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“Exceptional food and service”
Review of La Petite Maison

La Petite Maison
Ranked #17 of 357 Restaurants in Olympia
Cuisines: French
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Dining options: Reservations
Description: Phone Number: (360) 754-9623 Grand Opening was May 3, 2011! Specialties La Petite Maison is set in a newly remodeled 1903 home that complements the French country-style cuisine. Chef Wells offers seasonal, local ingredients classically prepared and matched with an exceptional wine program. The expansive menu covers classic French fare (such as duck confit, cassoulet and house-made pates) as well as inventive creations such as lobster pot pie and crispy pork belly with hazelnuts. Along with the regular menu, a nightly prix fixe menu is offered. The prix fixe menu highlights the freshest ingredients available each day and provides Chef Wells a creative outlet to utilize his most advanced techniques. An extensive wine program features wines from the most classic and well-regarded regions and producers from France as well as Washington wines. Chef Wells offers personalized wine pairings to best complement the cuisine. History Established in 2011 After several iterations of restaurants in the space, the new owners of La Petite Maison are thrilled to restore the building to its original charm choosing to keep the original name of the restaurant that first opened in 1977. Now offering seasonal, local ingredients classically prepared and matched with an exceptional wine program, La Petite Maison is the South Sound region's only French restaurant
Reviewed 7 January 2017 via mobile

Our server was very articulate and knowledgable about pairings, making several helpful suggestions as we decided what to order. She took her time with us and came right back with the wine so we could enjoy it while deciding what to order. The French onion soup is fantastic, foie gras, salads, and filet to die for. The menu varies based on what is available and seasonal and the chef is clearly creative in this regard.
We recommend this place! It's in a converted house filled with antique tables and a few stained glass pieces. Very pleasant dining experience good for a group or just dinner for two. Not inexpensive, but worth it for I very nice dinner.

Date of visit: October 2016
1  Thank tuscany885
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviews (96)
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38 - 42 of 96 reviews

Reviewed 4 January 2017

Wonderful authentic French cuisine. Started with Steak Tartare, followed with Duck with red cabbage and finished with Chocolate Souffle. Tasteful decor and excellent service.

Several smaller rooms for functions or business meetings.

Date of visit: December 2016
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1  Thank SandraL68
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 December 2016

La Petite Maison is in an older refurbished house in a nondescript area of Olympia's westside. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. We were immediately greeted on entering, and the waitstaff was attentive without being intrusive. The wine list is extensive. The menu consists of items not typically found in Olympia: snails, pate, pork belly, foie gras, duck, lamb, as well as beef and chicken dishes. There is also a special prix fixe dinner most evenings. Prices are very, very high, but the food was plentiful and excellent. Be aware that there is no children's menu, however, we were told that the chef will prepare something special if requested. Make sure you make reservations as the restaurant is small. Service was European-slow, so take your time and enjoy your meal. This is a great restaurant for special occasions, or more often if you can afford that sort of thing. We had dinner for two with a $50+ bottle of wine, one salad, one French Onion soup, the two
entrees, and shared a dessert - total before tip, $190.

Date of visit: December 2016
    • Value
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Thank AreWeHavingFunYet
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 17 December 2016

I visited for dinner with my wife and two friends. It feels like you are walking in to a friend's house as you enter. That is a plus. We were seated promptly and offered water. Menus were left and the waitress disappeared.

The menu is extremely pricey. Eight dollars for a dozen olives in a bowl, $17 for 4 oz of steak tartare, $36 for an entrée. They also have a 5 course prix fixe menu for $64. I wouldn't mind paying those prices if the food were exceptional; but it wasn't.

I had the steak tartare as an appetizer and pork cheeks as an entrée. The steak tartare was flat. There was no acid in it to cut the fat of the meat, so it just coated your tongue and sat there. It would have been greatly improved with the addition of capers. The plate of pork cheeks had several problems, not the least of which was the choice of serving bowl. The cheeks are served in a cereal bowl, swimming on a lake of runny mashed potato (potato puree). Trying to get your fork and knife down to the pork, or lifting the potato was darned difficult. Somehow, they had managed to cook the unctuousness out of the cheeks. Pork cheeks are one of my favorite foods and to see them treated like this made me very sad. With two cheeks, the total weight was around 4 oz.

I didn't get to taste our friend's order of cassoulet, so cannot comment. I will, however, comment on the brash, intrusive music being piped in. Frank Sinatra is ok in a club, but not at the dinner table. Not sure why they didn't have French Bistro music playing softly, or no music at all.

There were good points which salvaged the evening. My wife's mussels were served in a very nice broth. The bread, though not baked in house, was excellent. My friends said the snails were good, and they really liked the chocolate soufflé for dessert.

This was my first visit in 20 years to this restaurant. I remembered why it has been that long. They have a very high opinion of themselves (look at the prices) which is not justified by the food. It will be a long time again before I return.

Date of visit: December 2016
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2  Thank CommanderChip
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 10 December 2016

This was our 3rd time dining here. As usual, it did not disappoint.
This time we opted for a prix-fixe meal for 2, which consisted of 4 courses, including dessert. I have absolutely no criticism of this meal. It was just sublime. Worth the splurge for a special occasion or if you just want a truly fine meal.

Date of visit: December 2016
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank high_standards_4_me
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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