Chez Michel Restaurant - West Vancouver

Initially, I hesitated to write restaurant reviews during the pandemic and social distancing measures. However, considering the impact on businesses, I think it’s important to share my experiences. If these restaurants are still functioning and providing take-out options, I encourage you to support them. #supportlocalbusinesses.

I went here yesterday with four other people, having been there frequently before the new ownership. It was quite a disappointment. None of the five different main courses was either up to the expected level or reflective of the cooking standard in this restaurant previously. For me personally, I received a good onion soup, but it was followed by the worst bouillabaisse I have had anywhere. Others had sauce depending main offerings that were just barely accompanied by any sauce. Serving was fine, so no complaints there. I won't be back unless I see that the reviews shift dramatically.

Chez Michel is under new ownership. Michel has sold the restaurant. We were there for dinner last evening. We had reservations and Linda one of the waitresses acknowledged our presence as she was taking care of customers at a table. An lady came, seated us at a table and gave us menus and water. We asked if they had any specials that evening and she said that we would have to get that information from our server. Chez Michel used to have a very extensive list of specials but that has been cut back considerably. They also used to give complimentary soup or salad if you were seated before 6:00 but apparently this is no longer offered. Our server Linda is absolutely exemplary. She was the hardest working of the servers and had such a pleasant personality. I’m so glad that she was our server. She offered us extra bread and she allowed us to substitute pomme frites for the mashed potatoes on our entrees. She topped up our wine, chatted with us and made our whole evening so much more enjoyable with her attitude and effort to ensure that we were well served during our meal. We shared the escargot as an appetizer and we were given time to digest our appetizer, as requested before our entrees were served. For our entrees my husband had New York steak with pepper sauce and I had veal tenderloin with mushroom sauce. I recall the food as being much better. My husband said that his steak was rather bland and my thin slices of veal tenderloin were on the dry side. It was a good evening mainly because of Linda. It is not as good as it used to be and we’ll have to wait and see if the new owners can maintain the high standards and good value that used to be the hallmark when Michel owned the restaurant. I hope that our experience last evening was just growing pains.

The venue is superb, not surpassed by any restaurant I’ve visited so far. As is the service, impeccable. But the food itself which used to be on the same plane of excellence, is just not anymore. The quality of the ingredients is still first class. But the dishes themselves lack any sign that a classically trained chef has had any hand in its preparation. (I had sole, and it was rolled up nicely, and I swear it was simmered in plain water: no herbs, no spaces, no salt, no pepper, no butter. To be honest , I could hardly get it down! I hope someone sorts this out soon. Once a restaurant gets this sort of reputation it’s not long before it’s shuttered.

We had six different dishes of the menu and they all were outstanding!!! Wine selection outstanding and reasonably priced!!