(212) 366-0404

461 W 23rd St (Between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue)
New York, NY 10011 40.7473 -74.003

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

Hours:

Daily 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11:30pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 9.11.08

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Celeb Hangout

Cuisine:

French, New American

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bette

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – The oversized glam painting and tubular glass chandeliers dress up the otherwise muted hotel-like interior that, despite its simplicity, harkens back to the early '80s when disco reached its zenith. Unlike Sacco's clubs, there's no velvet rope, and the gracious staff goes the extra mile for its well-coifed patrons, whether at the small bar or in the dining room. – – The Food – Chef Kenny Addington's menu of dressed-up French-American standards, served in waist-conscious portions, has enough twists to please the discerning. Sweet vidalia onion relish…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The wine list is moderately priced, with many bottles in the $40 to $50 range. The Pinot Grigio from Marco Cecchini has a subtle fruit taste that complements the menu's lighter notes, and it's a deal at $40.
The Extras:
If you've got what it takes to get in, head over to Sacco's infamous Bungalow 8.
ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. “Perfect place for a fun, sexy, and flavorful dining experience!”
  2. “The menu is not too fun to choose from and the actual servings are tiny!”
  3. “The decor was nice, but nothing extraordinary.”
  4. “The atmosphere is absolutly fabulous.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The tea service is amazing: the tea is sublime and so are the desserts and finger sandwiches.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The tea service is amazing: the tea is sublime and so are the desserts and finger sandwiches.”
  2. “The bartender, pre-dinner, made a great strawberry, champagne vodka martini and was very knowledgeable with wine recommendations for my friends.”
  3. “On the pro side, the drinks were at least good.”
  4. “We enjoyed our drinks and conversation and took our time- we didn't ask to be seated until 7:45 - which wasn't a problem.”
  5. “We started with Pear Bellinis and it was one of the best cocktails I have ever enjoyed.”
  6. “Very good wines too.”
  7. “The food was ok, not great, not bad, somewhere in the middle but I have to say the staff was really nice, the drinks were very yummy, we weren't rushed, the people watching was good and the restaurant was so pretty.”
  8. “The wine list is excellent, with truly great finds, especially if you are somewhat adventurous and into organic or natural wines.”
food quality
85.53000450134277% positive
  1. “Great, 2 attentive servers and 2 attentive bread, water, bus people.”
  2. “Food was delicious enjoyed the raw oysters and the Bronzini fish.”
  3. “The place is cute and the service is good, but the food is WAY overpriced for what you get.”
  4. “The food is overpriced, plain and boring.”
  5. “Best french fries ever.”
  6. “The food was ok, not great, not bad, somewhere in the middle but I have to say the staff was really nice, the drinks were very yummy, we weren't rushed, the people watching was good and the restaurant was so pretty.”
  7. “Good food.”
  8. “had a very good meal with excellent service (thank you david).”
  9. “The food was outstanding, The scallops, Lamb, Whole Branzino all fantastic.”
  10. “Romance, great food and great service”
  11. “The striploin and fish were both excellent.”
  12. “Great food.”
  13. “the crowd was beautiful and the food was good, not amazing but very simple and good.”
  14. “The tea service is amazing: the tea is sublime and so are the desserts and finger sandwiches.”
  15. “In a city full of restaurants with great food at good prices, there is no reason to eat at this "trendy destination.”
  16. “In all, go there to see, be seen, but above all go there to have a very good meal with friends.”
  17. “Service was bad, food was dissapointing.”
  18. “All courses were delicious - we had the artichoke dish & a half portion of pasta with caviar to start and a sea scallop special (unbelievable!)”
  19. “don't mind paying the prices if the food is good.”
menu variety
0.0% positive
  1. “The menu is not too fun to choose from and the actual servings are tiny!”
service
75.99999904632568% positive
  1. “Great, 2 attentive servers and 2 attentive bread, water, bus people.”
  2. “The restaurant filled up by 8:30 - there was a good buzz to the room - it was crowded, but we didn't feel rushed to finish or our table service delayed.”
  3. “The scene is not particularly attractive and there were no famous, chic people anywhere to be found.”
  4. “The place is cute and the service is good, but the food is WAY overpriced for what you get.”
  5. “The restaurant is beautiful and the service was great (granted we were practially the only people there).”
  6. “When we opened the check, we realized that they added 20% tip, for that awful service!”
  7. “Desserts - didn't bother as we'd had enough of the second-rate service.”
  8. “Very good looking but very bad waiter.”
  9. “They accomodated my family on a busy saturday and i had the best waiter in the world.”
  10. “the amazing manager/sommelier who will explain it all with words everyone can actually understand.”
  11. “the restaurant wasn't full but none the less, great service.”
  12. “like efficient service but 5 minutes gives the impression that they want us to eat and then get the hell out of there!”
  13. “went there last week with 4 other friends, it was the worst service I've ever seen!”
  14. “The tea service is amazing: the tea is sublime and so are the desserts and finger sandwiches.”
  15. “The staff is very knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly, without attitude.”
  16. “Summary - Food very good but service horrible.”
  17. “horrible service!”
  18. “Friendly staff.”
  19. “Romance, great food and great service”
  20. “put a note on the CC merchant copy for the manager to see and mentioned that the service sucked.”
  21. “Great wait staff classy vibe”
  22. “The bartender, pre-dinner, made a great strawberry, champagne vodka martini and was very knowledgeable with wine recommendations for my friends.”
  23. “The service was very professional and prompt.”
  24. “The food was ok, not great, not bad, somewhere in the middle but I have to say the staff was really nice, the drinks were very yummy, we weren't rushed, the people watching was good and the restaurant was so pretty.”
  25. “had a very good meal with excellent service (thank you david).”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “The place is cute and the service is good, but the food is WAY overpriced for what you get.”
  2. “Coal is soo expensive that i would rather get it elsewhere.”
  3. “don't mind paying the prices if the food is good.”
  4. “The food is overpriced, plain and boring.”
  5. “In a city full of restaurants with great food at good prices, there is no reason to eat at this "trendy destination.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “like efficient service but 5 minutes gives the impression that they want us to eat and then get the hell out of there!”
  2. “Service was great even though we were 30 minutes late they sat us promptly.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/04/07

It's so pretty

by wellsd at Citysearch

The food was ok, not great, not bad, somewhere in the middle but I have to say the staff was really nice, the drinks were very yummy, we weren't rushed, the people watching was good and the restaurant was so pretty. Good night out with the girls but I think even a better date place. Check it out.

  • Pros: Great service, beautiful restaurant
  • Cons: Some dishes were really good and some were just ok
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/26/07

Romance, great food and great service

by fakename00 at Citysearch

Ambiance is perfect especially with the mood lighting, who doesn't look good in that light?

I had the scallops and a a fried shrimp and artichoke appetizer...both were amazing. As one writer said, "you only get 4 scallops"....well, I shared one and ate two along with the appetizer and passed on desert. I was more than full.

The bartender, pre-dinner, made a great strawberry, champagne vodka martini and was very knowledgeable with wine recommendations for my friends.

Service? Great, 2 attentive servers and 2 attentive bread, water, bus people... the restaurant wasn't full but none the less, great service.

I'll return....a nice oasis on the edge of midtown and Chelsea.

  • Pros: Ambiance, Food and great drinks
  • Cons: None
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/28/07

Not Worth It

by curlysues27 at Citysearch

The place is cute and the service is good, but the food is WAY overpriced for what you get. The menu is not too fun to choose from and the actual servings are tiny! I ordered the scallops which was basically 4 small scallops that I paid $28 for....crazy! They are so many better restaurants in the city....I don't mind paying the prices if the food is good...this just is not worth it. I guess that's why we needed last minute reservations at a restaurant on a Friday night and this was the only restaurant that had openings....it wasn't even filled when we were there. On the pro side, the drinks were at least good.

  • Pros: Service is Good
  • Cons: Food Stinks, Small Portions, Too Pricy, Boring Menu
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/14/07

Friendly staff. Great food.

by misskake at Citysearch

Hola! I love this place. They accomodated my family on a busy saturday and i had the best waiter in the world. Jersey. Jersey, thanks for offering to get us into Bungalow 8. Maybe next time. Best french fries ever. Loved it!!

  • Pros: the whole staff
  • Cons: a little pricey but i'll still be back.
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/02/07

Avoid always

by ssorensen11 at Citysearch

This place is a joke. We had dinner last night and it was the worst nightmare ever! Service was bad, food was dissapointing. First we got greeted (if you can actually say that) by the maitre 'd Byron? Are you kidding me?He made us wait for like 30 minutes, when he finally decided our table was ready, he yelled at the hostess in front of us and then told us he would send some wine on the house for making us wait. Did you get the wine? Cause I didn't....but he surely charged us for it!!! Unreal!When we asked why we were charged for something that was offered to us but never made it to our table, this Byron dude said to us that we were obviously from out of town and we should never be late for a reservation in NYC! Unbelievable. Who is this guy? He should be the one yelled at for being so rude. Don't go to Bette-It's real a disaster-

  • Pros: Interesting drinks
  • Cons: Bad service overall

The Details on Bette

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • friendly wait staff
  • worst service
  • great dining experience
  • very good scallop au gratin appetizer
  • beautiful restaurant
  • enjoyed drinks
  • very bad waiter
  • enjoyed bronzini fish
  • very good meal
  • fantastic place
  • very poor drivers
  • very good wines
  • perfect ambiance
  • best cocktails
  • delicious courses
  • excellent striploin
  • not bother desserts
  • beautiful crowd
  • great champagne vodka martini
  • poor machinery
  • not recommend wearing jeans
  • nice decor
  • nice oasis
  • great efficient service