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Home > Restaurants > Café d'Alsace

All Reader Reviews of...

Café d'Alsace

1695 Second Ave., New York, NY, 10128
at 88th St.
212-722-5133

Avg. Rating

7
Food: 8
Service: 7
Décor: 7
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

100% would go back.

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Great food and convivial atmosphere

By DianaK on 4/17/2012

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

The food is authentic, tasty and fresh. The portions significant and the prices moderate--you get a lot of delicious food for the money. The menu is extensive but not overly so. Service was wonderful--efficient and friendly. Atmosphere is warm and inviting. Highly recommended.

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7 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Descent French Bistro and Delectable Scallops

By ElizabethJane on 1/18/2012

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 7
  • Service: 6
  • Décor: 4
  • Yes, I would go back!

On my first experience participating in restaurant week I decided to embark on a journey to Cafe d'Alsace and made a contentious effort to take in the quality of food instead of the service. I found the pan seared diver sea scallops with truffle mash potato and grapefruit vinaigrette was an interesting appetizer that has potential to be a larger entree. Unfortunately the truffle was not mixed well and each bite of potato was either bland or had a punch of truffle. The scallop was cooked to perfection and I will return just for another bite. The wild mushroom ravioli was the perfect portion but the over barring amount of shaved raggiano was too much for such a thin layer of pasta. It resulted in a texture that was more of a blend of mushrooms where no actual ravioli formation could be found. The classic tarte tatin for dessert was neither tart nor sweet, and unfortunately I am unable to describe it. However, I am not an accurate judge when it comes to the sweet category but my dinner companions raved about the warm hazelnut and chocolate tart. In conclusion, Cafe d'Alsace had it's moments, particularly the scallops, but next time I would consider coming back for the lunch menu, in which case I would find the price range appropriate for its quality.

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9 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Avait une expérience ravissante

By esquared on 2/28/2011

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

went there for the culinary "tour de france" and stinky cheese festival on a friday night without reservation, but was seated anyway, with the caveat that we only had two hours for that table. food is great -- this particular restaurant focuses Alsatian french fare and they did a good job doing so. thus, food is great, service is excellent. have an extensive wine and beer list. the wine list are priced from affordable to really really expensive. only downside, at east to me, is the crowd. well, it's on the upper east side, so i'll just leave it a that. nonetheless, overall, had a delightful experience. One of the best, thus far, on the culinary tour de france.

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17 out of 35 people found this review helpful.

Well Worth the wait

By Nicolen25 on 6/26/2009

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

Cafe D'alsace had excellent food the night I went. While I hear that during brunch/lunch time the service is excellent, at night they are slightly understaffed and don't pay enough attention to the outside tables (we ate in the summer), the food we finally received after waiting for some time was excellent. For starters definitely get the smoked fish platter and escargot. The the entree, the pork shank and ox tail literally melts in your mouth. The atmosphere is comforting and youthful, but loud. its probably a better idea to eat outside. If you have the patience and aren't in a hurry, definitely give this restaurant a try.

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68 out of 114 people found this review helpful.

Quality, standard French fare at a decent value

By bionictrout on 6/7/2009

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 7
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

The food is well-prepared, if not terribly creative. The service is friendly, but awkward at times, and bordering on over-attentive. The cafe is reminiscent of a typical French cafe, only a little loud and cramped with the tightly arranged tables and lack of divisions. The $35 prix fixe menu is a good value, but the a la carte prices are probably higher than I would pay for the food quality. I had artichoke soup, lamb chops and creme brulee--all standard cafe fare.

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43 out of 88 people found this review helpful.

Best experience in a long time

By JaredMiller27 on 2/23/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

I loved this place from the old Alsatian beer signs on the wall to the gently lit selzer bottles above the bar. The beer sommolier was ecstatic to pair every course for us and we tried some really weird beers (all but the smoked beer were loved). The food was generous in portions and I could have used without so much pork in every dish, but was exactly what I wanted...great tasting, not too expensive and a lot of it. My waiter was extremely helpful in every aspect although I didn't like hearing the specials three times...the tables are too close but it is still fun to be in a place with so much energy and really hot-looking people all around me. Do yourself a favor and go to the Upper East side for this delight

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185 out of 499 people found this review helpful.

What beer pairing??

By JENRD on 10/27/2006

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

The beer sommelier was too busy having dinner & a glass of wine at the bar behind us to finish pairing beer with our meal (which he had told us he was going to do). We got aperitif and appetizer beers, but sat there waiting during our main course. My husband (thankfully a chef w/ a propensity towards good beer) expertly paired our desserts with a beer. Would go back for the food, but will steer clear of the "beer sommelier".

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191 out of 447 people found this review helpful.

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