Unfortunately, despite calling ahead to ensure we would have a table, the hostess was intent on articulating that the restaurant is not a welcoming place for customers. We arrived with less than 5 occupied tables in the place, and the restaurant remained largely empty through the course of our meal. Yet, when we walked in, no one greeted us, leaving us to stand by the door for nearly a minute, wondering if they were actually open for business. When the host finally graced us with her presence, she started the interaction by rolling her eyes while asking if we made a reservation. We did. Went downhill from there. There were leftover food bits on the unwashed drinking glass at our table. When I pointed the dirty dish out to our waiter, instead of handing us a clean glass from the multiple unoccupied tables next to us, he left to "get us a new glass". This took over 8 minutes. The water we asked for took over 15 minutes to arrive. Drinks (draft beer) also took unusually long, considering that the restaurant was empty. The food was clearly microwaved and drenched in stale olive oil to compensate for the rubbery texture. Previous reviews also echo this. The view is nice, but not worth the abusive service athmosphere! If you want to watch the view from here, be mentally prepared for bad vibes and extremely overpriced and subpar food. read more

I went here for a friends birthday and although the ambiance and location were beautiful, the food did not reach my expectations. There were 6 of us and we had 5 orders of mushroom Campanelle and 1 order of the brisket burger. The mushroom campanelle was bitter and watery. I'm not sure if the dish is supposed to be an acquired taste, but the mushroom with the watery, over-lemony pasta which lacked any cheese did not fare well with my tastebuds. Everyone who got this dish at my table did not like it- even after we added Parmesan cheese! The brisket burger, according to my friend was alright but nothing special. You would think that a place that charges so much for the food would have perfected each dish but you're paying for the ambience and mediocre tasting food. Most of our food was eaten half heartedly except for the chocolate cake slice that was given to my friend at the end. Stick to the small plates and drinks here and don't expect much from the actual dishes. read more

Celestine - Mushroom campanelles with the Prime Beef Brisket Burger in the middle - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I used to love Celestine. I rated it years back. They used to have a killer lamb chop and a dumpling appetizer to die for. Additionally the restaurant is beautiful. But, now the menu is quite boring and it is way more expensive. I don't enjoy spending over $100 a person for middle eastern food, which happens to be one of my favorite foods. Small chicken dishes and pieces of fish just don't cut it for these prices. I ordered a dip and guess what, it comes with nothing to eat it with. You have to purchase pita, or veggies labeled as another appetizer. Having lived in the city for 20+ years I've seen that restaurants that get worse and deliver less value and raise prices usually don't last long. Truly a shame given that this place used to be a favorite. read more

We just had our wedding at Celestine and absolutely cannot say enough great things about it. Everything was perfect, from the venue, to the team, to the food, to the drinks, ambiance, flexibility in stormy weather - everything. Our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful the views and venue were and how great the food and drinks were. Nisrine, Kirsten, Robert, and the rest of the team were wonderful and helped make our day amazing. We had a lot of quick changes in the setup of the wedding due to a major storm and we barely noticed. Not stressful for us at all. Nisrine and Kirsten worked with our vendors and deliveries to make sure they had everything they needed on the day. Our vendors were all very excited to work with Celestine, both the ones who had worked with them before and those who hadn't. ("I've been wanting to work on a wedding there!" - one said). We've eaten at Celestine a few time outside of our wedding and have always loved the food and had fantastic service. read more

Located in super cool Dumbo. The food, service and view are top notch. We had an amazing dip and the wine was superb. Can't wait to go back.

This is a restaurant that has the most magnificent urban views of a body of water ! The service was excellent. A very enjoyable evening visually and taste wise . The food very full flavoured and spiced well . Great deserts . Can't wait to return . read more

Celestine - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Great views. The highlight was the baba ganoush, hummus was just ok, the flat bread and za'tar the first round were good the 2nd round burnt. The mushrooms/kale reginette had burnt pieces of, apparently kale, which made us leave the dish unfinished. The falafel/thahini and mushy peas were good. So a star for the food and a star for the view. Our server, whoever had a man-bun, took the order and never came back, we went through our entire dinner and he didn't check on us once, the host brought us a bottle of water, refill, after we flagged him over since our waiter was completely ignoring us. We decided to just get the check and leave, not a pleasant evening, sad. read more

The best part of this restaurant is the view. We waited over an hour to be seated, the hostess was a mess. If you're planning on going here, definitely make a reservation. She didn't make us feel welcome at all. Once we were finally seated, the waitress refused to take an order for an appetizer and informed us that she would only take a full order. Reviewing the menu was quick since its such a short menu, and we're finally able to put in an order. The Za'tar flatbread was first to come out, and honestly was disappointing. The bread was burnt in spots, overly oiled and barely had any Za'tar on it. The chicken entra was delicious. Unfortunately, my wife found a little cockroach on her table napkin. The waitress gave us a new napkin and explained that the door was open for outdoor seating. Overall this place has a great view, but is slow in seating and service while serving pretentiously made food without attention to detail. The value is existent- you're paying for the view. I liked this spot the first couple times, but I think I'm over it now. Plenty of other options with great views in Dumbo. read more

Wow, the view was so amazing (pretty comparable to River Cafe but cheaper bill). The mezze were really good and the warm flat breads were good on their own. We had the pork chop and fish, and were very satisfied. Only complaint might be the service, our waiter was very nice but rest of the team was definitely not as wam as their flat bread... read more

Beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge, but Celestine doesn't have much else going for it. You'd be better off springing for River Café if you are looking for a dinner in a pretty setting. Food is oversalted and dishes aren't executed well. We ordered the roasted chicken and short rib manti and any flavor that might have been in either dish was overpowered with vast quantities of salt. Appetizers (flatbread with babaganoush and hummus) tasted like what I buy at the grocery store. Wine list is unfocused (too many options and nothing particularly interesting) and not a good value. read more

The best thing about this restaurant is the view. For such an expensive Mediterranean restaurant, I was hoping to be treated a little more nicely. The staff is incredibly rude, and there when there was a tick on my sparkling water and I asked for another (which btw I'm paying for so shouldn't be an issue), the waiter told me I was in nature and these things happen. I'm on a porch in DUMBO...but OK. his attitude seemed to improve as the night went along but for this pricey receipt, i would much rather go to a hole in the wall like Balade (which has far better food). Come here for the drinks and ambiance, and don't expect 5 star service! read more

Our second attempt at brunch here with some friends from out of town. Still love the place, and still have yet to go for a dinner here, but here me out: Our hostess and server were as great as any place I've been, but some of their dishes as "mains" are not what is expected, so make sure to ask the server for some details on the menu items you find most intriguing. I didn't, this time, and the Lamb Kibbeh dish (under the "Salad" arena) was 5 fried lamb kibbeh, over some yogurt, with a tiny mound of greens. Again - some dishes here are A+++ while the others I'd stay away from. Savory lover? Get the Shakshuka. read more

My friends took me here for my birthday dinner. The food was artfully prepared and tasted delicious. They have a fresh interesting take on a few Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare. The mezze platter was soooo yummy and easy to share. The za'atar spiced pita that comes with it is so delicious and soft. I highly recommend the branzino. The prices are a bit high however the food is worth it and the ambience is incredible. The view of 3 Brooklyn-Manhattan bridges and the east river and skyline are so mesmerizing. One thing about some of the dishes that was too great was the level of acidity. The orzo and 2 different spreads had way too much sour lemon/acid that it was hard to eat. read more

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First of all...the VIEW!!! Let's talk about how amazing the view is of the water/bridges at this restaurant! You can see the entire city from every angle in this restaurant...it's stunning. Then...the FOOD...divine. I planned a team dinner, we ordered roughly everything on the menu and it was all delicious. Every course was filled with richly seasoned foods. It was all lovely. I can't wait to visit again on a date night. This is definitely a space that encourages romance. read more

The service here is so kind and genial, like you've woken up in a dream where you've been transformed into a member of the nobility without explanation. The scallops were oh my god. It was a buttery bomb that I was almost afraid of eating because it was so unique and I had never had anything so surprising in such a little bite before. Also! I have NEVER experienced a purple potato with the playful takoyaki-like texture that they've achieved with their swordfish dish. I've never been surprised by a potato before but my life changed at Celestine. I often find fancier places to be somewhat lackluster experiences given how much pricier their items are. But not Celestine! The prices here definitely justify the next-level perfection that Celestine's chefs have crafted their menu. read more

Been here only for drinks and appetizers so far, but definitely plan to come back! The place is in the heart of DUMBO, steps away from the riverfront. In fact, there are gorgeous views of Manhattan from both the inside of the restaurant and the outside dining area (nice, if you can stand the subway noise from the nearby Manahattan Bridge). Their service was top notch, and both drinks and appetizers were prepared to perfection (try their five appetizers sampler). That said, this is not an inexpensive venue. read more

The menu is short but the chow is delectable. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the drinks served by the attentive mixologist. The venue is small yet cozy and exquisitely adorned. To top it off, the scenery is picturesque! read more

Really delicious! Had a great experience here while traveling some time ago and really enjoyed the food.

food is tasty but portion sizes are too small and vegetarian options are limited- the view of the bridge is wonderful but I was expecting more items and choices on the menu! read more

The view was spectacular from Celestine overlooking the serene East river into the lovely city of Manhattan. Had a Bloody Mary it was ok. I have had better. Somewhat disappointed because the place looks very high end. One would expect a set of olives, organic celery, etc. Service was good, no complaints there. The brunch menu looked interesting. So we ordered the Merguez and Prime Beef Kofte, and the Yukon potatoes. So here goes why the two stars. The Kofte was so salty and dry it was difficult to eat. Looks like the Chef had a salty hand today. Maybe the chef and chef's assistant should shove a fist full of salt in their mouths. Had to drink water each time I had a bite to wash down the salt. At the end I could not eat anymore of the salty prime beef. How does such a fine culinary establishment serve there customers food like that. I know I only serve food that I would eat. The Merguez was also on the dry side. My advice to The Management Team at Celestine try the food you serve. When was the last time you tasted the menu? Perhaps revamp that Mediterranean menu somewhat. read more

Beautiful beautiful restaurant with an amazing view of the Manhattan Bridge. The food was delicious and the wine selection phenomenal. The only issues we had was the train. We were really excited for our table outside but being so close to our be bridge means the constant rumbling of the train. It was so loud that we could barely hear each other. read more

Cons: For starters the "hostess" would not know service if it ran her over. We were a party of seven waiting for the single outdoor "communal" table and were told to wait for 20-25 minutes as a group had just gotten their entrees. An hour later they were still there which is no fault of hers but when we requested an update a half hour into our wait, the look on her face and her response of "I will call you when the table is ready" may as well have been "stop bothering me!" She topped that when more than an hour later we chose to wait inside the restaurant to escape the hot air coming from their vent in front of the restaurant by saying that we were standing in the way of the waiters when the inside of the restaurant was practically empty! To make matters worse, she wouldn't let any of us sit down on any of the many empty indoor seats while waiting! She was not unique in being bereft of an iota of service knowledge. A waiter (not ours) who came into clear up the mess of shards from a bottle that had been knocked down by another customer was the epitome of snarkiness when told to pick up a few shards that he missed saying "I am here to clean this up all night"! Our concern was driven by the fact that we had a dog and were worried that a shard may cut his paws. To top the attitude, the price of items would rival Per Se or any of the other fancy manhattan eateries where service, quality and setting are all spectacular unlike here. Pros: Food is very good though not exceptional. The views of Manhattan are good but somewhat obscured by the low setting of the restaurant although the vast expanse of the East river somewhat makes up for that. Our waiter - don't know his name - from Southern Cal was pretty good and did go towards making the evening somewhat memorable. All in all more hellish than heavenly (celestine) Note to Yelp: The prices warrants FIVE dollar signs NOT two. read more

Pros: the view Ambiance Cons: everything else rude staff dry chicken horrible drinks read more

I wanted to write this while it was fresh in my mind. I just had dinner with a very old friend at Celestine. The space and views are flat out amazing, it's flooded with natural light, the food was on the whole pretty great (although the preserved lemon sauce with branzino was little too sour and overpowering). But the whole experience was ruined by our server in the red blouse. It started bad and then got even worse. She came over while the very friendly host was seating us and asked if we wanted still or sparkling - I said sparkling, my dinner guest said regular. The server replied "still" in a condescending and nasty tone - totally unnecessary. As she left the table I looked at the host and said "wow" - he seemed to be also surprised. I almost asked to be moved to a different section at that point, but I didn't and regretted it. Things were better after that, after my first glass of Rose the server asked if I wanted another, I said yes, but it never arrived. I moved my empty glass into a very visible spot, and with 5 minutes she asked if I wanted a refill - I said yes, and got it. But when the bill arrived there were three glasses listed. No big deal I thought - simple mistake - so when the server came back I told her that I had only been served 2. She told me I was incorrect and there were three. I told her that in fact there were two, and that she had forgotten the bring the "second" one. She told me she disagreed, but would take it off anyway. In other words, you're a liar, but I'll take if off anyway. I left disgusted, I won't be back. Such a shame - an amazing place ruined by a nasty attitude. read more

Went here with my bf for our anniversary dinner. Made a reservation for 7:30 and got there around 7. The restaurant was not too crowded and we got seated immediately. It's the type of place you can dress up or down for. Being a vegetarian, I was happy to see there was plenty of options. We started with hummus and flat bread, both were good. For our mains we had the carrot and chicken dish. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the flavors in my dish, didn't expect that from a dish with so many carrots. According to my bf his chicken was delicious and he really loved how well the grapes tied the flavors in. Overall great food, great service, and spectacular location. read more

Celestine - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I have picked Celestine to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. Although their website clearly states that they cannot guarantee specific tables I have enquired about a nice seating as I wanted it to be a special evening. We were greeted promptly on our arrival. The restaurant wasn't super busy however most of the tables on their terrace seemed taken. They have given us a table inside but by the window so we could still get the nice view on the bridge and stunning evening skyline. Our server(s) were very swift and friendly. ( polite note- don't clear plates until all parties finished eating ). We went for the "family style" set menu with the main course of chicken and sword fish. Chef has sent mezze appetisers with some flat bread and olives -delicious! as well as some accompaniments like melon with our mains. We wrapped up our meal with an almond cake and coffee mousse. Both delicious!!!! Italian sparkling wine complemented our meal beautifully. On a down note the restaurant was a bit warm inside... we didn't want to case a fuss and ask for a table outside but perhaps we should have as there was a nice breeze coming from the river and few tables became available.Perhaps on our next visit! It's a very chic and intimate restaurant with a beautiful views and dimmed lights. It was just perfect for the occasion. Everyone made our evening enjoyable. We shall be back! read more

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I love this place. The baba ghanoush and the hummus is delicious. The flatbread is done in house and very warm when it comes out. It melts in your mouth! The lamb with couscous and figs is out of this world. I never had lamb this savory and sweet before. And the blood orange Rickey is a must! I plan to come here in the summer since it's right next to the bridge and the views are great! The staff were so nice! read more

Celestine - Baba Ghannouj and Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Views here are pretty great! In addition it's not crowded and most of the clientele are families and younger professionals -- so super chill and not too busy. The menu and food here is pretty simple there isn't much to chose from, I'm not super into Mediterranean food however I didn't mind it! I did love the flatbread and the pistachio dip! So so good! The service was excellent and all very very kind! I would come back on a summer/spring day however it's a little bit pricey! read more

This review is for the owners, I hope you will do some changes in the future to stay in business as a new restaurant. 1. Change the $ singed from $$ to $$$ on Yelp because it's a lie, no customer like surprises. 2. Your appetizer dishes are very small for the cost you charge. 3. Should add "Chinese Eggplant" on your dish roasted eggplant, it's very disappointing to see this small eggplant on the plate, especially when you charge $16 for this dish. read more

Celestine - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I had dinner with friends last night a Celestine. As we walked in, we were confronted with the spectacular view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. We sought of knew it we be breathtaking, considering the restaurant is situated at the foot of the bridge. There not a table in the place without a breathtaking view. The entrees were interesting, delicious and plated well. The service spot on. We were at a loss as to what some of the dishes on the menu were, but Emily our server was very gracious in seeing us through it. Jeff, the mixologist, was very helpful as well. We all had a very memorable dinner. My only suggestion would be The Glenlivet at the bar. Hope to be back soon. read more

My husband took me here for my birthday last month. It was lovely. View was great and it was a pleasure to see the city skyline and bridge during these times. Service was friendly. Highly recommend for a nice dinner out. read more

Yes, the view looks beautiful in the pics but the pics don't capture the noise made by the elevated train that goes across the Brooklyn Bridge. Every so often, your meal is interrupted by a screeching train going across the bridge. The service is also less than desirable. I have gluten allergies and it took the server a long time to get me info from the kitchen even though they weren't that busy. The fish was small and not that tasty. We ordered the humus and I was hoping they could substitute the pita with tomatoes or cucumbers as other restaurants have done for me in the past. Unfortunately, the were unable to provide me with an alternative to PITA. My companion who is not GF also found his meal not very tasty. read more

Rats everywhere right outside of the restaurant! Do not go there. Food is salty or uncooked. Only good thing about the place is the view which you can get for free! read more

Beautiful restaurant and impeccable food. I was thoroughly impressed because I did not expect the food to be so good. The restaurant is not that big and don't worry every table has a great view. Elaine took great care of us and was so friendly and sweet. We had the platter for appetizer, along with crispy falafel and short rib dumplings. For entree we had the chicken and the branzino, Brussels sprouts and lentil and rice. Every dish was so flavorful and delicious. The branzino was cooked to perfection, Probably one of the best I've tried. The chicken was delicious and came with grapes and nuts. The was surprised how well the ingredients went, because I would never imagine grapes in my chicken. I love that they have a seasonal menu. I will definitely return in the summer to experience their out door seating and lunch menu. read more

Great place for brunch in dumbo with beautiful views. Would come back for the views, service and the mezze platter. The mezze platter and pita bread is a great start to the meal... Would order again. The cocktails and tea were also great, and service was on point. Shakshuka was good but not memorable. read more

Celestine - Mezze platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Been wanting to go to this place for a long time and finally ended up going here for a Friday night date with my boyfriend. Although we had reserved a table at 8, surprisingly it was not so packed by the time we got there. The restaurant is built on the waterfront, you can see the Manhattan bridge of you sit near the window. Unlike the River cafe by Brooklyn bridge, Celestine is less expensive and doesn't require formal attire which made both of us very comfortable. The food is very authentic Mediterranean, the waitress who served us is very sweet, she kept on asking if we needed anything else and recommended good dessert. The atmosphere in the restaurant is romantic and classy, perfect for date nights. In my opinion Celestine is the best option for a waterfront dining experience around DUMBO read more

Celestine - Mediterranean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Normally I don't write reviews but I had the most amazing time at Celestine! The food, staff, and views were impeccable. Our server was delightful and introduced us to natural wines that paired perfectly with our meal. A must stop if you're in the DUMBO area, we will definitely be coming back soon! read more

This was our fourth visit to Celestine. I completely love the food and location and so decided to take our closest friends visiting from abroad to savor the food and location. We were six and there was a table that could have accommodated us alfresco. But the hostess seated us indoors in a corner. When I requested for the outside seating, she said somebody was waiting for the table and pointed towards the bar. We was set at another table which was rather warm and stuffy. Luckily I will our waiter was a very nice man and he made up for the lack of hospitality from the hostess and the manager. The entire time we ate, the table that I had requested sat empty. It was only after we received the bill did they seat some people over there. They could have jolly well seated us and let us enjoy a lovely afternoon in Brooklyn, but they chose not to. I will never return. read more

We live in the neighborhood, and my wife and I had a friend in from Los Angeles last night. We reserved at Celestine because of the exceptional view, very good food, and, to this point, warm service. Repeated brunch there and a few dinners, and it's been a great choice. Let's call it 4 stars. We've been fans. Last night's experience there is a case study in how to lose a customer. We've made 8:30 reservations. At 8:00 we're texted to make sure we're on time At 8:30 we're on time, but the table isn't ready. They need 15 minutes. That's fine. There's no room at the bar, so we walk with our guest around the neighborhood. There's lots to point out. At 8:45 we're back. It will only be a few minutes. The table's "just about to get up." Okay, still fine. At 8:55 we're getting a little antsy. We have to stand in the flow of excuse me, excuse me traffic. We're hungry. Our guest points out that we really should be offered a round of drinks at this point. It's been a while. At 9:00 we're seated. Annoyed, but not the end of the world. They should have picked up a round, but whatever. At 9:15 we've had a sparkling or flat water order, but now we're finally asked for our drink order. The conversation at the table is now exclusively about the service. Both a client and hospitality management disaster. I don't usually say anything, but it's annoying and I go to speak to the manager. They should acknowledge this somehow. This is on them, and it sucks. I point out a round of drinks or something would be appropriate. Anything. Bring us three toothpicks on a bar napkin (I didn't say that.) Let's call it 9:16. I speak to the manager, who's immediately defensive and abrupt. I tell him we've essentially waited 45 minutes to get our drinks. He tells me he needs to "check with the hostess." I have no idea what he's telling me until I realize he is vetting my complaint! He needs to make sure my wait time is genuine. I go back to my table. Now, it is ALL we are talking about at the table. 9:30 I see the manager walking past us repeatedly. There's been no follow up, which is insulting, to be honest, and eventually I ask him to come over. I let him know I'm pretty irritated that he hasn't even one back to me to follow up. What's up with that? Our guest points out that the owner probably would want to know about this. It isn't cool, and he may just not know what's happening. The owner would be mortified. 9:31 The manager tells me he spoke with the hostess and we were seated 30 minutes after the reservation, not 45. In other words, *we're* wrong. Except that we're not. I repeat that we didn't get our drink order for 15 minutes after we were seated. I point out that he's just questioned my word, not followed up with me, and you can fill in the rest. He is "I"m never wrong" bristly and aggressive. Frankly, so am I, except I'm the customer who "should never be wrong," and guess what, I'm not. The *smallest* acknowledgement of what happened would have fixed the entire event, but he presses on being right like he's the President of the United States of America - offering us the passive aggressive option to leave if we'd be happier. I ask him what he would do differently, if anything, if this were to happen again. I remind him for about the 3rd time that we're regulars. We agree to disagree. Whatever. But wait! there's more: he lets us know that he was waiting until the end of the meal to offer us something. I tell him we're spending the entire meal talking about how uncool this is. Now the comp is going to come in at the 11th hour? Omg, he doesn't get it. He could put this restaurant out of business in 6 months. For the record, I'm not even drinking. I'm having a grapefruit soda (not bad, btw.) The hummus is great. Mains were mixed. View of bridge fantastic. 9:30 - 10:30 drinks come out separately. Apps separately. A side dish forgotten. Plates picked up at different intervals. The waiter who we barely see come over to ask if my wife would like another drink when her glass is half-full, but then not at all when it isn't anymore. The waiter hands our table off. It has to be said, and it wouldn't have mattered at all if everything else wasn't off the rails: our waiter is wearing a poor choice in shirts. What's supposed to be, I imagine, relaxed, is actually sloppy. Let's call it 10:45. We're comped the drinks. Haha. They should have saved their money at this point and cut their losses. 10:55 we're leaving the restaurant and the manager is behind the bar and gives us a huge "I spit in your food" smile and wishes us goodnight. We say goodnight with equally bright smiles. "See you soon on Yelp!" I just needed to get it out. Thank you for reading this far. read more

The good was okay but way overpriced for the miniscule portions. The staff have no knowledge of allergies and actually kept bringing the very things we are allergic to. The shakshuka eggs came raw. read more