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Paradou
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch French, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
8 Little W 12th St(between 9th Ave & Washington St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhoods: West Village, Meatpacking District
(212) 463-8345
- Nearest Transit:
-
8 Av (L)
14 St (A, C, E)
14 St (1, 2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
235 reviews for Paradou
Review Highlights
"Unlimited champagne brunch."
(in 25 reviews)
"The Wake and Bake is to die for."
(in 13 reviews)
"They have a laid back garden at the back."
(in 13 reviews)
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235 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel H.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012
This review is for Brunch, which is $29 for an entree and unlimited champagne cocktails (until 6pm i think). I think if you have 8 or more it goes up to $32?
My girlsfriends and I have been there 2 or 3 times, and are obsessed! The rumors of live DJ, dancing on tables, and champagne being poured down your throught are very true. If you're not looking for a rowdy brunch experience - Paradou is not for you so please don't ruin our Sunday Funday!
Food:
-Get the burger. It is phenomenal.
-Pulled pork sliders are also great (I've had a few bites)...but I still always get the burger.
-Eggs/breakfast: only a few have gotten a breakfast dish and said they were okay, but were bummed they didn't opt for the burger or pulled pork :)
Cocktails:
-Pineapple and Mango are our faves, but they've run out of pineapple before though!
-Signature (I think pomegranate?) is really good too!
-Mimosa (i.e. OJ), we've never actually gotten...
-Peach (bellini) is just okay, basically tastes like champagne... -
Review from Tanya G.
Hoboken, NJ
1/25/2012
If you're looking to do Sunday Funday in the city, this is the brunch spot that should kick it all off. Paradou delivers a quaint, cozy atmosphere with a killer $29 Unlimited Champagne Brunch.
As we sat (BEWARE: you can only sit if your whole party is present during brunch), we were told we had a two hour champagne time limit from the time our first drink hit the table. Game on.
To our surprise, rather than bringing out wimpy, anorexic champagne flutes, our drinks came out in big and hefty bourdeux glasses filled 2/3 of the way with our imbibement of choice. Through the course of our two hours we got through the Mimosa, ParadouX, Chaperon Rouge, Kir Royal and Bellini. My favorites were the Kir Royal and ParadouX. The champagne stole the show, but the food was also good...
Cheese Plate: A selection of four French cheeses paired with four homemade confitures. All of the cheeses were excellent with rich flavors and elegant textures. And the confitures - WOW. So delicious that we ended up finishing them even though the cheese was gone.
Brunch Fare: I had the Oeufs Paradou (Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon), while my comrades both had omelettes. The poached eggs were delicate and runny, the omelettes were fluffy - it was well prepared though portions seemed less hearty than at other brunch spots.
If you want champagne with a side of good food, go to Paradou. -
Review from Kara C.
1/8/2012
Price: $30 for unlimited mimosas for brunch
+ = they seated us before all 10 for us were present for brunch
- = the portions were small and meals underwhelming except the big burger
+ = they charged no cake cutting fee for my friend's bday
+ = there was a dj. wait this could be a minus too. no wait plus because he shouted out my bday friend.
- = one bathroom. like 1 toilet. sigh.
+ = unlimited pitchers of mimosas - orange, grapefruit, strawberry...
++++ = i am still really tipsy 5 hours later.Listed in: Brunch
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Review from Bryan K.
Sacramento, CA
1/7/2012
So this is my first review on a restaurant on here, and over the past three weeks I've been all over the place between San Francisco, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, and New York City. I really had to take a moment to think about the first review I wanted to write. I wanted to capture an experience that I would always remember.
When I really thought about it from that angle, I chose Paradou in the Meat Packing District in NYC.
I chose this place for a few reasons - the food, the mimosas, the ambiance, the service - but most importantly because this was the first place I ate at in 2012.
You would think that on the first Sunday of the year, a place to find brunch in NYC with endless mimosas would be hard to find, and it was. That was my first impression of this "hidden treasure."
How could there be an open reservation on New Years Day if this place is as good as people say it is? Right?
But I concluded by the end of my experience that it was because it isn't as well known as some of the other "hot spots" are within the city. Well, hopefully this review will help people choose this spot in the future.
Let's start with the drinks... I mean, to be honest, what else are you really thinking about in New Years? For $29 you were able to get your meal AND endless mimosas... now I was even more skeptical.
The really cool part about these mimosas was the ability to get them flavored, and not have to commit to one specific flavor for your entire experience.
One of the benefits of going places with great friends, is the ability to pass different flavors/foods around to ensure everyone get the "match" they are looking for.
I choose my comfort flavor of peach and it did not disappoint.
The strawberry one was a close second, followed by the mango.
The one waiter was so great, that he began to realize our need of refills as we hit the halfway mark on our glasses and immediately there was another one waiting for us!
Nice job!
Now onto the menu... there were so many great items to choose from.
There were three that I was debating between the "Wake and Bake" which was served with creamy polenta, the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, and the Duck Reuben. Being the sucker you will eventually learn that I am, I chose the Pulled Pork. The pork was so tender and the BBQ Sauce was the right mix of sweet and tangy that it matched perfectly with the butter baked bun they served it with.
Heaven. And I am picky about good pulled pork. I even took a picture of it because it was so good.
Two of my other friends order the Wake and Bake which was equally as good. I mean if you can't find grits for breakfast, creamy polenta is the next best option.
I never had creamy polenta before, but it will an item I will order on the next menu I see it on.
As we sat there, four friends, on the first day of the year, reminiscing about past stories, the previous year's highs and lows, and the night we just recovered from, we did it in a cute, comfy back patio (heated of course) with attentive service, full glasses of sweetness, and great comfort food.
What a great way to start 2012. :) -
Review from Elle T.
New York, NY
1/31/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Went this past Sunday (1/29) and having read reviews prior I was honestly not expecting much..but was drawn in by the unlimited champagne cocktails anyway. Had a late reservation and besides a 5 min delay we were seated at a comfortable table. In addition, while waiting for the table we were allowed to begin enjoying champagne cocktails of our choice. Once seated we were served very promptly, the waiter was really nice, and the food came out much quicker than expected (restaurant was full and there were a lot of large parties so we were impressed). Ordered the duck reuben and I loved it. Friend ordered the pulled pork sliders and was a fan as well. Overall I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back!
-
Review from Katie S.
New York, NY
12/12/2011
Sunday brunch at garden seats with dj spinning live is really great! I was late to my reservation but the manager is really nice and find us a table quickly.
Very nice wine selection PLUS Fantastic foie gras creations. Cocktails could be more creative, I would just go for the wine next time... -
Review from Steve S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/6/2012
Seemingly gazing at the Meatpacking District in dissaproval, Paradou is quite the gem in a sea of unwarranted chest-puffing. The restaurant tries to convey that French cuisine should be fun rather than boringly exclusive. Unlike the black cars delivering their weekly doses of narcisism to the MPD, you know you have arrived when you are eating tartar indoors under a tree.
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Review from Dan W.
PRINCE, NY
1/30/2012
I would stay clear of this place. If you're looking to do a weekend brunch - go elsewhere. The food isn't good, the service people plain rude. Had a big party there a few days ago - most of the people agreed not to come back. Very disappointed. Overhyped, overpriced and unpleasant service. Maybe it's ok for a couple to go but for parties - steer clear!
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Review from Bonnie P.
Manhattan, NY
11/9/2011
I can't even fully remember what the food tasted like at this place so I'm guessing it was mediocre. That is how strong their drinks are! I came here on a Saturday with a reservation and was seated right away even though the rest of my party was late. Once everyone got there, the drinks kept flowing. Definitely come here if you plan on starting day drinking the right way!
$29 for unlimited champagne drinks + entree = happy people -
Review from Nathaniel Z.
WALL STREET, NY
11/6/2011
Let me start by saying this place has some amazing dishes. I strongly recommend the chef's foie gras menu, its amazing steaks and the delicious Salmon tartar. The wine list is nothing less but impressive and the chef came out several time to thank us and recommend us the "plat du jour".
Now, sadly, the service is simply HORRIBLE! the waiters couldn't care less about our orders, they didn't know what to recommend and getting their attention was a serious task. They virtually threw the dishes on our table and ignored us after. i mean one of the waiters was sitting on the bar with his blonde girlfriend, WHILE he was still working! Other waiters went out for cigarettes, near the entrance, again, all while working!
I feel bad for the chef, working so hard, to have his dishes served by a team like that. Obviously there is no correlation between the quality of food and the service level, i hope Paradou does something about it VERY soon, as it seems this is a recurring problem. -
Review from Jacob D.
Chicago, IL
12/21/2011
Dishonest about prices, overpriced, cold food, too loud music. Wouldn't recommend.
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Review from Anastacia S.
New York, NY
10/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm a fan for Paradou for weekend brunch. If you're organizing a birthday party or large group celebration, they make it simple, go to their website and they break down the cost for the unlimited drinking brunch based on party size. YOU DO NEED A RESERVATION FOR WEEKEND BRUNCH. Don't even try walking in without one even if you're group is 2. The food is average, but the never ending cocktails and the great staff make it a perfect spot to recover from the night before, or to start your night early...as in Noon :-)
NOTE: If booking for a party of 6 or more they require a credit card to hold the reservation, if you don't provide this they'll give away your table despite the email confirmations to the contrary.
I had to update from 4 stars to 5 after the AMAZING service we received on our last visit. Our party was very late and then was larger than our reservation, and they were over accommodating, I couldn't believe it! I already loved this place and now, I can't think of a reason to not come here! And I want to try dinner, they have a Monday night wine special!Listed in: The More the Merrier! Let's…
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Review from Fergus O.
New York, NY
11/30/2011
Don't miss this fantastic gem of a restaurant just across from the hustle and bustle of "Pastis" on Little West 12th. I loved the oh so slightly communal style of dining in this fondly intimate and charmingly appointed space. And just enough style to compliment the down to earth vibe. I was there with a friend for a walk-in Sunday brunch where the food and service was both professional and friendly, and never phony. Although I was not a regular I felt like one the instant I sat down. This is a rare breed of restaurant. My only complaint is that I'm a big eater. I found the portions to be a bit small.
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Review from Elizabeth O.
Manhattan, NY
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
All you can drink Mimosas on Sundays is great. I ordered the sausage and eggs in the tomato and onion stew. It was good but definitely needed some bread to go along with it which we didn't get until we asked for it towards the end of our meal.
There was also a pesky little fly bugging us the entire time. Also, there is only one bathroom so my friend had to go across the street and actually came back to the table faster than another of our friends that got up at the same exact time.
Overall, great time with friends and everyone there is just happy to be there with who they're there with. -
Review from Brittanie M.
Manhattan, NY
9/10/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Came here a couple months ago with my boyfriend for unlimited champagne brunch and had a great time. Service was prompt and the food was good. I walked out a bit tipsy having had a good experience.
Fast forward to my most recent visit and it was dramatically different. I went with a good friend and my boyfriend. We sat for almost 15 minutes waiting for our server to acknowledge our presence. They finally filled our glasses with water and there was crap floating in each of our glasses. Gross! They dropped bread off to our table and the ramekin with the butter was dirty. Food was not as good as I remembered. Sad, because I really enjoyed my first time here. -
Review from Ryan E.
Brooklyn, NY
5/14/2011
Oh, Paradou... what has happened to you?
I visited Paradou some months ago for brunch and had a really lovely time with my friend. The service was good and I remembered the food being nice as well, so I was looking forward to coming back for the $29 champagne brunch with another friend.
Apparently that was a big mistake.
From the moment we arrived, virtually everything was wrong. My reservation, made days in advance, had mysteriously been changed to a totally different time unbeknownst to me. But that was just a small kink--we were still seated.
The service was utterly terrible. We sat waiting for menus for nearly ten minutes, with the servers and hostess breezing right past our very cramped corner table numerous times. Finally we placed our orders but we were sorely disappointed with the food--bland, bland, bland. The pulled pork sliders were completely tasteless, aside from a thin slice of random red onion, and my friend's steak was tough, overcooked and greasy--and bland to boot.
The bathroom was a disaster and utterly disgusting. There were puddles of urine all over the floor, blood from... someplace I don't particularly care to contemplate running down the side of the toilet, and the stench was just overpowering.
When we finally left, we were actually followed out the door by our apathetic server who had spent over half of our brunch sitting behind the bar drinking and staring into space--he wanted to know why the tip we left was so small (it was 15%!). Who does that?!
I'm really sad to say that this place has changed for the worse. After today's fiasco, I definitely won't be going back anytime soon. -
Review from Craig S.
New York, NY
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Read lots of Yelps about bad service, etc, after making res... Should have listened, and gone elsewhere!
Food was ok. We were sat next to the door, and I was hit about 5 times by women's bags as they came and left, so that didn't help. Sticky table... Oddly slow.... crazy slow service. Empty finished app plates left in front of us for over 20 mins waiting for entree.
Not worth it for mediocre (overpriced) french fare. Obnoxious crowd, but it is meatpacking, so that's expected. Never again. -
Review from Kristin G.
White Plains, NY
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice for dinner too, not just brunch. Our group of 9 had a great time late on a Sat night and enjoyed everything we got. It was a welcome respite from the mayhem of the meatpacking district.
My favorite was the tomato/goat cheese salad. A little different than what I was expecting, but very very tasty! -
Review from Leesa R.
New York, NY
5/22/2011
I'm a big fan of boozy brunches and I have to say Paradou has the best I've found in the city. The lamb burger is to die for and they really don't hold back on the unlimited champagne cocktails. If anything you have to be cautious about not drinking too much, as they WILL get you in the end.
Sometimes the crowd can be a bit B&T, but overall I always have a blast and my friends and I always leave happily buzzed and full.
Also, I've been coming here for years and many of the waiters have remained the same--they are always welcoming and very nice! -
Review from David S.
Manhattan, NY
9/11/2011
It's NYC, there are so many better options!
Nobody got food poisoning, that's the only positive thing about our experience.
The reservation process is unreliable. Do not assume that because you make a reservation that any other person at the restaurant will be aware of that fact when you arrive.
The service is nonexistent, then slow, and then indifferent.
Owners/Management will not be bothered with you. They must be betting that their trendy location will be enough to keep the business flowing. I wish I would have read the other reviews on here prior to trying Paradou.
Don't waste your time or your calories. -
Review from Noph H.
Manhattan, NY
2/24/2011
Ohhh, I love Paradou!
Always good food, good ambiance and great vibe. It is a little bit expensive, so I can only go on a special occasion, but still. Great cheese collection, amazing confitures, my favorite is a pineapple lavender, oh my!
Champagne is always tasty, and since I am a vegetarian, the chef makes me a special, I am so lucky! Great grilled veggies, couscous, goat cheese and what not.
The deserts are awesome, had an apple crepe which was so delicious, and once a white fluffy soft meringue with white peaches...
Well will go soon!
N -
Review from Ro N.
New York, NY
12/16/2010
I can't remember exactly what I ate here, but after all the fashion extravaganza in the Meat Packing district...C and I were so freaking hungry.
We were pretty drunk when we got here, so we pretty much wanted to eat everything.
We shared the octopus appetizer and it was freaking amazing! We shared another seafood dish and I remember it was really good, but I don't see it on their menu....so not sure what it was exactly.
C loves meat, so our third dish was pork loin! *sigh* I am not a big meat eater, since I love my seafood...but I compromised!
The pork loin was good, but just a bit too heavy for me.
Bread is magnificent here!!!! -
Review from Tracey P.
Brooklyn, NY
3/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I came for brunch hungry and left wasted.
Just go ahead, make a reservation and stay for the full 2 hours.
They are anything but stingy with the Champagne!
If you're looking for a boozy brunch with good food this is the place.
So why only 3 stars....
They only have 1 bathroom!
One??!!
It was like being at a "club" at noon,
Dancing in line to keep from peeing my pants.
I didn't thought.
I just kept drinking.
AND
They had a very loud DJ in the back room.
Made it difficult to chitty chat.
But if I need to get wasted on a Sunday, I'll totally go back. -
Review from Jenna B.
New York, NY
9/12/2011
I'll start by saying that they lost my reservation, but after I showed them my confirmation and reminder from the day before they were quick to seat us right away (despite being very busy). So a huge plus for that.
It's a great atmosphere for brunch, and we had a great experience here. The portions can be a little on the small side, and my friend's food came a little cold, but we enjoyed everything. I will say they definitely gave us our fair share of unlimited drinks, though!
Only thing keeping me from giving this place 4 stars is that on my first trip there my table got "cut off" after only having 2 mimosas. I guess we were laughing a little loud, but certainly did not need to be told we'd had our share of drinks! -
Review from Cheryl D.
Trenton, NJ
9/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Love this place, 2 hour boozy brunch with an entree and endless champagne drinks (I like the belini) for $30!!! The pulled pork sliders are good (potatoes that come with it are yummy). I've sat in the front and I've sat in the back. The back gets REALLY loud and tables are very close together. Same for sitting in the front. The service is o.k. you don't really notice b/c you are drinking excessively while waiting for your food. I've been there on a Sat. and on a Sun. service was better on Saturday guess it just depends on who you get, my glass never went empty and usually they'll just put a pitcher of your drink of choice on your table so you can help yourself. There's only one small bathroom and there's always a line. Overall, it's a good place for a boozy brunch for the right price. Most boozy brunches have a 2 drink max and charge more.
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Review from Debra G.
New York, NY
8/15/2011
umm .. nope
used to be a favorite brunch spot but this place blows now. the food used to be great, it's just ok now. the service is horrible. and to make it worse, it now seems to attract jersey-girls who get more than their fill on the unlimited brunch cocktails.
there are too many other great choices for brunch in the neighborhood to ever have to go here. -
Review from Lorena C.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2011
I wish there was a 0 star rating cause that's what this place deserves. The food was aight, nothing special at all and definitely not worth the hassle. We made reservations for a friends 30th brunch celebration on a Saturday. We confirmed by phone and email the day before and when we got there the day of- the reservations had magically been cancelled. We were annoyed but shrugged it off when they told us they would figure it out and seat us. They gave us a table in the back and we were totally fine with that. At that point the only issue with the place was that the music was WAYYYY too loud but if we hadnt had to deal with such horrible service, we would have let that go too.
Apparently they have a hard two hour limit for brunch customers. That's definitely something that should be made clear to people ahead of time. We were there to celebrate an important birthday and were eating and drinking enough to make it worth their while but when the time came for us to order desert the waiter told us he couldn't give us a menu. We thought he was joking because clearly the reason we were even still there after 2 hours was because the service was SOOO painfully SLOW. We had casually asked for the dessert menu 30 minutes before when they started taking away dishes but I guess he forgot- they seem to only be able to handle 2 requests at a time (had to ask for tea 3 separate times). I guess because they knew it was my friend's birthday, they just came out with some chocolate thing to try to pacify us.
That only made us want to see the desert menu more so when we asked for it again (we really thought they were kidding) they told us they couldn't give us one because they needed our table for another party and needed us to leave. We could not believe they actually said it and didn't really take it seriously. We had 2 carafes half full and were still drinking. We saw another party come to the back- it looked like they had 2pm reservations. They had them start sitting at the tables right next to us and some of them were standing around waiting for our table- really strange. Then about 7-10 minutes later (maybe it was 2:15 at this point) the owner Leo came over and said hi guys, we really need you to head out- we need your table. We looked at him like he had 3 heads. We said, we're still drinking and would like a desert menu. He said "Well we need your table". After some harsh words, he said "Stop being a nuisance and leave" and that's not rephrased at all. At that point we asked him for his name and warned him that he'd be getting some nasty reviews on yelp. All he said was great get out.
I've NEVER been treated like that in a restaurant before and as a business owner cannot imagine ever treating a customer like that.
There are so many other brunch places you can go to with better food and better service so save yourself the hassle and avoid this place at all costs. I can't wait to hear they're out of business-it'll happen soon enough.
Here are some options:
The Collective is awesome http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Bar Suzette- http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Abe & Arthur- http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Villa Pacri- http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Cara A.
7/22/2010
July 14, 2010. It was both Bastille Day AND my friend J's 30th birthday. And she is always down for a place that's in the MPD and/or has attitude.
A problem: The waitstaff seem to lack lateral thinking skills. Either that, or the owner doesn't allow it. But I want to promise the guys at Paradou that the world will not come to an end if you ever-so-slightly alter a dish, or (gasp) bring everything to the table at the same time, if requested, when two out of 5 in a party order several appetizers rather than one main. It was a little awkward for R and I to sit there with our salads and ravioli for 25 minutes while we waited for the others' chickens and fishies to come out.
Another problem: Ca coute cher.
On the brighter side, the beet ravioli were pretty tasty. Oui, je l'aime.
The outdoor patio is tres lovely, and a tight squeeze. This can be a good, convivial thing, or it can be stifling. In our case, it was mostly the former. We happened to be seated next to an outing of the (all male, interestingly enough) New York Bordeaux Society, whose members generously shared plenty of vin avec nous.
A votre sante! -
Review from Michael K.
New York, NY
1/14/2011
I went here last night, and I really liked it. We had some mussels to start. My girlfriend said, "dang! these mussels are way better than the ones I had at The Place last week," and I would agree even though I didn't have mussels at The Place last week, but I trust that she knows what she's talking about when it comes to mussels.
Then, I had something that I don't know the name of, but it was described to me as a "French Shepard's Pie," and it was awesome!!! Man, I wish that I was more hungry by the time I got to this, but I think I ate a lot of mussels, and I also ate a ton of almonds and walnuts while I was waiting for my dining partner to get ready to go, so that may have filled me up a little. I also had some bread that they gave us at the beginning, which was really good but what a mistake. They should give you bread after in case you're still hungry and not before because then you just fill up on the bread!
I used to be told not to spoil my dinner with cheese and crackers, and I think I took that as a challenge. I mean, I was definitely gonna spoil my dinner, and no one was gonna stop me. I think I still feel that way and am determined to spoil my dinner with almonds, walnuts and bread any time I think about being told not to do it.
I should note that I ate the almonds and walnuts at home, and they do not serve them at Paradou.
There is a sign outside that says "we're not fancy, but we're good" or something along those lines. I think that's a good description. It's a small little place, and we sat at a table near the door, so it was a bit cold around my ankles, but I think a table closer to the back or in the middle would fix that...or come here when it's warmer.
We also had the asparagus, which was tasty though she didn't like it. She had the vegetable couscous I think is what it was called. It was alright, but my french Shepard's Pie was a lot better. The wine was good too though they were out of my first choice, which was described as "intense."
It was somewhat pricey but not really out of line for area, and I'd go back again.
The waitress was very nice though she couldn't explain the garlic soup to us and just said it was garlic soup, and I don't know what that means. Just garlic? And then with some soup? I dunno. I didn't order it. -
Review from Leslie W.
Manhattan, NY
5/22/2011
Ladies beware!! Came here for a birthday brunch celebration and 1/2 of us left with more than enough of the unlimited champagne cocktails in our systems. And There was this one hispanic food runner who was about 5'8 or 5'9 with a stocky build wearing a white abercombie long sleeved shirt who took it upon himself to go out is his way to hold on to the arms of a few of my friends including myself who were not directly blocking his food running pathway, even if we were a simple excuse me would have done the trick. Way Too much of repeated Unnecessary touching. I even caught him getting too close to my drunk friend who was alone by the restroom for a few mins. And he decided to stare at me three times from the kitchen curtain after I stood by the bathroom door waiting for my gf to come out of the bathroom. I was completely sober and not stupid that he was looking for an opportunity to take advantage of inebriated women. Unfortunately this one pig ruined my experience here.
If u see this one pig, ladies I hope u dont have the same experience and if u do i hope you scream dont effin touch me. Other than that, The food was good and the music was loud! I couldn't hear myself talk. -
Review from Karyna K.
New York, NY
10/4/2010
MY HEAD HURTS MR DJ...
I walked into Paradou with a splitting headache hoping for a serene French cafe experience, but unfortunately I left there with my brain pounding at higher decibels.
The only table available was out the back in the courtyard & since I was famished decided to take it. The atmosphere was nice but the way too loud club music ruined it. I could barely hear what was coming out of my mouth let alone what was being shouted my way across the table.
I scoured the menu in hope of finding a section selling an assortment of painkillers but to no avail.
The food was good but if the meals were served with noise canceling headphones, advil, a dark room, or a hammer to smash my head in, it would have tasted better. -
Review from Kunal S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/28/2011
Decent food, horrible service.
I don't usually write reviews, but felt obligated to do so after a particularly weird experience at Paradou. Given that I'm not from NYC, I'd rather post this as questions to New Yorkers on whether this kind of service is the norm, or the blame lies entirely on our group for our experience (or lack thereof):
1. Is it common for a restaurant to remind you incessantly that you have 2 hours- then 1 hour- then 30 minutes remaining for you to finish your brunch? We'd hoped to be able to relax and catch up with our friends at our own pace- should we have been informed while making a reservation that it lasted for EXACTLY 2 hours?
2. Does tipping anything less than 20% result in public humiliation? I always overtip, but somehow did the math wrong and put down a seemingly unforgivable 13% tip while signing the check. While leaving the restaurant, I get tapped on the shoulder by the waited to step back inside, and am asked "Can I ask why you left this tip? My manager will think I have you bad service". I was literally forced to give more tip.
3. Should replacing an entre with a salad always equal the cost of the entre PLUS the cost of the salad? My girlfriend informed me later that she'd been to Paradou a few months ago, ordered the pre fixe menu but requested that the 15 dollar entre be replaced with the 9 dollar salad, and was later told she'd have to be charged for both since it was "off the menu".
I'm sure we were cheap and demanding unreasonable service. Thank you, Paradou for reminding us that
a) Having reservations doesn't entitle you to taking your time in eating your food- you have to pack in as many people as possible into a day
b) Overtipping is mandatory at Paradou- willingly or otherwise
c) Be prepared to pay for what you eat, and what you don't, at Paradou -
Review from Heather H.
New York, NY
7/22/2010
First impression: Dinner
I found the kerfuffle last year to be hilarious - "What an asshole!...How could that guy be such a horrible person?...Those poor servers, they must only stay because they can't find another job in this economy!...We should boycott Paradou, that'll show him!...ETC."
For me, it just brought to my attention that Paradou had a whole menu devoted to foie gras, so I was happy to find an excuse to dine there last weekend. My experience can be summed up with four words, "Duck parts are delicious." -
Review from Claire F.
Updated - 7/22/2010
Note to self & Yelp: if the fish tastes a little like dishwater, no it's not that you're just drunk on the delicious and affordable rose, it probably fell on the floor or something -- so don't eat it, you loon!
Boy did I learn my lesson :-/1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/14/2010
I've been to Paradou a few times for events and other times just for dinner on a random weeknight.… Read more »
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Review from Scott F.
New York, NY
6/21/2010
I WILL NEVER GO TO THIS PLACE AGAIN.
I showed up on Father's Day for my 1:15 reservation with my wife, three kids, my parents, my brother and his wife. We sat down, ordered some drinks and they brought us some bread. We ordered our meal and waited for a while. Finally at about 2:00, the hostess came by and apologized that their exhaust system had failed and they could not cook anything.
I understand that this was somewhat out of their control, but it would have been nice at least if the manager of the restaurant came by in person. On a big day like Father's Day, you'd think they would make sure that everything was in working order.
Needless to say I will NEVER go back there. -
Review from Rachel D.
Manhattan, NY
11/11/2011
Unlimited champagne cocktail brunch for $29, this alone deserves 3 stars!
The place is tiny, and the waiters/hostesses are among some of the most unfriendly I've ever met. I was ignored for at least 10min, even though she was standing at the station, I was standing right infront of her but she just kept looking down at her pad, or whatever it was she was looking at, she even caught my eye a few times but never acknowledged me until I said "excuse me" at least 3 times. And even then, she almost glared at me, as if it is my fault for daring to interrupt her when she is busy standing around and doing nothing. I understand it is busy and they are probably not ever really short of business, but that still does not give them the right to be so snotty. We had a reservation and was made to wait which was fine, but the table that was supposed to be ours just kept on getting more alcohol topped up, I guess because they were either regulars or had spent a lot of money so the staff was reluctant to usher them out..
Unfortunately by this point, my mood was already completely spoilt by being told to move, and move, and move again because it was so busy. By the time we'd sat down and had our first drink (absolutely delicious!) and ordered food (mediocre at best), I felt a whole lot better. Just wish we didn't have to deal with the completely unhelpful and incompetent staff members. -
Review from b k.
New York, NY
8/8/2011
They were extremely nice- they squeezed an extra person into our party at the last minute, and when we were too hot outside, allowed us to move inside. The unlimited brunch cocktails are good- not at all watered down. I suggest trying the one with fresh strawberries. The food was good, though it took them a long time to make it. But that said, this was a great brunch place.
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Review from Kathryn W.
San Diego, CA
5/4/2011
Was in NY on vacation with my boyfriend and we wandered into Paradou on a Tuesday night, happy but starving and tired from walking all day. The place was packed and there was only one little table left open, but it was only the two of us, so we took it and had no wait. The service was good, waiter was attentive and quick to fill up the water and bring the bread. We ordered the peach bellinis I believe, which were very good and then had an okay appetizer...the eggplant w/goat cheese thing. Then came the entrees which were FABULOUS. I don't remember the French names on the menu, but I ordered the roast chicken w/ truffle mashed potatoes and ratatouile and my bf had the steak with potatoes au gratin....... Both amazing but mine was the best chicken I have ever eaten. No exaggeration. My boyfriend agreed. I only took off one star bc of the mediocre appetizer and bc there's only like 6 or 8 tables inside this place. No biggie, but I can't imagine what it's like there on a weekend night.
Note: do NOT fill up on the bread! The drinks and one or two appetizers are perfect , and the entrees are worth being a little hungry for.
Yes it is a really small place, so it's probably a good idea to have a reservation. We were seated really close to another couple but it is small inside and we didn't mind being cozy, so not a big deal for us. Will be back later this year, will try the champagne brunch then! -
Review from Sascha M.
5/11/2010
Right in the heart of MEPA, near every store which makes me go broke. I absolutely adore outdoor aycd brunch. Paradou's outdoor back garden is beautiful and the waiters are cute and sweet. On my last brunch visit my waiter was sad when we left.
The one con is they get pretty crowded and you are very close to the tables next to yours. The unlimited champagne brunch for under $30 makes up for this. I love champagne cocktails at brunch time and the strawberry one is pretty good, although I usually like to try one or two different types instead of sticking with the same drink for two hours. The food is rich and yummy. The "wake and bake" is perfect when you are in the mood for eggs. The quiche of the day is also quite yummy, albeit very rich.
After I 'm thoroughly tipsy and full, it's time to head off to Scoop, Yigal Azrouël, La Perla, Diane von Furstenberg, Catherine Malandrino, Stella McCartney, and Jeffrey to spend money on beautiful clothes. Yes, after brunch I did need 5 matching bras and panties and a sexy cocktail dress to wear that night with shoes to go with it of course.Listed in: Brunch in the City
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Review from Thuy P.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/26/2010
Everyone talks about the rude, obnoxious and rushed service and the lack of a manager at Paradou. Despite all the negative reviews regarding service, I still had an urge and nagging curiousity to sample the french food here. So I booked a reservation at my own risk.
I arrived on time with a small party of 5 for dinner on a Saturday night. We had reservations for 7:30pm, and waited about 5 minutes for our table to be ready, so far so good. The hostess was friendly. They sat us out in the covered garden, it was cute and lit up with white lights. Luckily for us, our waitress wasn't rude or pushy like some yelpers have claimed.
I'm rating strictly on the food: presentation and taste. Ehhh, let's just say everything tasted sub par to me. The tuna tartare wasn't anything spectacular. Actually, it wasn't even good. It tasted very bland and not so fresh. Presentation was pretty though. The sea scallops entree wasn't anything amazing either. Again, presentation was pretty. The menu sounded and read "french". However, when the dishes arrived, they didn't taste "french" one bit. Overall, the food at Paradou is tasteless, boring, and worse of all overpriced. I have not been back since... even for their unlimited champagne brunch that everyone talks about.
