- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
A.O.C.
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
314 Bleecker St(between Barrow St & Grove St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 675-9463
- Nearest Transit:
-
Christopher St - Sheridan Sq (1, 2)
W 4 St (A, B, C, D, E, F, M)
Houston St (1, 2)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
184 reviews for A.O.C.
Review Highlights
-
"Coq au vin is very tasty." In 10 reviews -
"Definitely a regular place for West Village." In 25 reviews -
"In my recent visit, I ordered their Risotto de La Mer." In 4 reviews
Loading...
184 reviews in English
-
Review from Pam Z.
4/21/2012
We actually saw this place when we were walking around the West Village last night and vowed to try the garden at some point. Well, we ended up on the same street again today and went in. 1 PM on a Saturday and no wait for a seat in the garden.
The brunch menu looked great. I got the french toast which was really spectacular. The toast was perfectly soft yet crispy on the edges. It came with a side of potatoes/mushroom, ham, and a generous bowl of fresh fruit. Really filling and delicious. My fiance ordered the made-to-order omelet (with ham, goat cheese, and mushrooms), which he also enjoyed.
Best part was sitting the quiet garden. It was really lovely and a great spot to enjoy the shade on a summer day. It was a bit cool today but we will definitely come back with friends when it gets a bit warmer. -
Review from Tiffany L.
New York, NY
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
The outdoor garden was a little disappointing - felt like they could have added more lights and such to make it prettier and more inviting. Nevertheless, it was a gorgeous evening and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We used a Scoutmob app, for a savings of $25. With the discount, it was a 4 star place, without it, it was 3 star. Loved that I could make reservations the day of (for a Sunday night impromptu dinner).
Hubby ordered the coq au vin which was good (super tender, braised chicken with noodles), but not as good as my risotto de la mer which was HUGE. The waiter told me that it was only for one person, but this thing could easily have fed two. It was really tasty and very heavy in only the way french food can be. :) -
Review from Sasha M.
Updated - 5/17/2012
What is happening with A.O.C? Did they replace their chef with someone whose taste buds for salt atrophied, or did they replace their salt supplier and haven't checked if it had any effect on their offerings?
Foie gras: only a remote hint of the eye-popping flavor foie gras is supposed to have.
Pasta a le Bretonne - awfully salty.
Trout stuffed with spinach - really awfully, impossibly salty. I felt like my salty taste buds were burnt off. As if I ate very spicy Indian food, but more narrowly targeted to only particular areas of my tongue and mouth.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/13/2011
It participates in http://restaurant.com. It participates in frequent flier miles dining programs.… Read more »
-
-
Review from NYKID O.
New York, NY
4/18/2012 7 Check-ins Here
The food is decent casual French food. Nice salads, tasty pastas with large portions and they have very good charcuterie plate. Service is very average.
The bathrooms are in major need of renovation, pretty shabby. -
Review from Diandra D.
New York, NY
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart, but unfortunately, that alone couldn't really improve my rating for this place. It wasn't that anything was terrible, it was all just very mediocre.
We ordered a herring appetizer (which tasted nothing like herring) and a French Onion Soup (which was super salty). They seem to like their salt at AOC, because my main course, a frisee salad with chicken paillard, was also extremely salty (although, to their credit, it was a really big piece of chicken that was cleaned perfectly). My husband's Croque Monsieur was ok, but nothing great (and, surprise ... too salty).
I wasn't entirely sure if it was all in my head until I looked at him at the end of the meal and he said "yeah, I don't think I'd want to come back". With so many French places in Manhattan that have great service AND delicious, perfectly seasoned food, I can't help but agree. -
Review from Raymond P.
New York, NY
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Quaint French Cafe with good solid food and service. I have had dinner and brunch here and enjoyed both. A great place for getting together with friends for good food without breaking the bank account.
-
Review from Bryant R.
3/19/2012
I've eaten here a couple of times and I must say that the food is mediocre. I think that there are definitely better and more interesting options in the neighborhood.
I also felt as though the wine by the glass offerings were merely okay, as well. The Bordeaux by the glass was unremarkable though I suppose it is redeemed by the fact that it was fairly priced.
I like that they have TV Cinq on in the bar in the back. -
Review from Giacomo C.
New York, NY
3/11/2012
I went with my gf for an entree this past weekend. There was no red wine by the glass I happened to enjoy. The waiter was graceful to bring me 3 tastes (he really wanted me to order some), but I found all of them to be quite acidic. I ended up drinking water. Not a big deal.
After ordering our entrees, we waited for about 45 minutes before being served. When they finally arrived to our table, they were both over cooked. I had their special: roasted veal in mushroom sauce with potato gratin and asparagus. The waiter told me it would come medium-rare, but it was dry and tough... definitely over cooked. My girlfriend ordered the duck confit, which was, again, cooked too long. The meat was dry and quite tough, too.
I'm sorry, but considering how much they charge for their entrees, I can't give them more than 2 stars. We left quite disappointed. -
Review from Max M.
Manhattan, NY
2/3/2012
this one was a bit tricky to review. I came here for dinner with my boyfriend. The ambiance at this place is really quite fantastic. It is very dim and charming with candle light.They also have a back "garden" area, which is equally as charming. I preferred sitting in the front section with it's view of the west village street scape. The service is VERY friendly and very prompt. So that being out of the way, we ordered dinner.
For appetizer we got escargot, which was standard, can't really fuck up there. I got the risotto de la mer, which was fantastic. Plenty of grilled seafood over a bed of truffled risotto with mushrooms and a balsamic reduction. I really savored this dish and would highly recommend it.
My boyfriend got the coq au vin. He wasn't as thrilled. I sampled it, and I too was kinda disappointed. It was one of those dishes that I would hate to get stuck with. He was also perplexed that it was served with noodles and not potatoes.
Overall, I think it was a lot better than a lot of the other French places that I've been to recently, but also not as good as a lot of the other French places. So if going just beware that the entrees can be a bit hit or miss.Listed in: French
-
Review from Silvi H.
Lincoln Park, NJ
4/14/2012
My brother in law found this place for my b-day and it was divine! The food is delish, the service was great and the decor was lovely. I especially apprecated how attentive they were and didn't rush us one bit. The wine was also extremely good. Will go back in a heart beat!
-
Review from Stephanie O.
New York, NY
Updated - 2/23/2012
My boyfriend reached out via email with concerns on our Vday experience, and we gave it a second try (thanks to Romain, owner and chef, quickly responding and inviting us back).... Cut to it, I'm very pleased to have returned! Delicious food & excellent service (definitely on a weeknight). Our server (brunette lady) was very sweet and just amazing overall, and the manager, Sebastian, was on point with checking in on how we were doing - lovely man as well. Romain came out to greet us and treated us with his fine cooking). Beyond the fact that we were back for another try, they were attentive to everyone around us (we sat at the front area). The diners were also impressive an impressive mix for a Thursday night - had a lot of French guests and people that you can tell are regulars). Besides the atmosphere, the food was divine. Suggest the Foie Gras, Coq Au Vin (which I saw someone next to me next time ordering, and I got it myself second time around), as well as the burger which honestly tastes like it was cooked at home on a grille. Also, desserts are tasty. Loved the almond(?) mousse. I feel like AOC gets mixed reviews, and I think my lesson is to not go anywhere on a holiday, as this was the third place that I've had an unpleasant experience on a holiday but returned to an excellent one, (hence the displeased first review) and to check ahead of time to make sure a voucher that I had will be honored.
Will be back for brunch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/15/2012
Horrible experience for Valentine's Day. Food was not delicious at all. Service was bad. My… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nikki C.
11/2/2011 1 photo
A.O.C. is a charming restaurant in the West Village. They offer an extensive selection of French fare at reasonable prices.
My hubby & I came here for dinner and opted to sit inside. There are a couple small tables out front and several tables in the back patio. The restaurant has a casual yet romantic ambiance. It was dimly lit throughout creating a more intimate environment. There were several young adult couples and no kids in sight.
We started with an order of steamed mussels which were accompanied with french fries. The broth was divine and really complemented the mussels. For dinner, I had the Mushroom Veggie Risotto. YUMMY!!! It was such a large portion that I only ate 1/4 of the dish. My hubby ordered the NY Steak and he was also unable to finish his meal. I had a few bites and the beef was tender and flavorful.
For drinks, he went with a Stella and for me a La Maitresse cocktail. It was sweet & delicious. I moved onto wine when my entree arrived.
We were surprised with the overwhelming portion sizes. Typically, French restaurants focus on presentation rather than abundance. In A.O.C.'s case, you get both quantity and quality.Listed in: I LOVE NY
-
Review from M C.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2012
Attitude loses more customers than it makes, they still haven't figured it out.
Health inspection grade B. I guess that's pretty good for the French, except the fact there are no French people in the kitchen only the waiters. -
Review from kelvin t.
New York, NY
11/21/2011
This place needs a makeover. Service was adequate but the food was run of the mill french bistro done poorly. They use cheap ingredients so the food came out tasteless and bland.
Pros: Service saves this place.
Cons: Decor needs some life, not a value proposition. -
Review from Dave L.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2012
Good food, fun atmosphere, good prices. Only downside is that the service can be a bit slow. But it's definitely worth the wait.
-
Review from Alice W.
11/6/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This place has a lot of deals/coupons around right now, so def do a search!
I really wish yelp had half stars because I'd give this place 3.5. Came here on a Thursday night 6pm, we had our choice of where to sit. I regretfully did not ask to be seated in the back because that's where their pretty garden is! I assumed since it's colder now, they had closed it off, which was a wrong assumption.
Steak a chaval: this was basically a hamburger patty with a fried egg on top and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were very good and despite it being a glorified hamburger patty, the ground beef was very tender and juicy.
Croustillant de la mer: The presentation of this dish was gorgeous! I fully regret not taking a photo (there is a photo on their website(. It was shrimps, scallops, and mussels in this light pastry bowl on top of spinach. The seafood was fresh and paired very well with the sauce. Def recommend!
Apple tartine: We had this for dessert. Lots of apples on top of a very thin tart crust. It was nothing too spectacular.
Overall, this place gets a 3.5 stars because while the food was good, it didn't blow my mind away, especially for the price. I came here with a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate, which made it much more economical. -
Review from Kelly B.
Culver City, CA
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whenever I need a glass of wine in the West Village, there is always an open seat at the back bar of A.O.C.
Yep, I like this place! -
Review from Richelle L.
New York, NY
This is a reliable standby French restaurant in the neighborhood and I have been going here for years. Though, not necessarily the cheapest in price, their portions are large (atypical of French fare in general) and thus, it can offer great value. I never remember being disappointed in any of the dishes I've tried over the years.
In my recent visit, I ordered their Risotto de La Mer. It consisted of: shrimp, salmon, scallops, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, arborio rice, truffle oil and balsamic reduction. Though, aesthetically, this isn't the most elegant risotto presentation around due to its cornucopia of ingredients and resulting volume... I am partial to ALL its ingredients. It was, by far, the heartiest risotto dishes around. Its well balanced with seafood, veggies and carb... definitely a filling meal on its own. They don't skimp on the seafood and the balsamic reduction is a nice counterbalance of acid/sweetness to cut the inherent richness/creaminess of risotto
ALSO, try the Tarte Tatin, its as traditional as you can find... tender baked tart apples on a turnover pastry topped with creme fraiche or ice cream. It tastes super home-made and I order it without fail. -
Review from Stephen H.
Brooklyn, NY
3/4/2012
Simply fabulous. Never disappointed.
-
Review from Morgan M.
Brooklyn, NY
7/24/2011
Such a cute restaurant! The food is good, so is the coffee, although the prices are better at brunch/lunch.
They even have a table for 10! -
Review from Anne B.
Manhattan, NY
2/24/2012
Happened upon this spot with a girlfriend one night using a scoutmob coupon and we were both pleasantly surprised!!
The ambiance is great! Quaint and dimly lit, perfect for a date. The garden out back and the large windows in the front would make it a great brunch place as well. The service was spectacular- friendly and attentive. And the food was delicious. We had the mussles which were melt in your mouth tender and savory. The french fries were also delicious if you like the thin salty types.
Only downside is a small wine list if yo'ure not buying by the bottle and the bread is subpar, though delicious dipped in a mussle pot! -
Review from Rebecca G.
Manhattan, NY
1/4/2012
I went for "brunch" the Monday after New Year's Day, and I ordered a cup of the cafe au lait and the Merguez Frites. The cafe au lait was enormous and of average taste, but the Merguez Frites was tasty. The grilled lamb sausages were good with or without the harissa sauce, and the fries were just how I like them- thin and crispy. And even my friend who prefers thicker fries approved of them! However, I did not like the dressing on the accompanying salad. In a city filled with restaurants waiting to be tried, I probably won't go back.
-
Review from Brian F.
New York, NY
2/15/2012
A.O.C. came through again last Sat for my brother's birthday. Our group of 8 sat at the lovely farm table in the front. Food was excellent - better than its been in the past. I had the pasta with clams and shrimp - delicious. Also the cheese plate appetizer was great. We also had the fried shrimp app - everyone loved it. One guest was not crazy about her muscles but everyone else loved their food. Service was very good - and they did not include the tip even though we were a large party. We gave 25%. Can't wait until the garden opens again in the nice weather. Thanks AOC!
-
Review from Janine C.
A friend and I were on our way to the Little Owl and caught a glimpse of A.O.C.'s backyard garden. The wall of climbing vine and the white thatched fence were so inviting. We couldn't pass it up, even though I've been meaning to try the Little Owl for months now.
We made our way to the garden which is such a tremendous asset to this restaurant. We both felt so removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was lovely to take a beat and relax in this tucked away garden.
We had the Croque Madame and the Bacon Cheeseburger. The croque madame was delicious. The egg was just runny enough, the ham was flavorful and the bread was cheesy and crunchy. The bacon cheeseburger was good: how could it not be when the ingredients are bacon and cheesy meat? Still, it didn't compare to say a Five Napkin burger. I would have appreciated more smoke or juiciness. It was lacking in flavor. The french fries were delicious, however. They were skinny, crunchy and nice n' salty!
All of the food being served around us looked really appetizing. If I'm ever in the area again, I will definitely stop in to try something else off of their menu, perhaps something more adventurous than a burger! And I'd love to see what the ambiance is like in the evening! -
Review from Mark K.
New York, NY
1/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I Try to come here as much as possible, try the mussel and French fries.
-
Review from Carly H.
Manhattan, NY
9/14/2011
First of all, they need to hire additional help. The poor girl was acting as hostess and waitress for the entire restaurant and she was very nice, but everything from being seated to paying our bill took forever.
I was happy with the food and the prices, but they committed a cardinal sin. They advertise fresh-squeezed orange juice and charge $4 a glass, but it's clearly not fresh-squeezed. It's not even Tropicana! It's from concentrate! Unforgivable! -
Review from Ryan L.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
2/8/2012
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The prices are great and the food is incredible.
-
Review from David S.
New York, NY
4/20/2011
WOW!!!! If this place makes money selling their bland, fatty, no flavor what so ever food. Then my food would would blow people away.
Well I had the lamb shank with polenta and mark veg. The presentation looked nice but I've never tasted anything so bland and fatty in my life. My lamb shank pretty much sat on top of vegetables and a puddle of broken sauce combined with 1/2 lbs of butter. The waitress had no clue what was on the menu on top of that trying to flirt with my friend and I during dinner?
This restaurant isn't not even close to mediocre so I do not plan on come around it again. -
Review from Rick W.
New York, NY
9/24/2011
One Star -- because ZERO Stars wasn't an option..
You know you're in trouble when, on an otherwise uncrowded night, your snobby French-speaking American waiter-with-an-attidude (who also "runs a French cafe a couple of blocks away") pays so little attention to you that one of our dining foursome needed to speak Spanish to the bus boys to (1) get the waiter 20 minutes after pouring our water; (2) get the waiter to bring out more than simply one person's entree and a bowl of fries after 5 minutes; (3) get the waiter AGAIN (who still hasn't apologized for all of the neglect to this point) to bring out the fourth person's entree AND to see if we'd like anything else to drink.. [All-in-all, it took 15 minutes to bring out all of the food.]
When we'd eaten the rather pedestrian fare, we once again needed a bus boy to summons the waiter for the check -- which he needed to run twice because he f****d that up, too.
The garden space where we ate was nice. The food was so-so at best. Our waiter sucked and the manager was too busy acting French to realize that the bozo waiting tables was costing the place a fortune in missed opportunity. -
Review from Grace L.
12/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
French bistro, charming and dimly lit, perfect for a romantic dinner date. All the staff are french, which is refreshing in a french restaurant. Raise your hand if you are sick of smug american waiters at "french" restaurants. You won't find any smuggness or otherworldliness here. The ambience has a simplicity and warmth that is inviting and makes you want to come back for more. There is an extensive wine list and ask for recommendations for food pairings. We had the risotto de la mer and risotto aux legumes, which quote from my dinner guest, was "the best risotto I ever had." I agree. The meal was comforting and a surprisingly generous portion. We were so full that we didnt have room for dessert, but I will definitely try the tarte tatin next time I come around. The price is decent, make sure you utilize the http://www.restaurant.com deal. Service is attentive and friendly. Check it out.
-
Review from Kelly T.
6/14/2011
We were lucky and found AOC last year when we were visiting NYC. The garden patio is lovely in the evening -very romantic which drew us in when we wandered past. We were very impressed with the food and price so made sure to return on this last trip back to the big apple.
The food again did not disappoint. We started with beef tartare which they prepare at your table to your liking. Wonderful experience and was very tasty. We also had a platter of charcuterie which was on the specials menu and it was wonderful. For mains, I had the Duck Confit and my fiance had Steak Tagliata- both cooked to perfection. Mine had perfectly crispy skin and was moist inside... sauce was a tiny on the sweet side but not enough to overpower the flavors.
We scored an awesome table outside but service was a little off this time unfortunately. They brought our mains before our appetizers came out. This was quickly fixed and no our mains did not sit under a heat lamp. After the waitress made our tartare she dropped the ingredients as she was clearing the table to leave... felt bad for her. They brought a Stella with a chip on the bottom bit of the glass and one of the knives had a broken finger rest (not sure what you call it). All minor things for us as we were there solely for the food. If it was our first visit, perhaps we would have been a little put off at all these little annoyances.
We were delighted to find that they now accept credit cards (last year we had to pay cash so had to skip dessert!). Bonus is they are on the AA dining program so we got bonus dining miles!! YAY! -
Review from Taiyo O.
4/25/2011
As long as I live in the village, I was feeling to avoid this place somehow and I know why.
My friend had a coupon, really don't know what kind, and she wanted to use at this place. I was happy to dine with her so didn't argue and put my feeling of this place a side.
I read some good reviews of Mussels so we ordered Moules Provencale but what we got was steamed in white wine broth instead of tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil ($25/L). It was too salty. I usually love to soak the juice with bread but after one try, I stopped. The fries came with were okay.
La Salade Nicoise ($17), it was my lunch time favorite when I was living in Paris. I opted to try but it was mistake. The reason why this salad didn't taste that great was the dressing. It wasn't emulsified into a creamy vinaigrette thus, three pieces of Tuna became bland and boring. I had much closer one at Petite Abeille on 17th St.
Fried Calamari ($13.50) - nothing special and lacking of crunchiness and mayo based sauces were not for me.
Entrecôte ($35), the meat was tough and peppercorn sauce need more depth flavor. The salad in a bowl was unnecessary since it wasn't dressed.
Highlight of the night was this dessert. It was like a parfait. Layers of white mouse and sweet chapped pineapple. Dehydrated pineapple was paper thin and looked like a flower and it was good.
French speaking staff didn't really help the foods. -
Review from L R.
Manhattan, NY
1/15/2012
I enjoyed having dinner here one night with a friend. Large space. Average noise. Plenty of choices if you're interested in a decent French meal. Not the most flavorful but you generally have to visit pricier places for that in this town. It's not bad just not wow-ed. I give it 3 stars mainly because I can envision myself returning regularly for a quick bite to eat. Service is good. Ambiance is typical for a busy Manhattan restaurant. We were seated outside so it was fairly quiet. Just a little too dark. I rarely remember having this much trouble reading the menu. I had the frisee which I try at every French restaurant and it was solid and quite large. Also had the steak with mashed potatoes and it was solid as well. Not the kind of place you take someone to impress but no one will walk out hungry and unsatisfied either.
-
Review from Kristine C.
New York, NY
3/20/2012
AOC has a nice, laid back atmosphere. Maybe a little too laid back for some people, but if you are looking for a spot to have a long, lazy brunch, this is it. They didn't bother us too often when our meal was done and we were able to just relax and enjoy the afternoon! What a cute spot too, I especially like the back garden. The tables are very small so it's not a place for big groups.
-
Review from Bobby S.
Manhattan, NY
1/9/2012
Seafood paella was awesome!
-
Review from Stephanie G.
New York, NY
2/16/2012
I will never eat here again. I had an open table certificate for AOC. I checked the certificate and the original posting for any restrictions on dates it could be used, etc. It was set to to expire on Feb 18th so we went for Valentine's Day. The back room was packed full of tables, worse than a typical NYC restaurant. They had hauled in all the outside dining tables and chairs, that are clearly outdoor furniture (rod iron). The entire evening people were bumping into each other trying to get to and from tables.
We sat at the table for 15 minutes before anyone even took a drink order. We ordered a mid priced bottle of wine that took another 10 minutes to arrive. I tasted the wine and it was probably one of the worst I have ever had. We chose another bottle, that took another 10 minutes to arrive. The second bottle was marginally better. For a french place, I was shocked at the poor wine. (I ate here last summer and ordered a chardonnay- awful- but then a later night happy hour started and the house wine was ok and only $5- better than the $12 chardonnay I started with)
The food was mediocre. I had a hair in my muscles. I will say the fries are delicious but that was literally the only highlight of the evening.
They did not want to take my open table certificate. I had the waiter get the manager who said they were not taking them today. I stated that there weren't any restrictions on the certificate, nor the original posting and that I was going to use the certificate. She said she had been dealing with this all night. This argument went back and forth for about 10 minutes. The manager said the owner told her not to take the certificates, I asked to speak to the owner, he was not there. I explained that there aren't any restrictions on the certificate and they can't arbitrarily decide not to honor something that someone has already paid for. I also said that although there were many tables in there, there were empty tables so it is not like the restaurant was missing out on someone else dining without a certificate because I could see 5 empty tables. I told her this certificate was the only reason I was there and that the certificate expired in 4 days and that there was no way I was going to come back in there in the next few days to use the certificate after the terrible service we received. She then tried blaming open table. I explained that it didn't matter to me whose fault it was, I paid for the certificate and I was going to use it. She continued to argue and then just walked away at which point I took out my cell to call the number for open table on the certificate. We sat there for about 7-10 minutes before the waiter came back over and said they would take my certificate. We then paid the bill and on the way out, another table stopped me and asked if they were giving me a hard time about the open table certificate and after speaking with this table, I found out that they too had a hair in their food and were only there because of the certificate. I wished them good luck getting the restaurant to take their certificate.
I live close to AOC and they have a garden which is nice in the summer but you could not pay me to eat there again. Mediocre tasting food, terrible wine, hair in the food, slow service and they don't honor their certificates without a 20 minute ordeal.
Do not go here. There are a lot of other restaurants within a few blocks around this place. Try anywhere else. -
Review from Erin A.
Manhattan, NY
1/2/2012
We went to this place today b/c we had a coupon from Diner's Decks. First, I want to preface this poor review by saying I don't blame our server. They were horribly understaffed, and she was trying her hardest to make the best of the awful situation she was in. There were plenty of other problems...
We were seated in the back. It smelled of dirty bleach water. The way a dive bar smells when you are still sober enough to know how much it reeks. Also, there were fruit flies all over the place. They were so bad that a table of Aussies near us were trying to smash them against the walls for sport.
Our drinks did not arrive until after we had our food (again, server was completely overwhelmed). The bloody mary's were over $10 each and tasted like nothing but V8. I had the tuna burger, which was decent, but the bun was completely stale. My husband said the same of his cheeseburger.
I don't know where the owner was, but there seemed to be only one waitress in the whole place w/ nearly all tables seated. I felt so sorry for the woman. You could sense the tension in the tables all around us as people waited for bread, water, their drinks, etc.
With so many great restaurants in the city, just skip this one! -
Review from Mandy F.
Manhattan, NY
12/19/2011
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. The service was average - not particularly friendly or attentive but adequate. I expect a little more for the prices. We had brunch and the food was good but not great, nothing special. I had eggs benedict and they were fine, nothing wrong but not super. I'd be tempted to give another try for brunch or go to dinner or lunch and re-review...TBD!
-
Review from Grace C.
Manhattan, NY
3/13/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Lovely atmosphere and great food. Not an extremely large menu but everything on it is good.
-
Review from Austin M.
Manhattan, NY
6/8/2011
Outdoor garden drew us in. Food is decent but high-priced (e.g. my croque madam was $17 or so, but it was pretty good).
Our bottle of wine was $42 and I checked the retail price afterwards - $12. I am not a restaurant expert but that seems like a steep mark-up. It was not very good wine.
Our food was served by a back-waiter carrying four dishes. The two of us had to pick our dishes off of his arms. He came by our table twice more asking if other dishes were ours, so clearly he never had any idea who had ordered what.
Service is pretty French, meaning sloppy and indifferent. I would find somewhere else.
