Brasserie 8 1/2I picked the restaurant toI picked the restaurant to celebrate Mother's Day and my mom loved it; Kir Royal on the house and a flower when she departed; the restaurant made her feel very special and for that I thank them5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSophisticated, glamorous and funWe came here for Mother's Day brunch (May 12, 2013). The outstanding brunch buffet included lamb, turkey breast, and beef Wellington at the carving station and of course the usual omelet station (which included crepes!). The grilled vegetables were exceptional and the dessert selection was both extensive and excellent. Each lady received a complimentary glass of champagne and upon leaving a small bouquet! The restaurant has a terrific design and is not cheek by jowl with tables - its a quintessential New York dining experience!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMdisappointing that restaurantdisappointing that restaurant was barely half filled on a saturday night.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFrench gem on W57thExcellent French cuisine, artfully prepared. The waitstaff is most professional.
A very beautiful dining room. Nice selection of wines.
Can't wait to return.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a WOW!Exceptional food, beautifully presented in a sophisticated atmosphere. Soliticious service. One of our favorite "go to" for special occasions.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic French on 57th StExcellent French cuisine, served in a most professional - yet warm atmosphere. The preparation and presentation of the food is superb. The decor is unique and inviting. Can't wait to return.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Oasis in MidtownBrasserie 8 1/2 is an unexpected find in the middle of a frenetic business neighborhood. Its wide-open seating and quiet ambiance make for a relaxing dining experience. You can actually talk. In addition, the food never disappoints, though portions could be a bit larger (and I am not a big eater). Prices are not over the top, but there are no bargains here.
Despite that, I have been here many times and will return.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Business LunchI've dined at Brasserie 8 1/2 several times since the restaurant opened many years ago; and I have never been disappointed. The food is top notch and the service attentive and not disruptive. I take business colleagues there very often and they too found the food and service to be top notch. And the prices, for the Plaza district, are quite reasonable.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMPre theatre dinnerAs early diners prior to going to the Opera, we had the dining room to ourselves although we could see the after work crowd gathering in the lounge area. The food was delicious, the waiter attentive without being intrusive and our friend, who remained eating at the restaurant well-taken care of.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI arrived with five girlfriendsI arrived with five girlfriends to celebrate a 60th Birthday. Our waiter could not have been more entertaining and knowlegeable about our food selections. The wines he recommended were superb! I would definitely visit again.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA surprise hit!For a Friday night at 9 it wasn't busy at all so we were concerned as to whether we made the right choice to have dinner. We did make the right choice! Josh was very attentive and helpful with the menu choices and the food we had was well prepared and fresh. My wife is a finicky eater and josh and the chef modified a dish that came off flawlessly. We look forward to visiting again.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were looking for a centrally-locWe were looking for a centrally-located place for a Sunday brunch buffet in Manhattan, and this was a perfect choice. The broad selection of food was perfect, and everything was well-prepared and well-presented. The price was fair, and more reasonable than the midtown hotel Sunday brunches we compared it to. I don't think we could have done better. A spacious room with a clean design, and even when it was full, it never seemed busy or noisy.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find! Beautiful venue.Great find! Beautiful venue. Tables spread apart with very comfortable seating. Art lovers will love the fantastic art displayed in the restaurant.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMHave been here for dinnerHave been here for dinner several times and always enjoyed it -- very comfortable, tables spaced far enough apart you can actually carry on a conversation with your dining companions -- but recently went for Sunday brunch and found it very enjoyable.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBrassierie 8 1/2 awesome BrunchWE loved it! The four of us went for brunch and found the ambiance superb, great service, and that all desired us to have a great time. The food was plentiful in selection and in flavor. They had everything from turkey, to roast beef, to salad, to breakfast any way you could imagine, and more. Was recommended blindly to me and would strongly encourage anyone desiring to go. The $32 charge per person is well worth the fare and all you get for it.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Sunday BrunchWent for the Sunday Brunch which probably didn't do their a la carte menu justice, but it was truly delicious all the same. Would definitely go back.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMgood food at areasonable pricegood food at areasonable price in a lovely setting4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe just want for the EasterWe just want for the Easter Brunch and it was fantastic. They had something for everyone and were also very helpful to the members in our party that needed to know what items were Gluten Free. A great time and worth the price.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMA consistently delightfulA consistently delightful restaurant. Despite being below ground it is bright and open and has a most attentive staff. Always a delight to visit.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGood as usual!I have been to the Brasserie 8 1/2 a few times already, and overall this place doesn't disappoint. As usual, the braised pork is well prepared and super flavorful. Friendly service. Tried a very reasonably price 07 La Fleur Board, great wine to pair with the food. Definitely would come back again for any occasions.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMHave been passing this restaurantHave been passing this restaurant for years and so it was a lovely treat to actually go for a meal there. I would definitely recommend it to others (and have already done so) and indeed return myself.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and atmosphere were superb.Food and atmosphere were superb. Our waiter was a bit pretentious for my taste.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDIING FIND!!!!BRASSERIE 8 1/2 IS A DINING FIND!!!!! DEEEEEEELICOUS FOOD ADA PRICEFIXED DINER THAT IS SOOOOO GOOD AD SOOOO INTERESTING!!!!!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing!Great restaurant... new favorite!! Prix fixe menu is amazing..3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Sunday BrunchGreat Sunday brunch. Everything of fairly good to excellent quality. Very pleasant service. Lovely atmosphere.
A few hits, a few misses and a few items that are listed on the website that were either not there or I just missed:
Hits:
Chocolate Mousse (possibly Chocolate Pot au Creme)
French Toast--moist and thick
Misses:
Pancakes--Hard and had been sitting around for a while.
Waffles/Belgian Waffle--Had been sitting around for a while . No great taste either
Missing In Action (or I just missed):
Banana Cream Pie
Brownie Trifle (was looking forward to this)
Room is stunning. The booths are great for conversation. Tables are spread apart.
Definitely a winning Sunday buffet3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMNice Room, Good Food, Great ServiceI had a great brunch at Brasserie 81/2 . The decor is fun, with a sweeping staircase reminiscent of all those plantation houses you see on PBS. The buffet was magnificent, harking back to lavish hotel Sunday buffets of memory. Everything was fresh, well-prepared, tasty with treats like paella and freshly prepared macaroni and cheese. But the main draw was the outstanding service. I was twenty-five minutes late for a 2:30 reservation . Even though the restaurant stopped serving at 3:00, they did not rush us. David, at the door, set the tone of friendliness and solicitude when I arrived. Don, our waiter, whose good looks told us he must an actor, was courteous, helpful, and highly professional. They kept us relaxed. This will be a favorite!3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways greatAs always we were delighted with the entire dining experience: food,service,and ambience! Brasserie 81/2 is always a must for a special evening.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server was very nice andOur server was very nice and patient. Food was cooked to perfection. The only downside was the bread wasn't hot/warm and a bit chewy.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Brasserie in New YorkWhat a fantastic French Brasserie restaurant, in a large office building. There is a separate entrance, and you go down a beautiful winding staircase. Bar is large and has an easy view to the staircase, if you are looking for your guests arriving. I had a party of six, and the restaurant seated us at a round table (they have quite a few round tables), which was great for conversation. Everyone can talk to everyone else at the table. Had a seafood tower appetizer (fantastic), the French white chardonnay wine was superb (thanks to the sommelier). I even impressed my French guest with the wine choice. Entrees were fantastic and the overall experience wonderful. Restaurant has lots of room, so the tables are not crowded together.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSplendid space, comfortableSplendid space, comfortable seating, attentive service, and excellent food. Plus you get to make an entrance on the magnificent spiral staircase. Outstanding spot for lunch.3/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAll I can say is "WOW." IAll I can say is "WOW." I went to Brasserie 8 1/2 for NY Restaurant Wkkk and was so pleasantly surprized. I ordered the duck with the wine pairing. LOVED the food. Beautiful room.1/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dining, wonderful ambienceWe live in the 5th Ave/57th Street area and this is one of our neighborhood spots. The food is consistently good (since they got their new chef) and the service is excellent. Even during a Restaurant Week visit the food and service maintained the standard of excellence we have grown accustomed to. Fish selections are outstanding (we can't wait for the skate to come back on the menu) and the wine pairings are a truly a good deal. Desserts are wonderful. The room is beautiful, and very comfortable and suitable for conversation. Staff is excellent.1/16/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely place. Great architecture,Lovely place. Great architecture, like eating in the Jetson's rich cousin's home. The bar is packed and gorgeous, but we loved the comfort of the main dining room. They offered a wonderful prix fix dinner so we went with that, and the wine paring, which was also a great deal. Service was terrific until our waiter started serving a party of 14 nearby. He's forgiven.11/15/2012 12:00:00 AM