L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Institute
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 219-3300
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Grand Street
- Directions:
- N, R at Canal St
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 12:30pm-2pm, 5:30pm-9pm, Sat 5:30pm-9pm
Message from L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Institute
Classic and modern French cooking by tomorrow's trendsetting chefs.
- Prix fixe daily menu
- Seasonal/Artisanal
- Elegant new setting
Paid advertisement by L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Institute.
Editorial Review for L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Institute – by Marcella Veneziale
In Short
There are no celebrity chef egos to be found at this restaurant, as Institute students helm the kitchen. Prix fixe options anchor the menu, and a la carte dining is available only at lunch. For dinner, guests must choose between a four-course or five-course menu. The dishes are classic French without being stuffy, and incorporate other ethnic cuisines taught at the Institute. Offerings might include country pate, spring pea soup, wild striped bass, and end with a sweet dessert.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save MoneyThe prix fixe menus are more reasonable than at most of the city's other fine French restaurants. While a three-course lunch costs $28, both four-course and five-course dinner menus are $42.
Know Before You GoThe menus change about every six weeks. Check the restaurant website for details.
User Reviews for L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Institute
10/02/2008 Posted by sweetemmy
FANTASTIC. Why? It's cute. It's tucked away and not screaming for attention (but still busy as can be, so you know they must be doing something right). It's casual and unpretentious, but very still very classy and oh-so-French. It's delicious. The food was so well-prepared, with flavors that were not too heavy or overdone. The portions were just about the right size. Our servers was perfect and did their job flawlessly with great timing. I sometimes hesitate to give 5 stars based on just one-time experiences, but the fact that I cannot wait to go back for more says enough for me.
Pros: foods,servers
07/31/2008 Posted by Jenna1070899
We went here with a group of 5 after a special event here, and had heard the price for a 5-course dinner was really good. I must say, the menu was nice enough, and the manager was really friendly when we arrived, and had wonderful ideas for complimentary wines. However, after the experience I have two words: BUMBLING MESS! One of the meat courses was SUPPOSED to be medium-rare, and came out completely cooked through: well done. Even a child can cook a steak - it's not difficult. Another was supposed to be medium, came out well done. All the main plates were cleaned, the undercooked steak was left untouched and obvious on the table, and noone serviced the table for an HOUR. Honestly, noone said the waiters were useless amateurs - I thought it was a culinary school. They should think to hire useful waiting staff. The manager then came with a ridiculous apology and said they could replace it - but this was 1/2 an hour after the plates were taken; one hour after they arrived. Useless. The food they actually managed to get right was average, but I understand that they're students. I understand you cannot expect Jamie Oliver at such a place, but the culinary school in my home city has x10 better food, and my boss often takes important clients there for work dinners. So it can be done. Also, the service throughout the night was exceptionally slow. Not liked a packed diner slow - ignored slow. The meat course took over an hour to arrive after the fish. Not happy. And no apologies, no "we'll be right with you". Just ignored. So after our ridiculous, wasted experience, with no useful solution offered by staff there, I say spend the extra $50 and go somewhere nice. It really isn't worth bothering here - the $42 can even be much better spent in McDonalds.
Pros: Manager had nice complimentary wine ideas; ambience was nice.
Cons: Uselss waiting staff; ridiculously long time between courses; food was not cooked as ordered; won't ever go back!
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