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Upstairs at Bouley

Critics' Pick

130 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013 40.716691 -74.008341
at Duane St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
work212-219-1011 Send to Phone

Cuisine: American Traditional, French, Japanese/Sushi
Price Range:
$$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Critics' Rating:
*
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
7.6 out of 10
|
8 Reviews | Write a Review

Photo by Andrew Karcie

Map Rate & Review

Official Website

davidbouley.com

Hours

Mon-Fri, 5:30pm-11:30pm; Sat, 11am-4pm and 5:30pm-11:30pm; Sun, 11am-4pm

Prices

$18-$30

Payment Methods

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Brunch - Weekend
Celeb-Spotting
Hot Spot
Notable Chef
Open Kitchens / Watch the Chef

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

Upstairs at Bouley seems to be a jumble of all of David Bouley's grandiose notions, in miniature form. A tattered carpet leads to the small dining space upstairs, where a sushi bar is jammed into one corner of the room, the open kitchen in another. The menu is a schizophrenic mingling of sushi, salads, Japanese hors d’oeuvres, and various specialties, including a new “Bouley Burger.” There’s a decent selection of Continental salads—order the one made with wild mushrooms and a spritzing of truffle dressing, or the asparagus set over pieces of blue crab and a rich parsley sauce. The larger entrées at Upstairs are mostly small, restrained versions of the kind of dishes Bouley is famous for. End your meal the way many people seem to do at this haphazardly endearing little restaurant: with a taste of palate-cleansing sushi. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Extra

The sushi is professionally done, and includes Kobe beef "sushi" gently seared and topped with a crunchy nickel of garlic.

Brunch

Sat.–Sun., 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Recommended Dishes

Japanese nanzenji tofu, $8.50; wild-mushroom salad, $7.95; Wellfleet line-caught halibut, $15

Bouley gets a lot of flack but this spot has the best combination of informal atmosphere and upscale food with lots of flavor. Always seasonal and interesting with great flavor. Try the japanese tofu soup and the halibut. Also, if you are looking for a non traditional dessert this is your place. The "downstairs" of upstairs is a little roomier, but upstairs has its own intimate charm if you don't mind feeling like you're in Bouley's kitchen itself, sizzling, steam and scents included. And remember there are no reservations.

Upstairs at Bouley

Varied quality offerings at fair prices

chunkybeefstyle from 10065 | Posted on 10/25/09

Overall Rating: 108 (Recommended)


Food:	9
Service:	5

Décor:	8

Value:	8

Food was terrific - quality ingredients, robust flavors, appropriate portions. Broad selection suits just about any palate. Big plus is the ambience of the upstairs room - open kitchens infuse the room with wonderful smells. Don't settle for the bar area on the first floor! Upstairs is worth the wait. Only down side was service - slow slow slow. Would have been a problem if we were on a schedule. Nonetheless, would go back in a heartbeat.

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