(212) 754-9006

22 E 54th St
New York, NY 10022 40.7605 -73.9746

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Neighborhoods: Midtown Center, Midtown

PAPILLONBISTRO.COM

Hours:

Monday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 12.28.11

Category:

Restaurants, Taverns

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Thai

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. This is a great, fun place to hang with friends!
  2. Great location in the heart of the city as well.
  3. Wonderful atmosphere.
  4. This place was fun to go to on New Year's Eve.
  5. Highly recommended for everything from business dinner to romantic dinner to large groups.
  6. Nice ambience, locations is great as well, just one block from MoMa and few blocks from Rockefeller Center.
  7. While the atmosphere might be good and beer tasty, the service makes the whole experience not worth having.
  8. The dining room itself is cozy.
drinks
80.95000267028809% positive
  1. There are two levels: the downstairs which is mainly a bar room with a really cool room in the back with a pool table.
  2. How about: No one at the door to collect money (one of our friends had to step in instead), grossly understaffed bar (1, sometimes 2 rude bartenders for 150 guests), contract disputes over the open bar (they cut it by an hour as some people were still pay
  3. We were seated upstairs and had a wonderful time with some great food and drinks on the upstairs level, almost a year ago.
  4. recommend this place, the beer selection is unbelievable, the food is good especially their crispy french fries.
  5. Try Check or Finnish beer they are really delicious.
  6. While the atmosphere might be good and beer tasty, the service makes the whole experience not worth having.
  7. They contractually put down their own money to rent out the nice upstairs space w/ simple hors d'oeuvres to be provided (chicken wings & strips), packed it w/ a friendly, charitable crowd paying $35 for a full open bar for 4 hours (good deal, right?)
food quality
86.66999816894531% positive
  1. Great chef, delicious food.
  2. Each dish looked exactly the same -fish on a bed of spinach with a thin tasteless sauce.
  3. While the atmosphere might be good and beer tasty, the service makes the whole experience not worth having.
  4. We were seated upstairs and had a wonderful time with some great food and drinks on the upstairs level, almost a year ago.
  5. recommend this place, the beer selection is unbelievable, the food is good especially their crispy french fries.
  6. The first time I came here I went with my buddy who is a big fan of seafood and the like just as I am.
  7. The food is only so-so, it is very expensive and the service is horrible.
  8. Try Check or Finnish beer they are really delicious.
  9. And while the pad thai was tasty they have some nerve charging $17 a serving at lunch!
  10. The care is evident from the tender beef to the fresh sprigs of herbs adorning the plates.
  11. really enjoyed the food here.
  12. They contractually put down their own money to rent out the nice upstairs space w/ simple hors d'oeuvres to be provided (chicken wings & strips), packed it w/ a friendly, charitable crowd paying $35 for a full open bar for 4 hours (good deal, right?)
  13. The food was delicious and the service was top notch.
  14. The food has been incredible every time, and we are very hard to please!
  15. We tried the foie gras (which was delicious and a good sized portion), the lobster bisque (very fragrant), and the chateaubriand--the waiter brings you the entire center cut of the filet mignon for you to inspect before slicing it onto your plates.
  16. Beautiful oysters to start, followed by the best scallops I have ever tasted, all washed down with a delicious Chablis which was reasonably priced.
  17. The shrimp Pad Thai was excellent with a very large portion- (I could not finish it all).
  18. Weve had breakfast (the eggs benedict is superb), lunch and dinner, and tried a wide selection of foods from the menus, and they all have been excellent.
  19. Kinda pricey for food on par with Burger Heaven.
  20. The food was wonderful, and service was smooth.
  21. At first he flat out refused and said I had to order pad thai with no meat.
  22. The crispy calamari appetizer had my mouth watering and the seared tuna sandwich impressed.
  23. For two days our group lamented on spending almost $50 a head (20% mandatory gratuity for tables of 6 or more) for food that was barely palatable.
  24. My coworkers enjoyed the meal as well.
  25. We decided to eat upstairs by the window Our waiter was attentive and very knowledgable about the food.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. recommend this place, the beer selection is unbelievable, the food is good especially their crispy french fries.
  2. You can order off the main menu and stay downstairs or climb the stairs and have dinner in the dining room.
  3. Weve had breakfast (the eggs benedict is superb), lunch and dinner, and tried a wide selection of foods from the menus, and they all have been excellent.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. This is a great, fun place to hang with friends!
  2. Looks like a great place to hold a party.
service
77.08000183105469% positive
  1. The worst Restaurant I have ever been to in my entire life The Food was alright our waiteress was not good She's not professional the busboy spilled a glass of water on my wfe the waitress knelt down to open ours bottole we were destract by the music it w
  2. Beginning with the friendly smile from the host to the courteous and knowledgeable server, I was impressed with the service and approach by the staff.
  3. The staff was very helpful when we arrived, and allowed us to set up two posters for the event so that people coming in downstairs could find us, and then stored the posters so we could pick them up the next day.
  4. The food was delicious and the service was top notch.
  5. Staff there are all friendly and really make you feel welcome.
  6. The food was wonderful, and service was smooth.
  7. m. on Saturday and the service was excellent.
  8. have always had attentive and knowledgable waitstaff and the bartenders make a great dirty martini.
  9. The hostess will provide the best service you'll get at papillon.
  10. Atmosphere is really nice, music is good, service is great, I repeat at 2 a.m. service was great.
  11. How about: No one at the door to collect money (one of our friends had to step in instead), grossly understaffed bar (1, sometimes 2 rude bartenders for 150 guests), contract disputes over the open bar (they cut it by an hour as some people were still pay
  12. did not ask they name of the waitress, but she was really warm and she has a great style to boot.
  13. While the atmosphere might be good and beer tasty, the service makes the whole experience not worth having.
  14. They contractually put down their own money to rent out the nice upstairs space w/ simple hors d'oeuvres to be provided (chicken wings & strips), packed it w/ a friendly, charitable crowd paying $35 for a full open bar for 4 hours (good deal, right?)
  15. The waiter was rude to my friend when she asked for a small plate to share an appetizer.
  16. We tried the foie gras (which was delicious and a good sized portion), the lobster bisque (very fragrant), and the chateaubriand--the waiter brings you the entire center cut of the filet mignon for you to inspect before slicing it onto your plates.
  17. It's pretty laid-back and the bartenders are awesome!
  18. The wait staff was very pleasant and service was overall very good.
  19. We decided to eat upstairs by the window Our waiter was attentive and very knowledgable about the food.
  20. The food is only so-so, it is very expensive and the service is horrible.
value
58.33000183105469% positive
  1. Kinda pricey for food on par with Burger Heaven.
  2. Very affordable and accomodating - irony is that the brewery is really only one part of the experience - it's a top-notch restaurant with multiple-choice prix fixe to boot.
  3. How about: No one at the door to collect money (one of our friends had to step in instead), grossly understaffed bar (1, sometimes 2 rude bartenders for 150 guests), contract disputes over the open bar (they cut it by an hour as some people were still pay
  4. The prices are reasonable for midtown.
  5. While the atmosphere might be good and beer tasty, the service makes the whole experience not worth having.
  6. They contractually put down their own money to rent out the nice upstairs space w/ simple hors d'oeuvres to be provided (chicken wings & strips), packed it w/ a friendly, charitable crowd paying $35 for a full open bar for 4 hours (good deal, right?)
  7. The food is only so-so, it is very expensive and the service is horrible.
  8. To the right are huge windows and the trees just outside are lit up with lights.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. How about: No one at the door to collect money (one of our friends had to step in instead), grossly understaffed bar (1, sometimes 2 rude bartenders for 150 guests), contract disputes over the open bar (they cut it by an hour as some people were still pay
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/21/10

Dublin, France???

by JohannaG

This place reminds me of my college relationship - based totally on a lie. Two Irish guys running the place - HUH??? Supposed to be a French bistro. Figure that one out.

The place itself is beautiful - if you don't mind creepy owners staring at you from every direction you look. How these middle-aged men still have the dexterity to pop up in every corner you are is beyond me. For that, they get a good review. Creepy meter at a high.

All the bartenders are so tense like they are working in a four star restaurant - especially Tommy. Maybe that's the way the Irish run ship.

If you're looking for a "French bistro" that serves mozzarella sticks this is your place. Mozzarella. Sticks.

Come on.

  • Pros: scottish bartender
  • Cons: bathrooms smells like *&*&^%$^
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/18/09

really great experience

by missblakley

On arriving to Papillon, I was amazed by the beautiful space, like stepping back in time. Its a French Bistro for a time gone by. Twenty six of us were having a private sit down dinner in one of their three private party rooms. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. But the second best thing was for what we paid for that area was a really great deal in such a fabulous establishment. Now the best thing was how friendly all the staff and managers were. Thank you Papillon for making our night so memorable and enjoyable

  • Pros: Best atmosphere and least expensive in area
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/20/09

Great place for an event

by dww4

We planned a professional women's networking event at Papillon and had a wonderful experience. We were able to get the back room on the second floor, had passed hors d'oeuvres and paid for the drinks a la carte (there was a drinks package, but at women-only events, the bar bill tends to be less than at mixed-gender events). The staff was very helpful when we arrived, and allowed us to set up two posters for the event so that people coming in downstairs could find us, and then stored the posters so we could pick them up the next day. Our waitstaff was also fantastic. The only hitch in the plan was that it was a bit difficult confirming the event with the event coordinator (first he didn't return a call, there was a mix-up on the contract...etc.) Otherwise really great.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/16/08

dinner with friends

by sharmagirl

The first time I came here I went with my buddy who is a big fan of seafood and the like just as I am. We were seated upstairs and had a wonderful time with some great food and drinks on the upstairs level, almost a year ago. I went here recently for lunch by myself to conduct some business in a quiet area while I ordered the tuna white bean salad. The lemon vinaigrette dressing was flavorless and the tuna was coarse and dry. Also, shortly after being seated a party of 12 sat next to me in the quiet area that was completely empty and I was unable to make my calls without being interrupted by loud lunch-time drunkies. Damn european tourists!

  • Pros: location/fast service/nice staff
  • Cons: food not spectacular for the price
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/12/08

2a.m. on Saturday and the service was excellent.

by mohctep

They have a really international beer list . Try Check or Finnish beer they are really delicious. Atmosphere is really nice, music is good, service is great, I repeat at 2 a.m. service was great. I did not ask they name of the waitress, but she was really warm and she has a great style to boot. We only tried bar menu but it was good.

  • Pros: Service, atmosphere

The Details on Papillon

Place Categories:

  • delicious food
  • great service
  • great place
  • rude waiter
  • knowledgable waitstaff
  • all friendly wait staff
  • rude bartenders
  • really nice atmosphere
  • tasty pad thai
  • totally recommend scallops
  • really cool dining room
  • very affordable irony
  • tasty finnish beer
  • reasonable prices
  • great location
  • cool joint
  • good sized portion
  • huge windows
  • crispy calamari appetizer
  • pricey kinda
  • great dirty martini
  • nice upstairs space w
  • happy kids
  • always enjoyed relaxed experience
  • excellent m
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