Blondette

Came here as part of Doors Open Minneapolis, so my review is for the building itself an not the food or service. You walk in and go "wow!". There's something about the domed glass ceiling that gives this place a unique appeal. Very well lit and well laid out. Very much puts the emphasis on couples by placing them smack in the middle. Not really a place for groups of more than 4 though. There is a lounge area outside with a fire pit. I like how you can feel the scale of the buildings towering over you.

There are a lot of older reviews that don’t reflect the current status of Blondette. In its present form, the restaurant is only open on weekends for brunch. We had a great experience here on a recent Sunday. The food was tasty, the service was fantastic, and the restaurant space is beautiful. All the windows let in tons of natural light. The food menu was slightly limited, but the items we ordered were very good. This restaurant is a gem and I hope more people realize it.

Decided to get brunch since i had a comp. Did not regret it. The omelet was impeccable. Even Uncle Roger would have approved. The filling was mushroom pate and the butter sauce was just heavenly. Price... a little expensive but I guess that's too be expected from a hotel. The place is not that big and it was freezing when we got there. They opened the doors to the patio and it eventually became bearable. Service was excellent, attentive but not overbearing.

Our waiter was wonderful. He was attentive & welcoming. I'm glad we choose to be seated in the dining area instead of patio so we can get the purple vibes. I loved the decor. The drinks were okay. Food are small portions for its price but that wasn't surprising base on other people's reviews. The food was flavorful. I don't think I would visit again, but it is a great place to go and catch up with friends.

Good food and drinks was amazing! The scallops were 5/5 we got 4 drinks total (2 in the restaurant and 2 later at the bar/lounge) they were really good and not too sweet or too bitter. The creme brulee for dessert was so yummy! Service was decent, our server was very nice and cheerful. The views and vibes were perfect 5/5. Will be back for sure!

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with the windowed roof and outdoor seating area. The food was good, it didn’t blow us away but everything was executed well. We got the charred leaks, bone marrow/escargot, beef tartar, mussels, burger, scallops, gnocchi and two bottles of wine. Where they missed the mark was service. The tables are small so as we finished each dish, we ended up having to stack plates versus the plates being removed from the table. Empty wine glasses were left over, dirty silverware and plates was not removed after the first course, and the table was left dirty. We had to ask for fresh silverware, a rag to wipe down the table and for the dirty dishes to be removed. Overall we had a nice time but service needs improvement.

The best part was how beautiful the restaurant was! Nothing special about the food. Chicken wings were plain but crunchy! Service sucks..Catching up with friends on her birthday, Asian server told us it was okay to blow candles but it was $5 each to eat our own cake. She then told us we have to leave because she needs to close…. We went on a Saturday. Surprisingly wasn’t busy at all. Just 1 other table. There is no restaurant signature so be prepared to be lost

What a fun restaurant! On the 5th floor of the Rand Tower, you can take in views of the city through the glass roof or outdoor patio. The cocktails were unique and delicious, and every food dish was prepared perfectly. My favorite dish was the Zabuton. Must get the beef tartare! The oysters, mussels, and duck were also fantastic. Don’t miss their brunch- the Smoked Salmon was soooo good!

Perfect spot for a date night or girls meet up. The natural light is spectacular. Very nice service & great food to match.

This would be a great spot to bring a date, but it's not right for groups of 5 and more. If you're thinking to yourself, "My group of 5 or more is different though" - I can assure you that it is not!!! Non-refundable reservation fee which is INSANE - you're basically being charged just to put your butt in a seat. To add insult to this, it was completely dead when we went, so it was an unnecessary expense for our party. Our server was good and attentive, but because of their dated point of sales system, she couldn't break up our check so we had to grab the check and have others Venmo us later. We did specify when we sat down that we would be on separate checks, so I wish she would have told us right then and there that it would not be possible/too hard to do in their system. It was a confusing moment for everyone and turned our otherwise great dining experience into a weirdly tense, confusing experience at the end. Get it together, Blondette!!!! You have such an amazing thing going with the food, cocktails, and your staff, spend the extra cash to get a reasonable point of sales system and stop charging people who have the courtesy to reserve a table at your establishment!!! The food and drinks are good, but not "cover charge" good - please be for real.

I went here for my birthday brunch because I loved the way the space looked and most negative reviews seemed to be mostly about service and not the food. So, I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, those reviews were 100% correct. The space is gorgeous and airy and bright! Loved how it looked. We were the only people there however which was a little awkward but not the restaurants fault. The food was super great! They have a very small brunch menu and I wish there was a couple more options. However, we got the eggs Benedict and I would say it was a 10/10. My friends really seemed to enjoy their omelette and it looked great. We also got the pommes Anna! I had never really had anything like it before but I really enjoyed it and the sauce it was in was delicious. Sadly, I felt as if the service was a 3/10. It put quite a sour taste in my entire groups mouth. First off, we had to pay a $10 deposit per person for our reservation since it was like 7 people. I thought this would be given back to me in the form of taking the $70 off of our final bill. However, it wasnt. They refund it back to your account multiple days later which sucked because it wasn't a cheap brunch. This also meant I had to pay everyone back their deposit myself. Lastly, they told our 7-8 person group that they cannot split checks. Maybe this is common but I go out to eat OFTEN and have never once been told this. They told us they could take one card. So one person had to foot a $300 bill and we all had to pay that person back individually. When I asked our waitress what she meant by they don't split checks she kind of just looked at me and told me they don't. It wasn't specified anywhere, I feel as if this isn't a common thing, and no one let us know. She had a strange attitude. Like I said we were the only people in there... Most of my group got the same meal with no drinks. It shouldn't have been hard. I am assuming it was whatever program they use but I still thought the attitude was rude and unnecessary. Even though the space is so cute and I enjoyed the food a lot, I would not come here again. Especially with a large group.

The ambiance was not as moody as it's portrayed online, leaving it kind of awkward feeling. Our waitress was super kind and friendly but the experience was odd, she didn't come around often and when she did she didn't gather our plates or ask if we wanted dessert, we waited over 30 min for our plates to be cleared and by that time we were desperate for the bill. We ordered the salmon ($40) and the pomme Anna (au gratin potatoes) to share. The pomme Anna was described and buttery crisp cheesey potato - it was that but on top of a bed of tomato sauce. It was an interesting dish to say the least the tomato soup through me off. The salmon was delicious and the high light of the evening - crispy pan seared perfectly cooked salmon BUT $40 for a 4oz slice of salmon is crazy CRAZY - with no sides!? Wild

Good: The service was first rate. The restaurant is beautiful and comfortable. Bad: The prices are quite high and the entrées were very lonesome on the plate (no starch or vegetable). The wine list is very limited and the high prices are ridiculous. The dramatic lack of customers shows that their approach isn't working. We won't return.

The space is really nice and vibey. Modern, yet comfortable and open. I love that it's attached to Miaou Miaou, which makes for a perfect post-dinner drink spot. The service ruined the evening for me though. It was absolutely horrible. They rarely checked in on us and when they did, they made it very clear they didn't want to be there and they didn't want us there either. It was very awkward. The drinks and food took FOREVER to come, which was shocking considering we were one of two groups in the place and it seemed like they weren't short-staffed. It was a painfully long wait for anything we asked for, so we rushed our meal so we could get out. All that to say, the food and drink I got were really good! I loved the martini. It's a very basic drink, but the presentation of it was top notch. I ordered the Duck a L'Orange, which was divine. Every bite was delicious and every person at the table tasted it and agreed! As much as I'd recommend this place for the food, the service was so horrid that I'd cautiously recommend it since you can get great food elsewhere in the metro with way better service...

I often stay downtown during baseball season, and I was drawn to the rooftop and higher end menu. That's about where my joy ended. I ordered the Blondette Burger, medium well. $21. No sides are included so I added on a side of fries at $8. My burger arrived, and at first glance it looked ok. As soon as I cut into it though, I knew it was all wrong. It was so cold, the cheese couldn't melt. The chef doesn't know what medium well is, as that is a LOT of pink. And the meat significantly lacked seasoning. The kitchen was about to close, but is that a reason to cut corners? The highlight of the meal was the curry aioli that accompanied the fries. Would not visit again.

First, I want to preface this by saying I have loved all of the sister restaurants owned by Daniel del Prado and so we were very excited to finally try Blondette! So, it might have been my own excitement that led to me not being so impressed with our experience. We had dinner at Blondette on a Friday night, and the restaurant was about half empty (which surprised me, but maybe it's because fewer people are working downtown). We were a party of 6 and started with some drinks (a little on the pricier side) but were so good. I got the old fashioned and would highly recommend it. For my entree, I got the grilled chicken with foie gras jus under the skin. I love foie gras but if that is a deterrent for anyone, you couldn't really taste it. It was very good chicken though! With my entree I got a side of Pommes Anna, which was delicious (and crunchier than I expected). I think I could have split the side with someone else and it would have been enough. Finally, for dessert, I shared a crème brûlée. I'm a sucker for these and this one was exceptional. Not a big fan of the butter cookie that it came with, but the crème brûlée itself. ‍ FYI-- parties of 6+ they automatically add a gratuity and cannot split the bill. So, plan to have one person pay and then figure it out from there. They are very up front about this when you make a reservation, but thought I would include here as well.

Had brunch here for the first time today. The space is beautiful, like a really cute space! The couple next to us had just finished their meal and said it was the best brunch they've ever had and recommended the streak frites. I opted to order the avocado toast, because I had spent days drooling over pictures of it, and was really excited to try it. It did not disappoint! The bread had a perfect crunchy crust, with a soft center. The avocado and lobster were delightful! Our server didn't ask how I wanted the egg prepared, I would have opted for over medium instead of over easy, but it actually turned out to be just fine. The drinks were refreshing, but the Bloody Mary came with lackluster garnish. A beef stick, olives, pickles, cheese or something flavorful would have really improved the drink experience. However, my fiancé was able to order an IPA that was not on the menu, which we really appreciated them accommodating that request. Overall, it was a great experience, and I cannot wait to go back.

Yum. We came for brunch after a stay at the Rand! I had heard great things about Blondette and was excited to try it! First of all, the space is beautiful. The skylight roof is an extra fun element, and I think would be even more incredible on a sunny day! Our server was wonderful! She recommended a few things and we ended up with the avocado toast, yogurt + granola and the classic breakfast. Everything was SO good. Nothing crazy but with enough unique things that made it even better. The avocado toast was topped with a runny egg, king crab, avocado and jalapeños. Perfect meld of flavors! The yogurt + granola, while basic sounding, was exactly what I love in a breakfast! Fresh and bright, the fruit was lovely, granola also amazing! And the classic breakfast. As noted, it's a classic, but two standouts were the pommes pave (thin layers of potato and butter, I assume, topped with cheese sauce) and the huckleberry jam for the bread! We loved it so much we asked the server to pack up the rest of the jam, and she went one step further and packed two new ones in for us! Overall, highly recommend. Pricing, on par with brunches downtown, but for sure some of the tastiest!

Menu caught my eye and presentation was great. The waiter recommended dish but I was disappointed - lack the depth of flavor was hoping for in a featured dish. Would go back to try something else but service also slow so maybe not.

Came in with no reservation and was luckily sat immediately. Server came to our table promptly. Both sharables we tried were absolutely amazing. Bar was not busy and drinks were not made at that bar, bright natural light was great. Would visit again.

Service was excellent, quick and efficient. I thought the mussels + bread was a good size for the price and I was full afterwards. The La Vedette was good and fun, with the side of bubbles that you could drink separate or add to your drink to personalize it to your taste. I was expecting it to be a little darker and more "vibe-y" but we went around 7 in the late spring, so obviously it's lighter longer. Would definitely go back to try brunch!

This place is so cute! It's so cozy, but also light and open. The food is excellent. You get what you pay for, high quality food excellent taste! We ordered the Burrata, Leeks, oysters for an app. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE LEEKS! my favorite thing on the menu were the leeks! I also got the scallops and risotto. Both were amazing! Personally liked the risotto a little bit more, it is very buttery, but butter makes everything better, and super delicious! We were in a time crunch, on our way to a show, and the service was very quick and accommodated to our timeline. If you were looking for a cute date, night out, or a place to celebrate something special in your life, go to this place! You will not be disappointed.

Have been meaning to try out this place for a while so made reservations for a Friday night with some friends. The place is a little hard to find for first timers maybe. You walk into the Rand Hotel and then have to get on the elevators to the fifth floor. You see the bar Miaou Miaou and have to walk through the bar to get to the restaurant. Not overly complex but not simple if you haven't been before. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Fairly sizable dining room with some seating on the balcony. Clean and classy decor. You still get that "I am in a hotel" feeling but nice layout and comfortable. We ordered a few drinks which were all very tasty. The G&T was especially nice and La Vedette but the Nymphea and the Old Fashioned were both good too. Ordered a few of the appetizers. Beef Tartare, Charred Leek, Burrata Tartine, Tuna Crudo, Pomms Anna and Grilled Maitake Mushrooms. The tuna crudo was spicy with a great balance of flavors. The Charred Leeks were tasty with a great sauce and we dipped the bread in the sauce. Pro Tip: Order extra bread which comes perfectly toasted to dip into the sauces. The burrata tartine was also unexpected but tasty. For the entrees we ordered, Parisian Gnocchi, Rapini Risotto, Steamed Mussels, Seared Scallops, Grilled Wagyu Zabuton and Duck A L'Orange. All dishes were good but the standouts were the risotto and the gnocchi. THe duck and wagyu were good but nothing extraordinary. Have had better in the cities. The service and the food is what you would expect from people behind Sanjusan, Martina and Macanda among others. Which is to say great quality and service. I would come again and get the apps and the scallops.

We came for a Saturday brunch and the place is very cute and in a bright space. In decor alone, the place is five stars. Service was also great so this rating is not based on venue or people. I was lucky to find street parking in front of the building but it may have otherwise been difficult. I ordered the lobster BLT with extra crispy bacon. There was some miscommunication apparently and I was given an extra side of bacon for which I was charged. See my photo below of the sandwich. The bread is thick so you can't take a bite I'd everything at once, there was not much actual lobster the sandwich which combined to a very poor bread to filling ratio. Flavor of the sandwich is good, just wish it was either served with less bread and/or more of the sandwich fixings. Cocktails are cute, also pictured. I wanted to love this place but was not impressed enough to want to go back. I told friends about my experience and they assured me that dinner is better.

I recently dined at this charming restaurant and wanted to share my experience. The atmosphere was truly amazing - a perfect blend of outdoorsy and trendy that immediately put me at ease. The natural lighting and tasteful decor created a lovely ambiance that made it a joy to spend time there. Now, let's talk about the food. While I can't deny that every dish I tried was undeniably delicious, I couldn't help but feel that the prices were a tad on the steep side. The portions served were smaller than expected, leaving me slightly disappointed with the value for money. Despite the flavors being on point, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was paying a premium for the name and atmosphere. Moving on to the drinks, I did find a bit of room for improvement. The bartender, although friendly, appeared to lack the finesse and expertise that I've come to expect from similar establishments. A bit more experience and training would definitely elevate the overall drinking experience. In the end, I have to say that it's still a cute spot that I would recommend to friends and fellow food enthusiasts. The ambiance alone makes it a standout choice for a relaxed evening out. However, I do hope they continue to invest in their staff and menu options to truly make this place a must-visit.

Blondette is the PERFECT brunch date. The classy and bright daytime ambiance is unmatched. The food wasn't anything special but I would go again for cocktails at night.

What a cute spot. I found this place on a Yelp search. I didn't realize it was inside a hotel. So after my initial confusion trying to work out where I was going, we got upstairs and found it. It's a really cute vibe in there! The service was great. Kind waitress who was patient while we umm'ed and ahh'ed over drink options. Their drinks were so cute and fun. The brunch was delicious! I was with a group of 3, and no one was disappointed. It's worth checking out. I went on a Sunday and they had free valet. Unsure if they do that all the time or not.

First time in for brunch today and it was wonderful! Parking was easy; opted for street parking rather than valet. There's no signage so it was a little hard to tell if we were in the right place and the host stepped away to seat a couple staying at the hotel without greeting us so we were standing awkwardly hoping we were in the right place. Once seated everything was great. Beautiful space, lots of light even on a rainy day, excellent service. Had the eggs Benedict and just wow! Also had the le coucou cocktail. Lovely, well balanced, great brunch cocktail. Will be back!

Found the best natural lighting and the most refreshing drinks at Blondette. Seriously go on a sunny day so you can bask in the sun. Not only was the Le CouCou drink beautifully presented, it taste even better- vodka, chamomile, lavender, madeira, lemon and egg white The steak had great flavor and the oysters were so fresh! Head over to the Rand Tower Hotel take the elevator to the 5th floor and enjoy

Husband and I tried this on the first day they did brunch to the public. We only ordered food and an orange juice to share. Our server was great. He was friendly and knowledgeable. I got the foie gras sandwich and my husband got the steak frites. I am such a fan of foie gras so I had to get it; however, it was super super oily!! I was shocked at how much oil everything had. My husbands steak frites was actually really good and cooked how he requested. The best part was probably the curry mustard sauce they had. I was blown away with how good it was. Honestly, I'd come back for drinks (in the evening) but I'm not sure if I'd come back for brunch. I felt like it was overpriced for what we got. It's very aesthetically pleasing though.

Daniel Del Prado continues his slow takeover of the Twin Cities dining scene, and thus far, I continue to be just fine with that. Over the course of a couple of meals, it's safe to say that Blondette knows their way around steaks and potatoes. While the preparation has been different each time, the results have been equally delicious (except the Pommes Anna, which are consistently on the menu and great). An entree, some potatoes and another small plate have consistently been enough for two people to enjoy. The space itself is on the 5th floor of the Rand Tower. I can't speak to what it looked like before, but it's a great atmosphere. The dining room is in a glass atrium and there is a patio if the pseudo-outdoors feel of the atrium isn't enough for you.

Came here for a birthday celebration. Located downtown inside a hotel/home building of some sort. Was a little hard to find at night since the name of the restaurant isn't anywhere on the outside of building. Have to go up to the 5th floor where the restaurant is. The restaurant has a nice decor. A nice place to have a couple drinks with friends since I feel the food needs some extra work on. We ordered quite a few dishes for just 2 people. Oysters: for $4 an oyster we expected bigger oysters. The pyramid of oyster started a little bit at the base but as you can see the top one is TINY! The cabbage that accompanied it was not to my liking. Definitely not worth it to me 1/5 Prawn- this was recommended by our waitress and the description sounded yummy but yea... it's literally like 2.5 whole shrimps cut into halves so there's 5 half slices. For a $21 dish we were expecting large prawns or at least 5 WHOLE shrimps . This is more disappointing than the oysters. These aren't prawns to me, they're small shrimp. The sauce is salty. But if you dip bread into it then it's not too bad. I liked the sauce more than the shrimp and I'm sure that's the cheaper part. Recommended to at least add some bread to the dish. 1/5 Escargot - bone marrow is not bad since you can't really go wrong with it lol. The escargot is a little interesting. Has a unique taste that was not to my liking. Very strong taste. The dish itself is quite salty. I actually finished the cilantro to equalize the salt. 3/5 is for the bone marrow. Escargot prob 1.5/5. Steamed Mussels- I'm always a fan of this dish. Has a curry flavor to the sauce. One of the better dishes tonight and for $19 it's definitely worth it. Also came with lots of cilantro and bread which is a plus. 4/5 Wagyu - of course not the typical A5 Waygu. Not sure how to describes the taste but wasn't a fan of the steak. The flavor was not to my liking. The green veggies on top was both salty and sour. A weird taste lol. Creme brûlée- courtesy on the house which is a big plus. However, not the typical Creme brûlée I've had. Wish there were fruits. 3/5. We were surprised that every dish except the dessert were extremely SALTY! I've never drank so much water for dinner but this place gets you. I found my water glass more than 1/2 the time empty. Maybe they were expecting us to drink so much but the food crazy salty! Suggest to leave a water jug at each table because we had to verbally asked for refill a few times not just once. Everyone was nice but not too attentive. Overall, i don't recommend the food here based on what I got except the mussels. Maybe other dishes they have are better? It's a nice atmosphere for drinks and maybe small snack plates but not a full dinner meal at this time.

Food: flavors were incredible and all the food was played very cleanly. Portion sizes were appropriate for the price and I was very pleased with how well the spices and sauces complimented the main food item Service:. Our server was very attentive and checked in with us several times before ordering, during our dining, and after to ensure we were properly tended to. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the food items Ambiance: music was modern and the whole place was nicely lit to provide a pleasant and youthful vibe that wasn't overwhelming. It wasn't overly crowded

I'm out of town from Los Angeles and I'm here on business. Everything closes super early in downtown Minneapolis so if you're trying to get something to eat at a reasonable time, you might be able to look past the hour of 6 PM. I thought I might try this very swanky looking restaurant in my hotel, and I asked for a protein style burger, what I received was a burger with a bun -- and it was not medium well as I had specified, but Medium to the point of mooing! The bartender also recommended the leeks as a side of vegetables. I couldn't believe how tiny the portion turned out to be. I come from a pretty upscale city and I could not get over the fact that they were trying to pass this off as a $15 side dish. In addition, I didn't receive any utensils and the burger just turned into mush the second I tried to take a bite out of it -- and the cheese rolled off and I've been to PARIS, France TWICE -- this is not French bistro cuisine. It is not even close! I don't understand why they market it that way .., save your money.

The ambience is great it's better at night so you can see the purple lighting. Location was easy access nice bar Italian food is what they serve in. Our server was so cute. It was helping me to pick out a birthday drink.

We came here for my belated birthday dinner. We made reservations and sat by the booth. The place is very nice inside, great service and wonderful meal. We had their oysters, tuna crudo, seared scallops and prime rib. All the food were delicious. Drinks were very good as well, I had Dame Blanche and Gin & Tonic. I highly recommend this place.

This is my first time at Blondette, and it was absolutely amazing!! The patio makes you feel like you're in a high-rise restaurant in New York City, the lights, the decor, and the ambience is absolutely top-tier!! The service was some of the best that I've ever had, our waiter created a custom cocktail for myself, and for my friend, I was with, comped her dessert for her birthday!! I hats the duck and the crème brûlée! The duck was very tender on the outside, and slightly crispy on the inside, and the crème brûlée was perfectly crispy on top and just the right amount of sweet and vanilla flavored!! This is an absolutely must go to in Minneapolis!

Chill vibes on the 5th floor of the Rand Tower. Nice service and ambiance, with good food to go with it. I tried: + beef tartare - nice presentation with an interesting small kick because it has horseradish, mustard seeds and capers. Slightly seared so not fully raw. On the stronger end in terms of flavor and salty but thankfully it's good with the bread pairing. + seared scallops - one of the better scallop dishes I've had. Comes with 4 decent sized scallops and the butternut squash puree is actually really good. Come for drinks or food! Worth a visit.

This is a cool hip place with neat lighting at night and high ceilings and teeters between 4-5 stars. Here is my rundown of the food: Cocktails: I loved the Dame Blanche. The server said it was very popular as well. It same with an ice cube with a flower in it which was super unique. My husband got the G&T which is good if you like gin. 1st course: We ordered the Charred Leeks and the Parisian Gnocchi based on Yelp reviews and pictures. The Parisian Gnocchi was AMAZING since it was soft and flavorful, it was our favorite dish. The Charred Leeks were appetizing as well and the leftover sauce went great with the bread from the escargot dish. 2nd course: The escargot shared plate was unique since you spread the bone marrow onto the bread then top it with herb salad and escargot. It's kind of messy to eat but fine if you don't need to impress your dining partner(s). 3rd course: We ordered the Grilled Wagyu Zabuton as our main entrée and it was decent but it was a bit too salty and the meat was a bit chewy in some places. The server was knowledgeable about the menu and our cocktails came pretty quickly. We came here for dinner on a Thursday night at 6 PM and it was already busy and all tables were occupied throughout the night so make reservations in advance! Overall this is a great place to dine at if you want a neat atmosphere and good food. And there is free valet parking as of Feb. 2023.

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food! We had a reservation but our table was not ready when we arrived so we were advised to wait a bit and order drinks at Miaou Miaou. Our table became available before our drinks were ready so they brought them to the table with us. However, since we brought in our waters from outside (two of us were waiting for two other members of our group so we had two water glasses), it must have caused some confusion because the other two members never got their waters filled until after we ordered food, even though the server had asked them what drinks they wanted and they asked for water as we sat down. Overall impression: Food- 4.75 /5 We ordered steamed mussels with a white wine and serrano sauce. It came with bread and was so good- i would slurp that sauce if I could since it was kind of brothy. Our group also ordered the Parisian Gnocchi with mushrooms to share, which is a must have if you are a mushroom lover. I ordered the grilled zabuton steak with a chocolate au jus, which was perfectly seasoned and juicy. The au jus was a great pairing. My fiance ordered the blondette burger , which came with duck fat, cheddar and a brioche bun, and a side of Pommes Anna, which is a crispy, crunchy, buttery potato block with breadcrumbs. He said individually, they are delicious, but together, it was too buttery, so would def recommend regular fries if you order the burger (fries and the Pommes Anna were additional costs). I can't remember what the dessert was called but it was a savory and sweet rosemary, fruit cake with creme fraiche. Not really my cup of tea so I personally would not order the dessert again but would order everything else we had another time. Ambiance and service-3.5/5 The restaurant is beautiful- you get elevated downtown vibes and it is small, so it's not overwhelming with hustle and bustle even thought it was pretty full when we went. However, the reason why I am giving a 3.5 star is because it was very hot where we were sitting (back tables next to the windows) and aside from the confusion and the wait for the initial waters for our friends, we only got our water refilled once and never got the ice that someone had asked for ( the water itself was not iced and it was too hot where we were sitting which is why ice was requested). However, I do understand that it was probably just a busy night for the number of staff members that they have, so I would be willing to visit again to see if another night would be better. There's also a big patio in the back, so I would be interested in seeing how Blondette would look like in the summertime. Overall- great spot for pictures and yummy food. Depending on where you sit, it could get too hot and the water may be slow. Seems like a another person or two also had to wait despite having a reservation, so give yourself extra time in case you aren't seated right away. Either way, this is a cute downtown spot and I would recommend stopping by at least once. Review for Miaou Miaou will be done separately

Let's start off with the pros: The ambiance is very cool and vibey Servers were friendly and attentive Food is a bit unique Certain food is really good (Wagyu beef, burger) Cons: The risotto was terrible Food was definitely overpriced for quality/quantity Because I really did not like the risotto (usually a big fan but I couldn't stomach more than a couple of bites), I asked if there was any way I could swap it for something else. I ended up getting the burger, which was great, but once I received my check I saw that I was charged the $19 for the risotto, $21 for the burger, and $7 for the fries that they recommended I get with the burger. Now, maybe it's not necessary to replace a bad meal, but I've never been to any restaurant that has charged a person for the bad meal, replacement meal, and not offered any kind of discount/drink/dessert/etc.

I hate to give this place poor reviews on the food because the atmosphere and service were great! My blondette burger was cooked perfectly medium-well but the meat had zero seasoning and some hard pieces in it; The sauces made the bread soggy. The fries were lukewarm/cold, but the curry dipping sauce was amazing. I hate to say it was such a disappointment. Maybe I need to give some other items on the menu a chance.

The Blondette is found on the fifth floor of the iconic Rand Tower Hotel, featuring a stylish and open atmosphere. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, suggesting the escargot and tuna crudo. The escargot was served with bone marrow, and the flavors of both dishes complemented each other beautifully. As it was my first experience with both escargot and bone marrow, I was blown away. The tuna crudo was presented beautifully and its silky, tender texture exceeded expectations.

The ambiance was special at night. Surrounded by the lights of downtown towers under the glass ceiling was spectacular. The food was good (scallops and salmon) but very expensive. Drinks were good but high in price. Service was on the slow side and it was not busy. May come back someday to have a drink on the outdoor patio which looked amazing. If you're looking for a meal for a special occasion, I would recommend but otherwise it's too expensive.

The place is absolutely beautiful and the food was pretty good, but unfortunately we didn't have great service even after speaking with a manager

This is such a great restaurant and it's in the Rand Hotel. I would recommend staying at the hotel as well. Service was top notch and the food was beautiful and delicious. Splurge and get the best things on the menu.

When I heard about Del Prado opening a new restaurant, I knew I had to make a reservation to give it a try. Make sure to reserve, it's a small restaurant. Blondette also offers free valet parking for costumers I started off with their gin & tonic. Good amount of alcohol and flavor 5/5. My friend ordered the Pomme Pomme, which she described having delightful apple flavor 5/5. As an appetizer, we ordered the escargot-- bone marrow. The sauce was delicious, dipped our bread on it. The snails weren't my favorite, it's an acquired taste I'd say. 3/5 Main course I ordered the grilled zabuton and I would definitely go back for it again. This was finger-licking good! I ordered my meat medium rare, it was perfect. Flavor was there, good quality meat, purée was delicious and it all came together so well. The only thing left on my plate were traces of it. 5/5 My friend ordered the gnocchi, I tried some and it was also good. We didn't order dessert, they only had one option and it wasn't calling our names. Second drinks: my friend ordered the rand tower martini, which she wasn't a fan of. She couldn't really drink it 1/5 . I ordered a NA drinks, Choupette. It was okay 3/5 . Three points I'd like to make as to why i think this is going to be one of the top 3 restaurants in downtown. One: They offer free valet parking for customers. Takes away from the worry of looking for parking in downtown or walking in the cold. Two: this is located on the 5th floor and it gives an amazing view. It has a glass ceiling, allowing clients to enjoy the night views of the city. Three: prices are not as high as I thought they would be. The quality of the food was amazing.

I recommend the Duck! Such a flavorful sauce. Love the ambiance and service was pretty good for our large group of 10.

Everything was delicious. Had the steak tartare, croque madame and crab and avocado toast. Highly recommend.

Great atmosphere! Must see places! Great food and service. Definitely a relaxing evening if your looking for something to do a either alone or with a date

I love the decor and vibe of this place but I'm not sold on the food just yet. The drinks were great and the bartenders were nice. The space is pretty small and it's usually packed on the weekends as info. We ordered the mussels that were not my favorite but would try this place again for the vibes.

Just OK - we were taken there for a dinner for work. Started on the wrong foot as elevators would not let us go up and desk staff at hotel had no interest in helping us. The place was almost empty (a Thursday night). The atmosphere/view was not nearly as stunning as some of the reviews implied. Food was fine, but nothing really blew me away and wait staff was simply adequate...

I hate leaving a 3 star review, however, this trendy new spot has some kinks to work out. We were able to make a reservation in advance no issue. The restaurant is inside the Rand Hotel downtown so not a huge space but laid out nicely. We Ubered in which made it easy so didn't have to worry about parking. We were seated immediately, however, the service was quite slow. Our drinks easily took 15-20 minutes each order to the point I didn't bother ordering for a final round because we were almost done eating at that point. We only got small plates to split and would say all were just okay. -Parisian Gnocchi - 6/10 - I'm not sure how to explain this dish but it wasn't what I expected. With having truffle butter/sauce I was expecting more creamy and savory. This was dry and spicy? There were sliced jalapeños in the dish which quite frankly ruined it. Also personal pet peeve is when you include something like that in a dish but don't list it on your menu. Ruined it for me as it was way too spicy to enjoy. -Burrata Tartine - 8/10 - I liked this the most but it was hard to eat. Super small serving, you get two pieces per plate and they're bite size. It's a very fluffy but crispy piece of bread with pesto, a thick layer of burrata and small toppings. The flavor was awesome but I wasn't sure if I should eat like finger food (width is bigger than a sushi roll) or with a fork which just destroyed the piece. -Beef Tartare - I personally didn't try this but the couple we were with seemed to enjoy! Came with two warm pieces of bread. The ambiance is cute but it's quite dark. Also warning that if you're seated by the windows you may as well be outside. We were freezing from the cold air blowing through to the point I put my coat back on! They are doors that are meant to open out to the patio, which will be great in summer, but not great for winter time drafts into the restaurant. Overall can't say I was too impressed but willing to try again in hopes things improve. I am a huge fan of Daniel's other restaurants in the cities so confident things will get better as they have more time open!

Went here for a business dinner on a recommendation from a friend. The food was spectacular and the staff was very nice. For being downtown, it was terrific that they offered free valet service! The valet was extremely nice and the staff kindly directed us up the restaurant. The waitstaff was clearly new and still struggling to find their groove. We appreciated the fact that much of the menu was designed to be shared as tapas. We had the charred leeks (which was AMAZING), tuna crudo, seared scallops, beef tartare, parisian gnocchi and duck a l'orange, but nothing disappointed!

Okay drinks (really friendly bartender though), surprisingly great food, cool ambiance. My favorite dish was the braised leeks - never thought leeks could taste this good. The duck was also really flavorful and cooked well. I'd go again to try more things on the menu, though it can get pricey for the amount of food you get.

The food was incredible! Super full of flavor, beautifully presented and big enough to share! Grey to try a bunch of things! The inside is super cozy and clean. Great lighting and intimate for any type of event. Our server Amy was wonderful! she was helpful in providing recommendations and checking on us at the perfect times, we were grateful for her conversation.

Really want to like this place, but it's just not it. Have been twice now. Both times the service is lackluster, and at times, baffling. The food has been lacking in most elements. The burrata comes on a sort of interesting, but overly rich, enormous crouton situation. That was probably the highlight. The wagyu was closer to a hanger steak, and the food runner had no clue which of us ordered medium rare and which ordered medium. So he guessed. The potatoes were described as "mushy cheesy potatoes". No thanks! The leeks were sort of like a tangy soup? Fine I guess but nothing outstanding. The old fashioned was far too sweet. Finally? At 830pm on a Saturday it was completely dead. Music far too low. It's in a cool venue, on the 5th floor in a glass enclosed area, maybe ok for a few drinks if you don't mind them sweet. Bummer.