Pastis
New York, NY 10014-1203
Phone: (212) 929-4844
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Little West 12th Street
- Directions:
- A, C, E; L at 14th St-8th Ave
- Specialties:
- French Fries, People Watching
- Best of Citysearch:
- People Watching 2007, See and Be Seen Bar 2006, Celeb Hangout 2005
- Hours:
- Sun- Wed 8am-1am , Thu 8am-2am , Fri- Sat 8am-3am
Editorial Review for Pastis – by Citysearch Editors
The Scene
The space, fit with imported giant urinals, zinc-topped bar, large antique mirrors, mosaic floor tiles and mahogany trim, looks like it's been around forever. And like all McNally hot spots, it crackles with energy, particularly from the groups who gather to share a bite in the bar. Despite the enduring scene, the restaurant plays host to a surprising number of families. Service is breezy, yet professional.
The Food
An ideal meal here starts with lusty, cheese-encrusted onion soup or a salad of frisee and bacon capped with a soft-poached egg. It moves on to one of the city's best salads nicoise, the dependable steak frites--served with thin, perfectly salted fries--or to hearty braised dishes like beef with glazed carrots. At lunch, fish-and-chips, croque monsieur and a garlicky roast chicken are satisfying and soundly conceived.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasCheck out McNally's latest bistro, Schiller's.
Know Before You GoPastis delivers weekdays, noon-11pm and weekends, 6pm-11pm.
User Reviews for Pastis
08/04/2008 Posted by sicnyc
I experienced hands down the worst service I have had in my entire life at Pastis last week. I went there for lunch with three girlfriends to celebrate one of my friend's birthdays. Even though we'd reserved a table and despite the fact that several tables were free, we had to wait to be seated. Then they sat us in the sun on a 90-degree day. When we requested to move under the shade, we were told no, even though there was a table vacant. After some coercing, they reluctantly agreed to let us move, although they told us this was not protocol and was a hassle for them. Service was lazy and our waiter was arrogant at best, downright rude at worst. They forgot to bring a set of cutlery, and sugar for the $5 DIY lemonade (called a "citron presse" so they can charge twice as much). Then, when we finally managed to get our waiter's attention to order after about an hour, he told me that I wouldn't be able to dine there as I am allergic to nuts. Seriously! It's the second most common allergy in the world but they can't cater to me! Apparently making money is of no consequence to them (or I guess they make enough by overcharging for average food). Finally, after reassuring them that it wasn't necessary to promise me that every component of my salad had never come into contact with a nut, but just to not add nuts to the meal, they agreed to serve me -- albeit with eggs in the salad, which I had requested to please be left out. This whole scenario was not only frustrating and uncalled for but put a real dampener on my friend's birthday celebration. In case you're wondering, we are four young, well-dressed, respectful women who certainly fit into the downtown scene, so there was no reason for the attitude. I will absolutely never go back to Pastis and would warn you not to either. You can get better service anywhere else! And better food too. I don't know how it's survived this long. Pastis is passe and pathetic.
Pros: Location, celeb spotting
Cons: Service, value
08/01/2008 Posted by CR2
Are you from North Jersey? Long Island, perhaps? Do you own a lifetime supply of self-tanner? Does your girlfriend/wife look like she was sculpted at the Mattel factory? Does your boyfriend/husband's head resemble a lacquered pin cushion? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions than this pseudo bistro is a perfect fit for you. A novel idea when McNally first opened its doors back when the meatpacking district was on precipice of becoming NYC’s next “it” neighborhood, Pastis, like so many of its neighbors, has gone the way of wannabe Carrie Bradshaw pit-stop to an even more vapid representation of social pretense: bridge and tunnel. The service stinks, too.
Pros: People watching
Cons: Being near them
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