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202 - Nicole Farhi - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Shopping Fashion Men's Clothing Shopping Fashion Women's Clothing Breakfast & Brunch, Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing [Edit]
75 9th Ave(between 15th St & 16th St)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Meatpacking District
(646) 638-1173
- Nearest Transit:
-
14 St (A, C, E)
8 Av (L)
18 St (1, 2)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Our passion has always been to make women feel beautiful. That's what we're about. And our clothing remains a symbol of who we are: the honest… read more »
109 reviews for 202 - Nicole Farhi
Review Highlights
"In Chelsea Market is located Nicole Farhi of 202."
(in 24 reviews)
"Hands down THE BEST French Toast in NYC."
(in 20 reviews)
"...at the table was the delicious Lamb Burger and Pancakes."
(in 8 reviews)
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109 reviews in English
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Review from Michelle P.
Long Beach, CA
4/7/2011
I'm so disappointed this place has closed. I think everyone should get to experience dining in a clothing store, or shopping in a restaurant.
In case it ever reopens:
The Brit and I ventured into this spot for breakfast. I wandered around, greedily fingering the lovely things I could never afford to buy, thank you Nicole Farhi, before we sat down to eat. The restaurant portion was a hodge podge of seats and tables, fashionably worn out and mis matched to perfection. Breakfast was good, but not too memorable since I can't recall what I ate, but I do remember saying it was good.
If you can try another Nicole Farhi location, I recommend it. -
Review from Danielle J.
West Village, Manhattan, NY
2/13/2011
Meh. Came by when wandering/drinking through the meatpacking, and sadly was very disappointed.
Had never seen this place, but arriving at the Chelsea Market (where we'd planned to grocery shop), figured better get a drink here rather than continue north (as it was pretty cold out).
The host (?) was kind enough to let us have a table since the bar was full (restaurant only about half full)...but after that the service fell flat.
Our waitress almost never came by, i believe they were out of an ingredient for one of the drinks we'd wanted to order, and the bloody i ordered at her assurance it was good was atrocious (normal mix with something else funky added in there). Plus the drinks sat melting on the bar for eternity before she brought them over.
Didn't see her again until our drinks were long past empty (not due to quality, but time), overall, "meh" in every way. -
Review from Lara R.
New York, NY
11/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been here a couple of times now, the first experience being far superior to the later. The first time, we had a Blackboard Eats code which gave us a 30% discount off of food and drink. This was fabulous seeing as their prices were on the pricier end I thought, so it made it all ok.
Last visit though, no discount and I didn't leave feeling the same. I didn't mind the $8 side for their side of mozzarella topped fried green tomatoes because last time it was so good and even though there were only two slices, it was well done and they were large slices. This time they weren't as good and they were tiny. I should have known then that things weren't going to turn out the same.
For my main course, I had the fish tacos. I can't complain here, except for the tacos were very juicy and the tortillas kept ripping. Not too much of a problem, except for a continual theme throughout our meal was the phantom server. We had 4-5 different people. No home base. So when I was covered with salsa and guacamole and happy I wasn't on a date, it was my mom who managed to procure some napkins from the bar.
My first visit was decent, but I believe this trip confirmed no, I won't likely be back. -
Review from Victor C.
Jersey City, NJ
8/30/2010
If there's one thing I dislike more than wearing wet socks inside a pair of sneakers, it's having something stuck between my eye and my contact lens. Agh...annoying.
A close third would probably be paying for overpriced food with crappy service, kind of like my Saturday night dinner at 202.
If I'm going to splurge on an $80 meal for two (including tip), I'm hoping for some semi-decent service that is at least on par with my local diner. I'm going to assume that their waiters are being paid more than $45/hour, because only then it would make sense for them to have one waiter servicing 25 tables. I'm also going to assume that it must be an incredibly tough time to find good waiters these days, because our waiter didn't know anything about the items on the menu, or the daily specials. When the waiter had to ask the busser who didn't speak english what was in the daily soup, the busser exited the scene as quickly as possible. Not awkward at all.
The food is a little more difficult. This is positioned as modern English fusion, but really it's "man... it's not brunch? what are we going to serve these people?" Three fish tacos on semi-chewy tortilla with mint, onions and parsley, what is that? The fish was bone dry, despite being fried, and very underseasoned. I may be a tough critic coming out of San Diego, but $18 for a flaccid hump of fish is a bit much. The "green tomatillo" salsa tasted like pico de gallo, and the guac had no salt in it. If you've ever made it, you know a little salt goes a long way here. The warm goat cheese salad was arugala, with grape, a few nuts, and a bread chip with goat cheese smeared on it. This is getting ridiculous.
I don't know why we New Yorkers have such a high tolerance for crappy food and service in the $$ to $$$ range. I'm going to go start my own restaurant were we make you fish out the tossed remains from Morimoto's dumpster, charge $30 a plate for it, and I bet I'd do just fine. -
Review from David S.
Champaign, IL
6/24/2008
As far as I'm concerned, Nicole Farhi can shove it. I was excited to check out 202 after reading about it NY Mag... The verdict: overhyped!
Sure, the venue looks cool (you're dining in the middle of an upscale clothing/furniture store), but it doesn't really deliver. Brunch is expensive: most items go between $15 and $20, but not that impressive. We tried the full English breakfast and the tuna burger: both of them were fine but really not worth the price. And $4 for a small glass of orange juice?!
But when you look at the labels in the store you understand... $1200 lamp, anyone? $100 candle? You've got to be kidding.
This seems to be another one of these SATC-type places where everyone wants to go to be cool and be seen, but I'm not really sure it's worth it. And the food gave me horrible heart burn.Listed in: Brunch!!
-
Review from Bryant I.
Hoboken, NJ
7/13/2010
It was great!
After dodging raindrops, a work colleague and I sought refuge (and lunch) at 202. Would I have gone there otherwise? Not likely. I've been by before and the dual restaurant/shop was really confusing - it was hard to even find the wait stand to request a table.
That being said, I got the Tuna burger (with guac) and it was awesome! Not too raw, not too cooked. My colleague had the tuna salad - it was two slabs of seared tuna over greens with a fantastic, spicy dressing.
Overall very good! -
Review from Yu T.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2007 1 photo
One of my newer favorite brunch places. We hit it at 11:30 so the wait was 10 minutes.
The first time I went to a 202 was in London, in Notting Hill. I LOVE Nicole Farhi clothing in general and so I loved the ambiance of the store/ cafe there and it sort of stuck in my mind.
I didn't find out until a couple of months ago that they had a cafe in NY as well... what a delight!
The brunch here is delicious, I love the pancakes, panini, and bagel. And yes, the crowd is great. I personally believe that weekend brunch in NYC is just as much about the people as it is about the food, and this place has a lot of casual, hip New Yorkers chilling over the weekend. It is not as sceney as Pastis, so it is just the right balance.
Browse around the store looking at Nicole's lovely clothing while you wait or go food shopping in Chelsea Market! -
Review from Shiba I.
New Brunswick, NJ
5/13/2010
Wonderful English breakfast that makes you wish you were paid in pounds. I think the waitstaff feels that way too.
4 stars for the food. 3 for the snoot. 2 for the price of much of the stuff. -
Review from Lianne Z.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2010
I came here for a company bonding dinner (yes we're trendy) and although I loved it I am going to be honest - if you're spending your own money, this place is NOT worth the money.
The food is good and fresh (given its proximity to the Chelsea Food Market) but unless you have a real dire need to brag about being able to dine in a place where you can also pick up a cashmere goodie during your appetizer break....then I'd suggest you save the shopping for Soho and the fooding for everywhere else in Man-hat-ton. -
Review from Debbie K.
New York, NY
1/16/2007 1 photo
I tried brunch here for the first time and I have to say, totally unimpressed. I don't get the lines and hype.
First of all, the service - just really bad. From the hostess, who had an expression of confusion on her face the whole time and then our servers! One brought out a random dish meant for some other table, our food came out at different times and the egg dish was lukewarm - obviously had sat for a little while. Slow coffee refills (this is at $3.50 per order!). No one came by to check on us, so I asked two different waiters for add'l decaf and only felt 50% confident that they were bringing the right one.
Second, the quality of food to price ratio is totally off. The dishes are at least $12 each and include no sides. I tasted a few different dishes and I have to say, uneven. I LOVED the pancakes with berries & creme fraiche (the extra star was just for the pancakes). I thought the mushroom eggs on toast was good, but I made that for myself even back in high school. And the special prosciutto quiche was dry and flavorless. yech.
As we kept saying during brunch, who picked this place? Never again. -
Review from albert o.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2009
Although the wait for brunch is often interminable (to be fair, what place isn't?) and the service (while generally friendly and attractive) can be fairly described as glacial, the food and cocktails for brunch + lunch at 202 keep me coming back again and again.
Nestled into a Nicole Farhi retail location in the Chelsea Markets, eating at 202 feels quite like eating in a higher-end unisex Anthropologie, what with the exposed brick and beams, home furnishings and clothing racks surrounding the perimeter of the café area. The food doesn't feel like an afterthought, however--expertly made bloody marys and great coffee pair well with their breakfast dishes (the full english, egg sandwich,french toast, and scrambled egg dishes were all excellent), and their burgers and salads are excellent as well, if you are not in a breakfast mood.
Show me a brunch place that has no wait and I'm guessing the food isn't going to be that good. It's NY, people. -
Review from Billy A.
11/16/2006
I did not have brunch here!
I had dinner, and it was really good. The goat cheese, fig, and prosciutto salad and the salmon and onion cake apps were awesome, and the Hendrick's cocktail special (gin, dill, cucumber, and apple) was like a spa day in a glass. There was an espresso ice cream dessert making it's way around the table, and it too was divine.
On Wednesday at 8 p.m., the spacious and open restaurant was nowhere near full. We actually had an 11-person birthday dinner with no trouble. It was a treat to spread out and actually hear my dining companions. Compared to it's Meatpacking peers, it wasn't too expensive -- $15-$25 entrees -- but the dinner portions were a bit on the small side.
I will totally be back. -
Review from Irene S.
Elmhurst, NY
5/21/2008
Trendy. Not a place where I'd normally choose for brunch, I mean eggs and bacon next to rows of the current season's trench coats, shiny photo frames and decorative throw pillows? The place was also kinda too loud for my liking, and I was told that there's usually a pretty long wait-time (I arrived late, so headed straight to the table where friends were already waiting). The food's pretty decent though and I thought the price wasn't too ridiculous either.
I don't know, maybe I was super starving that day and was just glad there's food in front of me. I imagine myself going back there again when it's less crowded (hah, wishful thinking eh?) to try other items off their brunch menu, but who knows... -
Review from Amy D.
12/23/2009 1 photo
202 is a restaurant that i read about in NY Mag for having the best french toast in the city. I looked this place up on Yelp and so many ppl said their french toast was legit, they were right. The bread was so thick and the custard was so rich, i think i read that thye soak it over night in a vanilla custard. It was so good and it came with 3 pieces of bacon for $12. My sis ordered the english breakfast which had poached eggs, bacon, sausage, broiled tomatoes and mushrooms. This plate cost $13, it wasnt a pretty plate, the food was alright but the poached eggs were so over cooked, that they were dry.
The waitstaff i think was more interested in what they did the night before than serving us or the other 2 tables that had people. The store is a gimic, but i would go again for the french toast bc it was that good. -
Review from Chantelle K.
New York, NY
1/4/2010
Went here for brunch on New Year's day after calling the hostess and asking for the best time to swing by with a group (since they don't take rez) We arrived at 3pm and put our name in and was told it would be "at least 30 min." That's cool, we had a lot to catch up on and didn't mind kicking back at the bar.
Fast forward 50 minutes and still no sign of the hostess. We even noticed tables that could have been pushed together for our party of 6 - and while I understand that's not always the ideal situation for restaurants - there weren't that many patrons left and could have been done to accommodate us. Especially when fast forward 5 minutes later, our bartender politely asks if we're waiting for a table. Yup. She then informs us the kitchen closes at 4pm (aka in 5 minutes) and we should probably check on that. Hmmm.
After finally getting seated, we were ready to order (after hovering over the menus for an hour) Everything on the menu looks DIVINE including the delectably described cocktails. However, while the food was lovely, the drinks left much to be desired. My spicy margarita was watered down sans salt and the promised kick. My buds echoed the sentiment when it came to their bevvies, as well.
Would I come again? Sure. It's a fun experience if you find yourself in MePa with 2 or less in your group and some greenbacks to spend because just like the clothes, this meal is going to set you back. -
Review from Shayna N.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2009
don't waste your money.
Ok so it's NYC and the portions will be small and the price tag, big.. OK.
The food over all was pretty average and I would otherwise give this place 3 stars except for the APPALLING service. For that I must dock a star. Grand total = 2 stars
Our server was a snide and condescending little bastard. He was never outwardly mean he just went about his business like he didn't give two shits about helping us, in fact he might have actually enjoyed being smug.
ex.
I asked a simple question: "How big is the salad?"
His snarky response through a half grin: "It's a salad."
My reply: "Yes, but what SIZE is it?"
He made our entire experience fully un-enjoyable. And thus, an AOK meal transformed into "Meh"Listed in: Trip to NY
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Review from Michelle T.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2009 1 photo
Another dispatch from NYC:
202 is a comfy little restaurant, with eccentrically mismatched wooden chairs and tables laid out over a worn, hardwood floor. Only instead of walls bounding this cozy eatery, it's plopped smack in the middle of a Nicole Farhi boutique.
Being fashion-stupid, I ignored the clothing and focused instead on tearing into the best plate of French toast I've had in a long, long time. The thick brioche wedges (soaked in vanilla-infused heavy cream, eggs and sugar) had been butter-browned beautifully, and I loved the resiliently springy texture and milky sweetness of the bread.
Thick strips of salty, crunchy smoked bacon sat on top of the French toast, and when eaten together, the one-two punch of sweet and savory (as well as custardy and crunchy) was killer. Add a cup of black coffee and you have breakfast heaven.
I can't comment about any of the other food on the menu, but I'm definitely coming back to re-gorge on 202's French toast and bacon. -
Review from Melinda C.
New York, NY
7/5/2010
Yelp: Can you somehow break up the rating for the shopping versus the food?
Shopping: Quite pricey for what seem to be items you could find elsewhere for cheaper. I'd go with a 2 of 5 stars-- 1 for the generally good looking and seemingly good quality merchandise, and another 1 for being able to enjoy the wafting smells from the foods being served.
Restaurant: Great brunch. Rustic, simple food done well. I've had (not during the same meal of course) the full English breakfast, fish tacos, buttermilk pancakes, and french toast. All sooo good. Service is on the lazier side for a brunch spot in the city, but if you don't mind taking it a little slower, I think you'll appreciate it. The crowd is gentle, varied, and casual.
Of note, they take reservations and are kid-friendly. Just things to keep in mind. -
Review from Michael W.
New York, NY
12/24/2009
The farmhouse style cabinet dominated the tiny, round table, which lay tucked away in the furthest reaching corner of the store. The single candle provided more ambiance than light to the already dimly lit surroundings, and the distance of the table from other patrons at 202 topped off the perfect atmosphere for a quiet, romantic dinner.
I had walked through Chelsea Market numerous times and never took notice to the unassuming dining portion of this particular shop. Admittedly, I'd never walked by on weekends when the brunch crowd apparently flows out the doors, nor had I peered though the large outside windows that are right next to the dining area. So it was a nice surprise when I was walking around the market, waiting for my girlfriend to get off work that I found this place with a nice aura and a decent dinner menu.
I told her we were going to dinner on this particular Thursday night and walked her through the store. To her surpise, in the opposite corner of the store emerged a tiny dining/bar area with mismatched tables and chairs, each with its own unique character and charm. We immediately spotted the corner table and quickly claimed it for the evening.
As far as the dining experience goes, the service was good, if not overly attentive (which is to be expected when there were two severs for about 4 parties total, along with a happy hour crowd). Our server recommended the cocktails, so I ordered the Pomogranate Manhattan (Makers Mark) which was meh.
For food, I ordered the Pumpkin Ravioli with brown sugar and butter, and my girlfriend ordered the Snapper Sandwich with Lemon Caper Sauce and some spicy potato chips. The ravioli was decent... unfortunately all you could taste was the butter and brown sugar (maybe not unfortunate in some people's minds) but I wanted to taste the pumpkin puree that filled the raviolis, which I couldn't. The fish on the sandwich was fried and the lemon caper sauce was a little overpowering over the taste of the fish and anything else that was in that sandwhich. The sauce was also a little more creamy than I usually like it, but I still enjoyed it. The potato chips added a nice touch to the dish as a whole with the unique hint of spiciness.
To finish the dinner, we ordered a fruit crumble with vanilla ice cream. Nothing special here but the warm crumble/fruit (pineapple was the dominating fruit... canned?) mixed with the cool ice cream was exactly what we needed to top off a nice dinner.
4 stars for, mostly, the ambiance (food was probably a 3)
Revisit? Maybe -
Review from Jessica C.
San Mateo, CA
9/5/2006 2 photos
I, too, subway'd my fanny over here thanks to NY MAG's BEST BRUNCH 2006. Since I've had my roots in LA and SF, brunch is my self-deemed middle name. Flying in from SF I did all my research and dragged my best friend here for a weekday brunch. First timers in Chelsea, we had a blast. The restaurant is located within the Chelsea Market building which is a great backdrop - even more so, the restaurant's dining area is located in the center of a boutique.
Service was attentive, we had the Full English Breakfast and the Ahi Tuna Burger - both phenom. My FEB was just right in size with all ove my favorites - bacon, sausage, potato pancake, portabella, and poached egg. Ahi was great too - moist, tender, and as a girl from California - who doesn't love all of the avocado drippppping out of the burger?
Next time I will bring more people so I can try more items, and anyways, it's a great out-of-towner experience since you can check out Chelsea Market afterwards if you're into no less than 6 bakeries that serve their own self-proclaimed "best cupcakes", and don't forget to get a Lobster Roll at the lobster joint place, get a brownie, get a bottle of wine, and the italian grocery stores are pretty cool too. This is my version of SF's Ferry Building. Only with WAY MORE CUPCAKE VENDORS.
Otherwise, after coming here, hike north and stop at Billy's Cupcakes for some icebox cake or red velvet cupcakes.Listed in: E-A-T N N-Y-C
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Review from Tamara M.
New York, NY
12/2/2006
It looked like brunch, it tasted like brunch.. but it felt like Chinese food. How so? I was starving the minute I walked out of there. (The fact that I was buying a 5kg jar of Nutella in the adjacent Chelsea market has nothing to do with it).
I had scrambled eggs, that were a bit too dry for my taste. I know that eggs are one of those "personal" things, everyone likes them in their own little ways and I can't expect the chef to read my mind.. but that was a let down. Also, the service was a bit slow and disorganized.
I love the setting, though... Shopping AND food together??? Have I died and landed in heaven? Love the wooden tables - especially the big communal one, the mismatched chairs, etc.
A cute brunch spot that I will take out of town visitors to, but will probably not make it to my regular rotation. -
Review from Jenn N.
San Francisco, CA
7/16/2006
On a recent trip to New York, I came here for its "best brunch". I came here at 11 am and the place was nearly empty. The server sat the two of us right away, but took forever to serve us and get us the check later. The service is definitely very spotty even though we were one of the few tables. The servers spent a lot of time chatting together at the bar. Not very attentive.
But what's interesting is that when my friend took our her digital slr to take a picture, the security guy ran off and asked us if we were taking pictures ourselves and not the restaurant. Great security, but bad service?
But the food. I had the English breakfast (poached egg on toast, bacon, etc.). The bacon was somewhat dry and shriveled. However, the egg was cooked right. My friend had mushroom and eggs (she got white) on toast. Fresh OJ and lemonade was fantastic. Food is overly expensive, but then again it's New York. I personally thought the portions were just right, which reflects the thoughtfulness of the chef.
202 also sells clothes, bags and other accessories. Nice selection, but definitely not within my price range (being still in a student mindset).
I would really like to try the dinner when I come back. I would recommend this place for brunch out with the girls and a satisfying breakfast. -
Review from Soozie H.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2007
My SO and I had brunch here earlier today but it's my 3rd time having brunch here. I was impressed the first couple of visits but for some reason, I found a few things lacking this visit.
First off, we had to wait unusually long to be seated. Granted the host recognized me from my previous visits and was very gracious, we found it a bit strange it took so long to be seated given the time we arrived there (3pm).
We were greeted as soon as we sat down and our drink orders was taken. For some unexplained reason, our server disappeared for awhile and didn't come back with a tea and cappucino. Finally, a different server came and gave us our drinks (spilt the cream on my SO's crotch and giggled?! Her apology seemed a bit insincere)
We ordered:
Fries (sides)
Fish taco;s (SO)
Crab cake sandwich (me)
The food came out a bit later and overall, it was alright. The fries were not crispy but rather soggy. My crab cake was good but a bit messy to eat. The fish taco's were alright but the shell was a bit greasy.
Our server came and didn't offer us dessert eventhough they had it which I found rather bizarre too. I must say I am really disappointed this time around w/the lacking service and mediocre food.
I'm not sure why 202 made the Time Out NY's "Cheap Eats" article because it's pricey! It came out to be $60 for brunch and we didn't order alcohol or dessert. -
Review from Richard C.
New York, NY
10/18/2006
I havent been into 202 for the fabled brunch yet but will have to do so because it is my fave meal of the day.
However, I would recommend going to 202 for a cocktail. Ask for Stefan (he is always there) and be prepared for something very special. I meet a lot of bar tenders and 'mixologists' and drink a lot of cocktails.Few of them can hold a candle to this geezer.
So go....
now.... -
Review from Hsuanchi L.
MA
2/20/2007
cool decor, friendly service and not that fresh food.
My bf and I ordered from their daily specials. His pork chop was not fresh at all and overly cooked. The cabbage salad was a little aged. My shrimp risotto with mint and pistachio pesto is only okay -- nothing too exciting.
The only cool thing about this place is probably only the decor. However, we read couple of good reviews about their cakes. Maybe it's better to have afternoon tea there instead of a regular meal. -
Review from Tony L.
5/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have quite a few mixed reactions to 202.
The service is surprisingly good, given the attrociously overpriced clothing and household items. From such a trendy place I would expect less than helpful or attentive waitstaff. This is not the case at all. Bravo guys...you exceeded expectations.
The food is good. Nothing spectacular and exciting...but it is good. The Full English Breakfast was wonderful. Two poached eggs on toast, bacon, sausage, grilled portbello mushroom, mashed potatoes and three roasted tomatoes. I'll crave this again one day and have to come back for more...or easily make it myself at home. The White Peach Bellini is also great if you are in for weekend brunch. Also eaten at the table was the delicious Lamb Burger and Pancakes. The food is a bit pricey but not overboard. I was still hungry after finishing...the portions could stand to be a little larger. For that price, I expect more. Just know that brunch for four could end up being around $150 (with coffee, desert and drinks).
I think that I would like this place more if it were just a restaurant. Being surrounded by stuff for sale that isn't really worth the price (and just looks like a J. Crew store) creates the wrong mood. They need to figure out what they want to focus on and run after it. I just hope it's food and not clothes. -
Review from Laura W.
1/28/2009
This place is literally across the street, so I thought it would be a brilliant place to meet reps for lunch, and in a cool setting to boot.
Good food- check.
Unusual, you're sitting in the middle of the store, atmosphere- check.
Service- looks around, looks some more, looks again, waves down frantic waitress and waits some more- now check. They only have one harried waitperson for the whole place. I thought maybe this was just a fluke, but after 3 visits it certainly seems to be the rule and not the exception. Go only if you have plenty of time to hang around and someone pleasant to chat with. -
Review from jeremy g.
New York, NY
11/30/2006
My experiences here have been rather mixed. Most of the brunch fare has been good to very good. The service is a bit less coordinated -- I've waited twenty minutes to be seated, only to be put at a table that had been empty the whole time I was waiting... I don't expect too much formality from brunch, but it's still nice when everyone's food arrives in synchrony.
As for the store -- I like being able to browse the clothing and furnishings while I wait for a table, but the Home stuff is astronomically expensive (even relative to the clothing, which isn't cheap), and the space isn't set up well for trying on clothes. -
Review from magdelana r.
New York, NY
3/21/2010
Cute setting but the food and service were just okay. I'm not even sure who our waiter was because a slew of six or seven people came by our table over the course of our brunch. Perhaps if we had had a dedicated person they would have realized that after someone requests a drink menu they might want to actually order a drink...alas forty minutes later we were still forced to flag someone down. Service was BEYOND SLOW, and to be honest, a little stupid. (HINT: If the fork is in my mouth it means I'm not done with the meal). I also would have appreciated it if a staff member had told me and other women waiting in the loooong bathroom line that there was a second restroom downstairs.
The food was good, but nothing spectacular, and also have to say that there is something somewhat blasphemous about putting mint in fish tacos. That is just wrong. -
Review from Jen L.
New York, NY
1/6/2010
Reasons 202 should be your next meet-up place to ditch a
- blind / online / set-up - date, or
- whenever you need to use, "Gosh, i'm so busy today, with errands / work / family / my cat" ---
1) it's a cafe in a clothing store, not next to it, not around it, but in it. If bored just look at the clothes.
2) It's right down the street from some awesome boutiques, when you've ditched your date / friend, there's shopping around the corner :)
3) It's next to Buddakan, and around the corner from Matsuri - better places than 202.
4) Apple store down the street
5) There might be plenty of time to sneak out if you want, the service is nonexistent. -
Review from Laura G.
Los Altos, CA
10/18/2008
The concept of a clothing/home goods boutique and cafe/bar is intriguing. It was kind of strange at first, but then it became entertaining to watch shoppers while we ate.
The pancakes with blackberry compote and creme fraiche were very yummy. They even gave me extra fruit when requested. My friend's scrambled eggs, toast, and mushrooms was also tasty. Reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
I don't remember the pancakes leaving any monumental impression on me, but they were satisfying!Listed in: NYC Pancakes
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Review from Chris K.
New York, NY
1/28/2009
While you probably won't buy anything @ the overpriced Nicole Farhi boutique you can score a satisfying brunch inside.
Comfortable, warm, relaxing atmosphere. Abundance of make your day sunshine and weathered wood tables--think le pain quotidien + shabby chic.
food:
- friend had an OMFG attack over her french toast. complete annihilation in 7 minutes
- full english breakfast is served if you like.
- my scrambled eggs were buttery and awesome.
Perfect place to take dates, friends, out of towners..etc.
Chelsea Market is right next door so if you want a fatwich brownie... -
Review from Sweta B.
Abington, MA
6/4/2010
I like this place, simply for 2 reasons...its the kind of place you can sit around (somewhere near the window or on the sidewalk) on a nice weekend afternoon with the crisp bottle of wine and you will not know how time would just fly by and second, but more importantly, I loved the quality of the food. The food is fresh and does not taste pre made or frozen.
So when I saw the menu...it seems pretty regular, the pancake, the English breakfast, the french toast...but the pancake is better than most pancake I have had and the french toast was awesome too.
The service not so amazing...I can excuse them coz I was in no hurry. -
Review from Kelly M.
New York, NY
3/25/2008
The food was fantastic. The service? Notsomuch.
A friend and I were wandering around Chelsea and walked past the menu that was posted on a stand outside of (what we assumed was) the entrance. Since we were hungry and sick of walking, we decided to just eat here.
Now, you'd think that they would've posted the menu outside of the entrance, and locked any doors that they didn't want opened and re purposed as entrances, right? Nope. Someone a) left the second set of doors unlocked, and b) posted the menu outside of them - instead of putting it up 20 feet to the left in front of the main entrance.
Needless to say, when I, my friend, and another person not in our party walked through the "wrong" doors, the hostesses made it abundantly clear that we'd screwed up. We apologized, they got a clue and locked the door, life goes on.
The hostess, after she'd finished lecturing/glaring at us, asked how many were in our party. I told her there were two of us. She sat us at a 4-top and left 3 menus. Once the server (finally) came by, we explained to him that it was actually just the two of us, and apologized for taking up a bigger table. He was fine with it.
The food was great. The server was nice, but he kept disappearing for long periods of time - he'd drop off drinks, then vanish for 15 minutes. Then he got our food order, didn't refill the drinks, and vanished for another 20 minutes. Our food was dropped off by another employee, and we assumed our server would be checking in to see if we needed anything.
45 minutes later, we finally got his attention and asked for the check. Miraculously, he brought that over right away.
This place has a great space and good food - if you either have patience, or luck out and get better service, it's definitely worth stopping in. Otherwise, don't waste your time. -
Review from Michelle W.
New York, NY
6/20/2010
In general, I just love going to Chelsea market, especially after its rennovation!
The restaurant is casual but cute. The food is simple but delicious! My favorite dish is the fish taco in the brunch menu -
Review from David P.
New York, NY
5/6/2010
The star here: simply fabulous food!
Casual and easy going, this restaurant serves some of the most delicious, fresh and beautifully seasoned food around. Superior, high quality ingredients are impressively prepared with an eye toward clean, distinct flavors. The food has a European sensibility with a California freshness that is nearly impossible to find in other restaurants in NYC.
Whether you go for brunch, lunch or dinner you will have a wonderful meal.
Standouts: fish tacos, lentil-beet-artichoke salad, tuna burger, french toast, eggs with mushrooms, english breakfast, lemon tart and so much more.
Really the food here is tops! It is a hidden treasure in NYC. GO and you will be so impressed...
Friendly, casual servers are always welcoming...fun music, great vibe! -
Review from Tiffany T.
New York, NY
9/23/2007
I would like to apply for a change of address. You may now find me at 202 - Nicole Farhi. So many beautifully designed clothes, accessories, home goods...scrumptious food....oh, yes, I would like to make this my new home.
Boutique-side: I'm hard pressed to find something I do not like. The fabrics she uses are oh-so-very lux and high-quality. Her designs are flawless - chic and effortless. There's a natural earthiness to her designs that come across in the vibe of the boutique/restaurant as well - earth tones like brown and cream...wood decor...
Restaurant-side: Came for brunch with my mom. We came early so no wait. I got pancakes and Mom got the cream cheese and lox bagel. All good. All tasty. It was awhile ago so I can't be more descriptive than that. Nothing but positive memories of 202. -
Review from Paul D.
1/19/2009
Certainly a reliable spot for brunch with friends - reliability meaning the food is good quality - even if the service sux.
Being located in the middle of a clothing and design warehouse space offers a unique setting.
The french toast is some of the best in the city - and I do not say that lightly. This alone brings me back.
Yet what has consistently let this place down is the table wait staff. Hats off to the bus boys who work their asses off, yet a huge thumbs down mostly to the women who take your orders with an appalling attitude, have to be asked 3 or 4 times to get coffee refills or spare cutlery. This is enough to knock back two stars - whoever owns this place should take a closer look - because it gives you a bad image in what is already an uptight part of Meatpacking. -
Review from Hemang S.
5/17/2009 3 photos
I am from Los Angeles so I don't really have good experiences with breakfast in high-couture places.
In Chelsea Market is located Nicole Farhi of 202. It's an amazing open air loft space that is both a home/mens/womens fashion store as well as a restaurant.
I ordered the french toast, fried green tomatoes and scrambled eggs.
Can I just say... BEST BREAKFAST EVER.
The french toast was so thick and moist, I was salivating after every bite. The fried green tomatoes were deep fried in mozzarella cheese and were so crunchy and delicious. Scrambled eggs were good as well.
Definitely come here to eat. I will everytime I visit NYC.Listed in: New York City
-
Review from Barbie L.
Really reasonable prices, especially for this neighborhood. Heard the bacon-topped french toast and pancakes with compote were amazing. Would agree with the french toast, but the pancakes were too mushy and the compote just made it squishier. Also of note, the service was pretty spotty...it was puzzling getting hold of someone to pull back the entrance rope (??)...it was puzzling when they made our food order twice (our server was not pleased with the kitchen at this point)...but ironically my strawberry-kiwi smoothie never came out at all.
REALLY IMPORTANT:
Do not eat outside! I thought the outside seating area seemed nice. The food arrived, looked fantastic. I pick up my fork, and at that exact moment the cabs rush down 9th Ave and all my food gets covered in black flecks of road...I try to pretend it didn't happen, but it's really hard to ignore black dots in creme fraiche.
BOTTOM LINE:
Would go back but would sit inside and only order french toast.
