Petite Abeille
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/TriBeCa134 W Broadway
(between Duane St & Thomas St)
New York, NY 10013 (212) 791-1360
- Nearest Transit:
Chambers St-W Broadway (1, 2, 3)
Chambers-St-Park Pl (2, 3, A, C, E)
City Hall-Broadway (R, W)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: Full Bar
43 Reviews for Petite Abeille
We sat in a cozy corner at this cute restaurant on a thursday night. Everyone in there seemed to be be having a good time. Lights were low but not too low. The waitress was very nice, even though she was having trouble remembering some of our order items. I had a couple of items. My starter dish was smoked salmon and sea bass? (i know i should check the menu online!). It was delicious. It was on top of some fennel which balanced the smoked flavor of both fish. After that i went for the Steak. I was in that kind of red meat mood. It was New York Strip with a mushroom sauce on top. It was cooked to order. While the cut of meat was nice, even though on the tough side, it didnt have any flavor of its own, which was disappointing. The sauce was nice, but not enough to make the dish stand out. We had a good time though and my gf was happy with her food. Nice Belgian beers at hand we enjoyed ourselves.
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Op uw gezondheid!
And, A Votre Sante!
OK, that's how to say cheers when you're in Belgium (at least that's what a quick web search told me).
This is a nice choice if you're planning to meet a friend who works down around here. An unpretentious, not outrageously expensive place in an area not known for being unpretentious and inexpensive.
Half price Belgian beers Monday nights! Other specials on other nights -- like all you can eat mussels. Not too shabby.
A fine place to sit at the bar, try some Belgian beers and share an order of really tasty calamari and fries.
But, in the words of Oliver Twist: Please, Sir, may we have some more (fries)...? Order was kind of small.
Friendly bartendress helped us out with her good beer recommendations.
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Hard to believe it's taken me this long to review this place. I recently came here for a late dinner with a friend, and I must say, it was MUCH better than my last experience here (brunch, disaster, enough said). The good thing about dinner, in addition to their nightly specials, is the absence of annoying stroller moms with a sense of entitlement.
While I've tried a few things on their menu over the years, I am particular to their moule frites. Some visits have brought upon a higher quality of mussels than others, but overall, they're pretty tasty and on all you can eat night, you're guaranteed to overdose on the stuff. Perhaps that's just me being overly gluttonous. The half-priced Belgian beers (of which the selection is excellent) on Monday nights is one of my favourite specials in the city.
I don't bother with brunch here ever anymore. While the food is pretty decent, the service and clientele leave much to be desired. There are too many other good options to bother with that kind of headache on a weekend day when you're already battling a hangover.
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It is very hard to pick a locale to be your 100th review. You want it to be somewhere special, somewhere interesting... but if it was so special and interesting, why didn't you review it in the last 99 reviews?
I considered hole-in-the-wall pizza places, bars I've been to a couple of times, restaurants I worked at back home and finally decided to review my dry cleaner, who I see more of than anyone in my family. Then I was making dinner plans for this evening with a friend and suggested that we go to Petite Abeille for some mussels because it's great and one of my favorites and suddenly, like a beacon in the night I had my 100th review. *END VERBOSE INTRODUCTION.*
*START VERBOSE REVIEW* This location of Petite Abeille is like an upscale Belgian diner. Many people choose to sit at the bar and there are some small tables throughout and in front of the restaurant. Everything I have had has been very good: Croque Madame (ham, cheese and sunny-side-up eggs on thick, pressed bread), the Belgian waffle dessert, the steak au poivre (so tender).The selling point for me are the mussels. They're always plump and sweet and they come in a bunch of sauces though I'm partial to a standard wine and garlic.
The selection of beers is very good (all Belgian) and the bartenders are eager to help you select a pint. Service is very friendly and attentive and I'm amazed at how quickly the tables turn there without ever making you feel rushed.
They have a bunch of deals that I've never taken advantage of (all-you-can-eat mussels seems crazy to me because their regular portions are so huge, but there are also 1/2 price bottle of wine nights and other promotions listed on the website.) Petite Abeille is my answer to a quick bite and is a staple of the Gina NYC Diet.
Thank you. *TAKES BOW.*
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I had brunch here on Saturday and was pleased with everything. I had an omelette with the stoemp - oh my God, the stoemp! It was DELICIOUS, I would go back for that alone. Never knew a carrot/potato combo could taste so great. Plus the mimosas are quite delightful. Petite Abeille is so cute and has outside seating so you can enjoy the warm weather, plus the waiters are all so wonderful and friendly - especially the nutty manager (in a good way!), Endymion. And how can you not love a place called Little Bee!
Went here last night for their 1/2 price wine night and got a LOT of food -
Started w/ cheese croquettes and mushroom pastry thing (I didn't order it so i'm not sure what it's called on the menu) and then followed that up with two pots o' mussels - the traditional kind (first option) and also the creamy beer and bacon kind. Both were fresh and awesome - in an "I just drank a bottle of wine by myself" kind of way. The bf had the steak au poivre which was also made to order and perfectly delicious. I really think it was a fantastic deal - and with tip it was just over $200 for 6 of us, so not really breaking the bank either.
Go!
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I had the Soup of the day, the carrot soup, which was good but a bit too sweet. I don't think even a true organic carrot can taste that sweet., which means they added a bit of sugar. In my books thats a taboo if you're offering some high-end food, which was their selling point....i think.
But the atmosphere and the service made up for it.
So food is 3 stars since my friends food was good
and 4 for Atmosphere and service.
So really a 3.5. I'm being cheap, sorry, but I was upset.
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Tin-tin.
Have I ever mentioned that Tin-Tin is freaking awesome? Well he is.
My sis and her boyfriend took me here for brunch. It was pretty awesome. When we first got there, things wer a bit chaotic. Everybody was just milling around but when we got to our seats, everything got better.
The food was fast, hot, and amazing. 'Nuff said. Go there, get brunch, leave happy.
Love a quality place that has daily specials!! There is a half price beer night, an all you can eat mussels and fries night, etc.
Wide selection of belgian wheat beers (similar to Blue Moon for those who are less familiar).
GREAT brunch place as well. Bring a partner and split the eggs benedict with black forest ham and the belgian waffles with strawberries.
Can't say enough...
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I like Petite Abeille because it offers up charm and good food at somewhat reasonable prices amid the numerous expensive dining options in Tribeca. If you come here you have to get the fries! Another nice thing about this place is the specials: On Mondays, all Belgian beers are half price, wines are half off on Tuesdays and Wednesday is the day for all-you-can-eat mussels for $19.95.
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This is my new favorite Tribeca brunch/lunch place. We ordered waffles with strawberries and the flemish beef stew (odd combo, I know), and both were exceptional. The service was great too...friendly and fast, and a lot cheaper than some other places in the neighborhood. Highly recommend it.
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Ahh, another casual brunch/lunch spot on my list! Though I'm not at all familiar with Belgian cuisine, I'd go back here for their solid omelets, salads and sandwiches - such as the grilled croques and the healthier chicken & avocado sandwich. The drinks are pretty reasonable, too, with 1/2 specials on Monday and Tuesday nights.
The service can get a tad slow, but that's probably because it's usually very crowded here. Glad they have several branches in Manhattan...and wait, all-you-can-eat mussels on Wednesday? I'd better mark my calendar quick!
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Popped in here because it was cute. My b/f and I wanted to get something to drink after a long day of walking.
The wine and beer selection was impressive! I had the Lindeman's Framboise (raspberry flavored beer) and he had the Stella on draft. Mine was good! (note to self: must find this back home and stock fridge. oh yeah, hide from the housemates too!)
We shared the buffalo frog legs with carrots and ranch sauce. It was good but could have been better if it was more spicy.
Service was great! I like it when restaurants leave a pitcher (or this case, a carafe) of water at the table. So much nicer for an avid water drinker like myself!
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Had a pretty awful experience here!
Got there about 6pm on a hot Saturday night, after several hours of walking around. Not hungry for dinner yet, we needed some refreshments. Looking like a European-style cafe, with outdoor seating, we asked if we could sit outside even though we weren't ordering dinner. With slight hesitation, the manager agreed. So we sat at a lovely outdoor table. I ordered a latte, my friends had soft drinks, and we all decided to get dessert too, and ordered those as well.
Our drinks arrive. My latte is way too hot to drink, and kind of bitter. Other than that, everything is fine. 5 minutes later, the manager asks if we would mind moving inside, as there's a family of 4 who want to eat dinner, and want our outdoor table. I really, really couldn't believe they forced us to move, after we'd already been seated. He tried to be super nice about it, but the fact is we were displaced for a couple with two small children who wouldn't eat dinner indoors.
So we're moved indoors. We are the only people inside. It's lonely and depressing and we're reeling from the shock of what just happened, and then the desserts arrive. The creme brulee crust was way too chewy, not crispy and delicate like it's supposed to be - and way too eggy-tasting. Unimpressive. My friend had some coffee/whipped cream concoction that she said was good but extremely tiny and unsatisfying.
I actually can't believe we tipped at all. I assume they didn't expect to get much out of us anyway, as we were treated like crap for being a cheap table.
So is this like a new rule? You have to order entrees everywhere you go even if you're not hungry? Even if they serve coffee and dessert and there's no one else in the restaurant? Weird.
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Burnt-tasting latte, alternately chewy and lumpy creme brulee, and a manager who asked us to give up our outdoor table to move inside after taking our order and serving our drinks, and there were still other empty tables outside even after we left. I don't ever plan on returning.
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After just returning from France, I've been hard pressed to find food that reminds me of Europe. That's where Petite Abeille stepped in. Though I know it's a Belgian restaurant, that doesn't stop them from making delicious Pain au chocolat!
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The time to come here is Monday night, where all their Belgian beers are half-price. That means they're reasonable enough to try a few and get pretty sloshed on delicious beer and not feel guilty about it.
The food here is pretty good too. They do a tasty burger, but I really recommend the Flemish beef stew, which is really flavorful and filled with large tender chunks of beef. Great fries too!
I moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and I've been interested in checking out this place for a while. My fiance and I came here last night after long days in the office and we were looking for a nice night of good food and drinks. Walking in, we thought we had found it--Petit Abeille definitely looks the part, but mama has never been so right than when she said don't judge a book by its cover, even if the cover touts specials of 1/2 off bottles of wine, all you can eat mussels, and a nice beer selection. So what can possibly warrant a one-star rating? Two words: LA CUCARACHA (or other similarly-shaped insect).
Right before we got our food, an obnoxious group of women fresh from shopping all day and night started yelling "IT'S ON THE TABLE" and standing up. Judging by their conversation and demeanor, I figured they must have found a leftover bread crumb on the table and couldn't bear the horror. A waitress escorted them to a table next to ours and they seemed to settle down. Our food arrived and I tore in to the two pounds of mussels in front of me with reckless abandon, completely oblivious to the perturbed ramblings next to me. That is, completely oblivious until the women started screaming and pointing again . . . at the cockroaches (or other similarly-shaped insects) crawling on their table and on the wall. A bus boy was summoned from the back and giggled as he screamed "la cucaracha" to his coworkers in the back and squashed the two critters with his towel. It's not the first time I've had the distinct NY pleasure of dining with cockroaches, and I'm sure it won't be the last--but it will be the last time I ever eat here.
I finished almost all of my meal by the time the cockroaches resurfaced, but then we quickly (and much more graciously than our co-diners) asked for a check. I was a bit disgusted--the roaches were crawling on the table, after all--but not ready to write the place off completely. I don't harbor delusions that any establishment in this city is roach-free, but I don't want to see the roaches hanging out next to my cooked food, or next to me for that matter. Let them stay back in the kitchens where they can boiled, fried, or eaten by rats. What sealed Petit Abeille's fate in my book was the annihilation of my insides a few hours later. I found myself praying to the porcelain god that Doc Brown would show up in a Delorean, rescue me from food poisoning hell, and bring me back to the moment we decided to dine at this dump. As I shivered in cold sweats through the morning, I swore I'd warn the masses on Yelp and here you have it. Granted, it may not have been the mussels that made me sick--I did have plain oatmeal and a grilled chicken sandwich earlier in the day--but I'm gonna play the odds on this one, and the safe bet is to never come back here again.
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I tried so hard to like it but yet it never works for me. I tried the one in the twenties and the one in Tribeca. It would be so convenient to fall in love with the last one, it is right around the corner from my house. Great terrace, love Tintin and Milou so the decor makes me smile, but I have a problem with the food. Mussels and Fries are decent, but I can do better at home, and I keep trying the steak/frites and it always come out fatty, chewy and tasteless... A huge disappointment... and the service is well a bit rush, and too much attitude for my taste. I know this is a trendy neighborhood but nasty attitude does not equal cool, and then they make fun of French women being cold and distant....
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This Belgian restaurant is great for brunch.
I also have two shirts from there! So cute!
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I went with friends on a night when they have their special "all-you-can-eat" mussels (I think it's Weds?). I'm pretty picky with my seafood and can tell right away if its fresh, and the mussels at Petite Abeille are fresh. We tried all the different flavors and my favourite one is the white wine. Their fries are perfectly crispy. Although it's a Belgian restaurant, the moules et frites reminded me of Paris.
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Met some friends here recently for brunch, more like a breakfast fest. I'd never really heard about it, but my friends whom I met there raved about it. I would agree.
Perfect for brunch...the outdoor seating is great on a nice day, and you can saddle up to their bar for a cup of coffee or a beer.
It wasn't pricey at all, and the food was excellent.
I love Petite Abeille for the all you can eat mussels special on Wednesdays! You get a small Stella beer (about all I can handle before I collapse from drunkenness) and their delicious Belgian fries. Try all flavors of their mussels -- the bacon with beer is my favorite!! I have also tried their waffles at another location, which was quite good, as well as a quiche but I'd go with the mussels. The atmosphere is cute and cheery but can get cramped, especially on Wednesday evenings.
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So, after reading about this place on Yelp, my girlfriend and I went there for dinner. She lives in TriBeCa, so we checked out the location down there.
It's a cute place, and on the strength of the review here, I ordered the curried mussels and fries. I should have ordered the 1/2 portion because it was way too much. Some of them were spoiled,which was scary. The fries were out of sight however. I should have ordered a whole mess of them and left the mussels alone.The waiter was very annoying and kept hovering over our table. I'll give it one more shot for brunch, but if I'm not impressed, I won't go back.
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This was one of my first experiences with Belgian food, and it was a good one. Their price fixe (before 6:30) was an excellent introduction. Since there were five of us, we were able to try just about all of the choices on the fixed menu -- you get your choice of about five appetizers, five or six entres, and for dessert, chocolate mousse or creme brule. From my choices (and nosing around my fellow diners' plates), my feeling is that your best bet is the mussell appetizer, the beef stew and the chocolate mousse.
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OK, last review for a while...I'm going to have to block this site from myself...But this is the best place to get mussels in NYC! Better than that place over in the meatpacking (what's it called). Good for brunch or dinner, I would recommend it to anyone. Good for a mixed group of friends or with your special someone...Not really a "guys night out" starter...after all, it's called La Petite Abeille!
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Fries - Stellar
Beer selection - awesome (try the Triple Karmeliet for an astounding beer)
Steaks - Great
I love coming here for dinner during the week. They have nice specials throughout the workweek. Great service, staff is attentive.
Great spot. Always a good meal with service you expect.
Update - 3/16/07:
I've been here prob. 7-10 times for dinner and twice for lunch. Today I had lunch for the second time and noticed both times, my experience was off a tad compared to dinner. Both times, my burger came to me a bloody mess - and I have no problemo eating raw meat lemme tell you. Both times I promptly got a new plate that was up to par so to speak, and they didn't char it to death. I'm curious what happens when I go for my third lunch.
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I love this place but here's a little tip----The all you can eat mussels night is not really that great of a deal, unless you really can eat mountains o mussels. The thing is, no one can eat more than the normal portion of mussels on any other given night. And it's the same price---all you can eat or 1 portion. A portion is said to be 1lb but I'd say it's more. They are DELICIOUS, and delightfully seasoned but I've never been able to get to the bottom of the bucket they come in. I also recommend the beef stew, macorni and cheese, burgers, and almost everything on the brunch menu (mmmm...nutella on a bagette...mmm). My mouth is watering. The servers are all kind and happy to oblige any special requests. The Belgium Beer menu is extensive. I've dipped in quite a bit and truly have developed a taste. If Beer is not your thing, I recommend going on the 1/2 price bottle of wine night.
Also, during week days, when they aren't super busy (between meals), they have no problem is you sit, read, and eat a little bite.
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Made a quick executive decision to eat here for dinner after the long wait for "Upstairs" next door was taking its toll on our appetites. To our surprise, not only did we walk in on Half-Price-Beer-Mondays (bonus!), but our french waiter was hilarious and offered great beer/dinner recommendations. The only reason why I didn't give them 5 stars is because they butchered our dessert, not once, but twice. Still delicious, but not what we ordered. Can't wait to give this place a try for Brunch!
Oh yeah, and their beer selection is uh-maz-ing.
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Good Belgian beers, and amazing fries. Very casual atmosphere, and a comfortable long bar for grabbing a drink after work, if you're downtown. Not really a trendy place, but good for catching up with your friends.
Dishes I'd recommend:
Pepper steak
Fries
Omelets
Avoid:
Salad Nicoise was quite bland (with canned Sunkist tuna, and a bit heavy on the anchovies)
Monday nights are half price beer nights.
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The food isn't too bad, though I prefer my waffles American style without the cream and powdered sugar. They have a nice brunch menu and Belgian beer selection. Outside seating during the warmer months and bright, rustic interior makes for a pleasant experience. I am not overly crazy about the menu offerings, hence the three stars, but a nice place for brunch every once in a while.
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A great spot for brunch! I love there coffee! SO GOOD!!!
The omelets are great too - love that they are served with steomp (a carrot/potato mash - mmmm the butter in it is so good!) and a side of salad!
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I've finally found my cute breakfast/brunch place.
Delicious belgian waffles, cute atmosphere, and outdoor dining a definite plus. Perfect for lazy warm summer mornings
Not sure what the food is like for dinners, but I love their brunch menu!!
Definitely an upgrade from IHOP.
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Yummity-yum-yum...
THE UP-SIDE: A cute, cozy, little place with Tintin on the walls and really tasty Belgian food. The "Macaroni Jambon Fromage Gratin" was out of this world! To top it off, a huge bowl of this delight cost only $12; easily within my budget!
THE DOWN-SIDE: Like all NYC restaurants, it's cramped and busy. Get over it.
THE SUM-IT-UP: Truly charming little place with super food. Go here when you want to get away with a great NYC dining experience for under $20 per person.
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I would gladly kill to get at their French Fries. And I love their collection of Tintins. Now if you combine their waffles with fries and OJ, you would have bought yourself a decent Sunday brunch. Their service is super-friendly although seating--especially on the outside--might be at a premium on summer days.
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Wednesdays. All you can eat mussels. Heaven.
(Sometimes all the words in the English language cannot describe the way I feel about Petite Abeille's Moules-a-go-go special)
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All I can say is that there are multiple locations of the Little Bumble Bee, and they have one thing in common! Waffles, Nutella, and Creme de Chantilly. I mean, need you know anymore than that?
Their Flemish Beefstew is unreal in the fall! Root vegetable, huge chunks of beef, a rich red wine sauce, and oh so hearty. And it brings me right back to the top...Waffles, Nutella, and Creme de Chantilly....
See how I brought that full circle?
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Before heading to weeks of European adventures, my friend and I decided to eat at...Petite Abeille! At least I wasn't headed to Belgium.
Their menu has always surprised me. It's not very big, but has interesting features such as the bucket of mussels/plate of fries/bottle of Stella $20 meal and lots of words that are incredibly awkward to pronounce (and that make me look like an ass when I try to ask the waiter what it is--stoemp?! Just say potatoes and little tasty things!). The sandwiches are tasty and the fries good (though a little too greasy for me). The waffles are some of the best belgians I've had in the city (at least food-wise;) ).
But this place can be pricey! The waffle prices add up as quickly as the toppings--some whipped cream can add $2 to your waffle! And my friend's small glass of orange juice cost as much as my plain waffle ($4!). The sandwiches also don't come with fries, so be prepared for that add on.
The service is usually quite nice, and I love the weathered wood interiors. The outside seating is nice, but every restaurant on W. Bway has the same type of seating, so it's not so unique. Overall, I'd still go elsewhere...except for the amazing Belgian waffle!
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I love this place! They have a pretty good brunch, although I think their mash used to be better... they must've changed the recipe. Mondays are great because all the beers are 1/2 price. That means twice the tasting of their extensive beer menu. I recommend the raspberry beer.
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A favorite place for a sunday brunch or late wkend lunch. Great waffles and tasty fries!! 2 most important options for me on their menu ;o) Comfy, quaint belgium restaurant that also has outdoor seating available during spring/summer. Attentive, friendly service. Food comes promptly and not cold. Offers a wide range of beers. Prices are average for tribeca. Besides different fresh fruit toppings on their belgium waffles, they also serve burgers, omelets, mussels, sandwiches & salads. Weekday specials advertised on wall from Mon - Thurs. *Please note that they have a different menu on the wkdays for breakfast & lunch ... which makes sense but at the same time it's not like that have a lot of items on their menus ... why not keep wkend menu for all wk long?!
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