05/03/09

horrible, horrible, horrible

by peanutmoore

I think I just found the worst restaurant in all of NYC (at least the worst I've found in my 11 years living here). The atmosphere is tacky and dirty. The service was horrendous. The food was like hospital food. he "waitstaff" was constantly yelling across the restaurant at one another with things like "table 31 needs bread", or when one of them was wandering around the restaurant with a plate in his hand he'd yell "who had the chicken livers, chris?". When we arrived we were put at a table which was not set, and remained this way until we asked for napkins, silverware, etc. You know, the basics. We came in at 7:30, after the usual theater crowd for this area. They were LOUDLY cleaning up after the theater crowd and could barely hear yourself think, between the clanging dishes and the staff yelling at one another. The food was absolutely disgusting. They have a foie gras appetizer. I specifically asked the server if it was like pate, if it was spreadable. He said no. I was looking for an actual piece of foie gras, like liver. Some people don't like that, I know. Lo and behold, I got pate. And paid a lot of money for it. And it was bad. Horrible. My husbands chicken liver appetizer was also inedible. The whole experience sucked. I cannot believe such a horrible restaurant continues to operate. The wierd lady owner or manager was loud, classless and rude. We ended up leaving after taking a few bites of our entrees. Just up and left (I regret it know, but we did pay our check--no tip at all...I've never done that before in my life). I wish we had complained and refused to pay.

• Pros: the bread was OK
• Cons: service, atmosphere, food

04/13/09

Poor French Restaurant - avoid

by kernowbysvyken

On holiday in New York and came across this restaurant, looked O.K. from the outside so entered. Do not be fooled by the faux French ambience: this place is dreadful. Firstly on asking for a wine list we were told brusquely that there wasn’t one and that wines were sold by the glass only, strange for a French bistro, but being tired we let it go.

The starters were average with an overly sauced chicken liver being the highlight, the salad course was fine but the entrée was of such stunning dreadfulness it took the breath away. The hanger steak was like something out of a pre-packed, ready prepared meal with the meat being completely lacking in flavour, the accompanying vegetables could only be described as tired both in appearance and taste. The veal being only slightly better, this on account of it having some weak flavour to it.

The desert was average once again, the sweet looked as it had been bought in from the deli and the cheese board, again completely average.

In fairness the waiting staff tried hard but given the quality of the food the odds were against them.

Just to cap off a thoroughly disappointing experience the rubbish from the kitchen was constantly brought through the body of the restaurant. This was off- putting and one assumes a possible health violation. In addition the owner spent the entire course of the evening in some sub-Soprano exchanges with another patron who talked loudly throughout in a similar vein.

There are other resturants in New York where you will get a far better dining experience. I would advise you to go to anywhere other than this poor establishment that only reaches the standards of a French truck stop.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Bad food, poorly presented

03/04/09

excellent french food!

by akd456

My husband and I went to Pergola Des Artistes last weekend and had a superb time! We started with the escargot, which was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I ate scallops provinciale and wanted 2nds! My husband ate the stake au poivre and he was part of the clean plate club! We had to save space for dessert and devoured the mousse au chocolate. We are already going back on Friday!

• Pros: family run, intimate, great pre-theater ambiance