Bistro 61

Great escargot, great steak frites. They have a wine special now, 50% off bottles over $100. Still a little rich for my blood, but this is still a cute little spot to refuel after shopping at bed bath and beyond.

Posted 10/24/09

Tried Bistro 61 for the first time with my family. Older kids with picky appetites. Everyone loved what they ordered and raved about it afterward. From the professional, friendly staff (including the chefs) to the quaint, sophisticated ambiance, everything about this place was perfect. Next time you're in NY, I recommend you avoid the touristy, crowded restaurants in the theater district and head east to Bistro 61 where you'll be guaranteed a good meal and great service

Posted 03/07/09

My family and I go here at least once a week. They know my toddler and they play with him. The manager and servers know us by name. Great atmosphere. And of course I love their food. The soup, the mussels, the burger with foise gras, the pasta, the fish - you can't go wrong with this place.

Pros: Family friendly, Good Servers and Manager, Tastiest French Food

Cons: Tough to get a table sometimes

Posted 01/31/09

Famous for their seafood selection, a restaurant that has a very nice decor. I had the salmon which was average. The French Onion Soup doesn't quite have enough cheese, but overall flavor is ok. The only thing with this restaurant is that nothing really stands out in the flavors. The service was great but a little better than the food. I would still give this 3-4 stars as I am very critical and have high standards.

Posted 11/21/08

I have been going to this place for several years. The food is consistently excellent. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, something that seems to be hard to find lately. No attitude, pleasant atmosphere, very professional execution - I am not surprised to see them busier than every. It is well deserved!

Pros: Food, Service, Ambience, One or two particular french waitresses

Cons: None

Posted 06/19/08

You wouldn't think it from the outside but inside is all brick and quite nice. There is a little bar up front and the lighting makes it somewhat romantic.

We started with the spicy mussles....which unfortunantly aren't very spicy but you get tons. The pasta I got was quite good and not too oiley. Drinks were a little pricey and on the weak side. Toss in all that fruit and nobody will know!

Posted 06/16/08

I live 3 blocks away and finely tried bistro 61.Now my fiancee and i go to brunch every saturday.The food is fresh and fabulous specialy the mussels ,the best in the eastside .The staff is friendly and they even deliver ,can't beat that!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 06/04/07

I have been going to this place for 2 years and I have never had anything but an excellent meal. The place is packed for a reason - the food is really good! You can tell when a French restaurant has a French chef - this one definitely has one. Besides great food, the space has a very comfortable feel to it and the service is terrific. If you are someone who understands and appreciates good food, you will definitely get this place. By the way, the burger has to be one of the best anywhere!

Pros: Amazing Food

Cons: Too small to bring 100 of my closest friends

Posted 06/01/07

I went here with my lovely girlfiend and had a terrible night. We were told 10 minutes for a table and waited an hour. After ordering a below average appetizer of goat cheese, I ordered the pasta in a rabbit ragu. Now, I would assume like most people that meant a meat sauce. I was confused to say the least when the bland bland bland! pasta came with a roasted rabbit leg on it. PS: This wasnt even good. They were nice enough to remove it from the bill, but even my girlfriend's pasta with shirmp was bland as well. Avoicd this place unless you are only looking for a drink in a cozy spot with bad food.

Pros: Nice space

Cons: bad food

Posted 12/21/06

The bistro burger is good, but my favorite dish there is the Salade d'Endive--- so good. The chicken and duck are good also. Rich, as French food can be, so it's only good every now and then. The staff is nice and friendly, the bar has a good selection of liquor too. The restaurant is cozy, romantic, and creatively chic. (the menu holders are vintage album covers) Definitely a little gem in the UES.

Posted 11/02/06

If you would like a provencal gastronomique experience Bistro 61 is the place to go. The new fall menu is FULL OF FLAVOR. While my wife and I are always guaranteed to find traditional french favorites like the foie gras platter and steak tartare, the menu is more elaborate and tuned to Provence in the Fall. The rabbit stew served over tagliatelle as well as the lamb shank dish melt in your mouth. Also, dont skip on the desserts. The chocolate souffle is decadent. Ask for it with their special chocolate ice cream. Yum!!!

Pros: Moderate Prices. Friendly staff. Close to 4, 5 and 6 train Chef is the owner. Chef Authentically French

Cons: no parking

Posted 10/15/06

The restaurant is in my neighborhood (Upper East Side) and my husband and I go there weekly for dinner with friends. Everytime we go we are surprised by the tasty and creative specials and comforted by our menu favorites. The lamb shank is mouth watering and Rossini Burger is out of this world. We also frequent this Bistro for sunday brunch. It is one of the only places that serves MERGEZ sausage on the upper east side. The staff is consistent and very friendly. As regulars we are all on a first name basis.

This is a place to try................we are sure you will love it.

Pros: Authentic French Food. Chef is from the south of France

Cons: None

Posted 10/10/06

I am a frech ex pat living in NYC. Bistro 61 is one of the most authentic french food restaurants in NYC. The menu and wine list cure my nostalgic thoughts of home. Favorites that keep me going back are the Steak Tartare dish (which is made with real beef from hand cut ribeye), the Foie Gras platter (which offers pan seared foie gras, foie gras terrine and foie gras mousse) and the Soup De Poisson. I eat there at least once a week as well as order favorite dishes for delivery.

The staff is also very friendly and the restaurant offers great bar service for dinner and/or drinks. There is never a shortage of Ricard at the bar.

Pros: Located in E. 60s close to Midtown and Upper East Side. Chef comes out to talk to patrons

Cons: None

Posted 10/10/06

It's time to write a nice note about this French Bistro. I go there almost once to twice a week. The food is excellent, the service is great and the ambiance is cozy. I really miss the tuna tartare but they recently added the salmon tartare which is ten time better. Don't forget to go there during the weekend they have the best brunch ...

Posted 10/09/06

This restaurant is the best addition to the neighborhood. As the place gets more and more packed, the food keeps getting better. My wife and I have been eating at this place for more than a year and I don't think we have ever had a less than delicious meal. The lamb tajine is incredible. The onion soup is perfect. The burger has become my staple item - it has to be one of the best in the city. The service is always friendly and excellent. When it gets crazy busy they still keep us happy. I almost want to keep it a secret but it's just too good.

Posted 10/08/06

"What a shame. The decor is charming, if not predictable and cliche French Bistro. The food, I had the Rossi burger and it was decadent meal with caramelized onions and foie gras.

However, the stars I might have given this place for the points above are taken away by the slow, lazy, greedy, self-entitled service! My two girlfriends and I were here for dinner last Thursday, (there may have been 2 other parties here). We asked for water with our other drinks, with our meal, after our meal, with dessert. There were 4-5 waitresses. We had to ask for water THREE TIMES before finally receiving it on our fourth, then they asked us if we actually wanted glasses with it too! (I suppose we were supposed to use the dirty glasses from our wine?).

After we paid, the waitress came up to us and complained about her tip, saying we didn't even leave her much of a tip. (Which, we didn't intend, but she certainly deserved). When we checked the bill, we realized we had left 19% !!!

Exactly WHAT kind of tip do the people there think they deserve for NO service???"

Pros: Their Rossi burger is decadent and fries yummy

Cons: Worst service ever

Posted 09/13/06

Went here on a Thursday night, I suppose if you live in the area, its a fair corner bistro. But we live in Brooklyn, so there's pretty much no way we will go back here. Not awful, but certainly overpriced and overrated and a pain to get to. Decent Pinot Noir. but thats about it. Got the burger and the omlet and the fois gras. Fair.

Pros: pinot noir

Cons: location, food

Posted 08/17/06