(212) 223-6220

1113 1st Ave (61st Street)
New York, NY 10021 40.7609 -73.9611

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

BISTRO61.COM

Hours:

Sun 10:30am-11pm

Mon 11am-11pm

Tue-Thu 11am-11:30pm

Fri 11am-12am

Sat 10:30am-12am

Price:

$$$

Last updated 4.16.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Business Dining, Date Spot, Group Dining

Cuisine:

French, Soups, Seafood

What People Are Saying About Bistro 61

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Casual French bistro on the far east side with upscale food, a moderately priced wine list and weekend brunch.

ambiance
95.0% positive
  1. “From the professional, friendly staff (including the chefs) to the quaint, sophisticated ambiance, everything about this place was perfect.”
  2. “The decor is charming, if not predictable and cliche French Bistro.”
  3. “Famous for their seafood selection, a restaurant that has a very nice decor.”
  4. “Great atmosphere.”
  5. “The restaurant is cozy, romantic, and creatively chic.”
  6. “Avoicd this place unless you are only looking for a drink in a cozy spot with bad food.”
  7. “Tasty dishes, good atmosphere”
  8. “No attitude, pleasant atmosphere, very professional execution - I am not surprised to see them busier than every.”
  9. “The food is excellent, the service is great and the ambiance is cozy.”
  10. “Besides great food, the space has a very comfortable feel to it and the service is terrific.”
drinks
62.5% positive
  1. “Avoicd this place unless you are only looking for a drink in a cozy spot with bad food.”
  2. “(I suppose we were supposed to use the dirty glasses from our wine?)”
  3. “The staff is nice and friendly, the bar has a good selection of liquor too.”
  4. “The staff is also very friendly and the restaurant offers great bar service for dinner and/or drinks.”
food quality
90.74000358581543% positive
  1. “And of course I love their food.”
  2. “The lamb tajine is incredible.”
  3. “My wife and I have been eating at this place for more than a year and I don't think we have ever had a less than delicious meal.”
  4. “Next time you're in NY, I recommend you avoid the touristy, crowded restaurants in the theater district and head east to Bistro 61 where you'll be guaranteed a good meal and great service”
  5. “The place is packed for a reason - the food is really good!”
  6. “If you are someone who understands and appreciates good food, you will definitely get this place.”
  7. “The onion soup is perfect.”
  8. “The food is excellent, the service is great and the ambiance is cozy.”
  9. “shame, because it's a great burger.”
  10. “Tasty dishes, good atmosphere”
  11. “The chicken and duck are good also.”
  12. “Bistro 61 is one of the most authentic french food restaurants in NYC.”
  13. “Besides great food, the space has a very comfortable feel to it and the service is terrific.”
  14. “have been going to this place for 2 years and I have never had anything but an excellent meal.”
  15. “Terrible food for a great space”
  16. “By the way, the burger has to be one of the best anywhere!”
  17. “Avoicd this place unless you are only looking for a drink in a cozy spot with bad food.”
  18. “Famous for their seafood selection, a restaurant that has a very nice decor.”
  19. “The service was great but a little better than the food.”
  20. “Rich, as French food can be, so it's only good every now and then.”
  21. “saturday.The food is fresh and fabulous specialy the mussels ,the best in the eastside”
  22. “Great escargot, great steak frites.”
  23. “eat there at least once a week as well as order favorite dishes for delivery.”
  24. “The pasta I got was quite good and not too oiley.”
  25. “Everytime we go we are surprised by the tasty and creative specials and comforted by our menu favorites.”
  26. “The food is consistently excellent.”
  27. “The bistro burger is good, but my favorite dish there is the Salade d'Endive--- so good.”
menu variety
75.0% positive
  1. “Famous for their seafood selection, a restaurant that has a very nice decor.”
  2. “Everytime we go we are surprised by the tasty and creative specials and comforted by our menu favorites.”
  3. “The staff is nice and friendly, the bar has a good selection of liquor too.”
  4. “The new fall menu is FULL OF FLAVOR.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “If you are someone who understands and appreciates good food, you will definitely get this place.”
service
86.3599967956543% positive
  1. “The staff is always friendly and welcoming, something that seems to be hard to find lately.”
  2. “The service is always friendly and excellent.”
  3. “The service was great but a little better than the food.”
  4. “The staff is friendly and they even deliver ,can't beat that!”
  5. “Next time you're in NY, I recommend you avoid the touristy, crowded restaurants in the theater district and head east to Bistro 61 where you'll be guaranteed a good meal and great service”
  6. “However, the stars I might have given this place for the points above are taken away by the slow, lazy, greedy, self-entitled service!”
  7. “The staff is also very friendly and the restaurant offers great bar service for dinner and/or drinks.”
  8. “Besides great food, the space has a very comfortable feel to it and the service is terrific.”
  9. “The food is excellent, the service is great and the ambiance is cozy.”
  10. “From the professional, friendly staff (including the chefs) to the quaint, sophisticated ambiance, everything about this place was perfect.”
  11. “The staff is nice and friendly, the bar has a good selection of liquor too.”
value
0.0% positive
  1. “Drinks were a little pricey and on the weak side.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “However, the stars I might have given this place for the points above are taken away by the slow, lazy, greedy, self-entitled service!”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/20/11

Lovely place

by jmbuz at Citysearch

Great corner restaurant with outdoor seating, good food, friendly good service. Great place to chill and enjoy lunch or dinner.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/13/11

FOOD IS GREAT!

by Ironknight at Citysearch

Yummy Food, Great service and friendly atmosphere. come here and try the food and you'll be happy too like me =)

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/25/09

Best Bistro on the East Side

by ArtistAgainstApartheid at Citysearch

Great escargot, great steak frites. They have a wine special now, 50% off bottles over $100. Still a little rich for my blood, but this is still a cute little spot to refuel after shopping at bed bath and beyond.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/08/09

A MUST TRY!

by yorkvillemama at Citysearch

Tried Bistro 61 for the first time with my family. Older kids with picky appetites. Everyone loved what they ordered and raved about it afterward. From the professional, friendly staff (including the chefs) to the quaint, sophisticated ambiance, everything about this place was perfect. Next time you're in NY, I recommend you avoid the touristy, crowded restaurants in the theater district and head east to Bistro 61 where you'll be guaranteed a good meal and great service

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/01/09

Like My Home, Great Food, Good Company

by newyorkpro at Citysearch

My family and I go here at least once a week. They know my toddler and they play with him. The manager and servers know us by name. Great atmosphere. And of course I love their food. The soup, the mussels, the burger with foise gras, the pasta, the fish - you can't go wrong with this place.

  • Pros: Family friendly, Good Servers and Manager, Tastiest French Food
  • Cons: Tough to get a table sometimes

The Details on Bistro 61

Place Categories:

  • really good food
  • friendly staff
  • great bar service
  • favorite dishes
  • not delicious meal
  • great atmosphere
  • romantic restaurant
  • great bistro burger
  • very nice decor
  • better service
  • quite good pasta
  • fabulous specialy
  • creative specials
  • pricey drinks
  • great steak frites
  • like provencal gastronomique experience
  • good chicken
  • full new fall menu
  • best brunch
  • perfect onion soup
  • loved everyone
  • good duck
  • most authentic french food restaurants
  • professional execution
  • great space