that were butchered the night before at the Marsh Tavern. On this evening, these tiny teases were mortifyingly soaked in a WONDERFUL meunier sauce/broth... DELICIOUS! The husband went to the foie gras, gruyere and buttered brioche burger... SERIOUS meat. Even their wine list is unpretentiously restraint yet tastefully pulled together. AND you can get 1/2 glasses also. YOU HAVE TO EAT HERE! You are a foodie? YOU HAVE TO!
(5)John M.
I'm glad we revisited Brasserie L'Oustau. This southern Vermont French stalwart remains consistent in quality and service. This time during the Easter weekend, we both ordered the three course Prix Fixe dinners, a fair deal for the quality. We started with Kir and then each had a glass of white Sancerre and Cabernet to respectively complement our meals. Though I usually pass on the bread and butter, here they are superb. I started with a traditional French Onion soup which was not just the knock-off potage that so many places turn out but usually fail in getting it just right in texture. My wife had the Roasted Beets with arugula, pistachios and chestnut honey. For a main course I had the steak frites, again something I usually shun for two reasons; first the frites (French fries) are usually reheated store type thicker versions not the wisp and willowy French frites. Superb. Same for the steak. Often steak frites has a tougher cut of meat smothered in a pasty Bearnaise sauce or something that hides the grainy nature of the meat. Here the steak was a higher quality cut, with an elegantly understated garlic butter. I must say however my original cooking order of medium came to me rare. Happily, this was quickly corrected by our server. My wife had Roasted Salmon with black rice and caponata in a citrus beurre blanc. For dessert I ordered the crème brûlée and my wide indulged in the chocolate mousse. Again without sounding too vain, crème brûlée has become ubiquitous in many places and what passes for the actually difficult desert is far short of what was served here. L'Oustau's crème brûlée is on par with many restaurants we frequent in France. Ah, and the service. So happy to see the staff is not only well trained, decked out in the traditional French black and white attire, but they work as a team, a ballet of service which is not intrusive but anticipates. Our server Svetlana, who we have had a number of times, as with many L'Oustau staff, have been around for a while. This is not the quick staff turnover one finds in so very many places but a mark of consistency like the white table cloth dining.
(5)William S.
I love to eat food inspired by the great chefs and traditions of France and my visit to Brasserie L'Oustau was another episode in that love affair. I am a carnivore at heart and knew at the first glance at the menu that I would be leaving very satisfied. Starting with the steak tartar was an excellent decision if I do say so myself. The quail egg broke over the top of a chopped, ring molded seasoned portion that provided the perfect compliment to the seasoned beef. For my entree I selected the venison, and folks I absolutely made the right choice. I am not a fan of the brussel sprout, and so the kitchen was nice enough to replace them with the haricot verts. Med-rare, nicely seasoned, with a tasty gravy and a side of a thinly sliced potato pie. It was fantastic. I was told that Brasserie L'Oustau received a 'top 5' rating for French restaurants in the US. I forget from where, but honestly it does not matter. Great service, a small but interesting and varied menu, well seasoned dishes, fantastic wine selection and a cozy atmosphere all mean that you have to visit when you are in the area. PS - We had the creme brulee as a finish. (If I had more room I would have had the cheese selection). It was delicious.
(5)Steven S.
I have been back several time since and I feel the quality is improved. I feel it is the best option for a quick reliable stop while going through Manchester. I feel the quality of wines by the glass has definitely been improved. I have not tested them on a substitution although maybe I should. One continuing gripe is they always seem to be out of the special of the day although I do often arrive on the late side on busy ski weekends. The bread is still Awesome.
(4)BklynCraCra B.
Jean George's in VT. We go out of our way to stop here when we are anywhere between our Brooklyn home & VT. You will be blown away. Spot on perfect.
(5)Corey L.
Came in on Valentine's days my girlfriend. We called beforehand bad had trouble communicating w the French guys terrible English. He scared us it would be super packed. We got there right when it opened and sat at the bar. The empty bar. We quickly found out that, at the bar, they all seemed new and no one spoke French. Funny. Our bar tender/waitress was really nice but absolutely unhelpful. When we asked for her thoughts on items or recommendations, she would shrug and say everything is good. It was sorta infuriating. That said, everything ended being good. But she was still frustratingly unhelpful. We started with the jumpo lump crabcake. We started with a bottle of Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas - a nice relatively full-bodied and slightly fruity red. I ordered the Prix Fixe, getting the Roasted beets and fromage blanc maison (pistachio, arugula, honey dressing), the flat iron steak frites (with bearnaise sauce), and valrhona pot de creme for dessert. The salad was quite flavorful w a good mix of ingredients and pretty good size. The steak was made as I ordered it and really flavorful - the sauce was really good. Fries were crispy and really good. We also really liked the dessert - like a chocolate crime brûlée. My girlfriend got the pan-seared dayboat scallops, with risotto and vegetables. I love scallops and these were really good. Mixed well w the risotto and veggies. Food was great, overall great experience.
(4)