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All Reader Reviews of...

DB Bistro Moderne

55 W. 44th St., New York, NY, 10036
nr. Fifth Ave.
212-391-2400

Avg. Rating

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

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

70% would go back.

 Write your own review

Truly unique and decadent burger

By ManhattanMiss on 8/8/2011

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

Really, you should try it just to say you have. I'd like it better with less short rib, which I found a bit overpowering, but still so worth it. Also, we had both the fries and the pommes souffles (a cross between fries and potato chips -- amazing!) and I would definitely recommend going with the souffles. They were unlike anything I'd had before. I like that DB Bistro has the perks of a fine dining establishment (amuse bouche and petits fours), but the ambiance is not at all stuffy, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. We both liked our wines but preferred my Napa Cab with the burger.

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31 out of 59 people found this review helpful.

db Moderne Bistro

By restaurantfairy on 10/30/2010

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

Chef Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne in mid-town, is a perfect lunch spot where French cuisine meets the American palate to create delightfully flavored food. Chef Oliver Muller, has created a seasonal menu that is really marvelous. The interiors are modern with very clean lines though quarters can get very cramped, especially in the back room. The service is very warm and friendly (very cute waiters with charming smiles!). I recommend going for the pre-fix lunch as food here can get pretty pricey. I went to db Bistro Moderne during the NYC winter restaurant week and got a great deal on lunch. Though we didn’t try the Original db Burger, it’s meant to be the dish to eat here. Perhaps next time…….. For pictures and more food details click on this link: http://therestaurantfairy.com/2010/02/04/db-moderne-bistro/

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37 out of 80 people found this review helpful.

a classy staple

By ceh on 6/21/2007

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

I've been to db for both lunch a dinner a few times, and I haven't had a bad experience yet. The service is about what one would expect- not overly stiff but still has an upscale(ish) feeling. I am a huge fan of the fois gras burger, but the other dishes are equally enjoyable. It can get loud at times, especially during lunch-hour rush or pre-theater, so go a little later if you're looking for a more intimate meal. Presentation of dishes is superb, and the dishes are a little unique- they add a slight twist to traditional French food. db is my "safety" restaurant when choosing a place for a special occassion or a fancier meal. I always walk away satisfied and happy.

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365 out of 775 people found this review helpful.

Food excels though buzz is gone

By wny56 on 2/28/2007

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

When I dined here two years ago, this restaurant was abuzz with people. The crowd noise was at a high level and the food was too. I dined here recently and was surprised that the restaurant was not full of patrons-maybe it was because of the very cold weather. However, it was a positive that one could now hear one's conversation. The food was still on a high level. The yellowfin tuna was precisely grilled and the scallops were great. And the chocolate clafoutis for dessert still rules.

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400 out of 786 people found this review helpful.

A brilliant idea...

By huntleysf on 10/11/2003

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

..to provide first-rate French cuisine, quick and sassy, in a hip setting for the pre-theater crowd. DB really is the ideal updated bistro, with great presentation and flavors. It's amazing that this food is so much like the upscale food at Daniel, but there is a bit of sticker shock. You're paying for pretty glamorous food without the glamorous setting. I would go over and over if I had a show to catch, but I'd spend the same money in a fancier place otherwise.

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458 out of 881 people found this review helpful.

db Moderne Bistro

By restaurantfairy on 10/30/2010

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

Chef Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne in mid-town, is a perfect lunch spot where French cuisine meets the American palate to create delightfully flavored food. Chef Oliver Muller, has created a seasonal menu that is really marvelous. The interiors are modern with very clean lines though quarters can get very cramped, especially in the back room. The service is very warm and friendly (very cute waiters with charming smiles!). I recommend going for the pre-fix lunch as food here can get pretty pricey. I went to db Bistro Moderne during the NYC winter restaurant week and got a great deal on lunch. Though we didn’t try the Original db Burger, it’s meant to be the dish to eat here. Perhaps next time…….. For pictures and more food details click on this link: http://therestaurantfairy.com/2010/02/04/db-moderne-bistro/

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46 out of 83 people found this review helpful.

Good

By omeko3 on 6/19/2007

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

I have been there many times, the foie gras burger is amazing. One time I decided to stray from the usual and chose a lobster salad that was quite good and the duck which was mediocre. The service there is usually pretty good, nothing special but nothing bad about it. Stick with the foie gras burger and you cannot go wrong.

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419 out of 784 people found this review helpful.

Am I supposed to ask?

By charmpastry on 6/5/2009

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 6
  • No, I would not go back!

The good: nice soup The bad: Too cramped. Slow service. Dry salmon. Thin sauce. The worst: Although too full for dessert, we saw that the neighboring table received a small plate of mignardises at the completion of their meal. In lieu of dessert, I thought I would save space in my tummy for the mignardise instead (normally, complimentary at any fine dining establishment, like amuse bouches are). Alas, we were not given any, just the bill after we declined dessert. Upon leaving, I asked the server if mignardises are only offered to those who ordered dessert, and she said "yes usually, but did you want some, you could have just asked..." Last time I checked, I should not have to ASK for items which should be complimentary to ALL the customers, not just select ones. I would expect more from any calibre of restaurant associated with Chef Boulud. Had I known that I would not receive them, I would have ordered dessert...

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79 out of 170 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing Over Hyped Hamburger

By TL12345 on 8/2/2005

  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

In all honesty, you are not missing anything if you skip DB Moderne. I was lured by the false promise of foie gras in my burger, however at closer inspection, the less than thumb nail sized portion barely is worth the added expense. My after thought is that one should go to Whole Foods and buy some fresh sirloin and go to town for $8/lb as opposed to $30 for a single hamburger and a few fries. My suggestion to all is to skip the over priced, over hyped burger at DB and if you really want a treat, try something unique like the corner bistro burger for less than $5. End of the day, you will have more in your pocket and less headache for having traveled to midtown.

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406 out of 815 people found this review helpful.

No, no and no! Deep-fried everything!

By Froop on 5/9/2012

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

We are big fans of Daniel Boulud (love Cafe Boulud and Boulud Sud!) and therefore respectfully entreat him to remove his name from this establishment. We ate here for a pre-theatre dinner with our two adult sons and all four of us were woefully underwhelmed. Every entree seemed to have somehow passed into a vat of sizzling oil - my Duck Confit looked and tasted like a corn dog more than like anything that should pass through the portal of a Daniel Boulud restaurant. The desserts were pre-fab and tasteless. There really aren't any great options in the Theatre District so I was hoping for a win here, but this is not the place. It was crowded, not sparkling clean by any means, service was kind of spotty. Just no. No. Don't go.

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16 out of 30 people found this review helpful.

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