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Union St (M, R)
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I've dined here once for brunch and twice for dinner. I never had a bad experience. When you walk in, you are quickly taken back because the decor is on point. It's very cute Parisian chic.
The food is very good and depending on what you order, they serve table side. They bring out the skillet and plate your food in front of you. I love details like that! ( I think it's one of the duck dishes). I've ordered the duck and pork before and both are quite yummy.
Note: When you are ordering a duck dish. Make sure you tell them how you want them cooked because duck is usually served rare.
Another good thing about this place is the wine list. They have a good group of french wines on their list. I was happy to see a nice Sancerre on that list. Even though it was $14 a glass, I did hesitate. But, you only live once, right?
The options in the minimalistic brunch menu are oh so solid (okay, we only tried two things, but I have full faith in the other 6 or so!). Even now, my tummy wants back in.
Go for the :
Scrambled Eggs with Caramalized Onions--some of the best scrambies I've had, and the onions were cooked to a perfect, soft texture. Really simple and flavorful.
Banana Pancakes-- a light take on pancakes (not as decadent as some places), but certainly filling. The taste of the bananas was so fresh, that I didn't even use syrup.
Bloody Mary- you can actually see the pepper/spices hanging out at the bottom of the hefty glass it comes in...delish
Decor-- french vintage meets 30's old money parlor, done with elegance, charm, and a casual tude. i couldn't stop smiling being surrounded by such pretty tiles, porceilan, and sunny windows.
We stayed well beyond our meal (the waitress even told us to continue to relax as long as we wanted--i love it when places do that!). So, why not the 5th star? Nothing blew me away or gave me that i-just-died feeling, but then again, it's nice sometimes to enjoy straight up solidity. For that, I will be back.
If you want to feel like you were in a French cafe while in New York you probably couldn't do much better than visiting Moutarde. Unfortunately this included a snooty attitude by our waitress and poor service. Had there been more than the 5-6 other customers perhaps I could understand but considering that was not the case I expected prompter service.
The food was nothing spectacular but then again all I had were the pancakes. Which kinda sucked actually, what was I thinking. I should have tried the crepes.
My friend had the escargot and atlantic salmon and didn't have any problems finishing everything so it couldn't have been that bad.
After living in Paris for several months and getting used to fresh Pain Au Chocolat's, I was so psyched to try them at Cafe Moutarde a couple weeks ago. Meh...not so great. They were "fresh from the oven" according to the waitress. When they arrived they were warm but they were dry and greasy at the same time with a small chunk of chocolate inside. I was disappointed and have had better for sure. I do love the atmosphere of Moutarde - it feels like a Parisian cafe and yet the food was not great this particular day. I ordered the Eggs Florentine and the english muffins were not even toasted. It was kind of odd so I ordered a TOASTED english muffin and 20 minutes later got not one, but two raw, doughy english muffins again. This after my eggs had gone cold. This was my first time here for brunch and maybe it was an off day so I'll try again and see how it goes...
Roast Duck! Mmmmm. My wife and I love Moutarde. Great atmosphere and the food has always been well prepared. Service has been good even on a crowded evening. Most recently we ordered a bottle of wine and it was so nice that the food took time to be prepared, there is nothing worst than having the food arrive a minute after you order, it's great having the opportunity to allow your wine to open, to talk and relax before the food arrives. Will definitely return to Moutarde soon.
I would like 4.5 stars but since that isn't an option I choose 5.
4.5 b/c this places is cash only, and I don't usually bring around cash; my motto is "have debit, will travel." Nonetheless, I absolutely adore this place.
A friend of mine use to bar tend here and I would go for brunch all the time. The ambiance is lovely and the staff is really authentic, who doesn't love be called mademoiselle?
The menu is solid, I feel like I am transplanted to a brunch spot in Paris. My Friends know that is my go too spot, I have yet to find a place that trumps it. In the summertime you can have street side seating and take in the cool breeze of the slope.
Glorious place to have a bevvy! Cozy and glowy and so very Parisian!
Super friendly staff too, which makes everything better.
I joke about many things, but pain au chocolat is not one of them. Moutarde has the best pain au chocolat I've found in NYC. They serve it fresh from the oven, flaky, crunchy, buttery, piping hot, and filled with the perfect amount of dark, molten chocolate.
The rest of their menu is pretty solid too, and it's a nice spot to grab brunch and O.D. on French country kitsch.
We were here in late September on a recommendation from the gal's at Brooklyn Industries -thanks ladies! Kind of a strange serendipity when the shop gal told me they had filmed parts of Julie & Julia there. I had read both books over the summer and loved them. Anyway, it was a lovely night so we sat outside at one of the cafe tables (the inside is a gorgeous bistro and bar) with our 3 month old and had a meal reminiscent of our time in Paris. I had the mussels with fries and my husband had the skate. I think my favorite thing about this bistro is the little Crudités they bring to the table with various mustard pots to dip in - delicious! Friendly service, great atmosphere and well prepared comforting dishes. PS: the profiterole's kick ass!
This place is soooo cute! I love the corks in the window, the sidewalk bistro tables, the brasserie interior and the antique mirrors in the bathroom. With the menus they brought veggie sticks with four different flavors of mustard - I had no idea that there was such a thing as raspberry mustard, but it was delicious. And, for the record, I'm not a mustard person.
We ordered the Watermelon Gazpacho which was really tasty, had a great texture and had a really nice balance of spices. We also got the charcuterie plate which was good and the red beet salad which came with a really tasty cheese. We also got the strawberry shortcake dessert which was delicious, and so pretty. When the waiter put it down, it was just a piece of cake with ice cream on top and we were a little concerned that it was going to be very strawberry-y, but they he pulls out a mini skillet full of strawberries stewed in thick sweet sauce (a red wine sauce I think, but not sure... I'll have to go order it again, darn). The Tart Tatin was also good, and the vanilla ice cream used in both was nice and rich. Definitely looking forward to going back for brunch... or entrees...
I'm amazed at how many positive reviews are on here for Moutarde.
We went to Moutarde one night for dinner on a week night. The place was dead, but the food was phenomenal. We decided to go back on a Saturday night, and the place was packed.
The food was significantly different from what we had the previous night. Apparently, Moutarde is not capable of juggling many orders at once, and the food suffers for it. Regardless, the food was still pretty decent.
My big problem was the service. It took us 10 minutes to get drinks, and 30 minutes to get our appetizers. Our waitress didn't check on us once, and after waiting nearly an hour for our entrees (an hour after we waited a half hour for our appetizers, if you're keeping track) I flagged her down and asked her what the deal was.
She was surprised to hear that we hadn't gotten our meals, which further demonstrates her lack of attention to us.
Because the service was so bad, we left a 10% tip, only to find in our credit card statement that the inept staff at Moutarde is also keen to dabble in a little credit card fraud. They had added money to the check, bringing the tip up to 20% rather than the 10% we left that the waitress, quite frankly, didn't deserve.
Even with the good food and atmosphere, the terrible service and CRIMINAL activity will prevent me from ever going back.
Dine at your own risk and pay with cash.
It took us long enough to try 'em for a meal that wasn't brunch, but hey, guess what -- Moutarde's also great for dinner!
A pleasant, Old World-style bistro with a unique European-style interior, excellent food and quality… Read more »
Nice brunch. The poached salmon with apples and beets was outstanding! My boyfriend was very happy with his enormous goat cheese and mushroom omelet, roasted potatoes with carmelized onions and mixed greens ($9).
The wait staff was polite and attentive. We were lucky enough to be able to sit outside on a sunny Sunday morning with good dark coffee and a lovely meal. We could not have been happier with the food, the service, the setting or the weather.
Had an excellent dinner with husband and friends. It was a busy Saturday night, and we originally wanted to go to Blue Ribbon. After finding it was a 45 minute wait, we headed over the Moutarde. There was a wait there as well, but much shorter, and the bar invited us to grab a drink while we were waiting.
The meal was great, nothing spectacular but very French Bistro feeling. Our waitress was French which added to the atmosphere. The resturant is gorgeous as well.
I had the pork shank with lentil special and it was wonderful.
All in all, this was a great meal. Very romantic place, albeit busy atmosphere.
Me and my crew (two kids and best friend) were prowling around trying to find a nice location to eat lunch (good food and room enough for all of us to be comfy) and we stumbled upon Moutarde. It was perfect and felt like I was back in Paris for 90-minutes. The wait-staff was attentive, the food was good and the atmosphere was welcoming. I'm definitely looking forward to going back with my husband.
+ Moutarde is frankly quite beautiful. A little quirky, but elegant on the whole and an interesting atmosphere in which to sit and have a nice meal.
+/- The service was fine. Nothing particularly positive or negative. Our waitress was very casual and friendly.
- The food was not particularly good, however. I ordered the croque madame, and was, quite honestly, unimpressed. The bread was soft and chewy, and the egg was simply a fried egg like you might get with bacon scraped off the pan and plopped onto my croque monsieur. In fact, it was clearly divided from the two eggs it was cooked with, which were on top of the other two croque madame orders in my party. All three of us had weirdly shaped eggs as a result. It didn't taste bad, but it wasn't good.
I did receive a big helping of mesclun salad. It was nice enough.
In summary: Moutarde looks great, but the food lacks focus. Financier and Bar Tabac both do better in my opinion.
I'll preface this by saying I've only ever been here for brunch. But their french toast is phenomenal. Really the best french toast I've ever had in my entire life. Home fries are pretty good too.
The decor is cute, service is good although not the best I've ever experienced. I will keep going back and back.
I've been here a handful of times for brunch and love it! Great service, and the food is moderately priced for the portions that you get.
I've had the croque monsieur and croque madame, and probably won't be switching up my choices anytime soon. Both, especially the croque madame (my new favorite) are delicious, and surprisingly not as greasy as you'd think it could be. Perfect flavor, nothing too overpowering. The ham, egg, and cheese crepe my friend got was HUGE for a $7.50 plate.
A great experience, intimate and romantic decor, with sidewalk seating when the weather is nice.
EXQUISITE! The atmosphere is so romantic with lit candles and quiet seating. The prices are reasonable, all entrees at under $20.00 a piece. We tried a lot of the menu items and they are perfectly portioned and out of control tasting. The hanger steak with blue cheese is divine! I also tried to foi graas (sp?) which melted in ur mouth. The beet salad was so fresh it could slap u.All pan dishes are served table side in a cooked pan and drizzled onto your plate. For 80.00 bucks we enjoyed 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. We were far too stuffed to try dessert but we will def be back to this gem of a restaurant. highly recommend it!
A Proper Gratin
I don't ordinarily bother to write a review on a place that already has 50 or more, but last Tuesday evening I had one of the better dining experiences here that I have had in some time.
I had passed Moutarde by on a crowded Sat. night a couple of months ago. There are too many good places on 5th to wait for a table.
On this Tuesday night, the smallish dining room was less than half full and the bar was empty. Being alone, I sat and ate at the bar. Slow Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Grape Mustard Sauce (it was not purple and I didn't sense any mustard, but it was fantastic) and a light, fluffy gratin Dauphinols was absolutely perfectly prepared and presented and devoured. I thought I was proud of this same dish I made in a cooking class a few months ago, but Moutarde showed me that I have a lot to learn.
A half carafe of Shiraz and the cute little bartender from the South of France made a solo Tuesday night meal something worth returning for.
Oui. J'aime la moutarde!
I arrived three times, again, again, and again! Each time with an even bigger expectation. Thankfully, Moutard delivered every single time....
Try - the entire menu.
This was a cute corner restaurant with good lunch items.
I really enjoyed the crusty onion soup and the savory chicken & ratatouille crepe. The crepe was $7 and a generous portion with salad. Good lunch.
It wasn't really that packed either on a weekday afternoon. I had a nice laid back meal.
I love this place for brunch. I think the banana pancakes are melt in your mouth awesomeness(and I don't even love banana). The french toast is great too. We order the bread basket with croissants and tartines...and the choco croissants have just the right amount of choco injected in them. It's get pretty crowded on the weekends and it's not a very big place.
If you are inspired by a decor that is very nicely French this place is a great one to visit. The entire detail is as French - right down to the tiles on the floor. Service is usually prompt and courteous - though I've had a few lousy experiences with them during Sunday brunch (a time the restaurant is very crowded to their defense). You can sit outside on a nice day (I've done so with my dog) and they have a wide range of drinks and wine. My only complaints are that the menu rarely changes (and has limited dishes) and the prices are high on the high end. If they added more variety to their menu and lowered their prices (really - just a little) then it would have gotten 5 stars. Still, it's worth checking out - especially in evenings if you want to go French style.
i can't really speak for the food, except for the cheese plate. my boyfriend and i shared the 5 cheese plate with a basket of warm bread.
wow, they know how to pick their cheeses...all artisan french cheeses, one better than the next.
i don't know what they were called, but my fave was a sort of soft triple cream cheese, from the same region where they make pinot noir in france. there was a well balanced blue cheese, a semi-aged chevre, brie, and the last was sort of like swiss (not grueyere-spelling?), but the texture reminded me of it...it was firmer and sharper, and just plain delicious. and it was plenty for 2.
the staff was really nice, gave us recommendations on wine and offered us a taste before committing to a glass. we sat at the bar, enjoying cheese, company and the staff. grest experience :)
btw, the cheese plate was $19- but well worth it. def a splurge.
Best Brunch in Park Slope
My boyfriend and I really really love Moutarde. Our first time here was during last spring and we've returned several times since. Now that I think about it we're probably overdue for another visit.
So what makes Moutarde so great? It isn't the appetizers or desserts which I'm typically very interested in when judging a restaurant. But the entrees are more than compensating for what the other courses lack.
I typically have the same problem at every restaurant I dine at-- ordering the same thing every time. And Moutarde is not exception, every time I *have* to order the shrimp in tarragon sauce with a side of mushroom risotto. And there's really nothing I can do to change that, it's that good! If you like cream based sauces, I promise you, Moutarde is the best. And if you're a salmon lover, as my bf is, the "pillows of salmon" come in an amazing pesto cream sauce. I really can't judge their salmon as it isn't something I like, but my bf insists it's amazing.
Let me set up my review by saying that my waitress had a giant booger hanging off her left nostril, which made me want to simultaneously vomit and punch her in the face before I even ordered my food. Moving on...
For brunch, I ordered the banana pancakes. After 15 minutes, my food arrived. There were two pancakes. They cost $10. That's $5 a pancake. This is a problem for two reasons: a) We are en route to The Great Depression part deux, but apparently no one's told Frenchie that anally raping people over breakfast foods lacks serious couth, and b) TWO friggin' pancakes? TWO?! If you're going to give me two pancakes for that much money, they better be flopping off the edge of the plate, filled with gold nuggets, and/or contain a mild aphrodesiac.
Once I realized the pancakes didn't come with any butter, I asked the waitress for some. I thought this was strange, as every time I've ordered pancakes from a restaurant they come with some sort of buttery substance on the side - in packet form or in a tiny paper cup. I waited a good 10 minutes until I realized she forgot my butter, and ate my (now ice cold) pancakes, oh so begrudgingly.
In an attempt to ensure I'd be full by the time I left the restaurant, I ordered a side of bacon. Four slices of bacon for $1/slice, which I shared with my equally dissatisfied boyfriend. Add that to my $4 cup of orange juice, and I've just spent $18 on a mediocre brunch that's turned my lazy Sunday afternoon into a bitter bitch-fest... and I'm still hungry.
Moutarde is way overpriced, the brunch fare is average at best, the restaurant patrons consist primarily of stroller-pushers and Williamsburg ex-pats, and the service is so slow you might be tempted to stab your eyes out with a butterknife.
Massive, massive Moutarde FAIL.
I love Moutarde! It's trusty, and yummy, and has a lovely decor with outside seating. It's usually easy to get a table even during busy hours. I have been here several times and totally disagree with the person below who says the steak is shitty. In fact, my boyfriend and I both usually get the minute steak for brunch here and it has always been wonderful! Perfectly medium rare and juicy, beautifully cooked and flavored. The banana pancakes are phenomenal and this place has the best croissants I have had outside of France. The only thing I don't love is the eggs benedict (the hollandaise sauce was a little sour tasting for me). Great place, superior service! I'll be back again and again....
Food: 8
Overall experience: 3
We came here between 1:00 and 1:30 on a Sunday and were quoted a fifteen minute wait yet actually had to wait forty-five minutes. There was no list, which may have resulted in people arriving after us yet being seated earlier. When we finally got to our table, no one bothered to clear away the used milk from the last group's coffee. We also waited a really long time for our food, which was not hot by the time it reached us. Despite its temperature, the omelet with mixed mushrooms was amazing--very fluffy, with good flavors. The salad was geneously portioned with a nice vinegarette, and the potatoes with carmelized onions were tasty. The bacon was just about as awful as it gets--fatty and simultaneously greasy and dried out because way overcooked. The mimosa was decent, but the bellini seemed like it was made with canned peach juice.
the steak here SUCKS. i didn't know it was possible to have a french bistro with shitty steak, but here you are. i've had steak frites for dinner and steak and eggs for brunch and both times the steak was tough and chewy. so, avoid that.
for brunch, everything else is pretty good. what makes this a definite brunch stop are the homemade chocolate croissants and the home fries which have the most amazing sweet mapley after taste... i don't know how they do it, but they are good.
also, if you are into bloody mary's, which i am, they have a decent one.
I went here a few nights ago with my boyfriend and had such a lovely time. As soon as we can afford it, we'll be back. It is a seductive and enchanting restaurant, especially for couples who want to hold hands and be all cheesy and romantic.
Having lived in Park Slope for my entire life, I always walked by this place but for some reason never went in. Making the spur of the moment choice was smart- it was a bit late, only about three or four other tables were occupied. It was dimly lit, the music was sweet and wistful but didn't interrupt anything, and the decor was unassumingly charming.
We decided to skip appetizers and order a bottle of wine instead. The cheapest bottle was a Riesling which the waiter warned was quite dry, although we found it smooth and not harsh in the slightest. I had the pan served lamb with a side of risotto. The lamb was cooked to perfection with a savory sauce, potatos, and spectacular pearl onions. My only issue was that the risotto was not as soft as I'm used to, but it still tasted wonderful.
My boyfriend had the duck, which was also great, although I focused mostly on my own dish. We didn't do dessert either (can you tell we're on a budget?) but the menu looked pretty good, I plan on trying the Creme Brulee next time.
All in all, one of the most pleasant dinners I've had in years.
I have never been to this establishment for lunch or dinner, however when it comes to Sunday Brunch, it doesn't get much better than Moutarde.
All eggy brunch options (eggs benedict, scrambled eggs with carmelized onions, eggs florentine, omelet with goat cheese, and more) are served with a delightful mesclun salad, and the most delicious home fried potatoes with carmelized onions.
In addition, the coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice here is to die for.
The atmosphere can be hectic on a Sunday morning, however the restaurant's design and decor is unique and over the top. Also, the bathroom downstairs is huge and glamourous.
The only complaint I have about Moutarde is that the service is not always the best. Some waiters are fantastic and attentive, while others are snooty and rude. But this is just a risk you'll have to take in order to experience the most delicious brunch food of your life.
My first experience with Moutarde was after a long and exhausting cross country drive wandering into the first place that felt homey. And yes, it might be, as someone said, the Ruby Tuesday of faux French country, but it does cozy well. But despite ravenous hunger, the unmemorable meal was kind of bad. Not horrific, but like deep in the realm of mediocrity that was sort of offensive at the relatively high prices.
Fast forward 5 years, running out brunch options and pressed for time, I wandered in for brunch and was pleasantly surprised. Service was pleasant and the Eggs Benedict were on the decent side. The hollandaise wasn't too watery and had a butteriness to it. Brunches come with home fries with lots of caramelized onions and a small side salad and is enough for a regularly hungry person. The additional pain au chocolat came, warm and oozing, with chocolatey goodness having gone through a magical shrinking machine. They aren't even that small in France!
Be warned that this has a high density of the stroller mafia presence but Moutarde makes up for it with a short wait.
The ambiance of Moutarde certainly reminds me of cafes in Paris, which is what drew me to the place. A variety of mustards accompanied by veggies (carrots, peppers, celery, etc) are served as you are seated, serving as a refreshing appetizer as you decide on your meal. I
've been satisfied with everything I've ever ordered, but would highly recommend any of the "Pan-Served" Entrees, which are certainly as rich as one would expect from French Cuisine. The desserts are just as rich as the meal, and certainly as delicious. Brunch is tasty, but not really on the top of my list for the neighborhood. They also do have a nice lunch menu with a variety of savory crepes (a personal fave) to choose from along with a more standard lunch fare. Overall, you can't go wrong with any meal here!
Great French Bistro - we went there for "Dine In Brooklyn" but we ended up opting for the regular menu. The other reviews were right, my husband had the shrimp with tarragon sauce & it was fabulous, but I definitely suggest pairing it with mashed potatoes and julienne vegetables. They are a great mix with the sauce. I had the scallops with lemon butter sauce and butternut squash. The sauce with the butternut was really good, and I love that the "pan seared" menu comes out with your own individual pan. It feels more authentic... maybe they just dump the sauce in a small pan before sending it out, but still, it makes me feel like in the chaos of such a busy place, they actually made me my own little plate.
Overall - PROS: Food is really good, authentic - they are even opening a second location in Paris. Ambience & decor is nice
CONS: Wine is a little pricey, and the waits on a Saturday can be insane! If you have reservations, don't be a second late - they bumped us after only being 5 minutes late...
Came here for brunch one Saturday and fell in love with this cute little corner french style bistro.
My wife and I each got the french toast with an order of iced coffees and one glass of freshly squeezed oj.
Besides the extremely loud and obnoxious people next to us, we enjoyed the place and will be back for more. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The french toast came out and we were loving it. Great presentation, powdered sugar sprinkled lightly with fresh pineapple,strawberries,oranges,cantaloupe and grapefruit poured over two pieces of baguette.
I then proceeded to devour the fruits and then drench my french toast in the syrup provided. Awesome!The iced coffees tasted great and were definitely nice on this 90 degree day. The oj was delicious and obviously not tropicana.
For all this it came to $28.72, yes a little high, but considering the rent cost of Park Slope and that I love to support local places it is worth it for me. Plus the food was good and the bistro is very welcoming. Great way to spend a few hours on a lazy day.
Went here for dinner tonight with a fairly big group. At 7:30 on a Saturday it was fairly empty. Bottom line, the food simply doesn't match the decor.
The restaurant is gorgeous both inside and out, so much so that I think they just used some exterior shots of it to double for Paris in some Hollywood movie.
All the pieces seem to be in place: A great looking menu, French waiter, etc. But when the food came, it just didn't look like something you'd expect from a Park Slope bistro.
Most of us ordered from the "Pan Served" section of the menu, meaning they put down a plate with the side dish in front of you, then plate the meat pieces and sauce around it from a pan. Something about the whole process seemed a little bit off. The plate they put down in a restaurant should have the whole dish on it. Most likely they do this to take pressure off the kitchen. Food itself was okay, nothing special. Tasted good, but it was just pieces of meat in sauce.
Compared to other places in the neighborhood that are actually doing some exciting with their cooking (Stone Park, etc), the chefs at Moutarde seem okay merely getting by. It attracts customers with the decor but forgets to serve them food that wows them.
This is, to be succinct, French done right.
I went to Moutarde last night with my girlfriend; we'd passed by a few times but neither of us had ever been there. What we found, though, was a pleasant surprise of a French restaurant without the inherent snootiness and price associated with French cuisine. The menu was robust and covered just about every imaginable facet of French cooking.
The menu was concise and accurately descriptive, and the dishes were surprisingly simple but brilliantly executed. We both had dessert (their chocolate molten cake was one of the best examples I've had) which was well worth the $7 or so for each dessert item on the menu.
Lastly, the staff was overly friendly without being intrusive--which makes it that much easier to tip nicely!
A friend and I wandered over here for a Saturday night dinner in town after 1st Night at the Brooklyn Museum.
We each enjoyed a smooth glass of Malbec and an appetizer of asparagus with morel sauce. I had the hangar steak au poivre, she had duck, and we topped it off by sharing a warm strawberry-ice cream-cookie thing for desert.
A tad pricey, but delicious, and great atmosphere (outdoor table) ... we're definitely coming back!
Biere de Garde: Beer Dinners!
Neighborhood: Nolita
Live Music and Drink Specials!
Brooklyn, NY
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: French
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: French
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Wine Bars
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