Petite Abeille

(212) 727-1505

401 E 20TH St
New York, NY 10010 40.7409 -74.0055

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Neighborhoods: Meatpacking District, Downtown

PETITEABEILLE.COM

Hours:

Monday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Sunday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Price:

$

Last updated 2.05.12

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Quiet, Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

French, Belgian

What People Are Saying About Petite Abeille

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Petite Abeille is ideal for a lazy lunch, a restorative brunch or light dinner. The charming space is small and homey--blue-and-white checkerboard tablecloths cover the tables, a chalkboard serves as a wine list and the walls carry more Tintin memorabilia than a French nursery school. – – The Food – The French-Belgian menu is small, but everything on it is satisfyingly savory, from a simple pot of mussels in a choice of sauces (beer and bacon, creamy mushroom, or white wine and garlic broth), to beef stewed with beer and prunes; from a juicy croque monsieur…

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
Every Wednesday, get all-you-can-eat mussels and one Stella beer for just $15. Thursday is lobster night--prices vary, but it's never more than $20.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Sometimes they have climate control and crowding issues, but it's still a great place and worth a trip for a fun weeknight dinner.
  2. First off, the atmosphere isn't particularly "warm" here.
  3. Service is great and the ambience is very homy.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Their belgian waffles with fruit and whipped cream are amazing.
drinks
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. The Belgian beers are good, though somewhat pricey.
  2. Can't beat the selection of beers, but they even make a decent mojito, too.
  3. Good food, good coffee, and really friendly servers.
  4. The food here, as well as the beer, was fantastic.
  5. In addition, our service was terrible, we waiting 15 minutes for our waiter to bring out bottle of wine (we decided to spurge realized we weren't leaving the restaurant with very much money in our pockets), nor was he friendly or attentive--and his sectio
  6. Feels like home, nice vibes around, good beers and tasty omelets.
  7. Pair that with great beer and it'll leave you hungry for more.
  8. also suggest their mussels and beer!
  9. loved this place- the beer is great, the mussels are fantastic, and the fries and mayonnaise are yummy!
food quality
91.37999534606934% positive
  1. Feels like home, nice vibes around, good beers and tasty omelets.
  2. Love the Jamaican mussels, and the fries are irresistable.
  3. The food here, as well as the beer, was fantastic.
  4. Even the fries are good!
  5. This is the best spot for breakfast and great food for what you are paying.
  6. You get a nice salad and stoemp (didnt' know what that was, but then fell in love).
  7. Petite Abeille used to be my go-to place for good meal.
  8. The Beef Stew consisted of huge chunks of beef instead of the expected bite sized morsels and was overcooked; its strong flavor made it almost inedible.
  9. The quality of the food was good, especially the fried calamari and mussels.
  10. and a ratatouille-like sauce, which I must say is quite delicious and filled with fresh veggies (i.e. onions, zucchini, tomatos, etc.)
  11. love the grilled lobster on Thursdays and a new favorite of mine if the seafood waterzooi (i'm not sure of the spelling), but it's a delicious seafood stew with salmon, shrimp, lobster, mussels and halibut with julienned vegetables in a creamy both.
  12. With the new prices on their updated menu, the rating goes down a slight notch but that doesn't take away that this place is a great option to enjoy the comfort of good food amongst
  13. Now my fish was cold.
  14. Good food, horrible service
  15. NY Strip was delicious as was their appetizers.
  16. Their omlettes are also really good and I love the special potatoes that come with them.
  17. loved this place- the beer is great, the mussels are fantastic, and the fries and mayonnaise are yummy!
  18. Frog legs were excellent, as well as the fries and Grilled tuna.
  19. My favorite waffles I have tried so far and I love their sauce.
  20. Good food, good coffee, and really friendly servers.
  21. I've had dinner there as well as brunch on the weekends and I have to say the food is consistently GREAT!
  22. The mussels, we had the tomato based broth, and the burger, we had with blue cheese (though it was strongly flavored) was delicious.
  23. Amazing Jamaican mussels and fries
  24. will never go back to this restaurant again because the food was bad and the management was worse.
  25. The food has been spectacular from the all-you-can-eat oysters, to the fries, croquets, and good entrees such as the Vol au Vent or the Macaroni Jambon Fromage au Gratin.
  26. Go there for the authentic Belgian goodies.
  27. The eggs benedict with salmon are my favorite start to the weekend at Saturday brunch.
  28. We immediately asked to speak with him but when the waiter came back out he told us that he told the manager he smelled the fish and it did smell bad so the manager agreed to remove it from the check.
  29. especially love the beef flemish stew for dinner.
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. Can't beat the selection of beers, but they even make a decent mojito, too.
  2. With the new prices on their updated menu, the rating goes down a slight notch but that doesn't take away that this place is a great option to enjoy the comfort of good food amongst
  3. Our waiter was a bit rude and quiet stand-offish, espcially after I asked him why they changed the menu out of curiousity.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Is not 'that' well priced, to rate it with a $ but is a good place to eat with some nice cosy environ and good service.
  2. Sometimes they have climate control and crowding issues, but it's still a great place and worth a trip for a fun weeknight dinner.
  3. They are very reasonably priced and a great place to bring visitors.
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. With so many other mediocre restaurants in the city, I see no reason to return here
  2. will never go back to this restaurant again because the food was bad and the management was worse.
service
30.769999027252197% positive
  1. Our waiter was a bit rude and quiet stand-offish, espcially after I asked him why they changed the menu out of curiousity.
  2. In addition, our service was terrible, we waiting 15 minutes for our waiter to bring out bottle of wine (we decided to spurge realized we weren't leaving the restaurant with very much money in our pockets), nor was he friendly or attentive--and his sectio
  3. We immediately asked to speak with him but when the waiter came back out he told us that he told the manager he smelled the fish and it did smell bad so the manager agreed to remove it from the check.
  4. Is not 'that' well priced, to rate it with a $ but is a good place to eat with some nice cosy environ and good service.
  5. The bartender was terrible.
  6. Good food, good coffee, and really friendly servers.
  7. Without exception the service is very poor.
  8. Food ok, not memorable - service terrible
  9. Good food, horrible service
  10. Our waiter was great.
  11. The service was terrible.
  12. all waiters have their bad nights, but the only good thing about the service was saving a few extra dollars by not tipping a standard 20% due to negligent service.
  13. The wait staff is either slow or has an attitude.
value
68.75% positive
  1. am a huge fan of waffles so whenever i get a craving, I stop here for waffles.
  2. With the new prices on their updated menu, the rating goes down a slight notch but that doesn't take away that this place is a great option to enjoy the comfort of good food amongst
  3. The Beef Stew consisted of huge chunks of beef instead of the expected bite sized morsels and was overcooked; its strong flavor made it almost inedible.
  4. The Belgian beers are good, though somewhat pricey.
  5. all waiters have their bad nights, but the only good thing about the service was saving a few extra dollars by not tipping a standard 20% due to negligent service.
  6. Like this place but i wouldn't recommend the lobster either mussels nite cause simply does not worth it.
  7. Sometimes they have climate control and crowding issues, but it's still a great place and worth a trip for a fun weeknight dinner.
  8. In addition, our service was terrible, we waiting 15 minutes for our waiter to bring out bottle of wine (we decided to spurge realized we weren't leaving the restaurant with very much money in our pockets), nor was he friendly or attentive--and his sectio
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. The wait staff is either slow or has an attitude.
  2. In addition, our service was terrible, we waiting 15 minutes for our waiter to bring out bottle of wine (we decided to spurge realized we weren't leaving the restaurant with very much money in our pockets), nor was he friendly or attentive--and his sectio
2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/07/10

Food ok, not memorable - service terrible

by JonFromNYC

Bottom line the food is nothing special and not very memorable. The service was terrible. The waitress only came to take the order (after 10 min of waiting at the table) and never came back. We were done with our food (as well as the table cleaned) and after 20 min we had a manager or someone close out the check. Crappy service, crappy tip. Will never go there a again and as a reminder, the city is pretty big - go somewhere else than ruin a nice Sat/Sun brunch here.

  • Pros: Waffles and beer selection
  • Cons: Terrible service
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/21/09

Mussel Madness

by Goldie223

You can't go wrong with all-you-can-eat mussels, especially when there are 5 different sauces to choose from and your meal comes with a Stella as well as a never ending bowl of frites.

Surprisingly enough on my last visit (last Wednesday) I noticed 2 changes to the menu. The price for this deal is now up to $23.95 and 2 of their sauces have been replaced with new creations. They have added a lobster sauce (otherwise known as "snob") - and no there where no actual pieces of lobster... and a ratatouille-like sauce, which I must say is quite delicious and filled with fresh veggies (i.e. onions, zucchini, tomatos, etc.)

Con: Our waiter was a bit rude and quiet stand-offish, espcially after I asked him why they changed the menu out of curiousity.

Suggested Plan of Attack:

- Order the flavor you wish to have the most of first ( you get a bigger bowl to start and a half of each after that)

-Make sure you dont fill up on bread between orders

- Don't forget to order one last bowl, eat a few mussels, and get the rest to go for lunch tomorrow hee hee (I tell you there is nothing like being the one with the gourmet mussel lunch to catch everyone's attention at the microwave ;)

  • Pros: All You Can Eat Mussels (Wednesday)
  • Cons: Waiter
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/03/09

Never Again

by estafish

I live behind Petite Abeille. I have been there many times. I have never written a review, but I've had enough. Since it is located so close to where I live, everytime I go in there I hope for a good experience and I am always disappointed. Without exception the service is very poor. The wait staff is either slow or has an attitude. On Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. they ran out of the daily special. I ordered salmon. It tasted like someone poured a salt shaker on the fish. It was inedible. As much as I hate doing this, and only sent food back once before in my life, I had to send it back. It was inedible. It took one-half hour for me to get a new dish. I finally had to confront the waitress and she forgot. Now my fish was cold. I ate the salad around it. Unbelieveable. Never again.

  • Pros: Nothing
  • Cons: Food and Service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/18/08

Excellent Brunch

by tulip45

My favorite place to go to for weekend brunch. Their belgian waffles with fruit and whipped cream are amazing. Their omlettes are also really good and I love the special potatoes that come with them. They are very reasonably priced and a great place to bring visitors.

  • Pros: Waffles, Omlettes, Prices
  • Cons: None
3 Star Rating: Average

10/30/08

With so many other mediocre restaurants in the city, I see no reason to return here

by yippee

First off, the atmosphere isn't particularly "warm" here. Not particularly intimate or anything.

I got their salade nicoise for $16. Thought it was a bit overpriced, especially considering that instead of using italian tuna (or tuna packed in olive oil), they used white/albacore tuna. (I thought a true nicoise salade always had italian tuna?)

Anyway, this place had no redeeming qualities that would make me want to return.

And by the way, their menu is absolutely impossible to read, not so much because of the type size, but the font they use, and the background color. I couldn't read any descriptions of the dishes.... and it's not like I always have difficulty reading restaurant menus...

The Details on Petite Abeille

Place Categories:

  • terrible service
  • good food
  • suggest jamaican mussels
  • great beer
  • very good fries
  • amazing grilled lobster
  • rude waiter
  • good experience
  • love omelets
  • quite good satsun brunch
  • perfect stop
  • mediocre brunch
  • either slow wait staff
  • best spot
  • good meal
  • nice salad
  • good entrees
  • cold fish
  • mediocre restaurants
  • nice stoemp
  • bad smell
  • not recommend lobster
  • great place
  • great waitstaff
  • like feels
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