Not making it to France this year, so I figured I'd get a little fix by visiting Alain Ducasse's Benoit in NYC. A few disclaimers up front: I'm by no means an expert in French cuisine, but I've eaten at a fair number of French restaurants, both in France and elsewhere. This is among my top 5 cuisines and I pin my hopes on these meals That said, Benoit left me mildly disappointed :( a solid 3.5 The complimentary bread was... fine. Nothing memorable, though to be fair, French bread is French bread. They also brought out a cheese popover-type item on the house, which I appreciated, but I wished it leaned harder into the cheese was less 'dry'. The pâté en croûte was a letdown. I almost always order this dish, and while it looked decent at first glance, the execution didn't hold up. The top crust was broken, and more importantly, the flavor just wasn't there. The cod brandade was a more interesting interpretation--served with a potato scalloped element that seemed frozen and then fried. It was fine, different, but not particularly compelling. The potato was the star of this dish when it should have been the fish What truly saved the evening was the cassoulet. It was excellent--rich, comforting, and generously portioned. Having learned from past mistakes, we wisely split it between the two of us, and that turned out to be the best decision of the night. If you order this dish, same some bread :) Their dessert selection is classic and nice. We went with the chocolate soufflé. Tbh the best thing we had here hands down - paired so amazing with some coffee. It comes with some perfecy made vanilla ice cream. Just the right amount of "crusty" on the outside and underneath that thin shell of crust there was an ooey gooey souffley part mmmmh Service is great, with a smile - courses are well timed and they keep filling water promptly. Inside is nice and spacious and somehow gives intimate but spacious vibes read more

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Winter Restaurant Week Review 2/6- I went to this French restaurant, open since 2008, for Winter Restaurant Week on one of these recent snowy days. As per many of the other spots, they serve three courses for $60 or two courses for $45 during lunch only. In terms of the food, it wasn't the biggest portion size, but they gave extra dishes, so it felt somewhat worth it, even if the food itself wasn't the best for any particular bistro dish. The service, whether it was the maître d', the busboy, the waiter, or otherwise, was all friendly and professional. The inside is a bit sparse but still feels refined, and the clientele was mostly middle-aged, with many ordering from the main menu, aside from the table next to me and a few others. To drink, I thought of getting a glass of the Bourgogne Aligoté, but instead went for a cocktail, the $18 Not Too Far From The Tree with Calvados, ABC Drouin, apple cider, caramel, and lemon. The drink was pleasant with plenty of apple flavor from the calvados, cider, and drouin, but it wasn't too sweet. There was a bit of booziness, but not overly so, and a piece of brûléed apple on top was a nice touch. Before the appetizer came out, they first gave me a couple of gougères. This consists of a choux pastry with a bit of cheese baked inside. It was airy with a slight chew, and if you have never had one before, it's pretty similar to a pão de queijo in terms of saltiness and chewiness, but smaller. This was warm and good. Afterwards, there was a bread course with two types of bread as well as butter with a B carved into it. Both breads were of pretty good quality, but they weren't warm, and the butter was unfortunately also a bit chilled. This was alright, but would have been much better if either of these two things had been at the proper temperature. From the menu, my appetizer was the Onion Soup Gratinée, with the other two choices being a citrusy Endive Salad or a half dozen Escargot. The French onion soup was alright, with some cheese, onions, and a standard broth comparable to most generic bistros. I would say there were fewer croutons than usual, but since I still had some bread, I used it as a replacement. There was also less crispy cheese around the edges than in some other places, and the broth was a bit less rich and nuanced. The soup is normally $20 on the dinner menu, and I hope it's at least larger to make up for all these other shortcomings. In terms of places nearby, it doesn't really compare to Le Bonne Soupe, for instance, which offers a larger portion and a much better-flavored broth. For my entrée, I had a choice among three courses not listed on the main menu. These included a Coq Au Vin served with a potato purée, Trout served with grilled broccolini and beurre blanc, and a Beet & Ricotta Ravioli. I went with the coq au vin, as I am generally a fan of this classic bistro dish, and I also saw someone else's fish at the table next to me, which looked paltry. Along with some button mushrooms, the dish had a nicely cooked-down red wine sauce, though it wasn't as rich as in other places. I did notice a lack of lardons, which could be the reason. The chicken, while tender, consisted of two small bony pieces, which I didn't really appreciate. Outside of them being more difficult to scrape off and enjoy with the sauce, a piece of chicken breast would have honestly worked better and been more substantial. My favorite thing on the plate was surprisingly the purée, which was silky smooth with likely plenty of butter. This was just fine overall. The dessert choices included a Chocolate Mousse, a Citrus Tart, or Crème Brûlée. From these options, I would usually order a citrus tart, but I decided to go with the mousse since it was the only item on the regular dessert menu for $12. The mousse was presented in a unique way, with one of the waitstaff coming around with a large serving dish, removing a piece of mousse, and plating it. The bitter-sweet mousse was silky smooth, and there was also some unexpected crunch, maybe from hazelnuts or something else, which added a nice extra texture. This was my favorite dish overall and a satisfying end. After dessert and while arriving with the check, they came around with a pan of freshly baked madeleines, which was a nice touch. This was an alright experience, at least for Restaurant Week. I get there have to be shortcomings when the main dishes here tend to be $45 and up, but this was barely worth it and wouldn't have been at all without the freebies. Upper 2. read more

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Pretty Restaurant. I only had onion soup and it was not memorable. There was a taste in the onions that I did not like. Service was good and my partner had dessert which he loved. read more

I made out with my wife there when we first met. 10 out of 10 would do it again. Oh and also the bar staff is fantastic and the wine list off the charts. read more

The service is definitely strong. Front of the house staff are very friendly and attentive. They even split a glass of wine for us into two separate glasses. Our server was also very well versed in our wine options. The restaurant is pretty and definitely fits a French brasserie vibe. However, we were disappointed with the food overall. The charcuterie was fine and largely the mark of securing a good purveyor. However, we both found the cassoulet, fries, and green beans extremely bland. I don't know why. the cassoulet had a large portion of lardons and sausage but it was perhpas it was overcooked. I'm unsure. The other weird part is that I had insatiable thirst the whole evening, even though things tasted very bland. I would like to go again because of the great service, but the food just did not hold up. We had one plate of charcuterie, fries, green beans, cassoulet, three glasses of wine. Servings were large, and we were very full. The total price with tax and 20+% tip was about $230. If the food had more flavor, this would have been a great value, considering the location. read more

Very nice Robuchon restaurant in midtown. Hit all of the right notes. Service was just right. Cocktails were very good. Bread was excellent. Salad was very good. The cassoulet was very good and I certainly can't dispute the chef's credentials, but not the best I've ever had. We were served hot Madelines for dessert. Prices were a bit expensive, so I'm not sure of the value proposition. I'm sure it fits in with other expensive Manhattan French restaurants. The prices take it out of the every day category and into the land of splurge. read more

Benoit - Our traditional Cassoulet - French Near Me - New York, New York

I went here as a walk in with a coworker friend and was immediately seated. I love the vibe when you first walk in - there is a walk in area that looks very cute, perfect for small bites and a drink or coffee. When you walk a little deeper inside, there is a classy dining room area with coat check if needed. I thought the food was wonderful. We went during restaurant week and had the $60 three course meal. The duck confit was absolutely phenomenal, best duck I had in my entire life. The meat just fell right off the bone and it was so soft and tender, melt in your mouth. The crème brûlée was also something that needed mentioning - I recommend getting just one and sharing it between two people. I polished off my dessert though, simply because I wanted to, but I would have felt less sick if I shared it with my friend instead. This was such a perfect little place to go to if you have the budget for it. Some items I did raise an eyebrow at the price, but they do have smaller and more reasonably priced items if you want to dine classy on a budget. read more

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TL;DR: Quintessential French bistro in NYC Seating is separating between a bar near the front and a main dining area in the back. Both are well fitted, but I'd recommend the main dining area for dinner. Most of the seats are private-ish vs being in the center of the room in the midst of the people walking by. This is an Alain Ducasse restaurant, and it lives up the expectation. Portions are generous. The food is flavored well without being too salty. We had the arugula salad (huge portion), mussels with frites (savory sauce perfect for dipping the bread), and the ravioli (firm texture, soft lamb inside). The highlight was the ravioli--definitely order it when you come here. The service was top tier with someone coming by to check on water, progress, etc every couple minutes. They also change utensils and clean off the table of crumbs after each course. Despite this service, the prices are very reasonable at $30-50/ppl. read more

Benoit - Ravioli - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was average. Supplement for French fries is inacceptable with a skirt steak at $45.00. Please do not charge tips on the total check....food and wine ($85.00) only! I will think twice before coming back! read more

Honestly waited a few months for this review as I believe in second chances (but not thirds). My first visit unfortunately ended with food poisoning (assuming from the tartare), so I decided to give this spot another try. The Caesar salad was decent, but unfortunately I received a well done skirt steak (inedible) after ordering medium-rare, as recommended by the server. Normally not a big deal, likely a mix-up in the kitchen which happens, however the service staff was unhelpful in fixing the order and resolving the issue. Adieu Benoit! read more

Benoit - Caesar Salad - French Near Me - New York, New York

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We went for restaurant week and I will say the service was five stars. We never were waiting for anything and everyone that works there is so nice. They even have restaurant week wines. The French onion soup is incredible and I highly recommend it, as was the creme brulee. I will say the coq au vin was just okay. It was a little bland. I would definitely return though and try other items. read more

I find this resto in recommendations from the influencer Hello French. Also, I visit Alan Ducasse chocolate shop in Paris, so I was curious about his bistro in NYC. I went on a Sunday at noon without a reservation. You are given complimentary bread & butter, and I also had cheese profiteroles. I ordered the Straight Outta 55th for my cocktail of choose (really enjoyed it and ordered a second). For food I had a tarte flambée (too cheesy for my taste, but did remind me of the tarte flambée that I had in Alsace), tartare bœuf (and came with a salad), and the profiteroles (it's milk chocolate, but I think it would be better with dark). I really enjoyed all my food. Service was attentive without being overbearing. I received my food in a timely manner and the server waited until I finished my entree before giving me my plat. When my coat dropped to the floor from the back of my chair an employee was quick to pick it up before I could even get out of my chair! I would definitely recommend, and I will be back myself when I'm in NYC. read more

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An excellent French restaurant. Service is top notch with real French speaking servers. Loved the cheese bread balls that come at the outset. Delicious Complimentary bread was nicely toasted. Had the of menu foie gras. Healthy portion. Would like a little more balsamic though. Chicken dish was delicious. As a habit I rarely order chicken at a restaurant but this had a nice herbs flavour. Be sure to get a lot of sauce. Good portion. Overall a solid classy meal. read more

Benoit - Poulet Roti and Cooking Jus for 1 - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Dined at the bar solo. Service was friendly and attentive. The wine recommendation was spot on accurate and enjoyable, great job by the bartender on the selection, appreciated the taste as well. Mgr checked in to see if dinner was going well. The Tarte Flambee ($24) had great flavor, unfortunately the thin crust pizza-like appetizer was soggy and soft. Appreciated they cut it into bite sized portions in the kitchen as it would have been challenging to slice the soggy crust. Perhaps it sat under a lamp or it wasn't fully cooked, either way, soggy crust wasn't what I expected. The $38 marinated half chicken was a big disappointment. The meat was dry and it was flavorless. I didn't see any seasoning or spices, nothing other than their dark pan sauce. (Recommend the chef visit a Costco to experience a delicious roasted chicken that's flavorful and moist.) Overall, average dining experience for a NY celebrity chef restaurant. read more

Phenomenal, upscale yet approachable French bistro experience. They have an incredible wine list, and the service is professional yet friendly. Food was cooked to perfection. If you're in the mood for a heightened French bistro experience, give this place a try. read more

Simply one of the best dining experiences (and wine lists) ever. Can't recommend Benoit enough.

I hate writing bad reviews. Especially I hate writing bad reviews of chefs I admire and follow. I was so excited to find Benoit across the street from my hotel in NYC! I went in for a late lunch there. I was the only one in the place and there seemed to be surprise I was there. They asked how they could help me. Well that was awkward. I asked sheepishly if they were open and serving food. They said yes. After a few moments of silence I asked if i could be seated and order some food. Got an Arnold Palmer and ordered a burger med rare and ff. Food came absurdly quick and only after a few minutes of my arrival several other tables filled up quickly. Not sure they were prepared for that. Evryone was getting service...except me. I needed extra keychup and mayo but i could not get anyones attention. I started to think after several minutes how important was it realyu... anyhow...well...it was to me so i made a much more concerted effort to get someones attention. The manager noticed from the back of the room and came over. I got my k and m. But he didnt ask how my meal was or if i needed anything else. Just dropped off the k and m and left. Well my burger was perfectly cooked but it was soooo salty. Seriously!!! The bacon was much less salty than the burger and the fries too. Then i bit into a piece of bone. Gross. I put it aside, couldnt finish the rest of the burger. Others were now paying their tabs and heading out and still no one comes to my table. I sat for 15 minutes...waiting..... finally someone came over and said are you done? I said yes. But there is a piece of bone here. He said it is cartliage but i will show the chef. I asked for the check. He came back with the check and left even though i had my card ready for him. A pointless sad experience. I will care as little about you as you did me. I was not at your restaurant to do you a favor. I was there to be served a properly cooked meal with excellent Service as you're supposed to be known for. read more

Surprisingly lovely for a pre-theater French meal! The room has a polished but warm vibe. The sommelier was super approachable - asked good questions and then offered suggestions at different price points. The cassoulet was on point and perfect for a winter day. The soufflé was definitely the star for dessert. Formal but friendly service throughout. read more

Loved the look of the restaurant. We had the French Onion Soup. There was too much bread, cheese, and onions in it. The bread sopped up a lot of the soup and the cheese and onions took up too much room. The broth on its own was delicious, but there wasn't much of it. We also had a mixed salad. The salad was very fresh and had a nice variety of greens in it. The tart tatin has very soft apples in it. It tasted mostly like applesauce instead of apple slices. The whipped cream that came with it had cream cheese in it and that made it a little heavy. The service was excellent and the food, although not perfectly prepared was tasty. And the restaurant is charming. We will give it another try. read more

I have loved this restaurant for years and have even brought many people in. Last night my entire view changed. I went in and sat at the bar . I did not want a big meal. I ordered champagne. A french waiter with I am not sure if it was a real accent or not was my server. Talk about rude and obnoxious!!!!!! First of all he spoke to the two gentlemen sitting right next to me for almost 25 minutes. I had ordered and he could not be bothered . He did not even turn around to ask how my food was or see if I needed anything. I waited for my second app nothing came. When I asked where it was he had forgotten to order or was so entranced with the man next to me did not hear me . He also ordered a full entree when he knew I was eating light last night.I was served a full entree size dinner and sent it back as that is not what I ordered! Finally I did get my app size while he was serving a comp drink to the guy next to me .My app was cold.I had been waiting so long I just ate it. I got up and complained to the manager. He tried to add his words and I just refused to engage with him. Another memeber of the staff took over the last of the service . They took the two apps off totaling $16.00 . The service poor,the service TERRIBLE. The entire meal should have been comped or just billed half. The French waiter need to return to France and be. snot read more

My first Michelin star restaurant! Reservations are available for lunch if you are looking the day of. After a two hour climbing session, I was ravenous, but also wanted to see if there were some Michelin star restaurants available. Two restaurants near me were available and I wanted to try French! French food has never been my favorite, but surely a Michelin star would be worth it. Yes, I was in my climbing workout outfit and did get a quick side eye from the host, but everyone else inside was very pleasant. When seated, they presented a complimentary cheese bread, much like the Brazilian style pao de quejo. Very delicious! The official bread and butter came out afterwards, which was fresh and delicious. The butter had a"B" imprinted on it! For my cocktail, I ordered the mon cherry, which has a slight tartness and smoothness that compliments each other very well. Escargot was my appetizer option and the duck as my main entree. Escargot was amazing and helped me get through all the bread! Now the entree, I never had a more delicious duck! Perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy in the inside. I have a sensitivity to game, but they cooked it perfectly, where I had no trouble finishing! The mustard sauce with the eggplant was a perfect balance to it. As an addition, they also brought out duck foi gras, which was rich, but not overly done. Next I can't tell you how amazing the pistachio souffle with raspberry sorbet was! This dessert reminds me of a soft egg dish in Korea that I grew up with or a fluffy pancake from Japan. It gets better with every bite and not too sweet at all! Didn't leave any food behind! I would go back in a heartbeat! read more

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Went there for a dinner with another couple. Quiet night so we were seated at a nice table at far corner of restaurant Unobtrusive service with a nice ambiance reminiscent of the Parisian bistros. We started with some cheese puffs and they were nice and fluffy. Ordered the rabbit and pate plate. Nice but not expressive in flavor. Was plain really. Served with bread and nothing else. The sea bass with artichoke was very nicely prepared. Mouse and flaky. The olive empanade was. Or as successful in my view and another bed would have been a better option. The salt did draw out the flavor so I liked that part but the competing olives weee not my favorite. Artichoke was great but the choppped part on top was a mixture of stuff that was salty and was ok. I tried some of the steak also and bought it was nice. For NY it was ok. Desserts were the flan and profiteroles (sp). I tired the flan and it was nice. Overall an ok experience. read more

Exceptional meal from start to finish! The steak tartare was phenomenal, and the lobster pasta was luxurious. Loved my perfect dirty martini, and my wife enjoyed her Sauvignon Blanc. Benoit nails the classic, upscale bistro vibe with flawless service. An absolute gem in Manhattan. Highly recommend! read more

Came here for a huge client dinner so had a nice private dining room on the 2nd floor of the restaurant. A bit weird though that we have to take a elevator through an unkept hallway to get there. For my main course, I had the amberjack and it was very flakey and delicious. The seafood here generally tends to be very good so you really can't go wrong. The service could be better. I asked for a beer multiple times and they took over 20 minutes to get it for me. Overall, it's a solid place with good vibes. But probably not great for the value. read more

Benoit - Appetizer - French Near Me - New York, New York

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What a huge disappointment dinner at Benoit was. The positives were the drinks, the Service and the dessert. The onion soup was mostly cheese with a tiny bit of onions and broth. The pate was unexceptional. But it was the main course that really surprised my husband and I. The duck breast was extremely mediocre. My dish was cold and had to be sent back. The waiter suggested duck breast ordered rare will be cold to the touch. Having ordered rare duck breast in numerous restaurants, it has never been served cold. Alain Ducasse might want to revisit this location. read more

They had Flambé -. For starters they gave us gougere. They are like puff pastry dough with cheese. I had the quenelle with outstanding sauce that taste like lobster sauce. Excellent! The flambé was also cheesy. The escargot with croutons was also perfect. For dessert we had chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice ream. read more

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The positives are undoubtedly the service and the decor, both of which were impressive and worthy of praise. The food, however, was extremely disappointing, bland, and unnecessarily overpriced. It was a very lackluster Thanksgiving meal. I never want to come to a French restaurant and have to add heaps of salt and pepper just to get an ounce of flavor -- French food isn't known for it's blandness. My husband didn't even finish his main course. I will give them credit for their desserts, as well as their espresso martinis; however the latter of which is getting a positive review more so for the strength of the drink rather than the taste. read more

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Always a delight for lunch or dinner you will be treated with a warm welcome and service you expect and deserve. In all the decades I have been frequenting Benoit it is my mid town go to restaurant. Hold out for the soufflé it's worth the calories! Love the atmosphere! read more

I dined here this evening with my work group. We were led upstairs to a private room, but I must say, getting up there on the hidden elevator felt like I was going to a speakeasy! We had a pre-fixe menu which good options. For the starter, I had the tuna carpaccio which was my favorite item of the evening. The tuna was tender and the beetroot juice was a nice touch. I had the filet mignon for the main course. It was good, but the peppercorn crust was a bit too spicy. The profiterole dessert was pretty good, but not very memorable. The bread was fantastic and so was the service! read more

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What else can you rate a classic. Food cooked & presented with perfection, attentive wait staff and a cosy ambiance! read more

Benoit - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for the Easter Brunch pre fixe menu which was $95. Honestly I found the service kind of mechanical and stuffy. All the tables around us were in and out at lightning speed whereas it felt like we were in there forever. Inventive, unique food, but still mad that we couldn't add on a cheese course. read more

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Came here a couple of months ago and had the grilled octopus which was ready good - wish there were more pieces in it! The whole dish is delicious except that some ingredient of the salad that came with it was hard to swallow. The bread on the house was fantastic. Best bread I've ever had since they were still warm when they come out. We were seated outdoor but can't wait to visit next time and be seated indoor since it looks absolutely stunning on the inside! read more

Benoit - Grilled Octopus - French Near Me - New York, New York

Year after year we return to Benoit for our French comfort food fix. Recently spiffed up during the pandemic, it now gleams with a fresh glow. The food, as ever, is classic brasserie. Highlights are the foie gras pate and the poullet roti. But on this visit I tried the filet mignon au poivre for the first time, and it was magnificent--so tender and perfectly seasoned with a wonderful pepper crust. Service seems a bit friendlier than I remember, and as professional as always. The 28 page wine list contains some thoughtful surprises, some priced within reach. read more

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At first we were going to have lunch indoors but Benoit's friendly hostess suggested we try the outdoor area instead on such a beautiful day, a wonderful suggestion as they were nicely set up with fans and well spaced comfy seating. Cocktails were inventive and strong. Try the "Inglorious Berries" if you like fruity libations with a kick. Our server Devin was attentive, friendly and prompt throughout the repast. Started with a dozen escargot, the tender mollusks nestled in round ceramic pods bathed in bubbly parsley butter and topped off with little round toast points. A generous basket of crusty bread provided additional dipping vehicles. A perfectly classic preparation. I've heard that the test of any great kitchen is their preparation of a deceptively simple roast chicken, and I must say that Benoit did a wonderful job with that. Our plump crispy golden bird was first presented tableside prettied up with a large sprig of herbs sprouting from its cavity, then whisked away to be carved and plated au jus with cones of fries on the side. Tender and tasty with plenty to take home. After all we had to make room for Benoit's profiterole dessert, the star of the meal (for me). I've only ever had profiteroles encased in a cold chocolate shell. Benoit's scrumptious version consisted of small ice cream balls encased in a flaky pastry, served with pots of warm chocolate and ice cream on the side for dipping with elegant forks. The warm chocolate was heavenly as was the dessert itself. In fact I'm still dreaming of that on the next workday.... Take note: Upon closer inspection my partner noted (and I confirm) that our chicken lacked wings! Did the poor bird suffer a tragic accident prior to final preparation, or does Benoit use the wings for another dish? We're still pondering this culinary conundrum...... regardless, we enjoyed our repast immensely. read more

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Bartender was very knowledgeable about wines and ordered an amazing cheese plate with some things on the side that also came out! It was fun trying some different wines! Loved it here, also they had the US open on what could be better! read more

More like 4.5 stars. Came in for lunch with coworkers to quiet venue with a very attentive friendly staff. The food was excellent and all about the presentation. At the table, we had a croque-monsieur, duck, chicken and pasta of the day. Everything was delicious. No body finished their meal and could have definitely brought home leftovers. One negative was that we had ordered the framage but it came out after some of our food did and no one touched any of it. Another small complaint was that the non-alcoholic drink menu wasn't presented with the regular drink menu and we had to ask for that separately. BTW, the non-mocktails were fantastic and I highly recommend everyone give those a try. read more

Benoit - Chicken - prepped by table - French Near Me - New York, New York

Stuffy Midtown brasserie that couldn't be bothered to bring themselves into the 21st century with a half-decent vegetation option. I had the displeasure of trying their bland and unsatisfying spelt cookbowl with brussel sprouts, the single entree afforded to me at a group event. Why has no one come up with a vegetarian rendition of the famous quenelles de brochet using an alternate source of protein? Or even a cauliflower steak would have been preferred. read more

Had a very nice and quiet brunch here one Saturday afternoon. My steak and egg were cooked perfectly, and the pistachio soufflé paired so well with the raspberry sorbet - sweet, tart, and fluffy. Classic old-school vibes. read more

While in NY we went to this restaurant on the recommendation of my sister who has been there before. The atmosphere was great and the service was wonderful. Also of course the food was excellent. I would recommend this restaurant read more

Highlights: Parisian Style Bistro owned by Alain Ducasse Awarded a Michelin Star Delicious, beautifully presented French Comfort Food Atmosphere that brings you back to Paris Attentive and Excellent Service Alain Ducasse IMHO is the best French chef and restauranteur in the world, holding the most Michelin stars to boot. Benoit was started in Paris in 1912, celebrating the 100th Anniversary soon. Some years back Alain purchased Benoit from the original family decedents and expanded the concept to New York and Tokyo. I had the pleasure of dining in the Paris Benoit in January of 2020 and looked forward to visiting the New York location. It did not disappoint. Although I heard there were some issues in the past with the New York branch, the current Chef, Laetitia Rouabah, has everything singing. Laetitia is a alumni of some of Alain's most acclaimed restaurants including Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Hotel Plaza Athenee, among others. She translates her talent into a French Bistro experience that will satisfy anyone who longs for those memories of great bistros in France. This is uncomplicated, quality, Fresh comfort food, but presented more attractively then many other bistros. Top quality ingredients, apt technique and attractive presentations may transport you back across the ocean, at least for a couple of hours. Portions are enlarged in some cases to meet American demands. I don't understand why so many compatriots prefer quantity over quality, but that's another topic for debate. We started with two glasses of Autreau, a Grand Cru Blanc de blanc 2013 Vintage Champagne priced at only $22 per glass, a great deal for a Grand Cru Vintage. We ordered two glasses of Sabrine A. Brunel 2015 Cote due Rhone Villages, $18 each to follow that. We tried the white asparagus, in season, with mimosa & gold caviar and hollandaise sauce. Next was the duck foie gras terrine with red onion & grainy mustard marmalade and brioche that was divine. For the next course we tried the hand-chopped beef tartare, served as an entree, and it was more than enough for two to share, a huge portion. The grilled Maine lobster with green asparagus and morels was another highlight, a smaller entree made with perfectly tender and sweet live Maine lobster. We saved a little room for the Chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream, and we were very glad we did, that was the real deal. I know a lot of Americans don't gravitate towards French food, Italian is the most popular, followed perhaps by Asian and fast casual chains, but if you do want to have a memorable French Bistro meal, you won't go wrong here. read more

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