Café BouludFavoriteWe ate at seven restaurants in NYC this weekend and absolutely loved Cafe Boulud. Our second time there and liked even better than the first time a couple of years ago..5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMa five start experiencewe experienced "Taj hospitality" from a non-Taj restaurant. And that's saying a lot. Dining out is more about the service, ambience, and lastly food. Having traveled around the world, the only place we've experienced truly five star service has been ONLY at Taj owned properties. We were seated right away, weren't rushed into ordering nor did we have to wait for or ask for refills on coffee, drinks, bread etc. Wine was severely overpriced, but food was great (although a little heavy on butter), and every single one of our servers was extremely polite. I'd go there again JUST for the service (and the food with the request to add a little less butter)!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Introduction to Boulud BrandI was in for a Conference and decided to check out Cafe Boulud. As someone from the food service industry and appreciating fine dining and attention to detail, I thought Cafe Boulud did a great job. Very attentive, accommodating, and did a great job. My wife and I split the Peekytoe Crab Appetizer, which they had no trouble bringing an extra few plates for us. It had great flavor and texture with a beautiful presentation. My wife ordered the Butter Poached Lobster for entree, and was wonderful. She loved the Lobster Ravioli. I tried the lobster and thought it was a tad undercooked, but not too bad. I ordered the Tasting of Rabbit that was a Spring Special, and thought it was exceptional. The Peruvian Chocolate Desert was AMAZING!!!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulousTook my girlfriend for her birthday. Really enjoyed it. Great food, great service. And the best cup of coffee ever.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMArtistry on a plateWe had a fine dining experience in a sophistcated setting . It's expensive but worth it.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSuch outstanding service!Such outstanding service! Such a great deal for lunch!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMA Nice surprise...Needed a quick bite after leaving the Met and this place was fantastic. We sat outside but the inside looked quite impressive. Get the pea soup and the duck. Amazing Screwdrivers with fresh OJ.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BlissWe enjoyed the Mother's Day menu a lot. The food was expertly prepared, the service the best we have received in a very long time and even though the restaurant was very crowded, the entire experience was first rate. We highly recommend Cafe Boulud for anyone desiring a first class dinning experience.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Mother's Day BrunchWe visited Café Boulud to celebrate Mother's Day and were very satisfied with out restaurant choice. The French Toast is not to be missed — it's fluffy and delicious — the best French Toast I've ever had. Although there was a small hiccup in service (our entrées were brought before our appetizers—and were swiftly returned to the kitchen when the waiters realized their mistake), the meal was almost flawless. I will return to Café Boulud to celebrate another special occasion again soon!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a pleasure!Service and atmosphere are impeccable as always. The lovely food and its plating were marred only by a side order of squash which was severely undercooked.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways delicious, but.......We love Cafe Boulud. We are always wowed by the food and love the ambience. However, in the past year or two they have been skimping on the drinks. My martinis have been watered down in a glass only 3/4 filled. This is a real no-no for a first class restaurant.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways greatWe go to Cafe Boulud every trip to NY and are always very happy with our meals. It is quiet, wait staff is perfectly trained, wine list is terrific. Small beautifully appointed room is just the right size. It never disappoints.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply divine!!My husband and I visit New York city from Australia every year and we never leave New York without dining at this exquisite restaurant. Everything about Cafe Boulud is exceptional. The ambience of this restaurant is just so beautiful. Beautiful flowers and lovely table linens and those lovely Cafe Boulud plates! The staff and service is warm, welcoming and knowledgable and the food is always a joy. We love, love, love this wonderful restaurant. Our favourite in New York. And that basket of madeleines at the end of the meal....simply divine!!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and creativity ofThe food and creativity of the dishes were excellent, though pricey. The servers were very friendly, but the service was spotty. The wrong side dish was served with the entree and the meal was over before the correct side was brought out. Also, the coffee ordered with dessert was never served.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMRoyal treatmentFrom the moment you enter, you are treated so well. No matter how fancy or not fancy you appear. All the service staff is friendly helpful respectful and nice. Pretty much everything we ordered and what was sent to the table was delicious. Refined elegant, layered flavors, made with care. I had the nine herb ravioli...tasted like a fresh garden. Others and the butter poached lobster. Amazing. Desserts...we had four. All beautifully presented and tasty. Going there , what a wonderful treat. Highly recommend for a special occasion.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely restaurantThis is a cozy neighborhood restaurant in the finest section of NYC the upper East side
I loved the fact that it services the folks living in the area.
It is not too noisy yet lively. Great service and great food. I would go back5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMexcellent foodvery good lunch, nice place to stay, will recommend to friends!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!!!Outstanding food, exceptional, friendly service. We were having an anniversary dinner and were seated at a lovely romantic table. Out wait staff, from the sommelier to the waiter were attentive and friendly, providing us with many wonderful selections. One of our best experiences in NY dining.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a fabulous waitress whoHad a fabulous waitress who made wonderful suggestions for us. Three of us sharewd plates and the kitchen divided the dishes individually and presented them beautifully. Everything was amazing and not unreasonably priced4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Place for lunchDidn't try dinner, but if it is anything close to our delicious lunch, I am sure it would be fabulous!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMHow to do itCompletely charming dining experience with highly professional staff, one and all.
It exemplifies what an upper East side restaurant should be.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMVery happy with meal here.Very happy with meal here. Allthe food came out fast and was perfect. Best french toast we have ever had...
Staff was a bit slow at first nut then did not miss a beat after the intial drag.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service are incredible.Food and service are incredible. diverse wine menu with a focus on regional french wines which is to be expected. portion sizes are generous compared to other french places in the area. menu was diverse enough for any palate. would dine here again for sure.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant is a very specialThe restaurant is a very special place and I enjoyed it tremendously. However, I was quite surprise to see on the bill that a Kir Royale was $30! That was quite a mark-up.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMEasy-going special occasionPersonally, my surprise was how accessible this restaurant was for a pleasant, easy-going breakfast. It still felt like a special occasion, but in a relaxed way which was refreshing. The service team were very welcoming and very well organized to respond to whatever diners might be seeking from having their morning meal there. It felt to me as if a diner wouldn't feel unnatural rushing or lingering there, which is a feat. I look forward to returning.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe liked the food and theWe liked the food and the presentation . Thank you dear chef!!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMImaginative, excellent cuisineImaginative, excellent cuisine served in an understated, but elegant backdrop. My only complaint was the small size of the portions, which is unfortunately a common feature of finer restaurants. Exceptions to this rule include the Nougatine, Petrossian, and Caviar Russe, all of which leave a better taste in your mouth, price-wise.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMImaginative, excellent cuisineImaginative, excellent cuisine served in an understated, but elegant backdrop. My only complaint was the small size of the portions, which is unfortunately a common feature of finer restaurants. Exceptions to this rule include the Nougatine, Petrossian, and Caviar Russe, all of which leave a better taste in your mouth, price-wise.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMImaginative, excellent cuisineImaginative, excellent cuisine served in an understated, but elegant backdrop. My only complaint was the small size of the portions, which is unfortunately a common feature of finer restaurants. Exceptions to this rule include the Nougatine, Petrossian, and Caviar Russe, all of which leave a better taste in your mouth, price-wise.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent asThe food was excellent as was the service. I will go there again when in New York.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMI had a quiet outdoor tableI had a quiet outdoor table with superb service of unforgetably delicious, succulent (and very large) duck breast. Madeleines and a startlingly good espresso finished a perfect lunch.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMCafe Boulud was very goodCafe Boulud was very good to outstanding, but a bit under my expectations. The down side was small details that are usually expected of an outstanding restaurant were just not there. We had to ask twice for another roll. I asked the waiter about the rhubarb on the dessert menu. My husband loves rhubarb but was reluctant to order it because he usually gets something that looks like rhubarb but tastes like pure sugar. The waiter assured me that it was really rhubarb. My husband ordered it and it tasted like sugar. I told the waiter that I was disappointed. His reaction was tepid!
I am sorry to complain, but we love fine dining, were there for a special occasion. I was unhappy to be disappointed. The experience was not up to the food.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellence on the upper east sideThis Cafe Boulud in NYC outshines it's sister restaurant in Palm Beach. I have been going for many years. The food is exceptional as is the service and ambiance. Beautiful room. Well dressed sophisticated crowd. The menu is always based on the market and changes regularly. Food looks beautiful and is prepared with the most wonderful ingredients giving dishes just the right balance of tastes and textures; elegant yet in a sense simple yet nuanced. You know a lot of thought and care has gone into every dish. Delicious and great wine list. Both lunch and dinner are terrfic.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous dinner, perfect eveningFabulous dinner, perfect evening provided by the staff, waiter was graceful and accomadating...foo dwas perfection...still dreaming of it!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticThe restaurant is somewhat small, quiet, and comfortable. The staff were prompt, and friendly. Every bit of food brought to the table was outstanding and the pace of the meal was spot on. I'm not sure what could have been done to make the evening better? It was, perhaps the best meal I've ever had! I'll plan to return here every time I visit NYC.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Guests were very pleasedOur Guests were very pleased with the food and wine and complimented our choice of Cafe Boulud. We all enjoyed a lovely evening!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was charming andThe service was charming and friendly from the beginning, although the restaurant was packed (and on a Sunday night). We were seated in a private booth but never had any difficulty attracting attention or having to wait - in addition, we were not drinking, which is often cause for poor service, but this made absolutely no difference.
The food was across the board spectacular - the amuses bouches were tiny and tasty, I had the pea soup was gloriously green and hot and nourishing. The duck was spectacular, perfectly cooked and with crispy skin, and a good sized portion. The mocha cube was sublime - possibly the best pudding I have ever had. Definitely worth every penny, and much less expensive than similar restaurants with grander pretention3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMJust one Michelin star?I've been to many two- and three-star places and the fact that Café Boulud only has one tells you all you need to know about arbitrariness of the count. Unclear what it can possibly be that prevented Michelin from awarding three stars but it's very clear to me that the food can't possibly be the reason. It's simply world-class in every way.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMTook extra 15 minutes to getTook extra 15 minutes to get seated, but that's understandable for a holiday, restaurant was very busy. After that everything was perfect. Place is small and a bit tight, but once seated, service and food is top class.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWould be nice to offer someWould be nice to offer some bread or croissant before the breakfast main dish.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent French food, attetiveExcellent French food, attetive service and beautiful ambiance, just a tad behind flagship Restaurant Daniel, but not by much. Well deserved Zagat and Michelin ratings. Will return.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMTheir food was very nicelyTheir food was very nicely prepared and presented.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely Saturday LunchI travel a lot for business so it's a normal thing for me to have my meals alone. Great service and very good food. I didn't feel strange for being there by myself.
Small portions, as expected in a classic french restaurant. Prices are Ok if you consider that this is a Michelin star place right in the Upper East side.
It has an identity to its owner, Monsieur Daniel Boulud, which I think is very hard to obtain, but it's not the three stars Daniel.
It's worth the visit, for sure.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWowUnbelieveable. Usually I like to add more details, but really there's not much more to say. Dinner was delicious. Wine was delicious. Service was friendly and impeccable. Ambience was intimate. Absolutely wonderful, we can't wait to try Daniel.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA restaurant worth returningA restaurant worth returning to time and time again. The menu is full of both seasonal and traditional Provencal French dishes with an accompanying menu of the Chef's specials of the day. I ordered off of the specials and started with venison terrine with rosemary biscuits, which was beyond my expectations, and followed with a perfectly cooked branzino. I was too busy enjoying my meal to notice anyone else's food other than the excellent octopus appetizer ordered by my mother. The staff is very attentive and service was great.
Be sure to grab a drink next door at the excellent Bar Pleiades for the full experience.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dinner ever!Service - excellent and very professional.
Food - from the bread and the wine to every dish which had great taste - excellent.
In short, everything was excellent, really my best dinner ever.
Next time in NYC, I will book there again for sure.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding fine dining experience!Outstanding fine dining experience! Executive Chef Gavin Kaysen has an amazing group of chefs in the kitchen creating food that looks beautiful and tastes even better. What a gift to the culinary world!
Thank you for the care from the great wait-staff as well.
I highly recommend Cafe Boulud to anyone who appreciates a night of dining with food created with great care and terrific flair!!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food and service.Wonderful food and service. Have eaten here several times. Always great.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother voice to extoll Boulud.Too much has been written about Daniel Boulud for me to add much except I have to agree with most of what's been written already. Exceptional in all regards.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful restaurant withA wonderful restaurant with great food, service and ambiance. You cannot find a better place in NYC. The menu had just changed to their spring menu so some new dishes were available. I had the onion soup (superb) and a great coq au vin. My wife had the endive salad and the bass wrapped in a potato crust ( signature dish). All 4 courses terrific. We had a nice Sancerre to accompany our dinner. For dessert we shared ice cream and sorbet. Not very imaginative on our part but delicious ice creams. Salted caramel, chocolate, and mandarin. The Madeleine's they serve after the dessert are fantastic. We highly recommend this restaurant3/23/2013 12:00:00 AM