37 King William St, Hamilton, ON L8R 1A1, Canada
French bistro fare served in fashionable digs with a marble-topped bar, open kitchen & patio seats.
Best place in Hamilton. Small menu, quality food and beautifully people. Service had always been spot on and the vibe is fancy, it’s a feel good place. See you there :)
A very nice bristo with great service and delicious food. The server was attentive, fast, and the food was good. It was quite busy and the atmosphere was very sophisticated… definitely would come here again if the funds allow it. The price is quite expensive, but I guess that’s as expected with the quality of the service and food………..
We just dined here and we LOVED IT!! The restaurant is adorable, the staff was very friendly and welcoming. We had the pleasure of being looked after by Vanessa, and she was fantastic!! We ordered the French burger, the lamb (special tonight) and the venison tartar, a glass of wine, Spanish coffee, and I was so pleasently surprised by the bill. I was expecting it to be much higher(please don't raise the prices after this LOL) but honestly the food was fresh, beautifully presented and came out in excellent time. Not too fast. Not too long of a wait. Compliments to the kitchen staff, you are all top notch and I think everyone should visit this place. ❤️ 10/10 for me!
Cute French Bistro. The salad was spectacular and perfectly dressed. Had brunch & tried the decadent and delicious Croque Madame. Unctious, creamy, rich and filling. The ham was really nice. Partner had the crab cake Benny and the textured was perfect combination of crunchy and soft. Definitely will head back & try dinner. A great place if you have a craving for French Bistro style food. Lovely décor and very personable service.
Professional and efficient service. The server was friendly and knowledgeable about their products. The atmosphere was great and well put together. The food was unique and very delicious - everything was perfect! They were out of creme brulee for the evening which was slightly okay - will be back !
stopped into this place as i work close by to treat myself after a long week. greg was behind the bar and was an absolute joy! the steak frites was a 10/10. simple yet so effective. found the price extremely reasonable for the portion ($34 for steak frites and $15 for a glass of wine). steak was cooked perfectly. cant recommend this place enough!
This was my third or fourth time at The French. Every time I am here, the service is professional and the food is consistently good. The ambience is cozy both inside and on the patio. The patio is first come first served, and surprisingly I have never had trouble getting a seat there, despite this being a pretty popular restaurant. Being a vegetarian, there are not a ton of options for me on the menu, but the options that do exist are very good! There is a truffle gnocchi and a zucchini boat with quinoa (see photo). The portion-size is sufficient, flavor combos are top notch. I am always there with meat-eaters who seem to love the steak frites (note that you can swap the frites for a salad if you wish; see photo). The French also makes really nice cocktails and has a decent wine list. I agree with other reviewers that the prices are a bit steep, but they are on par with other downtown Hamilton restaurants.
Delicious brunch after a Bruce Trail hike by Sherman and Canterbury Falls. Mimosa, Cesar’s, French Toast and Turkey BLT were all excellent. Enjoyed a shaded spot on the patio. Service was on point, not rushed and enjoyed our experience.
My wife and I have been coming here for dinner since 2020. It has always been one of our favorite spots in Hamilton. However, we were disappointed with the food during our visit last year, and unfortunately, last night s experience was no better. The escargot tart was runny and lacked flavor, tasting mostly of the crust. The pasta served with the scallops was subpar, and the most disappointing item was the $70 tenderloin, which was surprisingly tasteless quite a letdown for such a premium cut of meat. After years of enjoying this restaurant, it s sad to say that we don t think we ll be returning.
Outstanding.
Food tastes very good but a bit salty. Service is good and good vibe over there
The service was great, the cocktails were good, but the overall meal was just okay.
Delicious, well prepared and chock full o the nutrients necessary to sustain life. Would devour again. Dietary restrictions: Strict carnivour, had no issue with dietary options.
Spent a great evening out with a liar.
In town on business. Colleague and I walked in on a whim. Fantastic food. Great Syrah. And overall good atmosphere. Maybe I was just tired after a long business day cos my only complaint was it was a little loud. Not crazy loud. Just seems you can t find a quiet restaurant anywhere these days. Don t let this disuade you. I will go back next time in Hamilton for sure!!
Loved it. It felt like I was in Europe, definitely coming back. Amazing breakfast. We were the last ones to leave and they didnt say a thing
Delightful modern/French/fusion restaurant with fresh takes on classic dishes and one of the better wine lists on King William. Friendly staff and not at all pretentious. Loved the seafood tower.
Food was some of the best Ive had in the city. My wife savoured every bite. The atmosphere was nice, clean and the service was above excellent. Pricey, but that is expected for this kind of place. Its nice to treat yourself sometimes.
I was traveling alone and had checked out restaurants for dinner in Hamilton ahead of time. The atmosphere at The French was very attractive and inviting. The staff to a person was so pleasant and helpful. And the food, oh the food, was amazing and creative.
Loved it
I ordered the lamb. It was one of the best meals Ive had in a long time. My wife ordered the steak and it was nothing to write home about. Just a basic steak and fries. Fairly expensive, decent service. But get the lamb!
We were disappointed on a few levels - there was nothing French about this place & shocked considering the prices, the tables did not have linens, servers dressed in jeans, no follow-up on the meal, my hubby requested pepper of which was not brought. Serving scallops with ravioli was totally unappealing - s/b fettucine/linquine + scallops were tough.The duck confit was burnt. My duck breast was good & my hubby had lamb, OK, - we celebrated our wedding & wont return again. James & Ann Joyce The response we got was as follows: Hi James, thank you for the feedback - were sorry to hear that your experience didnt meet expectations. We pride ourselves on providing an upscale and approachable environment with quality at the heart. In this case it seems like we missed the mark and do hope you provide us an opportunity to welcome you in and exceed expectations. We received your response on August 14th and have tried to respond again, but we can not. Anyway, my response to your reply is as follows: Im sorry, but we have frequented the Aberdeen & Shakespeare and thought the same atmosphere would be duplicated here, the French is far from upscale. Thank you for your response, but how can we return as the first shot was way off - unless you provide us with a considerable discount? We received no response from them at all
Wonderful
Food was so great, I was amazed.
Exceptional service, our waitress was very attentive and kind. Food was delicious, although small portions.
Came for brunch and the food was fantastic! The tomato tartine was delicious and very fresh. Everyone else loved their food too. Would highly recommend this spot.
Took my husband for his birthday dinner and everything was amazing.
Amazing spot for drinks and or food!
Took my wife here for date night. First in a very long time. Victoria was our server and was incredible. Very knowledgeable and friendly and when I asked for an umbrella for my drink and it showed up we knew we were in for a great night. My wife had the scallops and I had the lamb, both cooked perfectly. And the sides to the meal were excellent as well. I think the best part was how even though it was higher end dining, no one took themselves too seriously and were just enjoying the evening. Honestly, for our first night out in forever, I can honestly say the staff and food made it worth it! 10 outta 5 stars. Seriously, ask for Victoria when you go!
Excellent food and service. We tried the duck confit, scallops and the foie gras. We would happily return.
Beautiful and elegant atmosphere, with great food, paired with wonderful and thoughtful service.
We had the salmon and the trout, and both were outstanding. Desserts were next level also. We dont live in Hamilton, otherwise wed be here all the time!
Ooolala! Oui - go for the french onion soup, split into 2 with your dinner date, try the Chardonnay from France, and the house salad. Still room? Go for the steak frites! Loved the terrace, and the french Parisian vibes.
Food was 10/10. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals; without a doubt high quality food. Took off one star because the service was only average. This can be very subjective I know, but I found the service to be a bit too casual and slow, given the price point, location and atmosphere. It was more what I would expect at a Jack Astors or Kelsey s, not this place.
This place is a gem. Great food. Incredible service and good vibe.
Fantastic food, cocktails, and service. Always enjoy the eclectic food pairings
Lovely brunch, such a nice space! My mom loved the Bananas Foster French Toast and she can be hard to please. I enjoyed my Croque Monsieur and we left full and happy!
One word - Victoria G She was an amazing server - the most non intrusive but very attentive server we have ever experienced. Because of her customer service and personality, she made our date night one of the best ever. If you go, ask for her! I promise you, you will not be disappointed
Great French fares. Nice shaded patio area, clean facility. Nice abiance. Mid-level pricing. Street parking.
Very unique experience!
Went here for brunch for a bachelorette party. Samantha took great care of us. We had the mimosa service which was great! Overall the food was amazing and the atmosphere was so great, that we came back for dinner as well. Vicktoria took great care of us during dinner and offered us some great recommendations. The duck breast was excellent!
Took my fiance here for date night and the food was fantastic! The sour dough bread tasted fresh and the duck breast was amazing and the portion size was large. The pricing was also fair, it didn t feel overpriced at all!
Excellent evening put! Food was delicious, great recommendations on wine from our server. Great atmosphere! Food : 5/5
Great food and service . Will definitely visit again
My French toast was delicious. The place looks very Parisian. My men enjoyed their eggs. Well come back.
Came here for brunch and it did not disappoint!
Absolutely superb! This French restaurant epitomizes class and elegance in every aspect. The cuisine is delectable, with every dish crafted to perfection. They are incredibly accommodating of allergies, ensuring every guest can enjoy their meal without worry. The quality of the environment, service, and meals is top-notch. I always look forward to dining here and cherish every visit!
The staff was great. We sat at the kitchen bar and had good conversations with the kitchen team. The food tasted amazing. We tried their limited edition package for $43. Well worth it for the quality of food.
Excellent steak!! And fantastic sourdough bread.
The food was delicious sitting on the terrasse people watching.
Great environment, good service, food and drinks were lack lust for the price point but still good.
Food was excellent, server was attentive, atmosphere was romantic, I will definitely return. Had the flat iron steak and it just melted in my mouth, my friend had the duck confit and said it was excellent.
The French is a favourite restaurant in downtown Hamilton and the reasons are simple: good food & friendly, professional service. Case in point I ordered this Cobb salad when I was in for a business lunch and it was excellent. I highly recommend this venue!
It was good, but a little too expensive which is why i rate it 4 stars. Small portions.
Amazing delicious food, terrace was nice. Would definitely return.
Delicious, but for what price? Everything we ordered for brunch was very tasty. The eggs Benedict s were cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce was paired perfectly. Atmosphere is clean and very much in theme. Though I do have to say the prices are quite steep especially for breakfast. It is also odd how the Benedict doesn t come with any side, it is just the small English muffin and nothing else. Although, you can order sides separately it just doesn t feel right to add on to an already high price. Nonetheless the food is good and you pay for quality!
Not sure what happened to the French. We always go for the fantastic eggs Benedict, which is still spot on, but we were disappointed in how that dish has changed. No more crispy pancetta or side included. The presentation was sorely lacking for what we expect from The French - two eggs Benny on a small plate, no garnish, nothing. Any salad or potatoes are now an added side expense for $7 or $10 respectively. I d rather they increase the price and keep the quality. Still a beautiful spot with great service, though.
Lovely experience at The French. Everyone we encountered were lovely and accommodating. We decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary here and would definitely do it again! Quite enjoyed the squash fritters.
The food was so good.
First time visiting the french! We went here for a casual anniversary dinner and were not disappointed! Our server Kate was great, she checked on us a few times and we felt well taken care of. One gesture I loved was that they automatically split our salad appetizer in half on two plates! Very convenient. The house salad was amazing! Soooo was the crème brûlée! We ordered the dinner special which was a Halibut dish. The dish was very oily, and some kind of oil was flowing around the dish. I don t think the dish was worth its $45 price. The fish was well cooked, but the portion was small. Steak was awesome. The atmosphere was also romantic. Overall, would recommend.
Victoria was amazing , leading us through the menu , the food is outstanding, price is on point.
Visiting our son and his fiancée for the weekend we decided to go out for dinner. Our son recommended this Bistro style restaurant and gladly to say we were not disappointed! My choice was the trout amandine which came with green beans and little potatoes.It was mouthwatering and exquisite. .The other dishes ordered were canard confit and flatiron steak. Positive comments from my husband and son. Great service and lovely decor.I highly recommend it!
We travelled 2 hours to eat dinner here. Destination choice. Us and our friends (4 top) The dining room was busy, loud and full of laughter. The Kitchen was on a lull when we sat down for our 7 pm table, as we had a front row seat to see what they are up to. What they are up to is a LOT. As is the whole restaurant. Great greeting at the door, good well timed and solid service by the whole team, table visit from the Manager to say hello and chat for a minute. Very well made drinks, good wine selection by the glass, big tables, nice big chairs. Details. They have these covered. As the second rush hit, and the Kitchen crew was heading into what I know was the second stretch of service in a 10+ hour day, they did not let up. All of the parts of the dishes we ordered had their full attention. The salad, venison carpaccio and squash fritters were delicious, proportional and looked fantastic. The frites on the burger and flat iron steak (both cooked as ordered, delicious and served hot) were crisp and seasoned. The gnocchi was so good my wife purposefully did not finish so she could take some home to have the next day and my duck leg had crispy skin, soft delicious meat and slightly textured cabbage, with potatoes, proper lardons and a balance of tart mustard. There was dessert too after all of that great food, a smooth and full-of-real-vanilla-bean brulee and a light lemon tart. Espresso martinis after the meal instead of coffee. I am a full blown celiac diner who understands that there will be dishes that I just cannot have and yet I had numerous menu choices as well as un-requested thoughtful additions provided (gluten free crackers for my carpaccio) This is a restaurant business that you can go to knowing that all of the people that are here are working to put out the very best over-all experience they can, and have been doing so for the past several years. In a changing time of eating out and deciding where to go and what to get, my wife put it perfectly - Go somewhere that can exceed your expectations The French does just that.
Went there with friends and we all were surprised (in a good way) about the place. High level up scale restaurant. The environment and food are amazing. Very convenient for a conversation. Service was excellent and with attention to details. Very impressed. Next time visiting friends in Canada, will have to be back there.
What a great find in Hamilton! A friend told us about it and it was fantastic. The food was delicious, carefully prepared, a variety of flavours that went so well, a very knowledgeable server on Maddie (hope I got her name right). Overall, a 6 stars out 5. We will definitely return when we are in Hamilton in June for our sons graduation. This restaurant is worth it.
The waiter and chef are sooo friendly and thoughtful. The food is always delicious.
Great spot for a meal any time of day! The French has become one of our favourite brunch spots in town, the bennys are a highlight. Recently stopped by for dinner and had the same great quality experience. Every server we have had has been so friendly, quick and informative (and very helpful when it comes to deciding between options)
If you want the most delicious steak and all around nicely lit and pleasant ambience go to the French. But I must say my birthday experience wasn t the greatest will start with the server. She didn t greet us the greatest didn t offer us water while looking at menu. I started with a order of wine, mind you my wife is Italian and I can also speak it so the Italian wine I ordered I m familiar with it so as I m ordering it and I tell her the wine she felt the need to try and correct me on the pronunciation of the wine very rudely saying in a weird tone you mean(insert wine)lol which she was incorrect OK, I shrug it off because it s my birthday. She comes back to the table with the wine and then pronounced it the way I said it.Do I feel vindicated sure still say nothing, that was good enough for me even though she was very rude about it even after knowing she said it wrong and tried to correct me. Now we order our steaks 45 min go by she not coming to our table to say anything or let us know what s going on. 10 more min pass we get our steaks and the fries are hot little burnt I ll add pictures, but the steak is literally cold. Keep in mind if it wasn t for these steaks being the most tasty well seasoned and cooked steaks around I would be upset and want it to be redone but it s my birthday and we are super hungry at this point nothing was offered no apology nothing. I love the French this speaks to the quality of steak because anywhere else I would ve had a problem but the steaks are just too good. The dessert was great strawberry sorbet w/ chocolate type mousse cake was the best paired dessert I ve had in forever. I m literally the best tipper that server would ve got 50 dollar tip from me if she was in the slightest a bit more pleasant than she was still gave her half of that wanted to tip her next to nothing that s how bad the experience was, but I know how hard servers work being that my wife was one for 15 years.
Lovely French Brunch. The French epitomizes the French bistro. Polished service with excellent food. I had the Croque Madame it was fantastic. My fellow diners had the breakfast sandwich and the Quiche; everyones food and experience was excellent. We will definitely be going back to try diner and are looking forward to it.
Victoria was amazing. Such a kind soul and made us feel super comfortable. Also great food suggestions. Thank you Victoria!
This may just be the most deliciously decadent french toast Ive ever consumed! An absolutely perfect brunch spot. The space feels intimate with all the charm of a french bistro with well-appointed industrial elements. Staff was lovely... Ill definitely make a point to return when in Hamilton and recommend to others.
Managed to get a table for two on a Saturday night without a reservation thanks to a lucky cancellation. Comfortable seating, good ambiance, staff was very friendly and accommodating. We started with the sourdough with housemade butter, the bread was warm and salty and the butter was delicious. For my main I ordered the butternut squash fondant which Ive had before there, hearty with nice sweetness from the golden raisins and umami from the brussel sprouts. My partner had the steak frites, it was cooked to perfect temp, nice sear and the frites were great. Would recommend!
Sunday Brunch Was visiting the Hamilton area and decided to stop into The French, it did not disappoint! The pictures and reviews online painted the perfect picture of what to expect; a beautiful downtown building, a cool-modern rustic vibe inside and flavour filled menu + friendly and attentive staff ! Not pictured was the scone we had to start, the perfect savoury treat - a sun-dried tomato and cheddar (I believe) with house made butter delicious! For mains, we had the duck confit waffles which had an excellent balance of sweet and savoury (the blueberries were so fresh) & the breakfast sandwich of the day with sausage. Both dishes were excellent but the worst part - and best - was being teased by all of the other dishes going by that looked phenomenal guess we have to come back.
I was in Hamilton for a work conference. My boyfriend wanted to treat me to a fancy meal and we chose The French. So glad we did. Being from a small rural town fancy French dining isnt something we are use to. We sat at the chefs rail and had such a great time watching them cook meals right in front of us. The waitress explained any menu items we were unsure without judging. When he saw us watching meals being made so intently the chef chatted with us about what we were thinking of ordering. I went with the feature (scallops and ravioli in an amazing sauce) and my boyfriend went with the steak (baseball cut). We started with the sourdough bread which the chef personally served and explained to us (home made butter and foie Gras). Not only was the food amazing but watching that team work so well together always being polite to each other and moving around a small kitchen like a fine tuned machine with many moving parts! It takes more then lights and decor to set an atmosphere and the staff here has mastered it! We are so happy we decided to make an annual trip to Hamilton (2hrs) just to revisit The French! Thank you for an amazing night and amazing meal! Dietary restrictions: Waitress made sure to ask specifically if we had any restrictions and while sitting at the chefs rail heard them talking about how they picked all the onions out of the French onion soup for someone. Definitely put in all the efforts for people with restructions
We visited yesterday with another couple. I had the turkey club and a scone. It was amazing! Very friendly and attentive staff.
Wonderful spot to have great service and great food. The restaurant decor is beautiful, and its accompanied by an open kitchen concept. We had a great appetizer that had great presentation and a perfectly well done steak. To top it off, a wonderful delicious dessert. Well done The French
We had a great time at The French celebrating my friends birthday. The ambiance and decor is lovely. Our server Viktoria was attentive and knowledgeable, she went above and beyond to make our experience fantastic. My friend has the steak frites cooked to perfection and I had the Duck Confit. Both dishes were amazing, my duck was a little dry but didn t take away from the entire dish. Viktoria brought out a candle with the dessert which was very thoughtful and kind. We will definitely return, brunch is calling us!
A great experience. We went on our date night and were impressed with everything. High quality food and friendly service. We will definitely come back
Dietary restrictions: I am celiac and the trout was amazing! Food
My favourite brunch spot!
Good but definitely not great. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service is very good, but the food was nothing special. Didn t meet high expectations given the cost.
Had brunch today. Ordered the tostadas with salad. OMG! When is the last time youve had a meal where every single bite was delicious?!! Loved it! Cant wait to go back!
The gnocchi was DELICIOUS! Service is good and quick
Greg suggested the most amazing food, and was the most attentive server. Would love to come back and be served by Greg.
Ratatouille in real life!! Visited French restaurant with a mouse on a mission Next time, hoping for Ratatouille vibes without the live action! #MouseChef #PestControl
Simply love the food and service was way too good.
Delicious food. Excellent waitress BUT the mouse running around confidently at the end of our meal Unfortunately that was the first and last visit.
Great food and amazing service. Never disappoints going here always such amazing food.
Looking for a restaurant to catch up with friends? The French is a favourite of ours. We get together with great friends and enjoy a warm relaxed atmosphere savouring delicious meals and drinks. Staff has always been understanding of our delayed orders due to our conversations. Parking: Many parking lots close by.
the steak was terrible first and last time Food
Had a lovely evening dining with my Wife. Menu could be a little more descriptive but the customer service was amazing in meeting my wifes individual needs.
Thank you Sara for helping me navigate the menue. Customer care was on point!!! I would recommend anyone who wants real breakfast, The French is a place to be. Food
Sara was very warm, helpful and kind.And the food egg Benedict is a die for you just need to communicate how you need your eggs prepared and you will have the best brunch. The French is a place to go.
Service is incredible
Overall a good spot. Oysters and duck breast were outstanding. Service was O.K., could ve been better Lamb pasta had 0 flavour and lots of fatty bits. Overall good experience.
As always not to be disappointed with fabulous company and, had a great meal.
Food was delicious. Great service. Building is bursting with character. Love it!
I was here with my friend for NYE tasting menu. We both ordered one of each on the menu to try everything. The Hamachi crudo was amazing the foie grais is little off with the cocoa flavour that makes it bitter (although thats their purpose, I think it would be better without it) The rest are amazing, the portion is very big, I was surprised for the price Im paying. Definitely recommend it.
Sacré blue!!! The food here is absolutely incredible as is the selection of wines from France. Do yourself a favour and order the duck breast.. you will be blown away.
Delicious!
Very nice experience, a touch on the expensive side but worth it. Went as a business dinner and was not disappointed. The menu changes frequently (monthly, I believe) so be prepared for that.
Absolutely wonderful dining experience. Nailed the cook on the steak, fantastic service & atmosphere. We were greeted and seated immediately and upon seating were served water. Throughout the meal water was topped up frequently and we were checked on to make sure everything was to out liking. Top notch attentitive service. Had baked brie to start and it was delicious - great combination of flavours. Also had the duck confit which had good skin and vegetables. Lastly, had the steak on which the cook was perfectly medium rare. Everything was seasoned to perfection and the flavours of all dishes we had were delicious. Great job chefs! Indoor atmosphere felt cozy and warm with good spacing between tables. Overall, superb dining experience!
The French is a lovely mid-upscale french style Bistro with a fantastic menu located on one of Hamiltons best strip of restaurants. Service: My partner and I were seated in the dining area which was host to a few large parties. It was quite loud and upon request the host was able to move us to a quieter section. The server was attentive but not constantly breathing down our necks. Plates were cleared promptly and utensils replaced as plated were finished if more was coming. Drinks came quick, food came expectedly somewhat slow; The time lag between ordering food and it coming to the table was the one and only minor complaint I would have, but I would be surprised if it was quicker as it was a dinner service on the weekend when we went. Food: We ordered the baked brie (21$) as an app which was fantastic. Delicately wrapped in phyllo pastry and baked to a point where it was both gooey but held its structure. It came with a lovely peach bourbon preserve which complimented the dish quite well. The crisp baguette slices were nicely salted in contrast to the Bries full flavour. I had the grilled zucchini (22$) main which was cooked perfectly and accompanied by some fried chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, fried panissa, and a harissa spread. It worked very well together and was fantastically spiced. The panissa was light and fluffy but still full of flavour. My partner ordered the Flat iron steak frites (30$). He ordered it medium rare and thats just how it came. The flavour of the meat was able to shine through the chimichurri sauce delicately smothered on top. Accompanied by a mountain of fries, it was both a delicious and filling plate. Atmosphere: Very cute inside. Depending on where you sit the interior features a few different vibes. We had opted for a quieter more romantic space near the back. The decor is classic with an updated and refreshing feel to it. Overall: A great experience. Highly recommend this spot for all three factors of food, service, and atmosphere.
The thing about The French is it s absolutely consistent. If you were to rate Hamilton restaurants on overall consistency of food, service and atmosphere, The French would come out on top every time. Don t miss out on their fantastic brunch, and Natalie is their top-tier server, hope you get into her section! Parking: Ya got options!
Had the French Onion burger. Was quite dissatisfied. Overall, a decent location and experience - was likely just not to my taste.
I was looking forward to enjoy a classic French bistro meal, so based on the menu,I decided the French would be the best choice. My wife ordered the pickerel and I had the steak tartare and steak frites. The steak tartare was good and the pickerel was good ; where it disappointed was, the steak frites, the pepper sauce was cold and watery upon arriving and my steak was overcooked. I asked the waitress if the sauce was a cream sauce and she said that it was. I have eaten steak au pointe a la crème all over France and that sauce wasn t even close , it s not hard to do crushed pepper corn deglaze with cognac demi and cream. The fries were frozen and overcooked, and stuck together; all by all, a disappointment,. The menu was basic classic French food and really not that hard to execute for a trained chef. The dessert, again, was a disappointment, was too heavy, overly sweet and the expresso mousse lacked flavour and was not developed as a mousse should be.
We re in town for a Shania Twain concert and took a chance on the best dining experience I have ever had. Delaney was our waitress. We were sat within two minutes of walking in, our appetizer was brought out in 5 minutes and our mains not even 10 minutes later. The quality of the food was exceptional, and they ensured we got out of here in time for the concert. The atmosphere was set with Shania music playing on the speaker and happy people at every table. It was hands down the best service I have ever had at a restaurant. Will definitely be back! You won t regret making a trip here if you re in the Hamilton area make sure you ask for Delaney!
The French did not disappoint! The service was amazing but the food! Omg. One of the best French onion soups I have ever had. My husband started with the smoked salmon and it was incredible as well. I would also highly recommend the reuben sandwich. And the crunchy potatoes were also delicious. I cant say enough good things about this restaurant. We will definitely be back soon!
We had a wonderful meal. The staff was wonderful and the food was excellent. We took our time enjoying the meal and didnt feel rushed. Food came out perfectly timed. Would definitely be returning.
Excellent restaurant and patio with a French flair. Located in downtown Hamilton near Jackson Square. Busy construction zone nowadays but worth checking out. The smoked meat sandwich was very good and the beer on tap very tasty.
You gotta try this place if you re in mood of good ambience. The food was nice with decent servings. You gotta try their beef tartars. They source halal beef too but you may reconfirm before reservation.
We tried the taste of summer menu which was really well priced for a 3 course meal. We enjoyed everything and the mocktails were also great! My husband cant drink so we always appreciate a place with non alcoholic options
Fabulous food
Tried their summer eats brunch menu! Great service in being seated, placing our order and getting our food/drinks. The egg to one of our dishes was a bit undercooked (for our liking) but the food was good otherwise! Ate inside due to construction outside.
My partner and I decided to go here for date night and there is nothing that could ve been better about our dining experience at The French. We tried their Summer Eats menu (basically like summerlicious) and we thoroughly enjoyed every plate! We absolutely loved the flavours in each dish and our entrees were cooked to perfection. Our server was super sweet and gave us an extra dessert for a misunderstanding (which really wasn t a big deal at all!). The ambiance is sophisticated and perfect to celebrate any special occasion. Overall, 10/10 would recommend! We look forward to coming back and trying their regular menu.
Everything about this gem of a place is magic. We tried the Summer Eats Price Fix menu and top to bottom every item was amazing. You could tell that a lot of pride is put into each and every part of their menu. The service was outstanding and had an overall really cool vibe. Fancy without being stuffy. Loved it.
Absolutely amazing! Best mix of flavours chosen to tease the pallet and leave you wanting more:) service and venue are stunning! So grateful for this combination of exquisite experience.
My partner and I recently had brunch at the French, and it was absolutely fantastic! From the outset, we were impressed with the atmosphere. The ambience is curated with a bespoke range of fine materials, including: exposed stone, hardwood floors, modern lighting and authentic French bistro chairs. The French does a remarkable job of transporting you to a warm summer day in Europe. To start, the coffee smelled amazing and was locally sourced. Next, the French onion soup was unparalleled and had an abundance of flavour, with notes of sourdough bread and garlic. Last, the eggs Benedict were incredibly satisfying and the crispy potatoes left a lasting impression. Irene and Thomas were our severs and truly made us feel welcome. If you are looking for an exceptional place for brunch in the GTHA, then the French is the right place. I am truly looking forward to coming back and sharing this space with friends and loved ones.
I love their steak and fries, But this time the steak and the fries were overly salted Food
Absolutely phenomenal meal. All of the elements on the plate were so well executed and delicious. The tenderloin was a splurge but everything about it was perfect. My partner got the braised duck which was excellent as well and the gnocchi just melted in your mouth. The cocktails were also amazing. The servers were super attentive. Nice to watch the open concept kitchen. Came for a special occasion and it did not disappoint.
Food was alright, the staff was snobby, plenty of better places to visit
The food was very seasonally appropriate and definitely flavour packed! Service was quick and the staff was friendly. Drinks were okay. We enjoyed our time. I would recommend trying them out!
Cute french restaurant in downtown Hamilton with tasty dishes
This is not only a stellar restaurant but is my most favorite. I recently celebrated my 61st birthday at The French and to my absolute surprise, a special 8 course menu with wine pairing plus being seated being at the Chefs Table was awesome. The food, service, ambiance and conversation with the Chef, Somoliier and Staff was entertaining and very enjoyable. I cannot stop gushing about this restaurant and would recommend that you reserve a memorable night out at The French.....you wont be disappointed.
Great place for dinner and we travel to this place from Oakville....
Everything here was delicious. Absolutely beautiful restaurant. Our server was very attentive and made our anniversary dinner special.
Great fresh food! The trout was very soft and buttery. The pasta sauce tasted delicious.
Beautiful place, excellent service, and very fair prices on the prix fixe brunch. Unfortunately the food is very bland and under seasoned. My foie gras pate was not flavourful (and none of the richness of foie gras); and my duck waffles were neither savoury nor sweet as promised. The duck confit is watery and bland. The table next to me had to request salt; I should have as well. To be honest, it was disappointing.
This place is a must-visit. Change whatever plans you have and go here for a beautiful night out or power lunch.
Great prices/value
Now, maybe I chose the wrong options, but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The main course (ricotta gnocchi) was good, but for the price I was left with a feeling of dissatisfaction. The appetizers however were to die for - I dont think Ive had a salad that good before, and the dessert was authentic and very enjoyable. The two young ladies serving my table were very kind and it was easy to see they were putting in effort to make the tables experience an enjoyable one. The location has some neat history, too. If youre not one to care for money or food too much and want an outing for a fun family experience, look no further.
We were a group of 6 looking for a good brunch spot after meeting up for a hike. Everything was fantastic. Our server was so lovely and attentive, with the brightest smile. I didnt get her name but we appreciated her so much. Food was perfect. Not one complaint. The Bennys were spot on, burgers mouth watering(and perfectly cooked ;)). The turkey club on a croissant was a hit. 10/10 we would and will return. Good job Frenchies!!!
The gnocchi is perfection!
Very good food, friendly and helpful waitresses. More original dishes than what you find in the rest of Canada.
Such a beautiful old meets new restaurant, in a historic downtown building. Smart floor plan, with exposed kitchen, which is always a nice feature. The food was excellent - perfectly seasoned dishes; grilled bread (liver pate); crispy homefries; fresh flavours (huevos Rancheros with lime crema, cilantro). My Aperol Spritz topped it off! Service was attentive, friendly, and excellent overall. Vegetarian options: Huevos Rancheros Tostada was deliciously constructed (not usually the direction I take for breakfast)!
Fine dining and excellent staff. We spent an hour eating some excellent dishes, what I would call being pampered and will be returning for a great time. Natalie was one of the best servers I have ever had!
The French has not once been a disappointment. Weve been here for brunch and dinner a few times. And every time has been consistently delicious inclusive of great service. In the summer, they have a lovely patio with hedges that makes you feel like you are in France. The decor and ambiance is tasteful... The menu has great value for the level of quality. Both in food and beverages. Highly recommend.
Excellent meal. We had a baked brie and my only comment would be that the strawberry or raspberry confiture was not the best choice, an apricot or other flavour might be better. The steak frites was cooked perfectly. The servers were friendly and checked in on us enough that we weren t waiting for anything we needed. I m definitely planning on returning. The price point was appropriate for the food and atmosphere.
Just had dinner there before going to a show. We had looked at several restaurants on the same street and thank goodness we chose this one. We decided to share smaller plates so that we could try more things. We had french onion soup - the best ever! So flavourful and pleasantly different from any FOS weve add elsewhere. We had the mushroom tart - if youre a mushroom fan please try this! And the piquenique meat and cheese board. All great choices. The atmosphere is very nice. The service though....spot on. Such nice, friendly, knowledgeable people. Shout out to Victoria who has to be my very favourite server in any restaurant ever!
What a beautiful place to enjoy such a fresh and well put together dish. I ordered the zucchini salad and it was light, crisp delicious! Excellent place to dine I bet. Great patio too! Thank you staff as I will be back
Came here because we heard nothing but great things. Service was wonderful and the food was even better. It was a packed house but never did the chef and his crew get overwhelmed. Ran like a great oiled machine. We got to meet the manager and She made a great recommendation to visit the Aberdeen Tavern for brunch.
We go here often for weekend brunch and special nights out. The food is already on point and the service is great. Dietary restrictions: They are very accommodating to and substitutions. Parking: Parking lot just to the west of the restaurant - 20 feet away.
Always a great dining experience at The French. Fine dining quality without the crazy prices and zero pretentiousness.
Went here for my sister in law s birthday dinner. One thing that ruined it for us was the horrible customer service. Our appetizers came out in 30 minutes and then an hour later for our main entree. We just had water and it never got refilled until we asked at the end. Food was too salty, burnt. We got the steak, trout, and 2 kinds of duck. It s honestly nothing special. I wouldn t recommend and would never come here again.
Honestly this is a nice restaurant and they have good food but any restaurant that supports and sells Foie Gras is so, so wrong. Look it up if you don t know about it, it is banned in several different countries.
Hands down the best gnocchi Ive ever had in town. It was amazingly soft and had a melt in your mouth texture with parsley, mushrooms, shallots and sharp cheese. We also loved the Frites(Fries) and aioli dip. The mushroom, french onion tart was really well made and had a rich flavour. To top all that its a cute and cozy ambiance and great service. Were definitely coming back! Vegetarian options: Lots of delicious vegetarian options!
Wonderful tastes. Salomon toast was amazing. Foie gras was very delicious with the sprinkle of sea salt on the top. The duck waffle with blueberries was very tasty . I myself found it a little dry. Needs some kind of sauce added. Blueberries were sweet and delicious. Waffle was a nice addition to put the duck on. Duck was tender. Our brunch was a success!!
Very good
Great service and delicious food!!
Taos Google Restaurant Reviews If youre looking for a nice indoor dining experience in hamilton, the French is right often. We have the autumn salad, steak frites, and the trout mains. The autumn salad was very good with a nice crunchy topping to it and started the meal off well. Their recommendations are the steak and trout which I thought tasted very good. Steak was not too salty and was quite tender at the medium rare level. Trout was great, Ive seen very good reviews of it and it reached expectations. It had a nice salted crispy skin texture which had great mouthfeel to it. Overall good recommendation for this place. Expect to spend 40-50 pp. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5. Staff very attentive. Atmosphere: 5/5. FINAL SCORE 5/5
No corking service? Dissapointing Long wait for food, even for bread for the table. Was there 3.5 hours for what should have been 2 hours. Had a 5 year old with us. She was very patient, but come on! Kids dont want to have to sit for that long just for fries and gnocchi
Kate the general manager, went above and beyond to rectify an error made with the dish, the hospitality The French delivers is beyond anything I experienced. Kates customer service and the chef shows how much they care about their customers. I highly recommend The French restaurant for their upscale cuisine and outstanding hospitality.
Only giving 3 stars because 15 dollars for a virgin sangria is preposterous everything else was great but when you can get a beer for 10 seems silly too me
Love this place! I try to go there whenever Im in Hamilton. Great food. Friendly staff. A great ambiance.
We went to the French for our Rehearsal Dinner, we were a group of 15. The Manager Kate was excellent & able to accommodate us as best as possible with the space they have. Although we had to sit a two separate tables, we were right next to eachother. Kate was very friendly, engaged with us, seem to get to know us personally. We had two different servers, which Kate explained to us, which was fine. Our table that we were at, we started off with a very friendly gentleman who was answering all of our questions, very prompt & great & then all of a sudden it got switched to a different server, who had a completely different attitude, she definitely wasnt as friendly didnt seem like she wanted to be there, very short with her responses, barely smiled or made eye contact. The food was fantastic, no complaint about the food at all, everyone enjoyed everything, it was delicious. Just not the service you really want when you are celebrating one of the happiest times with your loved ones. I wish they had not changes our server & we had our original the whole time. The lady serving the other table was great as well, mo complaint there. At the end of the night, I wanted a group photo for our memories & I asked our server if she could take a photo for us, when I tell you the look that she gave me & even rolled her eyes & said sure, I almost said nevermind, thats how off put I was. Not what I expected after reading all of the wonderful reviews & meeting the manager, I had high expectations. Another reason for the 3 stars is my niece ordered Virgin Sangria (No Alcohol) & when we got the bills it came to $15 for a VIRGIN Sangria, we questioned our waitress as to why it was the same price as an alcoholic Sangria & she said yep, thats right and then said we use a special sparkling wine, thats why its expensive. Even if this is the case & a sparkling wine is used, there is no reason it should be costing the same as an alcoholic Sangria, it cost more than my cocktails & the beers others order. Thats unreasonable if you ask me. I would still recommend The French for those looking for a great meal, I hope our server was just having a bad day. It unfortunate, that this is what I will remember from the evening, but the food was phenomenal, and Im sure if we go back to Hamilton we will try The French again. Thank you Kate for your hospitality.
A real gem. Food, service and ambiance were all top notch. Will go again!
I enjoyed the restaurant very much. The food was delicious but expensive.
Diner for 2 on a Wednesday night. Oysters were fresh and beef bourguignon delicious. Finished with a sea buckthorn tart. A great night.
i regularly go there for my business lunch and also with my wife, very good service and food 5 stars from me
I had a great time at The French. The servers were very attentive and made sure that we were comfortable. We tried their summer eatery prix fixe menu and loved every dish that was served. I had the short rib pasta and good god it was delicious. Have it with their sourdough bread if its too creamy for your taste.
The ambiance is really nice, and food was really good.
Popped in for a spur of the moment date night and am extremely happy that we chose The French. My butternut squash dish was great and filled me up, the gnocchi my partner got was addictive. The lemon tart and wine were excellent too! Definitely felt like we got our moneys worth.
OMG! I dont have words to describe my experience at The French! I went there today for lunch but did not realize that they were serving brunch, they were so awesome to accomodate us and served amazing steak frites and a burger for my son. I cant thank you guys enough for the food and the welcoming service. Wellll definitely come back again. You guys rock!
Truly exceptional food - one of the best meals Ive had in the GTA. Every part of our meal from appetizers to the mains to the dessert was so flavorful, cooked perfectly and even split so perfectly as we decided to share a few items. The baked brie wrapped in phyllo and the gnocchi were standouts and Im still thinking about how good it was! Highly recommend this spot for a great meal - well worth the price.
I was very excited to try this place as it had amazing reviews. I d order the onion soup and I d almost spit it out on the first sip. It was extremely salty, felt like a concentrated soup that was boiled down too long. There was no taste except extreme saltiness. It was very weird. Try to finish less than half then asked the server to take it away because I found it almost inedible. Asked some of my friends to taste it just in case my taste bud was weird that day but all agreed. Told the server about it so hopefully she can take the feedback to the chef. Maybe the soup was just having a bad day. Then I d ordered the steak and frites and my friends ordered the duck confit. Both dishes were good. Ordered the Foie Gras which I personally did not eat but friends said it was mediocre. The atmosphere was nice and the server was attentive.
Loved it! Went for lunch and look forward to a dinner experience
Wonderful food, helpful and knowledgeable staff. Made for a great evening.
Had a lovely meal here. Great, friendly service.
What a shame that the food is very good, and bad service from the waiters ruins everything. It is not a restaurant to enjoy wines even though they display them very well in front of the restrooms.
Really great experience here. The food was wonderful and the service was even better. My friend was quite familiar with the restaurant, so she offered some insight on what she thought I may enjoy - but did mention that everything is excellent Food
This was our first time here and I have to say the food, atmosphere and service were great. We had the steak, cod, and trout dishes as well as appetizers and they were all delicious. I only removed a star because we waited a really long time after our appetizers for dinner to come out but otherwise it was worth the wait. We had a great time.