Ortolan   

We loved it! Exceptional quality and care was taken to make ours a unique dining experience. We had the Chef's menu and it was worth every penny! The care and attention delivered by all connected to this restaurant is extraordinary. This is a destination restaurant and shouldn't be missed. The food, atmosphere, and ambience are outstanding. Five stars all the way! We were there on 6/11/08! A very innovative chef and stunning decor make this totally worthwhile.

At 6 pm on Fri. Feb 9th 2007, I was the first customer in the door. I looked forward to seeing this "wall of herbs" but the room was quite dark. They are no longer open for lunch and they have no lights to show it off. I ordered Lobster and a dessert. The wait was long and the 'music' made me more aware of my long wait for the food. I asked to be seated away from it but I was told there was no where to sit and be away from the sound. I watched hungrily as the waiters passed me by to bring food other's tables. They kept refilling my water glass but didn't even bring me a bread stick! After what felt like an hour I finally got the attention of [the only] female waiter and I did finally get to eat. It was too dark to see the food, not all of it was pleasant tasting. (I am used to Chez Panisse) The decore was over-done, it spoke louder than the food. All those chandeliers! What a lot of work and extra over head! Even a full-sized one at eye level in the bathroom! The front is painted a [flat] dark blue with one white 'splash' as if a very big bird had marked it. The rough floor [gotten from a barn and dragged across country] had some white paint on it, the whole thing left me asking "why?!" Ortolan is no longer open for both lunch and dinner. Now it is just dinner and only two nights per week. I wonder how they afford washing those chandeliers? My guess is, it isn't done by Jeri, I was told: "Ms.Ryan doesn't come in anymore."

We want this restaurant to stay around forever. We dined here 5/31/06 again after having dinner there previously on 5/19/06. Why? Because this wonderful restaurant is a place you want to come back to again and again. There service is friendly, accomodating, cheerful, informative and proud of their work place. This could only happen because Chef Christophe Eme is a superb person. His creations were incredibly creative, each bite was made with careful attention to detail, presentation, flavors that made us ooo and ahh time after time. Go try this restaurant please! They are truly originals and I mean the people as well as the food. Merci beacoup to all at Ortolan...we will be back!