05/29/09

Over-Rated

by EKimWoot

While dining at Bouley, the Food was at par at best. When you're paying 255 for a Chef's Tasting Menu and a Wine Paring, you'd expect more. The attitude of the servers is unbelievable. I pay to eat and pay your tips, treat me well is my thinking. Troy, the Maitre'D was a complete mess...Fine dining at its worst in NYC.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Service, Arrogance and Pretentious

02/25/09

No longer my favorite--but still very good

by LeeLee74

My Husband and I use to go to Bouley regularly recently, however, the food has not been as wonderful. In addition, the room is feeling old. They also seem to have a fly problem bc everything we have gone recently there are flys buzzing around our food--maybe it the flowers but they need to remedy this problem. The breads are still amazing as are the desserts and the service is also very good, but a little stuffy. Good food but not great; more authentic french than Daniel - for example-but over all Daniel is better

02/08/09

Love the apples

by Mikeymets

Wow!! What a treat. We had the 6 course tasting menu to celebrate our 1st Anniversary. Only one flaw, the egg and pancetta dish. It was the most amazing egg with bacon in a cream foam with white truffle (i think). But it wasn't breakfast time. Also ther was a loud woman sitting next to us, We heard her whole conversation. The best was when her date said he didn't want to be in a relationship with her. I laughed loud enough so she could hear me. The service was impecable. I was pampered so much it was a pleasure paying the check. Excellent restaurant expierience.

01/15/09

Best Duck I have ever had!

by jackanderson151

Alone in NYC just before Christmas I decide to treat myself to what I expected would be an excellent meal at Bouley and every aspect of the meal exceeded my expectations. It was really outstanding! A truly incredible gourmet experience! The fragrance of apples one smells when walking in the door at Bouley and viewing them on the wooden shelves was especially innovative as was the rest of the restaurant's decor. I was courteously seated and although by myself was given ample attention. I had come late and expected to eat light so I ordered a few appetizers with the Long Island Duck. Not knowing exactly how the appetizers would taste, I decided to give the sommelier a chance to suggest something special for the wine pairings and this was a great decision as he and the waiter both came up with several fantastic combinations, which I would not normally have tried. The crab leg appetizer with black truffel was served in a neat copper dish and was a unique combination of crab legs in a far eastern flavored stock. The flavors were really "out-of-this-world", a delicious choice by itself, but coupled with the wine which was something on par with a sautern ( which I am kicking myself for not writing down), it was exquisite! The other appetizer I ordered was a pheasant egg which was surrounded with a foam and also had thin slivers of white and black truffels with a blue cheese polenta. It has been a few weeks so I can't remember all the other flavors that were in this dish but it was a real knockout. Then came the Long Island Duck breast absolutely roasted to perfection with remarkable flavors as well but the size was big enough to take half home and it was so, so tender. The Pommard the waiters recommended to go with the duck was again a perfect combination. The entire evening was quite memorable and certainly one of the best meals I have ever had. At $125 not including the tip the prices were very reasonable considering the quality,

• Pros: Innovative Food
• Cons: Couldn't find the wine list on the web after the dinner.

12/23/08

Save your money, what a bunch of jerks...

by ebomze

Deeply disappointing overall experience. Food was just OK. There was a 50 minute wait beyond our reservation time with NO apology and NO explanation. At this caliber of restaurant, that is absurd. Also, I emailed the restaurant to complain about this poor management and when I received no reply, the message wes resent. The lack of any response shows you what these jerks think about their customers. Arrogant snobs who won't survive.

• Pros: Nice room
• Cons: HORRENDOUS management of front of house

12/14/08

don't waste your money

by jk6046

I had to return my steak 3 times before it was cooked the way I'd asked for it to be done. Also, my table was comprised of 5 women and the service we receieved was condescending.

11/13/08

always good service

by maverrr

Bouley does have great food - it's one of those 'I'm on the expense account and need to wine and dine someone' type places. I don't think I'd ever go there if this wasn't the situation. The price is expensive enough to make your guest feel like they're really getting something and the food is quite good. I've always had good service when I've been there. Sometime the bill comes a little slow, but the food and drinks are usually right there when you need them.

• Pros: food,drink,service

11/09/08

Overpriced and incompetent service (even ther french are more friendly)

by Joachimhackl

My husband selected this restaurant as a special surprise for my birthday. We paid $350 without tip. The Tasting Menu choice was better than the selection of foie gras as appetizer and pig as main course (a tiny square of food for $44). There were at least 6 waiters in black suits and several others, who served the food and water. The "men in black" were not able to answer any question competently and they were arrogant too. The only two persons, who's knowledge reflected what this place claims to be, were the maitre and the sommelier. For the change of the dessert of the Menu to cheese, we were charged additional $24! Definitely a place, were you pay for all the employees, but not for a reasonable/even little overpriced dinner.

• Pros: nothing
• Cons: bad price/service value

11/05/08

High-powered Business Lunch

by bcronin

So last month I decided to try and impress my mom. She isn't too familiar with many of the nice New York restaurants so I decided to act like a well-educated big shot and take her to Bouley. Man, she was impressed, but was it worth the $220 dinner? I sure hope so! Food and drink was awesome. I had the Lamb with homemade sheep milk ricotta gnocchi and some other things. Everything was great as you'd expect from Bouley.

Service was excellent and they were knowledgeable. Be sure to take someone here for a high-powered business lunch or super awesome friday night date. Either way, you're sure to impress.

• Pros: service,food,ambiance

10/26/08

Save Your Money!!!

by violette06

You can take your spouse/friend/relative to a much better place and also save tons of money! What can I say about Bouley?! It was simply disgusting! Food below par, waiting staff was wondering around helpless, after all this, the bill was extremely high ($175 pp) The place is old, needs new carpeting, and maybe good cleaning once in a while, it was dirty and worn down. What a disappointment and waste of money! Aside from few dishes and dessert, the rest of food was either bland or turned my stomach just by looking at it! Imagine: warm, raw egg whites with pieces of cooked egg white and almost raw ham drowned in it (nauseous yet?)

• Pros: dessert was decent, breads
• Cons: everything, don't go there