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Tournesol

3.5 star rating
based on 45 reviews

Category: French  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Long Island City
5012 Vernon Blvd
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 472-4355
Nearest Transit:

Vernon-Jackson Aves (7)

21st St (Van Alst) (G)

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Brunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

45 reviews for Tournesol

Review Highlights   

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"…menu items include the hanger steak and frites, the roast chicken, the…" (in 4 reviews)
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"…in Queens that serves an excellent Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine for…" (in 7 reviews)
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"Tournesol is a great French bistro slightly outside of Manhattan, but only…" (in 10 reviews)
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Photo of Shae C.

Elite '09

7

66

Shae C.

Long Island City, Queens, NY

4 star rating
9/22/2009

I went here with my mother for brunch the other day and was pleasantly surprised. We sat outside as it was beautiful weather.

The sweet potato soup was tasty, I think it was infused with some basil olive oil. I ordered the omelette tournesol, with swiss cheese and roasted tomatoes. It was too huge for me, but very fluffy. The roasted tomatoes weren't all that good, but tomatoes this year have all been awful. The french fries were AMAZING. Seriously. The beet salad was very good. And, in my opinion, very affordable for the quality of the food (8.00 for the omelette with side salad and lots of french fries).

However, the waitress we had was definitely not at all friendly. I wouldn't go so far as to insult her like Bryan J., but her attitude annoyed me. Hopefully she or her manager reads these reviews and she starts smiling a little bit.

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Photo of Mirai S.

 

11

141

Mirai S.

Woodside, NY

5 star rating
7/26/2009

Tres Bieeen!!!!  Yeah I know I'm not French but this place makes me wanna be one.  For me, this is the best French restaurant in NY.  Before going in any further, I have been to the other famous French restaurants (like the Jean Georges & Daniel establishments) and they were really good.  So why is this place my favorite?  First of all, this is more like a bistro type restaurant rather than a high class luxury dining place so the ambience is more casual.  In addition, I have been to other bistro French restaurants in the city, and I will say that Tournesol so far is the best.

So what makes this place my favorite?  Well, I will have to say that the cost-performance experience you get here will not disappoint you.  I ordered a glass of wine, appetizer, main dish, and dessert.  All the dishes were really tasty but the thing that WOW!ed me the most was the price I payed for my food.  $60 even (including tip) for all the food I ate, and they were all really good!!  For French food (especially in NYC) this price is a deal! The escargot w/taragon sauce was amazing to start off with, I had to go all the way French and dip my breads into the sauce and clean the plate.  The hanger steak and frites w/bearnaise sause was better than the steak I had in a famouse restaurant in Lyon, France (This says a lot for me), and last but not least, the chocolate dessert + cafe latte ftmfw.

Yay! to Tournesol.  Special thanks to Alex S. who told me about this establishment.

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Photo of angela g.

Elite '09

67

259

angela g.

New York, NY

2 star rating
7/2/2009

You know. everything about this dinner was eh. I know there are great reviews, but it was a let down. the place is super cute and we loved sitting outside since it was a great night for it.

First of all - The place only accepts AMEX! how ridiculous is that. cash only fine, but you mean to tell me you have a credit card machine and only accept AMEX. obnoxious.

then the waiter gave us a total tude when we weren't ready to order and walked away before we could order wine.

the one high note - bread was amazing.

the mushroom and sausage tart appetizer sounded super delicious - but flopped on its soggy bed of pumpkin puree lost all flair and possibility.

Our entrees were also mediocre. the hanger steak was chewy and the peppercorn sauce was oddly perfumey.

womp womp.

once i pick up my shattered heart and heal, i may muster up enough strength to try brunch.

Photo of Emma K.

 

12

43

Emma K.

Queens, NY

4 star rating
Updated - 10/28/2009

Came in for brunch on a perfect fall Sunday. Eggs benedict with canadian bacon and Eggs benedict royal (salmon). Really good...the hollondaise was ridiculous..and the frites that go along with it never disappoint.

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/11/2009

    I have been coming to this place for years and I love it! My favorites are the garlic roasted… Read more »

Photo of Cindy C.

 

0

1

Cindy C.

Sunnyside, Queens, NY

2 star rating
10/28/2009

My fiance and I brought our friend to this French restaurant because the reviews were great and plus, it was "restaurant week"!!!

1. Very disappointed. Two out of three wine glasses of ours had "lipstick mark." I really questioned about their cleanliness!

2. I do have to say the appetizers were pretty good. That's the only good comment I have about this place.

3. I was not happy that my entree had "hair" in it and it took them forever to bring me my new dish. And on top of that, you would think they will not charge you on that dish or give you some sort of complimentary???!!! Yep, they didn't. Also, they overcharged us on our bill!!!

4. The waiters were such in a rush! I didn't feel like it was a fancy restaurant. It felt more like a fast food restaurant with really poor services.

This was the first time EVER I gave someone such low tips

Photo of John C.

 

1

12

John C.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
10/27/2009

This is an excellent little place.

I've come hear for once for dinner and a couple more times for brunch.  The food has been consistently good.  The croque madame is one of the best I've had in the city.  

Staff is friendly and attentive (although some reviewers seem to have taken exception to one of the waitresses).  The place is snug -- not a great place to come if you are seeking privacy.  

As some have noted, and complained about, it only takes American Express.  For some reason French Bistros sometimes roll that way.

Photo of N S.

 

1

94

N S.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
9/14/2009

What a great place!  

We went on a Saturday evening without reservations.  We didn't realize that we needed to make reservations but they were already super busy (730PM).

The staff was very friendly, courteous and accommodating.  Although they were booked, they were able to squeeze us in.  We figured that they may rush us out but they didnt!  They let us take our time and we had a great time there.  

The place is small and I will remember to make reservations next time.

Food was awesome.  We had the snails swimming in a yummy sauce!  and grilled shrimp with guacamole as appts.....soooo good.  Than we had the roast rack of lamb (YumYum), salmon (good) and hanger steak with frites (Yum!).
Bread pudding and short cake with figs for dessert (awesome!)
The portions are healthy and the food was awesome.  

Overall....definitely coming back here and making reservations!
Price: moderate $$ ($30-$50/ person)
Decor: Small, simple, quaint
Vibe: warm and inviting
Staff: Awesome and very accommodating

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Photo of Ben S.

 

17

69

Ben S.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
9/25/2009

Decent bistro fare, nothing notable, just solid bistro classics, and service was fair. I'd go back.

Photo of Solomon C.

Elite '09

30

107

Solomon C.

Flushing, NY

4 star rating
6/15/2009

Tournesol is a nice leisurely place to go to when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Service is fantastic! Cheerful, attentive, charming and considerate staff that makes sure you get the most of your time here.

I've been here for brunch twice and it's been very nice both times! Their Eggs Benedict with Salmon was very very tasty and their steak frites wasn't bad either. Their fries are phenominal! Small, thin, crunchy and fantastic! There are No short cuts taken here, you can tell everything was made with delicate attention.

If you're out to explore, you can't go wrong by coming here.

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0

2

Bryan J.

New York, NY

1 star rating
9/18/2009

Tournesol can dish it out  but  can not serve it!
Rude!Rude!!Rude! service. to much Attitude for A LIC restaurant
the black female waitress is a total c ....I hate that place

Photo of J R.

 

8

9

J R.

Long Island City, NY

3 star rating
9/5/2009

This is my first review, so please take it with a grain of salt. I tried this place for the first time last night. First off, the service, location, and atmosphere are all fantastic. In all honesty, if I had ordered something off the regular menu, I might have given this place a 4th star. However I ordered a special, Pork served with Potatoes Au Gratin, and I found the dish to be full of itself. It was served in a bowl, with vegetables that I couldn't even name and didn't add to the dish. I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy, so when I try something more mature, I want my tastebuds to be stretched. I don't however want to be challenged on how to get food from the plate into my mouth, or my knowledge of what parts of the dish I can actually eat.

Photo of TequilaMike X.

 

4

5

TequilaMike X.

Elmhurst, NY

4 star rating
4/27/2009

You got to come here for Sunday brunch!

The food was fast and the service was really good!
2 thumbs up!

As simple as french toast is, it was one of the tastiest I ever had.
We also had the Eggs Benedict regular and also w/ the salmon which just melted in my month.

I definitely come back here for brunch and also come back to try to check out the dinner menu...thank u

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Photo of Kimber C.

 

12

38

Kimber C.

Long Island City, NY

5 star rating
4/13/2009

Calling all Brunch lovers!!!
This place is a MUST TRY!!!

Their food is delicious, fresh, and consistent.
The ambiance is fun and the people are nice!
And you cant beat the nice French cafe feel of the place...
Paris cafe in LIC... how can you go wrong with that??

My favorite is the Eggs Florentine... just so amazingly good!
And save some room for dessert because they have one of the best creme brulee's I have ever had!!

Keep in mind that its a small place... gets crowded FAST... but its in waves.. so the wait wont be long.
Also a great place for dinner... for a small group or a date!

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Photo of Lena M.

 

16

44

Lena M.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
5/19/2009

I agree that Brunch is the way to go at Tournesol! The eggs are always delicious, especially the eggs benedict with salmon. The salmon just melts in your mouth. And the fries! Fries are amazing here.

Also, if you like chicken livers, they do crazy good things with them. I'm not always a huge fan, but these are yummy.

Photo of Anthony F.

Elite '09

19

90

Anthony F.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
1/23/2009

We went here with out of town guests, and overall everyone's impression was pretty good!

I started with the Pork Sausage with Mushroom Tart. The sausage and mushroom were delicious, but it's served upon a giant wad of cheese which, let's be honest, kinda grossed me out. Imagine the cheese from an x-tra cheese pizza slid off and congealed into a mass. It's like they took that and put sausage and mushroom on top (wait...am I describing a pizza here??).

For the main meal I had the Hanger Steak with Frites. I really have nothing bad to say at ALL!! It was AMAZING. I never had hanger steak before, so I was surprised to see how small it was (more long than wide), but it still managed to fill me up! The pepper-corn sauce added an extra kick. The frites were delicious as well, and the best way to describe them is to think of those extra crispy small pieces that get mixed in with fries you would order elsewhere. Doesn't sound great, but they were great! And of course, dessert! We tried several, all were delicious, especially the creme brulle (forgive spelling).  

As for the space itself, very cramped. When we first arrived it wasn't so bad since there were only a few eating, but as the evening went on it got ridiculous. There is no spacing between tables, so it almost feels as if say three separate groups are all one. The waiters were constantly moving tables to allow access to chairs. Since we went during an arctic blast we found there was nowhere to place our jackets. Some were even hung up right inside the kitchen! (I don't like my clothes smelling of food...)

Lastly, the waiters all appeared (whether acting or not) to be French. As such, their attitudes reflected accordingly (sorry French folks!!) Maybe not so much rude, but rather pretentious, and for those who know me, pretentious is not my thing!

Overall, this is a great place for food, but not so much for privacy and comfort! Easy to get to (right off the subway entrance 7 line, Vernon-Jackson Blvd). Pricey, but not too steep for the type of food (appx $30 pp total)

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Photo of Craig P.

 

31

78

Craig P.

New York, NY

4 star rating
12/2/2008

Read about this sunflower-named bistro and wanted to give it a try...especially as it's a quick ride on the 7 from Times Square (or Bryant Park or Grand Central)....and once you exit at the Vernon-Jackson station, the restaurant is conveniently right there.  We're talking less than 10 minutes from Times Square as a quick getaway.

This place is charming...the staff could not be nicer (yes I'm a francophile and francophone so that might help).  So I disagree with any of the other reviews mentioning 'tude francais.

The food - - I only had 2 items and both were excellent:

The carrot and pumpkin soup was piping hot, thick and well seasoned--dairy free (so you know that the ingredients are really making it great)...and it was surprisingly loaded with asparagus slices.

The endive salad with walnuts & chunks of fresh bleu cheese was a very respectable size - - loaded with sliced fresh pear--dressed with an excellent mustard vinaigrette.

I wish I had room for dessert...but I could not resist the basket of fresh sliced baguette that was a great way to finish off the soup and salad dressing.

Note: American Express is their only credit card.

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Photo of Dana V.

 

9

13

Dana V.

Long Island City, NY

3 star rating
7/10/2009

I've had both excellent and average meals here.  I don't like the Eggs Benedict as it has a really strong taste of lemon - I've ordered it on multiple occasions hoping it was a fluke.  However, I've had the most amazing beef stew (a special) and pretty standard Steak Frite.  The spot itself is super cute.  The staff are hit or miss - some are very nice and others are the rudest waiters I've ever come across (there's this one french waitress there that needs a good punch in the face - she's AWFUL).  So, all and all the place is ok... but the menu is too expensive for it to just be ok, in my opinion.

Photo of lara p.

 

2

12

lara p.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
9/15/2008

This is a French restaurant. Each plate is very tasteful, great choice of vine. Waiters are French, very friendly. I was a several times there and it's difficult to date in weekends - so many people come!
This restaurant is different from Americains. I was in Paris and there are so many resto where small tables and narrow chairs and place is tight. And this resto is exactly the same medium. So if you wish to feel a French style and eat most beautiful French cuisine this place is for you! But keep in your mind that weekends are always welters.
IMHO there is dark a little bit and noisy. Rush time from about 5 p.m to 9 p.m.
Most of credit cards are accepted. Price will be about 60-100$ for person.

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Photo of Lauren C.

 

77

449

Lauren C.

New York, NY

3 star rating
8/22/2008

They don't need you, and they will make sure you are well aware of that.

Horrendously arrogant service. Good food. Not quite sure it was worth the cost.  The goat cheese and tomato tart was sublime.  The skate was perfectly cooked and garnished with a taste of hollandaise over shredded beets, mushrooms and rice.

The place is also super tiny. Expect to wait if you don't make reservations.  And regardless if you are with a large party, as we were, expect the staff to look at you with disdain at best and inform you that the restaurant is small and that they can only seat so many people at once. Well, fine.

Amex only.

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Photo of Ann H.

 

59

64

Ann H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/14/2008

What really cracks me up about this place is, where did they find these super authentic native French people as waiters/waitresses?? They are sooo French they can barely speak English, which is really cute. The female waitress became a bit snotty though after my friend and I both requested different wines after tasting the ones we ordered first.

I love the decor of this place. It's very small and cozy, although it's not the best if you want to keep your conversations private because you pretty much end up sharing the table with others. The bar is so tiny that no one really sits there. But the place has got paintings hung up and makes you feel like you're sort of in France.

I was not impressed with the brunch food. It wasn't stellar given how much you pay for it. Salad nicoise was just okay. The salmon scrambled egg was not good at all. I was much more impressed with the dinner. The hanger steak and the lamb were both great. The dessert - bread pudding I tried, was just ok too. Much can be improved on the food, but for what's available in this area, I guess this is good enough for now.

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Photo of Lani N.

Elite '09

47

133

Lani N.

Long Island City, NY

2 star rating
5/27/2008

Long Island City, you have two French restaurants, but neither really breaks the three star mark.  Cafe Henri across the street has better food, but is pretentious and small.  Tournesol has nice portions, but with the food being subpar, who really needs bigger portions.

My French Toast and my boyfriend's Portobello Panni were both burnt.  Not just slightly overcooked, we're talking about charred black on one side.  And even burnt, my French Toast was soggy.

I agree with previous reviews about poor service.  The waitresses are apathetic and unfortunately support the French stereotype.  We were given a basket of bread, but no plates for the bread - crumbs everywhere.  Plates, please.

We waited way too long for our food.  There was less than a handful of other tables, yet we managed to eat our way through the entire basket of chewy baguette bread and sit for another 15 minutes before our food came out.

The seating arragement here is uncomfortable.  The tables are too close together.  I'd be surprised if Tournesol even uses all of the tables.   There were plenty of empty tables, but of course the waitress seats a table right next to us and we're bumping elbows.

One last note, they only accept cash and American Express.

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Photo of P W.

 

3

42

P W.

Long Island City, NY

5 star rating
12/14/2008

At least a place with a real chef in LIC. A guy making French food who is actually from France? It makes a difference in my book. I like the food. The service at times has been inconsistent, but I think the server responsible is no longer there.

Comfortable, cozy interior. No suburban mall crap here, except for the music sometimes...

Photo of Michael J.

Elite '09

14

173

Michael J.

New York, NY

5 star rating
10/9/2008

On a rainy Sunday morning i made the short trek to LIC to my buddy's place for the Sunday morning ritual of Football and beers.
His lady friend wanted to join for some brunch before her Pilates class so we went to a different place close to his apt.
I love eggs Benedict so i got the Benedict with Prosciutto de Parma with fries. Fireworks went off. Fantastic!!! Maybe the best I've ever had. My bud got the Spinach on the urge of the Lady friend, but we ended up trading one for one. Amazingly the Spinach Benedict was better than the Prosciutto.
The hollandaise was light and lemony. The Prosciutto was salty and tender. The  Spinach was salty and garlicy and tasty. The eggs nicely poached with runny yolks mixing with the Hollandaise. Very nice.
Only if i went to LIC more often. If this place was in the City I would go every Sunday Morning.
MMM Eggs Benedict!!!

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10

11

Michael W.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
4/14/2009

oh happy day! what a joyous experience. my boyfriend and i ventured to our lovely LIC for a trendier, more happenin' dinner with another couple (the trains to astoria were effed for a change). the wine was tasty, well-priced. the food was delicious--i could have licked my plate, no joke. and speaking of licking, make sure and check out the owner. smoken.

i downgrade by a star, however, to underscore what other folks are carping about: this place is underscale. as a tall gent, i kept thinking of that fake geico commercial "tiny house." after i folded myself into my corner spot, it was safe to say that there would be no peeing, stretching, moving, fidgeting, or scratching of the lower portions of my legs until after the meal concluded. i say proceed optimistically, but bearing this in mind.

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Elite '09

14

186

Jon M.

Washington, DC

1 star rating
6/29/2008

The food at Tournesol (at least for brunch) was pretty good all-in-all.

But the service, however, was rude, slow and unattentive.  Add on top of that the only credit cards accepted are American Express (which was told to us in an extrememly rude manner AFTER we tried to pay with Visa...who has a credit card machine in 2008 but doesn't take Visa?), and the fact that you get wedged into a tiny space (as other reviewers have noted) basically on top of other people...and we left with a bad (figurative) taste in our mouths.

Our waitress (probably the same one mentioned in other reviews) was awful.  Rude, apathetic, and pretty much everything that reinforces a stereotype about the French.  Having to ask 3 times how long it would be until our food arrived, and each time being told before finishing my sentence "it's coming" was not the high point of the meal.  I don't think she enjoyed it, either, when I called her out for not actually walking back into the kitchen to check.

Yes the food was good, but not so much so to overcome all the other shortcomings.  I will not be returning and unless you like to be treated rudely as part of your "French dining experience" then don't go to Tournesol.

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18

79

L.B. F.

NY

3 star rating
4/1/2009

Brunching at Long Island City's "Tournesol Bistro Francais" has been on my must-try list ever since The New York Post's "Top 20 NYC Brunches" debuted in July 2008.
Susan and I met at the restaurant on a Sunday morning at 11:30.  We were promptly seated and handed menus.  While perusing the list of Tournesol's brunch offerings, I quickly observed the casual, warm and inviting atmosphere.  Tables on either side of us began filling up quickly, thus validating my hopes for a delicious meal.
After placing my order of two poached eggs with a side salad, I sipped on a robust double espresso (strong enough to awaken the dead/just the way I like it) and munched on freshly sliced, crusty baguette.  Within twenty minutes, our entrees arrived.  Plated beside a lightly dressed leafy salad, and served atop toasted English muffin halves, were two perfectly poached eggs.  There was nothing fussy, fancy or saucy about this dish; it was purely simple and straightforward, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
Susan and I each spent $7 on our meals, before tax/tip/beverages.  The value of our meal, the restaurant's casual French charm and its proximity to mass transit makes Tournesol a winner in my book.  I look forward to returning for dinner.

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7

26

Loretta P.

Astoria, NY

2 star rating
4/11/2008

My first visit here, the line was long and the place was crowded and my boyfriend and I just went across the street to Cafe Henri (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).  

The second visit, we went for brunch. We were wedged in between two other couples, and the effect was that we were basically a party of 6. We both agreed that the food at Tournesol was similar in theme to Henri's, but Henri's was better. Also, as several other reviewers have noted, the service was terrible. They didn't give us milk for our coffee until our coffee was practically cold. Who the heck serves coffee without milk? People like milk in their coffee!

My BF liked his Benedict, and he almost always orders Benedict so I guess you could say he's a connoisseur. I liked my omelet too. But between the crowding, the poor service, and the inflated prices, we both agreed as we left the place, no more Tournesol.  From now on, it's Henri, or just good old Dorian (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), from now on.

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Elite '09

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144

Hannah C.

Astoria, NY

3 star rating
11/11/2008

this place was PACKED during sunday afternoon -- and i mean, i was literally bumping elbows to the man sitting next to me while i was eating my food. i had to keep an conscious effort to not raise my arms while eating, but rather just my wrist. but that seems to be the norm for restaurants around that area during that time of hour...my bf and i stuck our heads in at cafe henri and it was packed in there too.

i must say that the spinach in my eggs florentine was a little too salty...but other than that, the food was good and the portions were plenty. (you can never go wrong with breakfast food--not a real indicator of how good a restaurant is). i would definitely like to try some other things on their menu the next time i go back, possibly at a less busier time of the week and hour.

the service was pretty good also and although it was packed, they were pretty prompt with doing things they were asked to do -- refiling your drinks/coffee and ketchup.

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4

39

Lisa A.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/21/2006

A great stand in for a Parisian bistro when you just can't find the time to fly over to Paris for a quick meal.  Food presentation is unbelievable and the atmosphere is amazing - especially since you can try out your grade-school French on the staff.

C'est trs bien!

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Celia C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
4/13/2006

Tournesol is a great French bistro slightly outside of Manhattan, but only ever so slightly. (It's in Long Island City on the first, --- Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue --- stop on the 7 subway line and literally right in front of the subway stop, so really not a far trek at all.) And for Tournesol, it is totally worth it.

It's a small eatery, very authentic and very reasonable. I hear they have a great brunch too, and I can't wait to try it.

The escargot in tarragon butter sauce is to die for. Tarragon is an important herb in French cooking, when used chopped along with parsley, chives and chervil, they create the traditional seasoning blend known as fines herbs. It is also one of the main flavorings in barnaise sauce, another French invention that I thank god for. So adding tarragon to the butter sauce for the escargot seems to only make sense. As rich and heavy as it sounds, the dish doesn't taste it. In fact, it's going to take all you've got to stop yourself from licking the plate. The slight licorice flavor of the tarragon makes this dish slightly less ordinary than the usual escargot, but it certainly works.

The rest of the meal was great as well but I have a feeling I will be talking about Tournesol a lot more so I'll stop here for now. My sister is also very impressed with their wine list that has reasonable prices for good quality wines, a mark of an establishment that has integrity and is not trying to cheat the consumer.

With a lack of nice, authentic, and not-overpriced French Bistros in the city, I'm glad that Tournesol is not too far away. But like I said, it's certainly worth the trip!

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18

daisy m.

NY

4 star rating
2/14/2007

We dine here regularly and have had everything on the menu, haven't had failure yet. It's a treasure.

They've created a very simple interior, but the lights and mirrors make the little joint shiny and welcoming. Some tables against the wall are a tight squeeze to their neighbors, but it's not too bad, you can still talk, and the waitstaff knows how to make you comfortable and well-wined and dined.

The food is terrific, authentic bistro fare that will take you away from New York for a brief while. Favorite menu items include the hanger steak and frites, the roast chicken, the skate or any fish offering, the desserts. Salad w/ lardon. Ask if they have any of the pale pink homemade wine to share after your meal.

We take OOT guests to Tournesol and they are surprised to find such a gem in the neighborhood. (Bella Via is up Vernon and it's fabulous, too.)

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18

70

Mariposa X.

NY

5 star rating
7/12/2007 1 photo

Skate, Beef Cheeks, Duck Spring Rolls, Seafood Tart:  All five stars.

I loved the atmosphere here, which felt local and Parisian at the same time.

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45

14

Grace T.

New York, NY

3 star rating
8/7/2008

I stumbled onto Tournesol when I missed my train stop, and am glad I did.  The chicken panini I had with pesto and roasted tomatoes was good, though it was somewhat greasy and it wasn't heated thoroughly.  Also, the only other I'd thing I'd complain about was the lack of a plate for my bread (and the butter dish was chipped).  The service was very good and friendly.   I'd go there again.

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10

58

Nihad E.

New York, NY

3 star rating
11/17/2008

Fairly small restaurant with actual French staff in Long Island City was a nice surprise. Although I agree with Lauren below they were somewhat arrogant. The food was a mix of mediocre and wonderful. The escargot was amazing. My pork loin in plum sauce was totally overcooked and I think they left the plum completely out of it. The duck salad special was perfectly cooked while the garlic chicken was very dry.  All this being said it will be worth a second try.

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223

Formicas ..

New York, NY

1 star rating
9/30/2008

Wow- if I wanted rude service I would just go to France.... the food would be much better for what you would have to put up with.  I was less than impressed with this place.  RUDE RUDE RUDE service.  I think he didn't like that we moved from the window seat where he placed us- due to the incoming cigarette smoke from outside.  Several people were seated after us and received their meals first.  Thankfully, we were not in a hurry and just had extra time talking.
The food was the real disappointment.  The atmosphere was fine but nothing special.  
I ordered their cheeseburger and it had NO seasoning in it at all.  The fries tasted stale and overcooked and the bun fell apart and was stale tasting and plain.  
Matt had the panini and it looked like they cooked it the entire 45 minutes that we waited for our food- it was seriously dark and charred.  I don't know how he ate it (he is not one to complain). I on the other hand would have sent it back to the kitchen or refused to pay....   Silly me- I don't expect burnt food when I order out.

If you want good tasting French food, walk across the street to Cafe Henri and you will be glad that you did- much better food awaits you.

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2

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CAFE D.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
10/18/2008

This place gets very crowded at brunch, an especial problem given the tightly-packed tables, so close you'll need to go outside to change your mind (on a menu decision). Equally annoying is the French house music at maximum volume, but having vented . . . the food is quite, quite good, the cocktails strong and the locationa lifeboat of sorts in the otherwise Sea of Ordinary a/k/a Long Island City dining. Oh, and really good sourdough bread and triple-cream butter upon seating.

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Mika Z.

Queens, NY

1 star rating
2/9/2008

Tournesol's service and hospitality is lacking and the food was mediocre. I went with a party of seven for brunch today. My main complaint is the service from our rude waitress. The drinking glass was dirty before I even used it and the waitress was annoyed (and made it apparent) when I asked her to replace it with a clean glass, she had to be reminded to add 2 place settings for members of our party, she never cleared the plates at our table and never checked on us if we needed anything like more drinks. I ordered the steak frites medium and it was served extremely rare. On a positive note I did enjoy my bloody mary and we weren't rushed off our table after we finished our meal. That's my first and last visit to Tournesol.

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3

5

Mabes T.

New York, NY

1 star rating
3/28/2007

Maybe our large party (10 pple) overwhelmed the staff but the service and food were sorely underwhelming.  Our brunch egg platters came out lukewarm and the hollandaise sauce tasted like it was sitting on top of the eggs for a while. The chocolate souffle was burnt and the chocolate sauce in the center didn't ooze out as sexily as it should have.  When a friend asked for no butter on her french toast, the waitress replied icily, "This is a french restaurant, not a mexican deli, we don't put butter on our french toast."  

Intellectually, I know that bugs exist all over NYC restaurants but physically finding one on the tip of my tongue after tasting a hot chocolate is another matter. Nothing on our bill was comped, instead we were each given shots of orange flavored medicinal something. The only positive thing about this restaurant is that it's right next to the train station. Maybe neighborhood regulars have better luck with this restaurant.

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114

Beatrice W.

New York, NY

5 star rating
4/9/2007

It is good!!! Nothing else to say, I have tried everything on the menu and loved it all. It is cooked and presented the way it would be in any Parisian Bistro. It is the real thing, I love that they open the large French Doors as soon as the weather warms  up and never had a problem with the service, but then again I always speak French to them so I never really tested their English. The price are reasonable, and the decor is typical bistro look but the music is kept low enough that you can have a conversation at your table.

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2

12

L B.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
1/12/2008

I love to eat brunch here and definitely bring your Manhattan friends to impress,

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