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All Reader Reviews of...
Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY, 10023
nr. 64th St.
212-595-0303
| 5.0 | "Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Below expectations
clingingchickens from 10023 | Posted on 10/28/09
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Perhaps it was the high expectations coming in that resulted in this mixed rating. We got a last minute reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. Friendly staff was helpful though the noise level kept me from hearing anything of the specials and wine recommendations. I recommend the charcuterie (get the country pate and rabbit terrine) and scallop salad which were very enjoyable. The Black and White Tasting of blood sausage and white truffle sausage was a treat as well. The other dishes we ordered were over-portioned and lacking in flavor. Of the six desserts we ordered, the Floating Island is the only one I'd recommend. The wood vault and faux gabions have a nice reference to French rural in contrast to the sidewalk seating grid a la European plaza dining. Wood dining tables without the table cloth is a nice more casual touch as well.
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Dissapointing!
Dominicanfoodlover from 10036 | Posted on 7/26/09
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Arrived at 9pm and were immediately seated outside as requested. Unfortunately, the meal was disappointing. Should have listened to Mr. Platt and partaken only of the charcuterie. Instead, my friend ordered the crab salad and I the beef tartare. After two bites of salad she could not continue so I traded her my slightly bland but decent tartare. The crab salad's summer melon sauce so overpowered the mildly sweet crab that I picked at the crab meat, completely avoiding the sauce. Entrees took 40 minutes to arrive but they appeased us with Lyon specialty sausage in brioche, which was quite good. My wild striped bass was good if unremarkable; my unfortunate friend's tagliatelle with berkshire pork bolognese was just bad. The bolognese was so flavorless that the meat only served to infuse the pasta with the taste of animal fat. She had only a few bites, so we ordered the chocolate tart and the fromage blanc tart which were good. IÂ’ve eaten at all of Mr. BouludÂ’s restaurants and generally love the food. I feel his name and reputation would be better served if Bar Boulud focused on what it does well: wine and charcuterie.
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We were disappointed
jenn_brak from 06812 | Posted on 5/3/09
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Unfortunately, we had a poor experience with Bar Boulud last evening. We went for a pre-theater meal with reservations. Though the food was fine and some was even quite good, our service and wait between courses was appaling. We were continually out of water and other beverages. We waited a little over 40 minutes in betweeen our appetizer and second course. Our waiter told us three times that the food was coming right out, and then it would never appear. A table seated right behind us had the same problems, but other tables in our immediate vicinty were seated and had completed their meals by the time our two tables were fed. I was quite disappointed. Though our waiter apologized, not one other person from the restaurant appeared. They did give us a gratis plate of cookies at the end of the meal as an apology. However, by that time curtain was so close, we did not really have time to enjoy them.
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eh wouldnt go back
Pefac from 10025 | Posted on 3/30/09
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i wouldnt go as far as some of the other reviews and see it was awful, but it does kind of disgrace the Daniel Boulud name. Service was extremely lacking (which in this economy is extrememly important if a restaurant wants to survive). Food was good but not something to rave about or memorable. and decor was boring. they made me sit at the bar to eat with my friend b/c they said they were booked, but there was a table for two open when we arrived and that same table was open when we left. i eyed it the whole night and no one ever sat down on it. the hostess seemed to be preoccupied with pretending to be on the phone instead of helping the customer. It seems the tactic is to just keep giving you bread to keep your mouth occupied so that the servers did not have to interact with the customers. Again it wasnt bad, but just not worth the price, for the average quality food and low quality service. I honestly have had better service at Fridays than there.
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Staff was excellent with exception of maitre d'
suttenbergr from 10010 | Posted on 1/14/09
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The maitre d' was unhelpful, rude and dismissive when we asked for a different table which was offered. (While we were talking to him, he took a phone call and completely ignored us.). (We made reservations about 10 days prior.) There were several empty booths which were being saved by people who had "requested them". His assistant was extremely helpful and nice and finally seated us at a booth. The rest of the staff was also very friendly and attentive, but the maitre d' turned me off to this restaurant.
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Brunch is a better time to go
douleurexquise from 10001 | Posted on 8/30/08
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I was surprised to see the negative reviews of Bar Boulud! But I went at brunch time, choosing this place to take my boyfriend's mom for a classy birthday brunch. I wasn't in love with the service (hostess a little intimidating and slow food service) but the food itself was very good. I got the herb omelet, while others had the cuisse de canard a l’oeuf mollet and oeufs florentine . Everything was very delicious. I am SO PICKY about my restaurant experiences and feel bad that I don't agree 100% with everyone else. Maybe I'd have the same experience at dinner? I won't bother to try though and get disappointed.
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Customer reviews hit the nail on the head
linus809 from 10025 | Posted on 8/13/08
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My wife and I found it amazing that this joint continues to attract a crowd even though critics (see NY Mag review) and customers alike have panned this place. Even the pate was not all that special. Honestly, it wasn't altogether that much different from the packaged pate one might find at Zabars or Fairway. The food and wine were pretty decent overall, both in taste and presentation, but not living up to Boulud's standards. What really detracted from the experience, though, was the ambiance. Granted, my wife and I weren't seated in the best place -- our table was along a high traffic pathway -- but still, the high noise level and boisterousness of the place detracted from what would have been an acceptable (but not overwhelmingly delectable) meal. Perhaps its location and brand name is what keeps this place going. A far, far better and nearby alternative, in both food and ambiance, is Picholine. People, please, if you are going to spend a decent chunk of change on a meal, at least spend it at a place that delivers on taste and surroundings.
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Disappointed
r_f from 10023 | Posted on 2/28/08
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This is actually the first review I've written and it's probably because of the extreme disappointment I experienced at Bar Boulud. As a Lincoln Center-area resident I had high hopes. However, from the beginning the place failed to live up to its promise. The hostess had serious attitude (she was quite snippy, and it wasn't even a particularly busy time of evening) and was the opposite of welcoming. The food was surprisingly tasteless. The sommelier could not stop talking about wine (he seemed to be trying to show off his knowledge, without saying much of actual interest), but then forgot to actually open and pour the wine that we ordered. Daniel himself was hovering nearby and back-slapping other seemingly satisfied patrons, but maybe the emperor wore no clothes? In the end, we decided to skip out without dessert - good move, as pinkberry was more satisfying than the entire dinner experience.
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Bar? Bad!!!!
martin_chamois from West 50's | Posted on 2/21/08
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The new Daniel Boulud place is in fact not a wine bar. With the bistro overflowing with people wanting to taste Lyon-style menu, the entrance area including the front seating area becomes crowded. Part of the current problem appears to be overbooking, waiters struggling resulting in overall poor service. The menu does not disappoint in providing traditional French bistro fare with a heavy Lyon regional focus. The food itself is fine - nothing spectacular as one has come to expect at Daniel's dining places. Nothing is really off, but then again nothing seemed to blow us away. The list of pates is interesting and the pates are quite well made. The classic escargots are fine, but nothing out of the ordinary. The coq a vin was also acceptable, but we have had better. The boudin blanc - a real test of a bistro - was moist and tasty, but the singular sausage on a large plate with minimal accompaniments looked lonesome and quite inadequate as a $24 main course. While even the best places struggle getting out of the starting blocks, a place with Boulud in its name that struggles as badly as Bar Boulud is unexpected.
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As long as they stop serving plates of attitude...
humbleopine from 10011 | Posted on 2/15/08
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So we went on a snowy, rainy, Tues thinking it would be fairly easy to walk in. It is not made comfortable for ppl waiting, so keep that in mind & make sure to have a back up place if you donÂ’t have a reservation. I do not mind being told that there is a two hour wait, I live in NY. However, I DO mind being told in a snotty, patronizing manner. The only reason I would give this place another chance is because I have had wonderful experiences at Daniel, & Cafe Boulud and found Daniel Boulud to be rather personable to his patrons. In my humble opinion it was a poor decision hiring a snotty hostess, whose bun must be too tight or the chopsticks in her hair have turned off her hospitality 101 button. There are enough wine bars with a warm atmosphere & diverse menus; I donÂ’t need attitude when IÂ’ve worked 12 hours and all I would like is a really nice glass of red with some great charcuterie and/or food. For me, great food is only a component of why I patronize a place.
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