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All Reader Reviews of...
Bouley
163 Duane St., New York, NY, 10013
nr. Hudson St.
212-964-2525
| 7.2 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Not What It Used To Be
JudgeJudy from 11229 | Posted on 11/21/09
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I used to treat myself to either the lunch or dinner prix fixe tasting menu. Boy, has the quality of food gone down. A fatty piece of steak that I paid $25 extra for! Very slow service. I'll be going to the Duane Park Cafe across the street instead; they are consistently good and not grossly over-priced as Bouley is.
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$48 Prix fix lunch was generous and nearly excellent
HowardN from 17110 | Posted on 10/12/09
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I went with a friend for the prix fix lunch. We were greeted in the apple room (intoxicating), and taken almost immediately to a beautiful table under a french landscape. We had glasses of champagne, an amuse, and a nice bread selection. For the appetizer we ordered porcini flan with crab and a dashi/truffle sauce. It was sublime, and set an impossible standard for the rest of the meal. Each mouthful was awakening, novel, and nirvana-like. Next I had the buttery skate in a slightly acidic passion fruit sauce with fava (good) , then two thick slices of roast duck, (great with the 1st cru burgundy), then a wonderful yogurt ice cream over blackberry granite'. All this was then followed by an overwhelming multi-stage dessert. The dessert course (mousse, three ice creams, brullee, confections tower, truffles) was just too much, and nearly eradicated any sense of what came before. Even so, I will long remeber the porcini flan with crab, and the luscious crispy duck. The $48 p.f. for two with champagne, wine, coffee, and tax came to $194 before tip.
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Splurge Elsewhere
mitchellk from 10003 | Posted on 6/23/09
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There is a reason why many people give Bouley mixed reviews. The taste of the food is relatively dull and there is a ridiculously long wait in between courses - to the point where you no longer want the food and the meal just drags on. The positives were the bluefin, salmon, farm egg and the chocolate frivolous. The rest of the meal fell short in a variety of ways, including lack of seasoning and flavor . Perhaps the shellfish dishes, which my wife is allergic to, taste better. Unfortunately, we almost found out since, despite noting this during our reservation and to our server (who assured us it would not be a problem), she was served a dish containing scallops anyway. It was sheer luck that we caught the mistake before my wife would have spent our first anniversary in the hospital. Bouley does not meet expectations and will disappoint, especially for the price.
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Outstanding
porque from 27604 | Posted on 6/3/09
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I was in NYC on business and was taken to Bouley by my business colleague. I had not heard of the restaurant or the chef, so I had no preconceptions. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the food, the food, the FOOD - it was out of this world. Truly one of the best meals I have enjoyed in my lifetime. I am looking forward to going back on my next trip to NYC.
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hmmmmm....
amelialocks from Upper West | Posted on 5/21/09
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I want so badly to madly love Bouley. The interior is impeccable, designed beautifully and very warm and inviting. The service is unbeatable, with smiles and questions answered whenever you need someone. The wine list is well put together and we had three spectacular bottles. The bathroom is so perfect, with it's central divan, and authentic antiquity, that I didn't want to leave - I wanted to hang out. In the lounge of the bathroom. That's saying a lot. However, the main event: The Food, left a smidgen to be desired. The Ahi tuna and mushroom flan starters are perfect. Perfect! But the oyster starter and most of the main courses were under-flavored. The cod was just bland (boring). The lobster dish was the best among them, and pretty good. Dessert was superb. And you cannot beat the apple-room upon entering and leaving. Dinner for 4: $600 Will return, but now we'll know that Bouley, despite it's reputation and price, is not perfect.
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$48 prix fixe lunch is a steal
suzanned8 from 07302 | Posted on 5/8/09
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Wonderful food, lovely service—Bouley is back! I'm not sure where the other reviewers are eating . . . it could not have been lovelier. This is our first time in the new space at 163 Duane (we'd been for lunch a couple of times in the old space). Delicious seasonal food, wonderful combinations, a good wine list . . . what more could you ask for. Go, and go for lunch, NOW.
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Not impressed at all.
zagoren from 10001 | Posted on 5/4/09
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Had a 8:45 reservation. We were told to wait 20 minutes and have a drink at Secession (which Bouley owns). They asked for our cell # and never called. After waiting 45 minutes in the other bar, we came back just to see what was up. The hostess said we have a lovely intimate table ready for you when we showed up. She tried seating us in the basesment which has all the aesthetics of a waiting room at grand central. I had specifically asked for table in the main dining room when i made the reservation. Then Then they tried to seat us at a huge circular table up front (a table for 8). We held out for a nice table with some privacy. The food was all too much foam and eggs and silk (flan) for me. nothing was fresh or evocative of the earth. When they brought bread around the said "Would you like some bread from The Bakery". And they insisted we take a leave behind bread from "The Bakery". Seems a little obvious as a cross-sell. the waitstaff is excellent. the food...meh.... And they OVERBOOK and send you to a sister bar. shameless.
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Birthday delight
mbreit37 from 10280 | Posted on 4/21/09
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My husband and I had a wonderfully enjoyable evening at Bouley tonight. We were celebrating my 60th birthday, and wanted the dining experience to be special. The quality and taste of the food, service, and ambience far exceeded our expectations. My husband had the six-course tasting menu, and I had the seafood appetizer, the LI duck, and the chocolate souffle. Superb! The fragrant aromas, different food textures, and various taste sensations were a delight. The service was exquisite. Robert was informative, helped us make our selections by describing the food and its preparation and presentation, and infused some humor into our interactions (which we very much appreciated). Thanks to all for a great time, including the birthday desert plate. Now my husband wants to celebrate his next birthday at Bouley!
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bda price/service and food value
joachimhackl from 07950 | Posted on 11/9/08
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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.
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Disappointing
wanderkinder from 11910 | Posted on 8/11/08
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Perhaps it is unfair to compare it to the likes of the 3* Michelin/19-20 hat Gault Millau restaurants or even Per Se which we had just experienced prior to here, but there was no denying that the food was less than stellar. Tried too hard on flavor combinations so that natural flavors didn't come through, foie gras tasted like a lump of lard and was undercooked, souffle was more like molten chocolate cake. Waiter was offended we asked for sommelier's assistance and made snide remarks about it. Other service was up to professional and up to par. Decor was going for old world charm, but just wound up looking like it needs a face lift. The breads were good. Overall we thought it was rather overpriced for what we got.
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