In the midst of everything going on, sometimes your afternoon doesn't call for a power lunch or an influencer-driven snack. Sometimes, you need a proper midday break to remind you that there is a little magic in the world. After an afternoon gym session pummeled me into humility, I needed to replenish. Wanting more than SweetGreen offerings but worried that my attire might earn me sidelong glances from where corporate colleagues crowd over well shaken martinis and behemoth steaks, I chanced upon L'Express. Lauded as a solid brunch spot contender, they were open for midweek lunch. I was surprised by how quiet it was given that the World Cup matches are on (Ecuador Vs Germany, and Curaçao vs Côte d'Ivoire), but was grateful for the respite from the outdoor bustle. I had the crispy pig croquettes, mussels, a cappuccino, and a pear tart. All delicious, and all disappeared in a New York minute. The pear tart was a particular treat, served warm with an inviting, gleaming glaze. I regret I had no room to finish my French fries (Blasphemy, I know ) People watching is a hobby, but my new penchant may be solely people listening after today - all around me was the sound of people whose lives were full. I was greeted warmly twice before I sat at the bar. A host regaled a guest with tales of his Ecuadorian wife cheering on her home team all the harder as she'd not made it to the last World Cup games to show support. The same guest told an incomer it was a waitress' birthday, and hugs and well wishes were shared. A gaggle of Brazilians cheered to have found one another and gently teased each other among other Spanish speakers. Another guest sat to my left and started banter with the staff after a jovial exclaim that the right game was on tv. This is 3rd space, one that is entrenched in community. It awaits you with warm heart and warmer plates. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

L’Express - Cappuccino. The rest of my food was eaten too quickly to take a photo - French Near Me - New York, New York

I wasn't very impressed when I last visited L'Express but I am so glad this visit turned that around for me. I loved my experience here. As a group of singles, my friends and I were able to snag a table for 6 on Valentines Day at around 9pm. It was hectic in there but our server genuinely did his best to make sure we had everything we needed. Meal-wise, I had the steak tartare and fries. I would say this was a standard and good tartare. The fries, however, we some of my favorite I've had in the city. I very seriously think about going back often to have this meal again. For dessert, I tried their tarte tartine. The apple was a little too bitter for my liking, it wish it were sweeter or that they offered more crème fraiche. I don't think I'd get it again. read more

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Old standby. Food is pretty good, but probably grossly overpriced. Service is spotty at best. This place used to be really good, but now the hours have been cut, and the service is usually bad. There used to be one server who was excellent, but I haven't seen her in a while. Hope she got a better job! The management and service staff really need to step it up. And the decor (especially the super grungy ceiling) sorely needs a refresh. Not planning to go back. Oh well -- plenty of other places to go. read more

We came here for brunch on a rainy weekend and the place wasn't as packed as we thought it was going to be. The decor inside was interesting and the bar was well designed. We ordered the omelette Parisienne and the Frittata Provincial. They even brought extra hot sauce open request. Both were fairly delicious. The service was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back to try their different menus throughout the day. read more

L’Express - Frittata Provencial - French Near Me - New York, New York

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BEWARE!!! HEALTH CODE VIOLATION!!! RAW UNCOOKED BURGERS!!! Came here on a Saturday after working my late night restaurant job. Was tired so I ordered food to go with the bartender. Ordered a MEDIUM L'Express burger to go. She asked me "fries or salad?" I said "fries". She then asked me the same question of how I liked my burger cooked. I said "MEDIUM!" a little louder because maybe she didn't hear me the first time. There's noise from the TVs and noise overall. I get it. She said "ok". I took her saying "ok" as a verbal acknowledgment that she heard me. I waited 15 minutes for the burger, asked for the check, then left. By the time I got home and ate a few bites, I realized I was eating raw meat. Disgusting. Serving undercooked meat is not only a health violation but it's putting my health at risk. My stomach was upset for the rest of the night. Definitely won't be eating there again. read more

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This restaurant is outstanding! Every course was beautifully prepared and the quality and flavor was amazing. Great appetizers! Service was also unbeatable! We will definitely be back!!!! read more

Very happy to experience the old-fashioned French breakfast restaurant! They open even until 4 AM!!! Very nice as cockle French baked snails , I use my bread to dip the baked sauce feeling so good! Crunch onion soup is very old style. Very good unlike other restaurant too much salty! Rin is really good unfortunately I don't have any more room for the Fois Gras Avocado bread is a little bit disappointed I would love them to put more avocado on top slices whole half piece butter, butterfly shape! Actually, everything is good. I'm very satisfied. Frankly, nice service too ! I am actually very satisfied with the professional friendly knowledge from the server read more

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What a wonderful surprise, not knowing about this absolute GEM! It was a late evening after a long detox at Bathhouse and all I wanted was French, and this spot serves even the big dishes till 2am! Food: Full of flavor, and an excellent presentation. It came out wildly quick too! Service: The host was friendly, and I was allowed to sit wherever, so I sat at the bar and enjoyed a club soda with lemon (thanks Jay the Cool cute bartender!) Everyone was friendly. Ambiance: Y'all knowwww this is a big one for me! The music was nice and low, and jazzy-- so a great place for a date or to catch up with friends too! I will definitely be returning to try their escargot next! read more

L’Express - SHORT RIB BOURGUIGNON - French Near Me - New York, New York

We were so hungry by the time we got into the city and this is the only place open in the neighborhood so here we are having French food at 11 PM on a Wednesday night! I'm ordering the green split pea soup and the salmon tartare. It's very lively in here. Our server Sophie is kind of new and wasn't sure what to suggest so we made our own choices. lol read more

L’Express - French Near Me - New York, New York

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We came here for brunch, it's really great French bistro food. We had a salad to share and burgers; their burger is one of the best in New York, solid and perfectly seasoned. Service is good and fast, cozy and warm atmosphere. I definitely recommend trying their burgers! read more

L’Express - L'Express Burger - French Near Me - New York, New York

L'Express is a serviceable brunch option (though I see in reviews it is also known for late night eats) in what might be the city block with the highest concentration of brunch spots per square inch. Look left, right, up, down, chances are extremely high that your eyes will land on a brunch institution. I ended up at L'Express at the suggestion of a friend, who recommended it as a place with a large menu and reservations that are relatively easy to get on a Sunday. While it was mostly a pleasant experience overall, the food was okay at best and the service was inefficient and inconsistent. We came here at 12:15pm on a Sunday as a part of 5. The food might be meh but it was still pretty busy -- cute vibes and prime location can get you most of the way there. Though it was easy enough to sit, it took a while for us to flag our server down to order drinks. Though I had no issues with my iced americano, one person ordered a latte with oat milk because she is lactose intolerant (and said so) and received a latte with good old dairy milk. Luckily another person was happy enough to drink a second beverage but not great that the server brought her something she couldn't drink after she was explicit about having a food allergy. Most of us had trouble deliberating because the menu is expansive. I ended up going with the Frittata Provencal, with ratatouille and mozzarella. It did not look too appetizing when served but it was okay. I had hoped that the cheese would be inside the frittata and used in moderation but there was just a ton of it melted on top of the whole thing. It was also underseasoned and didn't have much flavor, though it benefitted from some extra salt and pepper. Sometimes food can be just sustenance and not the main event. And in this case, the food was more than anything a backdrop to a fun hang with friends, and in this way it served its purpose. read more

Not a fan, service was slow and food was quite mediocre. If you're looking for a great French place, better off skipping this place. You can tell the escargot is frozen as it lacks flavor. read more

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Never disappoint. Warm, polite staff. Always timely. Great atmosphere to catch up over food and drink. I've always enjoyed the food and not to method the cocktails. I'll keep going back. read more

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An NYC late night staple! Service sucks and food is just ok, but it's a reliable last minute res read more

L’Express - Duck Cassoulet - French Near Me - New York, New York

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It's unfortunate because this used to be my favorite but the staff is slow and not accommodating. They have beautiful seats outside and in the morning before it gets hot they won't let anyone sit out there! Several people left when I decided I had to stay inside. The food is still good though. read more

The best thing about this place was the drinks. And this is coming from someone that rarely drinks, so you know it's good when even I start to partake in the shenanigans. The food was okay, I felt like my stake was a little too fatty and didn't have enough flavor. I am not and never will be a salt and pepper only type of woman, so it just wasn't for me. The place was also so small it was hard to get up and leave the table because there was no room. And mostly everyone was talking but slight music could still be heard over the volume. read more

L’Express - Steak Frites - French Near Me - New York, New York

I enjoyed my cocktail and wine, but the alleged "cassoulet " was pretty terrible--tasteless duck leg and a duck sausage that seemed so funky that I wondered if it had spoiled. Cassoulet is all about depth of flavor, achieved via hours of slow cooking, but this just seemed thin and wan, except for the sausage that seemed just bad. Very disappointing. read more

Had dinner at L'Express on a busy Saturday evening. Lively atmosphere with tables packed in relatively tightly. Started with the Onion Soup and the Salmon Tartare - both were solid. For entrees we had the Steak Hache and the Short Rib Bourguignon which were not bad. We finished with Crème Caramel and the Crème Brûlée which were also okay. Our server Carmen was friendly though she was stretched a little thin given how crowded it was. read more

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I easily made a reservation for dinner for four people through the restaurant's website for 6:15. When we arrived there were several tables available however when the blonde petite hostess showed us to our table she immediately told us that we could have the table for only 1-1/2 hours because they will be needing the table. I thought this was very rude and made our dining experience uncomfortable. Granted the time it took us to eat was under her limit but who does that when the restaurant was clearly half empty? I don't think I will be dining here anytime soon. read more

This iconic restaurant has been opened since 1996. Closes at 4 AM on Fridays and Saturdays! It is an authentic French bistro where you can sit outside and people watch. We had the Salade niçoise and Croque monsieur. The fries were a little soggy though. Great service: the waitress Carmen was amazing. Would recommend just based on its history alone. read more

L’Express - Croque Monsieur and Grilled Fresh Tuna Nicoise Salad - French Near Me - New York, New York

Great French bistro food. An old nyc staple for late night high quality food and drink. Burger is amazing. Rosemary fries delicious. Drinks Martini and everything under the sun are great as well. Inside decor is chic French style. Tables and booths along the walls. Bartender and severs treat you very well and are super attentive read more

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This restaurant nailed their Yelp description - "a charming French bistro with great food in a lively setting". They make a mean filthy martini and most of our bites were great. Must haves include the beef tartare, the pig croquettes, and the crab cakes. I regret not ordering the short rib as my main. The sausage in the cassoulet was rather dry and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. We went on a Thursday and it was packed to the gills. Apparently they serve food past midnight? Great spot for date night! read more

L’Express - Duck Cassoulet - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Excellent French bistro for our walk-in lunch on a Friday Party of four: - Burger was excellent. - Frisee & lardon: excellent. - The crispy goat cheese appetizer was universally loved. - The Crispy Pig Croquettes were perfection and the salad that came with them was sublime -- may even have outshined the purported star of the dish. - The lamb burger was a solid and perfectly seasoned rendition. Service was top-notch! read more

I've been to L'Express several times, and it's one of my favorite spots in NYC -- especially because the kitchen stays open late. It's such a great option when you want a proper meal without rushing or worrying about the kitchen closing. I went yesterday with my family, and like always, we had a great time. The food is consistently delicious, the vibe is cozy and inviting, and it always feels like a good choice. I love the French onion soup and the steak frites -- total classics and always on point. Yesterday, we decided to try the escargots for the first time -- I never order them at other places because I usually don't like them, but these were actually really good. Also, big fan of the sourdough bread they serve at the table -- it's the kind of bread you can't stop eating. Highly recommend for late-night dining or a casual French meal that hits the spot every time. read more

L’Express - Steak Frites - French Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been coming to L'Express since pretty much its inception as I had a tax business across the street at 250 Park Avenue South. We threw my late mother's 70th birthday party there, and I am now 71 years old myself. Let me start with parking as I know this can be a big deal. If you drive around a bit, it's possible to park on the street. I shall now get into the food. The cuisine is decent. I had an omelet the other day, and a few "Sangria's." The busboy was most congenial. I forget his name, but I think he said he was from El Salvador. He engaged me in conversation, which made my invisible ass feel like a somebody. Here is where the staffing problem comes in. The hostess (short unkempt-looking lady) ruins the image L'Express has long worked hard to earn. She was abrupt, seemed confused and does not fit in. Also, take away the woman bartender. Neither one of the Sangrias was the same. The first was delicious, the second from the bartender woman was all ice, plus blueberries. It should have apples and oranges. She appeared uncertain as to what I wanted. Other than that, L'Express has managed to survive, and I will always be a loyal customer. read more

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I am satisfied. Had Bouguignon at 2:30am and was pleased with it. The staff was professional and ambuance was easy. It was a good meal. read more

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L'Express gets 5 Danny Seals! If you want legit outdoor seating--dope for people watching--L'Express has you covered. The prices?! Shockingly chill for top-tier French food, especially in NYC. Inside feels old school, but not stuffy--think grown-up sophistication with zero snob energy. Now, let's talk eats. Beef tartare here is next-level, crazy good! Like, I want to DM all my foodie nerd friends about it. You get the quality, but you don't need to sell your vintage Marvel comics to afford it. Vibe check: A+ especially when you post up outside. If you're into tech, laughs, and traveling for eats, this place matches that wavelength. This spot fully gets my Danny Seal of Approval (5/5 seals): amazing vibes, killer food, solid drinks, prices for regular humans, and yeah--I'll be back, probably too often. read more

Escargot anyone? Mmm one of my favs! It was a pleasure to dine here and enjoy the good eats paired with wine. The waiter was dressed to impress and was prompt. Service was timely and the flavors of food outstanding. Plenty of seating and enjoyed the lower light choice for lighting. Can't wait to come back to enjoy more! read more

L'Express is an absolute staple of the Gramercy area and one of these NYC spots you just gravitate towards - the setting is very nice and decorated like a French café, making it feel like a little piece of home away from home for me. After a long night, during a slow Sunday, or on a whim, I know I can get a table (there usually are some available, I never have had to wait) and have delicious food (the steak tartare and the escargots are my personal favorite). This is such a good balance of price and quality, and the staff is very friendly. Shout out to Herman who has been our waiter quite a few times by now and always makes sure we have a great time! read more

L'Express is such a great casual, neighborhood restaurant. You can't go wrong with the steak frites and escargot. Perfect spot for a date night or meet up with friends. read more

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The food is always very good here, especially the French classics. Pricing is about average- quality is very good. The ambiance is a mix of locals and tourists- always pretty busy and loud, but you go there for the food! Service is fine- they could use a few more servers during weekday dinner hours. read more

Adorable little french restaurant near Gramercy Park - it's always packed for weekend brunches. They open up the doors and have outdoor seating to create the perfect little french cafe ambiance. Breakfast is a lovely affair with savory sausages, and fluffy eggs. I wouldn't recommend the salade l'express, though. The vinaigrette is flavorless and all you can taste is the bitterness of the greens. read more

I really love this place! Food is tried and true, excellent service and a cute and cozy ambiance.

I didn't eat here for a meal other than a warming squash soup, which was delicious especially on a cold day. I came more for coffee and dessert - and the almond pear tart was divine here and complemented nicely with a mocha - and the mocha here is served in a small bowl, akin to the French grand cafe au lait style. This Belgic restaurant was a nice find and I wouldn't hesitate to come back for the mocha and the desserts. We also had a friendly waitress who did a great job catering to the diverse needs of my table. read more

L’Express - Mocha, tart. - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was mediocre but the service is slightly better because of the senior female server was attentive. I went there at least 3 times per month but I had stopped since I had 7 pp lunch on my son's graduation. I asked for a bigger round table I know that I will order tons of food which we did ($400 without alcohol). Unfortunately, a server that didn't serve us refused to accommodate us and lied that it was for a reservation but we were there for 98 minutes and the table was still empty. It looks like that the big table that for 7 belongs to her section. My server is older and I did tips her over 20% for being kind. I asked the host when I walked out if the table were even reserved, she said no. Maybe, because we were Asian? I happened to hire 70% Caucasian ever though that I am Asian, and any kind of mistreat to my guest will be an immediate termination. *The prejudice female server was a young Caucasian* Miss the good old legendary talk of the town of the chef driven hospitality that being the innovative touch of French classic/fun bistro for the restaurant industry after midnight. read more

Great, kind service, just super down to earth people who want to give you a good meal Amazing food, the gnocchi is a must have Make sure to get the crème brûlée The ambiance and lighting is perfect like a slice of old timey Paris in nyc read more

The best place! the customer service is immaculate. Thank you to our wonderful waiter Awman for having an amazing smile and attitude when dealing with us! read more

L’Express - Salmon - French Near Me - New York, New York

Good food if you can wait for it. Empty restaurant. Our very friendly waitress went on break, didn't tell us and we had to beg for our food. Starving 45 min in. read more

I really wanted linguine with clams! They delivered! Also the French onion soup was perfect. The ambiance with quick and friendly service. I'll be coming back! read more

The food in Gramercy Park area restaurants Is perfect for reliable, delicious food. I loved my muscles and fries. The mussels were in created in delicious white sauce with cheese, added to a fantastic medley. *the mussels were nice and big too yrsssMy friend truly enjoyed their lobster roll. They said the consistency of the lobster was perfect with all the perfect ingredients which made a perfect toll. read more

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