I'm so surprised at the 3.5 star rating! Lucien deserves a 5 star for their mouilles frites and the steak frites. They were both executed well, came out in a timely manner, wasn't too salty, and the fries were of my favorite style - thin, crispy, and not too salty - but rather just right. I'd definitely come back! I love Le Crocodile, Lucien, LouLou, Pastis, and La Grande Boucherie in this order. read more

Lucien - Steak frites - medium rare - French Near Me - New York, New York

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We came by on a early Sunday afternoon so the place was virtually empty. The service was good (might be a bit moody but they're French) overall, and the bathroom was clean. Now for the food, the sauce that comes with the steak frites is absolutely amazing. It's so spicy but flavorful at the same time and complemented the steak perfectly. The French onion soup was good as well and my Kir Royale complemented the meal perfectly as well. The overall food experience was super rich and I can say that these are the best steak frites I've had in a while just based off of the sauce. read more

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Love this place, anytime we visit NYC this is a must go place for us. One of our favorite place to visit. Best peppercorns steak ever! read more

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I never write reviews, but this one earned it. I made a reservation a month in advance for my birthday dinner for a party of 8 on a Friday evening. When we arrived, the hostess refused to seat us until every member of the party had arrived. (Unfortunately one friend was delayed at the airport but wasn't planning to eat.) Despite our reservation, we waited roughly 30 minutes past the reservation time before being seated. Then, upon finally being seated, we were told we needed to give up the table in an hour. So: wait 30 minutes past the reservation because they won't seat an incomplete party, then have one hour for an 8-person birthday dinner. At the one-hour mark, the bill was dropped on the table without anyone asking if we wanted dessert (it was literally my birthday). The whole experience felt rushed. Service was also hard to flag down when we wanted another round of drinks. We ended up leaving so the table could be turned, though there didn't appear to be another large party waiting outside. For a nearly $800 tab, being rushed through dinner felt pretty absurd. Lucien may be a popular spot, but this was not how I expected a birthday dinner reservation to be handled. read more

Lucien is one of my favorite French spots in the city. The food is always on point. They have some of the best French onion soup that I've had in the city and their steak frites are excellent. The sauce on the steak frites is extremely good to the point where you will be mopping up the plate. They make a great martini as well. My biggest complaints from Lucien come from the service. I've been here countless times and to be completely honest, the service has never been good. The last time I was in, we had an 8:30 res and we're forced to wait for almost an hour, which is not what I expect when I have a reservation at a restaurant. Not to mention the restaurant is extremely tight so there was basically nowhere to wait and we were plastered up against the wall. The ambience of Lucien is perfect though. It's exactly what you want from a little French bistro and it definitely takes me back to moments in Paris. This would be a five star review if it wasn't for the service, but I can't say that I won't be back at Lucien soon as the food and ambience are incredible. read more

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My husband and I came here for my birthday dinner. In our late 30s I definitely felt like we were some of the oldest people there. It's a small restaurant with an outdated, not well maintained bathroom single stall for the whole restaurant. The wine is decent but the portions small. The food is where they shine. The Au poivre sauce is some of the best I have ever had, flavorful and full of black pepper and it came with both steaks which was great. The steaks were great quality and just slightly more cooked than we ordered (my medium was more like medium well). The fries are good and the side salad a nice touch. The service is a bit pushy, with a bit of an attitude when my husband asked for more bread and hovering over the pay machine to I guess push for a higher tip. They weren't that friendly either, just ok. But the food is top notch and very good though not cheap. We came once before years ago and had a similar experience. We had the crème brûlée last time and really enjoyed it. read more

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True Parisian bar. The food was great and my French boyfriend loved the vibes. We waited 20-30 min at the bar (which was very crowded) and then got a table for two (as walk-ins). Very intimate setting full of young interesting people. Very much recommended. read more

Lucien - The vibes and menu - French Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing food! It's small space, they accommodated for us with a stroller, a bit challenging to bring into the restaurant so it was super sweet of them thank you! my toddler was sleeping but when she woke up in the middle of our scheduled dinner and they offered her some bread. Here are my faves: The Pan seared goose liver was really tasty and rich! 5 Steal tartare was super impressive! 5 Braised short rib was a bit too rich for me but it's good if you like it bursting with flavor. 3.5 Lastly Steamed Mussels was perfect to share. 5 With wines and cocktails, can get pricey but food is worth it. read more

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The quintessential French bistro in New York. Intimate and can get sweaty in summer but this place is an institution! Drinks are well poured, food is really good and you'll generally leave with a story or two! read more

Lucien - French Near Me - New York, New York

We had 7 PM reservations this past Friday. Our table wasn't ready until 7:20ish so we grabbed drinks at the bar. It was very crowded and cramped, but mostly in a charming way -- it felt very much like an authentic Parisienne experience. We were finally seated, and again, it was very cramped. We had to pull out our table for anyone on the bench side to get out and use the bathroom, and I was consistently bumping elbows with the person seated at the table next to me. If you're a larger person, this might not be the spot for you, it was quite irritating almost having my drink knocked over every time someone from the table next to us got up. That said, the food and service made it all worth it. The French 75s were flowing, and our server was quite attentive despite being quite busy. We started with the mussels, which were incredible - make a point to ask for bread to sop up the broth! I had the filet au poivre as my entree and it was OUTSTANDING. Truly so delicious, the sauce was so creamy, rich and tasty, best steak au poive I've ever had -- Balthazar included!! read more

Lucien - Filet Mignon au Poivre - French Near Me - New York, New York

I am writing to share my recent experience at Lucien in New York City, as I believe it is important to bring attention to a serious customer service issue. When I arrived, I waited approximately 20 minutes before a staff member came to ask if I needed to be seated. When she finally approached, she ignored me and immediately smiled and engaged with another guest, a white woman and her daughter, without first acknowledging that I had been waiting. The woman informed the staff member that I had been there first, yet I was still not addressed directly. When the staff member finally looked at me, she avoided eye contact and told me to "go look for yourself" regarding seating. I explained that I was waiting for one person and was open to either bar seating or a small table. Despite this, I was dismissed, while the other guests were personally escorted and assisted with seating. While standing and waiting, I also experienced an uncomfortable environment in which other patrons clutched their purses while watching me. Combined with the staff's passive-aggressive tone and dismissive behavior, this contributed to feeling singled out and unsafe. As a Black customer and one of the only Black patrons present at the time, this interaction made me feel uncomfortable and targeted. I raised my concerns to two other staff members, who brushed it off by saying the server was "busy" or "a bit sassy" and suggested that I should not take it personally. This response showed a lack of accountability and social awareness, especially given the context. Although the coworkers apologized, the staff member directly involved never did. The situation felt passive aggressive, dismissive, and offensive. Customer service should be attentive and respectful to all patrons, regardless of race. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here. ------ Following this incident, I attempted to address the matter directly. I contacted Lucien on December 21st and asked to speak with a manager. I was told there is no manager and that only the owner oversees the establishment. The staff member I spoke with did not provide her name or any reference for the call and stated that she would pass my concerns along to the owner. No follow-up ever occurred. In the weeks that followed, I made additional attempts to seek accountability but was never contacted by the owner or anyone in a leadership role. This lack of response further reinforced the dismissive nature of my experience and the absence of any meaningful accountability. During this conversation, the staff member, who identified herself as Inez only after I asked, was confrontational when I requested clarity about who I was speaking with and who was handling my concern. Rather than addressing the issue, the conversation was repeatedly deflected with statements such as "I don't want to make this about me." This further increased my anxiety and discomfort and reinforced the pattern of dismissiveness I had already experienced. As a Black patron, these combined experiences made it clear that this establishment does not foster a space of care, transparency, or respect for all guests. Because of this, I will not be returning, and I would caution other Black customers about dining here due to the selective nature of the service and the lack of responsibility demonstrated when concerns are raised. read more

Finally tried this quaint restaurant, which I've passed by so many times. We were seated in the back at the bigger table end where we shared the table with another party. There was ample space between us so it didn't seem as if we were sharing a table. Ordered the octopus, steak, and duck with fig dishes. We enjoyed all the food, though I wasn't a huge fan of the taste of the steak. The wine and crème brûlée was good. Service was decent - when I asked the taste of some of the dishes, I was told to look at pictures online. That was strange. Was great to try once but I don't think I need to go back. read more

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We have been going to Lucien for 20+ years and it is always a favorite spot in NYC. The food is always amazing, although the prices have doubled in that time. It can be loud, but the servers are always friendly, attentive, and make sure you have a great time. There are a few tables on the sidewalk for small groups. Highly recommend the Lapin á la Moutarde or the Filet Mignon au Poivre read more

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We called ahead of time to make sure that we could be seated if we walked in, and they told us that they could accommodate us. We notified them that we would be arriving in 5 minutes and we put our name down on the waitlist. When we arrived they told us that we had to further wait around 20-30 mins. We didn't mind waiting since we were walk ins, but what was worst than the wait was other parties that were also a couple walk ins were able to be sat before us. We informed our waitress that we won't be taking long and ordering a lot since we had reservations elsewhere after dinner. So our dinner consisted of the tartare and the Lapin. She didn't seem satisfied with the order trying to persuade us into ordering more. After the food was brought out, no further service was provided to us. For the food, the lapin was extremely salty compared to other rabbit dishes I had at other French restaurants. The price is fair compared to other restaurants. The space inside the restaurant is extremely small. We sat along the wall with couches, and there were two other parties next to us, extremely close to the point that we can eavesdrop into their conversation. read more

Very cute space. Interesting scene. A lot of alternatives and hipsters with the occasional table of upper middle class patrons looking for a change of pace. The staff were very nice. Good bread was served and replenished at no charge- Woo hoo! Cocktails were good. My wife and I split the artichoke/hearts of palm and asparagus salad and a crab cake- very good. My wife liked her salmon. My steak frites was really good. Solid order or profiteroles for dessert. Dinner was $325 per couple. Not a great value proposition. Could have had a similar meal in a more luxurious location uptown for the same amount. Having said that, I'm glad I ate here. read more

Very vibey - small and dark spot, great for a private dinner. Service was exceptional and quick, noting it was a slower night (a Monday). Loved the baby chicken and the octopus!! Will say, the waiter pushed the filet mignon on us and it wasn't as good as it was hyped up to be, neither was the crème brûlée. Would still come back though! read more

I want to be a regular here. Fresh off my RAF's lunch I came to Lucien. I haven't dined here in decades but like Balthazar it serves food so reliably good in a magical room. Bread is fresh and plentiful & the most expensive red wine by the glass was $16. I felt immediately unrushed and welcome so I ordered a wine. $16 which was very good. Ate: Mesculin salad $11 Qual $28 The salad was generous and tasty. And my qual was a home run- wow. Cooked in a cherry sauce if was delectable. Old school is the best school. read more

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I love a good French restaurant and have wanted to try Lucien every time I pass it. Now unfortunately, I can say I have. In terms of ambiance, it's a cute enough little café space with a young crowd. The service was fine and authentically French. The only bad thing about service I can say is when paying they pre-selected 20% tip on the keypad and I had the impression our server was anticipating I'd change the tip amount to less. That exchange wasn't very pleasant, but whatever. My issue with Lucien is the price charged for the quality of food served. My meal would have been a three star review had it been $80, but at twice that it was a rip off that left a bad taste in my mouth. The best thing I ate was the Salade d'artichaux avec cœur de palmier et asperges (18) which could have been larger given the price. My main was the Clams Linguini ($36) which was a bit soupy and the clams weren't cleaned properly so I had some grit in the sauce. My companion had the Braised Beef Short Ribs ($32) and really liked it, so try that (I guess) if you are foolish enough to eat here. For dessert we shared the Crème Brulee ($12), which is my go-to desert at any French restaurant. This was the single worst crème brulee I have ever had. I didn't even know you could have bad crème brulee! The crème itself wasn't good at all and the ramekin in was served in was comically shallow, which we ended up not minding because it tasted so bad. Writing this review, adding up what we ordered, checking my credit card statement..... it appears I need to pay more attention when paying because what I listed above plus one martini, came to $150+ tip. So unless my single martini was $50 (a possibility at Lucien perhaps), they overcharged me considerably. read more

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Came to visit a friend from out of town and stopped in for a drink! It was a super busy Friday night and I asked the host if there were bar seats available and the told me they would help me find the next available spot. It took a while but the staff was really apologetic, and hey, it was a Friday night, the wait SHOULD be long. Overall my martini was awesome, the bartended was super sweet and accommodating. Really great spot to people watch and just enjoy a gooooood drink read more

This is a go to for me. I take friends and family and always recommend as a reliable steak place. Beautiful wine selection and great atmosphere. If you go you must do the chocolate cake so amazing. read more

Beautiful beautiful restaurant great ambience, however, very "whatever food" We started with the sardines which were nice, and the escargot that lacked a little bit of flavor. I had the steak frites which was nice, large portion and my partner had the duck confit which he said it's the worst duck confit to ever come out of the kitchen. The skin was soggy, and it was completely under seasoned, and the sauce was underwhelming. Sorry martini were OK espresso martinis were OK service was good. Would come back for drinks and the ambience and maybe a few fries. Or potentially try other items off the menu. read more

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The food might as well be airplane food degrade really kind of just depressing to try to make my way through the meal would rather eat hot dog water from the gutter infected with Covid than return for a charred piece of leathery overcooked meat drenched in a ranch like au poive sauce. read more

Absolutely superb restaurant. French. Stylish. Amazing staff. Great service. No attitude. Gorgeous room. And the most exquisite food. Fresh. Flavorful. Rich. Tres Bonne. You must go !!! read more

Very classic, small, high energy, vibey French cafe. Will definitely go back! The filet mignon au poivre was incredible! It was super tender, almost pull apart, and the sauce had exquisite, perfect flavor. The fries were great too. The apple tart with cinnamon ice cream was also great - especially the ice cream which had intense cinnamon flavor! Very nice bartender. read more

Lucien - Filet Mignon au Poivre - French Near Me - New York, New York

Lucien is not a place you plan. It's where you find yourself when the playlist in your head starts to sound like an old French movie and nothing else feels real. I sat at a table in the corner, one wine glass, no phone on the table. The light hit the mirror just right--just enough to remind me that I was alone but not lonely. The tartare came out hot. Not "Instagram" his head knew itThe steak tartare came out like a secret. Perfectly portioned, a little challenging. The bread was hot. Not "Instagram" hot. Real, generous, human hotness. The waiter didn't ask me how my day was. He just nodded, as if he knew it had been too long. I heard someone whispering in French behind me. I didn't turn around. Some things are better left as background music. I came here to be seen. I came here to feel seen, even if only by the flicker of candlelight and the darkness of night.​​​I didn't come here to be seen. I came here to feel seen, honesty.​, just by the flicker of candlelight and the honesty of good butter. Lucien doesn't play up the romance; he quietly reminds you that he still exists. And sometimes that's enough. read more

I never mind spending money but the food is so extremely overpriced for how mediocre it is. The staff and waiters are extremely rude. I've come here several times for friends birthdays and such and have never had a waiter be nice to us. Most unprofessional staff that will not treat you well unless they think you look like you would give them a huge tip. Just garbage restaurant. The ambience in the restaurant is also just whatever, not even cool inside. Avoid this place read more

Absolutely shocking experience. The food is overpriced and mediocre at best. We were literally kicked out of our table while my son was still finishing his plate. Simply unacceptable especially for New York. So many better places to go. Sad we wasted our evening and money here. read more

Very small sceny restaurant in east village. Really good cocktails and a good bar scene. Again, it's tiny with not a lot of room to stand so a bar seat is ideal. The French onion soup is also really good. I suggest coming here to see for yourself! read more

Lucien - Vodka martini with olives - French Near Me - New York, New York

Traditional French Brasserie offering French classics , nice vibe , great service and delicious food. Looking forward visiting again to try more of their specialties. read more

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The reviews are mostly right about this place. It's very overhyped and truly seems like a place where people go for the scene more than anything else, but not everything was bad. As others mentioned, they make you wait even when you have a reservation. This worked out well for me because I'm always late, and once I arrived, everyone was seated. In terms of the food, we ordered the escargot, mussels in white wine sauce, rabbit over pappardelle pasta, filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, and the duck. My favorites were the escargot and filet mignon. The escargot had this delicious garlic and herbs sauce, and the filet mignon was cooked perfectly medium rare. The fries were nice and crispy, and I loved the peppercorn sauce. I also loved their warm, crusty bread,I think we went through 5 different bread baskets. The desserts were nothing special, we had the chocolate cake and creme brulee. With the alcohol our bill came out to around $900. Just as others mentioned, they definitely did something to make you over tip with their tricky calculations so you need to pay close attention. The service was mostly ok but this one man would just come and try to away our food without even asking if we were done eating which was quite rude. The rudest person was a very pale waitress with short black hair. I'm glad I tried it out, but this is not a place that I need to repeat. read more

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decent for luncheon with nice ambiance and cute menu. I had mussels. good enough but one is supposed to order in august(!). I will return as I really liked the personal service, chill French relaxed vibe and the food read more

Wonderful dinner, count on waiting for your table but the food is worth waiting for, attentive service, everyone is very welcoming. Lively crowd! The braised short ribs were perfect for a cool spring evening! read more

Lucien - Braised short ribs - French Near Me - New York, New York

Overpriced, mediocre food and terrible service - we were asked if we had 'finished' dishes when we were still eating - right through the meal - and told at the end they needed the table ... avoid - there are better places - much better!! read more

Everytime I'm in New York I make it a point to come here. I personally do lunch because I like to sit at the bar and eat and talk to the people that work there. Always wind up seeing the owner and she is just the heart of that place truly. This is as authentic New York as you can get. My mom's from Howard Beach and I'm a born northerner so I don't say that lightly. But this is truly a place I look forward to eating at everytime. Get the mussels they are incredible and will change your life. Could not say more amazing things about this establishment. From the wine, to the cocktails, to the food, to the atmosphere. All of it is just authentic. read more

Monday, May 26, my wife and I had planned to spend our penultimate day in the tri-state area having lunch at Katz's one last time, before going back to Illinois. Unfortunately, every tourist in town had the same idea, and I'm too old to stand on a line for two hours for a f*cking sandwich. We headed across the street to what looked like an Irish pub called One and One, but it was sad and empty and uninviting. We walked around the corner and there was Lucien, a French Bistro, where, it turned out, we had one of the most exquisitely prepared meal of our lives. Some times things just work out! We started off with nice, warm, crusty baguettes and butter. After two months of crappy midwestern bread in Illinois, this was a welcome change. Then came the most amazing French onion soup either one of use had tasted, with just the right amount of sherry and genuine Gruyere cheese over a toasted baguette slice and Salade De Mesclun with a beautiful, subtle vinaigrette. I opted for Saint Jacques Grenobloise; Pan seared scallops with lemon, capers and white wine sauce over mashed potatoes. Impeccable! A moment less in the pan and they would have been raw. A moment more and they would have been rubber. There were perfection! My wife had braised beef short ribs over mashed potatoes with green beans. The meat mas melt-in-your-mouth tender, the sauce deep and rich. She said it was the best ever. For dessert, we shared a Tart Tatin with cinnamon ice cream and we each had a Crème Brulée. Unlike most, this was just sweet enough and oh, so rich. Ditto for the cinnamon ice cream. This was one of our top ten meals of all time! read more

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Lucien is one of my favorite restaurants in New York but I still give it a 4/5. I come here almost every time I'm in the city because I love the small cafe atmosphere. The look and vibe of the space with its small bar, tight tables, yellow walls with crowded artwork and photos feels like you're in France. They take reservations by phone only and I recommend you make one as this is a popular place. The service has always been great and comes with bread service once you order food. They have some classic French cocktails and a satisfactory wine selection. The food is good but not amazing. I often get a steak while there and they do a good job cooking it but it's not the best steak I've ever had. They probably could use a more indulgent butter to give it that French finish. The steak comes with au poivre, which is a cream and black pepper sauce. If the steak were a bit tastier or a bit more affordable, I could see giving Lucien a 5/5. Still, Lucien makes a great date night spot or dinner with a small group. Prices are a bit higher than I'd like but you're paying for the atmosphere. read more

Lucien - Interior - French Near Me - New York, New York

The mussels are just as succulent, delicate & creamy as I remembered them - soooo Good!!! Dunk the bread in the broth. Its the best meal ever!!! read more

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Four thinly-measly sliced tuna slices for a Nicoise Salad ($38). Usually, the raw tuna-slices are thicker cut like steak. The salad itself barely had any dressing. I had to ask a waitress for a side of dressing. This French bistro is extremely overpriced. At best, this Nicoise salad as presented should have costed $20. Maybe their overhead is too high? Anyway, I won't be returning. A glass of wine French wine ($17). $38 + $17 = $55 * 8.875 NYC sales tax = $59.81 Total: $60 + $10 tip equals to $70 for one person, and you're still hungry. If you're hungry, I do not recommend. You'll go broke here, and the Niçoise salad didn't taste amazing, and the temperature of the salad was quite cold. Shouldn't the salad be room temperature? I'd rather dine at Balthazar in SoHo. I would come here for the vibe and a few drinks. The waitresses are cute but who cares. read more

Lucien - Four thinly sliced tuna pieces for a Nicoise Salade Nicoise Traditionelle for $38. You will go hungry and broke easily here. - French Near Me - New York, New York

This place has fallen off since Lucien passed away. It still attracts a certain crowd, the cool kids with the fancy haircuts and cool vintage threads. The space is very small and tables are in very close proximity to one another. You're literally rubbing elbows with diners at the adjacent tables. Especially when seated at the back. The servers are okay. They're usually indifferent, unless you are a regular, which I am not. They're not rude but they're not attentive, either. You have to get their attention. Lucien is pricey. And it's generally packed and cramped. Keep those things in mind. read more

Nice atmosphere, tables are kind of low though. We came just for dessert and the profiteroles were pretty good. Some people at our table didn't like them (they are filled with ice cream here). I thought the chocolate was delicious, it's a matter of preference though as sometimes they are made with cream/more like a cream puff. read more

Lucien - Profiterole - French Near Me - New York, New York