l'escale restaurant — Restaurant in Greenwich

The ambiance was delightful. The fire across the dining room was raging beautifully. The service didn't match the ambiance. It seemed out of sync and at times had to keep looking for the waiter whom seemed incapable of cracking a smile. I ordered off the menu a combo of two dishes, filet au poivre. It was grilled and served naked with the sauce on the side. I had not ordered that way because it defeats the purpose of the dish. My medium rare steak was actually barely rare. I ordered Hennessey Paradis and asked for the espresso to follow. They came back to my take twice to confirm my order as though they felt I could not afford it which was disappointing. I was treating myself as it had been a dozen years since I last ordered it. They also brought the espresso prior to the after dinner drink instead of after it. The dessert was the best part of the experience which frankly kept this review up to three stars. The Churros were the best we ever had however we had to wait for more sauce because they don't serve nearly enough. The Dame Blanche was excellent but could have had slightly more brownie. The Cappuccino was absolutely the best I ever had. We shall return. We actually spoke about bringing our seven year old daughter because we thought she would feel like a princess and love the ambiance on a winter day or night with the fire raging! Went again 2/16/2019 - from 3 stars to 2. Got seated 50 minutes late for an 8:00 PM reservation. No apologies as though they feel entitled to seat us when they wanted to. Plus they texted me when the table was ready and my phone was on silent so they should inform you they are going to text! The service was awesome for the first hour until 9:45 then the staff was worrying about clean up and I could not find my waiter for 25 minutes. The busboy poured tap water over my wife's purchased bottled water. So what did they do? No apologies again then they charged for another bottle of water to replace the tap water mistake! We had to wait 5 minutes for the bill to be corrected. When a waitress who had been at nearby tables earlier just showed up and asked if we wanted coffee some 15 minutes after we finished dessert I asked who are you and where has our waiter been? She said he is done for the night with no introduction nothing. We wanted espresso ordered when the desserts were delivered because some restaurants serve the espresso too soon before dessert. We could not find our waiter to place the order. What good is an awesome chef with awesome food with sub-standard service? Great food is just good food with bad service! I will only return to use up my gift card that I bought myself to get 20% extra otherwise I will not return! I bought the gift card while there for Sunday brunch weeks ago with my kids which...

There are few dining experiences in Fairfield County that compare to L’Escale in Greenwich. Perched gracefully on the waterfront, adjacent to the Delamar, this French gem captures the essence of the Côte d’Azur while offering a timeless sense of New England elegance. It is no wonder L’Escale has earned its place as one of the most prestigious restaurants in town.

From the very first moment, the setting itself takes your breath away. The view of Greenwich Harbor is enchanting, with sailboats gently swaying and sunlight dancing on the water. Whether you’re seated inside with its rustic, Provencal-inspired décor or out on the terrace with a glass of wine in hand, the ambiance is effortlessly chic yet inviting. It feels like a little escape to the French Riviera, without ever leaving Connecticut.

Service at L’Escale is nothing short of exceptional. The staff have mastered the fine art of hospitality — they are attentive, warm, and deeply knowledgeable about both the menu and wine list. Every interaction feels personal, as though you’re a cherished guest in a beautiful seaside home rather than a restaurant.

The cuisine is where L’Escale truly shines. Classic French traditions are honored here, but with a fresh and modern touch. The seafood, unsurprisingly, is exquisite: branzino grilled to perfection, Dover sole deboned tableside, and oysters so fresh they taste as though they’ve just been lifted from the sea. The pastas are delicate, with house-made flavors that linger long after the final bite. Meat dishes, from the tender filet mignon to the rich duck confit, showcase the kitchen’s mastery of balance and technique. And the desserts — from airy soufflés to decadent tarts — are simply irresistible, the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable meal.

The wine program deserves special mention. With a thoughtful list that celebrates both Old World classics and New World treasures, every pairing feels like it has been carefully chosen to complement the cuisine. A sommelier’s guidance here transforms dinner into a full sensory experience.

But perhaps what makes L’Escale so extraordinary is not just its food or views, but the feeling it leaves with you. Dining here is more than a meal; it is a celebration of life’s finer moments — the kind of place you go when you want to savor, remember, and be inspired.

L’Escale is Greenwich at its finest: a harbor-side haven of French elegance, culinary mastery, and...

Overall, a pretty poor experience at L’escale. Was there with a group of 5 of us for a business dinner - casually dressed, but very neat (more to come on this). The bartender and bus staff were amazing and kind. However, the table service was close to awful. The waitress forgot to put in a number of our orders, including an appetizer and a side. Never brought the welcome chilled soup. Never offered us a wine list. Then gave up on the table and never returned.

The GM, whom I introduced myself when I got to the restaurant, could not possibly have been more unfriendly. I saw him work the room chit chatting with regulars. When I asked to speak with him regarding our issues - David was merely disinterested, low energy and offered no apology. Sadly, he never made it back to the table to check on us and thought having his bartender send us a sipping glass of dessert wine solved the night’s issues. He left for the evening before 9pm - never making it back over to our table.

I grew up working in restaurants. Bussing. Waitering. Managing. Tonight’s experience was NOT what good looks like. They were so busy kissing the toes of their 6-7 regular tables that us 5 less fancy gentlemen on a business dinner were a very low priority - and it showed. That will be my last business dinner there. Back to Blackstones where the service is meaningfully better.

The food, however, was excellent. Thank you to the kitchen. You deserve 4-5 stars. Front of the house was 1 star - which is shocking given how many waiters and managers were all over the floor. The exception was the hard working bussing staff - 5 stars. They were warm, friendly and efficient. They should take the client facing positions and replace the wait staff and mgmt.

For the money, I think there are much better places with far better service. Will be a while before I would...