Cafe Cluny
(212) 255-6900
284 W 12th St
New York,
NY
10014
40.7375
-74.004
Neighborhoods: Downtown, West Village
What People Are Saying About Cafe Cluny
The Editor
Erin Behan
Citysearch
The Scene
Warm and inviting, the restaurant's two country-chic rooms hold elbow-grazing tables, but thanks to buzzing crowd, neighboring conversations rarely intrude. Street-style caricatures dot the walls along with bird art, while a suspended wooden bug in the back room is sure-fire conversation fodder. Knowledgeable but relaxed service strikes the appropriate tone.
The Food
The small and well-balanced menu of bistro classics has few missteps. Both the starter of perfectly seared scallops atop a velvety cauliflower puree and the beet salad dotted with pitch-perfect goat cheese tease the appetite and are sized to leave room for courses to come. A particularly tender and rich entree of short ribs and foie gras blows the tasty, but more pedestrian, hanger steak away; while fish-lovers will be impressed by the flavorful swordfish sided with the unusual elf mushroom. Desserts are less enchanting, with the too-cutesy play on a PB&J--grape tart and peanut butter ice cream--better in theory.
User Reviews
JKWestVillage
March 29, 2009
There isn't an item on the menu that I haven't tried and there isn't an item on the menu that I haven't enjoyed. Great off the beaten path place to have a breakfast meeting.
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chelseaNYer
January 05, 2009
Wow, I've lived in new York for ten years and I've never encountered such a rude and unaccommodating door host in all my time here! She was snappy and dismissive and then placed three of us on a table for two, so we spent the entire brunch bumping knees. Definitely not worth the cost of the avergage food. Try somewhere else in the West Village for brunch instead...
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ggunn
December 01, 2008
The food and service here is well worth the amount of money you spend - and it is pricey. I was worried that I would be disappointed after spending so much on a meal, but I left having probably the most amazing dining experience I've ever had. The service was great, the atmosphere was comfortable and not pretentious at all, and they were very accommodating. I will definitely be searching for any occassion to make it back here for another experience.
read full reviewThe Details on Cafe Cluny
Lunch Spot:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, with a special limited brasserie menu available from 3pm to 5:30pm, where you'll find soup of the day, salads, an omelet and Kobe burger.
Know Before You Go:
Though the staff does generally hold a few tables for drop-ins, reservations are recommended.
What to Drink:
The wine list is reasonably priced, with several selections, including the not-too-sweet but fruity Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages for $38 a bottle. Specialty mixed drinks like the Cluny Ketel One (Citroen, ginger and lemon juice) come in at a pricey $14.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Breakfast, Lunch Spot, Date Spot
