Gardens of Malmaison

I heard there was a new chef at The Gardens at Malmaison so thought I would give the restaurant a try. The food was fabulous! I have been there twice since they reopened a month ago and both times my husband and I along with our friends really enjoyed the food and service. Our first visit was on a Friday night and they had fine dining and casual bar menu offerings. We went for the fine dining. I had a filet and my husband had the fresh tuna. They were prepared to perfection with a great presentation. We also ate there last Sunday for their ""Old Barn Inn Supper Club"" which is home cooking at its best! Fried chicken was delicious and so was the beer battered cod and chicken and dumplings. Give this restaurant a try - you won't regret it! more

My husband and I received a gift certificate to The Gardens at Malmaison for our aniversary. Since neither of us had been there before, I wanted to do some checking to see what kind of evening we could expect. I read many reviews. Some here, some on Yahoo travel and even some on topix. Unfortunately, in light of other experiences and ratings, we chose to go for a sure thing and had dinner at The Hawthorne Inn. As always, food, service and atmospher were top notch. Sorry Malmaison. You are going to have to step it up quite a bit before we try you. more

Great restaurant! And the womanizer Gilbert Andujar haphazardly married in name only to Simone Andujar is not there anymore-WHEW!! more

My fiance and I had the most romantic time in all our lives at this remarkable dining establishment. We are teetotalers (sp) so we did not order drinks(like some patrons who love their alcohol!). The prime rib was prepared to perfection and garnished with ample vegetables and dutchess potatoes. I tell you this restaurant is the most beautiful inside and outside I have ever experienced. Pros: TERRIFIC FOOD AND CHOICES Cons: LONG DRIVE IN THE BOONIES--WISH IT WAS IN LADUE OR CLAYTON more

My company partners and spouses went there last Friday 9/5/2008. My wife & I arrived first. Great setting, but...my wife ordered a Cosmopolitan Martini...it arrived in a 20 oz. plastic tumbler with ice ""That's how we make it"" we were told. She hated it. I orderd a ""Long island Tea"" that I swear had tea in it - tasted terrible. My partners/spouses arrived - one partner orderd a Vodka Gimlet. Instead of green it was brown - he send it back. At dinner the entrees were pricey ($28-$38). My wife ordered a medium-well filet, it was medium-rare. Three folks ordered the pepper corn steak, literally no pepper. One other filet burned crispy. After dinner drinks 3 folks ordered Brandy Alexanders and were literally given three glasses with watery, milk-like substance inside (returned). Dessert I ordered chocolate cake with extra vanille ice cream - was served chocolate cake no ice cream! Waitress said nothing as she served it and when I inquired was told that they were out of ice cream (might have been nice to have been told in advance). As we were eating dessert the gray-haired old lady with weird glasses told us that they were closing (this was at 10:15pm on a Friday night). She rushed us out of the place. Worst meal/seervice (especially drinks) that I have ever had in 25+ years of eating in fine restaurants. STAY AWAY - We wasted over $700 for 10 people. The place had literally 3 tables to serve the entire night - I think word is getting out!!! Pros: Ambience - BUT NOT WORTH THE DRIVE/PRICE/POOR QUALITY Cons: TOO MANY TO LIST HERE!!! more

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Malmaison about a year ago. We had a great meal and a lovely time. The menu was broad, interesting, and the execution was incredible. Pros: Gorgeous setting. Gardens still beautiful Building is charming. Cons: The food. The service. The cleanliness. more

Working in the restaurant industry can be one of the most challenging jobs anywhere. I know because I've done it. Long waits, water refills unattended happen anywhere. But let me tell you about my experience. I found the young woman in charge very capable and more than willing to answer my inquiries about this restaurant. We had only gone to Malmaison for information on an upcoming birthday and found Penney most helpful. She was kind and patient in answering all our questions for our upcoming event. We decided to stay for a drink and appetizer and were given a chance to sample a particular wine, and were then served in good time. The outside patio was so beautiful at sunset. The appetizer was wonderful, and I could tell from other patrons enjoying their dinners & desserts that this was indeed a great place to dine. The Chef is Keith Brockman of Keith's - in Chesterfield. Let's hear it for MALMAISON, DINING, and AMBIENCE galore. more

My wife and I dined there last night and we had an awesome experience! The food was just delectable, the best I have ever had. The restaurant is so beautiful inside now and so clean like never before. The windows have nice, new curtains as opposed to the old, lacey ones that use to hang on the windows. Pros: Xcellent Food, Friendly - courteous servers, Very clean and warm environment Cons: Wish they were open 7 days a week more

I read a couple of the negative reviews but still decided to give Malmaison a try on a Friday night with my wife. When I arrived they had no record of my reservation but we were seated right away. Appetizers took over 30 minutes to arrive even though we were only one of two couples in the entire restaurant. They had one waitress covering the seven tables of customers as the night went on. We constantly had to ask for refills on beverages and bread to be brought to the table. Entrees were really, really slow to come out. Filet was supposed to be medium but came out well done. Another one was brought out and it was very medium rare, cold to the touch. Green beans hard as a rock, not edible. After two hours and 15 minutes we just wanted to leave and didn't even consider dessert. Others around us were complaining loudly as well about service and food quality and it was a very uncomfortable dining environment. Very disappointed in the food and service. This is no where near a 4 or 5 star restaurant. We will never return. Pros: Beautiful Location Cons: Food, Service more

I, too, am glad Simone and Gilbert Andjuar, formerly of Malmaison St. Albans are no longer there!!! They were extremely arrogant and rude. Simone's escargot gave me the hershey squirts for a week and she denied it. Gilbert Andujar thinks he owns all the woman that walk into his restaurant no matter what his wife Simone thinks. Maybe she feels the same way. Kudos for the new owners...they are doing an excellent job! more

Very, very disappointing. Made a reservation 2 days before and when we arrived they had no record of the reservation. After 5 minutes of the hostess wandering around and looking she agreed to seat us. We then sat at our table, with our menus, for 20 minutes before anyone showed up to fill our water glasses and take a drink order. The food was average and the prices were very high. We had to constantly look around for our waitress to come refill a water glass or bring a piece of bread or butter. The restaurant had many empty tables so it didn't seem like there was too much business and not enough help.. The evening started with high hopes and my husband and I were tremendously disappointed. The menu selections were minimal, the prices were too high and the service was terrible. Pros: beautiful setting, nice fireplace, lovely garden area Cons: prices too high, food marginal, service terrible more

Malmaison was purchased a couple of years ago and just is not the same place. Food type has changed to comfort food of average quality; the atmosphere is informal, and you could take kids there now. Do not go there expecting a special dinner. more

Well worth the drive to St. Albans. The food is better and the value is better also since the change of ownership. Try the St. Albans basket for a great dessert! Pros: St. Albans Basket, Quiet, Romantic more

I took my wife to Malmaison for her birthday. Truly the most romantic place we have ever dined. The dinner was superb and the service was excellent. I have recommended it to every couple I know for a special dining experience. Pros: romantic, elegant, good service Cons: very hard to find more