Chez Michel Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Clearview

Location: On Main St. in Creemore, towards the end of the “downtown” core.

Entrance: When entering it’s very small but there’s a dining area on the right, and a very small dining area (three tables) on the left. The entrance setup is a great way of keeping a breeze from hitting dining room patrons.

Dining area: We had the restaurant to ourselves for the first half hour, which was great, nice and quiet. The atmosphere was very pleasant and plenty of room, not crowded feeling, even after more patrons arrived.

Washroom: Men’s: didn’t use. Women’s: One person only, clean standard washroom.

Food: Warm bread and the butter was spreadable and not hard so it didn’t rip the bread, always great when a restaurant has common sense. We ordered the three course Prix Fixe (fixed price).

My husband started with the chicken pate with cucumber, tomato, a few black olives and gerkin pickles. It was not only plentiful, but very flavorful as well. I started with a stock based carrot and butternut squash soup which was great because I have a dairy intolerance. The soup was very rich and again, quite flavorful.

For his main my husband had the steak frites; a seven ounce striploin (MR) with fries, all cooked to perfection. Funny though, it wasn’t his steak he was amazed with, it was the frites. We've eaten a lot of fries in our lives and these were by far the best we’ve ever had. They weren’t greasy or heavy, they were cut thin, but not too thin. I’d eat here again just for the frites. My main was the Cassoule – white beans, duck confit, sausage, all in a tomato sauce. It was really good and quite filling.

Lastly, for desert, I went with the apple crumble (served with ice cream but I went without). It was warmed up prior to being served and it was amazing! My husband went with the crème brulee which was honestly, a typical crème brulee, nothing fancy.

Staff: We had two servers. Our first server knew the menu inside and out. Both made sure that our water and wine glasses were always full. I said to my husband prior to dinner that this is the kind of place that the Chef will probably come out and ask how everything was, and sure enough, he did, a nice touch. Very nice.

Overall: An outstanding dinner off the beaten path. I think the only downside is that it’s off the beaten path, however, Creemore is a nice little town to spend the late afternoon and finish off with dinner in town.

I would...

Let me start by saying that I am a Restaurant Industry Professional with over 30 years experience in serving & managing and still active working in a high-end steakhouse in Toronto. We have been in the area for almost 2 years now and have wanted to give this cute looking place a try. Also knowing the past history - we thought we couldn't go wrong. The establishment is clean and nicely laid out - a little dated with the decor. We were seated water dropped at the table at the same time - not even poured for us - or given the chance to purchase bottled water. Our server Bria - brought our cocktails and we asked about Features. She rhymed off a few features - and took our appetizer order - escargot (which was okay - not enough garlic butter and too much cheese). We then heard another server give another table a more detailed features which included items she never mentioned. We ordered wine - and our entrees - Steak & Frites and the Rack of Lamb feature. Once the entrees were delivered - didn't impress at all. My lamb was overcooked and the presentation looked like it was just thrown on the plate with no care. I didn't understand the jus at the bottom of the bowl - - 2 potatoes cut in have and a few chucks of carrots - not what I expected. My husband steak was also just okay - fries were not hot. In all the time we eat we never saw our server - no table check at all - she did not clear the empty cocktail glassware or offer more bread. Did not top up our wine at all. We took our dessert to go - cheesecake - a small piece just put in a takeout container - not a single berry or coulis - $14.00. Now to our total shock - the bill - THE RACK OF LAMB WAS $75.00 and FOR 6 ESCARGOT - $25.00. I have had lamb & escargot in many, many places and to me these were very grossly overpriced items. Perhaps instead of listing your desserts on the board - you could put down your features with pricing just to give guests the option. In saying this - I will share this experience with all my friends who are in the business and love supporting local establishment to be wary of your place. This truly put a damper on our experience as we were looking forward to returning but now is not the case. TIPS: More attention to detail - when dealing with mature clients - you are in the...

On a recent trip through Ontario, we had the pleasure of discovering Chez Michel, a well-established and charming French restaurant in the heart of Creemore. From the moment we stepped inside, the cozy, authentic French atmosphere promised a delightful culinary experience.

We began our meal with a couple of classic appetizers. The Brie appetizer was a generous and satisfying portion for two, served with berries and olives. While its sweet and sour profile was enjoyable, we found ourselves wishing for more distinctive, seasonal flavours to truly make it pop. 8/10

The French onion soup was a true highlight—it was rich and deeply flavourful, with a savory depth that was incredibly comforting. My only minor wish was for a slightly more generous layer of melted cheese. 9/10

The main courses, however, were absolutely outstanding. The steak frites was cooked to perfection, with a tender texture and a delicious smoky flavour that permeated the well-seasoned meat. The peppercorn cream sauce was exquisite, and the real magic happened when the crispy frites soaked it all up. 10/10

The mushroom Bourguignon was equally impressive and unique. Made with a medley of different mushrooms, it had an incredibly earthy flavour that was reminiscent of walking into a forest after a rain, with subtle notes of pine. It was a truly inventive and memorable dish, perfectly complemented by the expertly prepared garlic mashed potatoes. 9/10

As for dessert, we chose the chocolate cake and found it to be a bit of a departure from the high quality of the main courses, as it tasted mass-produced. We left wishing we had ordered the crème brûlée instead. 6/10

The service was cordial, but we felt there were some small details that could have enhanced the experience. Our side plates were not cleared away, and during a neighboring table's order, our server had their back to us. While these are not major issues, it's the little things that can truly elevate a good dining experience to a great one.

Despite these minor points, our overall visit to Chez Michel was excellent. The quality and inventiveness of the food, especially the main courses, made for a truly memorable meal. We would absolutely keep this spot on our list and look forward to revisiting it on...