Address: | 123 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036, USA |
Phone: | +1 212-354-4148 |
Site: | cafeundeuxtrois.com |
Rating: | 3.9 |
Working: | 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM 7AM–12AM |
IS
Isabel Draves
I used to love this place (a decade ago), but boy has it ever changed. They have a new sign, Im guessing the ownership is new. We went tonight and it tasted like diner food. My French onion soup arrived almost instantly and was burned of the top, it seems an overzealous torch was applied to cheese that seemed to have been melted on top a while back, perhaps yesterday even... The lamb burger was overcooked (well done when I asked for medium rare) and the meat so over-spiced it was hard to choke down. the bun was hard and cold, I didnt even want to taste it. The fries were skinny and tasteless, if I had to guess Id say they were poured frozen from a buy-in-bulk bag into the fryer. They werent tasty enough to have been real potatoes recently. My husbands chicken cordon bleu ($28.50) literally looked like something you could get at a diner, right down to the upside-down-cup-shaped mound of orange rice. Literally everything except the bread looked and tasted like a reheated frozen TV dinner, not like something made fresh for us. Even the drinks, which should be easy - I got a Pom-Fizz which is supposed to be made fizzy with champagne or sparkling wine, I forget which - either they forgot it or they used something old, because it was completely flat. It was good actually -but it was flat, and the maraschino cherry at the bottom was the cheap kind, not the kind you find in a drink from a quality cocktail establishment. We had to ask for water, and ketchup, and my husbands second glass of wine, so id call the service unremarkable. It was not crowded, 7pm on a Monday on the first day back from a blizzard. They were quick, Ill say that for them - so I guess if you are in a hurry before the theatre this might be just the ticket. Bumping them up to 3 stars for that, and the high ceilings which are unusual. Also - the decor has changed. It really used to have a lovely bistro-authentic look that made me feel like I was back in Paris. Theyve changed something - painted, reupholstered, tried to update it somehow - and the yellow walls, orange banquettes, yellow-orange pillars etc. make it hard to remember that true antique-y bistro feel. They obviously chose a decorator "on the cheap" or did it themselves - a mistake, for it does not look authentic or even nice anymore. The restaurant is certainly spacious and you do not get that claustrophobic feeling many other restaurants induce. I guess if it is competing with like a TGI Fridays for tourists in Times Square, perhaps it does OK. I was hoping for the Parisian bistro I remembered from the 90s and 00s tonight. But, I moved to Brooklyn in and I prefer farm to table now anyway, LOL.
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Chris Panila
My wife and I ended up going here on count of poor weather predictions / this place being like 2 steps from Belasco Theatre. The interior was basically pretty nice. I had an idea what we were in for when I saw all the tables had a cup full of crayons waiting. Unfortunately, Id rather be sitting at a chain like Macaroni Grill with those crayons. The food was pretty poor and the restaurant overall fit the overpriced tourist trap theme I usually prefer to avoid. The one good thing I can say is if youre looking for good, quick service for an early dinner, it works. Our waiter was polite and attentive. Dinner; Wifey got Moules Frites... bit salty but mostly tasty, but the fries were horrible. I actually stared in surprise at the fry plate for a second because I had a high school cafeteria flashback. The flashback was right... in addition to the flavor slap, the stack of fry boxes left out near the bathroom confirmed they were el cheapo, frozen, worse-than-McDonalds variety. I got Poulet Cordon Bleu... which would have been more edible if they didnt douse it with a full cup of creamy mustard sauce. Im also 99% sure the brussels sprouts that came with the meal were Steamfresh microwav--I mean, uh, freshly imported veggies from France, from garden to table. Dessert; Wife got some sort of lady finger chocolate cake, which was decently good. I got New York cheesecake (at a "French" restaurant), which was OK. It tasted like one of those low fat cheesecakes your Mom brings to Thanksgiving because she thinks its healthier. Recommendation; dont go here... its like choosing to pay $30 per entree for a meal youd likely find in an office building café or high school cafeteria. Maybe I just made poor choices or we came so early that a bus boy was cooking dinner, who knows. If youre not picky, hungry, and in a rush... it will work, just dont expect an actual French restuarant. The menu really fooled us, though. Oh well... at least Hedwig and the Angry Inch was pretty amazing and made up for our sad dinner.
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Sean Hackbarth
Went there for breakfast/brunch on a Sunday (around 11:00 AM). Seats were available, service was very prompt, and the food was just what you would expect on a Sunday morning: nothing crazy gourmet, but satisfying and properly portioned. My wife had the Crepes Hollandaise and a vanilla latte (thought this would be similar to a vanilla chai latte...that was not the case). Eggs were cooked just right and portioned well for just one person. I had the Pancake Breakfast but (and I STRONGLY recommend this...) I substituted the vanilla corn flake french toast for the pancakes. Came with choice of 2 eggs (scrambled), bacon, ham, or sausage (bacon), homefries, toast, juice and coffee. They offer both regular OJ and fresh-squeezed (at additional cost). Tea selection was meager, but acceptable (Chinese Green). Following the tremendous breakfast was a Creme Brulee that was cooked PERFECTLY. A subtle and sweet way to conclude the meal, with another cup of tea (Earl Grey). The decor was simple French, with a modern comfortable feel. There is more seating than the pictures reflect. From the host to the server and busboy, the service was accommodating and timely. You never felt rushed, nor did you have to wait for your order; in fact, the food came out quickly and was hot and ready-to-eat!
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Maya Peterson
TERRIBLE! I rarely review but this was such a poor experience I had to! Just got back from brunch--there is a reason there are plenty of reservations available and open tables! Service was prompt when we sat down, ordered quickly and bread and drinks came out fast. Ordered food, and then waited 45 min for the food for a party of 3! 45 min! Two orders of eggs Benedict and both had hard boiled yolks! Quiche was fine, but come on! They offered us dessert for free but we had already been there so incredibly long we didnt have time. We complained about the eggs and all they did was take off the charge for two regular coffees (so what, maybe $4)! The manager was rude when I asked about our food and obviously has no respect for the fact that people have choices and that Im paying you for a service. McDonalds has MUCH food for a MUCH lower cost. Save yourselves the trouble and money and time!
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Jackie Gordon Singing Chef
Do not eat here. The food and the service for breakfast was not good. The host looked like he was being punished. When he came to the "greet" us he looked like he could have been a disgruntled diner trying to flee the restaurant. The service was deplorable although our main server who had a pleasant demeanor. When people order coffee at breakfast they want their coffee NOW! Wait, wait, wait...They got the order wrong. Asked for half & half three times. Just before they served our food, they informed me that they did not have what I ordered. The waiter suggested the Eggs Benedict -- his favorite -- which may have been the saddest one I ever had. They did not have Canadian bacon so they cut a piece of ham to look like Canadian bacon with what appeared to be a hack saw. Terrible grainy Hollandaise. Diner home fries... I could go on, but you get the picture.