George L.
Yelp
It's been a few years since I've been to Chez Nous. It first opened in 2015 under different owners, providing a high end French country experience, complete with deliciously authentic food and snooty staff. It closed in 2019 before the pandemic, and reopened in 2022 under new ownership with a French-Italian inspired menu, with a dash of Cajun cuisine mixed in.
My first couple experiences since it reopened were good, but a little confusing. The Italian and Cajun inspired dishes threw me off, mostly because I didn't understand the concept. I also popped by during Schenectady's first Tater Trot, where they made a delicious little potato puff, with a potato chip wedged on the top -- adorable and yummy. But last night my partner and I made reservations to try something new and really sit down for a good meal there -- we were not disappointed.
As previously mentioned, the menu features a few different options, including a quick menu for Theater goers for around $50-55. There were four sections that each include a choice between two entrees, a starter salad, fresh warm bread, non-alcohol drink, and two desserts to choose from. The options vary from wild mushroom ravioli, to crab stuffed fish, and there was a gluten free and vegetarian options.
The main menu had many other options, so I decided to start with the New England clam chowder, then the Chicken and Wild Mushroom Pappardelle, and ordered the Creme Brulee for dessert. My dish came with a starter salad and there was delicious warm table bread with whipped butter.
The clam chowder came first and was delicious. Full of rich creamy flavor, nice chunks of pork, and of course beautifully tasty clams. I got the honey mustard dressing with my side salad and it was great with a subtle mustard taste, and I really appreciated they was they chopped down the cucumbers into small, thin, seedless slices and the tomato was diced into small 1/4 inch cubes, giving them an elegant and enjoyable texture element to an otherwise mundane dressing.
The Chicken and Wild Mushroom Pappardelle was fantastic. It had a rich tasty tarragon cream sauce and great umami flavor. The pasta was rustic home made, cooked with perfect texture, and the mushrooms had the perfect bite. Truly an enjoyable dish.
Finally, I ended with the Creme Brulee which blew us both away. The last time I had this dessert at a different restaurant, it was overcooked and not pleasant. But this one was flawless in both flavor and texture. Wonderful job!
As for the atmosphere, it was just with you would hope. Calm, warm, inviting, and home-y. I believe there was very subtle music playing, and the seating was comfortable. The staff was extremely friendly and hospitable. They were extremely busy, and so we had to wait for a few things, but it wasn't terrible, nor was it through a neglect. They would check in regularly, and apologized for any delays. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be coming back. If you want to go to a French restaurant, but have additional delicious options, Chez Nous is definitely the right place!