We took the munchkin to Tersieguel's awhile back for their Sunday brunch. Built in a 19th century home in old Ellicott City, this restaurant has some serious old world charm. A real pleasure just to come in and sit down. The food was great. We did an online deal to take the sting out of the cost for brunch which also allowed us to try several options. We actually got the munchkins to try escargot. They absolutely loved it. We enjoyed our meal and the service. I'm looking forward to trying these guys for dinner one of these days (at which time I may bumpt them up to 5 stars), but if their brunch was any idication, it'll be phenomenal.
(4)
Chuchu A.
I went there with my husband for brunch. The food was exquisite!!!!!! Excellent customer service and they were more than excited to serve you & make sure u're taken care of . I'm defiantly going back soon with my whole family:)
(5)
Meg S.
Fantastic restaurant. Amazing food. Best french food I have had in the states; hands down. Great ambiance and the service is wonderful. A Maryland treasure!
(5)
Megan O.
Tersiguel's is easily our favorite French restaurant in Howard County, as well as one of our favorite restaurants overall. We've eaten here a number of times for dinner, and everyone we've taken there (including serious foodies) have enjoyed it. It has great service, great drinks, and great food. Just be ready to feel a little broke afterwards. We went last night for dinner, and I think that experience really encompassed everything we love about this restaurant. The staff are friendly, helpful, efficient, and effective. Our waitress recommended a wine for us based on the type of flavor we were looking for, and it was perfect. I wish the other French restaurants in the area would learn from Tersiguel's on what defines excellent service; they are not stuffy or rude here at all. You don't feel rushed to eat, and they are attentive without being obnoxious. It's a great experience. The food never disappoints. We ordered the special appetizer, which has been a special every time we've gone for a at least a year...but it was delicious as always (a set of 4 different fish-related dishes). Oh and the bread...the bread! It is so perfect. We were just imagining taking it on a picnic with some cheese as we were eating it. Maybe to a park in Paris? We've had most of their types of entrees at this point (the classic French dishes always on the menu, plus the various entrees that change seasonally, although we've never ordered steak). We've never been disappointed. Last night I had chicken, and my husband had fish. Somehow we managed to find room for dessert; we shared the gelato. It's fun to order just to see the giant ice bowl on which it's served. We drop at least $100 every time we eat here; more this time since we ordered a bottle of wine. If you just order an entree, expect to spend at least $30, but you should really save up to spend a bit more to really get the full experience. Tersiguel's never disappoints on food or service, and they are large enough that you can usually get a reservation. Don't delay, go today!
(5)
Tara L.
Friends joined me at Tersiguel's for Restaurant Week. Most of us had the house salad and salmon with coconut sorbet for dessert. Everything from the fresh bread to the carrot salad on endive as a sample, main entree and dessert was delicious. The presentation was detailed and beautiful. Service was excellent! A great dining experience, overall.
(5)
Tim W.
This is a wonderful french restaurant. The food is delicious and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. This is not a place to go for a quick meal -- it is a spot to savor a bottle of wine and some delicious food with friends.
(5)
Tracy S.
I love this place. Sometimes I just crave the chilled country pate and go in for that and a glass of wine. Last time I was there I ordered the veal. I felt a little guilty (baby cow) but one taste and I was guilt free. It was soooo good. The drinks were great as I went with a frustrated mixologist who tested the bartender with some exotic bourbon drinks. We also had some wine that was suggested by the waiter. Afterwards a romantic stroll along Main Street in Ellicott City. A+++
(5)
Kira B.
We came here for my parents anniversary. ..just some dessert with friends. Delicious! Very quaint and quiet atmosphere.
(4)
Steve W.
Romantic atmosphere for dinner and very expensive but that's about it. Came here with a few friends for dinner and drinks. The waitress gave us 2 drink menus for 6 people, and we didn't get dinner menus till everyone ordered drinks...? Very disconcerting! I ordered a filet mignon and oysters for the appetizer. The oysters were small but tasty and the filet was very small and unexciting. I've had much better at Outback steakhouse. I typically do not have a problem with the prices unless the food does not measure up and the food did not measure up. To think, I could have gone to Prime Rib or Charleston's for the same prices. The waitress was a bit irritating if not demeaning although the other wait staff filling water and serving bread were very attentive. If you want to enjoy a night out with good food, drinks and atmosphere, go somewhere else. It was a big disappointment.
(2)
Allyson D.
Erm...well. This is awkward. I heard a lot of awesome things about this place - including high praise from the owner of the inn I stayed at during my weekend in Ellicott City. The sad fact is, this place was just OK. I was close to giving it 3 stars but I don't even know if I can muster up "A-OK." Maybe 2.5 stars? Anyway my boyfriend and I ate here early on the Saturday eve of the "mighty" Hurricane Irene - we were literally the only guests there at the time. We were met with happy, smiling faces & seated in the back dining room. While the house setting is quite adorable, the place is super cramped. The backroom is also not the most romantic or nice looking, and the bathroom was oddly...underwhelming? Is that fair to say? It was this tiny closet with a toilet. I think I should also set the tone of our waiter - he was mighty odd. He insisted (like, stood over us until I decided to, indeed order a drink) we have a drink and took a while to come check back on us, and even longer to bring us a menu, from the get-go. It was almost like he was holding the menu hostage until we'd get a drink. He was very descriptive and helpful , which was nice, but, again, kind of neglectful. We were the only people dining at the time but once a family of four came in, he seemed to forget we even existed. The bus boy ended up helping us after the appetizers. We didn't see him again after, except for a "bye" out the door. I was kind of insulted that he seemed to ditch us in favor of a larger group (and larger tip, I'll guess.) What makes it more annoying is how noticeable the attention he was giving this family was. Anyway food was ok. We got the "tour de france" because it seemed the most economical choice - they were nice substituting the vegetarian plate for this - which was a very interesting plate - lots of great, new flavors with fresh vegetables from their garden but there were also a few bland vegetables as well (such as boiled squash, boiled green beans, boiled spinach (?!), brussel sprouts that seemed to have been cooked in vinegar). My boyfriend & I weren't going crazy over our meal - which is a shame for such a price tag. I recommend not doing the tour de france because they only include 2 dessert options - their ice cream, or their caffe caramel/cream. We each ordered one, and both were really awful. The cream was really flavorless and the ice cream (which was "honey and lavender") was grainy - just all the wrong texture of ice cream. It was awkwardly served in this weird cup made entirely of ice which was kind of offputting. I really don't think its worth the price.
(2)
Scott R.
I've been to Tersiguel's four or five times but the most recent was more than five years ago. I like the place. I like the owner. I like the decor. The bathroom in the hallway is terrible - how about a real lock on the door? The problem this time was the food was only fair. There were four of us. We ranged from very foody picky to pretty laid back. I have left out the comments of the foody picky person as she tends to be too picky. The Brittany fish soup was ok but without a lot of taste. It really needs something else. The other appetizers were unremarkable but ok. I had the rockfish - the taste was ok but the portion was ridiculously small. Maybe 3 ounces of fish for $35? This is Baltimore not Paris. The fish came with a purple potato salad which was good but could have used a bit less salt. They also served broccoli Raab which was bitter but I don't know that vegetable well and that could be the norm. My wife had the scallops. The scallops were good the beet risotto was undercooked and just not very good. Three scallops for $35 again seems a bit chintzy. The chocolate Mousse was wonderful and saved the entire meal. The waitress was pleasant. The young lady filling the water and the bread was very attentive.
(3)
Kate S.
My husband and I have not been here in a few years but Costco had gift cards $80.00 for $100.00 so what the heck, it's our anniversary. We started with the chickpea crepe topped with goats cheese, the crepe was very flavorful and topped with fresh tomato and olives I could not taste the chickpea though. I had the fish special which was cod lightly fried over a seafood risotto. The fish was perfectly cooked the risotto was dreamy! I also had a side of the pumpkin polenta which was also delicious, it was slightly sweet but also savory very nice combination. My husband had the Cornish game hens which was in a rich mushroom sauce and came in a cute little pot. We split the chocolate mousse which was hands down the best ! We had a great meal just one set back, they never returned with our leftovers and we did not remember until we were half way home. I think I will buy another Costco gift card!
(4)
Nhu P.
Disgusting. Went here because we had a livingsocial deal and left with food poisoning. Had the escargot for appetizers and the scallops for main course. Husband had the lamb. Horrible!!! Scallops tasted bad, smelled like ammonia, and I was hugging porcelain for days. Lamb tasted old, like it wasn't fresh. So if you're in the mood for overly priced, non-fresh food that'll most likely get you sick, be my guest.
(1)
Fred K.
After a recommendation from my friend, we decided to try this French restaurant in historic Ellicott City. This sure was a special treat and delicious lunch! Our waitress was very friendly and guided us through the menu and based on her recommendations, we ordered a dozen oysters and escargot for appetizers. The escargot was a good size and love the garlic butter (nice way to eat the bread). The lamb chops was cooked perfectly, medium rare, and the peach puff pastry was a pleasant surprise, an item you don't normally see with lamb chops. The desserts were very good too.
(5)
Gini D.
Amazing food and amazing service. Charlie was our server and he is fabulous! The beef bourguignon was so delicious and we had the scallops and fresh catch fish. The goat cheese cheesecake is phenomenal!!
(5)
Starr C.
My dad had a LivingSocial deal and my family doesn't eat French food very much, so we decided that today was the day to change that. As you can see by the rating, it was a pretty good decision. Tersiguel's is a white building on Main Street in the historic district and it's a fancy place. Our coats were checked for us as we were seated. I did call ahead just in case they weren't going to have enough tables on a Friday night, but the person on the phone assured me that we would be able to enjoy our meal here. We were led up the stairs to our table, where our waiter offered ice water and offered drinks and aperitifs. (We declined.) A note: It is QUITE dimly lit in this restaurant, so bring your glasses if that helps you see better, etc. I really liked the ambiance of the restaurant. It was kind of homey but still felt like a special occasion kind of joint. And it was decorated for the holidays, as well. Our waiter was super polite and helpful. It's a little hard to flag one down since they do tend to leave you kind of unattended, so if you like a lot of attention during your meal, you might not be the biggest fan here. But we got constant bread refills, they were gracious when I asked for more butter and dressing, etc. We got a little amuse-bouche along with the bread, and it was crouton with basil ricotta cheese and I want to say tomato but I think it was something else. Despite my usual aversion to cheese, I thought it was pretty good. I ordered the house salad and it was pretty plain, kinda boring really. Just a large platter of greens with sparse dressing, so I asked for more. I ordered their daily special appetizer, which was a seafood tapas-esque type for sharing, but I had it all to myself as an entree portion, haw haw haw. There was flash-fried calamari with a yummy aioli, a crab (and potato?) spread seasoned with Old Bay and served with croutons, garlicky buttery shrimp served with a head of roasted garlic (Just checked, I heard "fist" and was confused, but apparently one whole garlic is a fist; the more you know!), and steamed mussels. - Calamari is your basic stuff, served with a lime wedge, and the aioli was quite yummy. Use sparingly, unless you like getting carried away with condiments like me! - Crab spread was rich and yummy. I also used it on my bread, since the croutons were downed very quickly. Not sure why I thought I should use a spoon to spread this; that was a bad idea and I had a knife right next to my plate. - Shrimp was good, although I'm not sure how I was supposed to eat it with the garlic. I ate them separately, which felt wrong, but right in its own way... - Steamed mussels were the only thing I took issue with. A few were kind of gritty and I don't think the wine was cooked all the way out. I'm 21 now, but I am still not used to the taste of alcohol, although I am really good at identifying it, and yes, I could taste pretty straight-up red wine in the mussels. If you really love red wine, then this is a plus. For me, it made it difficult for me to finish them on my own. My brother ordered filet mignon and that was cooked perfectly. My dad went for the prix fixe menu, with pate, the salmon, and the creme caramel au cafe. What a yummy and divine dessert, I only wish I hadn't stuffed myself so full of seafood so that I could have had more of my share of it. This is definitely a fancy shmancy restaurant, where the waiters use crumbers to clean up the tablecloths and someone helped me back into my coat as I was leaving. The food was really good, the service was great. I'm glad we were able to visit, and I will definitely recommend Tersiguel's during Restaurant Week and beyond.
(5)
Tom C.
Tersiguel's would have rated five stars save the rockfish, which was just slightly overcooked. Here's the scoop: They have rye at the bar, which is critical for making a perfect Manhattan. Good start. They also make a delicious cosmo, which pleased the missus. We opted for two appetizers: the tarte de peche, which is a peach tarte made with bleu cheese and arugula. Outstanding! A word of caution here: this is more like a dessert than an appetizer. I chose the escargot. Absolutely perfect! The busboy made sure I had an ample supply of country bread; a critical addition to the escargot. You gotta sop up all the butter and garlic that accompanies the snails. We continued with a salad of local tomatoes marinated in a Thai basil dressing and accompanied by arugula and FRESH mozzerella (the chef just finished making the cheese). Again, outstanding! You can't beat fresh! Our waiter recommended sopping up the juices with the bread. You have to love a place that encourages you to sop stuff with bread. (An aside: the bread is delicious. It's made right there in the basement. The crunchy crust compliments the soft, warm body.) The lady chose the Poulet "En Croute" entree; free range chicken fricasee with mushrooms, broccoli, potatoes and carrots. Wonderful. I picked the fresh rockfish, served in a citrus brown butter with baby red potatoes and haricot vert sauteed with shitake mushrooms. Everything was super, except the fish was a tad overcooked. We finished with crepe suzettes, prepared table-side and really decadent, accompanied by their rich house coffee. Superb. We complimented the meal with a 2007 Louis Jadot Chassgne-Montrachet, one of our go-to white Burgandies. We were greeted by the owner's father, who used to own Tersiguels, and doesn't look nearly as old as he claims to be. The service was outstanding, especially the guy who kept bringing me the fresh bread. All in all a pleasant dining experience which will certainly bring us back.
(4)
Avi M.
The food here is delicious. The atmosphere is very nice. I'm a vegetarian now but years ago I ordered the pheasant, I don't know if they still offer it but, it was great. I enjoyed the chef's assortment of fromage dish.
(4)
Kamni G.
Location- Historic Downtown, it is beautiful and rustic and very romantic. Bread- The butter arrived before the bread and the bread arrived very very cold! Coat check-Are kids allowed to do this? If they work for tips is that legal? Not trying to say it was not cute but just curious Server- Erika- lovely. You can tell she likes her job and she does it well :) Wine choice- many many choices but if its a champagne it needs cooling, ours wasn't cool at first glass and not cold enough by the last. Cheeses-wheres the plate? For what we are to pay, I expect a platter with some presentation. I am sorry but 3 mini plates lined up is just sad. Rockfish special- Good. My husband loved it. Salmon with pearl pasta- The salmon was cooked perfectly but was salty. The pearl pasta was delicious. Desserts: flourless chocolate cake- a bit too dry but good. passionfruit ice cream- tart and good, I grew up in Fiji eating passionfruit all the time...it was done well but not perfectly. Presentation...needs work.
(3)
Jennifer N.
I went here last night with one of my good girl friends. This is by far one of the nicest places that I have ever been. Tersiguel's is located on Main Street right at the top of the hill. To the unobservant pedestrian, you might mistake it for an ordinary house, but make no mistake, this place is GEM. We had resevations for 7PM but got there a tad early...more like 6:40PM. The Maitre'D was so polite and attentive. You can tell that customer service is their #1 priority, that and good food! We kindly took our coats and placed them in the coat check and offered a variety of tables to sit at. My friend and I chose the room where the bar was located, away from everyone...and it's a good thing that we picked this spot by the window because everyone else might've thought that we were loud and obnoxious. Haha my friend is one of those 'foodies' that absolutely LOVE to take pictures of their food as soon as it hits the table. Combine this and the bright flashes from her camera, and we might have ruined some dinners for a few patrons. So it was a good thing that we decided to sit away from everyone. One fear that I did have about sitting so far away from everyone was that there would be a lack of service. That's how it is at most restaurants. You sit away from the crowd and you risk going unnoticed by the waitors most of the night. That was not the case here. If anything, I would say that the waitors gave us even more attention. As soon as my glass of water hit the 1/2 way mark, our waitor would venture into the room, water pitcher in hand, to refill our glasses. Not to mention the complimentary bread service. It was phenomenal! Now let's get to the food. Granted, most of the dishes are pretty pricey...I would say that the food and the service make up for it, ten-fold. Appetizer: I forget the actual name for this but we got the hot appetizer combination. It came with 1) Shrimp broiled in a Garlic Butter Sauce, 2) Deep Fried Calamari with a Spicy Aioli Sauce, 3) Mussels in a White Wine Sauce, and 4) Some type of crab spead crostini. Everything was delicious. The shrimps were nice and tender. The Aioli Sauce complimented the Calamari very well. The White Wine Sauce for the mussels were to die for! In fact, this is where all my complimentary bread went...into dipping it into the White Wine Sauce! The crab spread was good. It has a gritty/starchy texture. I think they added potatoes to it. Entree: Canard. I got the Duck legs confit with honey garlic gastrique, and pumpkin polenta. I guess duck is my weakness. Whenever I see duck on a menu, I must order it. I wasn't disappointed with this order either. The duck was crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. The pumpkin polenta reminded me of a sort of sweet potato puree. My favorite! If only I wasn't stuffed from the appetizers, I would have eaten everything on my plate! It's okay though. I am looking forward to a banging lunch! MUST GO BACK. Next time I will try to bring my boyfriend. The ambiance is nice and romantic. The service is EXCEPTIONAL...just a heads-up. The bathroom is not what I expected, hence the 4 stars. The bathroom is located in the hallway. It's a small bathroom, reflective of a 'water closet'. It smelled of cleaning supplies and bleach. The lock on the bathroom door was broken and there was one of those hook things used to compensate for the broken lock...Once the bathroom is spruced up a little, this 4-star rating will surely be bumped up to 5. Until then, I stand by this.
(4)
Jeanpaul C.
This is classic french cooking. The service is good but they treat it like a european restaurant so you are not rushed to order, eat, and get out. It is relaxed and comfortable. Those who criticize the service have never been to France as this is how all restaurants there are, they do not rush you through your meal and actually encourage you to slow down and take your time. I found the sweetbreads and filet to be great and my wife loved the pastry wrapped rock fish.
(4)
Jeff I.
Going to this restaurant was a strange experience.This place has some of the trappings of fine dining service and it certainly has the price but those things seem bizarrely out of place in the rest of the experience. Yes they have servers in bow ties who pull out chairs for you, check your coat, and offer you amuse bouche. They also have a bathroom with disposable pump soap covered in mold, a broken lock on the door, and an empty toilet-seat cover dispenser re-purposed to hold a cinnamon broom. No dress code, the couple sitting next us was in jeans and decided not to check their north face jackets. Of course none of this would been worth mentioning had it not been for the price ($120 for a couple, sans gratuity, dessert, or coffee) and the pretentious service. However, the most damning thing of all about this place was the food quality. We had the seafood appetizer, which at $34 was absurdly priced. Besides the price here was nothing remarkable about it at all. Some fried fish sticks, shell fish swimming in melted butter and garlic, and a very bland mashed potato/crab concoction. For our entrees, my wife had beef bourguignon and I ordered the lamb. The lamb came in a tiny portion, a single chop and 2 - 3 oz of tenderloin. Continuing the trend, it was, like the family style sides of green beans and creamed cabbage, totally unremarkable. My wife's beef bourguignon was the worst dish of the night. 5 huge hunks of over-cooked dry beef in a few tablespoons of sauce. Terribly dry, like you better watch how much you put on your fork, cause you are gonna choke on it dry. A ridiculous meal for the price and the over the top service. To Tersiguel's credit I imagine the fact that we went in the middle of winter had something to do with the sub-par food quality. The simple dishes served here need fresh, local ingredients, I would guess that can be difficult in January. I would love to have a great French restaurant to visit when I am in Ellicott City and considering the rest of the reviews, we very well may have shown up on an off night. I am just not willing to risk another $120. As it was, if you have ever had a family vacation to Disney World, you get the idea of this restaurant; over the top, awkwardly executed service, combined with mediocre food, at a ridiculous price.
(2)
Keith C.
This restaurant has been in business for over 30 years and that is because the food and service is excellent. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try.
(4)
Bruce D.
Groupon Ripoff !!! Groupon deal for 3-course, Prix Fixe Brunch is advertised as a $40 value but it's only $21.95 if you order it there. Huge misrepresentation. Plus, they then charge tax on $80 and charge extra for coffee so I had to pay $11.95 for tax and coffee and a tip on a $80 value so it cost me a total of $65.00 - - $40 for the Groupon and $25.00 for tax and tip. I could have ordered there for what we wanted and it would have cost less.
(3)
Najad T.
Disappointing. Was good in the past.
(2)
Matt S.
My girlfriends family have been coming to this restaurant for over a decade, and they love it. So when I came down to visit with her family, we went here for dinner one night. The decor is what I would describe as "antiqued" I guess, it has kind of an old feeling to it. I believe it's trying to replicate a French home out in the country (as the food is supposed to reflect that). I didn't mind it, I found it cozy. The waitstaff was very attentive, but not intrusive, which was nice. The food was excellent, and I believe a lot of that is attributed to the season. A lot of their vegetables come from their garden in the back, which I imagine during the late fall/winter seasons would not be available and result in not so fresh tasting veggies. That being said, everything we had was great! My girlfriend and I started out with the house made sausage, which was very good. She had the filet mignon and I had the NY strip special they were running, both were cooked and seasoned very well. Her sister had the braised lamb shank and lamb sirloin (which I snagged a few bites of) and that was great as well. Her mother had the salmon that looked great (I didn't want to intrude on her meal as well), and she confirmed that opinion, In the end, I can see why her family has made Tersiguel's a staple in their family, I highly recommend it!
(5)
Nathan C.
When I was growing up in Maryland, Tersiguel's was always the place that rich folk went. A place that served mysterious food made out of organs and gizzards and (gasp) duck. For some reason, it's taken us an awfully long time to make it there. But, we got my mom to shepherd the carpet primates for the night, and the missus and I headed to Ellicott City to get our French on. The food was great, while being just shy of awesome - but it was *consistently* just shy of awesome - everything was 4.9 stars. We started with the seafood appetizer - a montage of sauces with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari. All were deliciously prepared and sized for two. We also got the pate, which they brought out as a second course. It was delicious - the happily fatty mouthfeel was complemented perfectly by the Sauvignon Blanc that our waiter suggested. For the main course, I had the lobster risotto - a tomato based risotto with big chunks of tender lobster on top. My wife had the tuna steak, which was seared perfectly and served over a celery root paste, with asparagus and squash. Portions were pretty well controlled, and didn't skimp or overwhelm. For dessert, we got the crepes Suzette - a preparation neither of us have ever experienced. Dessert, as with most things, is better with fire. I mean, how can you go wrong with butter, sugar, and three kinds of booze to make a sauce? The staff was overwhelmingly friendly and attentive - never did a water glass empty, never did the bread fail to magically appear, and so on. They also made a point of splitting things, from the pate' to the wine, which was great when we just wanted to 'try something' without getting it twice. So why not 5 stars? While they have great dishes and staff, they need, um, something else. I don't exactly know how to put my finger on it -- maybe they need more wines by the glass, maybe they need a quieter atmosphere, maybe they need lavender-scented urinal mints -- but there is just something missing that keeps them at 4.9 stars instead of 5. That's probably not fair to a wonderful restaurant we'd gladly go back to, but I'm sticking to my story.
(4)
K Sera S.
I feel almost guilty giving them such a low rating, but I just can't honestly say that they've wowed me. Our server was sweet, but obviously inexperienced and untrained. He seemed confused about what to do with my wine glass when I indicated I'd not be partaking. He had his fingers too close to the food on the plates when he served (ick). He left dishes on the table a bit too long. Nothing earth-shattering, but not great. My omelette was chock-full of asparagus and cheese--a plus! But the truffle oil--which ordinarily is a treat--was actually overdone and ended up overpowering the other flavors. And there were hairs in my soup and my omelette. (Ick again.) Your grandma will feel right at home here if you go for lunch or early dinner. I'd be willing to try it again, but there are plenty of other options out there that I prefer.
(2)
Carrie W.
Came here on a Sunday. Nice building, decor is odd, trying to look fancy but maybe from Target. Servers were all nice. Service designed to seem fancy and they did a good job. Menu on the expensive side and by the descriptions justifiably so. The food was good but not great. Omelet had potatoes on the side, which have to have come out of a freezer bag of breakfast potatoes. Not bad, as they're a good salt vessel, but not expected. Wild mushrooms were sliced portobello mushrooms, also unexpected. French toast covered in syrup, definitely not maple syrup.
(2)
Jenn T.
My husband and I went here to celebrate our anniversary which we stated in our open table reservation. We asked for a nice table because of this. Upon arriving we were sat in the front room, in the middle of 4 other tables. Not ideal. Our waitress was very sweet and informative but our food was just ok. We watched other tables receive their amuse bouche, but i guess they forgot ours. Our appetizer was good, marinated tomatoes with elioka cheese. The red drum fish I ordered was dry and I did not finish the risotto because there was nothing special about it. My husband ordered the cassoulet which he described as hearty and good. We did not order dessert as the meal was quite pricy and the meal was mediocre. We probably will try other restaurants rather then go back here. There was also a young child in the other room who was crying at one point. I think she was related to one of the staff. It seemed inappropriate for the ambiance of a nice restaurant.
(2)
S C.
Good food. Okay service. The Maitre'D was the best thing of the night. His personality will bring us back alone. Just saying "take your time and enjoy" was a nice touch. The waiter was a bit pompous and talked to us like we were idiots. Not an endearing trait. Duck Confit, pate, and soups were tasty.
(4)
Katherine T.
Although the menu is getting a bit stale, Tersiguel's is usually dependable. On our last visit, however, it was not. We had a scallops dish and I could smell the fishy odor when the waiter placed it on the table. A taste confirmed that these scallops were well past their prime. I told the waiter and he said he was sorry, but made no move to replace the dish or make any adjustment. We were very disappointed and will probably not go back again.
(2)
Bob M.
Great French restaurant on Main Street in Ellicott City. Service was great and the food fantastic. Very enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Miriam B.
I was a little scared of trying this place due to a few bad reviews. But I think most of those were written by people who have not been exposed to the beautiful food in Brittany France which is much lighter and healthier than the food in Paris. All the vegetables and fruits are homegrown in the original owners garden. The bread is fresh made daily and light as air. We had a wonderful waiter named Charlie. He really pampered us and carefully explained the menu and the history of the restaurant. We found out he has been working there over 20 yrs and the owners are lucky to have such gracious staff. Since this was our 1st time dining at this establishment my husband and I opted for the 8 course chefs tasting menu. With most French restaurants this is the way to go. You get a nice mini portion of several dishes. We started with the mission fog salad. Warm figs drizzled in basil oil over watercress and French goat cheese. Our 2nd course was tuna carpaccio served with sun dried tomato and olive tapenade. Scallops on a bed of fresh beet risotto was our third course. The scallops were perfectly prepared golden on the outside and plump and juicy on the inside. One of the most unique dishes we tried was rock fish baked in a pastry called Brittany paper. This was very similar to Phylo. We had slow roasted lamb in a delicious blue cheese sauce. Our main entree was a perfectly cooked filet mignon in a homemade demi glace, duck liver mashed potatoes and haricots verts. For dessert we had a classic creme brulee. This is a great restaurant with a healthy approach to French cuisine. It's a great place to take a vegetarian too.
(5)
HowChow B.
Four ingredients -- one great sandwich. The proof of Tersiguel's talents are in its variation of the croque monsieur where my brain was surprised that there was no barbecue sauce at all. The sandwich -- a variation because it isn't the grilled, cheesy version most restaurants would serve -- comes at lunch with slow-cooked pork, creamed cabbage and an alioli. Four ingredients if you add the bread, almost plain-looking for a $12 plate. But those ingredients sing. Moist pork with a subtle, but strong flavor that paid perfectly with the fresh taste of cabbage. I don't normally want creaminess in slaw, but I loved it on the Tersiguel's sandwich. And the bread. The bread! Tersiguel's bakes beautiful bread -- a crisp crust, an airy interior -- for both your bread basket and for the sandwich. The roll was soft, yet held up to the moist fillings even as I ate slowly to savor our fancy lunch. My brain expected meat so moist and flavorful to be covered in sauce. Tersiguel's has basically created a pulled pork sandwich, but they have the skill to bring everything out of the pork with just the simplest support. That's the fun of a pro kitchen. Lunch at Tersiguel's is a less-expensive way to try Howard County's most famous restaurant. I chose between the sandwich and several crepes that looked equally delicious. If you can catch a pretty afternoon, it's perfect to eat and then window shop along Main Street or walk downhill for a coffee at the Bean Hollow.
(3)
Susan M.
I had a good experience at this restaurant and would definitely go back. We were seated on the third floor with a nice view of Main St. I had the raw oysters for an appetizer which were well-sized and fresh. I had duck for my main course which was served in a delicious sauce and I felt it was the perfect portion size. I would absolutely return and recommend this place to my friends!
(4)
Rob N.
Tersiguel's used to be a prime restaurant, run with attention to detail and a high standard for its food. Now, I'm not so sure that the same concern is given to ensuring that the dining experience is memorable. The food is pleasant, but no longer memorable. The menu is seriously old-school country French, Coquilles St. Jacques and all that. Terrines, pate, and duck confit. This can be a treat, but only if prepared with passion, and Tersiguel's has lost that passion. These French warhorses are now trotted out with only the occasional flash of inspiration to bring them to life. Service is good if you can get one of the established serving staff. If you don't, it can be spotty. Case in point: if you have an almost exclusively French wine cellar, you would expect the waitstaff to know the difference between Pouilly Fuisse (Burgundy Chardonnay) and Pouilly Fume (Loire Sauvignon Blanc) without having to look quizzically at the list. Tersiguel's is still an adequate special-occassion place, but compared to years past, it's getting long in the tooth.
(3)
Nancianne H.
Went to Tersiguel's again...this time as a commoner for Sunday Brunch. Our OpenTable reservation got us our party of 6 seated ASAP, and they didn't mind that 2 of our party hadn't yet arrived. Food was wonderful, service was very pleasant, but I'd be lying if I said that the service was prompt. We're talking 20 minutes for a coffee refill and another 20 for more sugar packets for the iced teas (my stepkids are still waiting for the day that 'sweet tea' is offered up north). However, it was Sunday afternoon, we weren't in a hurry, and the restaurant is French. C'est la vie!
(4)
Chris S.
We went here for a wine pairing dinner that is orgainized through the Wine Bin across the street. Everything was excellent. The lamb and phesant were particularly good. Lunches here are also great, and less expensive.
(5)
Jennifer R.
I had been meaning to try Tersiguel's for awhile when I lived in Baltimore, and just never got around to it. Finally tried it last night after moving further away from it :-) First off, the service is great here. The owners are exceptionally friendly, the wait staff as well. There is a very respectable wine list, and the bread is baked in house (the butter they serve with it is great). I went with some folks that are regulars and know the owners quite well, but I noticed other diners were getting the same level of excellent service. We started with the seafood appetizer - I will say that fried calamari often leaves me underwhelmed not matter where I eat it. It was good, but didn't knock my socks off (I prefer it grilled to fried). The littleneck clams were superb, as was the shrimp with garlic (served with a fantastic bulb of roasted garlic on top - perfect for dipping the bread into). I had the fish of the day, which was rockfish. I would rate it good, it had an interesting crust on it that tasted almost like a high end fried chicken skin. The spinach served with it was very good, as was the potato in a wrapper. For dessert I had the fruit tart which was blackberries and included a white chocolate mousse. Delicious and light, perfect for a hot day. I would certainly go back again if I am ever in Ellicott City.
(3)
Steve S.
We arrived Saturday night and were seated at once. Our waiter and staff help were friendly and excellent quality service began right away. Water glasses were kept filled, drinks were fresh. Salads were brought first and the vegitables were crisp and fresh. Dinner consisted of Bay Scalops for me and a steak for my wife. The scalops were firm and tasted great, the steak was done to my wifes expectations and the side dishes were excelent. Desert was Crepes made at the table and as usual they were to die for. All in all a wonderful evening.
(5)
Kaylie S.
Went here for brunch with my mom. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. Each course was very good and the portions were big enough so that we couldn't finish. Each course was spaced out and we were not rushed in the least. The waiter was very personable and the atmosphere calm and relaxing. We'd love to return!
(4)
Vincent N.
oh wow where do i start? So i decided to take my gf out to a nice fine dining restaurant and read all the reviews about this place...but didn't read enough reviews... first we get there and its like we are eating in someones living room. the tables are setup way to close to each other to where everyone can hear your conversation. the Decor is old and not very warming.. we started off with the escargots $9. which wasn't to bad but yet still pretty bland. can tastes much herbs or garlic. FAIL my gf got the "tour de france" $31...3 course meal consisting of: fish soup- tasted like strong pungent fermented mackerel puree. FAIL lamb shank- overly salted lamb and with a more then usual gamey taste. FAIL apple tart dessert- 3 bites you're done..but the teaspoon of whipping creme was excellent. OK I opted for the Veal $31- Not having veal before i didn't know what to expect..and what i got were 3 small pancake size pound pieces of beef that tasted like pork. absolutely the WORST piece of beef Ive ever had and i am not picky!! it was tough and overdone even though the pounded the crap out of it to tenderize it...instead of it being tender it was like rubber.. SUPER FAIL the service there is top notch but that doesn't make up for the $90 meal i spent. Seriously, a frozen dinner would've tasted much better and cost me $88 less... EXTREMELY disappointed. but the service and the whipped creme is good, if that's what you're looking for. A HUGE WASTE OF $90
(1)
S G.
My family and I had brunch here today and the food was AMAZING! I had the sweetbread appetizer, the fish hash special and the fruit torte dessert. Everything was really well conceived and executed. It was a lovely classical French meal and I was very pleased. At first glance I thought that it was a little pricey, but by the end of the meal I realized that it was all worth it. Our waiter (who I believe also doubled as the bartender) was wonderful... very helpful with suggestions and always on point. No doubt we will be back!!
(5)
Dayne B.
Wow. Great wine, food, cheese, and crepes!
(5)
Mark B.
Everything about this place was well prepared. My only complaint (request) is I wished they had scallops as an appetizer. I would have gotten both the escargot and the scallops, in addition to my meal if it was offered. My wife and I went here for our first wedding anniversary. I have been to Paris a couple times and my wife and I had French cuisine for the first time together on our honeymoon. First, the restaurant is in historic Ellicott City, right on Main Street. My wife and I love this area and are so very happy to have found a gem right in the center of this beautiful and historic area. The restaurant, a 19th century colonial home, looked quaint from the outside and we were not disappointed as we walked inside. We had made reservations through Open Table and the maître d'hôtel immediately welcomed us, had our reservations and promptly escorted us to our already set table for two. Our serveur and the maître d' were very pleasant, the only French uncharacteristic aspect of the dining. The serveur ran through the specials and answered questions about the menu with ease. THE FOOD I got the escargot as an appetizer. The snails were already unshelled, which some say removing the snails from the shell is part of the fun. The escargot was delicious! They were different than the ones I had in Paris (maybe less thyme or parsley), but the butter and garlic sauce was amazing and the shallots and white wine made it very distinctive. The maître d' even brought additional bread and a bouillon spoon to get all the sauce out of the dish and onto the extra bread he brought. I would come back again simply for the escargot. My wife got the tomato soup, which was very well seasoned and slightly creamy. I got the scallops, which were cooked perfectly. The artichoke sauce was probably the highlight of the dish. The printemps (spring) vegetable risotto was slightly bland, but cooked well and worked with the coquilles Saint-Jacques (scallops). If they offered scallops as an appetizer, I probably would have either gotten the Veau or the featured meat of the day (Viande du Marche), which I believe was both a tenderloin and lamb loin that sounded amazing! For my wife's main course, she got the conard (duck). She definitely preferred the leg confit preparation over the seared magret with honey gastrique. The seared magret (breast) was tough, while the duck confit had an amazing flavor and just melted in your mouth. My wife had a small portion boxed up to take home with us, but unfortunately we forgot to ask for the box from the serveur when we left. For desert we shared a strawberry tart and they brought us out a small cup of desert with a candle in it for our first year wedding anniversary. Nice touch! The experience could not have been better, the serving staff was attentive, but allowed us our time to ourselves. We never had to ask for anything, but we were also never bothered. This is a great place for a special occasion or just a very nice meal. Living Social always has deals, so I would keep on the lookout for those as well.
(5)
Debbie H.
Best Meal Ever - we went to celebrate our anniversary and had the tasting menu of 5 courses. The food was the best I had eaten and the entire experience was wonderful. We were not rushed but made to feel so welcome from the moment we entered. The duck confit with pumpkin polenta in a honey glaze sauce was my favorite. The scallops were perfectly cooked with wonderful combination of passion fruit sauce and beet risotto. We also had a filet mignon that hardly needed a knife and melted in your mouth. We had Crêpe Suzette table-side and Charlie is a master! So delicious. I highly recommend Tersiguel's! Thanks to all of them for making our anniversary so special.
(5)
Ina C.
3.5 stars. The food made up for the awkward service and slightly tacky decor. We went for Howard County's restaurant week, but ended up ordering off of the regular menu because we weren't too impressed with the RW offerings. (There's a year-round prix-fixe menu for $36.95, and the RW menu just added a salmon option and stuck a $40 price tag on it!) We ordered: - The seafood appetizer. It's for 2+ people, and each portion is around $14. We ordered two portions for the four of us to share, and it was plenty. The presentation was like tapas - a tower of calamari, and little bowls each with mussels in a curry broth, shrimp with a roasted garlic fist, and mussels with sausage bits in the sauce. All were fantastic. I highly recommend this appetizer! - The "crabe "appetizer. This consisted of a mound of chilled crab meat topped with fennel and some other veggies. This had a really unique taste, and I liked it a lot - but I wouldn't have liked it as my only appetizer. Get this if you're sharing apps with your friends and you want something light and cool. - Lobster with lobster & tomato risotto. This was my favorite dish. The risotto was topped with lobster bits and surrounded with a green mint sauce that made the dish look like Christmas, and tasted like heaven. The combination of the mint with the other flavors was really unique. - Rockfish. This came with a side of really unique veggies, which I won't even try to remember. The fish was seasoned lightly and well, but the fish itself was a little bit on the dry side. - Duck. The really special thing about this duck was that it was sweet. Delicious, but a little bit monochromatic as an entire dish, if you know what I mean. One-dimensional. - Scallops. Like we mentioned at dinner, it's hard to mess these up. And they didn't mess 'em up! Nothing all that special here, but this was a solid dish. Very tasty. On to dessert! - Chocolate mousse. YUM! The mousse was light, airy and creamy, and had a raspberry swirl which gave it a little punch. I couldn't stop eating this. - Napoleon. I saw this across the room even before we ordered our drinks and knew we had to get it. This is not your traditional Napoleon with millions of hard-to-eat layers. Imagine a Napoleon sandwich - lovely cream and seasonal fruit (raspberries for us) surrounded by two wonderfully flaky biscuits. Fantastic! Including a half-bottle of wine, our bill for our party of four came out to around $230, I think. Not bad. Like I mentioned at the beginning, the food outshines the semi-awkward service and weird decor. This place seemed like it was designed by your grandfather. But really, if you wanna go, go for the food. Tips: - Park behind the restaurant. Follow signs to "Lot D" and pay only $.25 per hour! You gotta love EC! - Not really a destination restaurant. Don't go out of your way to eat here; But if you're in the area, you've got some money to burn, and you want some French food, Tersiguel's is your place!
(4)
Jennifer S.
I've never met a meal here I didn't like. Exquisite food for any palate and attentive service. Very good escargot!
(4)
Mary W.
I came here last summer with 2 friends, worrying that the restaurant would be too stuffy for 3 college students & expecting the food to be AMAZING. Sadly, only the 1st expectation was fulfilled. Don't get me wrong, the food here is definitely well thought out and well-executed, but it just did not suite my tastes. The seafood appetizer was pretty good, but my main course hit a low note. Personally, I don't like fruity sauces with my meat and I also don't like sweet cabbage WITH my duck. I picked duck because the lamb was sort of intimidating and I'm not a huge fan of steak. Although the duck was well-cooked, I wish the chef had used a different flavor combination. Overall, the meal was on the heavy side, and believe me, so was the check. I would probably only go back if I knew they had something special on the menu, or on a day when there is live entertainment.
(3)
Andy C.
The first time I went here was for Easter brunch. While the food was a bit overpriced, it tasted excellent, and seemed like the kind of place we'd go back to for special occasions. Boy, were we wrong. Not long after that, we took my mother-in-law there for Mother's Day. Big mistake. Despite there being no mention of it on their website or when we made the reservation, they had a special fixed-price menu on Mother's Day. Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but there was almost nothing my wife could eat, because she was pregnant and had to avoid fish, shellfish and other things. We asked the waiter if we could order off the normal menu but he said the chef wouldn't allow it. We ended up spending a fortune for something that no one was particularly happy with, particularly my wife. Don't expect us to be going back, considering how unhelpful the waiter and chef were to us.
(2)
Julie E.
Filling out my Yelp profile, I saw the last meal question and thought of the glorious French food (the truffle-shaved salad, the escargot, the lobster) and I promptly got lost in thought. And once I came to my senses, I realized if I was suffering some premature death, I probably would be penniless and unable to travel back east to this "tres cher" restaurant. One can dream though. My sole experience eating here was during the winter, which, I think accentuated the intimate surroundings of the historic house and brought out the comfort aspects of the subtly flavored food. I wouldn't hesitate to try to repeat the experience at any time of the year...just give me another year to save up!
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Tersiguels' is overrated. The service was snooty, the food took a long time to cook and wasn't as good as the price was high. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary but they stuck us in this crammed little room at a rickety table. Better French food at King's Contrivance. Much better service at Jordan's.
(2)
Graham D.
Came here for brunch and had a great veal hash with organic poached eggs. Still one of the best restaurants in Maryland. Maitre'D and wait staff were very friendly, and accommodating. Plenty of off menu choices for little kids. I am particularly happy to give this 5 stars for the value as well. For fine dining, this is extremely well priced.
(5)
Shieva R.
After reading the reviews last night the family and I decided to head over for a nice meal. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away. The meal was good but not great. We had a great salad, pate, butternut squash soup, and a great blueberry sorbet in a fabulous ice cup but I really felt the entrees were lacking. There were five of us so I got a chance to taste a large portion of the menu, and I was left a bit disappointed. The chicken was very poorly seasoned, the vegetable plate was just a poor mix of all the side dishes the restaurant had, none of which complemented the other, just a sad hodgepodge. Our waitress also seemed very nervous and uncomfortable, I think she was new, but the rest of our service was on point. The decor itself is charming, non-pretentious and suites old ellicott city well, but the bathroom is one of the single handed sorriest excuses for a restroom i've ever seen! The bathroom is unisex, ok, in the middle of the entrance to the restaurant, er ok, and the smallest saddest rundown thing I've ever seen! Overall, unfortunately I don't think I'll be back there is better french food to be had!
(3)
Eric N.
Went here for a special meal with my wife. We had a great meal, and this was our second time here. Started with the seafood appetizer, which consisted of muscles in a white wine broth(not so great), clams in a butter garlic sauce(very good), fluke and potato cake(very good), and shrimp in a garlic sauce(excellent). Plenty of sauces left over to dip your bread in. For the main course, we had the beef bourgenoine(sp?), and the chicken in a coconut sauce. Both were excellent. The desert of creme brulee was the best that I've had. the service was very good, and the experience was very memorable. The only French restaurant around, but definitely, a great night out.
(5)
Sarah T.
My family has been going to Tersiguel's ever since I can remember. I was a picky eater in my younger days, but I LOVED the vichyssoise--which is still super tasty today. Now that I'm old and all classy and refined, I realize what I was missing. My favorite things to order are the mixed seafood appetizer to share with the table, the escargot, the pear salad, and the duck. The owner, Fernand, is always a wonderfully gracious host. He also was all about locally grown, organic food way before it was trendy to be that way. He raises his own pigs which make for the most delicious sausage and grows a lot of his own vegetables.
(4)
Erik G.
Wonderful service, great food (try the Duck Confit). We've been there twice for dinner and once for brunch. Always an outstanding experience. I've had a great steak prepared by the owner himself at my table, a wonderful duck dinner, and a great lobster omelet. My fiance has also loved everything she's tried there. There is a good beer selection including Samuel Smith's, as well as wine.
(5)
Andy M.
I took my mother here for lunch for Mother's Day 2010, my first time there. The service was very nice and accommodating, but the food was just subpar. A lot of it probably had to do with the holiday lunch rush, but if you're charging the same price you should put out the same quality at all times. Being busy is not a sufficient excuse to send out bad food. We started off with the seafood appetizer for two, a special for that day, which consisted of fried calamari, mussels in a curry sauce, clams with sausage bits and steamed shrimp in butter topped with a full bulb of roasted garlic. The calamari was essentially fried breading with some shrunken, barely edible bits of squid here and there. It was what you'd expect from a dive bar during $1 pint night and just sort of insulting to get. The mussels were so overdone that the meat was stuck to the shell such that it tore when you tried to pry it away, and I don't remember seeing or tasting a single bit of sausage in the clam sauces. The shrimp was fine but kind of plain, but the flaked off skin from the roasted garlic bulb meant we were picking garlic skin off the shrimp the whole time. For the entrees I had the lamb chop medallions and my mother had the Coquille St. Jacques. My lamb came out more medium than medium rare with little moisture - they didn't let it rest. Mom's scallops were a disaster. She enjoyed it because it was her first time at a French restaurant, but it was nearly inedible for me. First the scallops had an embarrassing sear job and just did not look appetizing. They were cooked fine but just didn't have that sexy sear that you should expect from a $33 dish. The sauce, however, was so intense with a pineapple-type tartness that you could barely taste anything else. Also, the roasted vegetables just looked sad. When you go to a French place you think you're going to get some incredibly uniform cuts and general displays of knife skill badassness, but the carrot sticks were simply roughly skinned, vaguely octagonal medium sized carrot spikes. That's pretty much how I do my carrots when I'm hammered out of my mind and don't want to risk chopping off a finger. Dessert was fine. I don't have much to say here because we got the creme brulee so that Mom could try it for the first time. It was done well but had an odd starfruit slice with one point lopped off for garnish. I just thought that was strange looking. I spent $150 for the both of us. In DC, you can have a wonderful, incredibly memorable meal for $70 each. The meal we had here for that price was something you could cook better in your own house for far cheaper. The best part of the meal was the Cotes du Rhone. This was just a poor, overpriced excuse for a French restaurant.
(2)
Albert L.
my two friends and I went here a little over a year ago, and since i tried to empty out one of my friend's wallets out at a meal the night before, he was intent on emptying out my wallet. the waiter was surprisingly young, being probably 17 at most. we ordered the seafood appetizer, meat dishes for our main entrees and individual desserts. for the price, this place did not impress. each of our dishes, despite being cooked differently, ended up tasting the same. the food wasn't bad, but they did not stand out.
The cooking classes here are a real blast. My wife attended one along with a few friends. It was on a Saturday morning through early afternoon. They were given glasses of wine to start and moved into the small kitchen. The chef took them through a five-course dinner preparation. Lot's of fun to watch and ask questions. Once the class was finished, they were served this five-course dinner. She and her friends can't wait for the next class. For a small fee, I hear that you can spent all day with the chef from 5:30am to close of business. Shopping, prep, cooking, and finally dinner for two. I think I will sign us up based on my wife's earlier experience.
(4)
Joe P.
My wife and I were married at the Patapsco Female Institute in Ellicott City (it is the stabilized ruins of a beautiful Federalist mansion that served as a school for girls in the 19th century. It is not a jail), so we went to nearby Tersiguel's for our fourth anniversary. The service is... not so much slow, but, they don't rush. Have a drink, talk over the menu. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable. The menu is simple, which I like. They have 3 or 4 classic French dishes (chaucrute, beef borginione etc) and then a single version each of duck, steak, fish, veal, lamb, and chicken and scallops. We got the "shareable" seafood appetizer. The mussels, shrimp an calamari were great. The crab mashed potatoes was like... mashed potatoes. I got the duck, my wife got the scallops. Look, seriously, go there for the scallops. Yes, and the duck two-ways? Too yummy. Bloody rare duck breast with crispy done duck leg. The textures, flavors, contrasts... it was duck did right. The side vegetables? Weird? Not sure if subtle flavors or just kind of bland. For dessert, I remember some very fresh creme 'freesh', perfectly ripe berries, ice cream and a cracker/cookie crust that was not soggy. Over all, I'd say that there are many other restaurants out there in newer more spacious buildings, with far more extensive menus, pushier service, fancy sauces, and far out flavors. This place would kill itself before it allowed itself to become that. It's classic, simple, accessible, quaint, cozy, friendly, it's got character, it's got atmosphere. You'll get a delicious (maybe not adventurous) meal that is a fair value (c'mon, it's French fine dining in Howard County. What were you expecting?). Feel free to sit and chat, make noise, get lost in a bottle of wine with your companions. And when you're done, take a stroll through old town E.C. If you enjoy good food, and the atmosphere it provides, you'll enjoy Tersiguel's
(4)
Clint U.
This is probably one of the better French Country restaurants in the Balitmore area. The food is always rich and flavorful. Always done correctly from the red meats to the fish. You can tell the attention to detail when you taste their soups and sauces. This is in beautiful downtown Ellicott City. If you have never been here, most of the downtown shops are made of stone.....its worth a drive and a stroll through town in an afternoon. Many interesting small shops. NO CHAINS HERE... Ooops I didnt mean whips and chains....I meant franchise chains...like Home Depot...McD's, KFC, etc. Hey wait a minute...there is a tatoo palor here and they do sell chains.......... The only downside is parking. On busy weekends and nights ...the public lot gets full. Lots of residental areas to park..but expect to walk a ways....half mile or so if really crowded. There are lots of hills in this neck of the woods. Hills not as bad as San Francisco...but enough so you need to set your parking brake firmly. So if you are in heels....have your guy drop you off and let him walk....lol
(4)
Trevor R.
Great atmosphere and fantastic service. No groundbreaking cuisine here, but solid French offerings. Prices are a little on the high side, but not completely out of line. A nice special occasion restaurant, or when your rich uncle is in town and offers to buy you dinner.
(4)
Patrice R.
I booked a table for 2 for Saturday before Valentine's Day. I noted when I made the reservation that this was our Valentine's celebration. When we arrived, we were taken upstairs, shown a table for two squeezed in between an occupied table for 4 where a mom was busy breastfeeding her baby and a child was playing video games on one side and a table for two on the other. The server could barely squeeze in between the tables on either side to talk to us. Throughout the dining experience the staff literally ran in and out of the room--a sense of urgency pervaded the atmosphere. The appetizer we ordered to share was really good. My husband liked his soup and rockfish. I asked for my filet to be cooked medium rare. It arrived cooked medium well. The server acknowledged it wasn't cooked to order and offered to replace it. As a general rule, I don't send food back and I don't want a replacement. As we were leaving, the hostess asked if our meals were good. I told her "no they weren't". She looked stunned. Didn't say anything for a long time. I was waiting for them to find my coat. She finally asked what happened. I explained my food was not prepared as requested. She said, oh, I'm sorry. That was it. No offer to adjust the bill, no effort to contact the owner. Will not be returning and will make every effort to let others know to anticipate feeling like a sardine packed in a tight space, with rushed service, inattentiveness to the food, and no effort to compensate for unmet expectations.
(2)
Charlotte B.
Underwhelming. . . the food was not up to snuff for the reputation/prices. Compare to Chez Francois in Northern VA and you'll see it's worth the drive to eat better. Bland carrot soup that tasted like diluted baby food. Garlicky escargots that needed salt. Decor verging on tacky in places especially the bathroom which is battered, scratched and hard to lock/unlock.
(2)
Susan E.
We try to go here at least once a year, usually on our anniversary. The food is always wonderful and the servers are very knowledgeable and attentive. Always plan on at least 2 hours or more for the meal. Save room for dessert!
(4)
Danny L.
I love this place. Exceptional french country food in a truly romantic setting. The food is authentic French and it does not cater to American palates. They don't apologize for being French and I dig that. The wait staff can help you select a wine with the food your order and they get it right most of the time.
(5)
Trey G.
My wife and I ate here for dinner with a discounted voucher we bought from Livingsocial. I can see now why they had to turn to Livingsocial to drum up business. Our meal started with the complimentary but cold bread. It was soon thereafter followed by a meager portion of sausage. The broiler at this restaurant must be out of order as the majority of our meal was significantly charred. They completely destroyed a beautifully cut filet. My wife's dry beef bourguignon was served with a round of blackened toast. If you are looking for true beef bourguignon, this is not the place to have it. It seems they have forgotten the burgundy and in its place served a pile of dry meat (sans sauce) with a side of flavorless vegetables. Maybe the dishes we ordered were not their strong suit, but any reputable restaurant should have the decency not to serve their guests burnt toast. Overpriced, overcooked, and overated.
(1)
Dana L.
A good fancy restaurant. We went here for my birthday. Its a bit out of the way in Ellicott City (especially if you live in Baltimore), but may be worth a trip. The decor is for old people. If your parents are at all snooty, they might like it here. It isn't young and hip, but that's not the goal. We were in the Church Room, which contained pictures of churches (how much fun). We started with a bottle of the Beaujolais Nouveau, a fruity wine that you can only get for a few weeks of the year. The host did mix up the name, but I was impressed that they had it. In fact, on the way out, I noticed that they had a magnum sitting in front - neat. I started with the crab crepe, which was quite tasty, and stuffed with spinach (good thing you can eat that again). The duck entry was pretty good - I got both baked and crispy duck. I liked the crispy duck a bit better, but it was all succulent. It also included a tasty polenta dish. Unfortunately, the doggie bag only included the duck - I felt sort of cheated. The apple tart dessert was only fair, but the spice ice cream that accompanied it was top notch. I heard some complaints about the tiramisu, but was unable to substantiate. The other desserts got rave reviews. The only thing that I found really annoying was the waiter. We had a large party, and for each course, he went around and asked each person personally how his or her beverage/appetizer/dish/dessert was. I thought that it was a bit excessive, particularly the third or fourth time. The meal was expensive - you should only come here if you have someone to impress, or if your parents are in town and want to wine and dine you.
(4)
Francis K.
The food was good and the owner was extremely friendly. The restaurant is a litle small but overall it was a great experience.
(4)
Steve P.
The food wasn't horrible and the service was good; aside from the bug in my food, I don't have any major complaints or praises. I understand bugs happen from time to time, but attention to detail matters to me. I just wasn't impressed by the expensive price of average food.
(2)
Kelly C.
I took my sister and her friend out for a french b-day dinner. The restaurant is charming as are the staff. Great atmosphere. The staff were super attentive. Excellent service. The food was more inconsistent. The oysters were only ok. We also got the sweetbreads which were nothing special. We shared the sea scallops and duck entrees. Both were delicious along with the creative sides. Good sized portions. Dessert was a forgettable Napoleon with kiwi. The bill came to $120 inc. tip with no alcohol and with my sister and her friend sharing their dishes.
(3)
Brian M.
I'm not a "foodie" and the last time I ate in a French restaurant was when I visited Paris as a child in 1977. Now that you know where I'm coming from and can evaluate my opinion accordingly, let me say that I really enjoyed Tersiguel's. The sausage appetizer was delicious and my main entree of duck was superb. The waitress was appropriately attentive and the chef even sent us an extra appetizer "just to try." I like long, well-spaced out dinners so that I can talk to my friends and Tersiguel's was perfect for this.
(4)
Yana N.
We came here for dinner on the recommendation of the innkeeper's at The Wayside Inn (an amazing place, but that's another story). The ambiance is lovely- dim lighting, quiet and cozy. It's the perfect place for an intimate dinner. We ordered the seafood appetizer for two, to share. The little neck clams were out of this world- we ate the broth with our spoons once the clams were done. The fried calamari with chili aioli, shrimp in garlic sauce and mussels in white wine were all phenomenal. We then split the salmon entree- grilled ginger glazed salmon on a bed of rice with green beans, carrots, corn and lump crabmeat, served with a sweet pineapple sauce. I found the entree over salted, but my dining partner liked it very much. We weren't feeling very hungry and so didn't order any dessert. The service was excellent- the staff were most attentive throughout the evening. I would definitely go here again.
(4)
Lola S.
When I have money to burn- this is my favorite place to go for a meal! Mmmmmm....
(5)
Shahny K.
I went here for a business dinner, so of course we were served from a prixe-fixe menu. We were served the standard veggies, and I chose the steak. Food and menu are pretty bland. This review isn't even worth writing.
(2)
Valerie B.
Just had a great prix-fixe Valentine's Day dinner here. Rare for me to eat here and not enjoy the food and suggested wine, whether it be glass pairings or full bottle.
(4)
Tatyana M.
I wondered about this restaurant for a long time but visited it with my family of 7 just yesterday. What can I say? Simply put - nobody was imprested. First pluses: Cozy, French themed ambience. Nice service. Now minuses: FOOD. Kind of bland not impressive and (in case of butternut squash soup) just tasteless food. Eating this soup was similar to eating baby's food. My Maryland crepe was OK but wouldn't make me to come back for it. The same impressions were having everyone in our party about their dishes except the one who ordered Duck dish. The Duck was pretty much awful (like it was made a week ago and heated up a little). We didn't want to waste money on dessert after what we tasted, so I can't comment on that, but it's pretty obvious to me we are not coming back to this place. We had much better experience of the similar cuisine with Candle Light Inn in Catonsville then here. BTW speaking about money the prices would be considered reasonable IF the quality of the food would be outstanding. In our case it was rip off. I wonder who are those people that gave all these raving reviews; do they have any taste buds at all???????
(2)
Joanna S.
I went to Tersiguel with my boyfriend's family to celebrate his birthday. They showed us up to the "Church room" which was full of pictures of churches connected to the owner's life. The waiter went through the process of describing each picture to us. Nice touch. The meal was good. I am a vegetarian and ordered a vegetarian dish that wasn't listed on the menu, but which was pretty good. I was impressed.....until I went to the bathroom. For such a fancy place, I was expecting much more. The cheap stalls that greated me were not in line with the fanciness of the restaurant. Very odd.
(4)
Gareth W.
Tersiguel's is one of my all-time favorite restaurants, and go-to for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. The menu always offers an array of intriguing, seasonal country French cuisine. The restaurant's atmosphere balances subtle elegance without being overbear or stuffy. One great option is to inquire if a chef's tasting menu is available (I've done so twice), which samples a few appetizers, entrees (including the specials that night) and dessert. The last time I dined at Tersiguel's, the tasting menu sampled smoked salmon with yellow beet salad, oyster on the half shell with cucumber vinaigrette, soft shell crab (the best I've had anywhere), halibut with shrimp mashed potatoes, roast veal in demi glace, roast lamb with black currant reduction, and creme brulee. While it is more expensive than ordering off the menu, turning control over to the kitchen exposed me to dishes I would not have chosen on my own, and which ended up being highlights of the meal. Our waiter offered paired wines with each course or with every other course. We selected alternate courses, which balanced the ability for wine to precisely compliment the dish while not being excessive (at seven courses for the tasting menu, pairing with each course means a lot of wine!). Speaking of the wait staff, our waiter, Charlie, is a consummate professional. He offers keen insight into the menu offerings, excellent recommendations for pairing wine with dishes, is attentive, and is generally very enjoyable company for the evening.
Came here for a nice dinner and we were not disappointed l. Everything was wonderful and our waitresses was very knowledgeable l. My coworker loved her rack of lamb and I can the scallops. A must try.
(5)
David S.
Full disclosure: I didn't actually dine here. My parents' 65th wedding anniversary was coming up, so I contacted Tersiguel's to see if they would help make the anniversary special. They certainly did! Dominic, the Maitre d', responded promptly to my first email. I asked him to have Chef create a special 6-course menu just for my parents. I gave him an idea of what my parents' tastes are, and he talked it over with Chef Michel, who created a wonderful menu. I wanted a menu that included items that were not on their regular menu, something that included lots of fresh local food, and Chef came through brilliantly. On the night of the event, my parents were treated like royalty from the moment they arrived. They report that the service was exceptional, and that the meal was the best restaurant meal they have had in their lives (and they are 86 years old). And, quite frankly, the price they charged for this special event service was not excessive. It was of course more than your normal night out for dinner, but it was certainly reasonable, considering what I was requesting. So thanks to everyone - Dominic for his hard work in helping to plan the event, the wait staff for making Mom and Dad feel special, and Chef Michel for his creative and delicious menu.
Really classy French cuisine restaurant. This is definitely a place to come for a date night without kids. It is rather pricey but really worth it. This may sound strange, but I am mad about their fresh butter. I wish I could buy it and take it home! They also have very fresh seafood dish and their soups are tasty.
(5)
Mike B.
Went there for Valentine's Day with my wife. Everyone was friendly, food was cooked to perfection. On "complaint" I have is the room we were sat in was musty and dark. Also the waiter only asked us if we wanted drinks twice during our meal. It seemed as though he may have been a little more interested on the older people there that looked like they has money....
(4)
Molly A.
My friends and I came here on a Sunday for Ellicott City Restaurant Week. We wanted to relive the French class field trips we used to take to Tersiguel's in elementary school. We learned that the Sunday prix fixe menu offers the same prices as the Restaurant Week deals. Although this dampened the "specialness" of Restaurant Week, we stayed nonetheless. We all ordered the house salad, boeuf bourguignon, and caramel flan. The salad was average and the flan was unappetizing, but the boeuf bourguignon completely compensated for the meal's lackluster end caps. The beef was literally fall-off-the-bone tender, and the stew was rich, flavorful, and filling. I greatly appreciated the waiter who continuously refilled our breadbasket. Any man who understands the importance of sopping is a man after my own heart.
(4)
Chris B.
I am french. This is the best french food restaurant in the area. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is fantastic, the service is on point and expected from a fine establishment. I never write reviews but I have to do it on this one. You will not be disappointed, it is pricey though but way worth it. Looking forward to the NYE menu, see you there Tersiguel's!
(5)
Sammie L.
In some respects this meal was just... confusing. Apparently it's rated, or has been, as the best french restaurant in md. Say what? I had a $39 filet, it was covered in sauce that tasted like... nothing. And the haricot verts [green beans people] and onions poached in red wine were... reasonable. It actually tasted like something. And for the record the bread was delicious, and there was perfectly soft butter. The wine options were impoverished - especially given the vicinity of The Wine Bin - which has an incredible selection. Wouldn't try it again...
(2)
Jeff P.
Excellent service (thanks to the inimitable Charlie), delicious food that was not too heavy but just right, and a charming atmosphere. Tersiguel's is better than ever.
(4)
Rebecca A.
This is my second review. We went for brunch. I'm not a fan of their crepes. They aren't tender or that flavorful. They are more like a square piece of pizza crust with all the stuff laid out on top of it. I got the crab crepe and it was just ok. Pricey. The desserts are where I started to really feel ripped off. They are tiny and weird. We got a sampler that included 3 tiny desserts. There was a sugar cookie type round boat that held the smallest dollop of some sort of creme and 3 blackberries. Dry, needs more creme. The moose was good. The flourless chocolate cake was ok. We tried escargot, which was very tastey and very pricey. I'm probably just not a big fan of this place.
(3)
Mary M.
I haven't been here in a couple of years, but when I went I loved it. It's pretty pricey which the only reason I haven't been back. I went for a work lunch so the menu was pre-planned, but I was extremely happy with all of the dishes.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Frank L.
We took the munchkin to Tersieguel's awhile back for their Sunday brunch. Built in a 19th century home in old Ellicott City, this restaurant has some serious old world charm. A real pleasure just to come in and sit down. The food was great. We did an online deal to take the sting out of the cost for brunch which also allowed us to try several options. We actually got the munchkins to try escargot. They absolutely loved it. We enjoyed our meal and the service. I'm looking forward to trying these guys for dinner one of these days (at which time I may bumpt them up to 5 stars), but if their brunch was any idication, it'll be phenomenal.
(4)Chuchu A.
I went there with my husband for brunch. The food was exquisite!!!!!! Excellent customer service and they were more than excited to serve you & make sure u're taken care of . I'm defiantly going back soon with my whole family:)
(5)Meg S.
Fantastic restaurant. Amazing food. Best french food I have had in the states; hands down. Great ambiance and the service is wonderful. A Maryland treasure!
(5)Megan O.
Tersiguel's is easily our favorite French restaurant in Howard County, as well as one of our favorite restaurants overall. We've eaten here a number of times for dinner, and everyone we've taken there (including serious foodies) have enjoyed it. It has great service, great drinks, and great food. Just be ready to feel a little broke afterwards. We went last night for dinner, and I think that experience really encompassed everything we love about this restaurant. The staff are friendly, helpful, efficient, and effective. Our waitress recommended a wine for us based on the type of flavor we were looking for, and it was perfect. I wish the other French restaurants in the area would learn from Tersiguel's on what defines excellent service; they are not stuffy or rude here at all. You don't feel rushed to eat, and they are attentive without being obnoxious. It's a great experience. The food never disappoints. We ordered the special appetizer, which has been a special every time we've gone for a at least a year...but it was delicious as always (a set of 4 different fish-related dishes). Oh and the bread...the bread! It is so perfect. We were just imagining taking it on a picnic with some cheese as we were eating it. Maybe to a park in Paris? We've had most of their types of entrees at this point (the classic French dishes always on the menu, plus the various entrees that change seasonally, although we've never ordered steak). We've never been disappointed. Last night I had chicken, and my husband had fish. Somehow we managed to find room for dessert; we shared the gelato. It's fun to order just to see the giant ice bowl on which it's served. We drop at least $100 every time we eat here; more this time since we ordered a bottle of wine. If you just order an entree, expect to spend at least $30, but you should really save up to spend a bit more to really get the full experience. Tersiguel's never disappoints on food or service, and they are large enough that you can usually get a reservation. Don't delay, go today!
(5)Tara L.
Friends joined me at Tersiguel's for Restaurant Week. Most of us had the house salad and salmon with coconut sorbet for dessert. Everything from the fresh bread to the carrot salad on endive as a sample, main entree and dessert was delicious. The presentation was detailed and beautiful. Service was excellent! A great dining experience, overall.
(5)Tim W.
This is a wonderful french restaurant. The food is delicious and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. This is not a place to go for a quick meal -- it is a spot to savor a bottle of wine and some delicious food with friends.
(5)Tracy S.
I love this place. Sometimes I just crave the chilled country pate and go in for that and a glass of wine. Last time I was there I ordered the veal. I felt a little guilty (baby cow) but one taste and I was guilt free. It was soooo good. The drinks were great as I went with a frustrated mixologist who tested the bartender with some exotic bourbon drinks. We also had some wine that was suggested by the waiter. Afterwards a romantic stroll along Main Street in Ellicott City. A+++
(5)Kira B.
We came here for my parents anniversary. ..just some dessert with friends. Delicious! Very quaint and quiet atmosphere.
(4)Steve W.
Romantic atmosphere for dinner and very expensive but that's about it. Came here with a few friends for dinner and drinks. The waitress gave us 2 drink menus for 6 people, and we didn't get dinner menus till everyone ordered drinks...? Very disconcerting! I ordered a filet mignon and oysters for the appetizer. The oysters were small but tasty and the filet was very small and unexciting. I've had much better at Outback steakhouse. I typically do not have a problem with the prices unless the food does not measure up and the food did not measure up. To think, I could have gone to Prime Rib or Charleston's for the same prices. The waitress was a bit irritating if not demeaning although the other wait staff filling water and serving bread were very attentive. If you want to enjoy a night out with good food, drinks and atmosphere, go somewhere else. It was a big disappointment.
(2)Allyson D.
Erm...well. This is awkward. I heard a lot of awesome things about this place - including high praise from the owner of the inn I stayed at during my weekend in Ellicott City. The sad fact is, this place was just OK. I was close to giving it 3 stars but I don't even know if I can muster up "A-OK." Maybe 2.5 stars? Anyway my boyfriend and I ate here early on the Saturday eve of the "mighty" Hurricane Irene - we were literally the only guests there at the time. We were met with happy, smiling faces & seated in the back dining room. While the house setting is quite adorable, the place is super cramped. The backroom is also not the most romantic or nice looking, and the bathroom was oddly...underwhelming? Is that fair to say? It was this tiny closet with a toilet. I think I should also set the tone of our waiter - he was mighty odd. He insisted (like, stood over us until I decided to, indeed order a drink) we have a drink and took a while to come check back on us, and even longer to bring us a menu, from the get-go. It was almost like he was holding the menu hostage until we'd get a drink. He was very descriptive and helpful , which was nice, but, again, kind of neglectful. We were the only people dining at the time but once a family of four came in, he seemed to forget we even existed. The bus boy ended up helping us after the appetizers. We didn't see him again after, except for a "bye" out the door. I was kind of insulted that he seemed to ditch us in favor of a larger group (and larger tip, I'll guess.) What makes it more annoying is how noticeable the attention he was giving this family was. Anyway food was ok. We got the "tour de france" because it seemed the most economical choice - they were nice substituting the vegetarian plate for this - which was a very interesting plate - lots of great, new flavors with fresh vegetables from their garden but there were also a few bland vegetables as well (such as boiled squash, boiled green beans, boiled spinach (?!), brussel sprouts that seemed to have been cooked in vinegar). My boyfriend & I weren't going crazy over our meal - which is a shame for such a price tag. I recommend not doing the tour de france because they only include 2 dessert options - their ice cream, or their caffe caramel/cream. We each ordered one, and both were really awful. The cream was really flavorless and the ice cream (which was "honey and lavender") was grainy - just all the wrong texture of ice cream. It was awkwardly served in this weird cup made entirely of ice which was kind of offputting. I really don't think its worth the price.
(2)Scott R.
I've been to Tersiguel's four or five times but the most recent was more than five years ago. I like the place. I like the owner. I like the decor. The bathroom in the hallway is terrible - how about a real lock on the door? The problem this time was the food was only fair. There were four of us. We ranged from very foody picky to pretty laid back. I have left out the comments of the foody picky person as she tends to be too picky. The Brittany fish soup was ok but without a lot of taste. It really needs something else. The other appetizers were unremarkable but ok. I had the rockfish - the taste was ok but the portion was ridiculously small. Maybe 3 ounces of fish for $35? This is Baltimore not Paris. The fish came with a purple potato salad which was good but could have used a bit less salt. They also served broccoli Raab which was bitter but I don't know that vegetable well and that could be the norm. My wife had the scallops. The scallops were good the beet risotto was undercooked and just not very good. Three scallops for $35 again seems a bit chintzy. The chocolate Mousse was wonderful and saved the entire meal. The waitress was pleasant. The young lady filling the water and the bread was very attentive.
(3)Kate S.
My husband and I have not been here in a few years but Costco had gift cards $80.00 for $100.00 so what the heck, it's our anniversary. We started with the chickpea crepe topped with goats cheese, the crepe was very flavorful and topped with fresh tomato and olives I could not taste the chickpea though. I had the fish special which was cod lightly fried over a seafood risotto. The fish was perfectly cooked the risotto was dreamy! I also had a side of the pumpkin polenta which was also delicious, it was slightly sweet but also savory very nice combination. My husband had the Cornish game hens which was in a rich mushroom sauce and came in a cute little pot. We split the chocolate mousse which was hands down the best ! We had a great meal just one set back, they never returned with our leftovers and we did not remember until we were half way home. I think I will buy another Costco gift card!
(4)Nhu P.
Disgusting. Went here because we had a livingsocial deal and left with food poisoning. Had the escargot for appetizers and the scallops for main course. Husband had the lamb. Horrible!!! Scallops tasted bad, smelled like ammonia, and I was hugging porcelain for days. Lamb tasted old, like it wasn't fresh. So if you're in the mood for overly priced, non-fresh food that'll most likely get you sick, be my guest.
(1)Fred K.
After a recommendation from my friend, we decided to try this French restaurant in historic Ellicott City. This sure was a special treat and delicious lunch! Our waitress was very friendly and guided us through the menu and based on her recommendations, we ordered a dozen oysters and escargot for appetizers. The escargot was a good size and love the garlic butter (nice way to eat the bread). The lamb chops was cooked perfectly, medium rare, and the peach puff pastry was a pleasant surprise, an item you don't normally see with lamb chops. The desserts were very good too.
(5)Gini D.
Amazing food and amazing service. Charlie was our server and he is fabulous! The beef bourguignon was so delicious and we had the scallops and fresh catch fish. The goat cheese cheesecake is phenomenal!!
(5)Starr C.
My dad had a LivingSocial deal and my family doesn't eat French food very much, so we decided that today was the day to change that. As you can see by the rating, it was a pretty good decision. Tersiguel's is a white building on Main Street in the historic district and it's a fancy place. Our coats were checked for us as we were seated. I did call ahead just in case they weren't going to have enough tables on a Friday night, but the person on the phone assured me that we would be able to enjoy our meal here. We were led up the stairs to our table, where our waiter offered ice water and offered drinks and aperitifs. (We declined.) A note: It is QUITE dimly lit in this restaurant, so bring your glasses if that helps you see better, etc. I really liked the ambiance of the restaurant. It was kind of homey but still felt like a special occasion kind of joint. And it was decorated for the holidays, as well. Our waiter was super polite and helpful. It's a little hard to flag one down since they do tend to leave you kind of unattended, so if you like a lot of attention during your meal, you might not be the biggest fan here. But we got constant bread refills, they were gracious when I asked for more butter and dressing, etc. We got a little amuse-bouche along with the bread, and it was crouton with basil ricotta cheese and I want to say tomato but I think it was something else. Despite my usual aversion to cheese, I thought it was pretty good. I ordered the house salad and it was pretty plain, kinda boring really. Just a large platter of greens with sparse dressing, so I asked for more. I ordered their daily special appetizer, which was a seafood tapas-esque type for sharing, but I had it all to myself as an entree portion, haw haw haw. There was flash-fried calamari with a yummy aioli, a crab (and potato?) spread seasoned with Old Bay and served with croutons, garlicky buttery shrimp served with a head of roasted garlic (Just checked, I heard "fist" and was confused, but apparently one whole garlic is a fist; the more you know!), and steamed mussels. - Calamari is your basic stuff, served with a lime wedge, and the aioli was quite yummy. Use sparingly, unless you like getting carried away with condiments like me! - Crab spread was rich and yummy. I also used it on my bread, since the croutons were downed very quickly. Not sure why I thought I should use a spoon to spread this; that was a bad idea and I had a knife right next to my plate. - Shrimp was good, although I'm not sure how I was supposed to eat it with the garlic. I ate them separately, which felt wrong, but right in its own way... - Steamed mussels were the only thing I took issue with. A few were kind of gritty and I don't think the wine was cooked all the way out. I'm 21 now, but I am still not used to the taste of alcohol, although I am really good at identifying it, and yes, I could taste pretty straight-up red wine in the mussels. If you really love red wine, then this is a plus. For me, it made it difficult for me to finish them on my own. My brother ordered filet mignon and that was cooked perfectly. My dad went for the prix fixe menu, with pate, the salmon, and the creme caramel au cafe. What a yummy and divine dessert, I only wish I hadn't stuffed myself so full of seafood so that I could have had more of my share of it. This is definitely a fancy shmancy restaurant, where the waiters use crumbers to clean up the tablecloths and someone helped me back into my coat as I was leaving. The food was really good, the service was great. I'm glad we were able to visit, and I will definitely recommend Tersiguel's during Restaurant Week and beyond.
(5)Tom C.
Tersiguel's would have rated five stars save the rockfish, which was just slightly overcooked. Here's the scoop: They have rye at the bar, which is critical for making a perfect Manhattan. Good start. They also make a delicious cosmo, which pleased the missus. We opted for two appetizers: the tarte de peche, which is a peach tarte made with bleu cheese and arugula. Outstanding! A word of caution here: this is more like a dessert than an appetizer. I chose the escargot. Absolutely perfect! The busboy made sure I had an ample supply of country bread; a critical addition to the escargot. You gotta sop up all the butter and garlic that accompanies the snails. We continued with a salad of local tomatoes marinated in a Thai basil dressing and accompanied by arugula and FRESH mozzerella (the chef just finished making the cheese). Again, outstanding! You can't beat fresh! Our waiter recommended sopping up the juices with the bread. You have to love a place that encourages you to sop stuff with bread. (An aside: the bread is delicious. It's made right there in the basement. The crunchy crust compliments the soft, warm body.) The lady chose the Poulet "En Croute" entree; free range chicken fricasee with mushrooms, broccoli, potatoes and carrots. Wonderful. I picked the fresh rockfish, served in a citrus brown butter with baby red potatoes and haricot vert sauteed with shitake mushrooms. Everything was super, except the fish was a tad overcooked. We finished with crepe suzettes, prepared table-side and really decadent, accompanied by their rich house coffee. Superb. We complimented the meal with a 2007 Louis Jadot Chassgne-Montrachet, one of our go-to white Burgandies. We were greeted by the owner's father, who used to own Tersiguels, and doesn't look nearly as old as he claims to be. The service was outstanding, especially the guy who kept bringing me the fresh bread. All in all a pleasant dining experience which will certainly bring us back.
(4)Avi M.
The food here is delicious. The atmosphere is very nice. I'm a vegetarian now but years ago I ordered the pheasant, I don't know if they still offer it but, it was great. I enjoyed the chef's assortment of fromage dish.
(4)Kamni G.
Location- Historic Downtown, it is beautiful and rustic and very romantic. Bread- The butter arrived before the bread and the bread arrived very very cold! Coat check-Are kids allowed to do this? If they work for tips is that legal? Not trying to say it was not cute but just curious Server- Erika- lovely. You can tell she likes her job and she does it well :) Wine choice- many many choices but if its a champagne it needs cooling, ours wasn't cool at first glass and not cold enough by the last. Cheeses-wheres the plate? For what we are to pay, I expect a platter with some presentation. I am sorry but 3 mini plates lined up is just sad. Rockfish special- Good. My husband loved it. Salmon with pearl pasta- The salmon was cooked perfectly but was salty. The pearl pasta was delicious. Desserts: flourless chocolate cake- a bit too dry but good. passionfruit ice cream- tart and good, I grew up in Fiji eating passionfruit all the time...it was done well but not perfectly. Presentation...needs work.
(3)Jennifer N.
I went here last night with one of my good girl friends. This is by far one of the nicest places that I have ever been. Tersiguel's is located on Main Street right at the top of the hill. To the unobservant pedestrian, you might mistake it for an ordinary house, but make no mistake, this place is GEM. We had resevations for 7PM but got there a tad early...more like 6:40PM. The Maitre'D was so polite and attentive. You can tell that customer service is their #1 priority, that and good food! We kindly took our coats and placed them in the coat check and offered a variety of tables to sit at. My friend and I chose the room where the bar was located, away from everyone...and it's a good thing that we picked this spot by the window because everyone else might've thought that we were loud and obnoxious. Haha my friend is one of those 'foodies' that absolutely LOVE to take pictures of their food as soon as it hits the table. Combine this and the bright flashes from her camera, and we might have ruined some dinners for a few patrons. So it was a good thing that we decided to sit away from everyone. One fear that I did have about sitting so far away from everyone was that there would be a lack of service. That's how it is at most restaurants. You sit away from the crowd and you risk going unnoticed by the waitors most of the night. That was not the case here. If anything, I would say that the waitors gave us even more attention. As soon as my glass of water hit the 1/2 way mark, our waitor would venture into the room, water pitcher in hand, to refill our glasses. Not to mention the complimentary bread service. It was phenomenal! Now let's get to the food. Granted, most of the dishes are pretty pricey...I would say that the food and the service make up for it, ten-fold. Appetizer: I forget the actual name for this but we got the hot appetizer combination. It came with 1) Shrimp broiled in a Garlic Butter Sauce, 2) Deep Fried Calamari with a Spicy Aioli Sauce, 3) Mussels in a White Wine Sauce, and 4) Some type of crab spead crostini. Everything was delicious. The shrimps were nice and tender. The Aioli Sauce complimented the Calamari very well. The White Wine Sauce for the mussels were to die for! In fact, this is where all my complimentary bread went...into dipping it into the White Wine Sauce! The crab spread was good. It has a gritty/starchy texture. I think they added potatoes to it. Entree: Canard. I got the Duck legs confit with honey garlic gastrique, and pumpkin polenta. I guess duck is my weakness. Whenever I see duck on a menu, I must order it. I wasn't disappointed with this order either. The duck was crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. The pumpkin polenta reminded me of a sort of sweet potato puree. My favorite! If only I wasn't stuffed from the appetizers, I would have eaten everything on my plate! It's okay though. I am looking forward to a banging lunch! MUST GO BACK. Next time I will try to bring my boyfriend. The ambiance is nice and romantic. The service is EXCEPTIONAL...just a heads-up. The bathroom is not what I expected, hence the 4 stars. The bathroom is located in the hallway. It's a small bathroom, reflective of a 'water closet'. It smelled of cleaning supplies and bleach. The lock on the bathroom door was broken and there was one of those hook things used to compensate for the broken lock...Once the bathroom is spruced up a little, this 4-star rating will surely be bumped up to 5. Until then, I stand by this.
(4)Jeanpaul C.
This is classic french cooking. The service is good but they treat it like a european restaurant so you are not rushed to order, eat, and get out. It is relaxed and comfortable. Those who criticize the service have never been to France as this is how all restaurants there are, they do not rush you through your meal and actually encourage you to slow down and take your time. I found the sweetbreads and filet to be great and my wife loved the pastry wrapped rock fish.
(4)Jeff I.
Going to this restaurant was a strange experience.This place has some of the trappings of fine dining service and it certainly has the price but those things seem bizarrely out of place in the rest of the experience. Yes they have servers in bow ties who pull out chairs for you, check your coat, and offer you amuse bouche. They also have a bathroom with disposable pump soap covered in mold, a broken lock on the door, and an empty toilet-seat cover dispenser re-purposed to hold a cinnamon broom. No dress code, the couple sitting next us was in jeans and decided not to check their north face jackets. Of course none of this would been worth mentioning had it not been for the price ($120 for a couple, sans gratuity, dessert, or coffee) and the pretentious service. However, the most damning thing of all about this place was the food quality. We had the seafood appetizer, which at $34 was absurdly priced. Besides the price here was nothing remarkable about it at all. Some fried fish sticks, shell fish swimming in melted butter and garlic, and a very bland mashed potato/crab concoction. For our entrees, my wife had beef bourguignon and I ordered the lamb. The lamb came in a tiny portion, a single chop and 2 - 3 oz of tenderloin. Continuing the trend, it was, like the family style sides of green beans and creamed cabbage, totally unremarkable. My wife's beef bourguignon was the worst dish of the night. 5 huge hunks of over-cooked dry beef in a few tablespoons of sauce. Terribly dry, like you better watch how much you put on your fork, cause you are gonna choke on it dry. A ridiculous meal for the price and the over the top service. To Tersiguel's credit I imagine the fact that we went in the middle of winter had something to do with the sub-par food quality. The simple dishes served here need fresh, local ingredients, I would guess that can be difficult in January. I would love to have a great French restaurant to visit when I am in Ellicott City and considering the rest of the reviews, we very well may have shown up on an off night. I am just not willing to risk another $120. As it was, if you have ever had a family vacation to Disney World, you get the idea of this restaurant; over the top, awkwardly executed service, combined with mediocre food, at a ridiculous price.
(2)Keith C.
This restaurant has been in business for over 30 years and that is because the food and service is excellent. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try.
(4)Bruce D.
Groupon Ripoff !!! Groupon deal for 3-course, Prix Fixe Brunch is advertised as a $40 value but it's only $21.95 if you order it there. Huge misrepresentation. Plus, they then charge tax on $80 and charge extra for coffee so I had to pay $11.95 for tax and coffee and a tip on a $80 value so it cost me a total of $65.00 - - $40 for the Groupon and $25.00 for tax and tip. I could have ordered there for what we wanted and it would have cost less.
(3)Najad T.
Disappointing. Was good in the past.
(2)Matt S.
My girlfriends family have been coming to this restaurant for over a decade, and they love it. So when I came down to visit with her family, we went here for dinner one night. The decor is what I would describe as "antiqued" I guess, it has kind of an old feeling to it. I believe it's trying to replicate a French home out in the country (as the food is supposed to reflect that). I didn't mind it, I found it cozy. The waitstaff was very attentive, but not intrusive, which was nice. The food was excellent, and I believe a lot of that is attributed to the season. A lot of their vegetables come from their garden in the back, which I imagine during the late fall/winter seasons would not be available and result in not so fresh tasting veggies. That being said, everything we had was great! My girlfriend and I started out with the house made sausage, which was very good. She had the filet mignon and I had the NY strip special they were running, both were cooked and seasoned very well. Her sister had the braised lamb shank and lamb sirloin (which I snagged a few bites of) and that was great as well. Her mother had the salmon that looked great (I didn't want to intrude on her meal as well), and she confirmed that opinion, In the end, I can see why her family has made Tersiguel's a staple in their family, I highly recommend it!
(5)Nathan C.
When I was growing up in Maryland, Tersiguel's was always the place that rich folk went. A place that served mysterious food made out of organs and gizzards and (gasp) duck. For some reason, it's taken us an awfully long time to make it there. But, we got my mom to shepherd the carpet primates for the night, and the missus and I headed to Ellicott City to get our French on. The food was great, while being just shy of awesome - but it was *consistently* just shy of awesome - everything was 4.9 stars. We started with the seafood appetizer - a montage of sauces with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari. All were deliciously prepared and sized for two. We also got the pate, which they brought out as a second course. It was delicious - the happily fatty mouthfeel was complemented perfectly by the Sauvignon Blanc that our waiter suggested. For the main course, I had the lobster risotto - a tomato based risotto with big chunks of tender lobster on top. My wife had the tuna steak, which was seared perfectly and served over a celery root paste, with asparagus and squash. Portions were pretty well controlled, and didn't skimp or overwhelm. For dessert, we got the crepes Suzette - a preparation neither of us have ever experienced. Dessert, as with most things, is better with fire. I mean, how can you go wrong with butter, sugar, and three kinds of booze to make a sauce? The staff was overwhelmingly friendly and attentive - never did a water glass empty, never did the bread fail to magically appear, and so on. They also made a point of splitting things, from the pate' to the wine, which was great when we just wanted to 'try something' without getting it twice. So why not 5 stars? While they have great dishes and staff, they need, um, something else. I don't exactly know how to put my finger on it -- maybe they need more wines by the glass, maybe they need a quieter atmosphere, maybe they need lavender-scented urinal mints -- but there is just something missing that keeps them at 4.9 stars instead of 5. That's probably not fair to a wonderful restaurant we'd gladly go back to, but I'm sticking to my story.
(4)K Sera S.
I feel almost guilty giving them such a low rating, but I just can't honestly say that they've wowed me. Our server was sweet, but obviously inexperienced and untrained. He seemed confused about what to do with my wine glass when I indicated I'd not be partaking. He had his fingers too close to the food on the plates when he served (ick). He left dishes on the table a bit too long. Nothing earth-shattering, but not great. My omelette was chock-full of asparagus and cheese--a plus! But the truffle oil--which ordinarily is a treat--was actually overdone and ended up overpowering the other flavors. And there were hairs in my soup and my omelette. (Ick again.) Your grandma will feel right at home here if you go for lunch or early dinner. I'd be willing to try it again, but there are plenty of other options out there that I prefer.
(2)Carrie W.
Came here on a Sunday. Nice building, decor is odd, trying to look fancy but maybe from Target. Servers were all nice. Service designed to seem fancy and they did a good job. Menu on the expensive side and by the descriptions justifiably so. The food was good but not great. Omelet had potatoes on the side, which have to have come out of a freezer bag of breakfast potatoes. Not bad, as they're a good salt vessel, but not expected. Wild mushrooms were sliced portobello mushrooms, also unexpected. French toast covered in syrup, definitely not maple syrup.
(2)Jenn T.
My husband and I went here to celebrate our anniversary which we stated in our open table reservation. We asked for a nice table because of this. Upon arriving we were sat in the front room, in the middle of 4 other tables. Not ideal. Our waitress was very sweet and informative but our food was just ok. We watched other tables receive their amuse bouche, but i guess they forgot ours. Our appetizer was good, marinated tomatoes with elioka cheese. The red drum fish I ordered was dry and I did not finish the risotto because there was nothing special about it. My husband ordered the cassoulet which he described as hearty and good. We did not order dessert as the meal was quite pricy and the meal was mediocre. We probably will try other restaurants rather then go back here. There was also a young child in the other room who was crying at one point. I think she was related to one of the staff. It seemed inappropriate for the ambiance of a nice restaurant.
(2)S C.
Good food. Okay service. The Maitre'D was the best thing of the night. His personality will bring us back alone. Just saying "take your time and enjoy" was a nice touch. The waiter was a bit pompous and talked to us like we were idiots. Not an endearing trait. Duck Confit, pate, and soups were tasty.
(4)Katherine T.
Although the menu is getting a bit stale, Tersiguel's is usually dependable. On our last visit, however, it was not. We had a scallops dish and I could smell the fishy odor when the waiter placed it on the table. A taste confirmed that these scallops were well past their prime. I told the waiter and he said he was sorry, but made no move to replace the dish or make any adjustment. We were very disappointed and will probably not go back again.
(2)Bob M.
Great French restaurant on Main Street in Ellicott City. Service was great and the food fantastic. Very enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Miriam B.
I was a little scared of trying this place due to a few bad reviews. But I think most of those were written by people who have not been exposed to the beautiful food in Brittany France which is much lighter and healthier than the food in Paris. All the vegetables and fruits are homegrown in the original owners garden. The bread is fresh made daily and light as air. We had a wonderful waiter named Charlie. He really pampered us and carefully explained the menu and the history of the restaurant. We found out he has been working there over 20 yrs and the owners are lucky to have such gracious staff. Since this was our 1st time dining at this establishment my husband and I opted for the 8 course chefs tasting menu. With most French restaurants this is the way to go. You get a nice mini portion of several dishes. We started with the mission fog salad. Warm figs drizzled in basil oil over watercress and French goat cheese. Our 2nd course was tuna carpaccio served with sun dried tomato and olive tapenade. Scallops on a bed of fresh beet risotto was our third course. The scallops were perfectly prepared golden on the outside and plump and juicy on the inside. One of the most unique dishes we tried was rock fish baked in a pastry called Brittany paper. This was very similar to Phylo. We had slow roasted lamb in a delicious blue cheese sauce. Our main entree was a perfectly cooked filet mignon in a homemade demi glace, duck liver mashed potatoes and haricots verts. For dessert we had a classic creme brulee. This is a great restaurant with a healthy approach to French cuisine. It's a great place to take a vegetarian too.
(5)HowChow B.
Four ingredients -- one great sandwich. The proof of Tersiguel's talents are in its variation of the croque monsieur where my brain was surprised that there was no barbecue sauce at all. The sandwich -- a variation because it isn't the grilled, cheesy version most restaurants would serve -- comes at lunch with slow-cooked pork, creamed cabbage and an alioli. Four ingredients if you add the bread, almost plain-looking for a $12 plate. But those ingredients sing. Moist pork with a subtle, but strong flavor that paid perfectly with the fresh taste of cabbage. I don't normally want creaminess in slaw, but I loved it on the Tersiguel's sandwich. And the bread. The bread! Tersiguel's bakes beautiful bread -- a crisp crust, an airy interior -- for both your bread basket and for the sandwich. The roll was soft, yet held up to the moist fillings even as I ate slowly to savor our fancy lunch. My brain expected meat so moist and flavorful to be covered in sauce. Tersiguel's has basically created a pulled pork sandwich, but they have the skill to bring everything out of the pork with just the simplest support. That's the fun of a pro kitchen. Lunch at Tersiguel's is a less-expensive way to try Howard County's most famous restaurant. I chose between the sandwich and several crepes that looked equally delicious. If you can catch a pretty afternoon, it's perfect to eat and then window shop along Main Street or walk downhill for a coffee at the Bean Hollow.
(3)Susan M.
I had a good experience at this restaurant and would definitely go back. We were seated on the third floor with a nice view of Main St. I had the raw oysters for an appetizer which were well-sized and fresh. I had duck for my main course which was served in a delicious sauce and I felt it was the perfect portion size. I would absolutely return and recommend this place to my friends!
(4)Rob N.
Tersiguel's used to be a prime restaurant, run with attention to detail and a high standard for its food. Now, I'm not so sure that the same concern is given to ensuring that the dining experience is memorable. The food is pleasant, but no longer memorable. The menu is seriously old-school country French, Coquilles St. Jacques and all that. Terrines, pate, and duck confit. This can be a treat, but only if prepared with passion, and Tersiguel's has lost that passion. These French warhorses are now trotted out with only the occasional flash of inspiration to bring them to life. Service is good if you can get one of the established serving staff. If you don't, it can be spotty. Case in point: if you have an almost exclusively French wine cellar, you would expect the waitstaff to know the difference between Pouilly Fuisse (Burgundy Chardonnay) and Pouilly Fume (Loire Sauvignon Blanc) without having to look quizzically at the list. Tersiguel's is still an adequate special-occassion place, but compared to years past, it's getting long in the tooth.
(3)Nancianne H.
Went to Tersiguel's again...this time as a commoner for Sunday Brunch. Our OpenTable reservation got us our party of 6 seated ASAP, and they didn't mind that 2 of our party hadn't yet arrived. Food was wonderful, service was very pleasant, but I'd be lying if I said that the service was prompt. We're talking 20 minutes for a coffee refill and another 20 for more sugar packets for the iced teas (my stepkids are still waiting for the day that 'sweet tea' is offered up north). However, it was Sunday afternoon, we weren't in a hurry, and the restaurant is French. C'est la vie!
(4)Chris S.
We went here for a wine pairing dinner that is orgainized through the Wine Bin across the street. Everything was excellent. The lamb and phesant were particularly good. Lunches here are also great, and less expensive.
(5)Jennifer R.
I had been meaning to try Tersiguel's for awhile when I lived in Baltimore, and just never got around to it. Finally tried it last night after moving further away from it :-) First off, the service is great here. The owners are exceptionally friendly, the wait staff as well. There is a very respectable wine list, and the bread is baked in house (the butter they serve with it is great). I went with some folks that are regulars and know the owners quite well, but I noticed other diners were getting the same level of excellent service. We started with the seafood appetizer - I will say that fried calamari often leaves me underwhelmed not matter where I eat it. It was good, but didn't knock my socks off (I prefer it grilled to fried). The littleneck clams were superb, as was the shrimp with garlic (served with a fantastic bulb of roasted garlic on top - perfect for dipping the bread into). I had the fish of the day, which was rockfish. I would rate it good, it had an interesting crust on it that tasted almost like a high end fried chicken skin. The spinach served with it was very good, as was the potato in a wrapper. For dessert I had the fruit tart which was blackberries and included a white chocolate mousse. Delicious and light, perfect for a hot day. I would certainly go back again if I am ever in Ellicott City.
(3)Steve S.
We arrived Saturday night and were seated at once. Our waiter and staff help were friendly and excellent quality service began right away. Water glasses were kept filled, drinks were fresh. Salads were brought first and the vegitables were crisp and fresh. Dinner consisted of Bay Scalops for me and a steak for my wife. The scalops were firm and tasted great, the steak was done to my wifes expectations and the side dishes were excelent. Desert was Crepes made at the table and as usual they were to die for. All in all a wonderful evening.
(5)Kaylie S.
Went here for brunch with my mom. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. Each course was very good and the portions were big enough so that we couldn't finish. Each course was spaced out and we were not rushed in the least. The waiter was very personable and the atmosphere calm and relaxing. We'd love to return!
(4)Vincent N.
oh wow where do i start? So i decided to take my gf out to a nice fine dining restaurant and read all the reviews about this place...but didn't read enough reviews... first we get there and its like we are eating in someones living room. the tables are setup way to close to each other to where everyone can hear your conversation. the Decor is old and not very warming.. we started off with the escargots $9. which wasn't to bad but yet still pretty bland. can tastes much herbs or garlic. FAIL my gf got the "tour de france" $31...3 course meal consisting of: fish soup- tasted like strong pungent fermented mackerel puree. FAIL lamb shank- overly salted lamb and with a more then usual gamey taste. FAIL apple tart dessert- 3 bites you're done..but the teaspoon of whipping creme was excellent. OK I opted for the Veal $31- Not having veal before i didn't know what to expect..and what i got were 3 small pancake size pound pieces of beef that tasted like pork. absolutely the WORST piece of beef Ive ever had and i am not picky!! it was tough and overdone even though the pounded the crap out of it to tenderize it...instead of it being tender it was like rubber.. SUPER FAIL the service there is top notch but that doesn't make up for the $90 meal i spent. Seriously, a frozen dinner would've tasted much better and cost me $88 less... EXTREMELY disappointed. but the service and the whipped creme is good, if that's what you're looking for. A HUGE WASTE OF $90
(1)S G.
My family and I had brunch here today and the food was AMAZING! I had the sweetbread appetizer, the fish hash special and the fruit torte dessert. Everything was really well conceived and executed. It was a lovely classical French meal and I was very pleased. At first glance I thought that it was a little pricey, but by the end of the meal I realized that it was all worth it. Our waiter (who I believe also doubled as the bartender) was wonderful... very helpful with suggestions and always on point. No doubt we will be back!!
(5)Dayne B.
Wow. Great wine, food, cheese, and crepes!
(5)Mark B.
Everything about this place was well prepared. My only complaint (request) is I wished they had scallops as an appetizer. I would have gotten both the escargot and the scallops, in addition to my meal if it was offered. My wife and I went here for our first wedding anniversary. I have been to Paris a couple times and my wife and I had French cuisine for the first time together on our honeymoon. First, the restaurant is in historic Ellicott City, right on Main Street. My wife and I love this area and are so very happy to have found a gem right in the center of this beautiful and historic area. The restaurant, a 19th century colonial home, looked quaint from the outside and we were not disappointed as we walked inside. We had made reservations through Open Table and the maître d'hôtel immediately welcomed us, had our reservations and promptly escorted us to our already set table for two. Our serveur and the maître d' were very pleasant, the only French uncharacteristic aspect of the dining. The serveur ran through the specials and answered questions about the menu with ease. THE FOOD I got the escargot as an appetizer. The snails were already unshelled, which some say removing the snails from the shell is part of the fun. The escargot was delicious! They were different than the ones I had in Paris (maybe less thyme or parsley), but the butter and garlic sauce was amazing and the shallots and white wine made it very distinctive. The maître d' even brought additional bread and a bouillon spoon to get all the sauce out of the dish and onto the extra bread he brought. I would come back again simply for the escargot. My wife got the tomato soup, which was very well seasoned and slightly creamy. I got the scallops, which were cooked perfectly. The artichoke sauce was probably the highlight of the dish. The printemps (spring) vegetable risotto was slightly bland, but cooked well and worked with the coquilles Saint-Jacques (scallops). If they offered scallops as an appetizer, I probably would have either gotten the Veau or the featured meat of the day (Viande du Marche), which I believe was both a tenderloin and lamb loin that sounded amazing! For my wife's main course, she got the conard (duck). She definitely preferred the leg confit preparation over the seared magret with honey gastrique. The seared magret (breast) was tough, while the duck confit had an amazing flavor and just melted in your mouth. My wife had a small portion boxed up to take home with us, but unfortunately we forgot to ask for the box from the serveur when we left. For desert we shared a strawberry tart and they brought us out a small cup of desert with a candle in it for our first year wedding anniversary. Nice touch! The experience could not have been better, the serving staff was attentive, but allowed us our time to ourselves. We never had to ask for anything, but we were also never bothered. This is a great place for a special occasion or just a very nice meal. Living Social always has deals, so I would keep on the lookout for those as well.
(5)Debbie H.
Best Meal Ever - we went to celebrate our anniversary and had the tasting menu of 5 courses. The food was the best I had eaten and the entire experience was wonderful. We were not rushed but made to feel so welcome from the moment we entered. The duck confit with pumpkin polenta in a honey glaze sauce was my favorite. The scallops were perfectly cooked with wonderful combination of passion fruit sauce and beet risotto. We also had a filet mignon that hardly needed a knife and melted in your mouth. We had Crêpe Suzette table-side and Charlie is a master! So delicious. I highly recommend Tersiguel's! Thanks to all of them for making our anniversary so special.
(5)Ina C.
3.5 stars. The food made up for the awkward service and slightly tacky decor. We went for Howard County's restaurant week, but ended up ordering off of the regular menu because we weren't too impressed with the RW offerings. (There's a year-round prix-fixe menu for $36.95, and the RW menu just added a salmon option and stuck a $40 price tag on it!) We ordered: - The seafood appetizer. It's for 2+ people, and each portion is around $14. We ordered two portions for the four of us to share, and it was plenty. The presentation was like tapas - a tower of calamari, and little bowls each with mussels in a curry broth, shrimp with a roasted garlic fist, and mussels with sausage bits in the sauce. All were fantastic. I highly recommend this appetizer! - The "crabe "appetizer. This consisted of a mound of chilled crab meat topped with fennel and some other veggies. This had a really unique taste, and I liked it a lot - but I wouldn't have liked it as my only appetizer. Get this if you're sharing apps with your friends and you want something light and cool. - Lobster with lobster & tomato risotto. This was my favorite dish. The risotto was topped with lobster bits and surrounded with a green mint sauce that made the dish look like Christmas, and tasted like heaven. The combination of the mint with the other flavors was really unique. - Rockfish. This came with a side of really unique veggies, which I won't even try to remember. The fish was seasoned lightly and well, but the fish itself was a little bit on the dry side. - Duck. The really special thing about this duck was that it was sweet. Delicious, but a little bit monochromatic as an entire dish, if you know what I mean. One-dimensional. - Scallops. Like we mentioned at dinner, it's hard to mess these up. And they didn't mess 'em up! Nothing all that special here, but this was a solid dish. Very tasty. On to dessert! - Chocolate mousse. YUM! The mousse was light, airy and creamy, and had a raspberry swirl which gave it a little punch. I couldn't stop eating this. - Napoleon. I saw this across the room even before we ordered our drinks and knew we had to get it. This is not your traditional Napoleon with millions of hard-to-eat layers. Imagine a Napoleon sandwich - lovely cream and seasonal fruit (raspberries for us) surrounded by two wonderfully flaky biscuits. Fantastic! Including a half-bottle of wine, our bill for our party of four came out to around $230, I think. Not bad. Like I mentioned at the beginning, the food outshines the semi-awkward service and weird decor. This place seemed like it was designed by your grandfather. But really, if you wanna go, go for the food. Tips: - Park behind the restaurant. Follow signs to "Lot D" and pay only $.25 per hour! You gotta love EC! - Not really a destination restaurant. Don't go out of your way to eat here; But if you're in the area, you've got some money to burn, and you want some French food, Tersiguel's is your place!
(4)Jennifer S.
I've never met a meal here I didn't like. Exquisite food for any palate and attentive service. Very good escargot!
(4)Mary W.
I came here last summer with 2 friends, worrying that the restaurant would be too stuffy for 3 college students & expecting the food to be AMAZING. Sadly, only the 1st expectation was fulfilled. Don't get me wrong, the food here is definitely well thought out and well-executed, but it just did not suite my tastes. The seafood appetizer was pretty good, but my main course hit a low note. Personally, I don't like fruity sauces with my meat and I also don't like sweet cabbage WITH my duck. I picked duck because the lamb was sort of intimidating and I'm not a huge fan of steak. Although the duck was well-cooked, I wish the chef had used a different flavor combination. Overall, the meal was on the heavy side, and believe me, so was the check. I would probably only go back if I knew they had something special on the menu, or on a day when there is live entertainment.
(3)Andy C.
The first time I went here was for Easter brunch. While the food was a bit overpriced, it tasted excellent, and seemed like the kind of place we'd go back to for special occasions. Boy, were we wrong. Not long after that, we took my mother-in-law there for Mother's Day. Big mistake. Despite there being no mention of it on their website or when we made the reservation, they had a special fixed-price menu on Mother's Day. Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but there was almost nothing my wife could eat, because she was pregnant and had to avoid fish, shellfish and other things. We asked the waiter if we could order off the normal menu but he said the chef wouldn't allow it. We ended up spending a fortune for something that no one was particularly happy with, particularly my wife. Don't expect us to be going back, considering how unhelpful the waiter and chef were to us.
(2)Julie E.
Filling out my Yelp profile, I saw the last meal question and thought of the glorious French food (the truffle-shaved salad, the escargot, the lobster) and I promptly got lost in thought. And once I came to my senses, I realized if I was suffering some premature death, I probably would be penniless and unable to travel back east to this "tres cher" restaurant. One can dream though. My sole experience eating here was during the winter, which, I think accentuated the intimate surroundings of the historic house and brought out the comfort aspects of the subtly flavored food. I wouldn't hesitate to try to repeat the experience at any time of the year...just give me another year to save up!
(5)Elizabeth B.
Tersiguels' is overrated. The service was snooty, the food took a long time to cook and wasn't as good as the price was high. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary but they stuck us in this crammed little room at a rickety table. Better French food at King's Contrivance. Much better service at Jordan's.
(2)Graham D.
Came here for brunch and had a great veal hash with organic poached eggs. Still one of the best restaurants in Maryland. Maitre'D and wait staff were very friendly, and accommodating. Plenty of off menu choices for little kids. I am particularly happy to give this 5 stars for the value as well. For fine dining, this is extremely well priced.
(5)Shieva R.
After reading the reviews last night the family and I decided to head over for a nice meal. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away. The meal was good but not great. We had a great salad, pate, butternut squash soup, and a great blueberry sorbet in a fabulous ice cup but I really felt the entrees were lacking. There were five of us so I got a chance to taste a large portion of the menu, and I was left a bit disappointed. The chicken was very poorly seasoned, the vegetable plate was just a poor mix of all the side dishes the restaurant had, none of which complemented the other, just a sad hodgepodge. Our waitress also seemed very nervous and uncomfortable, I think she was new, but the rest of our service was on point. The decor itself is charming, non-pretentious and suites old ellicott city well, but the bathroom is one of the single handed sorriest excuses for a restroom i've ever seen! The bathroom is unisex, ok, in the middle of the entrance to the restaurant, er ok, and the smallest saddest rundown thing I've ever seen! Overall, unfortunately I don't think I'll be back there is better french food to be had!
(3)Eric N.
Went here for a special meal with my wife. We had a great meal, and this was our second time here. Started with the seafood appetizer, which consisted of muscles in a white wine broth(not so great), clams in a butter garlic sauce(very good), fluke and potato cake(very good), and shrimp in a garlic sauce(excellent). Plenty of sauces left over to dip your bread in. For the main course, we had the beef bourgenoine(sp?), and the chicken in a coconut sauce. Both were excellent. The desert of creme brulee was the best that I've had. the service was very good, and the experience was very memorable. The only French restaurant around, but definitely, a great night out.
(5)Sarah T.
My family has been going to Tersiguel's ever since I can remember. I was a picky eater in my younger days, but I LOVED the vichyssoise--which is still super tasty today. Now that I'm old and all classy and refined, I realize what I was missing. My favorite things to order are the mixed seafood appetizer to share with the table, the escargot, the pear salad, and the duck. The owner, Fernand, is always a wonderfully gracious host. He also was all about locally grown, organic food way before it was trendy to be that way. He raises his own pigs which make for the most delicious sausage and grows a lot of his own vegetables.
(4)Erik G.
Wonderful service, great food (try the Duck Confit). We've been there twice for dinner and once for brunch. Always an outstanding experience. I've had a great steak prepared by the owner himself at my table, a wonderful duck dinner, and a great lobster omelet. My fiance has also loved everything she's tried there. There is a good beer selection including Samuel Smith's, as well as wine.
(5)Andy M.
I took my mother here for lunch for Mother's Day 2010, my first time there. The service was very nice and accommodating, but the food was just subpar. A lot of it probably had to do with the holiday lunch rush, but if you're charging the same price you should put out the same quality at all times. Being busy is not a sufficient excuse to send out bad food. We started off with the seafood appetizer for two, a special for that day, which consisted of fried calamari, mussels in a curry sauce, clams with sausage bits and steamed shrimp in butter topped with a full bulb of roasted garlic. The calamari was essentially fried breading with some shrunken, barely edible bits of squid here and there. It was what you'd expect from a dive bar during $1 pint night and just sort of insulting to get. The mussels were so overdone that the meat was stuck to the shell such that it tore when you tried to pry it away, and I don't remember seeing or tasting a single bit of sausage in the clam sauces. The shrimp was fine but kind of plain, but the flaked off skin from the roasted garlic bulb meant we were picking garlic skin off the shrimp the whole time. For the entrees I had the lamb chop medallions and my mother had the Coquille St. Jacques. My lamb came out more medium than medium rare with little moisture - they didn't let it rest. Mom's scallops were a disaster. She enjoyed it because it was her first time at a French restaurant, but it was nearly inedible for me. First the scallops had an embarrassing sear job and just did not look appetizing. They were cooked fine but just didn't have that sexy sear that you should expect from a $33 dish. The sauce, however, was so intense with a pineapple-type tartness that you could barely taste anything else. Also, the roasted vegetables just looked sad. When you go to a French place you think you're going to get some incredibly uniform cuts and general displays of knife skill badassness, but the carrot sticks were simply roughly skinned, vaguely octagonal medium sized carrot spikes. That's pretty much how I do my carrots when I'm hammered out of my mind and don't want to risk chopping off a finger. Dessert was fine. I don't have much to say here because we got the creme brulee so that Mom could try it for the first time. It was done well but had an odd starfruit slice with one point lopped off for garnish. I just thought that was strange looking. I spent $150 for the both of us. In DC, you can have a wonderful, incredibly memorable meal for $70 each. The meal we had here for that price was something you could cook better in your own house for far cheaper. The best part of the meal was the Cotes du Rhone. This was just a poor, overpriced excuse for a French restaurant.
(2)Albert L.
my two friends and I went here a little over a year ago, and since i tried to empty out one of my friend's wallets out at a meal the night before, he was intent on emptying out my wallet. the waiter was surprisingly young, being probably 17 at most. we ordered the seafood appetizer, meat dishes for our main entrees and individual desserts. for the price, this place did not impress. each of our dishes, despite being cooked differently, ended up tasting the same. the food wasn't bad, but they did not stand out.
(3)Bradley N.
A reluctant four stars for a place that now sounds like it has lost some of its former luminosity and lustre. C'est la vie, I suppose. I am yelping this as the second of two Baltimore-area reviews of local places to restore karmic balance after writing up a review of the Towson Wal-Mart Superstore. Our anniversary meal at T's several years ago was so memorable that I can still recall parts of the menu. I know that we had local, organic microgreens from their gardens, I know that the ultra-chic, gracefully aging waiter recommended us our first taste ever of Pouilly-Fuissé (it's just Chardonnay ... who knew?) . I recall that my wife had skate (yes, skate) served incredibly fresh and flaky with butter sauce. I had a Moroccan chicken tagine - old school French cooking of the colonial variety, if you know what I mean. And various carts w/ châteaubriand wafted beefy aromas around the historic Ellicott City establishment, once the home of the town mayor. It was one of those evenings where you could almost believe that classic French dining (or any national style, really) might just well survive the EU, the popular French embrace of le Big Mac, and the globalization of cuisines in the twenty-first century. Too bad that things are not like this anymore. At least I can hold on to my five-star memories ...
(4)John S.
The cooking classes here are a real blast. My wife attended one along with a few friends. It was on a Saturday morning through early afternoon. They were given glasses of wine to start and moved into the small kitchen. The chef took them through a five-course dinner preparation. Lot's of fun to watch and ask questions. Once the class was finished, they were served this five-course dinner. She and her friends can't wait for the next class. For a small fee, I hear that you can spent all day with the chef from 5:30am to close of business. Shopping, prep, cooking, and finally dinner for two. I think I will sign us up based on my wife's earlier experience.
(4)Joe P.
My wife and I were married at the Patapsco Female Institute in Ellicott City (it is the stabilized ruins of a beautiful Federalist mansion that served as a school for girls in the 19th century. It is not a jail), so we went to nearby Tersiguel's for our fourth anniversary. The service is... not so much slow, but, they don't rush. Have a drink, talk over the menu. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable. The menu is simple, which I like. They have 3 or 4 classic French dishes (chaucrute, beef borginione etc) and then a single version each of duck, steak, fish, veal, lamb, and chicken and scallops. We got the "shareable" seafood appetizer. The mussels, shrimp an calamari were great. The crab mashed potatoes was like... mashed potatoes. I got the duck, my wife got the scallops. Look, seriously, go there for the scallops. Yes, and the duck two-ways? Too yummy. Bloody rare duck breast with crispy done duck leg. The textures, flavors, contrasts... it was duck did right. The side vegetables? Weird? Not sure if subtle flavors or just kind of bland. For dessert, I remember some very fresh creme 'freesh', perfectly ripe berries, ice cream and a cracker/cookie crust that was not soggy. Over all, I'd say that there are many other restaurants out there in newer more spacious buildings, with far more extensive menus, pushier service, fancy sauces, and far out flavors. This place would kill itself before it allowed itself to become that. It's classic, simple, accessible, quaint, cozy, friendly, it's got character, it's got atmosphere. You'll get a delicious (maybe not adventurous) meal that is a fair value (c'mon, it's French fine dining in Howard County. What were you expecting?). Feel free to sit and chat, make noise, get lost in a bottle of wine with your companions. And when you're done, take a stroll through old town E.C. If you enjoy good food, and the atmosphere it provides, you'll enjoy Tersiguel's
(4)Clint U.
This is probably one of the better French Country restaurants in the Balitmore area. The food is always rich and flavorful. Always done correctly from the red meats to the fish. You can tell the attention to detail when you taste their soups and sauces. This is in beautiful downtown Ellicott City. If you have never been here, most of the downtown shops are made of stone.....its worth a drive and a stroll through town in an afternoon. Many interesting small shops. NO CHAINS HERE... Ooops I didnt mean whips and chains....I meant franchise chains...like Home Depot...McD's, KFC, etc. Hey wait a minute...there is a tatoo palor here and they do sell chains.......... The only downside is parking. On busy weekends and nights ...the public lot gets full. Lots of residental areas to park..but expect to walk a ways....half mile or so if really crowded. There are lots of hills in this neck of the woods. Hills not as bad as San Francisco...but enough so you need to set your parking brake firmly. So if you are in heels....have your guy drop you off and let him walk....lol
(4)Trevor R.
Great atmosphere and fantastic service. No groundbreaking cuisine here, but solid French offerings. Prices are a little on the high side, but not completely out of line. A nice special occasion restaurant, or when your rich uncle is in town and offers to buy you dinner.
(4)Patrice R.
I booked a table for 2 for Saturday before Valentine's Day. I noted when I made the reservation that this was our Valentine's celebration. When we arrived, we were taken upstairs, shown a table for two squeezed in between an occupied table for 4 where a mom was busy breastfeeding her baby and a child was playing video games on one side and a table for two on the other. The server could barely squeeze in between the tables on either side to talk to us. Throughout the dining experience the staff literally ran in and out of the room--a sense of urgency pervaded the atmosphere. The appetizer we ordered to share was really good. My husband liked his soup and rockfish. I asked for my filet to be cooked medium rare. It arrived cooked medium well. The server acknowledged it wasn't cooked to order and offered to replace it. As a general rule, I don't send food back and I don't want a replacement. As we were leaving, the hostess asked if our meals were good. I told her "no they weren't". She looked stunned. Didn't say anything for a long time. I was waiting for them to find my coat. She finally asked what happened. I explained my food was not prepared as requested. She said, oh, I'm sorry. That was it. No offer to adjust the bill, no effort to contact the owner. Will not be returning and will make every effort to let others know to anticipate feeling like a sardine packed in a tight space, with rushed service, inattentiveness to the food, and no effort to compensate for unmet expectations.
(2)Charlotte B.
Underwhelming. . . the food was not up to snuff for the reputation/prices. Compare to Chez Francois in Northern VA and you'll see it's worth the drive to eat better. Bland carrot soup that tasted like diluted baby food. Garlicky escargots that needed salt. Decor verging on tacky in places especially the bathroom which is battered, scratched and hard to lock/unlock.
(2)Susan E.
We try to go here at least once a year, usually on our anniversary. The food is always wonderful and the servers are very knowledgeable and attentive. Always plan on at least 2 hours or more for the meal. Save room for dessert!
(4)Danny L.
I love this place. Exceptional french country food in a truly romantic setting. The food is authentic French and it does not cater to American palates. They don't apologize for being French and I dig that. The wait staff can help you select a wine with the food your order and they get it right most of the time.
(5)Trey G.
My wife and I ate here for dinner with a discounted voucher we bought from Livingsocial. I can see now why they had to turn to Livingsocial to drum up business. Our meal started with the complimentary but cold bread. It was soon thereafter followed by a meager portion of sausage. The broiler at this restaurant must be out of order as the majority of our meal was significantly charred. They completely destroyed a beautifully cut filet. My wife's dry beef bourguignon was served with a round of blackened toast. If you are looking for true beef bourguignon, this is not the place to have it. It seems they have forgotten the burgundy and in its place served a pile of dry meat (sans sauce) with a side of flavorless vegetables. Maybe the dishes we ordered were not their strong suit, but any reputable restaurant should have the decency not to serve their guests burnt toast. Overpriced, overcooked, and overated.
(1)Dana L.
A good fancy restaurant. We went here for my birthday. Its a bit out of the way in Ellicott City (especially if you live in Baltimore), but may be worth a trip. The decor is for old people. If your parents are at all snooty, they might like it here. It isn't young and hip, but that's not the goal. We were in the Church Room, which contained pictures of churches (how much fun). We started with a bottle of the Beaujolais Nouveau, a fruity wine that you can only get for a few weeks of the year. The host did mix up the name, but I was impressed that they had it. In fact, on the way out, I noticed that they had a magnum sitting in front - neat. I started with the crab crepe, which was quite tasty, and stuffed with spinach (good thing you can eat that again). The duck entry was pretty good - I got both baked and crispy duck. I liked the crispy duck a bit better, but it was all succulent. It also included a tasty polenta dish. Unfortunately, the doggie bag only included the duck - I felt sort of cheated. The apple tart dessert was only fair, but the spice ice cream that accompanied it was top notch. I heard some complaints about the tiramisu, but was unable to substantiate. The other desserts got rave reviews. The only thing that I found really annoying was the waiter. We had a large party, and for each course, he went around and asked each person personally how his or her beverage/appetizer/dish/dessert was. I thought that it was a bit excessive, particularly the third or fourth time. The meal was expensive - you should only come here if you have someone to impress, or if your parents are in town and want to wine and dine you.
(4)Francis K.
The food was good and the owner was extremely friendly. The restaurant is a litle small but overall it was a great experience.
(4)Steve P.
The food wasn't horrible and the service was good; aside from the bug in my food, I don't have any major complaints or praises. I understand bugs happen from time to time, but attention to detail matters to me. I just wasn't impressed by the expensive price of average food.
(2)Kelly C.
I took my sister and her friend out for a french b-day dinner. The restaurant is charming as are the staff. Great atmosphere. The staff were super attentive. Excellent service. The food was more inconsistent. The oysters were only ok. We also got the sweetbreads which were nothing special. We shared the sea scallops and duck entrees. Both were delicious along with the creative sides. Good sized portions. Dessert was a forgettable Napoleon with kiwi. The bill came to $120 inc. tip with no alcohol and with my sister and her friend sharing their dishes.
(3)Brian M.
I'm not a "foodie" and the last time I ate in a French restaurant was when I visited Paris as a child in 1977. Now that you know where I'm coming from and can evaluate my opinion accordingly, let me say that I really enjoyed Tersiguel's. The sausage appetizer was delicious and my main entree of duck was superb. The waitress was appropriately attentive and the chef even sent us an extra appetizer "just to try." I like long, well-spaced out dinners so that I can talk to my friends and Tersiguel's was perfect for this.
(4)Yana N.
We came here for dinner on the recommendation of the innkeeper's at The Wayside Inn (an amazing place, but that's another story). The ambiance is lovely- dim lighting, quiet and cozy. It's the perfect place for an intimate dinner. We ordered the seafood appetizer for two, to share. The little neck clams were out of this world- we ate the broth with our spoons once the clams were done. The fried calamari with chili aioli, shrimp in garlic sauce and mussels in white wine were all phenomenal. We then split the salmon entree- grilled ginger glazed salmon on a bed of rice with green beans, carrots, corn and lump crabmeat, served with a sweet pineapple sauce. I found the entree over salted, but my dining partner liked it very much. We weren't feeling very hungry and so didn't order any dessert. The service was excellent- the staff were most attentive throughout the evening. I would definitely go here again.
(4)Lola S.
When I have money to burn- this is my favorite place to go for a meal! Mmmmmm....
(5)Shahny K.
I went here for a business dinner, so of course we were served from a prixe-fixe menu. We were served the standard veggies, and I chose the steak. Food and menu are pretty bland. This review isn't even worth writing.
(2)Valerie B.
Just had a great prix-fixe Valentine's Day dinner here. Rare for me to eat here and not enjoy the food and suggested wine, whether it be glass pairings or full bottle.
(4)Tatyana M.
I wondered about this restaurant for a long time but visited it with my family of 7 just yesterday. What can I say? Simply put - nobody was imprested. First pluses: Cozy, French themed ambience. Nice service. Now minuses: FOOD. Kind of bland not impressive and (in case of butternut squash soup) just tasteless food. Eating this soup was similar to eating baby's food. My Maryland crepe was OK but wouldn't make me to come back for it. The same impressions were having everyone in our party about their dishes except the one who ordered Duck dish. The Duck was pretty much awful (like it was made a week ago and heated up a little). We didn't want to waste money on dessert after what we tasted, so I can't comment on that, but it's pretty obvious to me we are not coming back to this place. We had much better experience of the similar cuisine with Candle Light Inn in Catonsville then here. BTW speaking about money the prices would be considered reasonable IF the quality of the food would be outstanding. In our case it was rip off. I wonder who are those people that gave all these raving reviews; do they have any taste buds at all???????
(2)Joanna S.
I went to Tersiguel with my boyfriend's family to celebrate his birthday. They showed us up to the "Church room" which was full of pictures of churches connected to the owner's life. The waiter went through the process of describing each picture to us. Nice touch. The meal was good. I am a vegetarian and ordered a vegetarian dish that wasn't listed on the menu, but which was pretty good. I was impressed.....until I went to the bathroom. For such a fancy place, I was expecting much more. The cheap stalls that greated me were not in line with the fanciness of the restaurant. Very odd.
(4)Gareth W.
Tersiguel's is one of my all-time favorite restaurants, and go-to for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. The menu always offers an array of intriguing, seasonal country French cuisine. The restaurant's atmosphere balances subtle elegance without being overbear or stuffy. One great option is to inquire if a chef's tasting menu is available (I've done so twice), which samples a few appetizers, entrees (including the specials that night) and dessert. The last time I dined at Tersiguel's, the tasting menu sampled smoked salmon with yellow beet salad, oyster on the half shell with cucumber vinaigrette, soft shell crab (the best I've had anywhere), halibut with shrimp mashed potatoes, roast veal in demi glace, roast lamb with black currant reduction, and creme brulee. While it is more expensive than ordering off the menu, turning control over to the kitchen exposed me to dishes I would not have chosen on my own, and which ended up being highlights of the meal. Our waiter offered paired wines with each course or with every other course. We selected alternate courses, which balanced the ability for wine to precisely compliment the dish while not being excessive (at seven courses for the tasting menu, pairing with each course means a lot of wine!). Speaking of the wait staff, our waiter, Charlie, is a consummate professional. He offers keen insight into the menu offerings, excellent recommendations for pairing wine with dishes, is attentive, and is generally very enjoyable company for the evening.
(5)Jenny H.
I randomly came here with some girlfriends for a Saturday lunch and found the food surprisingly tasty! The Le Pain Perdu, or country bread French toast, served with seasonal berries, maple syrup, and whipped cream was really good. Crispy and substantial. I also got the Quiche Tatin with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, Swiss cheese and onions. It was a little pot of egg tart with a flake biscuit on top, well flavored and good. I though the Omelette Fermière was awesome!! Huge, frittata-like omelet with lardons, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes and Swiss cheese, garnished with frisée and truffle- it was seasoned so well and was a hearty dish.
(4)Megan B.
Came here for a nice dinner and we were not disappointed l. Everything was wonderful and our waitresses was very knowledgeable l. My coworker loved her rack of lamb and I can the scallops. A must try.
(5)David S.
Full disclosure: I didn't actually dine here. My parents' 65th wedding anniversary was coming up, so I contacted Tersiguel's to see if they would help make the anniversary special. They certainly did! Dominic, the Maitre d', responded promptly to my first email. I asked him to have Chef create a special 6-course menu just for my parents. I gave him an idea of what my parents' tastes are, and he talked it over with Chef Michel, who created a wonderful menu. I wanted a menu that included items that were not on their regular menu, something that included lots of fresh local food, and Chef came through brilliantly. On the night of the event, my parents were treated like royalty from the moment they arrived. They report that the service was exceptional, and that the meal was the best restaurant meal they have had in their lives (and they are 86 years old). And, quite frankly, the price they charged for this special event service was not excessive. It was of course more than your normal night out for dinner, but it was certainly reasonable, considering what I was requesting. So thanks to everyone - Dominic for his hard work in helping to plan the event, the wait staff for making Mom and Dad feel special, and Chef Michel for his creative and delicious menu.
(5)Tom O.
A group of six of us had dinner at Tersiguel's on a Tuesday night. We started with the pear tart, escargot, sweetbread, paté, and salad appetizers, then for entrees: daily fish (fluke served in parchment); duck legs confit with honey garlic gastrique, and pumpkin polenta; pan seared scallops with passion fruit coulis, and beet risotto; frog legs with tomatoes and garlic, and fricassée of naturally raised chicken with wild mushrooms. Everyone enjoyed their dishes greatly. I especially liked the scallops, with pleasingly balanced tart and sweet accompaniments. Service was extremely attentive. The ambiance is upscale retro-homey and the noise level reasonable for a mostly-filled place. About $55 per person, including wine (one bottle) and tip.
(4)Joy B.
Really classy French cuisine restaurant. This is definitely a place to come for a date night without kids. It is rather pricey but really worth it. This may sound strange, but I am mad about their fresh butter. I wish I could buy it and take it home! They also have very fresh seafood dish and their soups are tasty.
(5)Mike B.
Went there for Valentine's Day with my wife. Everyone was friendly, food was cooked to perfection. On "complaint" I have is the room we were sat in was musty and dark. Also the waiter only asked us if we wanted drinks twice during our meal. It seemed as though he may have been a little more interested on the older people there that looked like they has money....
(4)Molly A.
My friends and I came here on a Sunday for Ellicott City Restaurant Week. We wanted to relive the French class field trips we used to take to Tersiguel's in elementary school. We learned that the Sunday prix fixe menu offers the same prices as the Restaurant Week deals. Although this dampened the "specialness" of Restaurant Week, we stayed nonetheless. We all ordered the house salad, boeuf bourguignon, and caramel flan. The salad was average and the flan was unappetizing, but the boeuf bourguignon completely compensated for the meal's lackluster end caps. The beef was literally fall-off-the-bone tender, and the stew was rich, flavorful, and filling. I greatly appreciated the waiter who continuously refilled our breadbasket. Any man who understands the importance of sopping is a man after my own heart.
(4)Chris B.
I am french. This is the best french food restaurant in the area. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is fantastic, the service is on point and expected from a fine establishment. I never write reviews but I have to do it on this one. You will not be disappointed, it is pricey though but way worth it. Looking forward to the NYE menu, see you there Tersiguel's!
(5)Sammie L.
In some respects this meal was just... confusing. Apparently it's rated, or has been, as the best french restaurant in md. Say what? I had a $39 filet, it was covered in sauce that tasted like... nothing. And the haricot verts [green beans people] and onions poached in red wine were... reasonable. It actually tasted like something. And for the record the bread was delicious, and there was perfectly soft butter. The wine options were impoverished - especially given the vicinity of The Wine Bin - which has an incredible selection. Wouldn't try it again...
(2)Jeff P.
Excellent service (thanks to the inimitable Charlie), delicious food that was not too heavy but just right, and a charming atmosphere. Tersiguel's is better than ever.
(4)Rebecca A.
This is my second review. We went for brunch. I'm not a fan of their crepes. They aren't tender or that flavorful. They are more like a square piece of pizza crust with all the stuff laid out on top of it. I got the crab crepe and it was just ok. Pricey. The desserts are where I started to really feel ripped off. They are tiny and weird. We got a sampler that included 3 tiny desserts. There was a sugar cookie type round boat that held the smallest dollop of some sort of creme and 3 blackberries. Dry, needs more creme. The moose was good. The flourless chocolate cake was ok. We tried escargot, which was very tastey and very pricey. I'm probably just not a big fan of this place.
(3)Mary M.
I haven't been here in a couple of years, but when I went I loved it. It's pretty pricey which the only reason I haven't been back. I went for a work lunch so the menu was pre-planned, but I was extremely happy with all of the dishes.
(5)