Bar Tabac
(between Bergen St & Dean St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 923-0918
- Nearest Transit:
Bergen St (F, G)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
Hoyt St (2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Wed-Thu 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.
Fri 11:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
63 Reviews for Bar Tabac
Once you get past the lovely outdoor seating, delightful Jazz band, and damn good sausages, sadly you're left with some of the most prickish service I've encountered in New York. And I'm pretty sure you can only pay in Euros.
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I have been to Bartabc several times, and haven't really enjoyed it at all. My boyfriend makes me go there because it is very close to us, and he for some reason really likes the food. It has some redeemable qualities, such as the brioche selections and salads, but the burgers that others rave about seem frozen to me, and really not so good.
Also, the service is what really makes me hate this place. They ignore you, and we waited 15 minutes for drinks yesterday when we went for lunch. There was literally 3 tables and 2 servers, so there really was no excuse. I waitressed my way though college, and I could never ever get away with treating customers the way that they do.
Wine and beer are good, but I agree with a previous poster- stay away from the tables and sit at the bar!!
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I really want to love these guys. They're 1/2 block from my apartment, and we ate there the first night we first moved into the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the service is so poor it just kills everything great about the place. Twice now we've been seated by one waiter, only to be kicked out of our seat by another one. The first time they were gracious about it and even gave us free champagne and a new table for the inconvenience. Yesterday we were yelled at by the second wait staff for taking someone else's table. When we made it clear we'd been seated by another waiter, he said it was a mistake and was insistent that we needed to get up and wait outside again for another 15-20 minutes. Are you kidding me? No offer of another table, no apology for their mistake, instead we were treated like we had done something wrong. So not cool. Bar Tabac, you're cute but you're not THAT cute. See ya later.
Really, Time Out New York? Best neighborhood bistro? Really?
Bar Tabac has always had ramshackle service every time I've been. The waitstaff always seems to ignore my party when we try and get sat. And when the food actually comes and there's a problem with it (there will probably be a problem with it), your waitstaff can't even say "I'm sorry" or deal with the situation properly and with good manners.
They seem to forget that Cafe Luluc, Robin des Bois, and Canaille are mere moments away. So why bother with Bar Tabac?
Because it's a bar after all (they do have the word in the name of the place for a reason, it seems) -- the wine is good, and the bartender is good. See if you can snag a bar spot and just ignore the dining room. They'll do the same to you.
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Great brunch in Brooklyn. Their burger is great, their croque madame is great, their champagne is great (and often compliments of the owner). It is my favorite place to be when I'm in New York and in recovery mode.
This is my new favorite place in Brooklyn, but my full disclosure, this is very much due to them having my favorite Belgium beer on draft, Grimbergen Brown. The day we stopped by was wonderful if a tad chilly, but we got a table outside quickly and service was good. Best bistro in Brooklyn that I have found.
Ate here when i lived near the area...it's yummy. atmosphere is chill. kinda french chic.
frites were served in a bucket and delish...nice choice of wines. For dinner, I got the skewered fish variety, very good, very moist and tender, and came w/great sauces.
Our waitress was great, so knowledgeable of wines that she turned me on to sweet dessert wines. Now I order plumm wine when at korea town or search for dessert wines at "Best Cellars" wine shop.
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I feel so blandly average about this place that I care barely muster the energy to write a review.
Location and ambiance were adorable. I'm not in NY very often since I moved out west, but I was visting a friend who lives in the neighborhood and he's a big fan of this place. I respect his taste buds, and really - this boy has taken me for romantic dinners and Wendy's and I'm more than happy to be his date anywhere he leads.
In the interest of full disclosure, I went during Passover, which I was observing, so maybe I missed some superbly carby dish. The need to stay away from all things grain and legume-related left a fair selection, though. The menu, while not extensive, is eclectic enough (even for what you expect in modern French fare). The wine menu is even better (especially the reds). And welp, that's where the excitement ends.
I kept it light with a soup de jour - a tomato ginger bisque. A bit thinner than I expected, but nice flavor. And followed that up with the duck salad. It cannot be said enough - if you're not going to make duck perfectly, it should not be made at all. There's nothing that duck provides that a well done sliced steak cannot, so don't waste my time saying there's duck on the menu - get me all excited to order it - and then leave me with cubes of undercooked fatty, gaminess to deal with. I don't care that it's a salad. Don't be lazy. Other than that, a sweet balsamic dressing and thick bacon pieces (not my preference, but I get it) rounded out the dish.
I'll end on this - they don't take credit cards. Only cash. Is this old fashioned? Charming? Maybe, but it's also inconvenient and outdated and probably really annoying 80% of the time. Maybe 85%. Nah, prolly closer to 70%.
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Food was great, service was slow and I didn't like where we were seated (inbetween 2 tables which each sat 2 people but it felt like we were all at the same table since we were so close together!) We were starving so we took the table instead of waiting for an outside table. Started out w/ steamed mussels and bread. They also came w/ some pommes frites. Both were really good. We had to stop ourselves from eating everything because our entree was soon to come. Both of us ordered the grilled organic shellsteak w/ pepper sauce on the side. By the time the food came I was already full from the appetizers I could only finish half of it, which is good otherwise I would've been in a food coma and not be able to do anything for the rest of the night! I had the rest of my meal boxed up but I never did get to finish it because I flew out the next day and left it in her refrigerator! Maybe I'll ask her to overnight it to me...Oh yeah, I'm not familiar with French cuisine but it didn't seem like I was at a French restaurant, I could've ordered what I had at any American restaurant, but still the food was good.
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I had a great dinner here this week with my boyfriend. I loved the atmosphere and was presently surprised with the quick service. I had a wonderful pasta dish while enjoying some live music. Can't wait to go back for brunch. If you don't like a loud, fast paced atmopshere..
STAY AWAY!
Every time I return to NYC, a trip to Bar Tabac is on the short list of things to do. Unfortunately, this year's trip (first in two years), just didn't live up to past experiences. The dishes have gone from superb to just average. It was fairly enjoyable, but Tabac has been removed from the "must go to" list when visiting NYC.
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I have to say this has been one of the worst dining experiences I have had in a long time. If it weren't for the lousy service, the restaurant would have received more stars since the food is decent.
We were seated quickly which was great, but our waiter was terrible, as was the other waitstaff. My party was ignored nearly the entire time we were there after our order was placed. Our waiter did not know the difference between a cappuchino and a latte, and refused to make it to our specifications, arguing with us instead. He then gives us a cafe au lait, before we even had a chance to finish what we were saying and tell him that we did not want his lousy drinks and that we'd just skip it. Needless to say, my boyfriend walked out to go get a latte from Starbucks during our meal.
We received the meals. I ordered french toast and he ordered the ratatouille. It would have been nice if the waiter showed up to give us syrup before we had practically finished eating. Furthermore, he didn't allow us anytime to ask for some butter on the side so I had to resort to eating dry french toast. Otherwise, the underlying flavor of both dishes was pretty good.
While we were eating, one of the waiters knocked a few baskets of bread on to another customer...not to mention that some of the bread landed on the customers chair and on the floor she picked it up placed it back into the basket, even though the waiter observed this he proceeded to serve the bread to other customers in the front section of the restaurant.
Additionally, this restaurant doesn't even serve traditional french cuisine. Everything on the menu was somewhat standard and could be found in most American-style restaurants.
..And finally, the whole AMEX or cash thing is quite annoying.
Overall, I don't recommend this restaurant.
Stopped in for a bloody mary not too long ago and wasn't impressed. It was a little watery - like the ice had melted before they served it to me. I'll be giving it another chance for dinner sometime soon...
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This place is good to eat outside, very popular and always crowded on the weekends. They have live music for brunch which is nice. Food is nothing to write home about (altho if you are in the area....they make a very good moules frites...AND give you mayo without having to ask!), but I kind of like the "french" decor....oh and the brad pitt look alike is easy on the eyes..you know who i'm talking about! Anyway... what I don't like is the terrible service. I don't understand the purpose of this. Do people want to pay to be treated poorly? I am no masochist. Next!
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please please please don't buy into the hype. It ain't worth it.
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love this place. i brunch here alot. i have multiple stories about how rude the service used to be but it's better now.
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I really dislike this place. Every time I walk in, there's nobody there to seat us. We just have to stand around awkwardly while the waitstaff rudely ignores us. The music is always way too loud -- the few times i've ordered food for pick-up, i've been completely unable to communicate with the bartender who holds the food simply because of the volume of the place. I find the waitstaff to be fake, and the food nothing special, and the prices much higher than justified. And why the heck would a restaurant only accept amex or cash?
Ahh, Bar Tabac. Great little Cobble Hill French Bistro with plenty of options for vegetarians. One of your only options for good late-night-ish food in the area. I was first introduced to Bar Tabac about a year ago, and I've been back several times since, never to be disappointed.
The decor is about what you would expect: plenty of brass, rustic wood, and Francophile artifacts such as Pernod signs everywhere. The ambiance is dim, low-key, and casual, which makes it great for a meal with friends or a night out with somebody special. During the summer, they open their front and side doors to allow al fresco dining, which is pleasant, although there's really not much to see on Dean Street, honestly. Rather than that, I recommend sitting at one of the tables just inside the doors, that way you get the breeze AND the ambiance of the indoors.
As far as food goes, I can recommend the Goat Cheese Salad, the Eggplant Confit, the Macaroni and Cheese (skip the egg), and the Mushroom Risotto. All the food is very solid, and my carnivorous companions at Bar Tabac have never been disappointed. The wine list is also very solid, with many options for bottles under $30, even a nice selection of wines by the glass.
Really just an outstanding place, this. I highly recommend Bar Tabac if it's getting late and there's nothing else open, and I even highly recommend it when everything else is still open. Definitely check it out!
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this place is legit. all other "bistro" posers should watch and learn from Franck and co.
best burgers in brooklyn? possible.
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Perfectly snobby authentically french mini-bistro. I love the snotty bar staff. This is where I always come for a burger upon landing at JFK after a trip abroad. They never bother me when I'm here reading my book, smoking a ciggie and taking in a bootiful brookly day.
Sometimes they give me free drinks. Or I just forget how many I've had and I can't add up my bill.
Ever get home after a long night and not be able to read what you've tipped on your receipt? No? I don't know what I'm talking about, either.
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Love the vibe of this place. It's like they transported a sweet French bistro into Brooklyn mixed in a wee bit of Vespa and added a little swinger 60's influence (think Henry Mancini and you've almost got it). Brilliant. The food is fantastic (assorted smart bistro bites...hangar steak...and a late night giant bar tabac burger served with lightly dressed greens and skinny fries), the bar is great and there is an endless supply of interesting people scattered throughout. The waitress who served me outside was new (and had to repeat everything twice--but got everything right once she did), but the manager (owner?) Michele who spoke flawless and knee-weakening French made sure I was taken care of. Add a walk up Smith Street to Flight 001 and Brooklyn Industries for a little shopping afterward and your evening is complete.
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One rain soaked winter night, I ended up at Bar Tabac after striking out on the last minute Christmas shopping. Once I entered the place, I was immediately impressed by the French cafe interior detailing, the friendly staff, and the fact that the bar television was playing a Paris-St. Germain match. The only thing missing from the scene was the smell of Gitanes in the air.
The Tabac burger is a solid menu item. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would definitely hit this place up for a late night dose of medium rare with a Stella or a Kronenbourg. For my main dish, I ordered the Les Moules "Bar Tabac" with Mariniere sauce with French-cut fries. I ate every one of those wine soaked delights until only a pile of shells remained.
After frequenting Orsay and Balthazar in the City, I would say that Bar Tabac is more on my wavelength as far as clientele and budget. I want to go back and try the croque monsieur and sample the wine list. In essence, Bar Tabac has good French ambience and food without pretense.
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I really liked this place. I loved the rustic French country setup and friendly atmosphere from the moment I walked in...
We had Brunch there and the Food was wonderful as well...
I had my Egg's Benedict with Bacon instead of ham and I loved it! (I know, Bacon instead of Ham? It's a thing, I'm not a fan of Ham, but trust me, it's great substitution that adds a little crispy texture. You oughtta try it some time...)
The Hollandaise was flavorful, the Eggs poached just right and the Bacon perfectly crisp. The Dish definitely passed the Raptor Brunch test...
Great place for Brunch. Loved it...
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Just was here for the first time a few days ago. The food was pretty good. I had the salmon and it was pretty tasty. It has lots of outdoors tables, and it's a great place to people watch. Only drawback is that it gets pretty crowded and the tables are very close together.
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Ugh. I do not live in Brooklyn so I can encounter French snobbery. Yes, the food is good in both price and taste, but on multiple occasions have I gone in about an hour and a half to two hours before closing, only to be yelled at that they are not serving anyone, along with "shoo shoo" hands urging me out, as if I had trespassed or something. Once I called the manager after I had been told I wouldn't be served (TWO HOURS before closing) and was then yelled at for complaining about it. I will not put up with that attitude.
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Oui Oui, said the blind man. Non Non, said the mouse. O--kay! said the Martha, as she settled into her seat and dived into a plate of moules frites.
Quite frankly, the moules are the best thing to order on the menu, as Bar Tabac is not really a French gastronomic paradise. However, it's always packed here, which is probably due to the great ambiance and foosball table out front. Add an outdoor cafe and live 20's-era jazz music during brunch on Sundays and you've got a real hit on your hands. You'll find tons of frenchies here, as well as the rest of the neighborhood, stopping by for an evening cocktail or a light meal. They're open later than most spots in Cobble Hill. And their brunch is really hearty, so make sure you're hungry before you go.
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It seems that every time I come back to NY to visit I end up at Bar Tabac. It's a great place for brunch (although it can get very very crowded) and also a nice place to get some dinner. I love the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food. C'est tres magnifique! My only complaint is that they only take cash or amex.
Bar Tabac is a much preferred alternative to Pastis - better service, nice authentic French atmosphere, less frantic, not as loud.
The people at the table next to you aren't sitting on your lap like they are at other crowded brunch places.
The croque madame and eggs benedict were delicious and flavorful (see photos) - with the eggs cooked just right. Better than normal helpings of ham and cheese, btw. And the french fries were cooked and seasoned just right. Cute bar area - can't wait to try it next time.
Cash and AMEX only.
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Coming in from a rainstorm on an wet, dreary Sunday morning, I was surprised to find this place packed to the kilt. The cafe was lit warmly by the cheerful colors around as well as by the live, jovial music coming from a trio playing near the corner entrance. I ordered the eggs benedict (my usual breakfast/burnch fare), which was spot on. The service was a tad bit slow (we had to wait for the check for 20 minutes), but understandably with the big crowd. Definitely can't wait to come back!
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What a great little French gem on Smith St.! They made great croque madame, nicoise salad, and burgers and fries. But my new favorite thing is the little "bistro bites" - little brochettes of seafood (tuna, shrimp, calamari, scallops, salmon), meat/poultry (chicken, merguez) or mushrooms. they are small, so you can mix and match, and each skewer comes with 2-3 bites, great for sharing with another person.
They also make a tasty sangria and a great spicy bloody mary, making this little bistro a popular brunch stop for locals!
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This place has been well reviewed here, but I must say that it's another of my downtown Brooklyn go to hangs, particularly because they serve food until at least 1:00 AM. They've got a real authentic French cafe vibe working well - it's mellow, with gentle but lovely service, and not too expensive. They've got great croque monsieur, steak frites, burgers, and lots of good little plates, which adds another element because you can go there for a bottle of wine or beers and some snacks. They've also got a few tables outside when the weather is nice.
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This sexy Brooklynite (he knows who he is) brought me to Bar Tabac for brunch one Sunday morning. He was a little grumpy because I woke him up so early, but hey, I was hungry and had to get on a plane in a few short hours.
We got there semi early, (10 maybe) but the place was already pretty packed. Couples, older people, families, friends, were all in attendance. We got really lucky because we got the last 2 top open and people began standing around waiting. As other reviewers have said, the tables are very close to each other. I was scared my ass was going to sideswipe the dishes off the next table when I squeezed through to the other side. You can hear each others convos, so you may want to hold off on those next morning sweet nothings.
I ordered the eggs benedict and my sweetheart ordered one of the omelettes. The eggs benedict was good, the salad ok (not really ready for that at 10 am) and the potatoes so so (not quite cooked all the way). The omelette was fantastic. We ended up ordering a few more drinks and dessert...what the hell, it's brunch right?
We were not rushed at all. In this case, it's not because the service was so great, but because they were so busy and also, just didn't rush people. It was cute that the servers were french but the menu was pseudo french. Some stuff was french but some others....you get the point.
Overall 3 stars...for good food and not being rushed (though it can take effort to get a glass of water ).
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In my quest to find the best Eggs Benedict in the country, Bar Tabac is a strong contender. They have by far THE BEST hollandaise sauce I have ever had... just a little more tangy than usual so that it makes your mouth pucker and forget all of the butter in there. Yum Yum Yum.
The only disappointing thing was the fresh squeezed OJ. while tasty and fresh as advertised, $3 for a small wine glass of OJ was pricy.
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Had brunch yesterday - eggs norwegian (fancy for smoked salmon on poached eggs) were good. Ate outside on a beautiful day. Service was okay.
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Most definitely my new favorite restaurant in Brooklyn, and the best French food I've had outside of France. I had the croque monsieur and it was so savory and warm and just what I needed. My friend had the hanger steak sandwich and it was far and away the most delicious steak I've ever had. The thin strips of steak were marinated in a little bit of heaven. It was so good it has inspired me to research some french cookbooks to find out what the typical french steak marinade is. If I lived in Brooklyn, I'd eat here all the time.
I think I have been to this place just about every time of day and I have never been disappointed. Good fish, great breakfast and I love that the fruit tarts taste like they are made that day and aren't just pulled out of the fridge and thrown on a plate. Prices are good. Service is sometimes good sometimes ok, depends on who you get. Still one of my favorites.
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Wow, maybe I am an easy grader. But you know what, I love going to this place. I can't say it's for the food - which is good if you know what to order (I recommend the grilled chicken sandwich, the moules, and the burger), but it's more about the place itself. I love the staff, which for me to admit, given that I'm a franco-phobe says a lot (hell, I'm a misanthrope, why limit the hate to the French?!). I like to come here on the weekends and listen to the very awesome live music, and also love it as a place for a cappuccino while reading a book, it's a good place to chill. So, go. Go already.
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I hit Bar Tabac as soon as it opened in the neighborhood back in the day. My friend Stacy and I were regulars there for quite a bit. The first night we ate there...they gave us champagne at the end of our meal...just because we came in. Whenever we talk to the staff they tell us something interesting about the specials...like the tomatos were grown by the chef in his garden or something. Still consistently good after all these years.
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Not much more to say about Bar Tabac that others haven't already written but one thing to remember is that it is a great option for LATE NIGHT food on Smith Street! After considering the 24 hr diner down the block for a second, we decided to see if Bar Tabac was still serving food at 1:30 AM on a Weds night and we were in luck.
I ordered tuna tar tare, my latest obsession, which was served with guacamole and tortilla chips. Nice touch. My friends each had an organic steak. As hard as I was eye-f*cking their food, those greedy bastards never offered me a bite, so I can't comment on the steak but it looked delicious. I stole a few fries anyway, which were good and served with ketchup AND mayo without having to ask. I love that. Tres Euro, non mon ami?
Drinks were also good, very strong, and they even gave me one on the house. I take back anything bad I've ever said about the French.
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this is one of my favorite burgers in brooklyn. reading that over, it sort of makes me sound like a big fat pig, but so it goes. anyway. it's sort of a new-brooklyn little french bistro, and if you can avoid the throngs of people for brunch on the weekends, it's actually really cute. i would almost always get the burger here, but the croque monsieur is pretty damn good too.
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