Chez Francois Restaurant & Touche Bistro — Restaurant in Vermilion

There are meals, and then there are moments that transcend mere sustenance to become legend in the almanac of your own life. A pilgrimage to Chez François, nestled on the quiet banks of the Vermilion River, belongs firmly to the latter. It is not simply a dinner; it is an arrival. The journey itself feels like a deliberate departure from the everyday. As you leave the wider roads behind and wind through the charming, slumbering town of Vermilion, a sense of anticipation builds. You find the historic building, humble and dignified, and descend the gentle stone steps towards the river. It is here the world changes. You are not in Ohio anymore. You have passed through a veil into a timeless French auberge, a sanctuary where the chaos of the modern world is checked at the door along with your coat. To step into the main dining room is to step into a whisper of history. The air hums with a quiet, reverent energy. The ancient brick walls, which have stood since 1845, glow with the warm, intimate flicker of candlelight. Each table is a pristine island of white linen, set with gleaming silver and delicate crystal that catches the light like captured stars. Beyond the paned glass windows, the river glides silently by, boats rocking gently at their moorings, providing a serene, living backdrop to the elegance within. The restaurant’s gentle insistence on a dress code—a jacket for gentlemen—is not a stuffy rule, but a beautiful, shared pact to honor the sanctity of the occasion. The service is a masterclass in the art of hospitality, a ballet of intuition and grace. The staff move with a quiet confidence, their presence felt but never intrusive. They are custodians of the experience, guiding you with encyclopedic knowledge and a genuine warmth that makes you feel not like a customer, but an honored guest in a private home. Then, the culinary story begins. It might start with the legendary Homard Bisque, en Croûte. A perfect, golden dome of puff pastry arrives, sealing in the treasures below. The first tap of the spoon shatters the delicate crust, releasing a fragrant cloud of steam rich with the scent of sherry, tarragon, and the sweet promise of the sea. The bisque itself is velvet, a profound, creamy elixir laden with generous morsels of lobster—a dish so perfect, so iconic, it is a worthy pilgrimage in its own right. Perhaps the main course is the Filet de Boeuf Wellington à la Périgourdine, a dish that scoffs at modern trends and stands as a monument to classical perfection. The pastry, an intricate, golden lattice, gives way to a layer of earthy mushroom duxelles and impossibly tender filet, cooked to a flawless ruby-red. Bathed in a dark, glossy Périgourdine sauce, rich with the decadent aroma of black truffle, each bite is a symphony of texture and flavor, a testament to the unwavering discipline of a master chef. Time seems to slow at Chez François. The conversation flows easier, the wine tastes richer, and the world outside fades to a distant murmur. As you conclude with a delicate dessert—perhaps a cloud-like chocolate mousse or a seasonal fruit creation that tastes of the sun—you realize the experience has woven a spell around you. To dine at Chez François is to understand that some places are more than just restaurants. They are institutions, keepers of a sacred flame. It is a celebration of life’s most precious moments, a reminder that true excellence is timeless. It is, without exaggeration, a culinary beacon on the shores of Lake Erie, a flawless, unforgettable journey to the very heart of France, found miraculously here, on the banks of...

This review may be a little long but it's needed to give full details of my rating.

First off, I wear shorts 95% of the year. Regardless if below 0. Only wear pants and polo if traveling for work.

My girlfriend and I arrived about 10 minutes early as my saying is, if you aren't early, you're late. The ladies at the front desk kept checking on us as we waited. We knew we were early. It was not a big deal by any means. But it did make it feel more special. They asked us questions such as occasion, how our day was, etc. We liked that as it made us feel like they truly care about us and not just a number to be seated.

We sat in the main dining room, which requires men to wear a coat. There are no exceptions. Being someone that doesn't normally do this (only wore suit for weddings), this was a big deal. And totally worth it. You're paying for an experience. While I don't normally dress up, it felt great to do, especially for a date night out. I was by far the youngest man there by at least 15years. I am in my mid 40's. I still did not feel out of place by the staff or by the other people eating. It was nice to see men and women all dressed up.

My gf and I are by no mean wine connoisseur's, but we wanted to have a bottle for our date night. We explained this to our waitress (believe her name was Ally. I suck with names) that my gf likes sweet and I like dry. She gave it some thought and said, let me get you guys a sample of what I think may be great. She brought it over and we loved it. Sorry, I didn't take any pics or write anything down, so I don't remember the name, but it was from Napa, CA. I know, helpful, right? ;)

We ordered the following appetizers: Mishima Ranch Wagyu Tartare, Sunny Side up Quail Egg Maine Lobster Zucchini Blossoms, Traditional Hollandaise Sauce

For our main courses, we ordered the specials. I ordered hogfish with a peach sauce and she ordered a filet topped with duck. OMG...everything was amazing. And the portions are large. While the prices are on the higher end, IMO, all worth it since you get great quality meat and large portions. The entrees came with a salad and they did bring bread out as well. There was also a chef special starter that came in a shot glass and was amazing. Can't remember what it was called, but oh so good.

The experience took about 2-2.5h. Which we loved! I didn't want each course to come out, 1 after the other. I wanted to eat it and then talk to my gf about it and converse. Everything came out in perfect timings. When it came time for dessert, we explained to our waitress that we were full. She grabbed us some chocolate cupcakes to go. I did have one a few hours later and WOW. Those were amazing as well.

While we cannot afford to eat here often, it is something my gf and I will try to do at least once a year. From start to finish, it was amazing.

I do want to note, it can run a little warm in there. So men, be prepared to sweat a little bit.

TlDr; I usually only wear shorts...worth dressing up....food amazing..you...

I'd heard of this restaurant through friends and stopped in on a whim to have appetizers on the outdoor patio. The restaurant itself was not very busy, and the patio was full, but we were seated outside right away. I ordered the carpaccio and my friend ordered the meatloaf dinner and a cocktail. All items arrived fairly quickly. The carpaccio was lovely but the beef had no seasoning at all and, while fresh, the taste was easily overpowered by the very pungent cheese (which was delicious; just the wrong pairing for the delicate beef). Also on the plate were tiny arugula sprouts - again, delicious, but strong in flavor - atop a bed of a variety of mushrooms, so gray and flat and monotone in color and flavor I would've sworn they'd been marinated in Lake Erie. Each mushroom, regardless of variety (and there were many), tasted exactly like the other, and all tasted like dirty lake water. The dish overall was very disappointing, with the beef - supposedly the star of the show - contributing only texture. I don't know, maybe carpaccio is supposed to be like that, but I somehow doubt it. My friend's meatloaf was generous - three big slices on top of mashed potatoes with three miniature (and I mean tiny) baby squashes, all in a pool of gravy, and with what looked to be grass clippings as a garnish. The meatloaf had the texture of having been made in a blender, but tasted fine. The mashed potatoes and gravy were fine as well. It's unfortunate that for a restaurant of this caliber the best compliment I can muster is that the food was "fine". And "fine" as in ok, not the superlative. It was unfortunate as well - and, obviously, no fault of the restaurant's - that we were seated in front of a couple where the woman thought it was appropriate and great fun to speak at the top of her voice the entire time, regaling her date with raunchy stories and delighting in being more obnoxious with each tale. We had only five minutes of peace before we finished and left, having spent our entire dinner trapped, having no choice but to hear this woman spew dick jokes and insult a waiter's appearance while keeping their (and our) waitress at their table for inordinate amounts of time, trying to figure out how to buy her a drink. It was really an incredible experience. All considered, I'm not...