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- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (F, G)
Hoyt - Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
Hoyt St (2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11 am - 1 am
Wed-Thu 11 am - 2 am
Fri 11 am - 3 am
Sat 10 am - 3 am
Sun 10 am - 1 am
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- 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:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Le Rivage specialises in classic French Dishes, the kind that remind you of going out to eat with your Parents when you were a little kid, where… read more »
262 reviews for Bar Tabac
Review Highlights
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"hands down the best croque monsieur in brooklyn." In 10 reviews -
"Love love love the brunch here." In 64 reviews -
"Great classic French dishes like Moules & French Onion Soup." In 14 reviews
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262 reviews in English
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Review from Allison T.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2012
Being a semi-regular here for years I can say, I have a great deal of love for Bar Tabac. They have really created an atmosphere that makes me feel as if I've been transported back to France. The hustle and bustle inside the cafe is energizing, not at annoying or too loud. Sitting outside on a warm evening is pretty much as good as it gets. I have never encountered a staff member or server that was anything but generous. Dwight is so charming and just exudes the most welcoming "you'll be taken care of" vibe. Listening to live music on a warm evening, sipping wine outside and eating fries and grilled mushrooms: HEAVEN.
My One Complaint:
There is only ONE vegetarian brochette and I hope that they can expand that to atleast 2? This is the only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars. -
Review from Kitty B.
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really want to love this place because it's in a great location and it's really cozy but I just can't ignore the bad food. Now not everything is bad, but compared to robin de bois (sadly closed) or cafe luluc, which are both down the street, the food here is horrendous. Last time I had the duck confit which tasted like I was the only person who ordered it in the last 6 months and thus how long this piece of duck was waiting for me. It was so dry and tasteless. Duck confit should be neither one of those things.
Recently went back for brunch, because, like I said, I really want to like this place. But it's time to put my food down. Had the croque monsieur and it was so dry and tasteless. The fries were actually inedible, and I rarely meet a fry I won't take down. Hubby had some type of sausage potato hash and it was really gross. It looked like pre-made food put together and heated up in the microwave. The food reminded me of one of those restaurant makeover shows - the before food.
Sorry Bar Tabac, despite all your history and potential, I'd rather eat at the wings place next door. -
Review from Michelle R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/25/2012
I have a real soft spot for Bar Tabac... I think their food is absolutely delicious, from the escargot, to the burger, to the steak and mushroom risotto, and all. I've never had a bad meal ever. I look forward to trying it out for brunch - $5 mimosa ain't so bad of a deal.
Also, I believe this place is cash/Amex only. -
Review from George D.
ASTORIA, NY
3/30/2012
Okay, so you want to go here because of the crowd. Let's get that established. This is a "people" place. I've yet to go by here in 7 years and not find the place full or packed to the brim. That's saying something about the food right here. The atmosphere is teeming. We like teeming sometimes. Like fish in a pond. Sometimes you gather with your friends and you feel like big fish in a pond. That was often the feeling with my co-workers when we left our shifts at Bookcourt in the evenings and occupied the backroom.
Music blaring from the speakers of the radio or some guy's amp, great grub on the plate, good people in accompaniment, and an attentive staff not getting in the way of a fun time. Search within the deep recesses of your psyche, and you will discover that that is exactly the kind of thing that makes life.... your favorite sweater. -
Review from Ralph D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2012
I've eaten here 2 times now and I like this place. Nice GastroPub atmosphere, friendly staff and good food.
As for appetisers we had the Escargot , Fois Gras, and a Salad Nicoise w/seared tuna, all of those were real good.
Entrees that I remember are:
Duck Confit: my daughter loved it and I finished it so I loved it as well.
Trout Almondine: my mom said it was great and the missus liked it as well.
Pan Seared Duck Breast: this was a special when I ordered it, but it was awesome. If you see it on the menu..go for it!!
Filet Mignon: I ordered this on my 2nd visit. It was tasty..just too small, and with a steakhouse price. So if you are like me and don't understand portion controll, skip it and leave it for the ladies.
Steak Frites: My wife ordered this the 1st time, fair price, Steak was fair...not good, maybe we got a loser..but for the price I really didn't expect more. The frites were great.
I haven't eaten desserts there, so no report.
The bread served is very good w/fresh tasting butter.
If you haven't been here, definitely check it out, I would however recommend a weekday visit. Service is better, no waiting and parking is not insane. -
Review from Jano L.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
4/21/2012
I love this place, great ambiance, often very good live music, gypsy Jazz on Thursday night is awesome.
The menu is very simple but everything I had was very good, french onion soup, burger...nothing's overpriced, that's a rare quality for a restaurant in NY.
No arrogance, just a cool place with a french decoration, perfect for many occasion. -
Review from Sera A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/3/2012
Not bad this little place.
They sometimes have a band come play, which is nice and different for this area.
Ok selection of wine and food. I really have no complaints. -
Review from Sue P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2012
Decent brunch spot if you're hankering for a subpar croque madame. The mussels and sides aren't memorable in the least. Good lattes. Live music on the wkends. Really long wait for brunch if you come at a peak time.
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Review from Jess P.
Brooklyn, NY
4/23/2012
Fantastic French Bistro food, great cocktails, and open very late. The Escargot, salads, baked clams and brochettes are delish and presented nicely. This is our go to spot in the hood for some food late night.
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Review from Scott Y.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had a fantastic mushroom risotto side here and a great sparkling white beer. like beer prosecco almost. Was able to sit outside and watch the saturday night traffic pass by. Music selection needs some work.
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Review from Allison h.
New York, NY
3/31/2012
Dim lights, good winelist and a very friendly wait staff. Had my first french onion soup here, as many young kids of Brooklyn yuppies do as well. For a saturday night the back section seems to be very family orientated which is surprising. Great choices and quality food.
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Review from Katie R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/10/2012
Heard mixed reviews about the food, but had a lunch there today and it was great. All 4 people really liked the food and a good value.
Definitely recommend for a good lunch! -
Review from Susan R.
Brooklyn, NY
3/17/2012
Great for brunch- excellent Eggs Florentine. As a vegetarian I pretty much never go there for dinner though since there's only so much risotto I can eat.
Nice outdoor seating on the sidewalk. -
Review from Jonathan E.
Brooklyn, NY
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a place I've walked by on many occasion, wanting to try, but held off. I think one reason is it always seems extra festive, like a New Orleans joint, daring you to come in an get swallowed up by the vibe. Not a "girls gone wild" party/club scene - but more like the vibe of a feisty holiday place you might find near a beach, where people have checked their drama and simple want good food, drink and merriment, but with a touch of sophistication.
So when a friend who lives near wanted to meet for a drink, we gave it a spin. And you know what? It is loud. It is festive. And cramped. You can't help but bump into people, have them bump into you, join in others conversations (or be exposed to them). It's definitely not a place for whispered conversation or for winding down the week. Rather, it's a good place for when you want to break bread and live aloud, but with that EU spirit of potentially sharing your experience with fellow patrons. In other words, don't go if you're running an Isolationist policy.
But if ready to be a bit more loose than usual, this place dares you to sound your barbaric yawp. -
Review from INESSA M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/19/2012
Love the decor, it is a bit busy for lunch time. The duck salad is great, loved the mimosa and the steak. Also great egg omelets.
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Review from Hana S.
Manhattan, NY
3/19/2012
We had our very small wedding celebration here in their back room on a Monday evening a month and a half ago. Dinner with the family then joined by friends for a champagne (READ: v reasonably priced champagne) toast. They were easy to work with for our casual and low key event but fancy enough that it felt special and festive! We danced to the reggae/jazz band and got a shout out, it was wonderful! Many of our friends stayed on and sat down for dinner. It was a really special evening. This experience was preceded by two other lovely, smaller scale dining and drinking experiences there! Definitely recommend it for a multitude of occasions.
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Review from Brittan B.
Brooklyn, NY
My boyfriend and I started our three month pact to not eat at the same place twice with brunch at Bar Tabac. This is a neighborhood spot for us and had a cool vibe on Sunday afternoon with quality live music creating a good atmosphere.
I had the Eggs Florentine and it was delicious, in three months I will be eating here again. -
Review from Jazz R.
Brooklyn, NY
11/22/2011
Damn homey, in high school you were the man homey, f&%$ happened to you?
Really, Bsr Tabac was a sure go to spot just a few years back. My how things have changed. First thing, this place is supposed to be French, but why the hell is the menu splattered with German cuisine. Like Schnitzel? My hubby ordered the only French thing on the menu and it was disgusting, no taste, nada. Duck confit, more like unfit.
Bland and overpriced! The meat was old and nasty.
The only reason it gets one star is because the waitress and waiters were super nice and helpful to our little group which consisted of two babies. -
Review from Ali L.
Tappan, NY
1/2/2012
A bit crowded, yes, but nonetheless I had a pleasant time. As long as you're Assertive and ask for a table, I think you'll get one just fine.
Went on a Monday afternoon so it wasn't so loud. Burger bar tabac is pretty good. Duck salad was also nice.
I don't live in the area but if I did I'd go back, so try it once if you haven't, it's a cute scene. -
Review from Jim P.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is mainly for the musical entertainment that happens here on Thursday nights.
If you've ever seen the movie "Sweet & Lowdown", and like that type of guitar music, this small 3 piece band will WOW you.
For those unfamiliar the music is similar to a combination of blues and Spanish guitar music.
This group was supposedly recruited by Woody Allen to do 2 soundtracks of various movies. (not Sweet & Lowdown, but the music is so similar to that movie, you will recognize it) The lead guitar players hand moves as fast as a hummingbird, and these guys are so tight it is scary!
In addition the food looks good.
A nice Parisian atmosphere, with the small wooden bar stools, and marble bar. Bartender and staff were very friendly and cool.
I will be back on Thursdays! -
Review from William H.
New York, NY
3/8/2012
This is one of the old guard of Smith Street--practically an institution. Solid French bistro food not to be missed....bring cash.
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Review from Sebastian L.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/22/2011
What a fun place to just hang out and relax! Stopped by last week around midnight and it was still going strong...but I guess that's NY for you. An great mix of so many different demographics: suits in after work, hipsters, the Banana Republic crowd, a date night couple.
There's definitely an authentic French Bistro feel to Bar Tabac that I enjoyed. The food was hearty, filling and reasonably-priced. I do wish they would've turned down the volume on the music just a bit, but otherwise, I recommend Bar Tabac. -
Review from Neena W.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a French Bistro, so I went the French way, and ordered what French cuisine do best, Duck Confit. I wasn't disappointed with my order. All I can say is that duck fat is truly magical, and the place where cooks with duck fat will always get my 4 star vote. That's prejudice, I know.
I also like the ambiance of this place, the personality of this place match perfectly with its menu.
Oh yes, cash and Amex card only. That's interesting. -
Review from Daniel K.
Brooklyn, NY
9/16/2011
Been to Bar Tabac 3 or 4 times and have loved every single one of them. Simple and perfectly executed classic French bistro cuisine.
With great outdoor seating in the warm weather, you feel transported back to Paris. Never a long wait and often some live music, Bar Tabac is a star. Nothing pretentious, just quality all around. Solid wines and delicious food. The hanger steak and boeuf bourguignon are excellent.
The service has always been great, minus one time they brought out our mains with the first course. But they quickly fixed this and there was no problem. And the waiters/waitresses are even friendly, despite being French!
They only accept cash and AMEX, so keep that in mind. Will be back soon. -
Review from Isabella G.
New York, NY
11/28/2011
Good food, a little pricey.
Ended up waiting longer than expected for a table, so as an apology we landed a few free drinks, which always helps. Sat outside, ordered the Hanger Steak (not a very extensive menu), was a bit overcooked, but good overall. The fish was not bad either. The mussels looked pretty good, but I was too full for both.
The people sitting behind us were having a very loud and rude conversation so that was a downer. Also, the server made it very clear to us that he was French and much better than us Americans.
But the place itself seemed lively and nice overall. -
Review from Tanisha C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 Stars. The Salmon Burger stole the show.
I had brunch at Bar Tabac this afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I ran errands in the area, got hungry then saw the 3.5 stars on yelp and thought, why not. I'm very glad that I decided.
The vibe at this place is great. It's very casual with people dining alone, couples dining and also families. There is outdoor and indoor seating. It's "French", yes, but the atmosphere is very eclectic and old school rap music was playing in the foreground (yes, I bit loud, but I got over it). We sort of had a waitress, but not really. It was very much service as needed and I had no complaints.
On to the food... had the Eggs Benedict Norwegienne -- standard eggs benefit with smoked salmon in lieu of the ham. This was pretty good. I must admit, I had to sprinkle a bit of salt to get some flavor out. The salmon was very tasty and they provided a relatively substantial serving. The hollandaise... it was more frothy than I would have preferred. But overall, it was solid, as were the accompanying home fries and salad.
My companion had the Salmon Burger. I had a bite (... or a few...) and I was truly amazed. The burger was seasoned and blended with lots of fresh ingredients. There was some kind of sauce served with it that I was skeptical about, but the blend of flavors was OFF THE WALL. I really enjoyed it and when I go back to Bar Tabac, that's definitely what I will order because I was jealous and my friend definitely got tired of sharing. -
Review from Michael L.
Douglaston, NY
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I ve always loved the vibe of this place whether it was a Sunday afternoon in July or a Saturday night in February Bar Tabac always has a fun scene. The burgers are outrageous and are probably one of my top in the area. Great spot. No riff raff mature crowd. Good times.
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Review from Diana D.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012
Love this place, mushroom risotto is great. Friendly bartenders and waiters. Good place for french food.
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Review from Steve B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/3/2011
Today's visit was awful. My girlfriend ordered french toast and I just wanted some orange juice.
My tiny, warm juice was brought out promptly, but after the annoying table next to us got their food before hers (we were there ten minutes earlier) we asked where her food was. our waitress ran back to the kitchen and a few minutes later ran out with mushy on the inside and burnt on the outside french toast.
Her order was clearly forgotten about and then rushed. We'd have been happier to wait longer if the waitress had just been honest about what happened. -
Review from Allison S.
New York, NY
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stopped in one random weekday for lunch after a little shopping, and was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised. Service was quick--I was seated immediately by the owner, the waitress came by with water and bread and took my order as soon as I was ready. I had the most perfect omelet and fries, with just the right bit of salad on the side, exactly how they do it in France (and the owner is French, I believe, which makes sense). I'd been missing France pretty badly when I found it, so the experience really made my whole week.
I got the feeling that it would be a great weekend brunch place, and from reading the other reviews on here, it looks like I'll have to go back soon for it! If only I lived closer. It seems like a great local place that caters to regulars and random walk-ins (like myself) alike. Definitely will be back! -
Review from Brianne S.
Brooklyn, NY
7/30/2011
This review is long overdue and I certainly owe it to Bar Tabac for all their help.
It was a beautiful Sunday in Brooklyn. Bastille Day festivities were in the air and everything was great. Time Out NY had an article that said that Bar Tabac was doing a French Restaurant Week Prix Fixe so I immediately rushed over to Bar Tabac to enjoy some French food at cheap.
Let me first tell you Bar Tabac is very cute and the staff, despite the madness from Bastille Day celebrations, was professional and extremely attentive. I was treated with so much respect and courtesy, which was a shock considering just how crazy and busy the entire street was.
Our food was delicious. I had a goat cheese salad and the hanger steak and my friend had some other salad - I think with procioutto (sp?) and just mesclun greens. Our food was tasty and the parmesan risotto was incredible. Perfect texture, perfect flavors.
I give this restaurant 5 stars not for the food - which merits probably 4 stars- but because the manager came to tell me that the Prix Fixe menu wasn't available at that time. Time Out NY had falsely advertised. When I said that I couldn't pay for a whole meal (hey, I work in publishing, we make no money), he said that the dinner was on the house for the confusion. To top it off, he gave us two glasses of wine to make us feel better about it.
If this is their business model, I will return to Bar Tabac time and time again. They are delightful. To be treated with respect on such a hectic day and then given a free meal - although I offered to pay for the appetizers and just leave it at that - really made an impression on me. I hope the manager reads these reviews and knows that I am a lifelong customer... Unless of course, I leave Brooklyn.
Many thanks to the entire staff at Bar Tabac. -
Review from I Y.
Brooklyn, NY
12/2/2011
Sorry but the meal and drinks were mediocre at best.
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Review from gregory r.
Brooklyn, NY
4/5/2012
Just came from dinner there. The food was great! The service and ambience were wretched!! The music was so loud and piercing that I felt like I was eating in the mosh pit at a Metallica concert. It's the perfect place to take a date that A) you don't want to have conversation with (B) you don't want to have a second date with. And our waiter had the social skills of a rusty door knob. Will never go back.
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Review from Nicole L.
5/4/2011
I'm surprised this place doesn't have better reviews, but I only went the once so perhaps if I were a more frequent flyer my stars would wane. Again, maybe I missed something, but the staff letting me make a total franken-plate of mis-matched menu items with nary a complaint or eye-roll was nothing less than total joy for me. Thanks, y'all. Best brunch I had in NYC this last trip, and that is no small feat. Is there no bad food to be found in the entirety of this neighborhood?
Fruit salad, I can see why Pee Wee married you. -
Review from Lukasz K.
Brooklyn, NY
2/13/2012
Decent food but way over-priced...probably won't go back.
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Review from Adam Z.
New York, NY
5/23/2011
Terrific food, good draft selection, and great wines. I've yet to order a bad dish here -- they're all amazing. They'll put the soccer on the TV for you, although the TV is not high-def, nor is it clean.
But you really come here for the service, and my favorite bartender in Brooklyn. -
Review from Adina L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/3/2012
ok. I only review places I love. I just had the hanger steak lunch sandwich with a pint of beer. I just love it here.
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Review from dan f.
6/20/2011
We dropped by here on a lazy Sunday afternoon to get a drink and kill time before getting on the subway to head to Penn Station. We had initially expressed skepticism that this place would be any good and that it would have any actual french people working there.
Well everyone who worked there seemed to be french and the atmosphere with tables facing the street on the sidewalk was definitely parisian. Everyone who sat down at the bar seemed to speak fluent french. Am I in Brooklyn or Paris??
The mojitos seemed popular even though we did not try it. They had good interesting beers on tap and the friendly bartender let us sample a few before we committed to a glass. Since we did not eat I can not comment on the food. As a bar however the place is really nice. -
Review from Anna V.
12/23/2011
Came here for an impromptu brunch with a friend I haven't seen in ages. We had such a great time catching up with the sound of the band just behind us. This was sometime in early Spring, when outdoor seating was already open.
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Review from Arthur O.
Brooklyn, NY
1/15/2012
Excellent food. This place is easy to overlook as it's a Smith St. mainstay, and the bar up front is usually quite busy. But the food is excellent. Loved the trout, and the service was good too.
