Gascogne Restaurant

(212) 675-6564

158 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011 40.74216 -74.00076

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

Hours:

Dinner Mon-Fri 5:30pm-11pm

Sat-Sun 4:30pm-11pm

Lunch: Tue-Fri 12pm-3pm

Brunch: Sat-Sun 12pm-4:00pm

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Romantic Dining, Quiet, Date Spot, Brunch, Private Parties, Outdoor Dining, Prix Fixe Menu, Hidden Find

Cuisine:

French

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Gascogne Restaurant

Featured Review

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

Everyone receives a polite "bon soir" at the door; that welcome and the old fashioned charm of the dining rooms appeal to couples and close friends looking for a spot to enjoy quiet conversation. Dried flowers, cherry blossom branches and baskets of apples give a homey intimacy to the inside, while a quaint garden adds a literal breath of fresh air out back. Unlike the many places dishing out upscale, fancy French food, the menu here specializes in the rich, heavy cuisine of southwest France.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Find more dining options in Chelsea.
Save Money:
Several prix fixe menus are offered: On Mondays, four courses are $29; a pre-theater menu offers three courses for $27; and on weekdays, a three-course lunch can be had for $21.00. Brunch is $20.00 for three courses on weekends.
Know Before You Go:
A list of over 20 carefully chosen Armagnacs draws brandy lovers to the bar.
ambiance
98.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Though we didn't dine in the romantic garden, we had the next best seats: overlooking the windowpanes onto the garden.”
  2. “This place is a small jewl of romantic, country like restaurant that take you to another country without having to fly, right in the heart of the big apple.”
  3. “The food was so good, and the ambience was so nice.”
  4. “Excellant food and service, perfect place to start off a romantic evening, especially in their outdoor garden.”
  5. “This is a wonderful place for a first date as it is romantic without being pretentious.”
  6. “The romantic garden is the pièce de résistance, however.”
  7. “If you are looking for a cozy, romantic place which offers great food and service, this is it.”
  8. “went here for a friend's birthday party and was pleasantly surprised that this little restaurant has such a lovely backyard garden, perfect for a romantic rendevous!”
  9. “The food is excellent, ambience cozy, and the staff is very nice.”
  10. “The food is a delicious and the atmosphere is amazing!”
  11. “It was almost a shame I wasn't there with my boyfriend because it was one of the most romantic gardens I've been in.”
  12. “Went last night with 2 friends and right away i loved the atmosphere!”
  13. “impeccable service, warm atmosphere, beautiful garden and, unlike Balthazaar and Pastis, quiet.”
  14. “This is a sensational restaurant that serves southwestern french food in a romantic, rustic and cozy setting.”
  15. “eat at Gascogne from time to time, and have always loved the warmth of the staff, the ambiance, the nice clientele, the food.”
  16. “It was also fun to watch the great staff interact with each other?”
  17. “Delicious French food and an amazing atmosphere”
  18. “They have an outdoor garden in the back, and the setting was romantic.”
  19. “Nice staff, romantic setting, ultimately disappointing food.”
  20. “We got very romantic table downstairs.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “and GREAT desserts!”
  2. “Salads and appetizers were good, main courses fair, and desserts above average.”
  3. “The wine list is perfect with many excellent bottles under $50, the bartender makes GREAT drinks & make sure to leave room for dessert as Gascogne?”
  4. “wonderful desserts wouldn?”
  5. “For dessert, the creme brulee and profiteroles were excellent.”
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. “Our worst experience was the wine.”
  2. “The wine list was very reasonable (given the quality and selection) and the food was delicious.”
  3. “The wine list is very reasonable and contain selection of tastefull french wines to compliment the meal.”
  4. “(on previous trips we had stuck to the 40 to 50 dollar range and found the wine not great, but acceptable).”
  5. “Excellent seasonal dishes, gorgeous wines, and exceptional service.”
  6. “The wine list is perfect with many excellent bottles under $50, the bartender makes GREAT drinks & make sure to leave room for dessert as Gascogne?”
food quality
96.4900016784668% positive
  1. “Delicious French food and an amazing atmosphere”
  2. “just discovered the Monday night prix fixe: $27 for four courses, all delicious.”
  3. “The wine list is very reasonable and contain selection of tastefull french wines to compliment the meal.”
  4. “Very authentic, food was just wonderful, extremly flavorful and prepared perfectly.”
  5. “my bff also loved it and she doesnt even like french stuff escept french fries.”
  6. “Food (duck breast, venison, pear tart) was absolutely delicious.”
  7. “the yummy food is just a bonus!”
  8. “The staff is authentic, and the food is delicious.”
  9. “Enjoyed a bottle of white Bordeaux (2004, forget the name) with the meal, which complemented it perfectly.”
  10. “Discount prix fixe menus are often sloppy, and you get the sense that the restaurant is saving the good stuff for the a la carte dishes.”
  11. “The wine list was very reasonable (given the quality and selection) and the food was delicious.”
  12. “For dessert, the creme brulee and profiteroles were excellent.”
  13. “If you are looking for a cozy, romantic place which offers great food and service, this is it.”
  14. “After having a great meal I understand why.”
  15. “would recommend this place to anyone for a nice, VERY REASONABLE meal”
  16. “The food was so good, and the ambience was so nice.”
  17. “Great food.”
  18. “The food is somewhat disappointing, the only consistently good dish seems to be the lamb.”
  19. “The food was good, the staff pleasant and very accomodating.”
  20. “Great old fashioned French food with a few new twists served by knowledgeable & friendly staff at decent prices in a lovely setting is just about all you can ask for.”
  21. “To be able to dine with a loved one in this charming setting and such delicious food, is pure delight.”
  22. “The food was great but not remarkable.”
  23. “The food was delicious, and the waiter is attentive with cute French accent.”
  24. “My friend's pheasant was a huge portion and she enjoyed it; my spinach-stuffed salmon was pleasant as well.”
  25. “This is by far some of the best French food I've ever had.”
  26. “Nice staff, romantic setting, ultimately disappointing food.”
  27. “The goat cheese appetizer and tender chicken entree in a delicious honey sauce more than made up for it.”
  28. “Excellant food and service, perfect place to start off a romantic evening, especially in their outdoor garden.”
  29. “The food is a delicious and the atmosphere is amazing!”
  30. “Excellent seasonal dishes, gorgeous wines, and exceptional service.”
  31. “The food is excellent, ambience cozy, and the staff is very nice.”
  32. “Fantastic, wonderful, charming, food was great, service was excellent, host was stellar, even the music was terrific.”
  33. “Fantastic food, as was the service”
  34. “Gascogne has the most amazing food.”
  35. “eat at Gascogne from time to time, and have always loved the warmth of the staff, the ambiance, the nice clientele, the food.”
  36. “My roast chicken was succulent and cooked with perfect herbs.”
  37. “This is a sensational restaurant that serves southwestern french food in a romantic, rustic and cozy setting.”
  38. “Sure, it's pricey but the food is stunningly good.”
menu variety
75.0% positive
  1. “Even though the menu is a tad expensive (or more then a tad), its definitely worth it.”
  2. “The wine list was very reasonable (given the quality and selection) and the food was delicious.”
  3. “The wine list is very reasonable and contain selection of tastefull french wines to compliment the meal.”
  4. “Discount prix fixe menus are often sloppy, and you get the sense that the restaurant is saving the good stuff for the a la carte dishes.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a great place for dates.”
  2. “Basically, this is a great restaurant to take a date.”
service
90.4800033569336% positive
  1. “The food is excellent, ambience cozy, and the staff is very nice.”
  2. “It was also fun to watch the great staff interact with each other?”
  3. “Great service.”
  4. “The staff was very friendly, too.”
  5. “impeccable service, warm atmosphere, beautiful garden and, unlike Balthazaar and Pastis, quiet.”
  6. “And to top it off, there's always great music playing softly and it's filled with friendly waiters who let you linger and who laugh and greet each other like old friends.”
  7. “Excellent seasonal dishes, gorgeous wines, and exceptional service.”
  8. “The waiters were attentive but not pushy.”
  9. “Service was impeccable: our waiter checked in on us often, but not too often, and water glasses were never empty.”
  10. “The staff is authentic, and the food is delicious.”
  11. “Fantastic food, as was the service”
  12. “The waiter had trouble opening both bottles, the corks seemed dry?”
  13. “Delicous, warm, friendly”
  14. “Everyone at Gascogne is happy to be there, from the staff to the delighted patrons.”
  15. “The food was good, the staff pleasant and very accomodating.”
  16. “If you are looking for a cozy, romantic place which offers great food and service, this is it.”
  17. “This is the second time I have walked out of this restaurant because the waiter was so incredibly rude.”
  18. “Fantastic, wonderful, charming, food was great, service was excellent, host was stellar, even the music was terrific.”
  19. “Nice staff, romantic setting, ultimately disappointing food.”
  20. “Everyone else at the place was polite and charming, yet this one waiter (whom I have had the misfortune to have before) is rude, dismissive, and foul mouthed.”
  21. “The service was very attentive, and personal.”
  22. “eat at Gascogne from time to time, and have always loved the warmth of the staff, the ambiance, the nice clientele, the food.”
  23. “The staff was very friendly and attentive.”
  24. “The wine list is perfect with many excellent bottles under $50, the bartender makes GREAT drinks & make sure to leave room for dessert as Gascogne?”
  25. “Great old fashioned French food with a few new twists served by knowledgeable & friendly staff at decent prices in a lovely setting is just about all you can ask for.”
  26. “We had great service from everyone -- the owner, waiter and the rest of the staff.”
  27. “Excellant food and service, perfect place to start off a romantic evening, especially in their outdoor garden.”
  28. “The food was delicious, and the waiter is attentive with cute French accent.”
value
62.5% positive
  1. “It was a great dinner, which I appreciated all the more for the price.”
  2. “Good-sized portions (not enormous, but not tiny), I left full.”
  3. “(on previous trips we had stuck to the 40 to 50 dollar range and found the wine not great, but acceptable).”
  4. “Sure, it's pricey but the food is stunningly good.”
  5. “Great old fashioned French food with a few new twists served by knowledgeable & friendly staff at decent prices in a lovely setting is just about all you can ask for.”
  6. “Even though the menu is a tad expensive (or more then a tad), its definitely worth it.”
  7. “They also accommodated us when we were in a huge rush for a show after.”
  8. “My friend's pheasant was a huge portion and she enjoyed it; my spinach-stuffed salmon was pleasant as well.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/28/11

Only if you want to be screwed

by fastm3 at Citysearch

Go here only if you want to be screwed by some idiotic French snob, with a chip on his shoulder. They only take credit cards on the expensive a la carte items, not the specials or the prix fix dinners. They want you to pay in cash for those. They can get very nasty about it too. Also, they've mastered the bait and switch in other ways. They're always "out" of the reasonably priced wines, and steer you instead to the overpriced ones. After all this nonsense if you don't leave them 20%, they run after you in the street. What BS!! There are so many other, much much better French restaurants in NY. Why waste your time here. Stay away!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/31/10

Gascogne - May 2010

by Au Gourmand at Citysearch

Review of restaurants should be foremost about the food: As long as the food is good, who cares about the rest? Taste, taste and taste - that is all a true gourmet cares. All other shortcomings can be forgiven as long as the food is lovely: If you love someone, you must love everything about that person, correct? Yet, most of the so-called reviews seem to be more interested in whining about the service (I say, expertise deserves respect, although many seem to disagree: don't ask for parmeggiano reggiano for your spaghetti alle vongole; it is your fault, if the chef gets a bit nasty) or the proximity of tables (do not be such a selfish anthropophobe: love thy neighbor, remember?) above food. If you are so easily disturbed, a little meditation or therapy can help, you know?

However, Gascogne is an exception to my rule of review: the atmosphere and the service of this restaurants is remarkable because they are so French. The cozy and tranquil back garden creates the illusion that you are in Paris, provided that you do not look up at the back walls of the buildings. One Saturday evening, I was running late for the 7PM reservation by more than 30 minutes, which caused my punctual friend to suffer a wait on the bench outside, and yet when I finally arrived, the staff seated us without a fuss. More to the credits of Gascogne, we only told our waiter once that we were waiting for one more person to arrive, and the waiter never asked us again until we gave up waiting and ready to order - one hour later. Truly graceful, the waiter did not bring our bill until we had fully digested the dessert - another hour later. I will give you this: When the food is fine, service and atmosphere do enhance the overall experience.

Escargot: Unfortunately, really unfortunately, the puff pastry could not cover the less-than-admirable quality of the escargot inside. The lack of quality, nevertheless, was rescued by the fact that it was seasoned well, if not superbly so. Edible? - yes; Will I order again? - maybe no.

Terrine de Lapereau: Delicate with the cooling gelee, this was a delight on my palate.

Foie Gras Poele: Did this come from the Hudson Valley? Or...? If they indeed have come from the Hudson Valley, the foie gras at Gascogne fooled me well. No matter how much they try upstate, the foie gras of the etats-unis is just not the real deal, is it? Biting into the perfectly sealed crust , the runny decadence inside melted into my mouth...lovely, lovely, lovely.

Confit de Canard: One of my favored dishes, but Gascogne's was a little bit on the fatty side, a little too fatty...

Faux Filet de Boeuf au Poivre Vert: Steak with green pepper corn sauce is also one of my, well, fine, many favored dishes. The sauce was full of spirit; however, could they please get a younger boeuf so it would not be as tough to chew and swallow?

Apricot Flambe: Simply done and irresistible - the acidity of the fresh apricot with a touch of sweetness from the brandy were light and round off the dinner satisfactorily.

Crepes Suzette: Prepared by the waiter and properly caramelized by a beautiful fire at a safe distance (so far that I could only see the flame through the window), these crepes were as authentic as they were delectable with the Grand Marnier and orange.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/22/10

Oui, superbe!

by cinderelochka at Citysearch

This place is amazing. Not to mention my absolute favorite part is the back patio-which takes you directly back to a small vine lined cafe in Paris. The staff is authentic, and the food is delicious. I recommend this place to anyone. They also accommodated us when we were in a huge rush for a show after. Superbe.

  • Pros: great service, authentic
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/22/09

Amazing French Restaurant

by Lewis101 at Citysearch

This is by far some of the best French food I've ever had. The environment is warm and seductive. It's a great place for dates.

  • Pros: Great Food and Atmosphere
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/22/09

Delish french food

by CityGirL at Citysearch

Gascogne has the most amazing food. It is just like going to Paris only you are NYC!!!! It is authentic and the service is spectacular! I added Gascogne to my FAVE list :)

The Details on Gascogne Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great old fashioned french food
  • great impeccable service
  • recommend romantic place
  • very friendly staff
  • romantic backyard garden
  • romantic setting
  • amazing atmosphere
  • worst experience
  • fair salads
  • polite everyone
  • fantastic gascogne
  • fair appetizers
  • ultimately disappointing food
  • nice very reasonable meal
  • fairly good house champagne
  • enjoyed bottle
  • beautiful restaurant
  • not great wine
  • great desserts
  • warm environment
  • terrific music
  • not as good entree
  • huge portion
  • attentive waiters
  • great fantastic
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