La Serre

It was our first dining experience there, for a date. The decor and ambiance is elegant, understated, and very welcoming. The staff were very courteous and attentive. We were very impressed with the croquettes appetizer and Zingerman’s bread— but unfortunately our entrees were disappointing. We ordered the chicken paillard and lobster linguini. Both were oversalted for our taste— for the paillard, it was the salad atop the chicken— strangely too salty. The chicken itself was quite dry and tough in texture. For sure it was overcooked. For the lobster linguini, the saffron lobster cream that accompanied the pasta— again overpowered by saltiness, and wasn’t as creamy as we expected. The sauce also tasted almost too strongly of lobster flavor, and didn’t notice the saffron. Normally we don’t like to complain, but when the staff asked us how we liked our entrees, we hesitantly shared our honest opinion, especially because of the high reputation and price point of this restaurant. They probably also noticed that we only picked at the food and there was a lot remaining. They were nice enough to offer a free dessert— which we gladly accepted, because we were still hungry! We had the pumpkin creme brulee, which was delightful. Overall a positive experience, despite the disappointment with the entrees.

We were here Saturday after Thanksgiving. We were seated right away (we had a reservation). We each had cocktails and they were good but not extraordinary. Had the oysters which were briny and fresh. No shell chunks. For entrees, we had the branzino, steak au poivre, and lobster linguine. I would say the branzino was surprisingly great. It was moist on the inside and the perfect charring on the outside. Perfectly done. The potatoes and tomato confit were also expertly prepared. The fish was served whole but deboned. The lobster linguine was also very flavorful dressed in a lovely bright sauce. The lobster itself was nice and moist. The steak was good but in comparison, a bit ordinary. The pepper flavor was maybe missing a punch. Nothing wrong with it. Just could be more special. We were seated next to a table of loud talkers and people who had apparently drank too much already (by 7pm). Maybe they’d been drinking all day due to football? A more refined ambience would have been preferred for our dining experience. The wait staff was efficient and friendly. I think they were embarrassed by the table next to us. We were not accustomed to having dinner next to somewhat inebriated people but maybe that’s what you get in football Saturday. La Serre was overall a good experience. I would come back.

I went in to dine this past weekend while staying at the Vanguard and I really enjoyed myself. The food was good with very good portions. I really enjoyed the short rib. The service was great at well. Which I really appreciated as a solo diner. A lot of times when going solo you tend to get overlooked and I did not feel that way at all. I will definitely be returning!!!

Another wonderful Christmasy night at Ann Arbor listening to Handel’s Messiah at Hill Auditorium. For this night, we tried La Serre and it did not disappoint. Ordered the steak frites and it was perfect medium rare, juicy and well seasoned with French fry sticks. Also tried the mussels and they are as good. Quick and polite service. Located inside the new Vanguard Hotel. Valet parking if you wish. Highly recommended.

I visited La Serre Brasserie today with two friends and had a very enjoyable experience overall. They offer valet parking, and it was fast and smooth — the car was taken right away, which made arriving easy. We were seated quickly, and the restaurant has a lively, social atmosphere. It’s not a quiet place, but the energy feels intentional and welcoming. There’s also a fireplace, and if you reserve early enough, you can sit on couches next to it. That area looked especially cozy and warm — very inviting and home-like. The highlight of our visit was definitely the food. Every dish we ordered was delicious, well-seasoned, and prepared with care and professionalism. I had the grilled chicken, which was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. One friend ordered the whole bone-in fish, which was beautifully presented and cooked just right. Another friend had the burger, and it was juicy, flavorful, and paired nicely with crispy fries. We were served a small slice of bread with butter at the beginning. I personally felt the portion could have been a bit more, as it was just one small slice per person. That said, the staff did ask if we wanted a refill once it was finished, which was thoughtful and appreciated. I would definitely go back again. For me, the main reason is the food. While the atmosphere leans more toward a bar scene and I don’t drink alcohol, the quality of the food alone makes it well worth the visit. Highly recommended for anyone looking for great food in a vibrant setting.

Had dinner at La Serre with a friend and first of all, big props to our waiter who was the kindest soul ever, treated us really nicely. We had the Lobster Pasta which tasted so amazing and I only took off a start because it arrived somewhat cold. If it had arrived hot, would have been so perfect. We also had the steak and lyonnaise potatoes which was the star of the show !!! Definitely recommending La Serre if you’re ever in A2

All in all it was a decent experience. The staff was friendly and dedicated to supporting our dietary restrictions. The wait time was longer than expected with only two other tables in the restaurant and it came out lukewarm. The vegan burger was pretty flavorless itself, but the toppings and aioli was tasty and helped a lot. The sausage in the vegan hash was very good. The portions were bigger than expected, which was a plus. For the high price, food taste/temperature, and the longer wait time, we left feeling just okay. The restaurant itself was beautiful.

We had 3 separate meals here (only photos of first meal shown which was the best). The French toast with a croissant was the show stopper and I’ll explain why later. The rolled omelette is superb. The ROLLED omelette is delicious. The potatoes that come with it are average but not a fan of potatoes. The onions were a bit over sautéed but overall a delicious option for breakfast. For dinner the side of carrots (trust me) is a meal all of its own and don’t judge it when it comes to the table looking like some of the pieces are burnt. They are not. Trust me. Eat it. The signature salad with blue cheese and candied pecans was also delicious but this is hard to screw up. The service staff are all the shinning stars of this place. Now the cons. This is NOT a French restaurant. For starters the croissant they bring you is made with a brioche dough that taste of Crisco to save on cost and would (does) make a fine base for frying for French toast. This is NOT a French croissant. Do not label it as one. Nothing is crisp. Nothing is airy. It is a chemical sponge that squishy and then springs back to the original form. Not a croissant. Second. The open-faced omelette is not French by any means. It is a hot pan with egg dumped in with ingredients dumped and then plopped on a plate. They add a very big scoop of butter (which is very good but pull it off and save it on the side for the toast) and then expect you to eat this thing that is a heap of defrosted spinach (not mixed in) in one spot and a tire (they call bacon something) in another. It’s a crap shoot as to what your mouth will experience and it is not favorable. At one point I asked my husband to eat it because his steel cut oatmeal that is really more Quaker instant oatmeal than not, looked more desirable and for him to eat the mystery omelette because the flavor was not mixed or inviting and the dish lacked refinement; the dish lacked skill; the dish lacked a sauce that would bring it together; the dish was an American adaptation that failed. Do not call this French cuisine. I have bee to France (all over) and nothing here reminds me of anything I ate there. The chairs are comfortable. The service is wonderful. Plenty of seating. Order accordingly. Now the meh: The crème brûlée. This is not like any other I’ve had and I always order it anywhere I go. It’s more of a pudding consistency than anything. The flavor is good but I don’t expect some of it to slide off my spoon. I expect it to be set up enough to hold its shape when I tap the sugar crust. Overall a delightful dish for the flavor- but not a crème brûlée in my opinion just because you crystallized some sugar on top.

The best bartenders are the kind who make you feel so welcome that you end up eating more than you planned, trying drinks you never expected, and choosing to return rather than explore somewhere new in the city you're visiting. Chris is exactly that kind of bartender. I was in town for work and decided to visit after seeing the appealing menu online. Instead of taking my assigned table, I opted to sit at the bar--a decision I'm so glad I made. From start to finish, every recommendation Chris made was spot on. He started me with the Hamachi Crudo appetizer, described the truffle butter served with the Gougères in a way that made it irresistible, and curated excellent cocktail and wine pairings to match my food choices. Throughout the evening, I watched him interact with multiple guests, and without exception, he was warm, attentive, and genuinely hospitable. This kind of service is what turns a good meal into a memorable dining experience. I'll absolutely be back(tonight)! *duplicating my OpenTable review here because I loved it so much

We had a great experience; the staff worked hard to make it a pleasant night. Great atmosphere, not too loud in the section we sat in (back room). Loved the short rib and the croquettes, really tasty. Also loved the mocktail with "garden" in the name, very good. I thought the cheese puffs were just ok, my wife loved them. Unfortunately my steak was a bit overcooked, but the potatoes that came with it were delicious. I thought the chocolate cake was delicious, though my wife just thought it was ok. Great experience overall, will likely visit again.

The food was pretty good, but wildly overpriced. The $60 seafood "tower" is actually a bowl with 4 oysters, 2 shrimp, a tiny amount of crab, and 1 small lobster tail. The bar looked nice. We'll probably come back for drinks but not food

La Serre in Ann Arbor is definitely worth checking out. The lobster pasta was absolutely amazing--rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. It's the kind of dish you'll keep thinking about long after the meal. The steak frites was also amazing and worth tasting!

Food was good, not amazing. Fare was standard upmarket variety: a$40.00 smash burger, a steak and frite dish that shaved the steak into small, bite sized portions--pretty, yes--but one couldn't help feel As though this was also a clever way to make a profit on less meat and more "presentation." The fried artichoke starter was the star of the show, as was the butter. Yes, I said butter. Butter, herbed, served with just a hint of Maldon salt was a lovely addition to a serviceable piece of bread. While dinner was fine, not spectacular, the valet parking situation was abysmal. Nobody seemed to know anything about it save that it would cost a hefty $15.00 to park. We had to enlist a hotel employee to help us find a way to park, and another to help us find anyone willing to go and get our car. The scene was comical. Since there is absolutely no street parking around The Vanguard, this restaurant will have to get its valet game in order if it is to have a chance of surviving. But, with so many interesting and exceptionally run restaurants in A2, I fear that La Serre is not long for this world.

Walking into the restaurant through the Vanguard hotel is immaculate with all the modern touches. A group of us went out for a birthday lunch and there were absolutely no complaints-- from the burgers/omelettes/chicken wraps/Caesar salad all were plated nicely with fresh ingredients and impeccable taste! I wish I could remember the waitress name that took care of us, she was super attentive. Not to forget the Manager on shift was very informative and our group appreciated seeing the private rooms. Upstairs the staircase is beautiful, I can totally picture weddings here in the future. Upstairs there was two large rooms and two boardroom. Overall, I can't wait for the next lunch/dinner here. I even mentioned to my coworkers that our Xmas party should be here!

Came with a group and they had reserved a private room in the back. Food was delicious and service was amazing! Things felt very upscale. I would definitely come back for special occasions!

We sat in the Angel room as a party of 6 it was so pretty in there! The service was amazing from host, bartender, server, food runner, to manager they were very attentive changing our silverware each course and setting dishes in front of the correct person. The food was incredible! We did appetizers, soups/salad, dinner, and dessert and it was all beautiful and delicious. We will be back!

Amazing restaurant with great food. We celebrated my friend's birthday in this restaurant and we were so pleased with service and food. Gorgeous ambiance. Parking is across street so no worries to find a place to park.

We had a party of 26 in the back room. Service was great (Thank you Liam) and the food was phenomenal. This place is well worth a visit.

This is a great restaurant, food is excellent, service is efficient and staff is friendly

La Serre was beautiful. The dining room was elegant and felt very welcoming. The restaurant was huge, and had many tables. I enjoyed our table, and the special elevator for in people in wheelchairs like me. The menu was extensive. I ordered a steak with two sides. One side had blue cheese, and the other had shiitake mushrooms on it. The flavor of the meat was very earthy and delicious. The steak had a chewy texture that I really appreciated. The person I was with had a burrata salad with herbed tomatoes that she did not enjoy that much. Maybe it was too Italian for the restaurant, and she should have had something French. The staff was adequate. Our waitress played Spelling Bee, and I talked to her about it a little bit. She did not do a great job at describing the plates. I did enjoy a gentleman named Dominic, who poured our water for the evening. The staff was very friendly, and I enjoyed talking to them. The bill came to about $52. The portion sizes were huge. I split the steak I had over two meals. It was expensive but worth it. I really enjoyed my meal, and I hope to go back with my husband one day. I would give the meal 4 out of 5 stars, I would like to try dessert next time when I go back.

Every thing was great, service, food, wine, dessert, decor. Can't wait to go back! Had quite a few of their appetizers, the beet salad, and the chicken for dinner. Every thing top knotch. Hamachi was really good, the mushrooms. The banana dessert was off the charts.

Service, ambiance and food were all impeccable. We came here for lunch after an appointment at Michigan Medicine. I had the steak frites, which was cooked to absolute perfection and my husband had the prime rib sandwich. We each had a taste of the other's lunch and agreed that the execution and presentation were outstanding.

One enters La Serre through the hotel lobby, and the restaurant still feels like an extension of the lobby, a little too brightly lit. The cocktails and appetizers, batter fried artichokes and croquette, were excellent, as was the bread and butte. My wife ordered the chicken paillard and did not like that it was prepared, Milanese style, with the salad on top. My lamb chops were copious and delicious, but the garnishes of cabbage, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts overwhelmed the dish. Chocolate dessert was great. Definitely a repeat, but some work needed.

This was the best meal we have had in Ann Arbor for some time! The space is beautiful and the service was attentive and warm. Everything we ordered was executed perfectly--classic but never generic. Standouts were the gougères (Gruyère cheese puffs), artichoke hearts frite, goat cheese tart (my favorite!), and Creme brûlée. The steak and mussels frites were both delicious. The valet parking was convenient and not *too* expensive ($6.60 plus tip, which is $3.95 minimum through the app). I am very happy for this addition to A2 dining!

Ambiance was nice although tables were narrow and quite close together. There was bread and butter to start which would have been better if the bread were warm. For the appetizers we had the beef tartare which was very good and the artichoke. I had the short rib as the main course which was a generously large portion and very tender. The chocolate mousse was nothing to write home about but hard to say no to wrapping up dinner with a sweet treat. I left feeling very full!

Cool place. My steak was great. I had the Filet. I had the Beef tartar, Yum. yes this is a must and I will be back. Lots of good drink and awesome service

My wife and I had dinner at La Serre on July 26 to celebrate my birthday. Our experience in the restaurant was exceptional. The waiter (Lauren) was great. She was very attentive and had a great sense of humor. The food was excellent. i have some dietary restrictions and the kitchen was very accomodating. The Manhattan I had before dinner was wonderful. The wine selection was great. The food was excellent. And while the restaurant was loud, we were able to converse. The valet parking however was a huge disappointment. We had to wait over 30 minutes to get our car after dinner and when I tried to complain to the head valet he chose to argue with me instead of apologizing. A very disappointing end to an otherwise enjoyable evening.