Rene Pujol Restaurant Francais - CLOSED

Elite '08

12

132

Arielle W.

New York, NY

Went to Restaurant Week here w/ a friend, pre-theater.

- Started w/ the Butternut Squash Soup (soup of the day), which was a little too watery for my taste, but still good.
- Had the pork tenderloin as my entree, which was truly wonderful.
- Random chocolate/hazelnut cake for dessert that wasn't terrible, but not really worth the calories.

Service was great, decor's a bit boring, but overall a fine pre-theatre experience.

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Elite '08

22

162

Karen J.

New York, NY

Came here for lunch and did the price fix menu for $24.  I think that is a pretty great price for an appetizer, main entree and dessert.  The food was very good but not too heavy.  You leave feeling full but not to the point you can't make it the rest of the day without a nap.  Of course, the very strong cappuccino I had with my dessert may have helped that as well.  This was the first French restaurant  I tried in the city and I wasn't disappointed.

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1

13

Alan H.

Oakland, CA

In a word--tired.

The food was fine. We were there on a Tuesday night, so it was nearly 80% empty, and there was nearly one waiter per table. Yet the service was not that good. There were two people working the cash register, and arguing about who would actually do any work (it was decided that a third person had to handle "cash" payments). All very french.

The food was very good, very old-school french. $44 pri fixe (+ for things like oysters or a chocolate dessert).

Fine, but not exciting

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6

163

Formicas ..

New York, NY

Well, we enjoyed dinner here during Restaurant Week Winter 2008.
I was not very impressed with the ambiance and the food was average.
Don't get me wrong; the food was not bad- just not blow your socks off French.  
I was sad they did not offer a REAl souflee but only a flour-less chocolate cake.  Not the same!!
I had the pork roast with pears and it was tasty- a very good cut of meat.  Matt had the chicken and he liked it.   Our friends had the mirror image.
Since we came during restaurant week we had a 3 course meal for only $34- which is a really good price.  However, I don't think the food was spectacular enough for me to come again.  Combined with the ambiance level it is just an average French place in the city.
Our service was so-so; our waiter kept bumping into me on the left side- the tables were so close together.  The staff was curt but just polite enough to not be considered rude.    In this way it is typically French- or put another way- it fits into the sterotype of "snooty French Restaurants".  
We enjoyed ourselves regardless since we were dining with such good friends, but it was not the restaurant that made the evening it was our company!

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Elite '08

280

1316

Irene F.

Morganville, NJ

It's CLOSED. This makes me want to cry.

What an amazing restaurant...great French food without the pretentiousness of it all. Everything from the pate and bread to start, the wine, the steak, and the dessert was absolutely amazing. My general problem with French food is that it is overly saucy and rich, but Rene Pujol has found a way to keep the delicate and fancy part of French food without overloading you with cream (maybe it does and just doesn't taste that way, regardless, they do it right!). Definitely a pricey meal, but very much well worth it. This is probably the best place in all of New York for a special occasion.

Update: Just had my first lunch here, holy moly, awesome! $24 pre fixe gets you 3 courses and coffee/tea. Wow. Duck liver mousse, mmm...tilapia custed in crab meat...droool....I am still a lover, even moreso now, though!

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16

95

lisa S.

New York, NY

Amazing food, impeccable service, excellent wine list.  Every time I go here, regardless of the occasion, I know its going to be a special night.  It is an old-school french restaurant - conservative and expensive but its worth it for the touch of France in New York.

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