(212) 366-6110

94 Greenwich Ave (West 12th Street and West 13th Street)
New York, NY 10011 40.737839 -74.001852

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Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11am-11pm

Sat-Sun 10am-11pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 8.07.09

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Happy Hour

Cuisine:

Brazilian, French

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About La Palette

Featured Review

Melanie Berliet

Contributor

Tucked away in a neighborhood that boasts restaurants with bigger reputations, this café is a pleasant departure from the typical West Village scene. The setting is living room-like, with comfy pillows atop wooden benches and candles that flicker inside miniature brown paper bags, providing just the right lighting. Seating may be a bit tight when the small cafe is crowded, but that only adds to the intimate charm. Accents like carved wooden monkeys pay homage to La Palette’s partly Brazilian roots, but the menu reflects its French heritage, with tasty, affordable dishes like salade nicoise and…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
It’s cash only, so be sure to hit an ATM beforehand.
The Extras:
In warmer weather, ask for a table on the back patio.
When to Go:
Stop by for a tasty, hassle-free weekend brunch; unlike the neighborhood’s scenier establishments, you won’t spend half the day waiting for a table.
ambiance
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The staff was cold & snobby and didn't quite "go" with the down-home-relaxed brazilian atmosphere.”
  2. “If you're going to spend close to $20 on an entree for authentic Brazilian food, you need more than music and decor to feel like you're in Brazil, you need to feel it in your gut as well as your "palette!”
  3. “cozy little neighborhood bistro serving delicious foods in a comfortable environment.”
drinks
58.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Service was inexcusably, excruciatingly slow- it took more than 30 min to get the first round of drinks, by which point our party was ready to walk out.”
  2. “It was nice that day too so we enjoyed our drinks in the garden.”
  3. “There is a garden in the rear which is perfect for relaxing while enjoying your lunch or a drink.”
  4. “the waiter was friendly enough, and even admitted the service was slow because it was busy, but taking up to an hour to get served two cocktails was not very amusing.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The crepes are tasty with fresh ingredients and a bit different for brunch.”
  2. “cozy little neighborhood bistro serving delicious foods in a comfortable environment.”
  3. “If you're going to spend close to $20 on an entree for authentic Brazilian food, you need more than music and decor to feel like you're in Brazil, you need to feel it in your gut as well as your "palette!”
  4. “love spanish food and this is a really lovely setting to dine outside.”
  5. “(It was just like being on Ipanema) Aside from the collard greens being very fresh, the food was overall.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Menu is simple but diverse, from crepes to interesting Brazilian snacks and entrees.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place with good value brunch.”
service
47.6200008392334% positive
  1. “we weren't the only table that was demonstrably annoyed with the poor service - seems it's a recurring problem here.”
  2. “The staff was cold & snobby and didn't quite "go" with the down-home-relaxed brazilian atmosphere.”
  3. “The service was excellent as well.”
  4. “Great crepes for brunch, good service, quiet garden”
  5. “There is a lovely garden out back and the service is friendly.”
  6. “The outdoor garden service is a little slow, but I felt like I was in a friend's backyard and forgot that I was in Manhattan.”
  7. “the waiter was friendly enough, and even admitted the service was slow because it was busy, but taking up to an hour to get served two cocktails was not very amusing.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place with good value brunch.”
wait time
11.109999418258667% positive
  1. “Service was inexcusably, excruciatingly slow- it took more than 30 min to get the first round of drinks, by which point our party was ready to walk out.”
  2. “the waiter was friendly enough, and even admitted the service was slow because it was busy, but taking up to an hour to get served two cocktails was not very amusing.”
  3. “The outdoor garden service is a little slow, but I felt like I was in a friend's backyard and forgot that I was in Manhattan.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/01/09

Delicious Food, $4 frozen caipirinhas!!

by schironicole at Citysearch

Menu is simple but diverse, from crepes to interesting Brazilian snacks and entrees. Everything seemed to have that real home-cooked taste to it....yum. Can't get over the caipirinhas, and the frozen ones are only $4--so in the budget. The brigadeiro cake is to DIE FOR!!!!!!!! Must try!

  • Pros: reasonably priced, casual, great food, must-have desserts
  • Cons: garden only open in the summer
2 Star Rating: Below Average

05/07/09

Don't Go!

by wilowetree at Citysearch

Ok, so I used to go here a lot, years ago, loved the food and the staff was just OK. Went there again recently and the waitress did not understand what I wanted to drink (didn't know what a Tangueray and Tonic was even after I pointed to the bottle at the bar) . The manager was snobby and very unfriendly. I was going to order food but with that type of service, i got out of there as soon as my watered down drink was done. I don't think she understood what I wanted and gave me a Seltzer instead, but charged me for the drink. Oh and the drinks are expensive.

  • Pros: Looks Nice
  • Cons: Service, Staff, Drinks
2 Star Rating: Below Average

05/07/09

Don't Bother

by wilowetree at Citysearch

Ok, so I used to go here a lot, years ago, loved the food and the staff was just OK. Went there again recently and the waitress did not understand what I wanted to drink (didn't know what a Tangueray and Tonic was even after I pointed to the bottle at the bar) . The manager was snobby and very unfriendly. I was going to order food but with that type of service, i got out of there as soon as my watered down drink was done. I don't think she understood what I wanted and gave me a Seltzer instead, but charged me for the drink. Oh and the drinks are expensive.

  • Pros: Looks Nice
  • Cons: Service, Drink Prices & Quality
2 Star Rating: Below Average

05/07/09

What? Huh? Sorry?

by wilowetree at Citysearch

Ok, so I used to go here a lot, years ago, loved the food and the staff was just OK. Went there again recently and the waitress did not understand what I wanted to drink (didn't know what a Tangueray and Tonic was even after I pointed to the bottle at the bar) . The manager was snobby and very unfriendly. I was going to order food but with that type of service, i got out of there as soon as my watered down drink was done. I don't think she understood what I wanted and gave me a Seltzer instead, but charged me for the drink. Oh and the drinks are expensive.

  • Pros: looks nice
  • Cons: service, quality of drinks $$, unprofessional staff
3 Star Rating: Average

02/01/09

Only for Caipirinhas!

by sashiwa at Citysearch

The caipirinha is the only thing I'd highly recommend. (It was just like being on Ipanema) Aside from the collard greens being very fresh, the food was overall...underwhelming. Food here is made only for the "Palette" not the SOUL!

I came specifically for the farofa....it was poor quality and kind of undercooked (what's with the raisins?) The pao de queijo tasted like stinky cardboard. The feijoada meat was REALLY fatty and bony; kind of a rip-off. You should be able to sink your teeth into the meat in that stew. The staff was cold & snobby and didn't quite "go" with the down-home-relaxed brazilian atmosphere. If you're going to spend close to $20 on an entree for authentic Brazilian food, you need more than music and decor to feel like you're in Brazil, you need to feel it in your gut as well as your "palette!" Go somewhere else!

  • Pros: Caipirinhas, Collard Greens, Decor
  • Cons: Feijoada, Farofa, Pao de Quiejo, Service, Prices

The Details on La Palette

Place Categories:

  • slow outdoor garden service
  • great crepes
  • snobby staff
  • enjoyed drinks
  • interesting entrees
  • not very amusing cocktails
  • authentic brazilian food
  • fresh ingredients
  • friendly waiter
  • cozy little neighborhood bistro
  • interesting brazilian snacks
  • comfortable environment
  • perfect rear
  • recommended highly
  • poor quality
  • good value brunch
  • great place
  • very fresh collard greens
  • delicious foods
  • love spanish food
  • good service
  • excellent other element