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La Sirene
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
558 1/2 Broome StNew York, NY 10013
Neighborhood: South Village
(212) 925-3061
- Nearest Transit:
-
Canal St (1, 2)
Spring St (A, C, E)
Canal St (A, C, E)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
569 reviews for La Sirene
Review Highlights
"HIGHLY RECOMMEND the goat cheese tart and hangar steak."
(in 100 reviews)
"And the filet mignon with foie gras was delectable."
(in 33 reviews)
"No corkage fee and they do have chillers."
(in 47 reviews)
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569 reviews in English
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Review from Kristina C.
New York, NY
1/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This fantastic place, sort of tucked away in the depths of SoHo (basically across the street from the Holland Tunnel), whisks you away to a comfortable French bistro where the food is made with love and the wine never stops flowing (assuming you brought enough bottles).
The basics: BYOB (with no corkage fee! they do ask that you not linger for more than 2 hours, for obvious reasons). Cash only. Come prepared and leave happy.
The food:
Goat Cheese Tart with Shallots, Truffles, Grape and a Veil of 90-days Aged Swiss Cheese was a happy party in my mouth
Duck Liver Sauteed, Caramelized Onions, Deglazed with Mustard Vinagrette Over Mesclum, Walnuts, Apple: fabulously rich and light at the same time!
Cassoulet Toulouse's Style: we took this on food-warrior style and we conquered. Was it rich? Yes! Was it greasy? Yes! Was it absolutely, finger-lickin', bowl lickin' divine? A resounding yes!
Seared hanger steak: perfectly cooked, a lighter companion to the cassoulet (who thought I would be saying that about steak).
Chocolate lava cake! The perfect end to a perfect meal.
The best part? After all that, the meal came out to about $40 per person.
Service was friendly, allowing for a leisurely meal. Go here with friends, on a date, with visiting family...Just go!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/26/2012
BYOB: it's easier to control your budget :) More » -
Review from Siv L.
2/7/2012
Came here for dinner with my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday. I was prepared for the cash only. Thought I could wear sneakers (but he forced me to wear heels). We had reservations for 7PM, and were told that we had a 2 hour maximum for dinner due to how busy the place can get.
We arrived with a bottle of French Malbec. We were seated by the hostess who was in a hurry, looked quite disheveled. The biggest negative about our experience was that the waiter and waitress/hostess were so incredibly busy that no one came to open our wine until 5-10 min after we were seated. We never received silverware until after our first courses were brought out, only after we reminded the server that we needed some silverware. The waiter seemed to be in such a rush as he handled the tables on our side of the restaurant -- we noticed that he corked someone's wine and splashed some onto the patron and we noticed he had tried to decant another table's wine after something had gone wrong. Despite all of this, we tried to ignore it and have a great meal. And in fact we did.
We ordered the escargot in the shell, octopus, and goat cheese tart. The escargots were delicious, we loved the sauce and the flavor and the green goo-eyness which we used to dip our bread with. The octopus was also great and I loved the goat cheese tart (served with a side salad and a little big for 1 but I managed to eat all of it (my boyfriend doesn't like goat cheese but I insisted we try it)). We ate more bread with olive oil/balsamic as we waited for our entrees.
I ordered the filet mignon with foie gras medium rare. My boyfriend ordered the duck breast. Both were great, we cleaned our plates. We received veggies on the side (sweet potato puree, string beans, white carrot, and mushrooms).
The waitress came periodically to pour our wine and clean our table off. She was in such a rush I was worried she would spill or knock the bottle or glasses over. When it came time for dessert, she said we still had time (annoying to be reminded that we're rushed for our meal) so we tried the apple dessert with ice cream and whipped cream. She came and put a flame to it (which we both agreed gave it a weird taste). It tasted fresh but also with a tint of the flambee with spicy rum which I didn't prefer.
Great dishes and love the fact that its BYOB. But would extend the minimum time for weekend dinners to 2.5-3 hours. Leaves a bad taste in patrons' mouths when they are rushed to eat succulent wonderfully delicious French cuisine where in France patrons eat for hours on end and sip on their wine and cafes.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 2/8/2012
35 years ago in France a lunch would have ( in some… More » -
Review from Kate D.
West Chester, PA
2/7/2012
If/when I go back, I will order the goat cheese tart... twice. It made me so happy, although I was not happy to have to share it with my dining partner. She felt the same way...
The rest of the food was very good for the price. My duck lacked a really good sear and was a tad chewy but the flavor was dead on.
On most days, I can pass on ice cream, and I probably should have gone with my gut and ordered the chocolate lava cake. The profiteroles were very good, amazing chocolate sauce, but I was done with the ice cream after about 2 bites.
Service was excellent -- very attentive and friendly. -
Review from Yukie T.
Manhattan, NY
1/12/2012
A very cozy/romantic French (Mediterranean) restaurant, excellent for date nights or with adult family members. It's BYOB, so come with a good Chianti (or white if you prefer). The escargot appetizer is a memorable dish. Any of their seasonal fish and the fillet mignon is wonderfully done (right on the dot "medium rare").
As for the seating, it's a bit small - I'd suggest making a reservation or coming at a slightly earlier time (6:00), since the restaurant is also hard to find for first timers.
My only complaint is that on days when the owner/main chef? is not there, the food doesn't seem to taste as good as usual. I guess you can ask over the phone when the owner is available for when you plan on coming.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/23/2012
3 Chefs work @ Sirene and I am "split" with Taureau :) More » -
Review from Andrew C.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 3 Check-ins Here
Not that Didier needs another 5 star review, but wow is this place the hidden French cuisine gem in this city.
With the earnest territoriality of an adolescent teen and his rock band (he found before they even existed), I call La Sirene mine. With its cozy, romantic-candle-lit atmosphere, It is the premiere date spot in the city and, unlike the Per Se's and L'atelier's of the world, is manageable to go more than once a leap year. Even more, Didier, the chef/owner, is the most accommodating friendly fatherly host you'll meet. He'll ask how your meal is going, offer you wine recommendations (BYOB!!!!), and even top your plate off with extra carbs/veggies if your meat is getting lonely.
Highly recommended are the mussels (curried apple is my personal favorite, you will ask for more bread to dip into that amazing broth), the foie gras/filet mignon "burger", and always ask for the specials.
If you forget to BYOB, don't fret; they'll hook you up with the number of a nearby store that delivers and chill your whites for you. Cash Only! Use open table or call ahead to reserve.
Oh, and try Didier's epic fondue joint, "Taureau"Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/17/2012
Sirene is Sirene, French , but different line and will not… More » -
Review from Eujin P.
New York, NY
1/21/2012
To be honest, I'm not as much a francophile as much as I am a spainophile.
However, if I were to eat french food, then this is where it's going to be.
First and foremost - CASH ONLY. Don't forget to bring your greens here because they absolutely do not accept credit card.
Second, but equally important. BYOB. Make sure to pick up some booze before coming here if you want to drink with your food.
Breakdown of the food.
Appetizers
French Onion Soup - I definitely have what you call a love affair with french onion soup. This was the most delicious french onion soup i have ever had in my life. Bold statement, I know. Here's why I am making it - they add wine to the soup at some point and it opens up the flavors in a way where you can't stop eating. The cheese stays perfectly gooey for a longer than average time, might be the wine... I'm not sure, but who cares! :)
Goat Cheese Tart - get it. You won't regret it.
Cassoulet Toulouse's Style - Super rich, but incredibly good. You can TASTE the duck fat and eat some of it too! The menu warns you to only eat this if you have the super human powers to digest highly rich and actually bear it.
Seared Filet Mignon Topped With Foie Gras - absolutely amazing. the flavors are melded together beautifully - Shallots, Port & Red Wine Truffles, Foie Gras and of course the filet mignon.
Profiteroles - good, but I was dying to put anything else in my stomach from all the rich & delicious food.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/23/2012
Honored:) More » -
Review from Giacomo C.
New York, NY
1/6/2012
The best BYOB in Manhattan... I love their no corkage fee. Great date spot!
I was here last Tuesday on b.day with my gf, who planned the whole surprise. Everything we had was delicious: escargots, baby octopus, lamb and duck. Portions were not French-like, which means I didn't get up hungry. We really had a great meal!
The service was sweet, attentive and welcoming. Very classy, but not pretentious.
The place is very cute and intimate, despite being crowded. The noise level never bothered us.
It's a 4.5-star place on my book. Why not 5 stars? They missed on the dessert. I never have profiterole because 99% of the times it just sucks. So I decided to try it and give them the chance to earn 5 stars. It wasn't memorable. It wasn't even great. The puffs didn't taste fresh and were quite hard; the ice-cream inside the puffs was average; the hot chocolate sauce was actually good.
A fantastic experience nonetheless, and I can't wait to go back and taste something else, including another dessert... so I can give them 5 stars...lolComment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/6/2012
We owe you a dessert ! :) More » -
Review from Lissa V.
12/28/2011 ROTD 2/1/2012
Fellas, this is a great place to take your ladies to impress them!
Not only is the service phenomenal and the French cuisine just divine, but to top it off it's a BYOB with no corkage fee. Pick out a lovely wine that pairs well with French cuisine and bring it to share with her. We ladies are impressed when you put some thought into these things you know, and it will earn you some major points.
The goat cheese tart is a lovely way to start any evening. The duck breast with cherry, port, red wine sauce will melt in your mouth it's that good. The pork tenderloin is also fabulous, very tough call on which is better. The decor is minimal, maybe even a tad lacking, but you will be too busy ohhh-ing and ahhh-ing over the food on your plate to be bothered to look around the restaurant.
A great experience overall. Guys, you'd really have to be a complete Ass not to get the green light to ask her out again after a night at La Sirene.Listed in: Date Night Approved
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/28/2011
Very proud that Sirene is a date spot :) More » -
Review from Chris C.
New York, NY
1/16/2012
The best authentic french restaurant I have ever been to in the U.S.
La Sirine is my new favorite place, such great staff, cozy atmosphere, and incredible food.
What a deal considering its BYOB. 4 people....4 bottles....just right!
The only way our experience could have been better on a cold January sunday night was if it snowed out and we were trapped there.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/16/2012
We love give you the choice to BYOB! More » -
Review from Boris N.
Brooklyn, NY
2/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Very small place. Cozy. Good service. Food is amazing. Two thumbs up. I haven't had such good food in a while. BYOB is a huge plus!!! A bit loud at times.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 2/8/2012
Weekend can be loud, yes, but not the weekdays :) More » -
Review from Nick L.
Manhattan, NY
2/6/2012
My fiancee and I eat here for anniversaries and birthdays. It's the best French food we've had outside of France. The BYOB piece makes the price more reasonable, the wait staff is great, and every time we go we're happy as clams.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 2/8/2012
I love Clams :) More » -
Review from Natalie C.
West New York, NJ
1/6/2012
if you're looking for rich french comfort food, then this place is great! the place is small, but really cozy, so make sure to book a reservation in advance. The food was wonderful!
We had the curry mussels and the goat cheese tart for appetizers...wonderful! The goat cheese was beautifully tart and creamy, and the curry sauce was great, not too heavy or spicy. For entree we had the filet mignon with fois gras and the moulard duck breast...again...wonderful! The steak was cooked exactly how i asked and the duck was rich with a great sauce. Oh, and the BYOB thing, major plus! When i went for my birthday, the ice machine wasnt working, so thank goodness we didnt get champagne, but I would assume if u needed a bottle chilled, they can help with that as well. oh, the dark lava chocolate cake...DIVINE!! for anyone who loves chocolate cake, and i loooooooooooooooooooooove chocolate cake, this was heaven! An amazing end to an already amazing meal.
The onlt drawback i had, was that we were seated right infront of the kitchen where the food comes out. Maybe when you book a reservation, ask NOT to be seated infront of the kitchen if possible because then you leave smelling pretty strongly of food. Not to mention its always louder infront of the kitchen.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/6/2012
We bought an brand new Ice machine now :) More » -
Review from Chelsea D.
New York, NY
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Boyfriend and I have done Taureau twice and loved it a million times over, so I was very excited when he surprised me with New Year's Eve reservations at La Sirene. And after that visit, I can officially say that I'm a Didier Pawlicki fan girl. There's just something about eating an authentic French meal while the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, and Cake plays in the background, and then getting a couple of lollipops with the check. It was a pleasantly delicious experience with just the right twist of... wacky? It was a perfect and unstuffy way to enjoy a French meal.
NYE means a prix fixe, of course. Boyfriend and I are the same person, so we got the same meal. The waitress pointed out that getting two different appetizers and two different entrees would allow us to share but we're not a sharing food and feeding-across-the-table kind of couple. Besides, we're definitely coming back so we'll get a chance to taste those other things later.
The French onion soup was a phenomenal appetizer. Lots of cheese, browned but not singed, tons of flavor, and a good broth/bread/onion ratio. We've had some pretty sub-par onion soups recently, so this was a cheesy oniony oasis and we dove right in.
Our entree, the Tournedos Rossini, was also fantastic: "seared filet mignon topped with foie gras (pate style) shallots, port & red wine truffles sauce". I could drink that sauce it was so delicious. The meat was tender. The dish worked as a whole, and that includes the sweet potato cake that came with it.
Oh and the side of vegetables was fantastic as well. I really loved both the carrot and cauliflower purees. In fact, I think that's the first time I've ever really enjoyed eating cauliflower. The squash stood out as well.
Dessert was an assortment of sweets. We were very stuffed at that point, but the profiteroles stood out.
On our way in, we ran into Chef Didier Pawlicki. He introduced himself and was very welcoming. I wish we had run into him at the end, though, so we could tell him how wonderful everything was. But I know he reads this, so thank you! Boyfriend and I would come back all of the time if we weren't poor graduate students.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/3/2012
Can't afford Daniel or Jean Georges ? Come @ Sirene :) More » -
Review from Sasha B.
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
One of the best, most authentic French meals I've had... Great ambience, affordable and BYOB!!!
The duck and the foie gras were both amazing
I'd say it's even better than its sister restaurant Tareau.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/19/2011
Taureau is Fondue Only :) More » -
Review from Jillian H.
Brooklyn, NY
12/18/2011
Threw a surprise birthday dinner party for a good friend at La Sirene earlier this week and had a really great evening. For being quite a small restaurant, they were able to accommodate our large group of thirteen well (reservations made about 1 week prior, thanks to Yelp's Peter D. for the suggestion!).
The food was amazing and received high marks from all diners, especially the birthday boy. Table favorites were the French Onion Soup, Goat Cheese Tart, Moules Vignerones and Filet Mignon.
BYOB with no corking fee was also a huge plus for the celebration, and I appreciate the servers who quickly supplied wine glasses and opened new/cleared empty bottles. You can also order wine from a nearby store (phone number supplied by servers).
An extra big thank you to Eve and her team for being so accommodating and staying open late while we finished our party. Very appreciated and highly recommended for big groups, small dates, and everything in between.Listed in: Bucket List, LESSCG
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/19/2011
You feel good ? We will :) More » -
Review from Alex S.
12/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is legit. There aren't many situations where I'm OK with toppings on my steak. I mean c'mon, if the steak is good enough you shouldn't need seasoning. But foie gras? Verrrry interesting. Humanitarian and health issues aside, I could eat this every day. And I might. Don't test me.
The side vegetables (pureed carrots and cauliflower seem to be regulars) are always delicious and add variety to the meal. I also wouldn't leave without trying the octopus as an appetizero.
You probably think this place couldn't get any better. But it can. It's BYOB. So go ahead, splurge and get a couple extra appetizers. You earned it.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/5/2011
Legit, I love it! More » -
Review from Krista M.
Updated - 12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's been 2 years and I have been dying to go back ever since. I can happily report that La Sirene amazed me once again. Since I had last been it has doubled in size, while still small, they took over the place next door and doubled their capacity which is great. Once again we were greeted warmly; they are ready to provide you with wine glasses and a decanter if you have brought a bottle or a few.
Appetizers: The Sautéed Baby Octopus had a hint of spice and was incredibly tender. Goat Cheese Tart was pretty amazing and I don't even like goat cheese. Both the mussels and escargot were delicious as well.
Entrees: Once again the Kassulet was completely indulgent and wonderful. The
Tournedos Rossin may have been the best steak dish I have ever had. A perfectly cooked filet mignon topped with Foie Gras and a shallot, truffle wine sauce was amazing, so scrumptious! The side veggies are yummy as well.
Dessert: Cannele Bordelais au Mascarpone et Senteur d' Amandes a small cake floating in a sea of creme anglaise was a perfect dessert. The Big Profiterolles covered in chocolate are decadent and wonderful.
My only con was since the kitchen is now bigger(?) our clothes smelt of the cooking going on once we left, but the food made it all worth it. Seriously a fantastic place for a meal.Listed in: NYC Favs
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/24/2009
I picked this restaurant based on the Yelp reviews and because it was BYOB. We arrived a bit early… Read more »
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/24/2009
Heart Warming Revue ! More » -
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Review from J M.
Manhattan, NY
1/17/2012
I am a huge fan of La Sirene for the last 3 years or so and have watched them more than double their size. My congratulations to the owner and the staff as they are still very focused on pleasing their guests. Magda and her fellow waiters are very welcoming and greet us as old friends. The food is consistently well prepared with our favorites being the escargot, beet salad, lamb, duck and occasionally the cassoulet. Get extra bread to soak up that escargot butter.
We rarely have room for dessert but the lava cake is awesome. Unfortunately, what used to be a wonderful little secret has become a very busy restaurant. One must definitely make reservations and be prepared to wait if it's a late one.
The one thing I should try to do is to set expectations. This is not Bouley, Per Se or Le Bernardin. La Sirene is a homey, friendly, relatively inexpensive very good french restaurant. It will not win Michelin stars and it is not Haute Cuisine. It is unfair to compare La Sirene to something it is not. La Sirene is the best at what it does.
In addition to serving excellent food in a great atmosphere, they are BYOB and that allows me to bring a bottle and pair it with the right foods. I love to go into my cellar to choose a great wine for dinner. Last time I was there the waiter said "This wine is older than me!" It was a 1982 Bordeaux.
Pros: Best wine list in town (BYOB), great food, great atmosphere, affordable
Cons: People have discovered it!
I understand they are moving Taureau to the old Ivo and Lulu space. Yeah! Taureau is excellent fondue. I guess the owner is taking over the block. Good for them and good for the neighborhood. I feel lucky to have been enjoying La Sirene for so long!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/17/2012
Taureau moving along with Sirene is a little compromise by… More » -
Review from Sam H.
11/21/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Awesome experience, highly recommended. Our server Eve was exceptional, catering to our every request and explaining the history and preparation of each menu item. I think our dinner lasted 3 hours, a testament to authentic French dining.
Apps - Foie Gras and Escargot, both very good.
Entrees - Mixed seafood bake with a white cream sauce (excellent), and duck breast (average)
Desserts - As other reviewers mentioned, you can skip this. Not bad, but nothing memorable. Some whipped cream offering with a burnt crust and the controversial Portofinnos (sp?) (an ice cream sandwich-ish desert that get soupy in minutes).
Ambiance is inviting, but very small, with an exposed kitchen which leads to a noisy dining space. Not distractingly loud, and after a few drinks your own volume will rise.
Total was $120 or something. For NY, this is not expensive, and actually a good value for the great experience at La Sirene.
A huge plus, it is BYOB. Splurge on two decent bottles of champagne, and you are still out the door for around $200. Worth every penny.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 11/22/2011
I am listening ;) More » -
Review from Nelson W.
Hype is a good thing. No matter the opinion is favorable or unfavorable, as long as an opinion is elicited. I offer my sincerest gratitude to the 500+ Yelpers who helped steered me in the direction towards La Sirene on a brisk Winter evening for a spontaneous dinner in the Soho area. The number of reviews was eye-catching for a spot that located at the very end of Broome Street bordering Sixth Avenue. For this French bistro fare fanatic, it was absolutely perfect find.
Being lucky enough to score a reservation on last minute notice, I discovered a warm, intimate, and delightful restaurant that serves delicious seafood and steak at very affordable prices. Soupe a l'Oignon Gratinee and Escargots a la Bourguignone were excellent, but the Tournedos Rossini (seared filet mignon topped with fois gras) was just unmatched. Best enjoyed medium-rare, the mignon was juicy and tender while the foie gras was light and smooth as the perfect contrast. The red wine truffle sauce owns the dish and makes its presence felt with every single bite.
While the small space might feel cramped a times, La Sirene is absolutely perfect for parties of two. The waitress had a great sense of humor and could not be friendlier. Would have been the perfect dinner had I brought enough cash (as credit cards are not accepted), so my date would not have to ended up splitting the bill with me. Outside of that little footnote, La Sirene was a wonderful experience worth repeating over and over again.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/3/2011
We still vigilante about our Patrons :) More » -
Review from Christine L.
Philadelphia, PA
12/14/2011
My boyfriend and I were staying at the nearby Trump Soho, and wanted a nice romantic French dinner. We looked up places on Yelp, as always, and found this genuine, authentic, and precious little gem. It's a very small and cozy restaurant, nothing of 5-star sorts, but 5-star quality.
The staff is extremely friendly, extremely FRENCH, and not at all pretentious. We called before coming, and they told us they would have room for us within the next 15 minutes (for an early dinner before the rush I'm guessing). We bought a bottle of wine prior to coming here since it is BYOB. I'm also aware that they will order and deliver wine for you at no additional charge if you so prefer.
I remember that we got french onion soup and escargot as appetizers. The escargot was absolutely divine!!!!! My mouth is watering from the thought of it. I got the seared moulard duck breast as an entree and I can't remember what my boyfriend got, but all I remember that everything was absolutely delicious and I want to go back ASAP!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/14/2011
We are delighted to have you next to your gateway ! More » -
Review from Eliisa S.
Corona Del Mar, CA
Updated - 1/20/2012
My second visit to La Sirene was nothing but exceptional. The expansion was well needed and from the moment we walked in, the experience was fantastic. The service, the ambiance and above all, the food. We brought our teenage kids and they were raving about the mussles, onion soup, goat cheese tartlet and escargots. I had the Fois Gras filet, perfectly cooked. One of the true gems of fine but casual French cooking!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/28/2011
This is an old review...didn't think about writing one after our last visit in April 2011. My… Read more »
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 11/29/2011
Sirene has changed a lot Since then , more comfortable and… More » -
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Review from Karin G.
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a wonderful dinner here last night~ After dinner, we got engaged, so of course this is now our special place!
Traditional french with lovely service. We were in a bit of a hurry, and they were so accommodating.
Food was very very good. The seafood gratin was amazing.
Go here for a lovely romantic dinnerComment from Didier P. of La Sirene 11/12/2011
Congrats!!!!!:):) More » -
Review from Sophia K.
New York, NY
12/17/2011
Perfect little french restaurant that's BYOB. Decadent food at very reasonable pricing,
We were a group of 10 so we literally ordered everything on the menu and everything was delicious.
Super nice service and quaint atmosphere, albeit very small. I would definitely visit again soon!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/19/2011
Reservations do help you to get a spot:) More » -
Review from Phinn B.
Richmond, VA
12/12/2011 1 photo
The food was absolutely wonderful. The escargot was delicious. Make sure you soak up the sauce with the bread. We both had the hanger steak.....cooked to perfection...medium rare is the only way with this cut. The menu had several very attractive items.....including two type of duck that looked delicious. The atmosphere was quaint and cozy, not too loud, we were very comfortable.
A couple of caveats...make sure you bring your own wine or beer, they don't serve any alcohol. Also, the vegetables are all you can eat, but the first serving is very small. You may want to order another round of veggies when it arrives because it takes awhile to get the second helping. Our dinner was done when it showed up.
Lastly, I made reservations over yelp. It would only allow me to reserve 5pm or after 7pm. When we got there it was obvious that we could have had anytime. The manager informed us that she had not updated the web reservation availability.....I would call.
We would go again.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/12/2011
Good Idea to give us a call and ask a second round of… More » -
Review from Felix Z.
CANAL STREET, NY
12/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Disclaimer: I am not a fan of French food so my rating may be depressed. However, if you like French food, I would recommend La Sirene. Overall I like La Sirene and I would come back.
It is a little place tuck near the Holland tunnel. Make sure you are clear where it is before going there. The place reminds me of the places i went to in France. The servers had French accents so that was a good sign I was getting something authentic.
The food was really good. My girlfriend had the Seafood Gratin, which was a selection of seafood. I had the roasted quail with cranberry sauce. The seafood was finely seasoned and well done. The quail was roasted perfectly. The vegetable puree, which is a reason I don't like French food because I prefer vegetables whole, was good. My dislike is more a matter of personal taste than anything associated with the restaurant.
I had a filling and good meal. The service was a little slow and there were only two people serving the whole place when I was there.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/14/2011
With your yelp , we can improve :) More » -
Review from Sarah S.
Manhattan, NY
12/12/2011
Based on all the ratings and reviews that I saw here on yelp, I was really expecting to fall in love with this place. But now at the end of the night, I'm sitting here debating if it's even worth the three stars that I'm giving it. I really can't complain about the food- the french onion soup, hangar steak, and roasted lamb were all good (although they didn't stand out to me in any way).
The service, however, left a lot to be desired. It took about an hour for the entrees to arrive after we had ordered, and the side vegetables didn't make it to the table until after we had finished eating. No one checked on us at any point throughout the night- not even to refill our water or to clear our empty plates. I honestly felt like I spent the entire meal trying to flag down the waitress for one reason or another.
Overall, this place just wasn't worth the price and time that we spent there. If you're looking to spend $30-35 for dinner, I would recommend trying one of the other great restaurants in the area instead. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Elmhurst, NY
10/17/2011
A big shout-out to fellow Yelper, and friend, Radford T. whose review of La Sirene truly piqued my interest in this place. And a very heartfelt thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, Jimmy C., whose penchant for surprises and slight francophilia, led us to La Sirene for one of my 3 birthday dinners this year!
What can I say about this delightful little restaurant, other than, prepare yourself to be swept away by its romantic, little, cozy interior and a sensuous feast of a meal. This is such an intimate restaurant, filled with tables of lovebirds, and though you sit almost elbow-to-elbow with your fellow diners, you can still be transfixed in your romantic meal-for-two. Simply put, it's a great date spot.
Rundown of what we ordered:
APPS:
1) "Salade De Betteraves Fraiches Rotis Au Four" fresh oven roasted fresh beet salad, pistachio, diced apple and brie cheese ---- refreshing mixture of savory and tart. This is a wise pairing to combat the fattier options you'll choose as appetizers.
2) "Tartelette De Chevre Frais Aux Echalottes" Truffles, Raisins Confit Et Voile De Vieux Gruyere goat cheese tart with shallots, truffles, grape and a veil of 90-days aged swiss cheese ---- a bold and sizeable portion, with a few tweaks, this could easily have been an entree all on its own. The decadent cheese was very filling, and the crust was crisp and buttery.
3) "Moules Marinieres" steamed mussels in white wine and fresh herbs (the classic one) ---- the boyfriend said he enjoyed the briny taste of these mussels and ate the entire bowl of them. Safe to say, it was a hit!
MAINS:
4) "Filet Mignon De Porc Poelee Aux Morilles seared", sliced pork tenderloin, with morels, port wine, and lightly creamed sauce ---- absolutely delicious!! Without question, this was the standout of the night. This divine, inspired dish, is something I will recall for a long time! The juicy pork tenderloins were infused with so much flavor from the morel mushrooms and port wine, that it far exceeded my expectations. The couple sitting to our left ordered the same dish, and both us girls wiped our plates clean. I can't say enough good things about this particular entree. I was blown away!
Sidebar: I didn't really care for the sides of veggies. The cauliflower puree was probably the best-tasting one, delicate, sweet, and a nice smooth texture. Otherwise, they all felt a bit unnecessary.
DESSERT:
5) "Big Profiteroles Au "Bitter & Sweet" Chocolate Good To Share" ----- on the menu, it says there's no need for an introduction as this is back by popular demand. How could we refuse, right? This dessert was intimidating!! The rich, chocolate-coated mounds of ice cream are the only details that I can recall at this moment. It was so exquisite and the use of artisanal chocolate really made this a very sensual and refined dessert.
TIPS:
Many have pointed out, this is BYOB establishment, but there's no corkage fee. Additionally, reservations are highly recommended in light of their 25-seat capacity. Lastly, for all the great and wonderful things about La Sirene, on the downside, they only accept cash. Dinner can be quite pricey, so make sure you visit the ATM before heading over here. Some guy had to leave his address and work info because he didn't have any cash on hand to pay for his meal and the nearby ATM may not have been working. So by all means, avoid this embarrassment. On the other hand though, they do have a $30 pre-fixe menu, so you can still enjoy all things La Sirene but at a cheaper rate: http://www.lasirenenyc...)
This was a really special experience. What sweetness and enchantment is to be discovered at La Sirene. I can say I rang in my 20-something birthday in joviality with 'la nourriture excellente' !!!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/17/2011
One Elite next to another.... We did fix it :) More » -
Review from Andy R.
NY
11/2/2011
Very good food and value.
Deserving of praise.. and for what it is, La Sirene is one of the best in the city..
The service is attentive, very nice people.
La Sirene is not white napkin (in fact, the high quality paper napkin is a fair representation of the establishment on the whole).
The food is great, with some wonderful countryside dishes;
Don't expect the artful, creative and extreme top quality ingredients you would with the true 5 star kitchens in it's category.
It is not Daniel or Le Bernadin.. **nor do they try to be**.. it is just worth noting because at a glance on yelp, they can be perceived as direct competitors.
Almost a hearty French kitchen with better than average ingredients, though the fairly small portions take the "hearty" out of it.. It feels a bit confused imo.
I also believe that the BYOB policy leaves diners with a good feeling, and that adds greatly to it's high reviews.
In a nut shell; It is excellent French food.. a great place to eat.. unpretentious and comfortable.. Not sure if they want to be mistaken for "fine dining" or not, but it is certainly fine dining there.
Recommended!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 11/2/2011
Andy got me Right! More » -
Review from Ozzie C.
Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
1/15/2012
Great place. Loved the goat cheese tart and mussels. Make sure you have reservations and cash only
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/16/2012
Says it all?! More » -
Review from Dr. U.
JAMAICA, NY
1/31/2012
Our favorite restaurant! The food is divine, and I'm so glad that they expanded the restaurant to make more room for diners. We always gets the hanger steak, the mussels and the skate, although their other dishes are good, too. This is the place we always bring our out of town friends to and also where we celebrate those special occasions. Great service, nice ambiance, and terrific food, you can't lose by trying out La Sirene.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 2/1/2012
We discontinued the Skate because it's overfished! Brazilian… More » -
Review from j g.
Arlington, TN
1/11/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Lovely, sweet, darkly lit /cozy spot that makes NYC special in land of famous chef 's over hyped mega restaurants. Best f onion soup, duck kassoulet was devoured by my date (14 yr old son ) he also slammed the escargot which was delish. I had the potato n bacon casserole- yum. Profiterole sauce Devine but ice cream n pastry just ok. Out the door under 100 made this the best deal in the city for this country girl's n foodie son trip. Yes, close to u neighbor...... sweet locals
Magen n her nice s Carolina hubby were given my leftover wine. But a new York treasure if u r tired of snooty servers n overpriced gramercy tavern meals.....enjoy!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/16/2012
We are working on it :) More » -
Review from Wendy G.
Teeny-tiny French bistro place, seating was really squishy.
Food was pretty standard across the board. The taste is good, but it's like saying Applebee's as good American food... nothing complex enough to make me blossom. Deli quality food in France. I've had better escargot, French onion soup, mussels, foie gras and baked seafood.
In terms of service, they are friendly. But see the thing is, there're two types of friendly: one is eyeing on your wallet and really fake kind of friendly; the other is making you feel truly caring and welcome. This place definitely belongs to the previous type.
La Sirene reminds me of the visit at Jojo (French bistro belonging to Jean George)... Same type. But Jojo is superior.
If you are looking for fine dining, try other popular contemporary restaurants that serve French food. The bistro is ok for a casual catch-up with friends.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/16/2011
We do really our best and we will try harder ! More » -
Review from Cristina L.
Culver City, CA
10/9/2011
To all the naysayers out there, I want to be clear that my rating is in no way reflective of the food or the ambiance or even the terribly designed menus. (1992 called and they want their Lucida/Comic Sans printed, plastic sheet protector menus back. That's not an accurate description of the the font, but when you see it, you'll get my drift)
I had the fish special of the evening, my date had the fois gras and we had the choux pastry dessert to finish. The food was da bomb! (Yes, it was so delicious I had to time warp that phrase back into the present) The ambiance and lighting in the restaurant was intimate and perfect as other review have stated.
However, the waitress who served us that evening overstepped her serving duties in the way she related to my date and I. She was very sweet and attentive. Perhaps at times a bit too attentive towards my date, which was fine, because who doesn't want to be with someone who's attractive and wanted by other ladies? The real problem was when I started to have Twilight flashbacks to the scene in the restaurant when Bella gets ignored by the waitress who only has eyes for Edward. By the end of the evening, our waitress began to just ignore my side of the table. We all know that dates can be anxiety-filled , nervous evenings. And with that in mind, I want the record to show that I suspended all judgment and gave it a good, long mulling over until now. However, there are no if's and's or but's about it...the b*t@h was hittin' on my date!
A date's a date. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not a girl who's about to go marking my territory by peeing at the side of the table, or shootin' dirty looks. And more power to the girl who sees what or who she wants and makes a play for it. But, let's keep it classy, San Diego. Do your job, lady. Since my observation of how this waitress treated my date is hearsay and could be colored through my own insecurities and perceptions, here are the facts:
A) She never refilled or asked if I wanted a refill on my side veggies. This would not normally be viewed as anything, but in the light of visiting our table for multiple trips to "check on us," refilling an empty plate seems like it would be a normal part of her duties.
B) Towards the end of the evening, even though my water glass was the empty one and sitting near my date's, she proceeded to top off his glass and left mine completely empty.
C) About half-way into the main meal, she stopped making eye contact with me and completely ignored my presence at the table.
For my part in all this, perhaps being a good sport and just ignoring it wasn't the way to go. Takeaways. I can't say that I am any better prepared to handle a situation like this in the future, but I know not to come here on a date.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/9/2011
Human factor!!! Apologies!! The inquirie will go on !Not… More » -
Review from gg w.
Flushing, NY
1/13/2012
Great food. Really tiny.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 1/14/2012
It was a hole in the wall before May 12th 2011 LOL! More » -
Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The BYOB outweighs the CASH ONLY policy. As a matter of fact, the wait staff encourages BYOB and it was the first thing they asked us. The food was good, the space was borderline cramped. We ordered the baby octopus salad which was cooked to perfection, for entrees I had the Cassoulet and the wifey had the filet mignon with foie gras on top. Both were good and extremely rich dishes. Dessert we had the iles flotantes with creme anglais which was light and refreshing. Pricing isnt too bad considering you can bring your own bottle of wine with no corkage fee. Definitely worthy of a visit.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/27/2011
French food is rich and we recommend to BYO accordingly :) More » -
Review from Christina F.
New York, NY
12/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Tournedos Rossini and Quail were both fabulous. Excellent (unlimited) side veggies. BYOB is also wonderful.
Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 12/24/2011
So nice :) More » -
Review from Dennis J.
Manhattan, NY
10/30/2011
I made reservations a month prior without any issues. The restaurant had a nice ambiance, and service was also attentive and helpful. For appetizers, my dining companion and I had the baby octopus, which I thought was pretty good, along with the goat cheese tart, which was very tasty but also a bit rich.
For entrees, I had the seared hanger steak, which was prepared very well and was very tender, while my dining companion had the roasted lamb leg, which was also very good. The vegetable purees that accompanied the dishes were also quite delicious. We split the profiteroles for dessert, which were alright but nothing special, so it seemed to me.
Overall, the dishes were well-prepared and very tasty, and I would come back to try other dishes, like the cassoulet.Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/31/2011
Perfect time to try the Cassoulet :) More » -
Review from Ryan M.
Spring, TX
10/10/2011
I enjoyed La Sirene quite a bit. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent. The wait staff was warm and plenty of personality. Here are my thoughts on the food.
Apps- We shared a few different apps.
- Foie Gras (cold)- this was excellent, it was more of a pate, but it was the highlight of the apps.
- Octopus- Also excellent, very tender and flavorful.
- Escargot- this was the disappointment of the apps, lacked flavor.
Dinner-
Seared Duck in Cherry Sauce- this was very good, the duck was perfectly cooked and the sauce was excellent. Very well done.
Filet with Foie Gras- this was great too, I only had a taste, but it was fantastic.
This was an overall great experience and the BYOB policy made the bill very reasonable. Give it a try...Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 10/10/2011
The Foie gras is "torchon" pate style but 100% Foie Gras Cat… More » -
Review from Summer C.
New York, NY
11/17/2011
Come to La Sirene if you want amazingly cooked French food in a cute, unpretentious environment. Everything is deliciously flavored and the hanger steak is the best I've ever had. I also LOVE the fact that unlimited veggies come with every entree - and they're not plain veggies either. Half come pureed and the other half are carefully poached and seasoned. We had two delicious rounds of the veggies with our meal, which added variety to our meal.
Nothing on the menu disappoints. I didn't find anything visionary and super creative on the menu, so it seems like La Sirene concentrates on making the staples good, and boy do they do a good job at it!Comment from Didier P. of La Sirene 11/17/2011
We want to give you what we eat for real in the finest South… More »
