Not the most pleasant welcome! We used to love this place, but the maitre d was very rude. Totally overlooked us even though we were in front of him and accommodated these girls first. When I told him that we were there first he was so condescending in his response!!! read more

I wanted to try Gamin for a long time and went there on a sunday afternoon. It looks much cuter from outside. The decor is really underwhelming with boring artwork on the walls, it's almost like this place has no soul. I ordered burger and my friend ordered moules. Moules was really good. But the burger was almost inedible. I asked medium and got a rare beef, it was almost burned outside. I had to send back and asked for medium. Second time it was extremely well-done. It was overcooked and falling apart with every bite. I had two bites only. Fries were average especially for a french restaurant. Toilet was another story with the not working flush. I won't be going back and would not recommend to anyone as there are so many better places in the neighborhood. Update: 4/27/2017: I wasn't going to write this but since le gamin replied my review very sarcastically I felt the need to underline the fact that I got food poised from the burger and spent the night in bathroom throwing up. read more

This restaurant was a favorite of mine for a few years as I live within walking distance and have gone there with friends, family, artist-colleagues--until one night a couple of months back. I went out for dinner with my family of 3 adults, one young teenage girl, and we were met with eyebrow-raising, snide rudeness by the waiter, even in full view of the owner. (Owner and waiter were bantering with a friend of theirs and dog at another table.) The waiter's crummy attitude persisted throughout the meal to the point where we mentioned it to each other. We are pretty tolerant (and I don't write negative reviews!) but also quiet, well-mannered guests, and we were seated in the street shed, so it certainly wasn't anything we did. We had a full meal, which we enjoyed, but decided that we simply would go somewhere else in future. The food is good bistro food, but NYC is bursting with good places to eat not served up with what I can only call disrespect. Au'voir, gamin! read more

We went here for brunch on a busy Sunday. Everybody at the table was very happy with their food. I had a burger and fries since I am not a big fan of brunch. It was very good. The meat was cooked medium as I asked on the rare side (even better, according to my taste). The fries were some of the best fries I've ever had! Pefectly cruncy and soft on the inside. Note: If I had ordered the eggs served with salad I would have wanted more salad... The staff was good, trying to catch up with the busy day. I look forward to go back with the nicer weather and check the famous back garden! read more

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I went here late in the evening to get drinks and crepes with friends. I was impressed with the savory buckwheat crepes. You select 3 fillings from a pretty generous list that includes cheeses, veggies, meats, and smoked salmon. I got goat cheese, caramelized onions, and mushrooms. It was perfect comfort food without being greasy or fried. The $13 price is a little steep for a vegetarian crepe, but reasonable if you get the meaty filling, as the portion is generous. The restaurant was basically empty when we were there, just one other party getting drinks. The service was good - our waiter was helpful offering suggestions and made sure drinks were refilled, etc. Not super friendly at first, but my group hung around for awhile as the staff was cleaning up for the night and we felt welcomed. The food was ready very quickly, also. I imagine this is definitely more of a brunch/daytime place, but I had a really good time closing the place down with some wine and bomb crepes! read more

I wish I could leave zero stars. the staff try their best when you can tell there is no actual management at the restaurant. the food is not good, I think ultimately it comes down to the quality of food being served rather than how it's prepared. I ordered the quiche Lorraine, one of my favorite foods. it was bland, I know French cuisine is understated but it didn't taste like anything at all... and the salad it came with had some brown leaves. I feel bad for the staff working here, you can tell they are overworked and grossly underpaid. also i have to note that this place is gross. the silverware is greasy and the plates are dirty. I have no idea how it has an A rating for sanitation... makes you wonder. read more

This place is honestly filthy which is ironic because the sanitation grade is A (though I did notice a fly stuck on the sign). Silverware was greasy, my wine glass had a smear on the rim and when I asked for a new glass the waiter was clearly annoyed. In terms of food, it was pretty mediocre. You can find better mussels for the same price elsewhere. My advice: go elsewhere. read more

I went here for brunch yesterday. I ordered an iced coffee with half and half. I added the half and half and it curdled. I told the waiter and he came back a few minutes later and said he brought me whole milk instead even though the half and half wasn't spoiled it was chunky because that's how cream is. Wait, what? I've been drinking coffee with half and half for years and I've never encountered "chunky" half and half. Please instruct your service staff not to speak to diners as if we are idiots. If a diner says something is spoiled just apologize, take it away and bring a new one if that's what the diner wants. I'm concerned that your staff is not properly trained in food safety. read more

I love this restaurant, so it's hard to write a review, because I both don't want it to become so popular that I can't eat here anymore, and at the same time I want it to do well and never go away! This is an unassuming, homey spot with incredibly well-priced French bistro fare. I've had everything from the chicken roast for four to the beef bourguignon to the duck confit, all excellent. The brunch is great. This is a true Greenpoint gem. read more

Charming + cozy + intimate + French + bistro + quality ingredients + well executed + (excellent service * free round of wine) - expensive = FOUR STARS (math is the universal language) read more

Great ambience, service, crepes, French onion soup (vegetarian!!), and dessert-- profiterole.

Best French in Greenpoint... or only French in Greenpoint? You guessed it. Both! Le Gamin means "the kid" in French, which is weird because the place gives off a quite serious vibe, what with the clean, tiled dining room and high ceilings. It's a great Franklin Ave spot, staffed by actual French people, doing actual French things. Like serving up some of the finest salads I've ever had. My go-to is a Nicoise or Gamin Salad, both of which are served with a killer creamy mustard vinaigrette. Is it okay to lick the plate? They can be a bit fussy about delivering, but with some back and forth, I'm usually able to convince them to come "all the way" to our office, some 8 blocks away. Unless they pull the "my delivery guy is sick" line. But hey, it's worth a little hassle for the excellent food. read more

What a great time I had here. It was a beautiful summer evening, I sat with my 3 best friends at a table in the backyard garden, and we were surrounded my arrangements of tame and wild flowers as well as other sets of chattering people in our age bracket. The food was decent and totally fancy, although not the best I've ever had by a long shot. The menu was fun and exciting to read, the kind of menu that makes you read certain items out loud to your friends in that "look at that!" kind of way. The "salad" was really just a slab of lettuce with dressing that, while pretty, was kind of a pain to eat. And our server was drunk. That was funny. And weird. The other negatives about this places are 1. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get. 2. It's cash only (but there's an ATM inside). 3. Our drunk server was speaking SO MUCH French to us. That was annoying and somewhat alienating. If we were in France this would be no problem, but we were in Brooklyn. Come on. You live here too, dude. It's in America. And 4. So many mosquito bites, good lord! A citronella candle would have been nice. That being said, I still left this place SO happy. The garden was really lovely and the food and service were decent enough not to ruin that for me. I'd recommend La Gamin for a relaxing dining out experience, but not for a hardcore foodie who is focused only on the actual meal. read more

Staggering incompetence in the waitstaff. Us plus three whole tables in the back (none in the front) to deal with and after 40 minutes (I kid you not) they still hadn't taken our order. We watched with slight amusement as she even managed to mix up the tables orders. Three times we asked to order as she rushed past us and all three times she pretended not to hear, that was it we got up and left. On the way out the waitress said " Oh sorry were really sla..." and then wisely cut herself off realizing we were in a completely empty room, we just smiled and nodded and went on our way. I don't know if she was hitting the bong or reciting her casting call lines in the mop closet or what but the owner needs to rethink hiring a girl cause she has pretty hair and get some competent staff. This one goes down in the history books read more

I had previously enjoyed the food at the Prospect Heights location of Le Gamin, so a Groupon to the Greenpoint location seemed like a no-brainer. Like the Prospect Heights location, the Greepoint location is bright and sunny with a nice garden in the back, which we chose to sit in. We waited a long time at every step in the process--receiving menus and water, beverages, food, and the check--because there appeared to be only one waitress working in the whole place, which was pretty full. The food and drink almost made up for the wait. The iced cafe au lait was strong and creamy and the perfect beverage for a hot summer day. I ordered an omelet with baby spinach, tomato, and brie, which was fluffy and massive, accompanied by mixed greens dressed in vinaigrette and heaps of crispy potatoes. If I loved closer, I might give Le Gamin a few more chances, but in any case, I hope it can get its act together. read more

Le Gamin - French Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Le Gamin, je t'aime bien For an atmosphere so homey, Your breakfasts are delish, Your cappucino tasty and foamy. Omelets are stuffed full With veggies, cheese, and meat, Croque sandwiches are tasty, I always overeat. Brunch comes with potatoes, And leafy greens, so nutritious Ketchup and a little pot of mustard Add an extra boost of delicious. Be warned Le Gamin's cash only So don't bother with your credit card If you don't love this place like I do Then surely you're a...fool. read more

I love this place. Really bummed to read all the bad reviews here. I've been living in Greenpoint for almost 4 years and this restaurant is the kind of place I always recommend. The food is always so delicious and the place is so cute, it lets you have a nice conversation in a quite and beautiful space. Love how they serve the bread with the little butter jar. Love that the espressos are actually drinkable and good-how many places have good espressos in ny?-, the desserts are always so good too... I actually celebrated my birthday here with 18 guests and they were all really happy i chose this restaurant to do so. We had the patio for us and it was just perfect. My only con is that is cash only and i never carry cash so I always have to withdraw from the atm that charges almost $3 for it... and yes, staff could be faster, but they're french! you get the whole experience. read more

I love this place. It's charming inside, the garden is nice and the delivery is timely and well packaged. Highlights: The onion soup is amazing, the smoked salmon sandwich is fresh and delicious, and the fries are perfect (my favourite fries in NY!). Low lights: some things are waaaay over priced. Why is lasagna 17$? I ordered it thinking there must be something special to it, fancy cheese or a good side dish or something, but no! 17$ for one piece of regular ground beef lasagna. It was delicious, but it doesn't make sense. Also, the onion soup in house is huge but when you order it delivery it is maybe half the regular portion, maybe some new take out containers? I'll def keep coming here, I've never had a bad dish! I just have to order carefully as to not feel ripped off. read more

I'm giving this place 2 stars based not on food - which is outstanding - but based on the service and overall experience. I go to Le Gamin frequently because it's convenient and the food is consistently delicious. However, no matter what meal I'm there for on any day at any time, the waitstaff seems overwhelmed, flaky, and borderline incompetent. I resign myself to at least an hour wait for my food no matter how much I've ordered. There's almost always some sort of confusion about who's ordered what and when it's supposed to come out, and the waitstaff inevitably brings food/drinks out with no rhyme or reason. I'd say I'm just being picky, but every time I'm there, it seems that all tables surrounding me are having the same issues. Again, the food here is great - french onion soup is delicious and I've never been disappointed with anything on the menu. But if service is important to you, or you're in any sort of rush, weigh your options carefully. read more

Mediocre all around. Went for brunch, food was ok. In all fairness, the quality of food was pretty comparable to the average french bistro...but that's not saying much good. Service was slow and awkward. Also this is a bizarre pet peeve, but I always get annoyed when I need a little extra bread to sop up some eggs and I get charged for it...I get that it's extra food, but it's just bread, and in this case, low quality bread. The garden is lovely and the prices are ok, so we may be back for an average meal when we're short on funds, but otherwise not so much. Also cash only, fyi, but there's an atm. read more

Food is good coffee is terrible. If you don't have the space for a coffee maker spend $100 on some press pots and banish the americano from your menu read more

Between its quaint, rustic atmosphere, stellar service, and tasty food, an absolute treat. Try to come for brunch in particular, but the duck confit and Sunday roast dinner are excellent as well. read more

Last day in NYC and I had the good fortune to have lunch at this gem of a place. First, it was as if I was at a Parisian bistro. Great vibe. The escargots and the Salad Nicoise were spot on. The bread was as if it had just come out of an oven in a Parisian boulangerie. Mon Dieu! The wait staff spoke French (if you chose to brush up on your own). They also had just the right hint of attitude. I must come back for a more expanded take on the menu. A bientot! read more

Do you want to get Frenched in the mouth with fine foods? Look no further than this place. Located in the quiet and friendly neighborhood of Greenpoint Le Gamin delivers a variety of fine foods that will fulfill your French cravings. As a warning the bathroom at this restaurant provides very little privacy and yet the food is so buttery that I often have to shit right away so you've been warned. If you eat a plate of delicious and buttery snails it may be more private to just discreetly dump them out of your body in the backyard. I asked the staff and they said this is totally fine. read more

What an unpleasant experience me and my parents and our friends had here. The waiter was one of the most insufferable and rude people I have ever encountered. I tried to be polite and explain that we were changing tables after we ran into our two friends and he responded in the most impudent manner possible saying that he had two eyes and could connect the dots on his own. He attempted to exude a playful personality but in the end he was what the French would call "un con, un vrai con." Not only that, he embodied every French stereotype in the book: talking back to his customers very rudely, pretending not to understand my father's less than perfect French accent, and then looking at his phone and smoking outside while we were finishing up, forcing us to get up and ask for the check. What a disappointing experience. It's not even worth discussing the food, which was average, because our interactions were so abysmal with this cretin. Bon débarras! read more

A-freaking-dorable concept. Came here as a little stop on the way home to Williamsburg with my bestie (her house, not mine -I'm a Southern Cali girl). Crepe was good. Get that. Salad was pretty decent too. I wanted dressing on the side but my friend forbade me to order special to my taste in NYC. I guess that's a faux pas in the area. Lame for someone like me who spends a crap ton of time in the gym and wants things a little lower fat so all my hard work isn't for naught. Lentils were good, but could have been a little more seasons. French bread and yummy butter was appreciated as we were STARVING. Salad nicoise was a bit problematic. My bestie said the fish was kind of off. The problem was it tasted like it had been defrosted, then refrosted, then reheated and served. So it was a bit fishy which obviously wan't that great. I do that shit all the time but please don't do it in a restaurant charging a fair amount for a salad. Stick to the crepes and I think you'll be fine. read more

** BRUNCH REVIEW ** I cannot get enough of this place. I've only come for brunch, each time a delight. Their omlettes are fluffy and they're generous with the items you want in your omlette. The crepes are great. Service is always warm, welcoming and the paresian vibe makes it so you're never rushed through your meal or your cappuccino. If you're a veggie fan, their side of carrots vichy and beets are addictive -- you've been warned! read more

They find new ways to disappoint me every single time i go. This place is the epitome of "Meh." read more

Was relegated to Le Gamin on a Saturday night after Eat was too crazy busy to even put our names in. Pro side: We got a table instantly, place was about full The Gamin Mule cocktail was delightful Server was nice and fairly attentive Cons The moules marinieres was not served in its broth, thus it cooled instantly and lost a lot of flavor, basically was a rubbery chore to eat We were faked-out twice by the server bringing us someone else's food The croustillant de chevre was primarily composed of arugula and accented by a 2'' square, 1/4'' thick disc of pastry with 1 T of chevre ...the ravioli of the day was pretty good, but we spent a similar 70 bucks at Aurore last week and had an entirely better and more filling meal. But it's cute in a sorta played out south of France rustic way. read more

Bored and unsatisfied with the food. I ordered a crepe- there was hardly anything to this crepe, and the taste was just boring. Maybe it's cause I didn't get cheese ? It seemed more like an appetizer. My boyfriend had the merguez plate- nothing that spectacular, and the home fries, while done well, had no taste or seasoning. I was expecting a bit more for what looked like a cute, homey restaurant with many patrons inside. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things ? read more

I really like this new addition to the neighborhood! It adds a nice variety to my Greenpoint staples. I've been twice for brunch on the weekend. It's quaint and cozy and the food is delicious. The space and decor is decidedly French, which I love. The menu is surprisingly broad for such a small place. The first time I went, the restaurant was empty, and the service was great: not too overzealous, but not neglectful. The restaurant was packed on my second visit, and the service was slower, but not altogether bad. Additionally, I LOVE walking past on a lovely evening and peeping in the windows. It just feels like such a perfect spot. The only thing I didn't like was the tap water tasted a bit earthy, which is odd since my tap water (I live two blocks away) tastes completely fine. No biggie, though. Next time I'll just order seltzer water. read more

I mean, it's totally cute inside. They have little chalkboards on the wall with adorable pictures drawn on them. In terms of food- I just had a cappuccino and a croissant and somehow still managed to pay $10. What happened, HOW. Tasty? Sure. $10 tasty? Nope. Um but there's a waiter here with the long hair that is crazy cute. So pretty sure if you like men you need to stop in here just to see his face. (You're welcome.) So to recap- expensive coffee but a cute boy. read more

I've had 5 things here, and 4 of them kicked ass. The ones that kicked ass were the sort of things I associate French food with (onion soup, croque monsieur, crepes, fries, this other little sandy they have), the one that didn't was a salmon dish w/veggies that was mind-bogglingly sweet. I find the staff charming, and it was only on my last visit that I sat in the secret garden out back- definitely going to be a regular hang for me. read more

After reading the reviews from my fellow yelpers, I decided to suggest it for my roomies birthday. The decor is great, the garden is cute, the waitresses attentive (shout out to Jane!) and our fellow diners seemed to be a friendly and laid back bunch. Plus it's BYOB! You got to like that ;) Now to the food. How disappointing. I had the steak frites ($16) which I order medium rare and was promised to be lean and succulent - it was neither. The fries were excellent and the salad (or mixed greens as it turned out) was covered with a nice dressing. My roomie had the fish with spinach and tomato confit and pepper sauce. Although tasty the portions were small - in fact the spinach was only a tablespoon amount and the peppers almost non existent. I know that $17 is considered reasonable in NYC but for Greenpoint the price should reflect more. All in all, both of us agreed that we would return for breakfast or lunch and try their coffee and crepes but would not return for dinner. read more

This is the better of the two Le Gamin's I've been to. We came for brunch - ordered escargot, fruit salad and french onion soup for starters, and then ouef Gamin and an omelet for entrees. The escargot were good for what they are (I'm just not that big of a fan, but $6/half a dozen seems fair). The fruit salad was a bit strange - all of the fruit was cut up in very small pieces. Maybe I'm a philistine, and I don't know that's the proper way to serve it, but I prefer my fruit salad forkable instead of spoonable. The french onion soup was actually not too great. It was fatty, salty, beefy etc. However, the cheese quickly turned into one amalgamated mass, so you had to alternate between eating the cooled cheese with a fork and the soup with a spoon. I like cheese a lot so I'm willing to let it slide. The entrees weren't excellent, but maybe because I was a bit full. Again, the ratatouille was minced (they must love cutting things here), which made it a bit more like a savory vegetable paste, but it still did the trick. The side salad was over dressed, but the greens were fresh. Maybe the best part was the surprise inside my omelet - chicken, carmelized onions, and mushrooms in a bonus sauce that tasted like ricotta and sour cream. read more

What a nice little option on Franklin Street! Thin crowd around 8 pm on a Saturday evening was worrisome--perhaps a sign that the brunch is better than the dinner--but made for a nice, private dining experience in a charming spot. Love that it's BYOB, which in and of itself was a reason to check out the dinner options. The leek, brie, and ham crepe was really nice--they use potent, creamy brie and don't skimp on the leeks. The Merguez (lamb sausage) frites was disappointing, as the sausages were rather small and overcooked, and the metal platter on which it is served made for a nails-on-chalkboard cutting experience. Minimize silverware contact with your platter if at all possible. Really, really enjoyed the French onion soup--they make it sweeter (and frankly, less oniony) than most places, so it's a bit unexpected, but the bread and cheese they put into it is really tasty. In fact, if you're trying to convert an alliumphobe to French onion soup, this might be the way to do it. Looking forward to trying Le Gamin for brunch, as it seems perfect for a daytime visit. read more

I have to admit that I do not frequent Le Gamin on weekends for brunch, or frequently at night for dinner. However, I have done both a few times and I've had good experiences, overall. Most of the time I pop in on weekdays, during the day to do work. Sometimes I'll order food, but most of the time I just get some coffee, tea or a beverage of some sort. As long as there is not a wait from others for a table they are happy to leave you alone and let you work on your laptop or read your book. Internet is free, which is always a plus in my book. As for food, I frequently order the crepes with mozzarella, ratatouille and mushrooms which I really like. This comes with a salad that I think is a great size and compliments the crepe well. I've had the chocolate crepes and I liked them when I had them. As for service, I never really run into a problem. This may be a result of my habits as a patron, and not wanting/needing the attention of my server very often, or it may just be that other patrons have come to Le Gamin on days when a staff member doesn't have their game face on. Regardless, I plan to go tomorrow morning, have some coffee and continue on my day. read more

Came for the crepes, stayed for the french onion soup! The bf and I have walked by this place numerous times, and as a casual francophile I'd always wanted to try it. We finally went in last night at around 9/9:30 after a couple of beers at nearby Brouwerij Lane. The dining room was about half-full, and the atmosphere was pitch-perfect, low lighting, casual yet romantic French cafe. I went in with the purpose of ordering some sort of dessert crepe, but the smell of the french onion soup was too good to pass up. It definitely hit the spot! Service was friendly and prompt. Looking forward to going back for that dessert crepe soon! read more

Lovely outdoor seating in the summer. Crepe is a must have. The food is not typical French, more "french-inspired" but in the end, the food is good and the ambiance is nice. I keep coming back, because it really is great! And the salad dressing is AMAZING! read more

Said the wait was 20 minutes. We were sat 1 hr later after everyone else waiting left. Then our food took another hour after the table next to us sat, got their food, ate, and left. Also, surprise...cash only. Food was decent. read more