La Merise French Bistro

When you're craving a taste of Paris in a charming setting, this is the Denver restaurant that comes to mind. The brunch/lunch menu is delicious, especially the savory crepes with a crispy side of corned beef hash. My sister enjoyed the signature burger with a sliver of pate for extra richness and crispy fries with a touch of truffle butter. And the extra cold-dry martini was on point.🍸 Tres decadente!

We went in for restaurant week, and chose a $45 menu. My son had French onion soup and beef Bourguignon, both were very good. I had a Niçoise salad with tuna and I was disappointed by the size of it, little greens, overall small quantity for the price. Service was very good, and ambience is nice.

We chose this place for the Foie Gras Torchon....unfortunately the night we went they were 86'ed. Boo...luck of the draw. We ended up starting with the Country Pate...instead of the mustard they did it with the jam that would usually come with the Torchon. This was a nice dish. Next we had the Onion Soup, and Beet Salad....the soup was decent, nice rich broth, decent amount of caramelized onions and a nice amount of cheese on top. As for the beet salad. Nicely cooked beets, but overall fairly bland....was any salt even used, dressing? Now, the worst part of the meal...main courses. Trout....very salty.... Pork....overly sauced and again very salty. Now I know salt is subjective....but the kitchen was all over the place with its use that night....cold side not using it, and hot line being heavy handed.....is anyone (EC/Sous) tasting anything... The main courses were borderline inedible.... As for service....the busses was great, the server seemed to get in the weeds once she got more than 2 tables, then she forgot about use and only concentrated on her larger tables. We will probably only go back to try the Torchon as it seems it's the only place I can find it....I'll just call ahead to verify first.

Absolute gem of Cherry Creek North for 15+ years…. Our brunch and bottomless mimosas were fabulous… I thoroughly enjoyed the service, ambiance, decor, service, my salmon omelette and salad… and that dressing!!

What a delicious dining experience! The French Onion Soup was heavenly, and every part of our meal was just delectible. Highly recommend the oysters and creme brulee! Great atmosphere, straightforward delicious food without pretentiousness.

The first time I enjoyed La Merise, I sat at the bar and had appetizers and a martini. Absolutely lovely ambiance and classic french offerings! We decided to book a Sunday reservation for my birthday dinner, and it did not disappoint! We had the french onion soup, of course, and each had the filet entree. It was all delicious. Not only was the food good, but the service was great as well. Bonus was the super special dessert menu and a great wine special on Sundays! I am counting down the days to try their brunch!

Reservations were easy, and customer service was on point. The servers are friendly, attentive and helpful. Fine dining but not pretentious. The food was absolutely fantastic. I had the beef bourguignon and my date had the chicken . Both were delicious with flavorful sauces. The serving was generous and more than enough. We are looking forward to dining on the patio when the spring comes.

I visited there last week for my boyfriend's birthday. Loved the ambience. It felt like I was in a restaurant in France. A cute little spot in a perfect location. The food was great. I ordered the mussels and onion soup. The mussels were too good and the sauce was perfect. The soup for me was okay maybe coz I tried onion soup for the first time. Then we ordered the lamb chops and I loved it. My boyfriend ordered the French ham burger the taste was good but it was a bit salty. For dessert we tried the chocolate mousse and it was just heaven 😍One of the best chocolate mousse I ever had Our server was very nice and she gave us suggestions as well. Would recommend this place if you want to go for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion

I have lived here 20 years and this is my first time here! What! I was seated between two tables & a gentleman leaned over obviously aware it was my first time in and suggested a few menu items. He said he drives 30 minutes every week to eat here...it's THAT good (and it is!) Service and food were exceptional. I want to try everything on the menu. Looks like I'm a weekly customer!!!

A great place for a cup of coffee and fresh pastry first thing in the morning. The piano was a nice touch.

A fun place to try! It felt like I got transported into a different world and there is so much to try! Would like to come back and try other items but overall tasty, attentive service, and fun yet cozy atmosphere!

Terrific food. Authentic feeling decor , so a big, Yes, on ambience.. For those who have been to Paris, you will feel you have seen this same restaurant in Paris more than once or twice. Great dining experience. I try eating here at least once per week. The service is usually quite good. For me to give out a 5 star rating usually takes lots of great experiences at a restaurant. I have eaten here many times... very few disappointing experiences. It has earned the 5 star rating. Well Done!

This place has good service and, a nice dog-friendly patio that is shaded, so great on hot days. It's a very Cherry Creek vibe. The food has been OK though, nothing great. My husband loved the burger. The crab salad was meh, there was very little crab, it was not chunk meat. The salad was laid out on the plate, dressing on the side. Poor presentation and overall quality. The tuna nicoise was good, a nice healthy option for summer.

My friend got the lox crepe and it was ok, nothing special. I got some sandwich from the lunch menu and it was phenomenal, will come back solely for this item, but unfortunately it's not on the main menu. (Sandwich had angus beef, cheese, onion, dipped in a beef stew with frites on the side!) Ambience was very cozy and pleasant for noon on a Wednesday. Service was very friendly.

Excellent french food. But having gone there 5 and 7 years ago, I wanted to try it. Knowing their menu, i chose Sunday night because their wine menu has an entire page devoted to declaring, "All bottles of wine are 1/2 price every Sunday." We ordered from Restaurant Week Menu which had 3 choices. First was onion onion soup with guyere. It was a small bowl of onion soul with cheese rather than usual the full bowl of French Onion Soup. Very deceptive snd cheap. When we ordered from their very expensive wine list, the waiter went to get bottle, returned and said it was not 1/2 off but full price. That was an extremely deceptive trade practice. We asked if we ordered off regular menu if the wine was 1/2 off. So we did and the total cost was 1/2 of Restaurant Week price. I will never return to Le Merise. Their menu food is very good but their deception and cheap shot practices are reprehensible.

Very good but not quite great. A group of six of us went there for Denver restaurant week and all ordered off the pre fixe menu. Mussels à la Marinière, French onion soup, Chicken Croquettes, Trout Grenobloise, and Beef Bourguignon. Of these the stars were the chicken, beef, and French onion soup. These were rich, flavorful, well balanced and nicely plated. The fish and muscles were good but not outstanding. While well cooked they were somewhat bland. One thing I noticed about the muscles is that there were a few served that were not opened (don't eat). Sending out unopened muscles to a customer is a HUGE no no. It is not a big deal for the chef to pull out any unopened shells. The setting is very nice. Warm and inviting although a little loud for me. The service was excellent. Overall for a pre fixe menu/price it was a good value. However, I think their normal prices would be somewhat high for the associated quality. But...It is Cherry Creek.

We had a very pleasant experience at La Merise. Our oysters were really fresh and delicious. Escargot appetizer was very garlicky, just how we like it. The ambiance was very cozy and warm. We loved our waiter, he was very nice and attentive. Everyone loves their entrees! We'll be back!

This was my second visit, and I was just as pleased as I was the first time...except that my husband ordered mussels as an appetizer to share without asking me if I liked mussels (I do not, ha!). That aside, my actual dish that I ordered was the trout. I was nervous to go because since my first time there, I now have to eat GF. I had LOVED the trout so much and was afraid I wouldn't be able to order it this time. It was totally gluten free, and totally amazing! Loved every bite! The creme brulee for dessert was equally wonderful, and we shared a bottle of wine - great, great evening with fantastic service the whole time!

Loom this is a solid place. You won't be disappointed at all. Here is the thing, there food is terrific but there is never an "oooo my God" experience....which is just fine. 100% you will not be disappointed with what you get. The staff is great. We will for sure be back again.

I'll start this off by saying I've only ever been there for brunch, so my review is based on that. I love this place. My partner and I are here every weekend. Rarely have I felt so welcomed. If there is a special, I almost always order that as it's usually unique and delicious. Their soup is always a stunner. Ditto for the special dessert. If you ever see the Honey Lavender Cake, order it. There's not a bad choice on the menu. I've tried new things here (trying to get into seafood) and they've all been excellent. Wonderful oysters always, every sauce I've had is to die for. And their house salad is a beautiful dish. But we all know food isn't the only thing that makes up a good restaurant experience. The staff are all long time workers. I've seen almost no turnover since I've been going. They're clearly happy, and that counts for a lot for me, and is reflected in the quality of the service. I feel when I'm there like I've been welcomed to the family. They remembered me after I think the first time and continue to. I look forward to our brunch every week as a time to fill both my stomach and my heart. The food is good, the service is wonderful and homey, and the prices are extremely reasonable. My only hesitation in recommending it is I don't want to start having to make a reservation every weekend for my seat at the bar. But you should go, and sit at the bar. Thank you, La Merise, for giving me such a wonderful space.

It's not an authentic French place- more Americanized with only a few selections of French food. We had a reservation and got there on time. We immediately got sat and ordered an appetizer and wine. The food was good but could be done better with the price they charge. The wine selection by the glass were that great either. The server guy was busy running around but he was attentive. Also the place was so crowded!

Wonderful French bistro. Great, relaxed atmosphere and attentive waitstaff. Definitely try the escargot!

Stopped in last night with my family for dinner. The restaurant was nice and the staff was friendly. You do need to walk down some stairs to get to the restaurant. I am not sure if it is handicap accessible as I didn't see a ramp or an entrance that did not incorporate stairs. The food was good but not great to me. We had the escargot and mussels appetizer. The escargot was just okay, I felt it could have had more flavor. The mussels with the white wine sauce were excellent. Good for dipping with the bread as well. My husband had the lamb and said it was perfectly cooked but he didn't comment on taste. He said he liked the veggie medley that it came with. I had the filet with au gratin potatoes. The potatoes and veggies were good but the steak was not cooked to how I ordered it. I had to send it back and wait for them to cook it more. By the time it came my sides were cold and my family was almost done eating. My daughter had the steak frites which was cooked how she ordered it and no issues. I had the pink martini to drink and it was amazing if you like sweet drinks. We skipped dessert as my meal delay off balanced the dinner. Overall I haven't decided yet if I will go back.

Best beef Bourguignon! Really enjoyed the onion soup as well. Already been here several times and loved this place.

Came here for brunch. Had the lox omelette and the strawberry tres leche crepe. Mmm! Mmmm!

La Merise is a great French restaurant in Denver! It's unassuming from the outside, but the inside has lots of French charm and is very classy. We enjoyed the steak frites, lamb chops, foie gras, and crepes Suzette! Everything was so good! Especially the foie gras! It was so rich and delicious and the jam that came with it was so good. It had the right amount of alcohol to fruit ratio. The steak was well cooked and not chewy at all. The butter on top was flavorful and rich. Personally I thought that the lamb was a bit fatty but it was still good. Would recommend and go back!

The vibe is cozy, intimate and charming. We have only visited La Merise for lunch, but we were celebrating! Our server Anastasia was attentive and knew the menu. To start, we ordered appetizers: French onion soup: prepared with white wine-yummy, Caesar salad: the dressing was spot-on and the leaves of romaine were crispy and fresh, escargot with a carpet of fresh basil and garlic in melted butter; they were tender and yummy, be sure to order extra bread to soak up all of that goodness, and finally the oysters, so fresh and tender. For our mains, we had the lamb shank with mashed potatoes, the mussels with a side of fries- honestly the best mussels in broth, I've had!! The broth was buttery and creamy with diced shallots and white wine- so tasty with a hint of sweet with a bit of spice from the chili flakes I added. My husband loved his burger and frites. Yum yum. We ordered a bottle of Vieille Ferme red; was fantastic at a good price. Dessert was chocolate mousse and the bananas foster and an aperitif of B&B for my hubby. Dinner was delicious and fun and fairly reasonable for all of the food. The perfect celebration of our daughters midway through junior year and 26 years of marriage.

I've been here a couple times already, and I only have good things to say about La Merise. Great atmosphere, delicious food, excellent service... please visit and experience this restaurant yourself!

Love this place. We came on weekday for lunch/brunch and staff was attentive and friendly. Started with the smoked salmon appetizer which they brine in beets and serve in lovely rose shapes. Next I got the Tuna Nicoise and the French onion soup. Never had a French onion soup and was not a fan but that could just be my taste. The salad was great. Would definitely try again.

Can't complain about the food it was delicious, especially french onion soup, I've been several french cuisines looking for good onion soup and this one is one of the best one we've tried. But if you are looking for a quiet place to go have dinner or lunch with family this is not the place to visit, it is too loud people are screaming left and right. Recommend for food not recommend for great quality time. Oh by the way it takes too long to bring your order FYI!

I am in France every year. This place is the closest yet to being authentic. The pate is exquisite and the entrees are a wonderful offering. The French onion soup is great.

I've walked by this restaurant multiple times and have always wanted to try it out. Finally had time to have lunch and it was a huge disappointment. The crepes were so underwhelming and flavorless. The wait staff was very friendly and the place is cute but with the food being very blah I don't think I'll return.

Oui mon ami! The food was delicious!! It felt like a perfect afternoon in France. The mussels were so flavorful. The crepes melt in your mouth. The chocolate mousse was pure decadence. Loved it all.

Dined today for the first time at La Merise for brunch! FOOD: 4* I had the vegetarian crepe because béchamel and Brie make my heart sing. VIBE: 4* The ambience is nice, a little old world and classic. SERVICE: 3* Service was slow. A mimosa on bottomless brunch ($19) should not take 15 minutes. Also, over halfway through the meal I asked for *a* mimosa intending for 1 since I already had a different beverage and when my check came I was charged for bottomless. Had I not had 30 minutes to kill waiting for my ride I would have been annoyed and ordered a second to make the bottomless I didn't order "worth it". TANGIBLE MENU: 5* They gave real menus, but I think it's because the phone service is bad and they don't have wifi.

The restaurant was super cute, but not all patrons respected the mask on while not seated rule. This wasn't a great experience, but it also wasn't a terrible one. All i could think was this could have been a better experience. The staff wasn't super attentive or helpful. I had the STEAK FRITES. The fries were good, but the steak was a bit chewier than I would have preferred.

Marci and NoGerts ( Allison) are great, food great, wine great, great atmosphere!!!! Sergio is a POS!

It was pleasant. Service was good. There was nothing in particular to prompt a recommendation to a friend. Lovely Cesar salad. Veal chop was over cooked but mashers and demi was incredible. Salmon was average, spinach was very stemmy. Le Reve cocktail was delicious and went down too easy! Lovely intimate ambiance.

This was the best meal I've had in years! The Fisherman's Stew was a special with mussels, shrimp and salmon in a tomato-ey sauce. I can't adequately describe its divinity. TONS of perfectly cooked seafood and a generous portion to fill up a hungry me. My companions had the pork chop and salmon and were delighted as well. They come often and the staff greeted them warmly. For my birthday I was brought a piece of lavender cake with candle. It was simultaneously flakey and soft, not too sweet -- an amazing pastry! Esai (sp?), our waiter was very pleasant and efficient even though the place was packed. The entire experience was delightful.

This place is incredible. From the ambiance, the food, cocktails and service; I'm impressed. I had the filet with potatoes au gratin and my partner had the lamb chops and mashed potatoes and they did not disappoint. The oysters were delicious and so was the creme brûlée. Our server Ana was so wonderful and attentive!

Our son and his girlfriend took us to this restaurant gem that they enjoy! The service was great! Food was very good!

The food and service was first class. Usually Bistro tends to be high prices and small portions. The portions were plentiful. The mussels were delicious and the bowl was heaping. Next we had salads. My beet salad was awesome. My husband said his Caesar was kinda tart. I had the duck l'arange and my husband had the pork; both were great. We finished it with a lovely crème brûlée. We had Eric at first and then Allison, both were very attentive. A good experience overall.

This somewhat hidden gem is now on my "permanent rotation" list. The intimate, little bistro is so inviting and lovely. Wine selection is great, as well as other bar cocktails. The dining area is a bit tight and intimate, but also makes you feel like you tucked into an authentic, French bistro in Paris. I loved my dinner of the trout. The crispy, beautiful searing of the fish was divine and gave some excellent texture to it, topped with butter and capers. SO delicious! I am eager to go back and try the escargot because it smelled amazing at a nearby table. Service was very good for such a busy place on a weekend.

We sat at the bar enjoying very large glasses of wine. That must be a French thing. I'm thinking a 1/2 a bottle went into each glass. We were quite famished by the time we were seated. The food all seemed just fine. No big complaints here. But nothing mind blowing .... Our table ordered petit filet and pork medallions. The atmosphere was relaxing (or maybe it was the wine ). ; ) Our waiter was pleasant and attentive. We chose to sit inside due to the chill in the air but they do have a nice outdoor section with heaters..

There is no better combination in the world than great friends, delicious food, attentive and knowledgeable service, and perfect ambiance. Wine is a huge bonus. We had all of these and more at LA Merise, and based on the crowd I'm sure you will, as well. The place is tucked in a lower level of the Cherry Creek shopping and dining area downtown. Once you walk in the warmth of the place will get you mentally set for a great meal--A+ for ambiance. Our server, Allison, was also top shelf. Knew every wine and drink, asked just the right questions, and made perfect recommendations and excellent pairings. She also knew when to be attentive and when to stay away--no rush to turn tables in this place. Our food was very good. Dropping one star for a steak and lamb chop that were very good, but didn't quite match the price. For a very authentic French dining experience that checks all the boxes, I strongly recommend LaMerise!

Great little French bistro. The crepes are really goo and they have some good wines as well

I visited here for Sunday Brunch, which was perfect. The cottage cheese pancakes are unusual and were a fantastic regular item on the brunch menu. Coffee and bottomless mimosas (with a two-hour minimum) were fantastic. I tried a daily special - the "Tartiflette". Tartiflette is an item you don't see on many French restaurant menus, but it is from Alpine French cuisine and is a fall/winter dish, I believe invented at the Savoy hotel in Chamonix near Mont Blanc. It's a potato casserole, in this incarnation, La Marise serves it with tiger shrimp and bacon, gruyere cheese, and mushroom. The shrimp is an unusual addition to this dish, but it was perfect. Delicious, and cheesy and a great breakfast item. Saw lots of people enjoying brunch in various sized parties, and in various ages - everything from small children to senior citizens. Social distancing is done well here - every table is six feet apart or more, and servers have masks and clean between serving. I should note that during this visit, which was during the COVID-19 epidemic and during September 2020, there was substantial road work going on during the weekends, which made dining outdoors extremely noisy. You might find it's quieter during the lunch hour at 12pm, or after 4:30 pm each day (or perhaps during weekdays).

Stopped by on my quest to find a go to french onion soup in town. I came in during brunch and it wasn't too busy and was seated right away. They have a nice patio area and the inside definitely reminds me of the classic french bistro that you'd see in media (warm colored walls, lots of wood...). The restaurant is in the "lower" part of a building on Clayton and 3rd, and I almost missed it on my way in. I ordered the Onion soup au gratin, some fries and their mimosa, which was a lot larger than I was expecting! The mimosa was awesome, a good portion but pricier as a result ($10). They didn't have the price listed on the menu so I didn't find out about that until my bill came. The onion soup was definitely super cheesy but may not have been baked long enough since the top wasn't as browned as I'm accustomed to and the soup itself on the inside was lukewarm. I enjoyed the abundance of onions and the bread which was still a little crispy on the edges, but thought the soup itself was a little on the bland side and was missing the robust flavor from the beef stock. Fries were awesome and so was the aioli I was provided. This side was a bit on the small side, and pricier than I expected ($6.50, not listed). Overall, I got a pretty good, filling meal and am excited to try their other dishes.

The food was bland, but what really earned the two stars was the incredibly rude service. I'll never go back and I'm making sure all my friends are aware of why. My friend had some questions regarding a couple of dishes and asked our waiter. He told her to hurry up as he was busy. He didn't listen to what I ordered, and I even double checked with him. I still got the wrong dish. He also kept popping up on either side of me from behind with loud questions. It startled me each time. It wasn't relaxing to say the least. We both felt stressed out and rushed.

Lovely little spot for dinner or lunch. Service was good. Food was good. One thing that I thought was out of place was no refills on soda. Seems kind of "cheap" to me - especially after a $40 lunch per person.

We had a very good lunch this afternoon. Sat outside in the shade which kept us comfortable in spite of 35 °C weather. Good food and good service. We spilt: * bread and butter (a good baguette) * a bottle of Bouvet cremant $48 * steak frites. Sirloin. Cooked as ordered with salad, crispy fries. I brought some home. * lox crêpe. Delicious bechamel sauce. Very happy. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. + Big 2 top + Hefty Winco stainless flatware + Cotton napkins + Cotton table cloths + Cushy chairs + Music: soft jazz - Apple Pay Lunch for 2 (inc tax and tip) $113.09

We were so lucky to find out this place for dinner. We got seated inside, such a nice & neat old fashion for French foods. The food menu is pretty reasonable. I love the complimentary breads, red wine from the house is just $30 but so smooth. Besides we got the good service. I would love to come back to try different things on the menu

Lovely brunch on their patio. Great service and authentic French fare. Do expect European size portions. You will feel nourished but not stuffed. That's how they stay skinny in Paris! Especially noteworthy was my Gold Dust cocktail. I loved it so much that I looked up the recipe and bought the ginger liqueur to make it at home. It's nice to (almost) feel like you're on a trip to France. Definitely recommend.

This is an absolutely charming spot located in Cherry Creek. The ambiance is warm and inviting and service was welcoming and friendly. The patio is perfect when the weather is nice and I like that it is tucked away in the lower floor of the building which ups the coziness factor. We had the pork tenderloin which was succulent and served with a lovely sauce and the beef Bourguignon was authentic and savory. The mousse au chocolat was the perfect ending to a quiet, romantic dinner on a chilly evening.

I had the duck confit with salad. I love duck and this one was very tasty. Not smoky like some people think it should be cooked. The salad was great. The French bread could have been better but was good.

Before they had to close because of (...the name that shall not be spoken), they were the place to go in old Cherry Creek for a quiet table for two, a restrained atmosphere punctuated by the owner's or server's French accents, the white table cloths, a bowl of traditional and richly textured/tasting French onion soup accompanied by a classic baguette, a delicious boeuf bourguignon, or a trusty coq au vin. Those days now seem like a forever-ago, and it makes me hunger not just for the food our taste buds know at their core but for the relaxed and happy times we had going to a place that had been around and weathered the storm--if you will--for many decades. Can't wait for those times which I hope are soon ahead to repeat that happy lunch I and a friend had that I describe above at the beginning of this aptly named month, a month that has arrived like a lion and that we're all hoping will leave like a lamb. Sign me, David "vieil homme" M.

Hidden treasure in Cherry Creek North! Down the stairs and you walk into a very classic cozy bistro. However the place is NOT handicap accessible. In other words, you are not welcomed if you and your loved ones are in wheelchair. Our waiter was not professional, basically he couldn't answer to the most basic questions about the menu! Snails for appetizer came out extremely bitter because they put too much burnt pesto on it. We ordered medium-well Lamb Racks and medium steak-frites! Surprisingly, after 45 minutes of waiting, steak-frites came out unrested medium along with medium rare Lamb Racks. However, Cream Brûlée was great for dessert! This place also offers great selection of wines and few cocktails. If you're looking for good vibes and wines, this is your place but do not look forward to a tasty food nor a professional service.

The pork medallions and beef Bourguignon are delicious. Their beet salad was also very yummy. Would definitely come back for these dishes. The French onion soup was not good in my opinion. It was very vinegar-y. Service is also pretty bad here. The staff is quite rude. Something to be aware of.

A friend and I went to La Merise for Restaurant Week and we were very impressed! For our first course, we both opted to have the mussels in a garlic cream and white wine sauce. I could have just slurped the broth right out of the bowl it was so delicious! For our main entree we each ordered the Beef Bourguignon and I have to say this dish was fantastic! The red wine and veal demi glace was so flavorful and it paired really well with the thick cut bacon chunks and veggies. Not to mention, the beautifully whipped and creamy mashed potatoes served on top. Finally we got one of each of the dessert options, a creme brulee and a chocolate mousse, both of these were sooooooo perfect. We ate them too quickly to take any photos :) If you are looking for an authentic French meal in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, La Merise is your spot!