Much like my earning power, intellect, and sexual prowess, Jacques Bistro is just average. Typical Belgian French place. Nice neighborhood place but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. read more

Sadly I was very disappointed in this place. I had wanted to try it for a while but now that I have I will not be going back. My experience will explain why... We arrived at 6 PM on a Thursday. The restaurant was not busy, yet it took 15 minutes to get room temperature water and menus. I asked the waiter what the soup of the day was. He replied "lentil" so I ordered it. 10 minutes later, he returned.. Waiter #1: "I was wrong. The soup of the day is not lentil. Would you like it anyway?" Me: "What is the soup of the day?" Waiter #1: "Oh, hold on, let me check" Another 5 minutes pass and a new waiter approaches... Waiter #2: "Who ordered the soup?" Me: "I did" Waiter #2: "Ok. Soup of the day is lentil" Me: "But the other waiter said it isn't lentil" Waiter #2: "Then what did he say it is?" Me: "He was going to check for me" Again, 5 minutes later... (at this point my boyfriend already has his appetizer) Waiter #1: "The soup of the day is root vegetable" Me: "Ok sure, I'll take it" Waiter #1 walks away and waiter #2 comes back... Waiter #2: "I'm so sorry Miss but it actually turns out that we are out of all soups" Me: "Even the root vegetable?" Waiter #2: "We don't make root vegetable soup" Me: "Ok" 10 minutes later my soup finally arrives. It was lentil. read more

This place had a beautiful Pappardelle and Mussles Mariniere, BEST CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ OF MY LIFE!!!!!

party of 6 for dinner on a not too busy thursday night. the soft-shell crab was adequate-same with the tuna salad. service was somewhat inhospitable, and after our waiter knocked over a drink on the table, which created a pool of liquid on the floor, i don't think we got so much as an apology. the food here is too unrefined to justify the unpleasantness from some of the staff. to jacques' credit, though, they make a mean french fry. then again, so does mcdonald's. read more

Had dinner here again with a couple of friends. Waitstaff was cordial and busboys were efficient, as usual. I enjoyed their Tartare de Thon Frais but wasn't so thrilled with the Coquilles St. Jacques--there was something in the mushroom risotto which ruined it with a "cabbagey" odor and had a crunchiness to it (No, it wasn't the Manchego either and cabbage wasn't in the ingredients listed). In the past, I've tried their steak frites with Bearnaise and found it quite flavorful although I'm not a frites fan in general, but their's had an interesting taste to it. I've also had their L'oeuf Marocaine for brunch and it took some getting used to, particularly the provençale sauce, but it was quite tasty. I particularly like the fact that they serve the Belgian Lindeman's Lambic fruit-flavored beers and ping-pong between Peche and Framboise although I wish they'd stock other flavors (I know others exist)--if they did, I'd be likely found quaffing a brew sitting at their bar every evening since they're in my neighborhood!!! read more

$20 for an absurd amount of mussells! This place is fantastic, even for someone who can't pronounce most of the things on the menu.

It is just another French brasserie with simple food and a mean Croque Monsieur, but it's off-the-beaten-path kinda ups the star value. Beers are cheap and the creme brulee is pretty damn good too. read more

I give this place 3.5 stars. I've had the goat cheese and onion tart, and the mussels in garlic/parsley/chardonnay. The tart was quite tasty, but the mussels were just ok. If you want mussels, try Cafe de Bruxelles: they'll give you more and also have a slightly larger variety of mussels. I've had other dishes too, can't remember what exactly, but those were also pretty good. Pretty good service, nice to sit outside on a sunny spring day (I've never sat inside, actually). read more

Consistent year after year. Great neighborhood bistro with attentive staff and great management. Mussels, fries, burgers are great along with Salmon, Steak and salads. Great outdoor (side street) seating and good Parisian atmosphere inside. read more

Had dinner on a Friday night at 7PM. Onion soup flat, not rich, wine was warm, beef bougnogne chewy with thin sauce, mussel dish was way too buttery and over cooked. Escargot sauce was garlicy but also flat other than that it was a nice place! For $109 with tip it was not worth it read more

Jacques was my old stand-by when I was living on the UES, but during my 3 years living in the neighborhood I did notice a change in Jacques food, most noticeably their steak frites. The steak cuts they use change from time to time, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. When they are good, it's really good, when it's bad, it's not horrible, but definitely not worth writing about. Overall I really enjoy Jacques, they have standard French bistro fare, good wine, and outdoor seating for those warm summer nights. How can you pass it up? read more

A neighborhood favorite. There are few things better than Saturday lunch at Jacques. The escargots, burgers and steaks are excellent and the staff are very nice. read more

Didn't find any of the food appealing. Had the mushroom pappardelle on my most recent visit and it was disgusting - totally oily, lacking salt, and gave me a tummy ache. Prices are ludicrous for this quality of food. read more

I adore this place. Have been here twice and was thoroughly impressed with the food and with the service. The decor is nice as well. The tables can be a little close together but the intimate feel is welcome, and the food may be so delicious that you don't notice. read more

Normally I love coming here. I would even say i'm a semi-regular and have spent hundreds of $$ on their great food. However watch out, the service can be AWFUL. Tonight I had to flag down a passing waiter and beg for water, and it went downhill from there in terms of attention. When I asked for "who actually is my waiter," I was told alternatively, "he's at the store; what do you want?" and "it's an open floor and anyone can help you." When I went to give these remarks to the manager upon leaving, the manager was nowhere to be found. Only a sympathetic waiter who happened to recognize me saved the day. I'm conflicted because the food is great but I will ask next time to be seated in the section that actually has a designated waiter. read more

The ambience is one of a well seasoned French Brasserie. We brought our friends from Paris to Jacques on the day they left. They were homesick and they said it reminded them of home. I agree. Great 100% sirloin beef hamburgers.You can sit at the bar watching european football on the french channel. I love the pommes frites and mussels here when the mussels are truly in season. They have five different sauces for the mussels and they are all fantastic! Nice wine list. Waitstaff has always been friendly and we've never had a problem with service even when they're slammed. read more

Decent French fair, with good wait staff. Nothing special. Not really worth the $30 entres.

The four of us ate dinner and requested the Prix Fixed but they didn't have it:( So we ended up getting the Hanger steaks, mussels, and roasted chicken. We had the chocolate soufflé for dessert and a bottle of Cote du Rhone. Nice. read more

Exactly what you want out of your neighborhood French bistro. Great atmosphere and solid fare. Perfect for a date

I owe Jacques an apology, which is another way of saying what a dumb ass I am for not coming back sooner! My wife and I went there to celebrate Bastille Day last evening and had a really terrific meal, probably the best mussles we've ever had. For quiet some time, whenever we're in the mood for mussles, we've been going to Flex and have always been satisfied, but never thrilled. Last night showed us what we've been missing and what truly fabulous mussles should taste like. My wife had the Dijonnaise and I had the Provencale, and both were out of this world! The waiter was wonderful -- friendly and attentive. We also had a special Bastille Day punch which was sublime, and at $7 a glass I can only hope they keep it on the menu! Vive la France! Vive la Jacques!!! read more

One at the bar, Saturday 845p, no wait. Nice day out. Mid-rare steak frites, bearnaise, perfect martini. All good... Slightly warm bread, always quite nice. Steak cooked to temp, a generous cut but a tad tough. Nice color on fries but lacked a little crispness. Bearnaise, really good, balanced and well textured, not the lazy stuff. Bartender was slammed but gracious and attentive. People queued for a table don't really know what to do with themselves. No podium or host's station (actually quite nice) but without a visual cue, seating waiting parties was a little disheveled, perhaps not as much as an issue on quieter nights. Some observed service at tables was rough, to the point that I'm hesitant. A fine neighborhood place, entry on street vs avenue helps set a warm and more intimate tone. 3.5 stars if that were an option. read more

I came in for dinner with a friend on a recent trip to New York, and enjoyed myself so much, we came in the next night as well. Excellent food, a very welcoming atmosphere, and oh the food. I had the steak frites au poivre the first night, and loved everything about it. The second night I had the poulet roti which was absolutely amazing. How can chicken be so flavorful? Lovely wines, good drinks, and just a lovely couple of evenings all around. I found the service to be excellent, attentive but not at all intrusive. Sess, in particular, was wonderful. I would come back again based on his stellar service alone. read more

I find this place to be a little hit and miss. From an ambiance perspective it is top notch. There's often live music and the outdoor patio make this place a classic Upper East Side french bistro. I would highly recommend this place for a date or any type of intimate get together. That being said, the food varies in quality. Don't pass up on the Steak Tartare, the hefty portion with an egg yolk on top make it the perfect light entree bursting with flavor. On the other hand, the traditional Moules Frites dish was subpar. The muscles on top of the pot were cold and relatively flavorless. If you pair it with a french wine and the sun is shining, you might not be overly critical. In general, come for the atmosphere and a drink, but manage your expectations when it comes to the food. -@TheIndulgenist read more

Horrible Oscar party experience- not prepared, terrible service and sound issues - go somewhere else next year

Spent a lovely afternoon here with my daughter and daughter in law. We all had the business lunch which came with a huge salad and delicious warm and crusty bread. The moules frites, burger and chicken sandwich were all delicious with generous portions. The coffee ice cream sundae with espresso and fudge was a perfect ending.(we shared one and it was plenty) Good service and a nice ambience, comfortable enough to have a long lunch with lots of laughing. I will return here. read more

The worst croque monsieur ever. No gruyere and made of cheddar. Terrible. The mussels were good however and service. But really they should change that item or change their designation as a French restaurant. read more

Pros: Seated promptly despite packed restaurant. Got good table. Appetizers were excellent Wine by the glass was nice Didn't feel rushed Cons Waiter probably very new. Had trouble being heard over the crowd . Uneven waits for for most items: Menus took a while, appetizers a little slow, entrees forever, clean up pretty quick, dessert menus a while, had to ask manager for check. For appetizer and entree-only meal, 2 hours and 20 minutes. Neutrals: My steak Frites came with a large, tasty but leathery NY Strip (What happened to hangar steak?) The other entrees were "just OK to pretty good" Not their fault (probably) When I called to confirm my Open Table Res., no record of it. Over all, not a wonderful experience. read more

I have been going to this "neighborhood" restaurant for over 10 years with friends. It has been our tradition when the weather gets cold, like tonight, to choose this restaurant for "comfort " food. Not so comfortable tonight, when my friend and I first ordered an appetizer salad ($14) and requested that it be split by the kitchen. We were informed by the waitstaff that there would be a $4 "plate" charge for this service as per the owner, who, of course, was not there to discuss this appalling policy with. I'm sure that, in the future, my friends and I will be able to find a better local restaurant which is more interested in providing customer service, satisfaction, and comfort. read more

nice place but not friendly. Also, their website is not updated at all: pre fix menu doesn't exist anymore. Special day have restricted condition... I went there for their specials, It was disappointed :( read more

Unless service is vile or the food could put you in the emergency room, I rarely give one star, so let me explain the good before the bad, if you love mussels, go , and if you are hard of hearing and like to be cynical this is the place for you. However, yes, here comes the experiences I have had and sadly, I will no longer go, I used to love to go here and it used to be somewhat decent, now it's a big hit or miss, more of a miss , the service can be truly appalling or just somewhat blase, the food is overpriced as the French onion soup is not what it used to be and the French fries seem overcooked again and again, makes one think that they sat there for quite some time, depending on the staff, who seem to try to carry a notion of disdain to be attractive, and the crowd is older and that's saying something if I'm over fifty, the food lacks taste and the staff could do with training, however the worst was when the barman one night threw my friend's credit card on the floor and was very abusive for no good reason, my friend was asking for details on the food and the barman, a man in his forties , started screaming and I asked him very nicely to stop, ahhhh no, he continued to be dramatic and I seriously wondered why this happened, it seemed to me that he was a tad anti-Semitic, and for this reason, I won't be back. I've lived in the city on and off for over 20 years and found this very upsetting and scary. Train your staff and turn this once lovely place around read more

I recently held my daughter's bridal shower for 30 people at Jacques and was so happy with the entire experience. The staff was so accommodating, the food was delicious and plentiful, and the atmosphere was warm and charming. The manager helped us to create a lovely menu for the day and we celebrated in the perfectly sized private room. I highly recommend this French bistro for an intimate event or just for a delectable meal. read more

Tried: foie gras, escargot, scallop risotto, steak tartar, the creme brulee, espreso martini, dirty martini and two glasses of some desert wine (port I believe). I feel like I got a pretty good experience of their menu and I have to say, all of it tasted like happy. The escargot and the espresso martini were my most surprising delights. Like when someone sucks on your toe and you're like...oh....that's weird....I kinda like it. I mean, you always knew that other people liked it but you never thought you would. Yea...it's like that. Sexy, sexy food here, folks. read more

After reading reviews, I couldn't wait to try their mussels & fries. Whoever said these are the best in the city, was sadly mistaken! They are edible, but the best? NO WAY! The best I have were both in Astoria at Sanford's & Locale. Travel to Queens for some really fantastic mussels! Jacques is a cool location, but not cool for mussels. read more

I called to verify that they had chocolate soufle. Went there only to be told they were all out. Bait n switch! Terrible.

This is why you live in New York. It's not Paris, but it can FEEL like it, at the right restaurant. I had the thon tartare and the saumon, both perfect. So were the wine and the service. read more

Jacques - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Very good service despite being busy.There's a small terrace as well good for a quick bite and a beautiful dining room where a party was underway. I was visiting a friend that lives two blocks away and we had a delicious brunch with their 15 dollars drinks special.Solid food,delicious mussels and a nice dessert list. Get the salmon sandwich if you're there for Brunch but definitely try their mussels..!They were busy but the service was very professional and our drinks were replenished in a timely manner. I cannot wait to go there for dinner and try their steaks as well, grass fed according to our friendly waitress. I must say my friend is very demanding but it didn't seem to be frown upon like it sometimes happens in other places.l Good experience and definitely recommended. . read more

Went to Jacques on an impulse the other night as we walked by, and we weren't dissapointed. Is it the best place to get Moules and Frites in the New York area? No- Waterzooi is. However, the moules were better seasoned here than at B Bar and the fries did their job. I also had the green salad which was delicious and although the beers were overpriced as least they had some good Belgian beer to enjoy with the moules. You'll see us here again if we get a hankering and can't get to Garden City- but we probably won't seek it out. Once you have Waterzooi, you can't go back... read more

i came here two years in a row for Valentine's day and it has failed to disappoint me. I'm a fan of salmon and tilapia and this place makes it just right for my taste. It's a very cozy place and not very pretentious compare to other French restaurants in the city. Great place for couples! read more

A new (elitist) acquaintance who lives in the Upper East Side had insisted on this place for our party of nine: if you're looking for a hedge fund douche bag's high society restaurant, this is the place for you. Food was overpriced and underwhelming. Service from one of the waitresses was somewhat hostile, and made our dining experience very awkward. She announced, "EXCUSE me, the pasta" and she didn't wait for us to make room on the table for the dish, but rather she merely placed the Pappardelle on top of my friend's plate of bread. When she began clearing our table, she didn't ask us if we were finished with an as yet, half-full dish before she placed a piece of trash in it and took it away (I guess the place doesn't allow leftovers to be taken home or meals to be completed). Safe to say, we don't regret our decision to forego this place in the future and to likewise forego our Upper East Side "worthier-than-thou" acquaintance, who looks down on dignified places like Tony's Di Napoli--where we would have dined, had the acquaintance not joined our party for dinner. read more

Yeah, I don't know. Good...but I don't know if the food justifies the prices...I like mussels as much as the next girl, but I couldn't eat a whole pot of them so while my friend ordered one of the varieties of mussels, I got the chicken with spinach and mashed potatoes. His french fries were quite tasty, and I liked my entree...I just don't know it if it was really worth $21. I probably won't go back. read more