Vermilion's Chez Francois is Northeast Ohio's ultimate fine dining experience

• It's the first restaurant I've ever been to where jackets were required for men.

Vibe check: White-tablecloth elegance, but still quaint as all get-out. The stone and wood surfaces lent the dining room the air of a secret cellar in the French countryside.

• We sat indoors, but an outdoor dining area overlooks the Vermilion River.

By the numbers: The rotating, seafood-forward menu featured mains in the $50-70 range, with appetizers for $20-40.

• An ounce of caviar goes for $150.

What I ate: The Chilean sea bass. My wife ordered the lobster-crusted halibut.

• Both came with locally sourced veggies and extremely rich sauces.

💭 My thought bubble: Though the meal was delicious in a conventional way, my sense is the price point had less to do with the food and more to do with the ambience.

Verdict: Stellar service and a pace so unhurried it bordered on extravagant.

Yes, but: The bill was still eye-popping.

• I just don't think a bowl of French onion soup should cost $18 anywhere in the world.