05/28/09

New Heights of Mediocrity

by DonyBarbara

While the food was fresh and the portions large, the preparation showed a truly shocking lack of imagination and almost total incompetence in execution. Ie., a "hacker" in the kitchen. Don't waste your money, there has got to be 10 better places within 3 blocks for the same $ or less.

• Pros: large portions
• Cons: the food

02/07/09

Great date spot and beautiful garden!

by epicurian0003

Had dinner from their pre-fixe ($25!) menu the other night and was so pleased that my friends and I are going again next week. I started with the french onion soup that was divine and my steak was delicate and flavorful. My dining companion had the salmon, which he loved. The desserts were just as lovely, a perfect and affordable meal. There is a beautiful garden in the back which is also heated, can't wait to go back there for my next dining experience. I highly recommend!

• Pros: Pre-fixe menu $25!
• Cons: none

02/04/09

Tasteless

by deyolm

I went with a friend tonight only because I had a gift certificate from restaurant dot com. The waiter tells us they no longer participate in the restaurant dot com thing and refused to acknowledge our gift certificate even though we bought it before they stopped participating. Disappointed and annoyed, we order from their overpriced menu. The salad came with absolutely no dressing on it. Just a pile of dry lettuce. The steak was flavorless, unseasoned and tough. My friends' salmon was completely tasteless, along with the lentils that filled his plate. My creme brulee was grainy and in a shallow dish so the majority of each bite was the crunchy hard top and not the custard. Overall I feel like I wasted money and was completely unsatisfied with the tasteless meal and unaccommodating waiter. Stay away from this place.

• Pros: French Onion Soup
• Cons: Everything Else

11/03/08

Best French in EVillage!

by rosebud158

One of my favorite restaurants, the garden is beautiful and the front dining area is really sweet. The french onion soup is wonderfully executed, it's the best I've had since my last visit to Paris. The mussels are also fantastic, fresh and the sauce is amazing. The short ribs are decadent and cooked to perfection. Also try the steak, it's to die for...seriously. One of my evenings there, the chef was so nice and altered a dish for my partner who is allergic to dairy. That's really hard to find and I highly recommend, not only for the food but for the great service

• Pros: Food is excellent, love the option of eating indoors or out
• Cons: Bathroom is downstairs so not ideal for the wheelchair bound

10/01/08

chop this tree down

by huqleberryDOTcom

Dinner plans at the new 4th Avenue eatery Ippudo were all sorts of f**ked when I strolled up to an 1 1/2 wait. The bio on the chef is absurd, something about a food theme park and renowned chef from Japan, n-e-way. That didn't work so I meandered around the E. Village along with G until we stumbled upon Tree (you like that rhyme?). My partner, aware of the not so favorable reviews, decided we brave it. Quaint, rustic decor and the potential for a quiet, tasteful eating experience seemed almost likely. We decided to eat in the outdoor seating area in the back although it was quite cold. When the menus came I was extremely disappointed, just another restaurant biting off Cafe Devillian type offerings. Completely un-inventive, sub par and under seasoned. The first 2 requests for wine were returned with the response, "unavailable". Though, as a consolation, we were offered a bottle twice as expensive as the others($65+). Outside of 2 women 2 tables down all over each other...that ended up in the bathroom(seriously)...this was a completely drab and uneventful eating experience full of mediocrity. Shiva would have to come down from heaven for me to eat at this place again.

05/27/08

Head waiter's night off?

by kerit

This place smelled so good, I couldn't WAIT to get in. The bartender apologized - there was a party in the garden so there was only seating at the bar - sitting and eating at the bar is my favorite! Then it went down hill. The service was AWEFUL!!!! They were soooo confused: Does this go at this table? No? How about yours? I suspect that the table 2 down from us (out of 5) got our food as they came in 40min after us and got served. We left. We had an hour and a half before having to leave for our movie, and our food NEVER CAME. There was no one directing the orchestra. They bring shame to professional waiters all over the city!

• Pros: Good wine list
• Cons: SERVICE

04/25/08

Wow!!

by Fr3d3rick

It is the best restaurant with the best ambiance.I was there last saturday and it was my best dinner ever.Thanks to them

09/20/07

This place has the "Wow" Factor!

by chasingamy75

I love love love this place! I had my baby shower 2 weeks back in the garden and it was fantastic! Everything that was on the menu had that "wow" factor. Chef Andrew Robinsons recipies are a true treat to the mouth! They have also done wonders to the inside decor since it was Brunettas....Run Dont Walk to this restaurant!!!

• Pros: Food, Decor, Service, Food...
• Cons: NONE!

08/20/07

Great outdoor seating and French Cuisine

by jjcatalano

I recently visited Tree for a birthday celebration and was very pleased. It's truly a 1 of a kind restaurant in NYC. Immediately upon entering, we were greeted and shown to our table in the back garden area. This is a nice cozy atmosphere situated outside, ideal for a great summer night. The attentive wait staff kept the water glasses filled and the fresh rolls were plentiful. The wine list had many notable selections at reasonable prices. Food was excellent, loved the steak au poivre and the tuna tar tare. Even the vegetables were fantastic! If you want a nice cozy affordable French place to eat and enjoy a great day/night, then this is the place.

• Pros: Ambience, Service, Great Food

06/24/07

Bad service, Good food

by juju83

I try to not complain with restaurants as much as possible but the service here was absolutely terrible. We waited over 45 minutes for our food. I read the profile written here about the small kitchen and it's right, had the staff been a bit more attentive, the experience would not have been so awful. The table next to us waited about 15-20 minutes for a side of cream cheese. The table on the other side got a side of bacon after they had eaten their entire meal. The staff seemed really flustered for what was not a packed restaurant. On the upside, the food is really delicious if you don't mind the wait. And it's pretty well priced.

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Bad Service