Colette Restaurant

Great place for a night out. We came in without a reservation from out of town looking for a good meal and we were not disappointed. Ann was a great bartender and made sure we had an amazing meal. Steak frites is a must!! So tender and flavorful. The apple cake was so tasty. Fantastic cocktails and an excellent wine list. This place could stand up with the best of them across the country.

Went in solo on a Tuesday evening and was able to grab an open seat at the bar. The Brioche butter service was melt in your mouth. The Cavatelli was *chef's kiss*! So flavorful and just the right amount of sauce and meat to noodle ratio. I had the mille-feuille for dessert. While it was very good, for me, I felt the Puff pastry was just a little over done. Not even close to complain about or ruin a 5 star rating though!! Would definitely come again.

we do not have enough nice things to say about colette! We went here for an early valentines dinner, and Bryan(our waiter) was attentive, engaging, and paced out all of our courses perfectly. We had the pain maison, escargot, côte de bœuf, and apple cake with a lovely syrah wine(recommended by Bryan), 1664 beer, and brandy for dessert. Everything paired beautifully and all of the staff were so kind! 1000/10 will be back here again.

My fiancée and I went for Valentine’s Day for the first time and it exceeded EVERY expectation. Our sever Camden was so kind and attentive to us, the food was the BEST meal either of us had had at a restaurant in a long time, and the drinks were delicious. The restaurant itself is stunning and has a lovely and lively vibe. We will be back ASAP!

Our dining experience at Colette for our anniversary was nothing short of spectacular. From the amazing food, to the above and beyond service from our waitress, Rachel, we left full and happy! We shared the stake tartar, the bread and butter service, the simple greens salad and tomato and tonnato salad, and had the tagliolini and cod. The stars of the night were definitely the tomato and tonnato, the pasta, and the cod. Highly recommend to anyone wanting an amazing dining experience!

Brian was a great server. We absolutely loved our time at Colette. Everyone’s hospitality was exceptional and the food was perfect. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Nice change of pace and cuisine from our norm. Been a while since I've had beef tartar and even longer since escargot, and here they are at the same place. Limited seating, highly recommended reservation. Weeks in advance, especially if catching a show cause it's apparently a common pre-show dinner spot for the music hall. Lindsey was great with her constant attention and explanation of menu items. Beef tartar had a bit too much sauce for my liking, little to no taste of the beef. Next time I would just stick to a dozen escargot. Morrels were a nice change and different than just a mess of them pan-fried in butter. Didn't get any salads, but that beet salad was tempting, especially with the horseradish to spice it up a little more. The ravioli was best for cheese I've ever tasted. Pork collar steak, eh, would probably go with the lamb neck pasta next time. I mean, it was ok, the bitter greens definitely helped balance it out, just not something I would probably pay that price for again. All in all, would go back, even if just for the snails.

The service was impeccable and the food absolutely delicious ❣️We went for Valentine’s Day and the ambiance was perfect (felt like we were in Paris).

We absolutely adore Colette!! Our go to spot for all of our special events (or even just a date night) - such an amazing atmosphere, incredible food along attentive service, what more could you wish for?! I will never go without the house made milk brioche or the ribeye that is worth every penny! Edit to add: Not pictured but we also love the Beet salad!

Great food and atmosphere. My husband and I went for a date and were very impressed. We indulged but it didn't break the bank!

Our server, Lindsey, was great. We had her everytime we visited. Food was delish, as always. Great experience!!

It was a spring break staycation trip to the theater and a memorable dinner date with my 16-year-old. He said he had the best bread he had ever had in his life! We also had the escargot and the bluefin, which was amazing! The service was excellent, and I would give more stars than 5! He had the duck and still gushed over how delicious his meal was. I had the cod and only wish I had more bread for that excellent sauce! The desserts were the perfect finish to a fabulous meal! We look forward to our next trip there before our next show!

A wonderful addition to the Cincinnati food scene. The Jardin Cocktail and the pain maison were phenomenal. There were so many great options on the menu, definitely will explore more soon. The steak frites were elevated and crisp, the poulet was great if you like mustard, and the brandade I’d recommend skipping on.

We were absolutely blown away by everything that this PERFECT restaurant had to offer. all three of us at the table were gushing the entire time about everything we ordered. We started out with the blue fin tuna, the tartare de boeuf (the most delicious beef tartare any of us have ever had), the pain maison bread which comes with caramelized shallot and caramelized fennel butter, and the asparagus salad. The bread is absolutely out of this world. You will basically melt on the first bite. Salty, herby, ugh it was just so good. I got the raviole entree, which I personally was not crazy about, but everyone else at the table loved. My bf got the Icelandic cod, which falls apart in your mouth and the caviar sauce it comes with is just ridiculous. It is so good. Get the Icelandic cod. Get the Icelandic cod. Get the Icelandic cod. Cocktails are unique and delicious too. I tried the Ernie Vert which is spicy and smokey and just overall a very interesting sip. I also tried the gigi which is super refreshing and cucumber forward, and I finished the meal off with an espresso martini with their rice pudding and a vanilla ice cream pastry. This is one of the best restaurants Cincinnati/OTR has to offer. They have absolutely made it into my top 3. On top of the food being 100/100, our service from our server Irina was amazing. Her recommendations led us into our great evening and we loved talking to her.

We came here on a Saturday evening at 6 PM without a reservation and were able to get two seats at the bar for dinner. The very helpful bartender (Tea or Tia, apologies for not remembering!) walked us through the menu and provided some great recommendations. The interior is fairly chill and expectedly gives off French vibes. We started off with the small brioche which was fantastic and pillowy, but the flaky salt and butter took it to another level! Next, we got the blue fin tuna crudo and the pate. Both were excellent, but the pate with pistachio on the crispy bread with the stoneground/Dijon mustard and pickle were mouthwatering. The beet salad with horseradish and goat cheese was also fantastic and refreshing! To wrap it up, we got the sweet potato plate and the raviolis. I loved the flavor of each: the labneh and lentils paired very well with the miso-basted sweet potato and the brown butter enhanced the Comte ravioli. For dessert, we got the rice pudding with candied pecans and cacao nibs. They both added a crunchy bite to the rice pudding and the dish in its entirety was an excellent nightcap to the meal! We definitely recommend trying this place out! If you want a seat in the dining room, then recommend getting a reservation as this is a very popular restaurant!

Thank you for opening this wonderful restaurant and serving us delicious culinary delights. Shout out to Erin our wonderful, knowledgeable server. We started with the Brioche Bread service which was incredibly light followed by the tantalizing Beet salad. My wife liked the Escargot, but for me it was a bit Parsley heavy. However the Duck Confit and Salted Cod are Outstanding dishes. This was our first time at Collette and we will definitely be back! Thank you Chef

Colette is one of Cincinnati’s best dining spots. From the smooth, welcoming vibe to top-notch service, everything impressed. The bar is stunning, and Cami, our server, was exceptional—knowledgeable, friendly, and effortlessly cool (he even complimented my leather jacket!). The food was outstanding. We started with a tangerine-accented tuna dish and bread served with the Vermont butter from The Bear—one of only five U.S. restaurants to feature it. The owner’s persistence to bring this exclusive, in-house-salted butter says it all. The steak frites were perfectly cooked, and the lamb pappardelle was mind-blowing. Colette is the perfect spot for a date night or any special occasion. A must-try!

Everything was perfect. We were blown away and that’s a big statement coming from my wife and kid as picky eaters. Every dish is both good on the eye and delicious to taste. Service is great and thorough. The cod is our favorite. Desert is great. The Mille feuille is tasty but not too rich. My kid devoured the raviolis. We definitely want to come back to try the rest of dishes.

Collette is a very special restaurant. Amazing food. Terrific service. Intimate inside with view of kitchen. Great bar area. Nice outdoor seating as well. You must start with the Bread service - wow. Icelandic Cod, Herbed Cavatelli, Steak Frites, and Collette Burger are some of our favorites

One of the best meals I’ve had in Cincinnati! So happy I was finally able to try it. The cod does in fact live up to the hype. Everything was delicious! The service was also AMAZING

Although the atmosphere feels casual, the attention to detail, waitstaff, and food are fine dining. The duck was fantastic… but the standout dish is the cod. I loved the open kitchen and the cod was the most popular dish I saw coming out of it and for good reason. It was perfectly cooked every time, golden brown, buttery, and delicious. Drinks and desserts were top notch as well. This place is a new favorite.

From start to finish, this place knocked it out of the park. Cocktails were on point, great wine selection and very reasonably priced. The laminated brioche was amazing. The cod was PERFECTLY cooked. Sauces were executed to perfection. Every dish was balanced and the pomme puree was outstanding. So do yourself a favor and come down here and prepare to have your palate pleased in every way. Every dessert was excellent as well. And to top it off, the service at this place is far and beyond that of many top-tier restaurants. Chef Danny and crew killing it!

We celebrated my birthday at Colette recently. It's our first time there. We made reservations and were seated quickly. Our server is very knowledgeable of the menu and made great recommendations. We enjoyed everything we ordered especially the laminated brioche, brandade de moure(whip salt cod), lamb neck cavatelli ragu, and mushroom tahini. The desert chocolate mousse and millie feuille are amazing!!

We had a wonderful dinner, we decided to check out this restaurant we have heard about for a while for our anniversary, and because we are soon having a baby girl named Colette. Both my husband and I work in restaurants and frequently eat out-David was one of (if not THE) best server either of us have had. The courses were timed perfectly, the menu was explained in depth-and great suggestions were given. He even started off right away asking for any allergies we might have . The support staff was just as great, this staff works as a clearly well oiled machine. We started off with the house Negroni and N/A rosemary thyme cocktail, and they were absolutely delicious. For food-milk bread appetizer, followed by the crudo and tartare; snap pea salad, Parisian carrot salad; cavatelli and cod; rice pudding. At the end of our meal, our server asked us to wait for the GM who wanted to see us, and she brought us merch for our baby Colette! We certainly felt special. We can’t wait to go back!

Incredible food and service! We loved the salad Lyonnaise, the cod, and mushroom pasta! So delicate.

Wow! What a great experience. It would not have been as wonderful had Cami not been our server. We went with all of their recommendations and they did a great job explaining the entire menu. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try- and order as many laminated brioches as your heart desires (we ordered one per person but they were SO good, we should have ordered more). We will definitely be back!

Everything about this experience was impeccable. Our waiter (his name I cannot recall unfortunately) was attentive, never letting a glass go empty and ensured that all meals were properly coursed throughout the night. Plus, his meal recommendations were spectacular. Beyond that, he was more than happy to give a wine recommendation taking into account, our palates, price range, and meal. For staters, we ordered the Escargot, Butter Service, Tomato and Tonnato. For our main course we ordered the Icelandic Cod and for dessert an amazing Strawberry Posset. Each meal had the perfect blend of flavors and was properly filling. The only caveat I will offer is that while the ambiance is largely casual, the price is not. I am beyond glad that I dined here however, please be aware that the price represents that of a finer dining experience.

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 chef, great food.

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 a must-visit.

Ella did a fantastic job explaining the menu. Try the cocktail called Missy! It’s perfect and light to start your dinner. Our group had two appetizers of the brioche and escargot. Fantastic. I had the French lentils dish, my friends had pasta dishes and the chicken dish. Everything was great that we were all trying each other plates. We then ended the service with the apple dessert and coffee. A great place to catch up with friends and enjoy the food. I’m looking forward to bringing people here. Thanks Colette!

Everything we ate was 10/10. Our waitress was great and knowledgeable. The brioche was amazing. Highly recommend the steak and frites and the cod, and the desserts were amazing as well. We ordered 3 apps, 3 dishes, and 3 desserts, and nothing disappointed. Service was a little slow for our table of 3, with other tables getting in and out before us, but we weren’t in a rush so it didn’t matter. We can’t wait to come back!

I realized tonight after my third trip there that I hadn't actually reviewed Colette and that was borderline criminal. Colette is fantastic, full stop. After a VERY disappointing birthday dinner at an overhyped OTR restaurant recently we went to Colette as a sort of 'do over' and it was a million times better. First off Colette has a fantastic space. The atmosphere is superb. It does not ever feel cluttered or overly loud, lighting is great, decor is wonderful, all without trying too hard. Second, the service is also exemplary. Three trips there and the service has been the stuff of legends every time. Waitstaff are attentive without being hovering, drinks are refreshed in a timely fashion, and the timing between courses is pitch perfect. Staff is friendly and easygoing and able to make recommendations with insight and actual joy because they don't seem hurried or annoyed. It's a quality of service that most restaurants could only dream of, and in my experience it ranks at the top of the entire city. Let's move on to drinks, shall we? They're VERY good. Maybe not the absolute best in town but definitely high on the list. Nice subtle flavors and inventive mixtures. Had the lemoncello tonight and it was amazing. Warm orange/vanilla/anise/cinnamon flavors in a cello? Amazing! Last but not least is the food. What can I even say? It ranks among the best in the city maybe even the country. The menu does rotate but IMO that's a good thing. Yes, the duck confit being gone at my most recent trip was quite sad, but I had the steak+frites and it was delicious. Similarly I thought nothing could replace the pate until I tried the new foie gras parfait and it won me over. The salade Lyonnaise may be literally the best salad I've ever eaten. It was such a fantastic flavor combination of salty and vinegary and eggy and bright and bitter. It was a masterpiece of a salad and could easily stand as a main dish if it wanted. I hear the burger is legendary though I have not had it. The herbed cavatelli my wife had that replaced the previous ragout was also sublime. Wonderful lamb flavor with hints of that distinct...stank that makes lamb dishes so tasty. It beat the pants off the flavorless gray lamb dish I had a few weeks ago at the previously mentioned overhyped OTR joint. Finally we come to dessert. Colette's small but mighty dessert menu is also praiseworthy. Where else can you get mille feuille THIS good within a hundred miles? Nowhere. My wife's chocolate mousse was silkier and creamier than I think any I've ever seen. All this is to say that you really should go to Colette if you haven't been yet. It might not be the flashiest or trendiest place in town, but it doesn't need to be - it exudes the sort of quiet confidence that well traveled culinarians know speaks much louder and bolder than overwrought dishes and culinary award buzz. Colette might bill itself as "mostly French" but it's entirely amazing.

Such a wonderful experience—the food, service, and atmosphere were all exceptional. Everything we ordered was delicious, starting with the rolls, escargot (my first!), the carrot salad (the best I’ve ever had), and the green salad. The cod was scrumptious, and the côte de bœuf was perfectly cooked and seasoned—sharing it between four of us was perfect. Desserts were amazing as well. This dinner was especially meaningful as it was in honor of Lou, who made these reservations and is now in heaven. This was his favorite place, and it felt like a beautiful way to remember him.

Superb dining experience. We arrived a bit early for our reservation and there was no space available to grab a drink at the bar, but the wonderfully friendly hostess Annie made a recommendation for us right down the street while we waited and made sure we were promptly seated at our reservation time. Our waitress Irina was awesome! Friendly and warm, she was attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu. She had great patience with us as she assured all of the dishes we ordered could be modified to be safe to eat for my dining partner, who suffers from Celiac's. The support staff around Irina was phenomenal. In my opinion, what makes a great front of house staff is the support system for the servers, making sure to take care of all of the little things that make dining out transcend it being just a "meal," instead turning it into an amazing "experience." That's what you'll find here, an all around amazing experience. Eric, the sommelier was wonderful, doing a great job of presenting our bottle of wine while taking the time to reassure that our dinner would be safe for my dining partner and offering great suggestions on how to approach our dinner as well. The server's assistants Luke and Lindsey were great, and they added to the experience beyond just clearing plates, engaging in some warm and funny moments with us that will make this dinner memorable for a long time (Lindsey, the baby spoon was such a funny and nice touch). I haven't even talked about the food yet! The eggs were incredible, stuffed with a delightfully savory duxelles. So good! The beet salad and goat cheese was also top notch, just the perfect salad. But the real star was the steak frites. It comes out sliced and was perfectly cooked and smothered in a delicious sauce au poivre. For most of it, I didn't even need a knife to cut it as it was ridiculously tender. And delicious. So, so delicious. The fries with the sauce was just heavenly. My dining partner had to substitute the fries (fryer cross contamination) for pomme puree, which was an excellent gluten free substitution. The chocolate mousse and blueberry sorbet were a perfect ending. Rachel, the manager on duty, made sure to stop by at the end and check to see how our night went and got an ear full (in a good way, of course) about our experience. It's obvious she's doing an amazing job with how she runs the floor of making sure everyone leaves with just as great of a time as we had. Can't wait to come back. 10/10, will highly recommend to everyone I know. Bravo! 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

Everything top notch, no disappointments. My shock of the night was the simple farm animal butter. Man that was sooooooooo good. The flavor just kept building.... And BUILDING, AND BUILDING. Had the pate as well, delicious. Roasted beet and horseradish salad, delicious. For dinner the lentils and tempura shitake. Delicious. Apple cake and ice cream desert. Wife and I loved everything. I'd give full descriptions but I don't speak French, lol, Spanish and English only for me.... Oh and also had lots of good whiskey. Surprisingly affordable for such a great place. Staff was 10/10. I forget my waitress' name. Emily? Pretty and skinny young lady with an ink dagger right arm. She was fantastic. If she reads this I hope my tip reflected that we were pleased beyond a normal amount with your work. Many thanks. She brought us a card of local places that are good for cocktails and breakfast, extremely thoughtful. Tip o the cap to the kitchen, always the unsung heros of a fine dinner....you are doing great work back there folks. Many thanks to you all as well. Would definitely recommend. A must visit place Imho. Second to none.

Generally a good time. We had reservations but waited ~10 min for a table, which felt a little long. Our server and the general wait staff were extremely attentive. 10/10 service, could not have been improved. The bread was amazing; it was buttered and seasoned and just simply delicious. The food was somewhere lack luster. Certain items were under-seasoned (the escargot), and others were over-embellished (the beef tartar). Nothing stood out, the only thing I think I will remember from our visit is the bread. I’d go back here if someone else suggested it, but I wouldn’t suggest it myself.

We were very excited to try Colette. The service was outstanding, very knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt/attentive without being over the top. Aesthetically, it is a really nice place and our table was right by the window. The food was tasty. The dessert was our favorite dish, but the Cavatelli, Ravioli, and Carrot salad were all good.

This is one of our favorite locations to eat. Our most recent visit wasn't the best due to some lack of attention to detail with spacing of courses and a couple over cooked items. As a whole the team usually does a great job. Drinks are excellent. Probably would recommend seating outside of the front left dinning room unless with a larger party.

I would have loved this experience if not for the poor service when we arrived. Despite having a reservation, we were seated almost 40 minutes late. Not only our group, but every res was running behind by at least 20 minutes. I wouldn’t have minded the wait if the staff at least attempted to make it right— go to any fine dining establishment in the city and at least they offer a complimentary glass of wine or bread service to make up for an extreme delay. Hospitality 101 and yet completely missing from this restaurant. Food was great but it was hard to come back from such a disappointing start.

Excellent food with a frustrating overall experience. Each dish was great, though nothing I'd rate a 10/10, they were all technically sound and very tasty. Environment was done well, though nothing standout. Staff and service was friendly and sharp - menu was well introduced, fresh water, plates, and cutlery were quick, everything there was dialed in well. The 3/5 for the service and overall experience come from what I believe is a large scale decision to prioritize tickets of tables after confirming they have additional arrangements following dinner, to the detriment of those who don't. We were asked if we were attending one of the shows around OTR and downtown that night, which we honestly and maybe mistakenly answered as no, we were just out for a nice meal with no special occasion. We were sat near two other two tops at the same time, all of us ordered the same number of courses, but we found ourselves a full course behind by the end of the night to the point that one of those other tables was flipped during our entrees and the new patrons were ordering their entrees while we were just starting on dessert. We had arrived and were seated 10 minutes early for our 6:15 reservation, which was nice. Drinks and food were ordered quickly and bread arrived at 6:30. Then we received our Escargot and Parisian Carrot at 7:08, 35 minutes later, with Tagliolini and Cod at 7:31, an hour after the bread. Apple cake was an addition 30 minutes at 7:59, and we were there for 2:10 in total. It's not a horrific delay, but it seemed to be standard operating procedure that we should just accept. There was another review from a 9:00p reservation on the same day which mentioned food delays, but given how quickly tables around us were moving I don't know if the kitchen was the bottleneck earlier in the evening. The food was good. It is worth the trip, but be prepared to provide a show and timeline that lines up with your reservation or you might face similar turn times. We would potentially go again, but will be giving it a similar deprioritized treatment.