L'auberge Chez Francois - Great Falls

We had a wonderful brunch at Auberge. We knew it was going to be hot but decided to sit outside. Sitting under the tent was quite comfortable and we had the beauty of the garden. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We went to celebrate a birthday. It's a tradition we intend to continue.

Dinner was wonderful. Our family of 5 opted for the price fixe menu and literally every dish was wonderful. I'll go in order: the bread basket is always delicious; wonderful multigrain bread is notable at a french restaurant. Amuse bouche was a very tasty lentil soup. Appetizers were all good, but the standouts were the mushroom crepe, recommended by our server and something that we would not have ordered otherwise, and the daily special tuna tartare, which was different from any we have ever had, topped with a creme fraiche and caviar. The salad was an amazing heirloom tomato salad, and I think each dish was a whole tomato, as each of us who ordered it got a different tomato variety. Yum. Then lovely little mango sorbet palate cleanser, perfect on the sweltering evening we were there. We only ordered two different entrees, the sole and the lobster. Both were delicious, but the sole also has a little side of lobster, so next time I would choose the sole over the lobster. Finally and best, dessert. The souffles are perfect; we like the chocolate and grande marnier over the raspberry. The dessert of the day was a blueberry custard tart which was really surprisingly, as good as the souffle. Our server was perfect; always present without being hovering. This was the perfect birthday dinner for our daughter, and we will definitely be back again soon!

Have dined here many times through the years. Several aspects of our visit this time were disappointing, but most significant was the service. We could not understand waiter due to his accent and ambient noise (not hard of hearing! . Biggest disappointment was timing of delivery of courses. Inappropriately long waits (multiple 25 min even before main course. Waiting time did not match adjacent diners. Course pacing devolved to erratic when salad was served within seconds main course was served. We the diners had to rearrange table to accommodate salad plate and hot main course plate. Then, long wait for dessert menus. Course staging is the kind of detail that this high end restaurant should have down pat.

As usual, food was outstanding and plentiful. From the appetizer to the main course to the dessert, this restaurant is the go-to place for special occasions. We enjoyed our 34th wedding anniversary and look forward to next year's visit.

Fantastic service by Mohammed. Haven't visited in past 15 years after having dined here annual before then. Same excellent service and delicious and beautifully presented meal. Just like I remember it.