Noisette Restaurant & Bakery

I really wanted to love Noisette. It’s been on my to-try list for awhile, not only because I love French food, but also because I have loved their dishes at all the festivals and events they’ve served food at. But Noisette was… fine. Not great, but not bad. The decor is cute. A little pink for me, but fine. My husband probably wouldn’t walk in here by himself. The service is great and the chef-owners are super nice, which makes this tough. One thing I don’t like is that there’s no bar seating. My husband and I often like to walk into restaurants during happy hour and sit at the bar and chat with the bartenders. Sometimes I dine by myself (like I did here) — and then the lack of bar seating is even more uncomfortable. Only 5 cocktails on the menu — 3 of them gin based. I usually expect a little more from a cocktail menu at an upscale restaurant these days. The biggest thing for me was that the food was… fine. I admit, my opinion is definitely tinged by the lack of gluten-free alternatives. It’s always an issue with French restaurants: the apps all come with a baguette or a brioche or on a crepe or inside a pastry. Most places in Denver have done a bit better accommodating the huge number of gluten-intolerant people here (even if it’s just getting some gluten-free bread from another Colorado bakery). The gluten-free crackers they brought for the foie gras were NOT good — but I was not impressed by the $33 hard chunk of foie gras with super-tart sauce either (and I usually love foie gras) — but maybe it was the crackers. I should have gotten something else, but I think the endives were the only gluten-free option. The lobster main dish was really good — a whole lobster for $75 is ok pricing I think. I have had good lobster many places, though… so not sure I’d come back for this one? Total for just myself: 2 glasses of sparkling, foie gras app, lobster main, French-style cheesecake and espresso martini — $178.

The duck. Order the duck! Great environment, delicious food and they’re able to accommodate a celiac/gluten free diet.