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All Reader Reviews of...

Upstairs at Bouley

130 West Broadway, New York, NY, 10013
at Duane St.
212-219-1011

Avg. Rating

8
Food: 8
Service: 6
Décor: 8
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

88% would go back.

 Write your own review

Good brunch selection, Poor dinner selection

By jaredroussel on 12/6/2006

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

Upstairs at Bouley is in the building adjacent to Bouley restaurant on West Broadway & Duane Street above the Bouley bakery. Bouley offers a wonderful menu with great service, and this is what I expected in more of a casual, quick meal. However, I must say I was quite disappointed. The price for the meal here wasn't exactly cheap (running a good $20-25 per person for brunch, and $35-45 per person for dinner), and I don't feel that I was offered the best service or selection here in comparison to Bouley or even other comparable restaurants. A friend and I had brunch here, and I ordered the hamburger which was really good and uniquely seasoned, but then I found that the fusion of French and Japanese for dinner wasn't something I particularly cared for. It just didn't hit the right spot. I'd give Bouley a try for brunch/lunch because the price is right and the selection is better, but I'd have second (and third and fourth) thoughts about going back again for dinner there.

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333 out of 626 people found this review helpful.

Bad service

By emlohrman on 10/7/2007

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

Food is good. Service is TERRIBLE! The service outside is not good either. They really need to fix that because that is what makes me not want to go back.

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161 out of 365 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing

By VaninaG on 7/10/2009

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 7
  • No, I would not go back!

Although the food is refined, with high quality ingredients, the much-boasted price value of the place is just as low as the portions are tiny. The biggest deterrent was the dreadful service, with a bartender in charge of the downstairs room who seemed more into wining and dining his friends than taking care of the other customers. The wines by the glass list, for a place that wants to achieve a brasserie vibe, was ridiculously short (again, a size issue). The stairs and bathroom were somewhat dirty (that would achieve the authentic brasserie vibe, though). Finally, the dessert was a real disappointment, a chestnut and vanilla terrine that was ruined by the addition of obtrusive maraschino cherries and the use of too much hazelnut in the biscuit, destroying the delicate, rare taste of the chestnut. The incompetent staff gave a hand in ruining it, too: the sorbet accompanying the dessert only made it in the state of a quasi-soup, as a result, I would assume, of having been left to melt after being prepared in the kitchen. I had thought a sweet bite would make me forget the shortcomings of the place. It just left a bitter aftertaste.

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60 out of 119 people found this review helpful.

Bargain Bouley

By embley on 4/16/2007

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

The tables are cramped, the space is tiny, the servers are a bit distracted...but it's absolutely worth it because the food is great, and very well-priced given its caliber (entrees are $21-$29)). My squash soup was wonderful, my dry-aged sirloin with golden raisins, currents, and red wine sauce delicious, and dessert was excellent. Definitely go for the option to sample some of the pastries from the bakery downstairs. They are the closest approximation I've had in New York to the kind of pastries one finds at Laduree or Fauchon in Paris.

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273 out of 592 people found this review helpful.

fine food , correct price

By svp on 7/30/2008

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

we ( 3 pers.) had a little table outside (3rd of July), but could not complain of the service at all ! We had a very friendly young lady who served us , and when we ordered the desserts , we even got an extra one (too much , of course , but delicious !!) I will surely recommand this cute little restaurant to all my friends (Belgium ,Italy , France etc) when they come to NY !! Very fine dinner !! svp

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66 out of 124 people found this review helpful.

Varied quality offerings at fair prices

By chunkybeefstyle on 10/25/2009

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Food was terrific - quality ingredients, robust flavors, appropriate portions. Broad selection suits just about any palate. Big plus is the ambience of the upstairs room - open kitchens infuse the room with wonderful smells. Don't settle for the bar area on the first floor! Upstairs is worth the wait. Only down side was service - slow slow slow. Would have been a problem if we were on a schedule. Nonetheless, would go back in a heartbeat.

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62 out of 116 people found this review helpful.

Great Tribeca Eats

By goodeatsnyc on 1/23/2010

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

Bouley gets a lot of flack but this spot has the best combination of informal atmosphere and upscale food with lots of flavor. Always seasonal and interesting with great flavor. Try the japanese tofu soup and the halibut. Also, if you are looking for a non traditional dessert this is your place. The "downstairs" of upstairs is a little roomier, but upstairs has its own intimate charm if you don't mind feeling like you're in Bouley's kitchen itself, sizzling, steam and scents included. And remember there are no reservations.

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57 out of 113 people found this review helpful.

Reliable and delicious

By washingtonpl on 6/30/2009

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

The service is far from terrible and the sushi is wonderful...I find this restaurant to be consistently good and the sushi is certainly better than Nobu! Better value as well. The ambiance is interesting and welcoming.

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56 out of 119 people found this review helpful.

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