In Schenectady, you can’t do a few blocks without seeing an Italian restaurant but a hidden gem among all of the pasta and sauce is the French restaurant Chez Nous.
Chez Nous originally opened in December 2015 before they had to close in February 2019. The amount of business they were doing was not covering operating costs. The restaurant was picked up by Pete Nichols, who recently ran food service at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Clifton Park. They decided to keep the name and the brand, cut back on the menu and add some more American influence.
According to the Times Union, the dinner menu offers 19 soups, salads and appetizers and 13 entrees. They offer lunch, dinner, a pub menu and a Proctors express menu if you’re eating before a show. Each has gluten-free and vegan options.
The restaurant is sweet and the vibe reminds me of going to a family member’s house for dinner. It’s upscale but not too fancy where you feel like you’re underdressed or out of place. There were a lot of menu options and they all sounded delicious. I ended up with ravioli and everything tasted fresh. It was also the perfect portion size for dinner. I was a little disappointed that they leaned more into an American menu but it makes sense if French wasn’t doing well in the area before.
Overall, I enjoyed the food. It’s tough to have a pasta dish that competes with all of the Italian restaurants in the area but it held its own. On the plus side, the prices aren’t ridiculous so you can try a few things. Next time, I need to try the escargot and creme brûlée, so I’ll be back!
