L'Absinthe Restaurant

(212) 794-4950

227 E 67th St
New York, NY 10021 40.766302 -73.962318

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

LABSINTHE.COM

Years in business

Established in 1990

Price:

$$$

Last updated 4.12.12

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Gift Certificate , American Express , Visa , Diners Club , MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining , Special Occasion Dining , Fine Dining , Brunch

Cuisine:

French

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About L'Absinthe Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – You could be at a brasserie on Paris' Left Bank, for the setting has all the accouterments of the real thing: oversized mirrors, ornate chandeliers, brass railings and roomy banquettes. Contributing to the romantic scene are discreet servers, who know when less is better. Because of its slightly out-of-the-way location, it draws an older crowd. – – The Food – Chef-owner Jean-Michel Bergougnoux, formerly of Lutece, melds the best of classic cuisine with modern accents--some of them surprising. Luscious seared fois gras arrives with a corn crepe and sweet…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
L'Absinthe's international wine list is notably rich with selections from Burgundy and Bordeaux. For those who like to sample several wines at a sitting, there are more than 30 half-bottle selections.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere is wonderful.”
  2. “It's a great cozy place for an intimate dinner.”
  3. “Unfortunately, the horrific service turned our romantic evening into a miserable dining experiences ever.”
  4. “We were promptly seated at our reservation time at a romantic corner banquette although the restaurant was very busy.”
  5. “Find another romantic spot!”
  6. “This place has a very nice decor and atmosphere.”
  7. “Find another romantic restaurant to enjoy”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The staff was amazing, took pictures for me, surprised me with a birthday cake etc.”
  2. “For dessert we all split the caramelized pears and the warm chocolate cake!”
  3. “The food was yummy, cocktails was amazing, desert was delicious.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “For our entrees we selected traditional brasserie plates of coq au vin, steeped in a delicious red wine, and steak frites.”
  2. “The food is always excellent, the wine superb, the staff friendly, and the other patrons a joy.”
  3. “We went there with my husband for our anniversary and boy the experience was phenomenal, excellent food paired with really good wines, staff very courteous and knowledgeable, the chef stopped at every table to check how things were for everyone.”
  4. “The food was yummy, cocktails was amazing, desert was delicious.”
food quality
90.0% positive
  1. “Excellent food.”
  2. “We enjoyed a special delicate asparagus soup and a lobster salad with shaved black truffle, celery root and diced green beans.”
  3. “for a restaurant that charges so much for food, ordinary food is unacceptable.”
  4. “The food is always excellent, the wine superb, the staff friendly, and the other patrons a joy.”
  5. “The chicken in black truffle broth is incredible.”
  6. “first off, food was good.”
  7. “For our entrees we selected traditional brasserie plates of coq au vin, steeped in a delicious red wine, and steak frites.”
  8. “This is a very authentic Parisian bistro.”
  9. “We went there with my husband for our anniversary and boy the experience was phenomenal, excellent food paired with really good wines, staff very courteous and knowledgeable, the chef stopped at every table to check how things were for everyone.”
  10. “Thoroughly enjoyable meal and evening.”
  11. “L'Absinthe really isn't that bad if you enjoy eating disgusting food and don't mind getting ripped off.”
  12. “The bread is great, the food is classic and inspired at the the same time, and the staff is authentically aloof.”
  13. “The food was yummy, cocktails was amazing, desert was delicious.”
  14. “The food is fantastic.”
  15. “The food is very delicious and the waiter was very helpful.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a great cozy place for an intimate dinner.”
service
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “The staff was amazing, took pictures for me, surprised me with a birthday cake etc.”
  2. “The bread is great, the food is classic and inspired at the the same time, and the staff is authentically aloof.”
  3. “The food is always excellent, the wine superb, the staff friendly, and the other patrons a joy.”
  4. “Unfortunately, the horrific service turned our romantic evening into a miserable dining experiences ever.”
  5. “The service is always outstanding.”
  6. “The food is very delicious and the waiter was very helpful.”
  7. “The pathetic service continued, old glasses were not removed; so we had a collection of dirty glasses.”
  8. “We went there with my husband for our anniversary and boy the experience was phenomenal, excellent food paired with really good wines, staff very courteous and knowledgeable, the chef stopped at every table to check how things were for everyone.”
  9. “i'm the kind of person who looks for friendly warm atomosphere.”
  10. “Our waiter seemed to be an amiable fellow, but he was not very attentive to our needs at all, nor did he even seem like he had any idea what he was doing there.”
  11. “My wife and I found the wait staff very polite - they do not hover but seem to know just when they are needed.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “oh yeah, and the prices are reasonable!”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/28/09

Le Tourment Vert

by gfunk21

This place has a very nice decor and atmosphere. The food is very delicious and the waiter was very helpful. He introduced my wife and I to an absinthe called Le Tourment Vert. It's definitely a must try if you are here.

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/27/08

Worst French food ever!

by kim69nc

L'Absinthe really isn't that bad if you enjoy eating disgusting food and don't mind getting ripped off. I went with 5 of my friends last weekend, foolishly expecting an evening of fine dining. The menu looked very intriguing and impressive, which just amplified the level of disappointment when our food was finally served. I ordered lamb chops medium-rare, but instead got a well-done tasteless piece of cardboard. It did bring back a feeling of nostalgia though: I was reminded of how I almost choked to death while attempting to eat a Lego block when I was 5 years old. But at least I didn't have to pay $37.99 for the Lego block, and it was more properly seasoned than the lamb chops. None of the meat dishes that we ordered were cooked properly. Perhaps the executive chef took the night off and let the busboys man the stoves. Our waiter seemed to be an amiable fellow, but he was not very attentive to our needs at all, nor did he even seem like he had any idea what he was doing there. I guess his overnight transition from taco-bell-cashier to pretentious-french-restaurant waiter did not go as smoothly as envisioned. Even the restrooms were disgusting, and no fancier than your local pizzeria's. In short, the experience was HORRIBLE. For that price, you can find 200 better restaurants to dine at in New York. Don't be fooled by the positive reviews on Citysearch, because they're probably written by the restauranteurs themselves. Be wary of the fact that there are almost as many 1-star ratings for this place as there are 5-star ratings. L'Absinthe? More like L'Awful.

  • Pros: no fo0d pois0ning afterwards
  • Cons: bad food, overpriced, inexperienced wait staff, mediocre decor
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/09/08

Excellent food...

by ritterpete

I love this restaurant and I'm not really a fan of going out to eat. The food is always excellent, the wine superb, the staff friendly, and the other patrons a joy. oh yeah, and the prices are reasonable! It's a great cozy place for an intimate dinner.

  • Pros: food,service
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/22/08

A very fancy menu but the food is very normal.

by thomasaustralia

I was very impressed when i read the menu. But the dish i ordered was not tasted the way the menu had described it. I'm a bit disappointed since i heard so many good thing about them.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/12/08

a true french experience

by hollyandbill

Fantastic from beginning to end. Chef Jean Michele Bergounoux never ceases to amaze us. We return again and again. He is magic with the fish and his lamb is succulent! The service is always outstanding. Why visit anywhere else in the city? This is the place to be! Take our advice - go now! Your taste buds will thank us later.

Keep up the good work L'Absinthe!

  • Pros: Makes you wish you were in Paris
  • Cons: Makes you wish you were in Paris

The Details on L'Absinthe Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • excellent food
  • favorite french restaurant
  • really good wine
  • amazing wait staff
  • warm atomosphere
  • unacceptable ordinary food
  • excellent service
  • very nice atmosphere
  • good work labsinthe
  • very authentic parisian bistro
  • enjoyable thoroughly
  • amazing cocktails
  • very helpful waiter
  • obnoxious individual
  • enjoyed lobster salad
  • very nice decor
  • disgusting restrooms
  • great bread
  • delicious steak frites
  • incredible chicken
  • enjoyed special delicate asparagus soup
  • romantic spot
  • romantic dinner
  • great cozy place
  • amiable fellow