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(212) 420-7520

170 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002 40.7212 -73.9884

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Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown

Hours:

Monday To Thursday From 05:00 PM To 12:00 AM Friday From 05:00 PM To 01:00 AM Saturday From 11:00 AM To 01:00 AM Sunday From 11:00 AM To 12:00 AM

Price:

$$

Last updated 8.10.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Group Dining

What People Are Saying About Cafe Charbon

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – The owners of Flea Market, the French-bohemian haunt in the East Village, have recreated a Parisian street scene, Epcot-style. Faux storefronts lead into Cafe Charbon, a veritable Gallic bar adorned with aged-wood tables, white tiled floors and Gauloise-puffing bon vivants. Next door, Epicerie's casual dining room is playfully postmodern: Stocked with everything from French laundry detergent to fancy foodstuffs, it looks like a Target advertisement en Francaise. – – The Food – The daily changing menu, scribbled on chalkboards and translated by friendly,…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
DJs draw a crowd on Wednesday through Saturday nights, though there's no dancing allowed--it doesn't have a cabaret license.
Know Before You Go:
Epicerie opens an hour early (10:30am) on Saturday and Sunday for brunch. On Friday and Saturday nights, the full dinner menu is served until 4am.
What to Drink:
Wines by the glass range from $5 to $10 and the bottle list includes many excellent French values less than $35.
ambiance
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. The atmosphere is nice, both inside and outside.
  2. Great atmosphere, very cute, moderate prices.
  3. The service and atmosphere was fine and pleasant enough but the food was gross.
  4. was hoping for a warm & cozy atmostphere and what we got was hard wooden chairs & tiled kitchen floor hidden by the fact that the place is only lit by a few candles on the tables.
  5. The staff knows well when a couple would rather have a romantic meal together without an intrusion, and the food is great.
  6. fun atmosphere & good food.
  7. Icky food - cute ambience - no air conditioning
  8. The atmosphere was nice, and we were seated at the perfect table, it was inside, but right next to the open window, so it was kinda like it was outside, too.
  9. The entrance, the bar area and the dining room all have very unique and well-done decor.
  10. Food and ambiance was great.
  11. The decor in this place is great.
  12. Food is decent but nothing special, but I liked the warm atmosphere of the epicerie.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Waitress was friendly and very good and the big profiteroles with dark chocolate were delecious.
  2. Starters were good; the desserts were good but nothing surprising.
drinks
89.80999946594238% positive
  1. had the mussels in wine sauce and I couldn't believe I was served a large pot completely filled with delectable seafood.
  2. The bartender was great and we had an impromptu wine tasting which was fabulous.
  3. We didn't even have a tea or a coffoe because "there were no clean mugs available
  4. Good food avoid any non-alcoholic drinks.
  5. The entrance, the bar area and the dining room all have very unique and well-done decor.
  6. the tables were kind of annoying but the bar was nice.
  7. their Stella on tap was almost flat, i saw the bartender "whisking" our beers to give them any sort of head.
  8. Prices are decent for food, but pricey for drinks as there is an extensive beer and wine list.
  9. great value french wine and selection.
  10. Had a great meal on Sat night at this cute French bistro/bar with my partner.
  11. the food is school cafeteria friendly and the clientele ranges from drunken soccer fans singing on the top of their lungs while inhaling beer and the local traffic fumes on orchard street, to America's Next Top Model wannabes in k-mart knock offs.
  12. The bar looks nice, and they have a wide range of wines available.
  13. The great bar area in the front is a great place to just chill and have a few drinks.
  14. Otherwise, this is a great place to celebrate Nouveaux Beaujolais along with other wine lovers and even some francophones!
  15. On our way out ~11:30pm the bar area was full also with cool types.
  16. First had a cheese platter at the bar and then enjoyed a nice dinner with friends.
  17. This dimly-lit, very chill gem of a bar is a great place to grab a cocktail or yummy pint of imported Belgian beer - and they have great music to boot!
  18. And the brunch deal is a real steal -- ten dollars gets you grub, OJ and coffee which is just perfect for people like me on a NYC-work-in-entertainment budget.
food quality
82.41999626159668% positive
  1. The mango mojito is delicious, the poulet roti is fantastic, and the waiters/hosts are great.
  2. This dimly-lit, very chill gem of a bar is a great place to grab a cocktail or yummy pint of imported Belgian beer - and they have great music to boot!
  3. Don't order the regular salad greens because it's nothing special and some of it already comes with the steak frites.
  4. Icky food - cute ambience - no air conditioning
  5. but great food!
  6. The food was decent, but not great (possibly because of how busy they were).
  7. The mussels w/french fries were good, but I've had better.
  8. Had a great meal on Sat night at this cute French bistro/bar with my partner.
  9. Best Hamburger in NYC and excellent bistro food
  10. Four of us were seated promptly and I had the best hamburger ever in NYC for $7.95 - served on a beautiful fresh brioche roll, about 1/2 lb, cooked to order, with excellent french fries, and a small salad.
  11. My mom and I split the best creme brulee either of us have ever had.
  12. He had a burger which was really yummy, even the fries tasted better than most others I'd tried.
  13. Juicy and tender, and the frites were so yummy.
  14. had a delicious meal here!
  15. The staff knows well when a couple would rather have a romantic meal together without an intrusion, and the food is great.
  16. The menus were scrawled on blackboards a la Parisien and the food was quite decent (the duck was a little dry).
  17. and with great food.
  18. the steak frites and duck confit were very delicious.
  19. The fries are great, cheap, and rival those at Les Halles for quality and taste.
  20. We finished our mediocre meal and left the place as soon as we could.
  21. I've had numerous delicious dinners at Epicerie and thoroughly enjoy the super-fresh, ever-changing menu.
  22. The food was good.
  23. Everything down to the bread was delicious.
  24. Good food avoid any non-alcoholic drinks.
  25. It has a wonderful, unassuming feel, great food, and good service.
  26. Decent food but fraudulent billing.
  27. Enjoyed my meal here.
  28. The food was quite good, but the experience was ruined by the service.
  29. Calamari was fantastic, and definitely recommend the hangar steak with pepper sauce - YUM!
  30. Great food
  31. crispy salmon in corn puree is delicious.
  32. Most importantly, the food is authentic French bistro fare.
  33. The crispy chicken w/stuffed roasted peppers was good, nothing special.
  34. The food was fantastic.
  35. The steak frites were superb.
  36. fun atmosphere & good food.
  37. The food was excellent, but the band was better.
  38. had the mussels in wine sauce and I couldn't believe I was served a large pot completely filled with delectable seafood.
  39. The coq a vin is especially delicious and the mussels are fresh and lovely.
  40. Good & Bad - our meal was tasty, staff was somewhat inexperienced but nonetheless helpful.
  41. Our waiter brought us a very very nice cabernet - it was sooo delicious!
  42. Ingredients were fresh and food was OK but definitely not worth putting up with the terrible attitude of the waitstaff.
  43. Good food, hip scene and great value
  44. The food was a bit slow to come out, but definitely worth the wait.
  45. Prices are decent for food, but pricey for drinks as there is an extensive beer and wine list.
  46. The mushroom ravioli was rich and tasty.
  47. The food is REALLY good.
  48. The service and atmosphere was fine and pleasant enough but the food was gross.
  49. great spot for a tasty, well-priced dinner.
  50. Great food, awful attitude by the wait staff
  51. The bread given as an appetizer seemed stale and airy and the olive oil smelled bad.
  52. If you go, you must decide whether the good food is worth the horrible service.
  53. the food is school cafeteria friendly and the clientele ranges from drunken soccer fans singing on the top of their lungs while inhaling beer and the local traffic fumes on orchard street, to America's Next Top Model wannabes in k-mart knock offs.
  54. We had a chance to try a lot of dishes and the food was not great - some plates were ok, others were bad.
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. The menus were scrawled on blackboards a la Parisien and the food was quite decent (the duck was a little dry).
  2. great value french wine and selection.
  3. Prices are decent for food, but pricey for drinks as there is an extensive beer and wine list.
  4. I've had numerous delicious dinners at Epicerie and thoroughly enjoy the super-fresh, ever-changing menu.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. This honestly was the very best restaurant experience I've had!
  2. great little restaurant to frequent if you're in the mood for french and are looking for a low-key night out.
  3. Otherwise, this is a great place to celebrate Nouveaux Beaujolais along with other wine lovers and even some francophones!
  4. The great bar area in the front is a great place to just chill and have a few drinks.
  5. This dimly-lit, very chill gem of a bar is a great place to grab a cocktail or yummy pint of imported Belgian beer - and they have great music to boot!
service
52.69999980926514% positive
  1. Waitress was friendly and very good and the big profiteroles with dark chocolate were delecious.
  2. The manager is very nasty.
  3. The bartender was great and we had an impromptu wine tasting which was fabulous.
  4. The service and atmosphere was fine and pleasant enough but the food was gross.
  5. My boyfriend and I came here and we had a really great dinner and the service was swell.
  6. The food was quite good, but the experience was ruined by the service.
  7. This place offers good value and friendly service.
  8. We had a party of seven and, although the service wasn't especially attentive, it was better that way -- we were all much more focused on hanging out with one another than having some fancy epicurian experience.
  9. Our waitress was attentive but also not annoying as some wait staff in restaurants can be.
  10. Our group of 10 was treated fantastically, although the service was a bit slow.
  11. Great food, awful attitude by the wait staff
  12. The lighting was mellow, crowd friendly and stylish, bartenders were attentive and friendly and music kicking.
  13. service wasn't particularly attentive, and you can hear everyone's conversation around you.
  14. If you're looking to be treated in a rude and disrespectful manner, then this is the place for you.
  15. "poor service" would be a gross understatement
  16. In the french tradition, the server was rude.
  17. This was truly the worst service I have ever received in a restaurant.
  18. polite call to the manager, who told us we weren't the only ones in this predicament, has yet to result in a credit despite the promise to fix it "immediately
  19. terrible service.
  20. No problems with the service compared to the other reviews, but the quality was terrible.
  21. The staff knows well when a couple would rather have a romantic meal together without an intrusion, and the food is great.
  22. although the service was pretty slow, we had a great time and never felt rushed.
  23. Our waiter brought us a very very nice cabernet - it was sooo delicious!
  24. He helped us with our touristy questions as well as provided excellent service.
  25. the food is school cafeteria friendly and the clientele ranges from drunken soccer fans singing on the top of their lungs while inhaling beer and the local traffic fumes on orchard street, to America's Next Top Model wannabes in k-mart knock offs.
  26. And the brunch deal is a real steal -- ten dollars gets you grub, OJ and coffee which is just perfect for people like me on a NYC-work-in-entertainment budget.
  27. It has a wonderful, unassuming feel, great food, and good service.
  28. The waiters were very friendly and funny.
  29. have rarely experienced such rude service.
  30. However, I must say the service was pretty obnoxious.
  31. The waitress asked if everything was good and I replied yes.
  32. The mango mojito is delicious, the poulet roti is fantastic, and the waiters/hosts are great.
  33. The waitresses were pretty friendly, and most of them could speak french.
  34. If you go, you must decide whether the good food is worth the horrible service.
  35. their Stella on tap was almost flat, i saw the bartender "whisking" our beers to give them any sort of head.
  36. Good & Bad - our meal was tasty, staff was somewhat inexperienced but nonetheless helpful.
  37. Awful service
value
80.55999755859375% positive
  1. If you like places like this save your money and drive to the local mall for a cheaper night out without the noise and traffic.
  2. If you go, you must decide whether the good food is worth the horrible service.
  3. Ingredients were fresh and food was OK but definitely not worth putting up with the terrible attitude of the waitstaff.
  4. This place offers good value and friendly service.
  5. Prices are decent for food, but pricey for drinks as there is an extensive beer and wine list.
  6. The food was a bit slow to come out, but definitely worth the wait.
  7. Great atmosphere, very cute, moderate prices.
  8. The fries are great, cheap, and rival those at Les Halles for quality and taste.
  9. Good food, hip scene and great value
  10. great value french wine and selection.
  11. Food was a great value as well.
  12. And the brunch deal is a real steal -- ten dollars gets you grub, OJ and coffee which is just perfect for people like me on a NYC-work-in-entertainment budget.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. Our group of 10 was treated fantastically, although the service was a bit slow.
  2. The food was a bit slow to come out, but definitely worth the wait.
  3. although the service was pretty slow, we had a great time and never felt rushed.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/11/10

I had a delicious meal here!

by accidentalvoyeur

My boyfriend and I came here and we had a really great dinner and the service was swell. The food was pretty cheap, compared to other French places I'd been too. We left here feeling very satisfied and very full. He had a burger which was really yummy, even the fries tasted better than most others I'd tried. I had the mussels in wine sauce and I couldn't believe I was served a large pot completely filled with delectable seafood. Everything down to the bread was delicious. I'd definitely return here.

  • Pros: The food was yummy and fairly priced
  • Cons: The bar can be a bit noisy
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/15/10

Just don't go

by dnrpr

This was truly the worst service I have ever received in a restaurant. My boyfriend and I arrived at 8:30 for dinner to a 3/4 full restaurant. By 9:00 we inquired about whether or not we actually had a server. At 9:20, someone finally comes over to greet us. We order everything at one time because we definitely don't want to wait any longer. Our server does not write anything down which always makes me nervous. At 9:45 (third request) we finally get some water along with two appetizers that aren't ours. Moreover, the waitress came back twice so we could "remind" her what we ordered. Finally our food comes at 10:20 and we are so peeved at this point, even after we spoke to the manager. You would think the manager would be at least be apologetic but he couldn't care less.

Overall, this was a disastrous and disappointing experience. I've been here for brunch several times without a problem but for dinner, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. I would give this ZERO stars if we had the option.

  • Cons: I wasted several hours of my life here I won't get back!!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/01/09

excellent vibe

by girlgirlgirlie

I recently went here for a friends going away party and was very happy w/ the whole experience. The lighting was mellow, crowd friendly and stylish, bartenders were attentive and friendly and music kicking. I ordered a Heffe Blonde and the bartender gave me a small wine glass of skittles to go with it and it was surprisingly amazing! I tasted the rainbow. Mingled with some hotties on the dance floor and the bathrooms were big and roomie with enough room for two! Great great great night and place. Would go again for sure.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/09/08

Bad for Business

by Tee17

This place was awful! First we had to get our own drinks since the waitress was nowhere to be found. Then they spilled tomato sauce all over me since the kitchen staff decided to serve the dish over my head. Ruined my white sweater and favorite scarf. Would have been a funny story if they had not offered to comp the meal till we asked. None of us will be going back!

  • Cons: Bad business practices
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/14/08

"poor service" would be a gross understatement

by arealnewyorker

The atmosphere is fine and our food was o.k., but the service was beyond atrocious.

After dining, we waited almost an hour, for our waiter to return. I decided to talk to the manager. That's when our waiter sprung into action and rushed over to find out what he could do for us. Too late loser. The apology and the two free drinks didn't take the sting out of it.

I will never return. Unbearable.

  • Pros: atmosphere
  • Cons: "poor service" would be a gross understatement

The Details on Cafe Charbon

Place Categories:

  • terrible service
  • great place
  • really great nice dinner
  • mediocre meal
  • nice warm atmosphere
  • not annoying waitress
  • gross food
  • great value
  • bad attitude
  • nice bar
  • great mussels
  • great bartenders
  • delicious everything
  • great decor
  • rich mushroom ravioli
  • rude manner
  • great mussels wfrench fries
  • warm atmostphere
  • fantastic desserts
  • very friendly waiters
  • big bathrooms
  • worst dining experience
  • great bistro food
  • yummy steak frites
  • very best restaurant experience
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