Residents at Montereau in Warren Woods dine at fine restaurants every day without ever leaving home.

Three restaurants, Renoir's, Cafe Souffle and The Rendezvous, operate at the retirement facility, which is home to more than 300 people.

Filet mignon and crab-stuffed avocados are on the menu at Montereau in Warren Woods. Residents at the retirement center may choose to eat at one of three different restaurants that operate on the premises.

NORA K. FROESCHLE / Tulsa World

"This is a lot like working at a country club -- actually, better than that," said Cathy Audley, director of community relations for Montereau.

Montereau has 232 apartments, 17 cottages and a health center, where close to 90 residents live. Residents who live in the health center receive more assistance and medical care.

Some 400 meals are served daily, both in the three restaurants and at the health center.

Audley said residents of Montereau are given a $300 food allowance included in their monthly living cost. Servers take orders and bring around tickets to be signed at the table after the meal, just like any sit-down restaurant.

Residents said what might be different than most restaurants is the service; it's nothing if not attentive.

"They work hard to get to know us," said resident Emily Barchfeld. She is pleased to have maintained her weight since moving to Montereau.

"I haven't lost a pound," she said.

Everything is made fresh each day and by hand, said Alex Majed, director of food and beverage at Montereau.

Like a maitre d' at a posh eatery, Majed makes his rounds to each table, greeting "customers" he sees daily.

"My favorite part of the day is when I walk around...tell them jokes," he said. "If I miss one table, they take offense."

Servers wearing neat, black and white ensembles also make a point to ask people how they like the food while refilling beverage glasses and removing plates.

Majed said many of the staff emigrated from other countries, and an informal cultural exchange is taking place at mealtime.

"It gives (residents) more to talk about; they say, 'Where you from?'" Majed said.

The menu for a recent lunchtime at Cafe Souffle included tacos, guacamole salad, and chicken tortilla soup as the day's specials, but burgers, sandwiches, grilled salmon, a selection of entree salads, side dishes such as chips or fries, and many dessert selections are always available.

Majed said nutrition for older people is especially important, and the food is prepared with lower amounts of sodium and sugar. A sugar-free dessert, such as pumpkin pie or cheesecake, is available daily.

Audley said her parents, who now live at Montereau, were reluctant to consider a retirement home, but the restaurant-quality food and service won them over.

"I brought them for dinner, and Alex was here, and I never could get them to leave," she said.

Seventy-nine full- and part-time workers staff the restaurants, two of which, Renoir's and The Rendezvous, are only open for dinner.

Menu items at Renoir's include entrees such as pan-seared grouper with jicama slaw and brown rice; grilled eggplant with tomato and garlic sauce on fettuccine pasta; and roasted chicken, mushroom and spinach crepes.

Majed has the enviable task of tasting most all the day's offerings to make sure they meet with his approval. After a lifetime spent in the restaurant business, Majed knows food and how to serve it.

His customers agree.

Residents Anne and Harold Ebeling, both in their 80s, moved to Montereau in 2003, and they say the food definitely helped with the adjustment. Harold rates food as No. 2 in his quality-of-life items; his bed's No. 1, he said.

"I love their shrimp bisque," Anne said.

Harold loves the baby back ribs.

"If there's something they love, they'll get it," Audley said.