Blaue Gans
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 571-8880
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Between Church Street and W Broadway
- Directions:
- 1 at Franklin St
- Hours:
- Daily 11:30am-12am
Editorial Review for Blaue Gans – by Kathleen Squires
The Scene
An unpretentious addition to Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner's Austrian empire, where art-world ad posters decorate a bright, broad room. Long communal tables encourage bohemian bonding, while Tribeca couples and wurst connoisseurs cluster in tall red banquettes lining the perimeter.
The Food
Germany and Austria's greatest hits are all here, from a juicy, crispy, Schwarzenegger-sized wiener schnitzel served with vinegar-kissed potato salad to sturdy, mouth-watering veal, pork, and beef sausages accompanied by spicy mustard, fresh horseradish and surprisingly refined sauerkraut. A pleasant dousing of paprika perks up the goulash--whether in soup or stew form--and a calves liver dumpling enriches a simple beef consommé. The hearty menu does include light intervals, however, such as dainty ravioli in a Riesling sauce and a succulent arctic char with cucumber salad, each composed as gracefully as a Mozart sonatina. The desserts, like a warm, schlag-topped apple strudel and springy, caramel-laced pear torte, transport the tastebuds directly to Vienna.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkA terrific selection of 20 Austrian and German wines, ranging from $31 to $90 for the bottle, includes some great values, like the Gruner Veltliner "Heuriger," a crisp, dry white for $32.
The ExtrasTry chef Kurt Gutenbrunner 's other Austrian-inspired eateries, Wallse, Cafe Sabarsky and THOR.
Know Before You GoThe restaurant does not take reservations.
User Reviews for Blaue Gans
03/13/2008 Posted by amf0001
Frankly I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews. I live in Tribeca and eat at Blaue Gans regularly - usually once a week, sometimes twice a day! - the breakfasts are just terrific, excellent coffee, perfect pastries and a lovely quiet atmosphere (maybe I shouldn't tell y'all, it'll get noisy!) Dinners are much livlier, with a long communal table down the centre of the restaurant and booths on the side. We eat the schnitzl all the time, and dabble in other foods too. It's average for tribeca, so on the expensive side but not ridiculous. I'd be happy taking anyone there, it's classy without a hint of pretension, good service, good wines, great food - what more could you want?!
02/03/2008 Posted by SarahR411
The food at Blaue Gans is tasty and innovative. Venison goulash arrived in a lush sauce with hints of sweetness, the spaetzle was creamy and light, and the pistachio ice cream was aromatic and set off the richness of the chocolate mousse beautifully. But I am very surprised that a restaurant this good and this professional has kept a particularly bad table as part of the room's setup. When facing the back of the room, there is a two top just to the right of the entry to the kitchens and restrooms. It's not only that the view from the table is nearly into the kitchen, but that the chair is inevitably knocked by servers and patrons at the neighboring tables. I realize that in small rooms one can get bumped into, but this was especially bad--the night I was there, both parties seated there asked to move, and even the server acknowledged that the table was in a bad location. Why not lose this 2-top and make the neighboring corner table a four-top? A good restaurant with a snazzy interior and high-ish prices shouldn't have such an awkward and uncomfortable arrangement. I'd give the restaurant more stars if it weren't for this table. I'd love to go back as long as I knew I wouldn't have to sit there.
