Cafe des Artistes
New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 877-3500
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Central Park West
- Directions:
- 1 at 66th St; B; C to 72nd St
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 5pm-12:30am, Sat 11am-3pm, 5pm-12:30am, Sun 10am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Cafe des Artistes – by Dana Bowen
The Scene
This cozy, upscale haunt once catered to a cutting-edge art crowd, which explains the blush-inducing nude murals. Mirrors multiply the frolicking wood nymph paintings and plush yet stodgy decor, making the two small dining rooms and bar seem larger than actual size. Owners George and Jenifer Lang oversee an expert team of venerable waiters who pamper tourists, moneyed regulars, and, increasingly, serious foodies.
The Food
Rather than cast aside the old French standbys, chef Ari Neimenin has discreetly updated them while adding intriguing new ones. Brown-buttered Dover Sole is still succulent, and fat-laced pot au feu is rich as ever in beefy consommé with baby vegetables. The famed "salmon-four-ways" has spawned a fifth: don't miss the plate of house-cured, poached, smoked, gravlaxed and tartared fish. Freshness prevails, from crisp endive-stilton salad to steely sardines, char-grilled with a zippy lemon-tomato salad. Top prize goes to tea-smoked duckling with buttery confit and braised, cinnamon-stoked cabbage.
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Insider Tips
Look SmartHoward Chandler Christy, a famed illustrator and portrait painter who was one of Hotel des Artistes' first residents, finished his murals--six sequences of feisty wood nymphs in the buff--in 1937.
What to DrinkThe wine list runs the gamut from expensive to very expensive. The Trimbach Gewurztraminer is a reliable, spicy favorite.
Know Before You GoJust across from the restaurant entrance, in a nook of a room to the left, there are a few stools, a lovely carved wood bar, and---surprise--- more Christy paintings. It's perfect spot for a night-cap.
User Reviews for Cafe des Artistes
11/04/2008 Posted by hagstorm
Rating is a reflection of price relative to serving size. Definitely a place to go if you've got money to burn or if dining on an expense account. Also, if you're hungry you will either leave hungry or broke trying to satisfy the hunger as portions aren't particularly generous. I'm not saying the food or service was bad but the appetizers ranged in price from $11-20 ea and mains at least double that.Seating was a bit uncomfortable . I had the squash soup and the grilled steak frites . Both delicious and artfully presented. Restaurant atmosphere was nice. Place was busy . Service was very attentive.
10/21/2008 Posted by eatingnyc
My wife and I went to Cafe des Artistes for our first wedding anniversary. Big mistake. We were treated like children (we are 30 and were dressed very nicely). Not only were we were seated in a terrible seat (even though there were plenty of seats available), our service was terrible (we were handed off to a second waiter after our 1st waiter was horribly rude to us), and the food was sub-par (I had the braised pork, she the scallops) and over priced. The atmosphere was terribly stuffy - I think the average age of the customer was over 75- and louder than I expected, more like a steakhouse. I honestly believe they did not want us there because they thought we were not going to spend money (we make enough a year to eat out quite often and spend on dinner) - so we didn't. I refused to buy a bottle, got the prix fix dinner, and left immediately after the dessert. I am very disappointed with this place - I would not recommend anyone young to venture there as you will be treated as second class citizens and pushed to the side.
Pros: Older diners might enjoy the company.
Cons: Louder than expected, stuffy atmosphere, rude staff, expensive, sub par food.
