Insider Pages Reviews for Pigalle

5 Stars: Great Food Atmosphere Steps Away from Times Square (by jgoodlight123)

jgoodlight123 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

It's easy to get sucked into Times Square, the tourist and the quick eats that surround the area however Pigalle quickly reminded me what NYC is all about.

The food was AMAZING, me and my co-worker walked over from our office in Times Square and didn't want to go back to work.

The food was perfect, the atmosphere allowed us to take a depp breath and a step away from the hustle of the office and Times square, and the service was right on par with everything else.

Will be coming back here with my expense account often! Highly Recommended!

4 Stars: French (by Andi M.)

Andi M. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:33:00 GMT

We love the this restaurant. It's right in the theater district and has wonderful doors that open an entire wall during the warmer weather. There is a great bar and great food.

4 Stars: My Daily Spot (by dan49)

dan49 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Modern interior, clean line, ambient lighting. From presentation to taste, everything i had there was wonderful. I sometimes go there by myself to have a glass of wine and couple appetizers for dinner. Defintely one of my fav. restaurants in the city.

3 Stars: OK breakfast (Great OJ though), nothing to write home about (by PK2008)

PK2008 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I had breakfast there after we got ready for the day at the hotel. There was alot of hype surrounding this place. The venue itself was ok. The food was like any other breakfast joint.

On the breakfast menu, it says eggs and "fries" when it fact its just cubs of potatoes cooked in onions. Not the best thing to eat in the morning. I ordered sausage and I got two different kinds and shapes. Kinda weird.

Our server was awesome though. Other then that, not going back there.

4 Stars: Excellent fois gras (by Iris W.)

Iris W. — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:30:00 GMT

I tend to judge the mettle of a French restaurant by their fois gras. I was very pleased with the offering at Pigalle. I had heard about their breakfast and brunch, but wanted to try something else. Very glad I did. Can't wait to go back now and try more!

2 Stars: Tourist Trap, Expensive, Tiny/Bad Portions (by wisebrain)

wisebrain — Sun, 04 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This is right next to a hotel in Times Sq. so it's a total tourist trap. It's really expensive, the portions are tiny, and it's not that good! Go to 9th Ave. for better food.

4 Stars: Perfect if you're staying at the Hilton Garden Inn! (by grunge_girl)

grunge_girl — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I recently visited New York with some colleagues to attend a conference in the city, and we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn on 8th Avenue. When we learned that there was a restaurant attached to the hotel, we expected mediocre food. Pigalle ended up being a wonderful place for a tasty breakfast. The ambiance is great, and my eggs, home fries, and toast were excellent.

Of course, if you need breakfast in a jiffy, run up the street to the Food Emporium for a fresh bagel with cream cheese and oj -- all for about $4!

5 Stars: casual fancy french in the theater district (by archanes)

archanes — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We found this place right before going to a Broadway show, and I was hesitant because it was so reasonably priced with the best location. What a find. The decor is very authentic and clean. The service was just okay, but the place was packed and it was still better than most restaurants in the City. The duck was great on two occasions. We recommended it to a few friends and they had the same experience. The sides were also good. They had a fairly extensive wine menu, but we had a bottle of the cheap stuff. It was French, and good for the price. You can easily spend twice as much for horrible food, lousy service and a smelly dark boring atmosphere.

3 Stars: Food was just OK, but served quickly; bill took forever (by davidmoser7)

davidmoser7 — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My wife, my sister and I were in Manhattan on vacation and we went to Pigalle for Saturday brunch around Noon this past weekend. We chose this place ahead of time because Rachael Ray recommended it (yes, I know, a very dorky and corny thing to do). We didn't have reservations because they don't take reservations for weekend brunch.

It was crowded, but we were seated immediately, which was great. And our order was taken very promptly. So far, so good. Our meals came literally 10 minutes later- probably the fastest I've ever been served! Again, everything was great so far. And then it went downhill from there.

The food was OK. My wife's ham and brie baguette was bland, dry and flavorless. However, my turkey and cheese croissant was excellent- perfect combination of warmth, moisture and flavor. And my sister's burger ( I forget what kind) was average, she said.

Shortly after we were done eating, our plates were cleared in a reasonable amount of time. And we assumed that the check would be coming very soon. It didn't. 10 minutes, 15 minutes...finally a hostess/manager came up and asked if she could get us more water. We said - "No, all we want is the check." She apologized and got it for us. Luckily we were not late for our Broadway show that we had tickets for that afternoon.

Would I recommend the place? Maybe. It depends on the situation. If you're in that area and need an affordably priced meal that is OK, then go there. But don't make special plans ahead of time to go there- it's not worth it.

4 Stars: Lovely Brunch (by perdi)

perdi — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Pigalle is welcoming, with a delightful bistro atmosphere and very courteous, competent staff--a really good place to go with family. The eggs Florentine were perfect.

4 Stars: Pig Out Brunch (by b00pi3flak3s)

b00pi3flak3s — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I wish this place was still 24/7 but all good things must come to an end. Thankfully their brunch is still some of the best of midtown west, but now that early hours and tourists are alive, they've also become insanely busy as well.

3 Stars: Very Good Brasserie (by equity6)

equity6 — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I stopped in for lunch on December 13th and enjoyed our experience there. We were warmly greeted and promptly seated. The decor is very Parisian and I loved the zinc bar and tin ceiling. We both had the Le Marais cocktails, which were a delicious blend of Lillet, orange juice, cranberry juice and clementine vodka. My omelet with asparagus and ham was tasty as were the pomme frites served with it. My wife had a simple turkey croissant and she enjoyed it. We had some awesome almond pudding for dessert. Service was pretty good, our table rather cramped. I am impressed that it is open 24/7 so anyone who finds himself on the West Side can get a good meal at any hour.

4 Stars: Tasty French bistro fare (by maureenuw)

maureenuw — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Good, solid place. Delicious frisee with lardon salad. Nice place to just get a drink too, especially when it's warm enough for the windows to be open. Reminds me of a true French bistro.

1 Stars: Mediocre service and BAD food (by drsveum)

drsveum — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It's worse than eating cafeteria food - no joke. I had better instant mashed potatoes in my school lunch room and would prefer to eat the lunch lady's beef stroganoff than delve into the bland chicken they served me. What a waste of $150.

5 Stars: best breakfast anywhere (by pfontenot)

pfontenot — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I was in New York with my mom and daughter for a week and my daughter wanted to eat at Pigalle's for breakfast every day. She loved the panckaes and fresh fruit. I had eggs benedict twice-the first time I tasted it I knew what Emeril meant when he said some foods make his mouth happy happy happy. It was delicious. Mom had something with livers that she said was also delicious. The hamburger there may just beat out the Burger Joint for the best hamburger in New York!

3 Stars: Great breakfast, but beware... (by travelinmang)

travelinmang — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

When visiting New York, I went to Pigalle and at it wasn't bad, but I have had better. For dinner, I ordered a dish that did not say it had mushrooms in it, but it had mushrooms, which ruined my dinner. Nonetheless, the service was fantastic. My girlfriend loved it and she wanted to go back for breakfast. Their breakfast was quite delicious, but needed some seasoning. In fact, both meals were pretty bland until I used the salt and pepper to enhance the flavor. If it is close by where you stay, it isn't a bad decision, but don't go out of your way.

4 Stars: Good experiences (by fumikops)

fumikops — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

On a trip to NY around new years, stayed at the Days Inn. Decided to try Pigalle and we loved it! Ate there several times during our stay and were never disappointed. The food & drinks were great. The service could've been better, but most times it was super crowded. It was definitely a great find.

3 Stars: Very inconsistent. (by markmanny)

markmanny — Thu, 25 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I've been going here for the last year, because i live in the neighborhood. The last few times I've been here, it's been really inconsistent. On my latest trip, I was sitting at the bar and the bartender brought me my burger with Cheddar and not Brie; like i ordered. When I pointed it out, he told me that I said cheddar, (I hate cheddar) then hastily took the burger back without any apologies. When I finally got hte burger back, it was cold. Both bartenders were just flat out rude. I'd say service is real hit or miss. They do have a real good burger though, if the server can get it right.

5 Stars: I Must Be Different (by gardenwife02)

gardenwife02 — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I have a tradition of eating at the Brasserie Pigalle late on Thanksgiving night after arriving in New York via train. I am a French teacher and have been to France numerous times. This year, I read review after review and almost didn't go to Pigalle. We walked from our hotel on Lexington Ave. and arrived cold and winded. Our waiter appeared IMMEDIATELY and confirmed the fact we ate there every Thanksgiving night. I had the escargots.....the bed of spinach is a great touch. My husband had the salade Nicoise and soupe a l'oignon gratinee. All the food was hot, tasty and well worth the year-long wait. I have the feeling I am less discerning than all your other reviewers????? I say go and try this delightful brasserie....it's a little bit of France in New York.

1 Stars: Car dealer experience (by jrobertson54)

jrobertson54 — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I recently moved close to Pigalle, and I figured I'd try it for Sunday brunch. What a disappointment! I ordered a Spanish frittata that was supposed to have chorizo sausage. After eating half of it, there was no sign of chorizo, or any other sausage. I called it to the waiter's attention, and, after offering a side order of sausage (which I declined), he said he'd take it off the check. Of course they didn't take it off the check. When I reminded him, he came back with "my manager said he could take 10% off, that's it." I felt like I was wheeling and dealing at an unfriendly car dealer's. They even had the nerve to include a full tip in the check. How incredibly short-sighted of them, as I'm never going back and I could have been a regular, if only because I live so close.

4 Stars: I keep going back! (by chesterpuppa)

chesterpuppa — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I really love this little gem of a restaurant. It isn't super-fancy, but you can get great food in a comfortable French country setting. Great wines, tasty food, fun atmosphere - I have fallen in love with Pigalle.

5 Stars: We Love Pigalli! (by psufan70)

psufan70 — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We have never eaten dinner at Pigalli, but have had breakfast and lunch. The salads were like those we were served in Paris, and the Eggs Benedict were out of this world. We will definitely eat there again and have recommended the restaurant to friends.

3 Stars: cant read a book by its cover.. (by nycgirlie77)

nycgirlie77 — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

though the outside of the restaurant looks great, the actual food is horrible. we had a big party so we got to try many things on the menu. They ran out of escargot which was disappointing. the pate was dry and tasted as if it was out of a can. the fried calamari was a very small portion. the steaks were all over done...only thing good was that the service was decent and seated us though we over 30 minutes late.

3 Stars: Alright (by harnsw)

harnsw — Sun, 27 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Somehow, the decor and food doesn't have the magnet of its sister restaurant L'Express. I find everything average, include decor, food and service. But it certainly passes for a casual meal around that neighborhood. At least it's not overpriced.

2 Stars: Disappointing Tourist Fare (by infomofo)

infomofo — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I stopped in on Sunday with a friend, for a post-movie meal. From the exterior, I was expecting a nice faux-parisian bistro atmosphere. However, instead of getting "L'express", we ended up with something closer to "Le Big Mac"

The first red flag was a giant TV screen in the cafe area playing (I'm not even kidding) "America's Funniest Videos". If there's anything more unappetizing than a hick from Idaho hitting himself in the crotch with a rake, it's a tourist from Nebraska laughing up his overpriced sandwich upon viewing.

The menu was generally uninspired and ill-prepared, but even more disappointing was the pitiful beer selection. The service was just so-so; we had to remind our waiter pointedly to bring out bread

Pigalle had awful ambiance, food, and service. I would avoid it and leave it to the residents of the Days Inn and the nearby Howard Johnson

4 Stars: A Pleasant Surprise (by hegle)

hegle — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 09:00:00 GMT

After reading some of the reviews, I did not expect much but was pleasantly surprised by the fresh snapper in a delicious sauce, interesting escargots with lots of parsley and garlic, and good desserts. My husband's steak au poivre was also very tasty, although it was more well-done than medium well. The place is loud and a bit touristy, but the food was great especially for the reasonable prices.

1 Stars: Thanks for nothing (by jlf0519)

jlf0519 — Thu, 20 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Due to an incident that happened the night before, I hesitated coming here but it was my clients' choice. All was going well until the server asked us how our meal was, when one of us admitted that his ham hock was all bone and no meat, we were advised by the server and the manager that there was nothing they could do. Instead of offering an additional piece or any kind of compensation, they suggested that we purchase an additional meal. Not once did the manager offer an apology or a viable option. Thanks.
Was the food good? Who cares at this point.

4 Stars: A Keeper (by Tupelodan)

Tupelodan — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Hey, it's open 24/7 and it's good. What else is there to say? Well, be sure and try breakfast ... lots o'food for not much money. Late night, post-theatre dinner was also very good. Will definitely go back.

3 Stars: Decent Bistro Fare (by alsmez)

alsmez — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Pigalle is a nice spot for a quick lunch or a pre/post theatre meal. Food is uniformly decent, not outstanding but fine all around. Prices are a bit high, but if you want a light bistro meal this is a decent, convenient option.

5 Stars: good food fast (by aritolla)

aritolla — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

going to the theatre with 45 minutes to eat and voila pigalle. (sitting next to open french doors) escargo, and scallops, then an order of soft shell crabs and out in time for the show. great food and great service i will happily make this my pre-theatre venue of choice.

4 Stars: Authentic Ambience (by AndreaEmigre)

AndreaEmigre — Sat, 15 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Pigalle is pretty and laid back, with an attentive wait staff and a nice, authentic French ambience. Try the many kinds of beer (Belgian Kwak comes in an insane wood-and-glass beaker), the Merlot, and the coffee. Food is comme-ci comme-ca, and pretty pricey. Better to come here for an after-theater snack, or post-party relaxation at 4 am. For a 24-hour joint, particularly in midtown, it's unusually classy.

3 Stars: OK not great (by Mirovt)

Mirovt — Wed, 18 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The food in our late night meal was certainly acceptable. it was the only place we ate in New York where we were met at all with what use to be called the "New York Attitiude". after the main course the waitress brought desert menus and never came back. We had to ask after 20 minutes for the check. It was after midnight at this point and the reastarant was not crowded. We ate at three restaurants we choose from this site and this is the only one we will never return to.

4 Stars: decent french (by felonykitty)

felonykitty — Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

decent french food at a fair price and the good thing is that it's open 24 hours a day. it's hard to find a decent place in the wee hours after partying.

4 Stars: GREAT AFTER THEATER STOP (by sandrajane666)

sandrajane666 — Sun, 03 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I HAVE NEVER HAD A BAD MEAL(OR BAD SERVICE )@ PIGALLE. GREAT PLACE TO GO AFTER THEATER.....THE TOURISTS MUST BE AFRAID OF FRENCH FOOD.

4 Stars: Houstonian viewpoint (by chucke)

chucke — Sun, 06 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

My first visit to NYC for dinner in many years. I realize the cost of everything is high there but I'm still trying to be fair considering my previous life in Houston. The food was very sweet for French cuisine. The ambience was nice with the open outside walls facing the sidewalk. The wait staff was flawless.

4 Stars: all around good place (by sarahbailey202)

sarahbailey202 — Wed, 07 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

This is an all around good place to take people for dinner. I went with a large group and had no problems getting a table. The layout is spacious and we didn't feel cramped (like you do in most hellskitchen restaurants). The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. The steak frites I had was delicious -- one of the best steaks I've had in a while -- melted in my mouth. They also made a great Kir, and had a good selection of wines. Oh, and the desert that I had was amazing - chocolate mouse served with an orange dipping sauce...

5 Stars: Perfect little late night place... (by B_M_20)

B_M_20 — Wed, 03 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

After showing my girlfriend around New York past midnight, we stumbled upon this 24 hr restaraunt. The people were very polite and it wasn't crowded at all. Prices were very resonable and the setting was amazing. Perfect Margarita's and excellent seafood. A cozy spot to bring someone with some very romanitic tunes coming from the jukebox. It is a must every time in NYC.