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Alouette
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
2588 Broadway(between 97th St & 98th St)
New York, NY 10025
Neighborhood: Manhattan Valley
(212) 222-6808
- Nearest Transit:
-
96 St (1, 2, 3)
103 St (1)
96 St (A, B, C)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
93 reviews for Alouette
Review Highlights
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"Free Range Duck Breast and Sausage Vichy Carrots, Potato..." In 4 reviews -
"...started with the wild mushroom ravioli which was fantastic." In 6 reviews -
"I had the Sirloin Steak with Pomme Frites and Pepper Sauce." In 3 reviews
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92 reviews in English
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Review from Colleen S.
New York, NY
Updated - 3/30/2012
A dear friend came to the city to spend Thanksgiving. Alas, I do not cook so I scoured the internet looking for a delicious Thanksgiving restaurant option. We landed at Alouette.
Alouette had a reasonably priced Thanksgiving prix fixe menu that addressed the needs of both my vegetarian self and my carnivorous dining partner.
I ordered the mixed greens, seasonal vegetables and pumpkin cheesecake. The sweet potato puree in which the seasonal vegetables were mixed was DIVINE. The pumpkin cheesecake was easily one of the best desserts I have ever eaten.
My date ordered the mixed greens, the steak and the flourless chocolate cake. He also oohed and aahed over the sweet potatoes and practically licked his plate clean. I took a couple bites of his flourless chocolate cake and it was so dense and rich that a couple of bites was more than enough to satisfy any chocolate craving.
Overall it was a lovely Thanksgiving meal and I plan to return again to try the regular menu.
I am taking away one star due to the crowded nature of the restaurant. I would have preferred not to feel as though I was sitting in the lap of the woman at the table next to us. I could hear more of the tables on either side than of my dinner companion.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/27/2011
A dear friend came to the city to spend Thanksgiving. Alas, I do not cook so I scoured the internet… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie C.
New York, NY
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cute French Bistro that's romantic with live music on Wed. I came bought a Bloomspot deal (30 for $75 of a la carte- no special pre frixe paella dinner or brunch) and called for same day reservations. They told me they only had room for 2 at 9pm ( unlikely on a Wed) but when we arrived it was true- it was quite cramped. So cramped that were touching elbows with our neighboring couples. Quick note on service before food- they asked if we had a deal upfront (which is fine); while our waiter was very nice, and meant well- he was a bit clumsy, almost spilling water and dropping a wine glass ( we didn't order any). I arrived really early - like 8:40 and they allowed me to sit (I think they gave me a crappier "ready" table, but I didn't want to wait till 9.. I was starving). So.. i asked for bread. Now onto the food:
The bread basket: They brought out some bread per my request before my bf arrived- it was a mix of some wheat, white and fruit embedded bread... It would have been great it was warmed but it did the job. There was a nice pesto butter that came along with it.
We then went with the wild mushroom ravioli, and beet salad (the second one on the list.. with the apples) was our apps. The ravioli was good- there were only two of them. (they were a little large). but they did actually not taste significant better than the frozen kind (the ravioli themselves); the mushrooms had a strong flavor (in a godo way) and the sauce/broth they sat in was a good salty bath to sop up bread with.
The beet salad was good- lots of shredded beets- def. overpowered the other items (apple, and pumpkin vinaigrette- didn't taste this at all). The salad was a bit too oily.
Onto the mains; I ordered the famed duck breast, which comes with a duck sausage patty (i was not so into this- it was a little... weird in texture and really salty). The breast itself was yummy - fatty, and juicy, albeit a bit small ( which is fine, I need to lay off the yummy duck and watch my figure!). As it may have been said, the orange sauce that accompanied the duck was a little too sweet (paired with the sliced carrots- also sweet). Could have been better with another sauce or just taken down a notch. This came with a "potato cake" side which was simply a thickly cut.. hash brown? But not as fried.. just a round piece of lightly fried potato. It was pretty good- second after the duck for this dish. $26.
My bf ordered the special "market price" rack of lamb, which comes also with the potato cake, 3 small ish pieces of lamb, and mint jelly (as traditions go). We were pretty excited about the jelly only to find that it was kind of just.. green jello? There was no marmalade texture and it was BRIGHT green and just wasn't right. The lamb itself, while good according to my bf, was not worth the price. At the end of the night we found out it was $38- stupid us for not checking in but I feel "market price" (which btw, applies to fish because it's dependent on what was caught that day - not lamb). It was so overpriced in terms of both quality AND portion.
We also shared a side of pomme frites- which were not pomme frites... I love french fries but when I'm paying non Mickey D prices for them, I want them to be artisanal... doused in truffle oil, hand cut, seasoned etc.. these were somewhere between McD's (not as oily) and frozen. Fries will be satisfying wherever they are but I was a little disappointed. Maybe some $3-5?
For dessert, we shared the creme brulee ($8)- This is probably one of the best things that I had all night. It was all the right things creme brulee should be- perfectly caramelized atop, creamy custardy center- and it was big and right for two.
The biggest issue here - and the reason I will NOT be returning though the experience was pleasant enough- is that there are some outrageous prices here for such decent to mediocre food. They didn't execute on everything 100%, and there is no way such blah food (i.e. 3 measly rack of lambs ) could amount to $40. We ended having a rough $40 balance after our -$75 so I can't fathom eating here without the deal.. .esp since much of the menu didn't taste that different from their frozen counterparts. -
Review from Andrea P.
Chicago, IL
2/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My boyfriend and I came here on a Groupon and the ambiance was surprisingly delightful but the food was nothing out of the ordinary. We had the mushroom ravioli, escargot, and mussels.
The escargot was yummy but extremely greasy, to the point where the flavor was overpowered by the greasiness of the dish. The ravioli was decent but it wasn't extraordinary, and the mussels were the best dish of all. They were done in white wine broth and tasted quite nice.
My only qualm with this restaurant is the waitress, she was really nice until the very end of our service. We tipped her 19% because we were short $1.20 and she clearly was bothered by it. This really friendly young girl turned into a very rude one as we walked out the door. Was it really that serious?
I wouldn't go back here but the experience was decent enough. -
Review from Susan W.
Bronx, NY
5/20/2012
Found out about this spiffy place through Groupon. Beautiful weekend evening so the front of the restaurant was open--tres continental! The maitre d' was very good about switching our table so we wouldn't have to go upstairs, the waiter was very good about breaking down ingredients for us (food allergies), and there were no complaints about half of our party being late. Ronnie is the most charming, engaging, knowledgeable waiter--he belongs on the Food Network, no kidding.
My three courses were superlative--duck liver mousse, burgundy braised short ribs, and fresh mixed berries napoleon. Perfect portions, and one of my top dining experiences of the year. Five stars for the meal (maybe even six), but the tables are placed in such a way that you can hear all your fellow diners chatting and there's not enough room to walk out of the place when you're done, so it's four stars for the total experience. But I'm still dreaming of that meal. and would go back on an extravagant occasion. -
Review from Beth S.
Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY
1/11/2012
Went with a Groupon (no surprise) and wouldn't go back.
There were good things: It's a very cute place, great as a romantic date spot. Decent wine list, especially by the glass.
There were bad things: My boyfriend ordered the steak, medium rare, and it was super rare, bloody and chewy. Gross!
There were mediocre things: Value for what you get (without a Groupon this would be pricey). My main course (the scallops).
It's not far from me, but is not one of the Groupons that I keep an eye out for. And if I won't pay half price on Groupon, I'm definitely not going to pay full price. -
Review from Michael D.
New York, NY
1/10/2012
I've been visiting Alouette roughly once every 1-2 years. Each time I go back I regret the long span in between visits. I understand management changed a year or so ago so this review is based on current management, though my experience is consistent with past experiences.
Tonight's meal was great. I had the escargot and a swordfish special. Desert was the berries napoleon. My friend had mushroom stuffed ravioli and scallops. The meals were perfectly prepared and well served. Ingredients were fresh and sauces were delicious. I adjusted my order a bit (vegetable sub) with no problems. Atmosphere is still very French (as were the staff's accents) in the most positive sense :-) There was a guitar player with light, pleasant music, as well.
Service was attentive without being intrusive. Waitstaff was very pleasant.
Hope to go back soon. -
Review from P C.
Manhattan, NY
4/7/2012
I brought my brother here for his Bday, we had a fantastic evening, the service was excellent and the food was very good. I absolutely recommend coming here for a nice occasion.
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Review from Kay H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/2/2012
My partner and I went to Alouette for Sunday brunch. I ordered the Vanilla Brioche French Toast with bacon. Imagine my delight and surprise when I found it came with a mountain of fruit!
The bacon was AMAZING. Thin, crispy, delicious--my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
The french toast was light and airy--not too soft and not too sweet.
The fruit, though, was very disappointing. The honeydew and cantaloupe were crunchy. The pineapple and grapes were a bit too ripe in places. I suppose I shouldn't be picky--I hadn't been expecting the fruit, after all, and then there it was on my plate like magic--but I'd been so excited. After the french toast and the bacon, it was hard not to feel a little let down. -
Review from Shannon O.
NY
3/13/2012
My husband and I went here for our anniversary. We made reservations and told them we were celebrating, and had a great experience. Service was awesome, our waiter was friendly and provided us with helpful info about the food when we asked. Food (mushroom ravioli appetizer, steak entree and duck entree) was outstanding. The place is small, but for the special occasion they seated the two of us at a table for four. They also decorated our dessert extravagantly and added some extras. Happy to have this place in my neighborhood!
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Review from Kay M.
New York, NY
3/2/2012
I bet folks who use Groupon sometimes wonder if the service or food they're getting is below-par because they have Groupons -- or because that's just how things are.
Tonight, our version of this eternal question was: So, Alouette, did you give us the lousiest waitress in the joint because we had a Groupon or was it sheer bad luck?
The facts: We made reservations, notified the management that we were coming on a Groupon and arrived almost promptly at 8:33. We were briskly escorted through the atmospheric floor level with jazz guitarist and at least one open table to the staircase that leads up to the meh room. We were seated and waited...and waited...and watched as other obviously efficient waitstaff took care of tables to the left and right of us. For 10 minutes, my husband perused the menu. For another five minutes, we sat obediently with hands empty, looking around.
Finally, our waitress arrived, wondering if we'd like a drink. Hell yes. We ordered wine and -- deciding not to lose the opportunity -- our meals, which were from the prix fixe menu and mandated that we order appetizer, entree and dessert all at once. Five minutes later, she brought the wine. After that, busboys delivered all the food and we never saw her again until our dinner plates we cleared and we sat staring at the empty table again. Another 10-minute gap until she turned up, asking what we'd like for dessert. We pointed out we'd ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal. She got flustered, disappeared, then returned to say it would be another 10 minutes. Mind you, it's a pre-made flourless chocolate cake.
By now, it was 10:30 and only three tables in the room had customers. Yet she managed to come into the room two more times and avoid eye contact with us after we asked for our check. On her third goodwill tour, I called out "Miss? " Then "MISS?" and then decided, screw it, and yelled "MISS!!!" so every eye in the room was riveted on her. Geez Louise.
The food, by the way, was a solid three stars. But at the end of a long week, the last thing I want to do is work like hell to get a meal that I'm paying for. It was irritating and exhausting and killed the whole point of a night out.
So the answer to was-it-Groupon-or-incompetence is, it doesn't matter. And customers shouldn't have to wonder. You may be only six blocks away, Alouette, but we won't be back. -
Review from Amy S.
11/19/2011 4 photos
Derrick L. and I had dinner at Alouette on Wednesday to use up his Groupon that was expiring that day. Derrick mentioned that when he called to make a reservation, the hostess said that they were pretty booked and then proceeded to list availability at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00... O_o um, maybe they don't know it, but that means they're not "booked." In any case, we had a reservation for 8:00 and didn't arrive until 8:30 due to traffic but they were very understanding when we called to let them know that we'd be late.
The dimly lit and elegantly decorated restaurant is two floors. We were seated on the upper floor. I liked that it overlooks the bottom floor and that we could still hear the live music from below. Unfortunately the tables are way too close together so that when the restaurant got fuller, the noise level makes it hard to hear even the person across from you.
We split the WILD MUSHROOM RAVIOLI (with sage and truffle broth) http://www.yelp.com/bi... as an appetizer. I thought that the ravioli was a little overcooked but the sage and truffle broth was so earthy and comforting with the mushrooms. That broth really makes the dish!
My entrée was the FREE RANGE DUCK BREAST (with sausage, vichy carrots, potato cake, orange sauce). http://www.yelp.com/bi... The duck breast was seasoned and cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of fat left on the meat. The orange sauce was a little too sweet in my opinion and I preferred the duck breast without too much of it. The sausage patty had a strange texture. I'm not sure if that's how it was intended to taste, but it was unpleasantly crunchy and it was the only thing I left on my plate. Derrick's SIRLOIN STEAK (with pomme frites and pepper sauce) http://www.yelp.com/bi... was also seasoned and cooked perfectly - very juicy and tender.
For dessert we split the SLICED POACHED PEAR (in white wine chocolate sauce). http://www.yelp.com/bi... I liked it because it wasn't too sweet or heavy and the wine made the sauce taste almost minty.
Overall Alouette seems like a nice neighborhood restaurant but nothing to travel for. If it wasn't for the Groupon I probably wouldn't have tried it. From the vibe of the restaurant, I would guess that the regular clientele at Alouette is older couples who live in the neighborhood, and the Groupon served to attract a younger crowd. I agree with the 3.5 star average on Yelp but I'm rounding down because with many better French restaurants closer to me I have no motivation to return to Alouette. -
Review from Min L.
Manhattan, NY
12/23/2011
Great service, very nice waiters and servers.
Great atmosphere, not over decorated, just adequate and elegant. It is also very clean...
Great food, everything was seasoned well, made to how i asked, (well done or medium rare..)
All dishes were served quickly, one set of dishes after another (appetizers,entree,dessert)
Used groupon, completely worth the visit. I would visit without groupon. -
Review from Amanda G.
So far, I am really digging this spot...
First time here, I had the mushroom ravioli and the salmon with couscous and it was divine!
Second time was the escargot which was good but I could have used some toast points with that. app. For my entree, I enjoyed the diver scallops...they were nice. A bit salty but NICE :oDListed in: Dining Passport
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Review from Nicole G.
New York, NY
1/2/2012
On New Year's morning, I was in the mood to get out of the apartment for a nice New Year's brunch somewhere in the neighborhood. We decided to cut our losses (you don't really come to Morningside Heights for the food, or anything else, for that matter) and limit our options to whatever might have a Groupon or Living Social instant deal. Lo and behold, we found an LS deal for $15 for $25 at Alouette.
I feel like I keep saying this about every daily deal culinary adventure we go on, but Alouette was okay for (less) money. Not amazing, just all right. The faux Parisian interior was nice and clean, though maybe a little bit like a scene from a Disneyland French boudoir-- walls basted in a butter yellow, heavy scarlet drapes along the balcony. The server was sweet, but only after we successfully convinced her that we had just bought an instant LS that definitely said it was only good for the hours of 11am to 2:30pm (she'd initially claimed they didn't have any vouchers running for brunch).
My partner and I both ordered the vanilla brioche french toast. My main qualm with it was that it didn't come out hot enough; same thing with the coffee. The bacon was delicious-- thin but perfectly crispy, not a single edge burnt. The unexpected fresh fruit salad that garnished it was a little of a misleadingly exciting surprise; it was abundant, but the honeydew and cantaloupe were extremely under-ripe, and some of the grapes had dark spots and were inedible.
Whether it's better to serve a barer plate or one with a very visually appealing but ultimately digestively disappointing effect, I don't know, but it just confirmed my feelings that Alouette was fine, and maybe not much else. -
Review from Jason E.
New York, NY
3/18/2012
We visited on Friday night, not expecting too much - just a decent meal. We were pleasantly surprised by the warm, welcoming interior with live but intrusiveness music. The service throughout the meal was exceptional and easily better than many more expensive restaurants in the city. The food was just as good. My wife had the mussels and I had the fish special - both were excellent. Overall this is great little French restaurant.
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Review from Rachel T.
1/31/2012
I live two blocks away from Aloutte so I was hoping to fall in love with this cute little French restaurant in the neighborhood. I came with a friend for the price fixe menu at around 6. I ordered the short ribs braised in a red wine sauce. The dinner lacked flavor and I was pretty disappointed in the presentation. The mixed green salad was fine and the wine I ordered was decent but I probably won't be returning to this place anytime soon.
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Review from diana b.
East Elmhurst, NY
1/24/2012
I visited Aloutte during the weekend and I had a great time. I was a bit concerned in the beginning because I was using a Groupon coupon and I had read the reviews posted. It didn't help either that when I called to make the reservation, I got the response that the quota for Groupon users was filled for that day, particularly because the coupon expired that day!!! (I know, I'm procrastinator). BUT, the person who helped me was gracious enough to extend the expiration date for 24 hours allowing me to make reservations for the next day. Then I thought what kind of service will we get with the coupon on hand. Let me tell you, it was just....EXCELLENT.. I was so pleasantly surprised. The waiter was just great, probably the best I've had in many years. He was very attentive, but not intrusive; very polite, welcoming and helpful. Perhaps they took a hint from the posted reviews??? Not sure, but the overall service was very very very good.
The food was good, with the highlight on the desserts. I was expecting a little more taste from the entree (I got the salmon), but it wasn't bad. On and all, I recommend it! -
Review from Nico H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The service was good but the food was just regular. I like their bread with their cream with some spices. We had escargot as appetizer, which was a little bit salty but overall acceptable. For main courses we had mussels and duck breast. The mussels weren't totally fresh. I feel it a mix of fresh mussels and a few not fresh ones. The duck breast was also acceptable, but I expected a little more flavor for the price. We got poached pears as desert. I read some good reviews about it, but this desert didn't surprise me. I ended with a cup of Cappuccino that had deformed milk foam. I have a feeling that every dish is around the average. In my opinion, to meet with the price on the menu, the taste of their dishes need to be fancier.
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Review from Laura M.
ASTORIA, NY
8/22/2011
Well, the ambiance is nice, I'll give it that. I think our waiter was actually French. His accent was charming. The ambiance is nice and we were seated early for our reservation, which was convenient.
For the food - it seems to pretty much be a crap shoot of whether or not it is good based on what you order. Our party had two appetizers - the french onion soup and the pate. The onion soup was pretty delicious; the pate was just so-so. They didn't provide enough bread for the pate and it lacked the 'wow factor'. For entrees, our party ordered the scallops, the duck and the calf liver. Now I know this is a French restaurant, but if you are going to cover EVERYTHING in sauce the sauce better be bomb-diggity-knock-me-off-my-chair-DELICIOUS, not merely bland and wet, as it was. The scallops were prepared well, but I could have had the same dsh sans sauce for half the price elsewhere. The duck was dry inside, yet still somehow covered ... in sauce. The calf liver was delicious.
Now ... drinks and dessert. Oh ... where to start. While the wine list seemed pretty small and limited, we had a relatively decent bottle for $50. When we came we were hoping for a selection of higher end wines; we would have gladly payed $100 for a better bottle. Two people in our party ordered coffee and Baileys with our dessert, Creme Brulee. It took our waitstaff 15 minutes to figure out how to do this, and by the time it arrived, we had already finished dessert and were ready to go. This led to some quick coffee and Baileys drinking, and for the $10 per cup, I would have rather gone without.
Honestly, I don't think I would return, and I would not recommend this to a friend. If, somehow, I found myself here again, I would order the onion soup and liver - but would not feel comfortable exploring their menu - at least, not for a $30 per entree gamble. -
Review from Vera K.
Jersey City, NJ
1/9/2012
I bought one of those groupon-like deals a while ago and came in to try this restaurant out. I would have never stopped by otherwise, it's a little out of the way for me. Having said that, I don't mind spending a few minutes getting to a place I really like.
Here are my thoughts - for the deal, they had a limited menu. I understand that on these deals the restaurant makes no money and likely loses money, but the idea is to get the customer to come back. So the idea is to offer inexpensive dishes but at the same time those that are really good. Some balance there.
Well, the menu they had for this deal was very limited and the dishes were not good at all. There are many French restaurants in the city that are MUCH better. The food was very plain, while there seemed to be an attempt at special sauses and garnishes, they were pretty tasteless. Bottom line, not a great marketing move on the restaurant's behalf - they lost money on me and I will never go back because I didn't like the food at all. -
Review from Jami S.
Liverpool, NY
12/1/2011
I really enjoyed our dinner here. We purchased the groupon that was 35$ for 75$ worth of food, and it was definitely a great choice for out weekend trip to NYC.
The seating wasn't amazing because of how close they have the tables, the man sitting diagonal to me was looking in the
mirror behind me at my boyfriend half the night. Creepy.. But if the couple you are sitting near are normal and not staring at you, it's not bad seating.
We started with the wild ravioli mushroom soup in truffle broth and it was AMAZING. Absolutely no complaints.
I got the maple chicken and he got the salmon, I don't like fish but he said his was really good and had a great flavor. Mine was also wonderful, the chicken was amazing (I'm really picky about chicken) and had just the right amount of moistness to it. I would suggest getting either an appetizer or dessert, or both! Portion sizes are pretty small as you usually find with this sort of dinning. We got the chocolate cake for dessert which was good, not great. For those who don't like too sweet, the chocolate cake would be perfect for you.
I can't comment on wine selection, we stuck with water. Service was also great, friendly without being intrusive.
For a nice (expensive) dinner out I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
Beware if you use your iPhone map to get you there, it takes you to Broadway and 69th when this is actually on Broadway between 97th and 98th. -
Review from Max M.
Manhattan, NY
9/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
To start I really do want to give this place a better rating. a 3.5 would be most apt, but honestly a 4 would just be unfair to the many other great restaurants in the area.
I really do want to focus on the positives because a lot of reviews on here have just been scathing, and I think to some degree they are way exaggerated. This place has an amazing vibe to it. The setup is very quaint. On warmer days they have outside seating. There is live French jazz on Tuesdays. I hear that they have other days with different types of music. If you really want to have a romantic date and you happen to live around here, this is a very viable spot. The crowd is also very eclectic. Too often restaurants of a certain price range attract persons of a certain age range. But this place has an excellent mix of clientele, with plenty of Columbia students thrown into the mix (it helps that there are constant deals for this place, but more about that later). This place gets very crowded for dinner, even on Tuesday nights.
Anyhow, there is so much focus on what NOT to eat at this place, I really do think that it would help to focus on whats good. I got the duck liver mousse for appetizer and loved it! It came with a pear puree which was an amazing touch. The two tastes went together quite well. My friend got the calamari salad, which she enjoyed and I thought was good because they did not fry the calamari.
For entree she got the scallops. I sampled them and thought that they were good. The sauce that they came with was a bit odd, but I definitely thought that they were good. I would definitely recommend these over the steak that I got, which I ordered rare, but which was a bit too peppery to the point of overwhelming, and quite chewy, I also did not like the cut. BUT the sauce was good and the fries were tasty (then again, I have never eaten fried potatoes that I didn't like).
They also have a very good wine selection at various price levels. So if you can navigate the bad things on the menu, and steer towards whats good, this can be an enjoyable experience. I'll add that this place has frequent deals. A bill here can easily run into the hundreds for two people and I really don't think it is worth it at those prices, but if you get a 50% discount then its really not that bad.Listed in: French
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Review from Amanda M.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
12/6/2011
Great!
I started out by ordering a cosmo from the bar which was very strong, just my type!
The hostess was very nice and welcoming.
The french onion soup was AMAZING!
The short ribs had a ton of flavor, just a tad too much fat for my taste...
I ended the night with a cappuccino which was perfect!
Our server spoke fluent french and was quite pleasant. -
Review from jordan s.
New York, NY
Updated - 6/16/2011
Thank you Mr. Pardo for alerting me of my shortcomings. It's nice to see that the aloof manager/owner of Alouette follows up with all foul and negative yelps about his extraordinary restaurant and has nothing better to do... Did you post this comment from your Blackberry while customers were patiently awaiting their bar drinks?
1) I am quite educated sir. However, manners are not my forte, particularly when your restaurant is one of the worst I've dined at in this city.
2) I have been a frequent patron of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at the London, Restaurant Daniel (REAL French), and anything Danny Meyer for over 8 years. While I never expected THAT level of food/service from your bistro, TGIF and Houlihans would have been 3 steps and 4 stars up from your establishment.
3) I agree that fine dining is a place to relax. If I wanted cheap, tasty, and quick carry-out, I would've gone to Gray's Papaya as stated. With that said, your restaurant does not solicit relaxation when someone has to wait 40 minutes for their first round of bloody cocktails.... Was I supposed to give my girlfriend a deep tissue massage with the moldy bread while pouring olive oil across her shoulders? That type of relaxation perhaps?
4) Damn! I wish I had stuck around for your comped flutes of Korbel and the housemade Fairway cheesecake...
5) you're correct. she had to pay while I fled since she told me that she didn't want a scene to be aroused by my disdain for your incompetent staff. If I had stuck around, that pitcher of Sangria would have had an additional fruit in it: your Blackberry.
PS. Im sorry you won't have us back- I was looking so forward to enjoying a second heaping of PLUCKING
Ciao~2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/8/2011
***due to word count limits, this is the continuation of my Alouette review- see below for the… Read more »
Comment from Jon Michael P. of Alouette 6/16/2011
Using this type of foul language in a public forum leads me… More » -
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Review from Sharon L.
Manhattan, NY
1/9/2012
I would definitely look for another French restaurant to go to in the city. There are a ton of them. The hostess was very rude and refused to seat us even though there were open tables present since we didn't have a reservation with our groupon. Although I did agree with her that we should have made a reservation, she still insisted on yelling out the many reasons we should have made a reservation. The other patrons in the restaurant were also surprised by this outburst.
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Review from Amy M.
New York, NY
5/30/2011
Went there Friday night fora birthday party and were greatly disappointed. We had a reservation for a party of ten, so there were no surprises... and yet the service was horrible.
We were not told about a children s' menu until the server came up to take our order.
The server did not know if we could taste a bottle of wine before we ordered it.
But, the clincher was waiting an hour for our entrees & then when we complained we were yelled at by the manager. Basically told that we should have ordered appetizers and that it takes them extra time to cook the chicken. (Leaving me wondering why they did not tell us that when we ordered? A simple: "The chicken takes longer to cook... would you like to order an appetizer in the mean time, or are you ok with the wait?" would have solved everything.)
And, by an hour wait I mean - at 40 minutes we asked where our food was and was told it would be there in "5 minutes".
When the food arrived? The chicken was completely cooked, but the rest of our entrees? Luke warm.
But, most importantly - I have never ever been to a restaurant where I have been yelled at for complaining about bad service. A "yes, sir, yes ma'am, we're sorry - here, take a free drink" can work wonders and certainly would have prevented this bad review. Because things do happen... but this is more than that - it reflects the culture of the restaurant.
The only thing keeping me from giving this restaurant no stars is: the music, and the food (even luke warm) was good.Comment from Jon Michael P. of Alouette 6/4/2011
It is sad that someone with such a negative attitude and an… More » -
Review from Mark R.
Ridgefield, CT
3/10/2012
Fantastic most of the time for most of the dishes. First ever not perfect salad and desert a few weeks ago. but they remain on my short list. Neighborhoody french!
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Review from Andrew C.
Alouette is a cute French bistro on the Upper West Side. They have a $25 early-bird 3-course Prix Fixe menu before 7PM on Tu, Th and before 6:30PM on Fr, Sat, Sun. We slipped in just after 6:30 on Friday and the waiter said we could still do this.
The g/f started with the 3 Veggie Terrine (with Red Wine & Balsamic Reduction) while our friend and I had the Homemade Country Pate (with Pickled Veggies and Cornichons http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Country pate was more of a terrine with the chunky texture. Both apps were delicious with the accompanying breads.
For the entree I went with the Hanger Steak (with roasted potatoes and red wine sauce http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and the g/f and our friend went with the Skatefish (with roasted mushrooms in a burgandy emulsion http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The steak was surprisingly rare and a bit bland on it's own, but much improved mixed with the red wine sauce. The roasted potatoes were deliciously creamy inside with a crisp outer shell. I wasn't as big a fan of the Skatefish, but the dish worked pretty well with the mushrooms and Brussel sprouts.
All three of us got the poached pear dessert (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). It was pretty decadent with the chocolate sauce overpowering most of the other flavors.
Nicholas, our server, was very friendly and even let us hang out with another glass of wine after dinner since our friend had a broken foot and was on crutches.
Apps: 4.5 stars
Entrees: 4 stars
Dessert: 3 stars
Service: 4 starsListed in: Big Apple in June
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Review from David E.
Manhattan, NY
1/24/2012
I've been here three separate times within the past few months, and each time I've had a good experience.
Pro: Food quality and service are good. I recommend the steak frites.
Con: As is typical with many small restaurants, seating is a bit cramped.
Overall: good local restaurant. If you're looking to have a nice meal out at a good restaurant (perhaps with a date or a parent) and you happen to live in this area of the city or happen to be in this area this is a good choice. -
Review from Shana S.
New York, NY
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used my LivingSocial deal for two entrees and a bottle of vino with the wonderful Julia B last night. This was my second time here, and I can't get enough of the cuteness of this bistro.
We sat at a table nestled in the corner on the first floor, but could still hear the smooth live jazzy music that played upstairs. No bass or drums--just light guitar and a sweet voice; Alouette isn't a very loud restaurant, which I prefer, because I want to be able to share my evening with dinner companions, not a band and other guests' dinner companions.
Our wine was a 2007 Chardonnay, which was crisp and a good complement to our dishes. The wild mushroom ravioli appetizer in broth was sumptuous, and a great choice for an appetizer. If they served that as an entree, I would order 10 on them. The crusty French bread came with soft herbed butter, but Julia and I found ourselves dipping our bread into the mushroom broth.
For dinner, I ordered the free range duck with sausage and potato hash in a sweet potato purée. Overall, it was delectable. The sausage and potato felt like they were part of a deconstructed breakfast sandwich, and I'm not complaining about that at all. I had a minor gripe about the duck, which tasted nice but was a little tough, although that may be because I ordered it medium well. Julia's sirloin and frites looked amazing, although I know there were a few areas of the steak that were too fatty. Forgive me, Julia?
The chocolate mousse with white chocolate shavings was rich and flavorful, while the strawberry garnish was a much-appreciated touch.
The restroom isn't an oasis, but does contain Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion from Bath & Body Works--yes, please!
Our server was an attentive woman who was conscientious, always ensuring we were satisfied with our plate and well-quenched with water and wine. There were a few long periods of time where we were left waiting for dessert and the check, but it seemed to be more out of their having been busy than having been rude or aloof. My understanding is that Alouette has recently come under new management, and it seems like this was a superb change. Also, Alouette is pricy, but they participate in lots of daily deals (in fact, they're in the midst of another one on LivingSocial now), which is a great way to experience this place, as full price here may be out of the price range of many of us. -
Review from Julia B.
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with the lovely Shana S to use her LivingSocial deal - 2 entrees & a bottle of wine. We decided to also order an appetizer and desert along with the deal. My inner fat kid was in full mode.
For apps, we had the Mushroom Ravioli in Truffle Broth. It was light, subtle in taste and a good dish to share. We could've done with more bread to soak up the broth though.
I had the Sirloin Steak with Pomme Frites and Pepper Sauce. I asked for it to be medium-rare and it came perfect. The sauce was delicious! I could've easily just dunked my frites in it all night.
For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Mousse with White Chocolate shavings and Coulis. It was rich, smooth and the coulis complimented it well, giving it an sweet fruity touch.
Service was good, our waitress kept an eye on us all night.
Overall, a great meal! -
Review from Jess L.
3/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with $25 off via a LivingSocial deal, which, I have to say, was very important to this entire review.
I suggested Alouette as a convenient place for my friend and I to meet for a meal and drink. We got their red Bourdeaux by the glass - good! - and the Alouette salad (pear, beets, brie), wild mushroom ravioli with sage and truffle broth, and a side of the ratatouille.
We were truly mopping up every last drip of the ravioli sauce juices with our bread. Definitely the best thing on the table.
The ratatouille was also great and not too heavy.
I could have done without the salad - wasn't very fulfilling and wasn't very exciting.
Our waitress was really nice and attentive. Since we hadn't used our full voucher, she asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. But, of course!
We went for the Mixed Fresh Berries Napoleon, which had awesome whipped cream and really did the trick.
I'd be kind of scared to come here without a LivingSocial deal, but overall, it was a very pleasant, elegant meal. -
Review from Jian H.
Jersey City, NJ
1/10/2012
We went there with our Groupon last week - I felt lucky that we didn't have to pay the full price.
We had the escargot as appetizer, which tasted good. For the main course, we read the reviews here and wanted to try the duck, but they were out of ducks that night. My bf ordered the scallop instead and I had the steak. The scallop was ok, but my steak was really disappointed. It had way too much fat for a normal piece of sirloin, and it was not tender at all...i felt even longhorn has better steaks...I only ate a third of it..really can't take it.. For desert, i had the creme brulee - one of the worst ever - and my bf had the pear, which was much much better.
The service was not great either; The guy was attentive, but I was really upset that he didn't mention the special to us at all. I only knew that they had specials when a lady in the next table asked him. If I had knew the specials, I wouldn't order the steak. -
Review from Jeffrey A.
Brooklyn, NY
8/15/2011
My girlfriend and I have been here twice in the past several months, first with a Groupon and then with an OpenTable Spotlight. Both times, we enjoyed our food and experience. The service wasn't wonderful the first time, but last night it was excellent, and the food was lovely.
The duck liver mousse was the highlight of our first visit. This time, we split the mushroom ravioli (very nice, just not very much of it for $10). Then she had the scallops, and I had the short rib. The scallops were excellent, though again there weren't many of them - and (note to the chef!) the substitution of mashed potatoes for what's usually purple potatoes was actually quite welcome, as the texture made much more sense for the dish. The short rib was good, if a little chewy.
The wine list is not extensive, but it does offer a good range of options price-wise, and we were pleased by the Bordeaux from Chateau Mazeris (typoed as "Mazeri" on the menu). We shared the chocolate gateau with valrhona chocolate sauce for dessert, and it was marvelous - the vanilla ice cream was superfluous but nice. My girlfriend enjoyed her tawny port, but I was disappointed in my Muscat Beaume de Venise.
It was too warm when we arrived, but our waitress turned on the air conditioning shortly after we complained, and it was comfortable for the rest of our visit. We also had to send back slightly dirty wine glasses before our bottle was poured, but they exchanged them seamlessly.
To be perfectly honest, as nice as our experiences have been, the prices are a little high for what you get. I know that restaurants use Groupon and OpenTable Spotlight to drum up new customers whom they hope will become regulars at the normal retail prices, but we will likely not return without a similar discount in hand. -
Review from Ali C.
Manhattan, NY
7/6/2011
I hardly have any words for this place. Every dish tastes was wonderful.
The table ordered:
Appetizers
Warm Calamari Salad with Red Peppers and Arugula
Phyllo Crusted Florida Shrimp with Cannelini Beans, Provencal Herbs
Mixed Baby Greens Salad with Olive Oil Dressing
Entrees
Pan Seared Salmon with Couscous, grilled Asparagus and Red Beet Vinaigrette
Diver Sea Scallops Pan Seared with Spinach, Purple Potato and Saffron Sauce (I never order scallops because I am HUGELY disappointed but this was AMAZING!!!!!)
Free Range Duck Breast and Sausage Vichy Carrots, Potato Cake and Orange Sauce (this was my dish @ medium temperature)
Sirloin Steak with Pommes Frites and Pepper Sauce (this is meat that melts in your mouth!)
Rack of Lamb PanRoasted w/flageolets, tomato confit & rosemary sauce
The decor is simple but wonderful. They had a guitarist playing softly at the bar which was the perfect touch.
I say GO GO GO if you can. Enjoy!
10 rock hard nipples all around the table, even on a hot stinky summer NYC night
http://noshawarmano.tu... -
Review from kerry a.
Brooklyn, NY
9/27/2011
Went to Alouette a few nights ago. My husband and I wanted to start dinner with a couple of martinis. When I ordered it dirty, the server literally stared at me and then smiled and shrugged his shoulders. I had to tell him, "with olive juice, you know?"
We had the phyllo-crusted shrimp (pretty good), the mussels (also pretty good, but nothing spectacular) and the duck breast. It was interesting, the breast was pretty chewy and the sauce was sort of cloyingly sweet.
Overall it was not a bad experience but I doubt we would journey up to the UWS to visit again. -
Review from Young Y.
New York, NY
7/2/2011
It was okay, but probably not coming back again.
Decent restaurant with really good food. We tried an assortment of foods, including the duck, mushroom ravioli, pear salad, etc.
The mushroom ravioli is really good. The duck is also really good. I just thought the the portions at this restaurant were a bit small.
Service was okay, nothing spectacular. Nothing stood out about this restaurant.
Good/clean restroom = clean kitchen. -
Review from Jay w.
New York, NY
12/17/2010
I read the other reviews and it seems rather mixed. I suppose that says something about this place. I have been to france, I have eaten outstanding foods and I have craved more buttery goodness since. Unfortunately, Alouette's cuisine is at best mediocre and not done very well.
I had the lamb and I have never tasted more dried up lamb in my life...that is saying a lot. I love lamb. The preparation tasted like cardboard. My hubby got some fish and veggy dish...it was made with chicken stock. We asked ahead of time to see if there is any animal products outside the fish, they said no. Since my hubby cannot eat animal fat, he suffered some serious bowel problems...TMI. -
Review from Colbey W.
Baltimore, MD
4/26/2011
All in all, Alouette was good.
We made reservations for the price fixe Easter Brunch at 11am - the earliest time the restaurant was accepting that day. When we showed up (11:01am according to my phone) the door was locked and there were a couple of other parties waiting outside the restaurant. After about 7 or 8 minutes, the doors opened and we were let in. Being that the weather had improved dramatically from the day before (when there was a pretty constant downpour), we didn't mind one bit.
We went in and sat down and the waitress came over. She asked us for drinks and we each wanted a mimosa but were told that they couldn't (wouldn't?) serve any alcoholic beverages until 12pm. Being an out-of-towner, I didn't know if this was a city/state thing or a restaurant thing. Either way, we had no way of knowing about it when we made our reservations for 11am.
On to food. I started with the wild mushroom ravioli which was fantastic. My girlfriend had the spinach and cranberry salad and also really enjoyed it. She chose the pineapple ham as her entree and I had the flank steak. Each were quite good but not the greatest we'd ever had. For dessert, we split the cannoli and pistachio ice cream and the flourless chocolate cake. The cannoli was rather small but was much better than I had expected. The cake was good, but was a little done for my taste.
At around 11:45am - as we were finishing our entrees - out came our mimosas. They were fine, rather small, but again, nothing to write home about.
Our server was very good and our food was just good, which - to me - ends up a three-star rating. Would I go back? Probably not, but mostly because there are so many places around the city to try. -
Review from AJ W.
New York, NY
10/10/2011
This place is great. It is for real. After coupon after coupon this and Bistro De La Gare are the two French restaurants I plan to return to and pay full price. The wine is great and inexpensive. The free range chicken with mushrooms was the best I ever had. That's about all I remember as I tend to forget stuff when I was inebriated. Guess I'll never make it as a restaurant critic not remembering what I ate.
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