L'essentiel - Menu

My wife and I enjoyed dinner here very much. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Service was friendly. We would definitely return.

Went there as family of 6. Great place with very reasonable menus starting at 20 euros for 3 courses. Kids menus are half-price.Each dish is delicious and presented artistically. Wines are also by the glass with a fine choice. Very recommendable place with nice decor and friendly service.

The service was very friendly and helpful. Food was good. It was a heatwave and, I just wanted a salad. But my husband was in the mood for more and I nibbled. The cheese course was nice with an explanation of which cheese to eat first and last. It made a difference and I appreciated that touch.

I very much enjoyed our meal here. I had an excellent terrine followed by a Boeuf Bourguignon which could not of been more regional. It was a simple but fine example of the dish. The room was fine, the position excellent and the service friendly and efficient. The price was reasonable. No complaints a all!

After finding one restaurant after another that only did one sitting per night and discouraged travellers by requiring reservations .. or.. who took their vacation in July to avoid tourists. This place was a big relief. Food was good and the server was very pleasant. The restaurant was not very busy and that was a relief. Food was very nicely presented on the plate.

We entered this restaurant for dinner although it was empty and ordered a glass of white wine which had a taste of cork and had to be replaced. This can happen. I then ordered duck. Rather tasteless, and with a long hair wrapped around it. No apology from the waiter who informed me that it could not have come from the chef who was bald! We asked for the bill and left without trying the desserts.

In a city where the restaurants can be overpriced and very ho-hum, trading on a stale tradition of French bistrot food, L'Essentiel was a breath of fresh air. The restaurant had a simple modern decor, unpretentious wine list and a menu that included wasabi cream, eggs with epoisse cheese, ham with parsley jelly and a cassis sauce, cassis sorbet with rose meringue and a caramel creme brûlée. Great value and very interesting menu.

After being frustrated by finding other restaurants closed or full on a Wednesday evening, we eventually found L'Essentiel through the Fork. When we arrived, there was only one couple in the place, so I felt a little anxious about what was to come. The waiter, however, immediately made us feel more relaxed. The food was very good and presentation excellent. The wine list was quite reasonable and we had a most enjoyable wine on the recommendation of the waiter. Overall, a good meal at a good price.

We found L 'essentiel just down the street from our hotel, away from the main crowded, downtown area. The host was most gracious, along with his one other wait person. We started with a crab cake type of entree (appetizer that was the highlight of the meal. It was different than any previous type. Home made mayonnaise was in the middle with the mini cakes surrounding it and topped with very thin slices of chioggia beet, carrot, and purple cauliflower. Then drops of a reduction (that tasted similar to balsamic and honey. Bravo! Our Petit Salade had one of the best vinaigrette dressings I 've had in a while. Then we shared Boeuf Bourguignon (rich, amazing flavors and aiguillettes de canard (th...