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All Reader Reviews of...

Café Luxembourg

200 W. 70th St., New York, NY, 10023
nr. Amsterdam Ave.
212-873-7411

Avg. Rating

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

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

72% would go back.

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The Sated Stargazer

By odile on 2/12/2003

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Antonio Banderas was at the next table. Enough said. But I'll elaborate. For starters, Cafe Luxembourg is less a simple "cafe" than a "brasserie." The decor is authentic French gone Hollywood; it's certainly not gaudy, but mirrors and gold are everywhere. Well-groomed upper west siders and the occasional celebrity or two make up the clientele. It's a group of people you'll feel lucky to join for dinner. And the wait staff are a sophisticated bunch: no pompous airs at all, just attentive service and the practiced ability to serve the rich and famous without batting an eyelash. But nor will they bat an eyelash if you share an entree and decline wine. Equally reliable is the food; there's something for everyone and none of those I'm-going-to-prove-what-a-unique-chef-I-am-even-if-it's-inedible menu items. Staples like roast chicken, steak frites and tuna tartare are excellent. In short, you can be a gourmand while enjoying great service and glamorous company. Or to put it more appropriately, you can have your cake and eat it too.

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204 out of 374 people found this review helpful.

Neighorhood Standard

By CityPixie on 3/28/2003

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Cafe Luxembourg is the kind of spot where you meet your accountant (or lawyer) for lunch on Friday, stop in for a drink after the movies (or opera) on Saturday, and hang out with your friends for bruch on Sunday. The menu offers standard bistro favories like all day omlettes and gourmet BLTs. Their service is relaxed (as in they don't rush you) and professional. It feels like an uptown Odeon complete with the neighborhood celebs and always ambient lighting.

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221 out of 433 people found this review helpful.

Something Wrong in Luxembourg

By martin_chamois on 6/17/2003

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

This Upper Westside bistro is living on past memories and customers who are undemanding. While the decor is spot on for a Paris or even Luxembourg City bistro, the food is mass-market fast food chain standards. This is more an entertainment park theme restaurant than a real bistro. The only saving grace is the attentive wait staff, which deserves to work in a better restaurant. Perhaps the mature Lincoln Center clientele enjoys mediocrity, but everyone else should avoid this place until the management cleans house in the kitchen.

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228 out of 432 people found this review helpful.

Cafe Luxembourg

By sahw on 7/27/2003

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 6
  • Yes, I would go back!

Haven't been here in years, but nothing has changed. The food and service are still excellent. The sign of a good restaurant is consistency, and Cafe Luxembourg is definitely consistent. Brunch is a must with a great tuna salad nicoise, and the Prix Fixe $20.03 is a real draw and a great value. Treat yourself to the desserts, especially the Sundae.

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235 out of 468 people found this review helpful.

Too Much Tradition

By centralpark on 10/11/2003

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 4
  • No, I would not go back!

They aren't try to do anything at all. The service isn't good, yet it's packed. It has good word of mouth and pricey entrees. The food is mediocre and you'd better watch what they put down in front of you because it probably isn't what you ordered or how you wanted it. BEWARE!

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235 out of 513 people found this review helpful.

Poor food, mediocre service

By severdia on 1/2/2004

  • Overall Rating: 2
  • Food: 1
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 3
  • No, I would not go back!

My wife and I went there for New Year's Eve and they had switched out the usual menu for a special menu. When there were no prices, we didn't assume anything bad, giving them the benefit of the doubt. The filet mignon was way overcooked. The maitre'd was rude. The service was slow and forgetful (like waiting 10 minutes for spoons after receiving our soups). Unexcusable for the $75 a person they charged us, which didn't even include drinks!

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278 out of 511 people found this review helpful.

Good value in a neighborhood filled with bad food.

By yoyobunny on 1/9/2004

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

Not many great french restaurants in the upper west side- and this one has always been my favorite as it is consistent, friendly, and on top of it has the best breakfast in the neighborhood. The scones with cream, hot coffee and a poached egg or two in the morning are superlative. There is never a wait and it tends to be calm and quiet with only a few locals in attendance. This is my favorite meal at this classic and longtime restaurant.

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416 out of 767 people found this review helpful.

Luxembourgeoisie!

By newyorkbrit on 3/29/2004

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

A lovely atmosphere, but I think far away from its heyday. The brunch/breakfast menu is really just average and the coffee always seems too stewed. As for lunch, well price-wise the $20.04 lunch menu is great value, but often the choices seem banal and a little too quick to come out. The Luxemburger is a house-favourite and will always please.

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371 out of 768 people found this review helpful.

Still shining after all these years

By UWSider on 11/22/2004

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

Cafe Luxembourg has been around for decades it seems, and yet it still never misses a beat. The service is friendly and helpful and the food is always just what you hope for from a great French bistro. For those who like spacious dining rooms, this might not be there first choice, but I find the whole place buzzing with happy diners enjoying consistently excellent food.

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376 out of 779 people found this review helpful.

holiday brunch for seven

By foodaholic on 1/2/2005

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

Always dependable food, always reliable service. Especially good brunch choice.Occasional celebrity sighting adds to fun. Best cosmo in city.

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405 out of 796 people found this review helpful.

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