French Roast Uptown

I have been coming here forever since I live right across the street. I am a regular because the service is so great and atmosphere is a nice break from the hustle of working in mid-town.

They just started a new cheese course and I just thought it was amazing. I am a cheese lover and the cheeses they chose were perfect. I really enjoyed the additon and thought I would spread the word! GOGOGO!

Pros: Love New Addition!

Posted 08/02/09

I have to say, every summer I have travelled to Paris, but this summer due to some financial straits I haven't been able to go..luckily French Roast is here!!

The decor is right on par, and the restaurant is far enough uptown that you are away from the hustle and bustle and when I came on to review I was happy to see the tag-line.

No one rushed me as I read the baby and drank my coffee. The eggs were just like the ones on the Champs de Elyssee. Perfect! Love it here!

Pros: Manhattan or Paris

Posted 07/21/09

I can't believe i just discovered this place. Somewhere that's open 24 hrs a day this high uptown makes it a gem within itself, but the food, service, and decor makes this place unbeatable.

I thoroughly enjoy sitting watching people walk by while enjoying some of the most delectable french food i have had in awhile. I really savored every bite.

This restaurant should not be missed!!

Pros: Setting, French Onion Soup

Cons: Leaving at the end of the meal

Posted 07/09/09

I go there everyother week, I really like this place the service is really good and friendly, the menu is well priced and the drinks are always good

Posted 03/08/09

We went there for brunch one nice bright sunny day this Memorial Day 2008 weekend. The food was horrible, cold, tasteless and unimaginative. Our server had dandruff that showed clearly on his black shirt and forehead! The waiter dumped our food when he served it. Tabasco, coffee refills and toast was extra and took forever to come. It was just a horrible experience. I would never ever go there again.

Pros: Bloody Mary

Cons: Food and service

Posted 05/26/08

I stumbled upon this place a few months back and stopped in for a quick bite. Ever since I've been coming back and bringing friends. To start, the food is a great value and the menu has a lot of variety. The warm goat cheese salad is one of the best I've ever had (the goat cheese is in peko breading, and it is gooey and wonderful...the rest of the salad has mangos and citrus dressing, over arugula). I also highly recommend their burgers, croque vegetarian, steak au poivre and hummus. Their brunches can be quite busy but are worth the wait for their breakfast quesadillas...which I have yet to find served better anywhere in the city. Also, they serve the best cafe au let in town & do make coffee to-go, for those who need their morning caffeine fix (like me). As much as I enjoy the food, I think the ambiance and service are what charm me most. Black checked floors, French vintage signs on the walls and other details make the place feel like it was ripped from a random street corner in Paris. The waiters are uncannily friendly for nyc, as well as warm and knowledgeable. Since I started frequenting this place I have never had bad service...and as someone who used to work in restaurants I can be quite the critic! I was tempted not to review this place because it is already fairly busy most of the time (and I would like to think it's my little secret, though it's not), but it truly does deserve a good review so...here I am reviewing! Definitely a place to try. One visit will convince you to come back.

Pros: service, food, ambiance, 24 hours, good value

Cons: can have a wait when busy

Posted 05/19/08

I came to French Roast with high expectations. While the place has a great atmosphere, I cannot say the same for its wait staff. After being seated, my friend and I were greeted by an extremely rude waitress. While we simply stated our order, sans any attitude what-so-ever, the waitress mocked us, rolled her eyes and responded with sour facial expressions that implied a sincere hatred towards us.
I regret to say that in fact we were treated so rudely by this waitress, we walked out. She was so crass and cruel that we would rather take our business elsewhere.
While this is NYC, where people are known to be rude, we were actually shocked by this woman's ill-spirited work.

Cons: VERY rude staff

Posted 12/18/07

i've lived in the neighborhood for quite a while and have to say that this place is the best for all occasions. it offers far more than a casual dining experience (quality wine list at good prices, variety of beers, great lunch & dinner specials, various french items as well as more traditionally approachable stuff, and always friendly service...need i go on?). this place really hooks you because it's 24 hours! escargot at 4am? ok! freshly made hazelnut latte at 5am? that too. definately come for their brunches, which have the best breakfast quesadillas in town. also do their dinners...candle light, knowledgeable staff, just the right amount of flair and personality, and a warm chocolate cake that is to die for! and for late-nights this is the only sane choice to make (why have diner food when you can get REAL food for the same price?) the kicker is that if something does go wrong (i.e. your burger is even slightly undercooked, even at 3am) the managers are very cool/gracious about making sure to get your dining experience right.

bottom line is this is the best bistro around, particularly for a good atmosphere & value

Pros: service, management, ambiance, value

Cons: tables are close together. can be a wait at peak hours.

Posted 04/06/07

I come here all the time, I work late right around the corner, and I usually stop here on my way home. Whether I take something to go, or eat it in their cute bistro, the food is always great. Having a 24 Hr. place is the neighborhood is such an awesome treat! Their french cuisine is delicious, and their wine list really has some nice finds on it. Love this place!

Pros: Comfortable

Posted 03/03/07

This is where I eat all of the time...three times a week. The staff is fantastic and they will get to know you and almost predict what you will have. For the record, I have been there 4 times within a 48 hour period in a wild weekend and I just loved knowing it didn't matter. Go in for a burger, onion soup or a dessert...they don't mind...just go!

Posted 02/22/07

I found the food, service and value exceptional everytime I have been there. The food was authentic. I felt as though I were eating in Paris. The service was excellent - friendly and attentive. The prices are wonderfully low. Very good wine choices.

Pros: Food, Wine, Service

Posted 01/24/06

I live right near the rest so have been for both breakfast and dinner - I agree with the other reviewers - it is nothing memorable and you can get better meals a block or two away. But French Roast is perfect at 3am on a Sat night on your way home from a night out - they have great burgers. They really hit the spot.

Pros: late night dining

Cons: breakfast, dinner

Posted 10/19/05

This cafe is right around the corner from my apartment and I probably eat there about twice a month. The food is decent, but not memorable, and the service when I go is never consistent. Not a bad experience - I've never had a bad meal there, but never had anything GREAT, reasonable prices, open 24 hours.

Pros: Open 24 hours, decent food

Posted 12/28/04

I went here in the afternoon with a friend. The cafe itself was really nice with comfortable outdoor chairs and tables, but the service could have been better. We only ordered desserts and drinks, but no refills were offered. Anyhow, we were able to sit as long as we wanted and chat, which was nice. I'm told that it is open 24hrs which is good.

Posted 06/02/04

such a 'blah' place...went for a solo lunch the other day as was in the area and well, it was just "alright'...waitress had a snobby attitude which was funny as it's not exactly Balthazars...Bartender was attentive and pleasant though....should pull their socks up as there are many better places in the area...

Pros: food not bad

Cons: , sloppy service

Posted 03/22/04

We were seated outside and the waiter spilled red wine and hot tea on myself and my date. We were then shooed inside. One would think we'd get an apology or complimentary drinks - instead, we got a snobby waiter wouldn't even take our order for 15 minutes and gave us lip when we asked him to do so. We left, never to return. With so many good restaurants on the UWS, I don't need overpriced food, absurdly arrogant wait-staff who don't recognize they work at a glorified diner, clumsy service, and management that doesn't care.

Pros: None

Cons: Bad service, Overpriced food

Posted 09/20/03

The waiting staff here can be quite snobby. One time we were told (after being seated) to go to the bar instead because one of us didnot want to order dinner. This was unexceptable considering that the place was not even filled. Spoke to the manager who was carefree about it!!! This incident left a bad taste in my mouth. But, the place is pretty charming. The best thing about French Roast is that it is opened 24-7 so it's quite convienient. The food is not great and is not really worth the prices. It's nice and quiet, but certainly not a five star kind of cafe. I suggest going to lalo instead, which is right up the cross street-- happier waiters, better food, and cheerier lighting.

Pros: opened all the time, dim and quiet

Cons: rude staff, food not worth the $$, not especially warm

Posted 07/02/03

There for breakfast on a slow Tuesday morning. Asked for Croissants - they were out. Asked for Marmalade (coomon in France) had to wait 5 minutes until a non spanish speaking person came to say there was only cheap American jam (jelly).
When Smoked Salmon & Eggs arrived it was decent.
Very disappointing. Been in the evening and it was value and fun and good.
THere is no excuse for this sloppiness. So much competition in the area..

Pros: Decor, Late Atmosphere

Cons: Wait Staff, Poor Knowledge Menu

Posted 03/12/03

After passing by this restaurant for sometime I finally decided to go in and have dinner. I was pleasantly suprised. The food was exceptional. The menu consisted of standard brassiere food, better then places like Balthazar etc. I choose to go with one of the special, the braised lamb shank in red wine, which was excellent.

The service was friendly and the atmosphere was casual. The restaurant is a bit noisy but that is something that can be overlooked once you sit down and enjoy a great meal

Posted 10/14/02

Snobby service and food I would not feed my dog. I respect him to much. Over priced for what it is - a glorified starbucks that can not make a decent cup of coffee.

Cons: Snobby Service, Bad Coffee, AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Posted 08/20/02