Nice Matin

I've been twice for breakfast, and both times I've been pleased. Warning: they use alot of butter, but they have some healthier options as well. The ambience is beautiful, however, it feels like you're in the spotlight while you dine. Overall, though, the food is quite good, and we will return.

Pros: food, decor

Cons: average service

Posted 04/01/05

Johnny Walker on the rocks with a stalk of celery, my new favoret drink. You gotta love the bartenders at this place. I was looking for a new drink and I love Scotch, so the bar tender told me about this drink. As simple as it seem it the stalk of celery really makes a difference in the oakieness of the Scotch. I was surprised I hadn't known it all along because he told me it's been around for about 10 years maybe longer. I asked him if I used Johnny Walker Blue in it would it be to rich to be called a stalker, he told me if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a duck. I love this place.

Pros: drinks

Posted 11/29/04

I need to get in this place more often. My boyfriend had been dragging his feet to take me out here and I'm so glad he came through for our 2 year anniversary. The place was so fun and romantic. Points for my man and points to the staff. I've waited tables for years and know how it can be on a friday night in New York. Staff was friendly and quick. It felt good to be taken care of. The food was delish. I'm coming back with my girls!

Pros: dessert, steak

Posted 11/01/04

My friends had been raving about the breakfast/brunch at this rising staple restaurant on the Upper West Side. The expectations all came to fruition on my first visit. The dining room was lively and full. Our wait wasn't too bad; the bloodymarys making it all the more bearable. Although very busy, our waiter had our entire meal under control. I never felt forgotten. The breakfast fare is some of the best I've had this side of Central Park.

Pros: Atmosphere

Posted 10/23/04

Eat Sardines, Pistou,Merguez sausage,Cod, Short ribs,Bouliabase, more Bouliabase and clever Cheese. Easy and attentive wait staff. Helpful wine. This is well worth returning to for repeated and new pleasures.

Posted 10/22/04

It is unfortunate that such a great place is taking that slow slide into the Manhattan abiss. I have eaten here on a regular bases starting when it opened. It seemed to me to be ironing out it's problems and then became a fairly good restaurant, however now it seems to neglected or past it's prime and sliding into mediocrity. I hope it can make the turn around again.

Pros: seated quickly

Cons: , slow service

Posted 10/20/04

My girlfriend and I were looking for a place to celebrate our 6 month anniversary and friends recommended Nice Matin. What a great place!We shared a bunch of delicious appetizers (all reasonably priced- the eggplant was my favorite) and then She had the steak and the best fries ever; I had the cod- amazingly good. We shared a lavender creme brulee- heavenly! There was a crowd but the service was smooth and attentive.We've not going to wait 6 months for our next visit.

Pros: reasonable, professional service, great food

Posted 10/16/04

Last night some friends and I were looking for a place with good food and a fun feel. One of the group suggested Nice Matin. What a great find ! My overall favorite was the pumpkin ravioli. The onion soup was the proverbial meal in a bowl- delicious and filling. The wine was reasonably priced and the selection was wide. There was an electricity in the air- the crowd was typical upper West Side -smart, eclectic, and savvy. This restaurant knows its client base and serves it well . I'd recommend reservations since this is a very popular spot.

Pros: good value, excellent service, good wine list

Posted 10/16/04

Had a great little dinner with a group of out of towners last night. Took the advice of a friend to go here and will recommend it myself. The lobster gnocchi is out of this world. Good cocktail list as well.

Pros: Cocktails, Wine, Food

Posted 10/16/04

Nice Matin is a wonderful addition to the upper west side. The decor alone is worth the visit! I was greeted with a smile upon arrival and the positivity of the staff continued throughout my meal. The food is moderately priced and wonderful; in presentation as well as quality. The staff is extremely knowledgable of the extensive wine list and menu. I had a fabulous time at Nice Matin and intend on becoming a regular!

Pros: FOOD QUALITY, WINE LIST, STAFF

Posted 10/15/04

Can't get past the attitude of the servers and cold food. This was my first time and my last time eating here. To many great restaurant in Manhattan that cost a lot less with halve the pomp and surcomstance.

Pros: none

Cons: , cold food

Posted 10/14/04

Anyone who "loves food" would be crazy not to dine at Nice Matin. Before Nice Matin opened, the upper west side was void of refined restaurants. I eat here on a regular basis and always find a smile at the front door, great service and food that is sure to please. There's nothing more warming than the pistou soup on a cold autumn day.

Pros: food, wine list, price

Posted 10/11/04

Fabulous food. Try the cod. It's all delicious. Service is above average. Can be hard to get into be cause you always have a great meal. One of my favorite Upper West Side spots.

Pros: food, location, service

Posted 10/11/04

Ok, so Amsterdam Ave. is not along the Cote, but it is a great place to have a Sunday Brunch. There's a classy joint with the namesake of Nice's Daily there that really transported me over the Atlantic. New York is full of "theme" restaurants and this is not one of them. It takes authentic to be authentic and the chef and company here have created something special. I want to come back for dinner and see if it lives up to the other positive posts on this site. If so, I sure hope this one sticks around the neighborhood.

Pros: Coffee, Croque Monsieur

Posted 10/10/04

Just in from a Columbus Day out on the city and had a marvelous dinner at Nice Matin on the UWS. There is something about a fine bottle of wine and good old fashioned dining that is part of the New York Autumn experience. This place is on the money and I recommend it even to those downtown. The steak frites is worth travelling for!

Pros: Appetizers, Wine list, Specials

Cons: , tough to get resv.

Posted 10/10/04

We return again and again to Nice Matin. ..the food is SO GOOD! Flavor and quality never disappoint. Even we're with a crowd, there is something delicious for everyone - vegetarians, seafood lovers, or hearty meat eaters! Wine list and cocktails are imaginative and chosen with care. Our last trip was a Saturday 2pm - one of us wanted the GREAT burger, the other, in a brunch mood, had the outrageous salmon benedict. Washed down with blood orange juice bellini....great. Nightly specials are wonderful - I encourage you to partake! A really happy environment - and a smart and friendly staff. Once we were there and it started raining, with many diners seated outdoors - the transition accomplished by the staff was miraculous - people were re-seated indoors within minutes - not a hint of chaos! Check out the menu if you want to be enticed!

Pros: The FOOD, The staff, the long hours

Posted 10/06/04

I love eating out in Manhattan. I stumbled into this restaurant by chance and liked the look. After being sat promptly I wait for every thing else. The time between aptz and entree was way to long. I think this place with a little focus and dedication could be worth while but is definetly not there yet.

Pros: look

Posted 09/26/04

I went to Nice Matin with mixed expectations due to the reviews here, but we had a lovely dining experience. Despite our waiter being new, he got everything right and our food was delivered in a timely manner. The bitter greens salad was large enough to be an entree and my salmon was delicious. My dining companion works in the restaurant industry and enjoyed her time as well. We had a 9pm Sat. night reservation, but showed up a little after 8pm to see if we could be seated early. They accommodated us right away without any wait.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Good Food

Posted 09/26/04

ok amsterdam avenue..but you'll totally get the feel of a french bistro the moment you walk in and are greeted. This place has a great vibe, the guy at the handles it with ease, panache sarcasm and all in a charming way. the service is really wonderful too...you must ask for Keir as your server. the special shrimp app was to die for and the lamb ravioli kills pair it all with a good btl of vino, finish it of with a trife and your hooked.

Pros: the food, wine list, Matre D, Keir

Cons: , strollers

Posted 09/22/04

My brother is visiting from Chicago, and last week I gave him a tour of New York City. After taking a walk through Central Park we spent the afternoon at Nice Matin on W 79th Street. Wow!

This is the neighborhood restaurant I have been looking for - except that I live in Brooklyn. If I lived on the U West side, I would be a regular!

The food was great (Lamb Ravioli, "5-Napkin" Burger), so was the service. We loved the Blood Orange Martini.

My brother said: "I wish we had restaurants like this in Chicago!"

Posted 09/14/04

I usually stay downtown, but was visiting a friend on the Upper West Side. She took me to Nice Matin, and we a great experience from start to finish. We didn't have a reservation and after waiting a while decided just to eat at the bar. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, thanks to two talented and charming bartenders, both named Alex, for their delicious cocktails and food/wine recommendations. Try the duck and the sole, and an espresso martini for dessert.

Pros: drinks, knowledgeable staff

Posted 09/14/04

I only come to NY during fashion week every year. one of the best parts of my trip is eating at the great restaurants the city offers. unfortunatly, I wasted my time hear. I fallowed the recommendation of an old friend that just didn't pan out. I waited to long for my table and then waited to long for my food. When it finaly came, it turned out to be just OK for NY standereds. There are so many new great places I think this place has got to work alittle harder at making there guests happy.

Pros: none

Cons: , attitude

Posted 09/13/04

I had eaten here once when it opened, only to find that it needed a little time to work out it's problems. After reading some of these wonderful reveiws on city search, I returned. Much to my dismay they still had problems with the timing of the food and the heating of the food. The biggest thing that bothers me besides the food was that this restaurant has a harder working publicist than it's CHEF.

Pros: quick seating

Cons: , wait between courses, general attitude

Posted 09/09/04

This place is wonderful. I entertain clients all the time and had the best experience last night. I had a slight wait time but Sandy, the Maitre D' was very accomodating , even when i asked him to "can we fake my drink" because i am pregnant...so that I could surprise the guests I was dining with. Everything was an absolute delight from the start to finish. I live on the east side where everything closes a 9pm, but will trek over the park again and again - thank to all the staff for making it a great experience.

Pros: food, staff/maitre'd, ambiance

Posted 09/08/04

I have eaten here twice and the only thing redeaming about this restaurant is it's hamburger and the fact that it is easy to get a table. Me and my friends were surprised to find that all the other food on the menu was sudo FRENCH and not so good at that. The burger how ever was good but not great. For the price I was expecting alot better and probobly could have got it down the street for less.

GOOD LUCK

Pros: Mayby the burger

Cons: , timing, cold food

Posted 09/08/04

The place is nice, service is nicer. You should check out the hostess, Red. She brightens the place with her smile. Food is great.

Pros: casual but classy

Posted 09/05/04

My boyfriend and I had an excellent early evening dinner. The weather was pleasant so we sat outside. Edith, our server, was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, without any snobbery. In fact, each member of the service staff was friendly and prompt, yet unobtrusive. Food hightlights: sea bass, codfish, speck salad, heirloom tomatoes, all in perfect portions. Oh, and you must try the chocolate-hazelnut trifle--to die for! As for wine, we tried a variety; they have a great by-the-glass selection, from which we got some excellent recommendations. The best spot for a high quality dining experience in a casual environment. We need more restaurants like Nice Matin!

Pros: Service, Wine, Food

Posted 08/29/04

I'M NOT ONE TO USUALLY POST REVIEWS BUT, WHAT A TREAT TO VISIT A FRIEND ON THE UWS AND FIND THIS GEM OF A PLACE WHEN THE REST OF THE AREA WAS DEAD! FRIENDLY STAFF AND AMAZINGLY DELISH FOOD. I TRAVEL TO NICE OFTEN SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND THIS PLACE DOES IT JUSTICE. IT'S ALSO FUN TO SEE A DAYTIME SOAP STAR, TALK SHOW HOST OR ANCHORPERSON TOO...MY FRIEND HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET BE UP THERE AND I AM GLAD I MADE THE TRIP - YOU WILL BE TOO!

Pros: FOOD, STAFF, CELEBRITIES

Cons: , SMALL BAR

Posted 08/29/04

ok-so it's crowded-a bit noisy-can get pricey. So! if you enjoy a place that's gonna give you a buzz - go here! I was there with 6 friends the other night without a reservation and had to wait about 30 min-even tho i live in the hood...it was cool because the Maitre d asked to see proof of residency and we both laughed-i guess he hears "but i'm a neighbor all the time" the bartender was so sweet and made the best cocktails in town.we were entertained and the staff did the best to keep it under control. we had a blast spent waaay too much money.hey why do i work if i cant splurge in my own neighborhood-dont listen to the cranky" i want it my way now " people-that's what burger king is for honey.please go there and keep this place around for all of us to enjoy!

Pros: staff, decor, food&drinks

Cons: , cranky ole farts, need reservation

Posted 08/25/04

I just finished eating a bland burger which i had taken home in a doggie bag after waiting over an hour for it. We first waited like 20 mins to get a menu and bread, then an extra 15 mins before our order was taken. The service was less than adequate, the manager had no clue, poured our wine, had seen we were waiting and never once asked us how everything was. This place is so pretentious it is funny and overpriced!! There are like 2 bottles of wine on the list less than $30. I would never recommend this restaurant, it was an awful experience. It looks so nice and posh and fancy but be warned it is not worth it at all.

Posted 08/21/04

had a great time last friday nite -Maitre D' and his host staff very friendly and helpfull - especially since my friends were late for dinner - you MUST try their specialty drinks YUMMMM! all in all i would totally recomend this joint - music selection could be better. this place is hot and so like anywhere else that's is HOT - be prepared to wait enjoy a drink, relax and enjoy the nite out. OOH and the restaurant is named after the newspaper in NICE but does not translate into Good Morning...but it is good to go there morning , noon, and nite!

Pros: maitre d, decor, staff

Cons: , strollers at the bar, should be downtown

Posted 07/27/04

I had heard good things about this place. Unfortuantly, they were wrong. I eat here last week and found the sevice less then polite and the food didn't live up to it's reputation. I will not return or recomend this place until they fix the problems

Pros: none

Cons: , food, atitude

Posted 06/01/04

The food is wonderful, but you must be willing to put in your time at the table. Service was good in nature but slow to deliver. The staff does seem overwhelmed as does the restaurant itself. A few more streamline menu choices would be a nice addition, but overall an excellent addition to the Upper West Side.

Also, for as large as the restaruant is, the bathroom is TERRIBLEY SMALL and unequipt to handle the amount of people that use it.

Pros: presentation, bar and cocktail menu, taste of food

Cons: , service is slow, Long wait to sit

Posted 05/17/04

What an unpleasant experience! We had reservations for 8:30 from two days ago and we showed up right on time. They kept us waiting for an hour. Our reservation was for 3 people, so they made groups of 4 who came in much later than us sit down much before us. And all along, the maitre d' had a very foul attitude. She was definitely amon the most unpleasant and unprofessional maitre d' I came across over the years. The food was average. The waiter was very lax.
Overall, not worth it.

Posted 12/16/03

Went for brunch one morning loved it, got seated right away outside. We both noticed the service was a little slow but will always give a place a second chance. (the granola & fruit is all cantalope & honeydew) A few weeks later we were walking by and saw a lot of empty tables outside and decided to go in. The male host looked at us as if we were crazy and told us there was a 20 min wait. We left walking by the 8 empty tables.
Tried Monaco across the road great food friendly staff

Pros: location

Cons: Staff

Posted 11/06/03

This place would be fine in a city full of patient people... We waited for 25 minutes to sit at one of the tables that was empty the whole time. Then, the service was atrocious. My husband asked for lemon six times, while I asked for my bagel four times. We complained on the way out (I never do this) and the manager shrugged. Too bad because the food was great, and the UWS is starved for good restaurants.

Posted 11/03/03

TERRIBLE service- in search of a place for brunch, we happened to walk by this place and noticed some empty outside tables. We went in and asked for a table and were told that there would be a 20 minute wait- meanwhile, there were 7 empty tables along the sidewalk. We waited for about 25 mintues and not one table was filled and then we watched a couple that came in after us get seated. We inquired and were told that we were the next table so they showed us to an undesirable corner table. The waiter was wonderful but the management certainly needs improvement. It's obvious that this restaurant treats its customers like they should be lucky to dine there instead of the other way around.

Cons: Bad management, Small portions

Posted 11/02/03

We came sans reservations, just at the beginning of the dinner hour, were seated immediately, at the last available table. Our attentive waiter came soon after, followed by the busboy carrying excellent bread and herbed butter. The starters (leeks vinaigrette, artichoke hearts in broth, an impeccably fresh salad of various lettuces), placed gently, were innovative in concept and presentation. The atmosphere, although lively, permitted easy conversation.
Entrees (grilled sea bass and roasted rack of lamb) (Thursday's daily special) were perfectly prepared. Ravioli filled with chopped lamb, which could have been more aggressively spiced, arrived in a nice tomato reduction. Desserts, a bitter chocolate cylinder filled with chocolate mousse on an intense orange reduction, and a dish of exotically flavored ice creams, were a fine finish.

I post with mixed feelings. I want this place to succeed, but not to the extent that we'll need reservations weeks in advance.l

Pros: fine food, perfect service, authentic bistro

Cons: rather noisy

Posted 08/07/03

I've been to Nice Matin once for dinner and once for brunch. The food is generally good but the service is revolting. At dinner, my food was great but my companions had fish that had been burned on the grill and tasted like hamburgers. They said they could not cook it another way. At brunch we had the rudest, most incompetant waiter ever. He had to ask our order twice and then they ran out of cereal!! Then he slammed the menu down in front of me and walked away. We left before we could eat anything.

Pros: food

Cons: Service, Service, uncomfortable seating

Posted 07/13/03

I went there because I saw Leeks Vinaigrette on the menu. When I am not in Paris, I dream about leeks vinaigrette. The kind you get at your favorite brasserie in Paris, like Gourmet des Ternes or Chez Lipp. Unfortunately, while the leeks at Nice Matin was delicious, it was not the big fat leeks that you get in Paris. The food was very good in general. The wine list is not great (interesting choices by the glass, Arbois (a Jura wine) and Condrieu (a Rhone white), but both of them turn out to be lackluster or worse...). Service was great. The beer section was not bad. Definitively worth a try -- I hope the usual UWS restaurant-goers won't turn it into a mediocre restaurant as the trend has been. Look at Savann and Ouest...

Pros: Good Food, Good service, Cute decor

Cons: Mediocre wine, Crowded

Posted 06/26/03

Had a wonderful dinner at the bar. The mussels appetizer (hot, not cold) was rich and flavorful. Duck Magret was perfect. Desserts are must haves.

Posted 05/23/03

I stumbled in with friends while looking for a good place to eat and were pleasantly surprised. Great food, friendly service and nice general suroundings.
I will come back.

Pros: Food

Posted 05/05/03

Can still smell the paint... food was good, service DEFINITELY needs a few weeks to iron out the kinks. Adorable place and will have outdoor seating soon. Great menu, sort of expensive for what I perceive to be a neighborhood place.

Pros: good energy, adorable, friendly

Cons: service spotty, working out kinks

Posted 04/27/03