La Lunchonette

03/30/09

C'est magnifique!

by writeon1 at Citysearch

A friend recommended La Luncheonette and we were so pleased to meet one of the owners on our first trip there last week. She waited on us and was extremely knowledgable not only about French food but the area. The restaurant has been in existence for 21 years and her husband (who is French) also have another French restaurant in the city. My boyfriend lived in France for several years and he absolutely fell in love with La Luncheonette from his first bite. The food is simple, authentic and fantastic. The wine list is unpretentious and varied. And the ambience couldn't be more distinctive and welcoming. We liked it so well that we returned for brunch yesterday, as our last meal before returning home. The bread is die for- keep asking for more! It's worth it.

• Pros: Food, service, wine, location
• Cons: Not enough people know about this place!

10/02/08

Best home away from home cafe

by francophilefilms at Citysearch

I have been going to La Lunchonette for many years now. Not able to get home to France often, so I go here to reconnect with home. Their Cassoulet is great, especially if you add accompanying mustard the way my mother used to. An American must have written the bad review of the cassoulet if they think it is bland. You simply are not eating it properly. As for the service, I find it is always wonderful and I find the waiters there very interesting - all artists like myself, so I connect well with them. Very attentive to my needs - my water glass is never empty. I also enjoy hearing the many intellectual conversations I overhear from surrounding tables. That is what reminds me of home most. That and the food cooked just the way maman would make it. Best Potato au Gratin in town!

• Pros: food, service

09/07/08

Toilet service

by brooklyneater30 at Citysearch

I hardly have words for the extreme disgust we felt when visiting this so-called restaurant. Three long-time New Yorker's took our friends' parents there for a quiet dinner, and we subsequently left after our wine, cocktails, and bread, leaving zero tip. (At least we got free bread out of it.) It took forever to even get our server's attention and once we did, her responses were curt, rude and dismissive. When we finally got around to ordering (this was a good 45 minutes after sitting down), one of our guests asked her opinion on a dish. He then sought further description to which she replied, "I'm really busy. I said it was fabulous once, saying it four times doesn't make it any better."

After she walked away, there were five jaws hitting the table. We unanimously agreed to cancel our order and leave. So we called her over, told her we felt we were being too much of a burden on her and that we'd like our check. And that was that. We sat at our table, searching for another restaurant on our phones, and we ventured back into a pouring tropical storm to seek good food and gracious service.

When I tell the story, no one can believe it. It is gasp-worthy. This is the first public review I've ever written...that's how totally shocking it was.

• Cons: Rude service BEYOND imagination

12/27/07

Bad service and terrible food

by rsmithline at Citysearch

The food was bland, terrible use of seasonings, and over cooked. Service is at best adequate. One of the worst meals I have had in a long time. Terrible chestnut soup!!!

• Pros: good wine list
• Cons: food was terrible, waitress was very slow and distracted

10/30/06

I always have a good time here and good food.

by ketelandsoda at Citysearch

It's great French bistro fare. I'm not a big beef eater but I can't stop eating the Beef Bourgenoune (sp) here. It is so delicious and a great way to start every Fall. I love the leaks and lentils. I've never had a problem with the service and I've been there alone and with large groups. I used to live in the neighborhood and would go all the time. I moved and recently went back and realized how much I missed this place. I love the accordian player on Sundays. Go and go often.

• Pros: Reliable French Bistro food, cozy, entertaining and GREAT artwork in the windows. I miss the oil barrel lids.
• Cons: It can be slightly noisey at busy times.

08/03/06

Non-tourists hate it too

by sherribailey9 at Citysearch

Dedelman, I've been an NYC resident since '81, and I still hate this place. There is no excuse whatsoever for rude service, never ever. You come to a place -- whether it's the Olive Garden or La Luncheonette -- you give them your business, you pay them good money, and you expect to be treated like a valued customer, not a NUISANCE, which is how this place treated me. Just an awful experience. No kind of good food can justify that kind of behavior. But the thing is, the food here is not remarkable AT ALL. Just average. Not worth the visit. Don't go.

• Pros: Close to the River, if you choose to walk an extra avenue west.
• Cons: Awful, disrespectful service -- unkind, unclassy

06/01/06

PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PLACE!

by dedelman at Citysearch

Tourists, please. Do not come to New York and expect a resturant as fine as this one to bend to your every request. I had a meal with a party of 9 there and they were friendly and patient. The owner who many of you see as a jerk was wonderful, friendly and a joy to talk to.

Stop complaining, or go eat at the olive garden in times square. Yes the service is a bit forward, but they are running a business and a successful one at that. Everything I have ever had there has been PERFECT.

• Pros: Great Food, Atmosphere, Diverse Menu
• Cons: none

04/05/06

RUDE SERVICE!!!

by trendster at Citysearch

I had dinner last Saturday with a couple of friends. The food and setting were decent, but not spectacular. More notably, I had read the reviews about rude service, and well sadly enough, it's all true. Our waitress was one of the rudest that I have ever met! She acted as if serving our table was an incredible inconvenience, and she was downright surly. She alone is enough of a reason to AVOID this venue at all costs.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Rude Service, Rude Service, Rude Service

07/19/05

only redeeming quality was the wine list

by elmarko at Citysearch

Four of us went on batille day, i could understand the service being a little slower as they were stretched...but definitely could have done without the rudeness...typical french service, but working on gratituity. Standing near me a member of the wait staff complained that there was "only one table that she didnt mind waiting on the whole night...everyone else was awful." The meat on two of the four dishes was so fatty it was inedible. They also "ran out" of many things as well. Good wine list.

• Pros: Wine list
• Cons: Service, Food, Ambience

03/18/05

My Favorite

by thaliatheater at Citysearch

I was recently in Paris and found myself longing for the Cassoulet and Blanquet de Veau you can find at La Lunchonette. The chef and co-owner Jean-Francois Fraysse brings some of his family recipes from the Southwest of France right to your table. The food at this well kept secret is fantastic and the atmosphere is relaxed and has remained so, even after the arrival of the art scene to Chelsea. A real find!