04/21/09

French Kiss

by MaggotDance

I went to Lucien's for Lunch, after a few trips here, its not difficult to see that it pays to be a regular here. The food prices haven't changed in probably ten years... This is one of the cheapest espressos/cappuccinos in the city, Go to some fake euro corp, like the Soho Grand, pay six dollars for a cappuccino or 7 for toast. Here its under three.

Wines priced close to retail, a restaurant that actually Wants you to buy wine. Its awesome.

It gets me pretty excited. A bottle here is the same price as two glasses at a lot of places, AND the selection is broad and clearly Picked by someone Smart and French. Whenever I leave I always write down the wines they get so I can buy it later (for nearly the same price!)

The service was good, casual, but polite... fit the vibe.. IT is weird, it does feel like time travel to france... a lot of the people there were french actually.

They could work on the menus there, theyre kind of hard to read. They could have a few more vegetarian options, But their vegetarian plate is really impressive, it looks like a cooked vege tower, WIth eggplant.

My friend had the fish soup, it smelled like the beach and he had it to the LAST drop.

YUM.

i think sometimes the food is a bit different day to day, but i think because they use REAL food, you know...?

Go there, but don't rush.

• Pros: old world, Old prices!
• Cons: not a place to go in a rush

01/14/09

Never Disappoints

by cbwestley

I've been going to this small French bistro for over 10 years and it has never let me down. The food is delicious, the staff friendly and efficient and the restaurant's somewhat cramped tables make it a perfectly friendly NY joint. Typically I get the same order - frisee salad and filet mignon - and have never been disappointed.

Sometimes there is a wait, but it's a good excuse to stand at the bar and get friendly.

• Pros: Frisee salad, Escargot, Filet Mignon.

10/10/08

Best French food for the $$$$

by billysantiques

Best French food in Manhattan for the money.Service is French in style so if your a hyper spoiled and neurotic New Yorker go home. ...Biker Billy

08/28/08

WORST SERVICE EVER

by soinnyc

After waiting for a very long time - seeing the waitress friends CUT in front of us - NO EXCUSE, no free drinks, nothing for that. they kept telling us 2 minutes and we waited more than 30 minutes. When it is 10 PM that is really long and only on the account of BAD service.

We finally left without even eating - fed up.

04/14/08

Grendel

by obaingrid

We recently had two meals there - the service was good but the food was somewhat inconsistent. My partner had Steak and Frites both times - while the first time it was great, the second time the steak was rather hard, uneven for medium-rare. The escargots were very mushy one time and the sea bass was passable. Seems the quality of food depends on your timing...

• Pros: Casual, relaxing ambience
• Cons: inconsistent food quality

02/22/08

So-so. Moyen, pas plus.

by Larchange

If you're very hungry, this is not the place to go. The portions are tiny (especially the scallops) and the cassoulet tastes like it came straight from a can. And I like cassoulet! The ambiance is fine, but Lucien is just another bistro trying to be trendy while sacrificing the food. This is constructive criticism, by the way. I hope they get the hint.

• Pros: Lighting, music
• Cons: Mediocre cuisine

11/20/07

Lucien Barks Like a Wild Dog!

by johngannon

Bad service! Bad Food! Bad! Bad! Bad!!! What a terrible experience! The owner Lucien was barking like a wild dog at his staff. The food sucked! Oysters stink! Steak fatty! We had a french waitress that gave attitude a new meaning! Stay away!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Bad Food, Bad Service, Owner barks like a wild dog!

08/15/07

Lucien

by tommyeggan

An old heavy set, crazed looking bald man, whom we later found out was Lucien, was shouting and barking orders at a tiny sweet little waitress and other members of the staff. He was overly cruel and demeaning and brought the waitress to tears.

We asked Lucien why he was being so cruel to this very nice girl and he said "Oh it's an inside restaurnat thing." We expressed our dismay and he balked at us then continued to rage around the restaurant and degrade the staff for our entire visit which we cut short as we and cancelled our entries, paid for our weak drinks, consoled the waitress and left!

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: Degrading

06/24/07

The worst service I ever had, food ? horrible!!

by lul

It was a summer-time. At the beginning waitress brought us glass of water (no ice). I asked for it and she brought another glass fool if ice. During all diner she never refill water glasses or that ice-glass (was melted in first 20 minutes). Appetizers was horrible ? Foie Gras Maison was uncooked and Escargots has souse only on 2 pices (2 of 6). Main dishes - Filet Mignon au Poivre was salted but at list eatable, but Cassoulet Touloussain Traditionnelle we was have to sand back to the kitchen ? it was only beans and hot-hot-hot sausages, no lamb at all! THE WORST EXPIRIENCE IN MY LIVE!!!!!

• Pros: THE WORST EXPIRIENCE IN MY LIVE!!!!!
• Cons: THE WORST EXPIRIENCE IN MY LIVE!!!!!

05/20/07

Be prepared to wait, get bumped into and get attitude from the Hostess

by red07

It's places like this that give the French a bad name. I had a reservation for 8pm. I was not seated until 8:50pm. During that time I was forced to stand with my friend in a crowded little space in front of the bar with other waiting patrons while being bumped into by the waitstaff with hot plates of food. When I asked the hostess how long the wait would be she gave me an attitude. I've been to France before. The people are very nice. This hostess however was not. When we were finally seated and ordered it took us about 40 minutes to be served. The food was good, but hardly worth the headache. In hindsight I'm sorry I tipped them so well, but the waitress (who was very nice) shouldn't be held accountable for the poor management of that place. Stay away. There are plenty of other French places in the LES.

• Pros: Steak Frites
• Cons: 50 minute wait to be seated WITH reservations, bitter Hostess, no waiting area