Colette OTR • Mostly French Restaurant by Chef Danny Combs — Restaurant in Cincinnati

Colette provided the perfect backdrop for a double birthday celebration, exceeding all expectations from start to finish. Despite our last-minute plans, they graciously accommodated our party and even seated us at a special table near the kitchen—offering a front-row view of the culinary artistry at work.

Our server, Felix, was exceptional—knowledgeable, attentive, and clearly passionate about the menu. His guidance made navigating the French-inspired offerings a pleasure.

The Meal We began with the bread service, a simple yet delightful start that encouraged sharing and set the tone for a communal dining experience.

For appetizers, we chose the Vol-au-Vent from the Tableau section of the menu, which was beautifully crafted. While we initially passed on the Brandade de Morue due to one guest’s aversion to fish, a playful moment arose when the kitchen overheard us passionately discussing it. To our surprise, they sent out the dish as a treat—it was a generous and thoughtful gesture that reflected the restaurant’s commitment to hospitality.

The Roasted Beet Salad was a refreshing interlude, vibrant and flavorful.

For mains, we indulged in the Raviole du Dauphiné, with its delicate pasta and creamy filling, and the Duck Confit, a rich and perfectly executed classic. Both dishes were standout favorites around the table.

But the pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the Côte de Boeuf. This stunning centerpiece was a showstopper—succulent, expertly cooked, and served with impeccable accompaniments. It was the perfect way to crown an already incredible meal.

The Drinks The wine selection at Colette is phenomenal. We opted for a Bordeaux and a Burgundy. While I usually favor Burgundy, the Bordeaux stole the spotlight and became the table’s clear favorite.

Additionally, the Espresso Martinis come highly recommended. The perfect blend of smooth coffee and indulgent sweetness made it an excellent choice to end the meal on a high note.

The Verdict Colette offers not just a meal, but an experience. The combination of exceptional service, masterful cuisine, and thoughtful touches made our celebration truly unforgettable. Whether you’re a fan of French cuisine or simply looking for a memorable dining experience, Colette is...

We were so thrilled to hear that Danny Combs was taking over the former Zula spot. We love the changes he made by adding warm colors and comfortable booths. We reserved high top seating at 7:15pm on a Thursday night, but both spaces were still occupied when we arrived, so we were happy to sit at the bar.

Our bartender Aaron was so personable and did a great job taking care of us all night. He graciously offered another wine when my wife didn't care for the one she chose initially. I drank a couple of glasses of the Chenin Blanc, which Aaron said was chosen because it pairs well with most of the dishes. He was spot on with that recommendation.

We read the menu a few times before we had dinner and had a pretty good idea of what we wanted to order. Plus, we have a friend in the business that told us what not to miss. Here are our thoughts:

The Bread Service - is a Vol-au-vent. It is a round croissant-like roll that is savory, salty, buttery, and the best bread we have ever had in our lives! They are made by Sebastian Bakehouse exclusively for Colette. Fabulous.

Whipped Salt Cod - we have never had anything like this and it was one of the best dishes ever! Think mashed potatoes covered in a light fresh whipped cod and salty trout roe. Go chef Danny...this is genius!

Carrot Salad - very well balanced with lovely crunchy toasted hazelnuts and a lovely cider vinaigrette. Would order over and over.

Endive and Radicchio Salad - if you like bitter and bitter and the punch of blue cheese, this salad is for you. We thought it was a little too much.

Raviole du Dauphine - very good, but very, very, very, rich.

Cod Brioche - this is perhaps one of the best cod dishes in the city. The crust of brioche with the sauce and the greens....OMG.

Colette Burger - oh, whoever salted this....Whoa! Even the fries were too salty. We took half home for the next day and still couldn't finish it due to the salt. Aaron offered to remove it from our check, but we declined. He said he would tell the kitchen.

Dessert - Mille Feuille - Puff pastry with cream balls and a lovely cherry sauce. It was okay, but we actually thought it could be sweeter.

We cannot wait to go back and eat the rest of the menu. Great space, great staff, great...

I am a francophile with an MA in French Literature. French is my passion! I was so hoping Colette would be somewhere that we could go regularly and be greeted by name and enjoy my passion right next door! Unfortunately, it did not live up to my hopes. However, it is such a new place that i hope my words will be taken to heart so what could be a great place still can be. First the hostess tried so hard to be professional that she was cold and nearly rude. I said hello we have a reservation. She looked at her computer never welcoming us in, or smiling. She just grabbed a couple menus and took us to our seats-nice, not. Kat our server was sweet. (But could use some simple tips on pronunciation, like maison - i live next door. I could help with that.)

When told that the dishes were shareable we opted not to get an appetizer. I wish we had as we left hungry. The two dishes we got raviole and cavitelle. My raviole was served on a plate of grease not a fabulous French sauce but just butter (grease). It was ok but i could have eaten four or five of them; no extra butter would have been necessary. The Cavitelle was bland just some pasta and shredded lamb. Sigh The salads were ok but not big on flavor. We opted not to get dessert because they weren’t tempting and we didn’t want to just order it to be polite! Our bill came to $143 before tip! We also left hungry. Oh oh and the food delivery prrson mumbled our meal names and left with no - enjoy or does everything look delicious, your server will be over to be sure everything is excellent- nothing. Well, i am saying all this to help the owners do better. Id hate to see you close but i certainly won’t be back considering we spent nearly a months worth of groceries on a half a mediocre meal. Lower your prices, up the flavor, and help your food server and hostess develop some people skills. Kat was the highlight of the meal. Never did see a manager or a chef. In a new establishment that was a bit surprising.

The menu - meh - nothing special. The taste meh - nothing special. For the price, we should have left saying wow! We left feeling ripped off and...