News & Reviews
Texas Monthly
(view listing)(From April 2010) This country French restaurant is celebrating 25 years in the Cultural District, but we say any meal here is a cause for celebration. Changes to the menu would hardly be tolerated, so the printed pages contain only the standard dishes—steak frites, Dover sole—while blackboards on easels announce daily specials and fresh fish options. Country paté was a nice way to start, with a large, coarsely textured serving. Our entrée, roasted duck, was as good as we expected it to be, with a butternut squash sauce that was truly heaven sent. Bar.
Zagat
The Zagat Guide lists Saint-Emilion as one of the top five restaurants for food in Dallas/Fort Worth for 2010.
dfw.com
Saint-Emilion is a haven for classic French food
By TERESA GUBBINS
Since 1985, Saint-Emilion has been like a romantic island in Fort Worth, serving country French food in a tiny cottage for dinner five nights a week. The restaurant has hardly more than a dozen tables, but the benefit of such a small scale is that owner Bernard Tronche can control all variables. Dining at the restaurant is like stepping into a perfect world, with no detail overlooked.
No wonder the place is one of Fort Worth’s most beloved institutions and a top destination for special occasions and holidays. New Year’s Eve is an especially festive time, when the restaurant celebrates in the style of Le Reveillon, hitting the midnight hour with a dinner and party as they do in France.
But even on nonholidays, Saint-Emilion has a relaxed policy when it comes to closing time; on any given night, diners can be found dawdling over dinner and wine well past the official 10 p.m. time. It’s easy to see why. Service is accommodating and friendly, the atmosphere is lovely, and the food is reliably excellent.
CNN.com
Saint-Emilion—Country-French cuisine is served in a charming brick chalet. Roast duck is a favorite. Fresh seafood offerings change frequently. Their signature dessert is a rum creme brulee. Tuesday-Friday 6-10 pm. Reservations advised. $$-$$$. Most major credit cards. 3617 W. 7th St. Phone 817-737-2781.
DallasFortWorthBest.com
Best Spots for a Romantic Dinner in Fort Worth, Texas
At Saint Emilion's (3617 W. 7th Street) experience country French couples with sophistication. Maitre d' Chuck Lee and chef de cuisine Hughes Galan head up the food prep staff. You have two options for dinner - fixed priced or a la carte. Smoked salmon is one of the many offerings. For dessert, try the Tarte Tatin, an upside down apple tart that is sweet, gooey, and will make you long for the French countryside. For more information, call 817-737-2781.
DiscoverOurTown.com
Some say that the decor of this brick-home restaurant is so country-French it could have been transplanted directly from a French village. Saint-Emilion is an elegant fine-dining establishment known for its authentic French cuisine, legendary roast duck, and extensive list of fine wines.
StarTelegram.com
($$$-$$$$) Having dinner at Saint-Emilion recently was sort of like going home again, only we're not actually from that Bordeaux wine region. Owner-chef Bernard Tronche is, however, and he has enjoyed taking us to his homeland -- at least for one lovely evening at a time -- for exactly 20 years now.Top 50 restaurants
SAINT-EMILION **** Little things mean a lot at wonderful country French favorite, from complimentary amuse-bouche (think hors d'oeuvres) to delicate Riedel crystal stemware, Rustic pate, splendid filet of beef, roast duckling, delicate sole. Nice wine list. 3617 W 7th, Fort Worth. 817-737-2781. Tue-Sat 6-9. $$$. 12/02. - K.H.
urbanspoon
"Wonderful food and atmosphere" by Ted (1 review) January 07, 2008 - Since arriving in Fort Worth 2002, Saint-Emilion has been my favorite restaurant. Their consistency in high quality food and service is unequal. I have found many other living in Fort Worth to hold Saint-Emilion in equal regard. On my last visit, the duck was flawless. The twill for dessert is worth the price of dinner.
The Dallas Morning News
By KIM HARWELL
COUNTRY CLUB: Saint-Emilion may be country French, but there's nothing unsophisticated about it. Traditional dishes such as house-made pâté, roast duck and rabbit are served in a charming, homey setting by a staff that is knowledgeable, well-trained and welcoming. Throw in reasonable pricing and a formidable wine list, and it's easy to see why this has been a Fort Worth favorite for almost 20 years.
PRICE FIXING: Diners have two options. A fixed-priced four-course dinner is $36.95. A modified a la carte meal includes an entree and house salad for $21.95 and allows diners to add an appetizer ($8.75) or dessert ($7.75). The standard menu is supplemented nightly by a list of blackboard offerings; a few of the dishes – such as the Belgian endive, pear and Stilton salad or the beef tenderloin with peppercorn and cognac sauce – require a small supplemental charge (usually $2 to $5).
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: On previous visits, we've been more than pleased with the rustic country duck pâté and the garlic-butter-drenched escargots. This time we started with a rendition of steak tartare made with prime beef tenderloin and a daily special of scallops. Both were velvety above reproach, though the plump, ivory-colored seafood was more impressive-looking than the duo of raw-meat mounds that made up the tartare.
THE GREENS SCENE: The house salad is a vinaigrette-dressed bed of succulent Boston lettuce tossed with pieces of walnut and bacon that lend texture as well as flavor. The evening's special salade composée costs an extra $5, but it's worth it. Ours was chock-full of fresh crabmeat and marinated artichoke in a rich and creamy dressing.
VIVE LA RÉSISTANCE: Main courses – here dubbed " les plats de résistance" – are global in scope (Australian lamb, USDA prime beef, Dover sole), but the preparation is French to the core. The sole was a beauty, its delicate, flaky flesh nicely complemented by a subtle lemon-butter sauce. Bacon-wrapped rabbit tenderloin wasn't quite as successful. The meat had a nice, mild flavor but was a bit dry – which didn't prevent my companion from cleaning his plate.
BEARING FRUIT: Tarte Tatin, the famed French upside-down apple tart, was a sweet, gooey treat that left us longing for another trip through the French countryside. Without an upcoming European jaunt on the calendar, we'll be happy to settle for another trip to Saint-Emilion.
Dallas Observer
We thought we'd taken a wrong turn and wound up in France instead of Cowtown when we pulled up to this quaint chateau eatery. Although reservations are a must and some diners are dressed in formal attire, the atmosphere isn't stuffy and the waitstaff is refreshingly genial. Starters include buttery escargot in tiny, individual puff pastries as well as thick, delicious brie with a small bit of pear cradled in a pastry. The whole Dover sole fillet sautéed in lemon butter made an excellent main course--very rich, so come hungry. End with the decadent melting chocolate cake, which does just that. The wine list is so thick it could be mistaken for a novel.
Food 5
Service 5
Ambiance 5
Overall 5