Tournesol
Long Island City, NY 11101-5734
Phone: (718) 472-4355
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- 50th Avenue
- Directions:
- 7 at Vernon Blvd-Jackson Ave
- Hours:
- Mon 5:30pm-11pm, Tue-Thu 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Fri 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-11:30pm, Sat 11am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-11:30pm, Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Tournesol – by Dana Bowen
The Scene
With its wicker sidewalk tables and floor-to-ceiling French doors, Tournesol brings a Left Bank flair just this side of the East River. Inside, it's a typical, tin-ceiling floor-through bistro, with a service bar to one side and matted Art Nouveau prints on cheery yellow walls. Local workers and curious city folks fill the long banquettes, nibbling on tiny olives and charred, chewy bread.
The Food
This is how your Gallic grandmother would cook for you. Friendly French servers (who think they speak English better than they do) describe the reasonably priced menu and daily specials: Nothing's too elaborate, but most everything is fresh and satisfying. Skip the frisee salad--the lardons, egg and croutons are over-cooked--and dive into a rich, thyme-heavy duck liver-Muscat paté, offset by sweet, caramelized chutney. Wine-braised beef cheeks are comfort on a plate, as are crispy-skinned roast cod, creamy cauliflower gratin and grilled scallions. Vanilla-flecked creme brulee is outstanding.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkWith just a few wines by the glass and small pours, you'd do better to order from the short but smart wine list, which offers many good bargains under $30.
User Reviews for Tournesol
09/23/2008 Posted by eetoutnyc
Uhrg....the food wasn't bad, but seriously, the service?!?! I have been twice with my girlfriend and both times, the host was flirting with her so inappropriately it really annoyed the hell out of me and made the meal uncomfortable. He would stand there and stare at her across the restaurant thinking he was being cool and subtle but it came off as being totally offensive. She wasn't impressed either. Take my advice Tournesol, be charming to both people in a couple becuase generally it's the guy who is paying for the meal.
04/18/2008 Posted by LKYoung
Arrived half an hour early with my daughter as part of a party of 14 with a reservation for 8:00 PM. The tables that we would occupy were empty and they were not reseating waiting for our party. It was Friday evening, the end of a long day and a long week. Had been in my pumps since 7:00 AM. I asked if I could sit. "No." They would not seat me until all 14 had arrived. The tiny restaurant had two seats at the bar, both occupied. I promised the owner that my daughter and I would eat, even if the other 12 never showed up. He laughed. I'm sure that he thought that he was being charming. It was 8:20 by the time the entire party was assembled. Over those 50 minutes, I asked a total of three times to be allowed to sit down, and was refused three times. Again, for the entire 50 minutes, I was standing next to the empty tables which they had indicated would be for our party. The owner and waiters ignored me, but could not help jostling me as they went about their work, as the restaurant is tiny with no separate space to wait. The evening was cool, and I was unfamiliar with the neighborhood, so I waited. At 8:20, angry, exhausted and humiliated I was allowed to sit. The food was very good, but it sat like a rock in my churning stomach. This man should be a caterer and never allowed near living, breathing customers.
Pros: delicious food
Cons: total lack of concern for the comfort of patrons
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