La Sirene

 

4

49

A B.

New York, NY

I was expecting French bistro perfection and was underwhelmed. The ambiance was nice, but everything we ordered seemed flawed. I wouldn't recommend. The flavor just missed the mark.

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8

21

nayoung j.

Plainsboro, NJ

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at La Sirene.  I think the tininess only adds character and builds an intimate, homey space.

For a group of 3 we brought a couple of bottles of white wine and started with the mussels.  I'm starting to crave them as I write this... There might be crack in the broth, its rather addicting.  The service was also great.  I guess its hard to go unattended when everything's a foot away but she was always there to refill our wine glasses.  The only con I have about this place are the entrees - the meat options are pretty much just plates of sliced meat.  My lamb was slightly overdone for medium and bland.  I liked my friend's duck.  The dessert was awesome - profiteroles, very good to share.

Can't wait to go back!

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0

8

Jack S.

New York, NY

Awesome place. Great owner who takes most of the reservations (at lease when I call) himself. Awesome that it's BYOB. Only thing that is bad is that so many people have now discovered it and we can't get in anymore! A terrific value and total gem.

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5

29

Sarah M.

Brooklyn, NY

GO TO THIS RESTAURANT

their mussels are awesome, we got the boring provencale but ive heard the curry ones are incredible.  all the seafood is amazing, and such a cute little vibe they have too! people here are here bc they want great food, period.  the owner is soooo nice and friendly.

profiteroles were awesome (when are they not?).  and yeah paul k, if u dont like this u just dont like french food bc this is as good as it gets for non-absurd prices!

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3

13

Karina B.

New York, NY

Go because you love your life.  That's the energy of this place.  European, duh, but also puppy dog enthusiastic for community and food.  If you're in a bad mood, don't bother.

There are 4 kinds of mussels and a page full of divine desserts.  In between are entrees, but I admit I only ever get the hanger steak because I love it so much.  The best part is the atmosphere and the BYOB.  It's fun to spend twenty or so on a killer wine that'd be five times as much by restaurant prices.

Last night, my girlfriend and I stayed chatting and Daphne, our sweet Brazilian waitress, came over to tell us to hang out for as long as we wanted because she still had to break down.  Then she poured us red wine that they had tucked in back.  After that, white wine.  And then she hung out talking with us.

So lovely, so friendly, so laid back.  Just make sure to make a reservation. Obviously, slower mid-week, like last night, but still busy.  And a great date spot.

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Elite '08

36

69

Karen L.

New York, NY

Had a very enjoyable dinner with good company about a week ago.  Most memorable were the curry mussels.  The shrimp entree was excellent too.   For dessert, had the clafoutis which was a bit like bread pudding.  We had the plum ice cream with cognac which was very yummy too.  It was my first time having French cooking like this.  Comfortable, flavorful, and cozy.

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Elite '08

26

120

Flora G.

New York, NY

Aww..La Sirene I must say I was so excited to visit you and try your food...I had to push and prod some of my family members to join me but I'm so glad I did, because you did not disappoint.  On leaving I was incredibly satisfied and happy after the delectable 3 hours I spent with you for dinner.  Even though it started off rough with you loosing my reservation for 7 but some how you managed and moved people and tables all around...and fit our large party in and for that I'm very grateful.

Didier you treated us like family, shuffling us in, taking our coats, kissing our cheeks hello...and even on our exit calling out to us by name.  You really took care of us and made us feel welcome.  I almost didn't want to write this review because I didn't want everyone in Yelpland to know about your little gem I'd discovered, but today I saw you listed in the top 10 bookmarked spots...and decided the secret is already out, so one more good review really wouldn't matter.

But on with my review...In my family we're very big on sharing, so naturally everything we ordered that night for dinner, we all partook in sampling...really it's the only way to go

For our table's first course we had the:
-Beet Salad with Apples and Brie- delicious, I love beets, and having the fragrant ripened brie blended in with each bite of beet was a completely new and wonderful experience for me..I'll def be reordering this next time
-Steamed Mussels with Curry, diced Apples and Cream- this is the chef's favorite and is now my favorite...I can't tell you how much I loved these mussels! I am now adding them to 'My Last Meal On Earth' list...the taste was so wonderful, I had to use some bread to  soak up the juices because I couldn't get enough of the flavors...yum
-Sauted Calamari-absolutely delicious with garlic, parsley, tomato, and mushroom... calamari can sometimes be overcooked and rubbery but this def was not.
-Crab Cakes served with saffron aioli and balsamic reduction, very good, lots of crab, but not something I really need to reorder

For our entrees we had the:  
-Monkfish En Civet (Stew)- monk fish with bacon, red wine, onions, mushrooms, braised garlic, and all stewed with potatoes, this was my 2nd favorite entree from our dinner.  I love monkfish and this was everything I could have asked for in flavor and texture
-Lamb- roasted lamb sliced and plated with butter beans and spinach, the accompanying sauce was delicious, the lamb was tough, but the flavors were so good I couldn't stop eating.
-Seared Duck Breast- duck with a cherry port and red wine sauce, which was sweet and savory..so good.
-French Cassoulet Toulouse's Style- This is your classic french dish composed of cannellini beans, tomato, garlic, duck confit, slab bacon & pork sausage all braised with duck fat, this def was my favorite entree of the evening, the flavors were so mouthwatering everything cooked to perfection

And last but not least for dessert we had the:
-Big Profiteroles-Thank god Didier put this back on the menu is all I have to say...Because that sauce is out-of this-world
-Chocolate Mousse-very good but really no comparison to how good the profiteroles were
-The Clafoutis- also very good, especially if you don't want chocolate for dessert

Also we def didn't forget the alcohol...being BYOB..We took full advantage and brought multiple bottles of wine.  Which of course even more enhanced our dining experience.

But basically La Sirene you're a fabulous little spot that serves up a little bit of French heaven....And I'm just counting the days until I can return.

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7

25

Andrea D.

Astoria, NY

Karina - you have it right! I completely agree that you should go here because you love life and enthusiasm. Didier is one of the best hosts I've ever come across, he's gracious and definitely knows his way around the kitchen.

I've gone multiple times for birthday parties or whenever I crave the mussels, which is very often! I've only tried the dijon sauce ones because I can't drag myself away from them. I've gone with people who swear they dislike mussels only to be wowed by these. I could drink the sauce as a soup! Everything I've tried on the menu (skate, hanger steak, shepard's pie, escargot, etc.) has been incredible. Celiacs: Be careful of the breadcrumbs in some dishes!

BYOB with no corkage fee is also a huge plus. The food is very reasonably priced for the quality you get and bringing your own wine/beer cuts down on the bill even more.

The place is small (ok, really, really small) and because the word is out about how great it is, it's hard to get in without a reservation. (They're on OpenTable) Try it during the week for smaller crowds but do try it! You won't regret it.

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0

7

Kris M.

New York, NY

Well, this one is a tough cookie to crack.

Had a lovely rendez-vous with a girl here.  Having been to Ivo and Lulu before (the girl i am dating took me there in 2 mo ago) i was tempted to make a dash for it again, since it's right next door.  
But i could not bring myself to have this other girl steal her thunder, so it was La Sirene.

I wasn't aiming for something romantic, this was more like a friend date, so La Sirene was ideal (Ivo is def romantic).  No prententiousness either. So far so good.

So we start with my wine selection.  This place, as Lulu, is BYO, so I took my time to select something decent. My adventurous spirit didn't pay off.  My wine was not good.  

But then the dishes arrive. For the selections we made (pork tenderloins and some sort of duck in cherry)  i was impressed with the promptness of the order.
The appetizer, french escargots, also arrived quickly and were tasty. (For those counting, it was 6 snails). They were properly prepared and went well with the bread.  Maybe the conversation was good, but all in all the food arrived faster than i thought.

Apparently the chef is a well known french master.  Well, my hat's off to the chef.  The entrees were top-notch. My companion could not stop raving about her dish.  I didn't say much but i knew that my expectations had not been that high.

The food is better than Lulu, no doubt.

The chef actually came out to converse with the table right next to us, on his way out to go home.  Nice guy. So are the waitresses.  Charming, not pushy, and genuinely interested in us, trying to make conversation.  Nice gesture.

La sirene is a great place to take a date, perhaps something informal. I am on the fence on whether this is a first date place, but good for almost any other ocassion.

But then i can't give this place 5 stars for 2 reasons.

1) Its too expensive. I suppose you pay premium for the food, but i go on so many first dates, i can't really afford to really get to know this place on a consultant salary, especially when some girls expect me to pay. Maybe when i move to a Fund, but not now.   (...and sorry ladies, when you dont pay, that's a big, red flag!  Unless your date is 20+ in years or kilos, its NOT ok. Don't go wondering why some of us who are not fools did not call after sleeping with you... )

2) The portions.  Small. For a smaller guy or a girl, portions are ok. For a guy that plays soccer regularly and is extremely active, it won't be enough.

Also note that it is difficult to bring a group here. Too small of a place. It therefore kills one of its great allures: Intimacy.

All in all, i did love my experience at la sirenne.  I can't give it 4.5 stars, so 4 it must be.

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7

93

Paul K.

New York, NY

I'm starting to realize it might be me, and I just might not like French food, although I like what I had in Lyon and I thought my meal at Jean Georges was the best I've had in the City (although miso soup definitely isn't French).  I hate subtle flavors - rather, I love big flavors, like from southeast Asia.  This is the second French Restaurant I've been to in the city that has gotten stellar reviews that I came away a little disappointed with.... not just on Yelp but also Citysearch.  

I tried two different mussels...the red wine and the chef's favorite...curry with apples...the mussels were very fresh and perfectly cooked....but the flavors were just absent or too subtle for my tastes....i enjoyed the Calamari.  I'll be back to try the duck and hanger steak, but I'm just not sure if it's a me and authentic French food thing....everyone else loves this place, and I have so much respect for the clear passion of the owner/chef.  The service was great and the place definitely is charming!

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22

10

Jenn L.

New York, NY

This tiny restaurant serves awesome (buttery) seafood and (decadently rich) dessert and it's BYOB...which obviously makes it that much better.  The service is wonderful with both the server and the chef taking the time to get to know us and just hang out.  It's a great date spot and also a great spot to come with a group of friends but definitely make reservations!  

The mussels (the classic one) and the cassoulet were my favorite but you really can't go wrong here.

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0

2

Brian P.

New York, NY

During the dinner, I leaned over to my friend and said: "The best thing about La Sirene is that it's 'unpretentious'". And I believe that's the best way to describe La Sirene.

Like Tommy Ramone said about punk rock "what [rock] needed was some pure, stripped down, no bullshit rock 'n' roll". And that's what La Sirene gives to NYC, "no bullshit French cuisine". I won't pretend that I'm an expert on French food [because I'm not], but the flavors, the atmosphere, the "experience" as a whole was just 'humbling' in the way a parent's home cooked meal is: Incredibly flavorful, deceptively simple, and heartwarming [both the food and the service].

And like a parent, the service and ambiance of La Sirene is what grabs you from the get-go and spits you out [lovingly of course] dazed, confused, and happy. It's really Didier's hyperactivity [in the most loving way] that's his charm: Watching him bounce from table to table, and overhearing his jokes with nearby clientele makes the entire restaurant incredibly inviting. It doesn't just stop there, as the two waitresses offer advice, and are as friendly as Didier himself.

The food was equally satisfying as the flavors hold nothing back. While some may prefer a "complex" flavor, I feel that the food at La Sirene accomplishes exactly what it sets out for. It's satisfying, filling, tasty, etc. etc.

I fell in love with La Sirene, and like all loves, it's never as "perfect" as you want it to be, but you have to accept that and love it for what it is. No bullshit French food.

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6

100

Mog C.

New York, NY

It's always amazing to me that you can find two rather good French restaurants just by the entrance of the Holland Tunnel.  But it's true.  La Sirene and Ivo and Lulu are next to each other.  And having been to both, I have to say that they are little gems and if they weren't so far from everything, it might be even harder to get a table.  Anyways, the atmosphere is slightly nautical as per the name but dcor is minimal, keeping one's attention solely on the food.  Rob and I started by sharing the Moules Rochelaises and those are quite fantastic.  The little bit of curry is just enough to give the entire dish a little kick and keep the dish from being too boring as I sometimes find Moules Marinieres.  We both couldn't help dipping into whatever broth was leftover.  The little pieces of apple are surprising against the rest of the savory ingredients, giving both a sweet and a crisp textural contrast.  The appetizer portion is just great for sharing between two people.

Both La Sirene and Ivo and Lulu are BYOB and we had brought a good bottle which the waitstaff uncorked in no time. For entrees, I had the Magret de Canard and Rob had Seared Hanger Steak.  Both dishes were great.  I think the new craze right now must be carrot puree b/c I've had a lot of it lately.  It's always delicious and I always wonder why I don't eat more carrots.  The duck skin was crispy and delicious enough that I didn't even touch Rob's steak.  We finished with the Fondant au Chocolat Noir.  I wanted to try the Profiteroles but wasn't able to cajole my way into getting Rob to get them so I'll have to go back for them.  I thought the Fondant might be closer to a chocolate molten cake.  Instead, it was just a chocolate cake.  But it was our fault for assuming instead of asking.

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35

125

Yvonne Y.

San Francisco, CA

(DISCLAIMER: If you have a short attention span...please skip to dessert comments at end)
once again, yelp did not let me down.  I cancelled my reservations at the fancy brand spanking new restaurant and made them here.

The moussels Rochelaises were freaking the BEST moussels I've ever had. the BEST. and I live in SF where we have the best moussels and french restaurants available.  yet...these were the best.

Black sea bass (whole fish)was very good- great dinner (excepetionally perfect flavor and preparation), except if you are not a boney fish person, i would get something that is easier to eat.  eastern europeans and those from asia will most likely have a natural ability. it was very good, but i could see the bones being a deterant.

the filet mignon with Roquefort sauce was beautiful and perfectly prepared.  the cheese was a wonderful accent to the meat . My boyfriend and friend LOVED the hanger steak. there was nothing left to the plate

DESSERT RAMBLINGS: (VERY IMPORTANT, YELPERS)
The Clafoutis was dee-licious.  on the menu this is posted as the undiscovered dessert and they were not kidding. the prunes scared off my dining mates, but not to be deterred i went for it and we were not disappointed.  It's made with crepe dough and is pretty much a super bread pudding that is HOT in more ways the one.

After an extensive conversation with the chef, who which is ador- AH-BLAY, apparently is very conscientious of his reviews and has taken things off the menu because people were not happy with it and posted it on yelp.

so he took off the profiteroles

Why? I asked...curious that he actually took them off...profiteroles are so french...so classic.  He took them off because someone complained that the chocolate was bitter.  AH WHAT?!?  we demanded that the profiteroles be given a second try...they must be placed back on the menu.

the profiteroles came out.

they were AH-MAY-ZING

The profiteroles should come back to the menu!

Yelpers should be very aware and careful of their words.  otherwise good things will be removed.  Lesson be learned.

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3

27

Ian F.

New York, NY

Excellent BYO restaurant.  Very resonably priced in a quaint atmosphere.  I highly recommend the mussels dijonaise and the duck w/cherry port wine sauce.

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Elite '08

6

162

Jilly j.

New York, NY

Fabulous BYOB French Seafood Bistro. Homely, true, friendly and so cute I cant handle it!!

Tiny little spot... 10 tables at most... make rsvps.

The mussels are +++++ here!

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5

16

vicky h.

Fullerton, CA

Me and me friends went to La Sirene while I was visitng them in NYC this past Sunday night.  We wanted real french food, and we sure got it.

2 of us have been to France, and this is the closest we've been to being back there.  Again, BYO liquor.  They will chill the white wines for you and everything and no corkage fee.  

We ordered: The soup of the day (cabbage), the mussels (w/ wine, tomatoes, onion, herbs), escargots, the hangar steak (medium rare, how they serve it), the fish of the day (i think it was a barramundi, an australian fish but farmed in Maine), the duck in dried cherry sauce, the oh-so-French cassoulet, and the order-7-minutes-ahead chocolate lava cake.  ALL were amazing.  

This is a copy of the Time Out NY Magazine description, which was what lured us to this restaurant:
"Fishing nets and low-rent posters may not entice you into this new downtown French bistro, but the exuberant cooking of Marseille-born chef-owner Didier Pawlicki should. Mussels are lavished with curried cream and apples; garlicky ruby-red slices of rare hanger steak are served with a sensuous trio of sides (a mound of carrot puree, potato gratin in a cheesy veil, and a pot of zucchini flan). A dessert of chestnut cream and chocolate sauce had us moaning--very French indeed. "

Keep in mind that the sides change (our meals offered the carrot puree, sauteed spinach, and some cooked cabbage)
The reviews below adequately convey the relaxed and personable environment at the restaurant.  Very pleasant dining experience, they really care about you.
Reservations seriously recommended.  As the owner said to us "this salt shaker is so tiny...much like the restaurant"

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0

11

stephanie g.

New York, NY

DELICIOUS! We had a superb dinner here, and have added it to our "must revisit" , and often, list. First, the intoxicating fragrance drifting from the kitchen when we arrived assured us this would be a memorable experience. The dining space is lively and comfortable, and the staff absolutely friendly and knowledgeable. Now for the food...amazing! We had the mussels with curry, hangar steak, cassoulet, and profiteroles, all were perfection. We refrained from licking our plates, but had we been at home we certainly would have done so. My husband loves cassoulet, says this is the best (he hates mushy beans), and anyone who complains the chocolate on the profiteroles is too bitter should never be allowed to eat in restaurants. The chocolate is exactly as it should be, and I am so relieved it is back on the menu. I  highly recommend all of the dishes we devoured, without hesitation. We hear Didier has a new baby, congratulations! Your restaurant is magnifique!

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Elite '08

24

140

vicky c.

New York, NY

Cet restaurant est trest mignon!
C'est tres petit!
C'est tres... francais!

... I just couldn't give it 5 stars, sorry. I guess this is why the French hate us Americans.

The mussels provencales were good, but nothing special.
The skate fish was delicious. Oh... la beurre.
The French love their butter. I love that the French love their butter.
But goodness, I'm pretty sure my fish alone contained a good two sticks of butter over it.
Not to say it wasn't tasty.
But I'm pretty sure my cholesterol shot up a good hundred points after dinner here.

And the profiterole... ah well, I guess this was the most disappointing. I love me my ice cream. Stuffed into a puffed pastry and drenched in chocolate, how could you go wrong you ask? I guess I wasn't expecting the chocolate to be so bitter and the pastry to be so dense.
I went home and ate my red bean bun that I picked up from Chinatown before dinner.

Oh, and if it's privacy you want, this ain't the place for you. Way too easy to ease-drop on all the surrounding tables. And thanks to our neighbors, we kept on getting interrupted with the guys asking what we had ordered. And I'm pretty sure they were gay, so it wasn't like they were even hitting on us. Seriously, now.

Last thought: if you're claustrophobic, avoid the bathroom.

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Elite '08

263

568

David S.

Champaign, IL

I finally made it to La Sirene, after literally months of wanting to check it out. We went on a Saturday night (if I remember well) without a reservation, and the place was packed. We got really lucky as a table of four had just become available, so we only had to wait for a couple of minutes. It's really cramped and cozy in there (think Ivo & Lulu, which is just next door), but it was a very pleasant evening.

The cuisine is French and mainly seafood. We shared a bunch of things: we started with the moules provencales (steamed mussels with tomatoes, garlic, white wine, etc: very tasty!) together with the sauteed duck liver salad, which was also excellent (and interesting enough it was real duck liver, not pate). We then had the whole roasted fish of the day: sea bass, which indeed came whole with the head and everything else as expected (the best to prepare fish if you ask me): it was great. We also tried the seared duck breast and it was just as good as the rest.

Great food, BYOB, very friendly service (Didier, the owner and chef, took the time to come to our table and chat with us), all for very reasonable prices... what more do you need?

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Elite '08

63

281

Deborah H.

New York, NY

I feel almost terrible for being the first to tarnish the 5-star ratings here.  That's not to say I didn't have an excellent experience at La Sirene!  The atmosphere is cute and quaint; we had a reservation for two, which was not necessary at 7PM on a Wednesday.  The crowd picked up later in the night but it was never completely full.  However, La Sirene is tiny, and can't accommodate large parties without prior notice.

With five flavor choices, the mussels seem to be a popular appetizer choice.  We opted for the mussels provencal: a simple broth with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and bread crumbs.  They were good, but nothing out of the ordinary, though I did enjoy sopping up the juice with bread.  I had the hanger steak and my friend had the skate.  Both entrees were delicious, but the skate was the stronger dish.  Flaky, buttery, tender, umph.  We shared the chocolate puff pastry for dessert; once again it was good, but nothing special.

Our server was adorable and helpful and oh-so-French!  I'd definitely love to come back and try the other entrees, which looked extremely appetizing.

BYO = awesome.  Good food for about 40$ each = awesome.  La Sirene = awesome.  Just for thoroughness, no American Express cards are accepted.

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0

92

Eddie w.

Rockville, MD

The place f*ing rocked!  After a long day of shopping in SOHO, walk a couple of blocks towards the Spring St station.  

We got the last two seats in the place at 6:45pm and was able to order the prixe fix.  For $25, I got an awesome Calamari appetizer, incredible Mussel Provincial,  a great chocolate mousse, and a free half bottle of Sonoma white wine.  For another $25 she got, a nice salad, a dense Lamb stew with white beans, and another great chocolate mousse.

The chef/owner came over to check on us and take our plates.  The hostess, Kris made sure that we were always ok.  

I'm usually pretty cheap about tipping, but I felt  giving them 30% was fair.

Will definitely  go back again with friends since we talked about what a great  meal that was all the way home.

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0

1

Daniel P.

Brooklyn, NY

A place to fall in love. A place to eat, talk and wine yourself until vertigo. The mussels were superb, the bisque was amazing.
To the chef and wait staff:
Thank you for giving me a restaurant i can confidently bring anyone to that I'd like to impress by exposing them to your personalities and talents in and out of the kitchen.
I plan a return trip with champagne to see the parlor trick that I've heard about the chef wowing people with.

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Elite '08

13

188

David D M.

San Francisco, CA

This place was great!  Bring your own wine, as they don't carry any at all.  There is no corkage fee.

The place is small.  Maybe room for eight groups of 3 or 4 at the most.  We made reservations for 7 o'clock and I'm glad we did because about 30 people showed up after us.  With reservations we sat down right away (the place was already about 80% percent full).  However, even without reservations, the chef and waitress were very accommodating.  

The food was just awesome!  It's a seafood restaurant, for the most part.  I went here on Thanksgiving and they had a turkey dish.  Wow! What can I say?  The French know their sauces.

With the size of the place and being very busy, the experience could have been pretty bad (I've seen it before).  Luckily, we weren't in any kind of hurry at all and the waitress and the rest of the staff appeared very calm and on top of things the whole time.  Calm, pleasant and very busy.  

I would definitely recommend this restaurant, if you bring your own wine.

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Elite '08

44

132

Melody H.

New York, NY

As to be expected, Valentine's Day was a madhouse. I think La Sirene probably shines on a quieter weeknight because the space is si petit! Trop petit, peut-etre. The prix fixe V-day menu was great, though I wasn't terribly impressed with the asparagus and caviar salad to start. Some of the asparagus was a bit too stringy. The lobster bisque was apparently quite good, and I absolutely loved the rock point oysters. You can't go wrong with fresh oysters, citrus, and garlic, really. My baked lobster thermidor dish was phenomenal but the date's filet mignon was drowned in an overpowering cheese sauce that was so strong as to render him a little ill. I agreed. The creme brulee to finish was a nice size but certainly not the best I've ever had. I know it isn't the best night to judge since they were totally slammed, but I felt that for $70 per person, it was good, but not mind-blowing. On the upside: it is totally bring your own bottle and that helps keep the tab down!

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3

22

V S.

New York, NY

Cute and cozy and a great spot for a small group or for a date.  The $25 prix-fixe deal is awesome - but it's only until 7 pm.  One of the entree choices is mussels in one of five different broths.  We tried 4 of the 5, including one with curry, which was unusual but very delish.

The icing on the cake here is the BYOB.  Bring a few bottles, and they're happy to accommodate.

That's another thing - service was fantastic - the perfect combination of helpful, friendly and personal without being annoying.  

Fun fact - La Sirene is now on OpenTable, a big plus in my book.

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0

1

Nick M.

New York, NY

Wow. I had an amazing experience here while my parents were visiting....  BYOB, we brought 4 bottles of wine for a group of four and proceeded to eat some of the most amazing french cuisine.  The owner was so personable, the food was great.  The calamari appetizer was finished within minutes of hitting the table....I had a veal dish with risotto that I highly recommend.  I cannot wait to go back.  

I ate a ton of gooood food.  So much, that when we ate at babbo the next night, i was still thinking about la sirene!

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8

74

Yoonjee K.

New York, NY

When I ate here, I ate so much I almost threw up.

I chose to go with the prixe fix because it had their house specialty, a vegetables and seafood shephard's pie and came with an appetizer and coffee or tea. The pie was awesome--great potato to seafood ratio and the potatoes were super creamy and cheesy. I could only eat half of it, but I had the other half the next day and it was still awesome.

As for the crabcakes, I'm not usually into them, but have enjoyed them at times, and I wasn't disappointed by them at all. They reminded me of my mom's Korean cooking (oddly) and were quite yummy.

The flavor of the pie was similar to the flavor of the butternut squash at ivo and lulu, but of course different because it had seafood...

Anyhow, I was just sad I couldn't eat more.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the coffee came in a pot! Didier, the owner and chef, is quite friendly and very helpful in navigating the menu, which is considerably large compared to the restaurants next door.

I almost wish I wasn't moving out of NYC for a year.

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15

32

Law C.

San Francisco, CA

While visiting from SF a few weekends ago, I heard from a friend about Ivo & Lulu, the quaint but more well known neighbor with the same address.   I was attracted by the no corkage fee at Ivo & Lulu and I wanted to try something I can't get at home in CA, decently priced small French restaurant with good eats.  After a 20 minute subway ride and getting lost on the walk over, we saw that Ivo & Lulu was closed.  I suppose that's the main downside with these tiny joints, they close whenever they feel like it and you're stuck there looking for the next best alternative nearby.  Luckily right next door is La Sirene.  The entire place probably seats 20 at the most.  The owner was extremely friendly and took time to explain the menu and even told us what was good and what wasn't.  I respect it greatly when waiters/waitresses tell you what's not good so we avoid them.  Instead, most end up telling you everything is good when you ask about a particular item.  Not helpful.  Anyways, we ended up going for the prix fixe which is a three courser for $18.  Great value!  I had the mussels and my girlfriend had the seafood shepherd's pie.  They were both off the hinges.  The owner even hooked us up with a free bottle of wine that some customers left there from earlier in the day.  They aren't allowed to sell liquor but BYOB with no corkage more than makes up for that.  Since I'm not from NYC, I don't know much about the French food scene, or the food scene at all, but I have a feeling this will be the next word of mouth place to be.  The owner was telling us they just opened in May so still very new.  I still wanna check out Ivo & Lulu sometime, but this was definitely one of those positives that come from negatives (damn Ivo & Lulu being closed when that was the main restaurant I was looking forward to that trip).

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18

43

Mitchell L.

New York, NY

my date and i were looking for a BYOB place and came across this pleasant little french seafood bistro near the holland tunnel. we were the first customers on a slow friday and were greeted enthusiastically by Didier, the proprietor. we had heard some good things about the place and were looking forward to a great meal. we had some difficulty deciding on what to eat because so many items on the menu sounded so enticing. Didier was super friendly and helpful in describing the dishes and making recommendations. in the end, we followed his advice and was not disappointed.

for appetizers, we started with crab cakes and mussels provencales. the crab cakes were good and the mussels were great. the white wine sauce was delicious and maybe too much so because my date and i wound up dipping countless pieces of bread into it to sop it up. it was so good....

for our main course, we went with Didier's recommendation of the sea shepard's pie and the hangar steak. the sea shepard's pie was very good but i was enjoying the hangar steak too much to eat too much of the pie. the steak was tender, cooked medium rare and sprinkled with roasted garlic and parsley. the roasted garlic was perfect, toasted to a nice crunchiness without being burnt. it added a very nice touch to a delicious steak.

dessert was also great. strawberries and cream but by then, my date and i were way too stuffed to be able to finish it. i'm not normally a fan of fruit and creme desserts but it was excellent.

service was attentive, which was not surprising since we were the only customers for half our meal. the place is very friendly and Didier was a fantastic host. the food was excellent and at very reasonable prices. the prix fixe dinner was only $19.95. hard to beat that price given the quality of the food.

if you are looking for a BYOB place or just a nice french bistro with great food at an affordable price, you must try la sirene!

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