Cafe d'Alsace

(212) 722-5133

1695 2nd Ave (88th Street)
New York, NY 10128 40.7791 -73.951

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Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Midtown

CAFEDALSACE.COM

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm

Fri 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-12am

Sat 5:30pm-12am

Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Cafes, Restaurants, Certified Green Restaurant(R)

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Notable Beer List, Local Favorite, Brunch, People Watching, Online Reservations, Date Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, French, German, Seafood

Notable Chef:

Philippe Roussel

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Cafe d'Alsace

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – A roaring scene of grownups fills this mustard-colored dining room adorned with a seltzer bottle collection, vintage French beer ads and distressed mirrors reminiscent of a downtown brasserie. Neighborhood dwellers pack the place, happy that high-caliber dining doesn't require a cab ride. – – The Food – The restaurant's namesake, Alsace, is the French region bordering Germany that favors hearty cuisine. Sharable starters include a warm, cheesy German potato salad, a pizza-like caramelized onion and bacon tart and a variety of sausages--veal, seafood and…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The wine list boasts more than 400 bottles, ranging from $20 to $14,000; the well-educated sommelier can help you navigate it.
The Extras:
Visit owner Simon Oren's popular West Village restaurant, Sushi Samba.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “the location on the corner makes for good people watching and a pleasant atmosphere on a summer evening.”
  2. “We loved the atmosphere and attentive service of the restaurant, it made our anniversary extremely special.”
  3. “And although I enjoyed the atmosphere I don't know that it was very romantic.”
  4. “The food was excellent, Lamb casserole, perfect for the weather and for my mood: I needed something fun, warm and soothing for my first night in the city.”
  5. “Service was very professional and atmosphere was very home-y.”
  6. “met a friend here yesterday and was completely charmed by the sort of shabby-eclectic decor paired with big windows that let in lots of light even on a dreary January afternoon.”
  7. “Great service; excellent atmosphere”
dessert
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “Also a great spot for dessert's - a raspberry tart was piled 4 inches high with fresh berries and my date's chocolate dessert was fantastic.”
  2. “We didn't enjoy our first dessert, but the Manager recommended a light pear dessert claiming it was his favorite.”
  3. “The warm flourless chocolate cake served with homemade pistachio ice cream is to die for!”
  4. “At dessert time we chose to share Alsatian cookies and apple tart, the sommelier approached our table and suggested a Belgian apple flavored beer, we certainly accepted and it was a really wonderful experience.”
  5. “The dessert was equally as good - I had the flourless chocolate cake and it was to die for.”
  6. “Best Brunch in neighborhood, great dessert date spot”
  7. “The food itself was good but not exquisite, though we were a big fan of both the duck and the apple dessert.”
  8. “Our waiter also recommended the dessert special for us, and it was a great recommendation - absolutely delicious.”
  9. “Literally the best cheese cake I've had in NY.”
drinks
95.0% positive
  1. “But if you want to try great beers as well and enjoy a casual French dining experience, then Cafe d'Alsace works great, and I'm looking forward to coming back and trying some of the other entrees that sounded quite enjoyable.”
  2. “The bartender was very pleasant and knowledgeable; and guided me through their extensive beer list.”
  3. “At dessert time we chose to share Alsatian cookies and apple tart, the sommelier approached our table and suggested a Belgian apple flavored beer, we certainly accepted and it was a really wonderful experience.”
  4. “We were out for a quick bite and decided not to order a bottle of wine, rather order by the glass.”
  5. “On Saturday it was also packed but the Maitre'D (incidentally the same girl we know from brunches at Nice Matin) recognized us and we were seated pretty quickly in relation to our reservation (we kind of expected to have to get a drink first like most pla”
  6. “It's also a great place to try beers from around the world.”
  7. “My server was pretty great in the respect that she was both attentive but also made a lot of recommendations to guide us through the Alsation cuisine and huge beer list - both a bit different from "regular" French dining.”
  8. “It really was perfect with the huge beer menu they had.”
  9. “The drinks were great as well - they have an entire drink menu based on champagne pairings.”
  10. “The bar also makes a fantastic lychee cocktail.”
  11. “Overall, it's just your standard charming, neighborhood coffee shop.”
  12. “the wait staff was attentive and very familiar with both the wine and food menus.”
  13. “It is on a busy street corner, the staff was attentive and knowledgable and the beer, abundant!”
  14. “The beer selection is fantastic -- rivals the bottled wine selection at most restaurants, and it's filled with great possibilities for very reasonable prices.”
  15. “great beers.”
  16. “The place has great food & drinks.”
  17. “The service was not superb by any means, waiter was rushing around and didn't seem particularly knowledgable about the wine or the food.”
  18. “Had a great wine reccommended to us by their sommelier.”
  19. “The wine list is large, however I did send back 2 glasses, which I've not ever done before; extremely full bodies and I thought both were off.”
  20. “had a wonderful dinner at the bar.”
food quality
84.72000122070312% positive
  1. “The food is wonderful and just one aspect of the appeal, in my opinion.”
  2. “The food itself was good but not exquisite, though we were a big fan of both the duck and the apple dessert.”
  3. “The cheese (and fruit) plate was beautiful and scrumptious-5 well chosen cheeses of the world, along with fresh fruit.”
  4. “The brunch is fantastic and the eggs benedict are the best I have ever had with rosemary potatoes and the French toast also rocks.”
  5. “Reasonably priced fabulous food!”
  6. “The food was mediocre at best, but the portion sizes were.”
  7. “My server was pretty great in the respect that she was both attentive but also made a lot of recommendations to guide us through the Alsation cuisine and huge beer list - both a bit different from "regular" French dining.”
  8. “My husband had the steak and i had the choucroute meat, both of which were delicious.”
  9. “The food was fantastic - I had the shrimp and scallops and my boyfriend had the bouillibase.”
  10. “My friend had the duck at the waitress's reccommendation, and said it was one of the best dishes she had ever tasted.”
  11. “I now can add not just great food but GREAT SERVICE as well.”
  12. “The portion is just enough for two and the bacon in the salad is amazing.”
  13. “The place has great food & drinks.”
  14. “But if all you want is a fat, juicy burger and you're in the Upper East Side, I'd just say you should head down to J.G. Melon instead.”
  15. “The fries came with garlic mayo which is delicious!”
  16. “Our food was delicious, I had the Lamb Shank with a lovely risotto, and my guest had the quenelles, like some sort of fish mousse with shrimp.”
  17. “Also a great spot for dessert's - a raspberry tart was piled 4 inches high with fresh berries and my date's chocolate dessert was fantastic.”
  18. “For apps we ate a goat cheese tatin (really delicious) and a cold gazpacho soup, (a special that did not disappoint -- in fact, the chilled gazpacho was really satisfying on a warm day).”
  19. “The Duck breast is especially tasty.”
  20. “So overall, great food but be prepared to sit and sit and sit and sit.”
  21. “If you DO go, I can recommend the duck, but not the steak frites, trout, salmon or chicken dishes.”
  22. “The food was excellent, Lamb casserole, perfect for the weather and for my mood: I needed something fun, warm and soothing for my first night in the city.”
  23. “The service was not superb by any means, waiter was rushing around and didn't seem particularly knowledgable about the wine or the food.”
  24. “The food was mediocre.”
  25. “the wait staff was attentive and very familiar with both the wine and food menus.”
  26. “Our waiter also recommended the dessert special for us, and it was a great recommendation - absolutely delicious.”
  27. “Snotty service, mediocre food”
  28. “the food is very good.”
  29. “The meal was very good and service was great although food came out a little slow.”
  30. “Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and we loved the warm potato salad and the sausages we tried.”
  31. “We had brunch there and the food was amazing.”
  32. “Anyway, we went specifically because we heard the burgers were great.”
  33. “The food is consistently great and have always really enjoyed eating there.”
  34. “never really considered myself a lover of German food, but the hearty dishes warm you up and make you feel like your mom is in the kitchen.”
  35. “The food is amazing.”
  36. “The food was fresh and interesting; our appetizers were light and easy to share: tart flambee and charcuterie.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and we loved the warm potato salad and the sausages we tried.”
  2. “It really was perfect with the huge beer menu they had.”
  3. “the wait staff was attentive and very familiar with both the wine and food menus.”
  4. “The drinks were great as well - they have an entire drink menu based on champagne pairings.”
  5. “The bartender was very pleasant and knowledgeable; and guided me through their extensive beer list.”
  6. “The beer selection is fantastic -- rivals the bottled wine selection at most restaurants, and it's filled with great possibilities for very reasonable prices.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The service was nice, a little on the slow side, but the place was busy.”
  2. “If you keep these guide lines in check, this is a great restaurant”
  3. “It's also a great place to try beers from around the world.”
  4. “The day time management tends to be more easy going, perhaps because it is slower and it is in fact a great place to have a lesuirely lunch.”
service
70.2400016784668% positive
  1. “The service was great.”
  2. “The service was not superb by any means, waiter was rushing around and didn't seem particularly knowledgable about the wine or the food.”
  3. “We loved the atmosphere and attentive service of the restaurant, it made our anniversary extremely special.”
  4. “So, as it turns out the cheese plate was great, but his treatment towards an unknown customer over the phone yesterday was dispicable and shows that the red warning flag regarding service was, in fact, correct.”
  5. “Our waiter also recommended the dessert special for us, and it was a great recommendation - absolutely delicious.”
  6. “great cheese plate, HORRIBLE customer service on the part of management.”
  7. “The receptionist was pleasant but the manager was mean for no reason at all.”
  8. “The service was a bit slow, but.”
  9. “The host was rude, the service rushed (even though it was 2 pm on sunday) and the tall manager clueless to this incompetance.”
  10. “staff are amazing, very”
  11. “The service was nice, a little on the slow side, but the place was busy.”
  12. “My server was pretty great in the respect that she was both attentive but also made a lot of recommendations to guide us through the Alsation cuisine and huge beer list - both a bit different from "regular" French dining.”
  13. “In addition, our server was helpful and attentive.”
  14. “the wait staff was attentive and very familiar with both the wine and food menus.”
  15. “The bartender was very pleasant and knowledgeable; and guided me through their extensive beer list.”
  16. “Food aside, this restaurant has the worst service of any place I have been to in a long time.”
  17. “Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and we loved the warm potato salad and the sausages we tried.”
  18. “My friend had the duck at the waitress's reccommendation, and said it was one of the best dishes she had ever tasted.”
  19. “Our waiter could barely understand us and the management was insanely rude!”
  20. “Nevertheless, service was friendly and prompt, which could not be said for the seating.”
  21. “The meal was very good and service was great although food came out a little slow.”
  22. “It was a terrible experience and only the waitress seemed competant, but tired.”
  23. “the location on the corner makes for good people watching and a pleasant atmosphere on a summer evening.”
  24. “Great service; excellent atmosphere”
  25. “It is on a busy street corner, the staff was attentive and knowledgable and the beer, abundant!”
  26. “The baristas are friendly but sincere, and the space is nice for people watching, reading, having a quiet chat or getting some work done on your laptop.”
  27. “Snotty service, mediocre food”
  28. “The only reason I gave it four stars is because our waiter was very snooty.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “It really was perfect with the huge beer menu they had.”
  2. “My server was pretty great in the respect that she was both attentive but also made a lot of recommendations to guide us through the Alsation cuisine and huge beer list - both a bit different from "regular" French dining.”
  3. “The beer selection is fantastic -- rivals the bottled wine selection at most restaurants, and it's filled with great possibilities for very reasonable prices.”
wait time
60.0% positive
  1. “Food aside, this restaurant has the worst service of any place I have been to in a long time.”
  2. “The service was nice, a little on the slow side, but the place was busy.”
  3. “The service was a bit slow, but.”
  4. “The meal was very good and service was great although food came out a little slow.”
  5. “We were out for a quick bite and decided not to order a bottle of wine, rather order by the glass.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/25/11

Terrific Brunch

by SinNYC at Citysearch

Brunch is New York is a tough ticket. Oh so popular, but so hard to find a decent one.

Cafe d'Alsace has a fantastic brunch without the crazy long lines.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/23/11

Good French for the UES neighborhood

by uesgirl73 at Citysearch

I live on the UES so of course I love to eat here. This is great...convient place to go. Brasarie atmosphere with small but cool bar to have a glass of wine or quick bite.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

08/31/10

just OK--never returning

by carnegiehill115 at Citysearch

I wonder why I went back to this place a second time after having a horrible experience the first time? Because I'm a sucker, yes. Both times went late (there aren't that many options after 9:00pm in the area that aren't empty at that hour), ordered food that was either late in arriving (main courses spaced too far apart) or just not good. The place was half-empty both times and we were seated at the worst table, next to the kitchen. Where was our food? "It's on the way." People came, ate, and went. No apologies from the staff, just a "it was nice serving you" to make sure that we would leave a decent tip. We're desperate for a passable French place in the neighborhood, I'll have canned cassoulet next time I have a hankering . , ,

2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/25/10

Not the Best Brunch in NYC

by Cali1010 at Citysearch

We went to Cafe d'Alsace for brunch because it was close to the Guggenheim. We had plans on seeing an exhibit at the museum and wanted to grab brunch beforehand.

Atmosphere - dated french cafe.

Service - terrible.

Food - average.

We both ordered egg dishes and it took at least 30 minutes for our food to arrive. People around us, ordered after, got their food, and left. When we asked the waiter he simply responded, "yes, its coming." No apology or explaination. He then turned and returned to the bar to chat with the other staff. This place is expensive for brunch $12 for omelettes, $10 for a mimosa, and $2.50 for coffee. NYC has so many wonderful brunch options and yes, many include at least one drink and coffee. When the food finally came it was ok, nothing special and not worth the 30 minute wait. Or the rude service!

I don't live on the UES so I wouldn't make a special trip here, but even if I did this would not be a neighborhood favorite.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/07/10

Excellent French Cafe

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

I got a Tour De France gift card and picked Cafe D'Alsace to dine at dinner. It turned out to be a great decision.

We started with their bacon salad with poached egg on top. It is excellent. The portion is just enough for two and the bacon in the salad is amazing. I don't know what dressing it is but it is refreshing, perfect for spring/summer.

For dinner, I got the skirt steak with pomme frites and my boyfriend got the duck breast. My steak came cut into pieces already and is marinated in red wine sauce and cooked to tender and flavorful. It came with a small bone marrow, which tastes interesting but in a good way. The fries came with garlic mayo which is delicious!

The duck breast on the other hand, is also tender and amazing. It comes with a side of steamed vegetable and meshed potato. I absolutely love it too!

We are really full by now but since the gift card is $50, I decided to go for dessert too! We got the flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. Man, I think the whole experience is perfect.

I would like to come back for some French brunch soon.

  • Pros: Excellent food and superb service

Green Restaurant All Certified Green Restaurants® meet the minimum certification criteria of the science-based standards of the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national non profit dedicated to Greening Restaurants since 1990. Certified Green Restaurants® implement transparent and verified environmental steps in seven environmental categories: Energy, Water, Chemicals, Food, Packaging, Waste, and Building. Learn more about the GRA's standards and how to Dine Green.

The Details on Cafe d'Alsace

Place Categories:

  • mediocre food
  • great horrible customer service
  • great place
  • attentive wait staff
  • excellent atmosphere
  • great whole experience
  • excellent bistro
  • helpful server
  • extremely knowledgeable waiter
  • great beers
  • fantastic chocolate dessert
  • great dessert date spot
  • loved warm potato salad
  • great cheese plate
  • great burger
  • sincere baristas
  • absolutely delicious great recommendation
  • very pleasant bartender
  • beautiful chosen cheeses
  • warm hearty dishes
  • great drinks
  • loved sausages
  • fabulous upper west side restaurant nice matin
  • bad experience
  • worst service
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