Azul Bistro
152 Stanton St
(between Clinton St & Norfolk St)
New York, NY 10002 (646) 602-2004
- Nearest Transit:
Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
25 Reviews for Azul Bistro
Tasty tasty but still not as good as the steak I had at Al Di La Vino. We got the sirloin for two, our friends got the ribs for two (delish), one got the white fish (very boney and salty), and two got steak frites accompanied by two bottles of Bonarda. We started with the Empanadas, the eggplant, the pate (HUGE portion), blood sausage (my friend, who'd never had it, liked it quite a bit) and the octopus (which i can't comment on since I didn't have). The eggplant app was DELICIOUS, prob the best thing I had during the meal. I found most of the food to be overly salty (and a few of my friends did as well) but still delicious. The Bonarda was a good choice though I'm upset they didn't have a better priced Malbec at an Argentine resty but that's minor. Oh and they don't take reservations for more than 6 ppl on weekends.
Came here for my birthday dinner, it's a Friday. We had a party of 7 and I was hassled for having more than 6 people on a Friday night. Azul has a policy of not accommodating parties greater than 6 on Fridays and Saturdays. But since our reservation was scheduled for 7 PM, the restaurant agreed. We were all on time. One of my friends was late, but we ordered right past 7 PM after we were seated, without waiting for the late one. Here are what we ordered: house salads, gnocchis, plate of meats for 2, sea bass and trout.
House salad was plain, all because the waiter took away the dressing without asking. We only realized the dressing was taken away at the end of the salad. So, oh, well. Gnocchis, undercooked, very hard. I was concerned a serving of gnocchis was too small for 7 people and asked the waitress who took our orders about it. And she said it was small, gesturing with her hands. So we ordered 2, and they came out to be not only BIG, but no good. Trout was fishy, not seasoned well. The meats and sea bass were the only two things we liked.
So the foods weren't as satisfying. And the service sucked! Our salad dressing was taken away. The waiter came to take our plates away without asking us if we had finished the dish - many times. Waiters weren't very friendly, they seemed that they just wanted the 7 of us out so they could clean the table up for next customers!
Another funny thing. The restaurant wasn't very organized. The next day after our dinner on Friday, I received a phone call confirming my reservation of that night. And I said, "We went last night already!" I forgot to tell that guy how I felt about their foods and services. Not coming back again.
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Some of the best steak I've had anywhere for a reasonable price. The sizzling sirloin for 2 is mouth watering good. Perfectly marinated, juicy, tender and wow those flavors. Every single person I've brought to this restaurant has been blown away by the steak. On top of the orgasmic steaks the sides are good too - crispy french fries and green salad. The wine list here consists of affordable Argentine selections. You can actually get something decent for $30 a bottle and you can't say that about many places in NYC. The decor is dark and well suited for a date. Service was fine on my most recent visit. I will continue to come back to this place, one of my favorites in LES.
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Been a while since I came here. I remember the bread and steak being delicious! We were very full and didn't need dessert.
The service was a little off. I remember ordering my steak and the waitress replied "how do you want your steak, RARE?!"
Meekly, I answered "medium rare.... please?"
She looked disgusted, wrote on her paper, turned on her heel and left. It was kind of cool and kind of annoying.
I would come back, but due to the service and inconvenient location I haven't made it a priority.
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Thanks to fellow Yelpers for this great recommendation! I had my birthday dinner here last Friday and really enjoyed it. I'll follow up the recommendation for the sirloin for two. I asked for it medium, but tentatively, because I wasn't sure if this would be the sort of place that doesn't tolerate that kind of disrespectful treatment of good meat. Now that I'm a convert, I'd say to go for something redder than you're used to (at American places, I should add). The tenderness pays off. This was also the first time in my life that I ignored french fries, because the steak was so tasty and I wanted to eat it while it was hot.
Had a great Malbec with the meal, and topped it off with the yummy molten chocolate cake. mmm.
Wow! What a great place. The sizzling sirloin rocked. Because it's still cooking when it gets to the table, I got my pieces rare & my friend got hers medium. The meat and fries were pretty salty, but that's what the wine & bread was for. The $30 bottle of Mhlbach was the perfect addition. Dessert was awesome too, loved the chocolate cake.
Decent Argentinean food.
Appetizers: Patagonian style sauteed baby octopus was bleh. We took a few bites and left the rest. The chorizo was fatty and delicious. Chimichurri was fresh and not stale. I liked both the beef and cheese empanadas.
Entrees: The skirt steak was not as tender as I hoped it would be. I don't know if they use imported Argentinean cow meat. The beef milanesa was crispy but also a bit bland. I accompanied my meal with a Quilmes but they also have wine. I saw the Havanna sign so I asked if they sell alfajores but they don't. :(
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Pretty good. good chorizo, good empenadas, good steak. not outstanding steak though which is what i was expecting from argentine restaurant that specializes in steak. nice wine and nice friendly service. 1st time and would go back...
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Me gusta the Blue Bistro for very good Argentine steaks and pastas along with vino tintos and Quilmes. The restaurant has a great vibe, lots of hustle and bustle, soccer pictures and flags on the walls, and it's located on a great esquina in the LES. The steak for 2 comes sizzling on a hot plate and marinated in herbs and spices with chimichurri sauce on the side. You'll leave smelling like a parrilla but it's so worth it.
a little bit priceybut so worth it! I had the empanadas, filet and mashed potatoes with a rose Argentinean wine. The food was amazing, prepared perfectly and the portion was huge. What I like the best is the dcor. For some reason, after my second glass of wine I felt like I was in Argentina! Not that I've ever been, but that's what I imagine it's like. They have these palm tree looking plants in the doorways and for some reason there always seems to be this amazing breeze that rustles the leaves just so...the candlelight, the breeze...ok maybe it was just the wine but a fantastic dinner experience! 1 star deduction because the music was a little too loud but still, can't wait to go back!
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Last night was my second experience at AZUL...
Nice wine & beer selection from South America.
Their empanadas & mussels were great on the first visit the Filet Mignon from last night even better : ) cooked lovely and the staff was very attentive. Definitely would go back soon...
The South American decoupage of the models on the ceiling are pretty cool too : )
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Great brunch. Not worth waiting an hour at nearby Clinton Street Baking Co. or Prune. Not too pricey... cool decor... friendly service.
Need to check this place out for dinner soon :)
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Great place to satisfy your steak cravings for under $30 including a fresh mesclun salad, fries (soggy and limp) and all the chimichurri sauce your little arteries can handle.
I recommend the 24HR marinated steak. It only takes 15 minutes to devour. The individual steaks have no flavor and were hard to cut through but the baby lamb chops were tender and delicious.
Cozy and dark, this makes for a great date place. Although they serve steaks, this place isn't your testosterone filled clubby steakhouse. No men in power suits, Anyways. the crowd here is half their age and so are the prices.
Dessert? We never made it this far.
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Food was good, but service was crazy slow. I think it took us (a table of 5 at an off-time) almost three hours by the end of it.
On those weekends when every brunch place in LES is overflowing with flocks of hungry girls waiting to do their " Sex-In-the-City-Oh-My-God-He-Was-So-fillinth eblank" brunch dates (I'm guilty of that too...), Azul Bistro has no lines and great food. Besides the usual brunch suspects, you can also order the Argentinian meat parillada or skirt steak with chimichurri! Who says you have to eat eggs benedict, florentine, or ranchero for brunch? I ordered the roasted organic chicken that was brick-baked and it was one extremely delicious chicken with crispy skin, juicy meat, and flavoured the way South American pollo asado should be. It comes on a bed of roasted corn, cilantro, red onion salad that was very tasty too. Azul also has a dish of coarse sea salt on the table that for some reason makes me very happy. Warning: no bloody marys served here.
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This place is on my list of "I'm in the LES and everything is insanely busy, and I need an amazing meal now" restaurants. So happy I discovered this joint over a year ago. I always split the sirloin for two. The rosemary flavor is so amazing, as is the chimchurri that is served alongside the meat.
I'm getting hungry just writing this.
Hmmmm.... my mouth waters just remembering what Im about to review.
Ok, this should really be a 4 1/2 star review, since I only have a half-star diggression about this place; the location its kinda of a hassle. You need to walk your share of blocks to get to the nearest subway; but that out of the the way, you'll be in for a great treat:
Tongues down, the "Cortada" grilled sirloin is orgasmic for the palate (they marinate it for 24 hours with rosemary, brandy, black pepper, thyme and salt) -- you wait for your meal in a casual Argentine setting (brick walls, roomy, a certain gist of South American flare in the decor, plus the music) over a couple of Quilmes beers to sour the taste buds and prepare them for the salty taste of grilled meat; and then they arrive with the smoldering black graphite platter (watch it, its hot) for you to slice away, to savor over salad and fries.
Perfect place for after-soccer match outings, or if just in the mood for meat on the grill. Price on the $20 - $40 buck range; cant say that its the best Argentinian place in the city, since I've only been to two, but may Azul be your benchmark.
4 stars and a half, and like the Argentines say: Azul, sos grande Che!
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Lovely Argentine restaurant in the LES. Steak, Steak, Steak. That is what Argentina is famous for and Azul replicates the atmosphere of a 'parrillada'. The price is right as well as you will not spend a whole paycheck here as is common at some of the high end steakhouses. Obviously the vibe is more les than afterwork so enjoy the laid back feel and imagine yourself at the bottom of the western hemisphere.
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First requirement - you must like steak. Delicious juicy steak cause that what they specialize in. And when they ask you, "french fries or mashed potatoes?" GET THE MASHED POTATOES. delish, salty and buttery, like grandma use to make. good stuff. get a res cause the place is small. worth the trip to LES (if you don't already live there that is).
The best Argentian place I've tried in NYC. The full parillada, with steak, sweetbreads, chicken and blood sausage, is great (although the chicken was slightly overdone...and I was hammered when I ate there). The octopus appetizer was amazingly tender, not rubbery at all. The dark, Parisian-Buenos Aires feel is perfect and the wine list has some great Malbecs. Not cheap, but good for a nice night out.
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Oh My God. I only wish there were more stars that I could give this place. Somebody's crown shaped cut of meat caught my eye as I hurried past on the sidewalk a couple of weeks ago; last night Jaleel and I were looking for a superb dining experience and somebody recommended Azul. Everything was perfect -- the wine, the Ohio Players, the tomato & bread soup with fresh basil, Jaleel's octopussy, and the main course we both chose -- the lamb chops! I almost swooned upon taking the first mouthful. SO YUMMY. For dessert, I tried the Argentinian Panqueques with Dulce De Leche. Right On!
Expensive enough to make us feel simultaneously fancy as hell, without feeling ripped off, Azul gave me incentive to find more money in life so that I can eat there once or twice a week.
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I visited New York from SF and my friend took me to this restaurant.
The baby lambchops were "The BEST EVER"! I've read lot of good reviews about them.
The waiteress' were really pretty as well.
around $25 a person w no drinks...Check it out
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This Argentine restaurant is simply wonderful. I came with a pair of my favorite argentinos and we dived into our dishes while simultaneously diving into talk of Argentina. A splendid combo.
yummy! Love their spin on tomato soup.
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absolutely loved this place. food was simply scrumptious with an awesome atmosphere to boot (definitely the best of any restaurant i've been to so far, excepting delfina's of course). friendly service, reasonable prices. a little off the beaten track.
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