Delish historic spot. The architecture is divine. As is the French infused menu. The chickpea fries are unexpected. Basically chickpea prepared in a tiny square and fried with lemon on top. Moist and delish. The tuna tartar was divine with olive oil chimichurri type base. The bread and butter is standard sourdough vibes. The fried cheese balls with honey was the best! Salmon was on point as was the rotisserie chicken. Parking is NY impossible. Take public transpo or walk. The bar is cute, make reservations. read more

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I am genuinely so disappointed in Cafe Chelsea. The atmosphere is beautiful -- I'll give it that much. But everything else is both super disappointing and extremely overpriced for the quality of food. I got the burger ($34) and asked for it medium. I know that meat at French restaurants are often cooked on the rarer side. That said, what I got was something close to a raw burger: it was basically completely red on the inside. I also thought service was extremely lacking. Our server was super inattentive. I saw him exactly twice: once when he came to take our order, and once when he dropped off our food. It felt very much like a "get in get out" experience -- as soon as he heard we weren't ordering drinks, he couldn't care less about our table. All in all, one of the most lackluster dining experiences I've had in a while. read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

Is the food overpriced for what it is? Yes. Would I and have I come back infinite times like it's my own personal living room that I exist in for all my free hours ever? Also yes. I've come during the day, at night, with friends, family, business meetings, dates, by myself, I literally can't go wrong. The drinks are fantastic, the service is just unbelievably top notch, like without fail over 15+ visits and consistently top notch?! That's a hard standard to uphold given how busy and crowded they get. Get the espresso martini. Get a glass of wine. Hang out with your friends. Impress your out of town family. Hang out with the bartender with your book or your journal. Sign a business contract at one of their tables. Do it all. It's the best. read more

First, you cannot beat the stellar details and beauty of the space. Each wall is unique and the entire place feels like a well-preserved trip back to the golden age. I enjoyed the Bloody Mary--high quality and very peppery--and my croissant was flaky perfection. read more

Café Chelsea - Bloody Mary - French Near Me - New York, New York

Ambiance here is amazing! Came here for a birthday dinner and the birthday girl was so happy with the romantic and candlelit vibes. The appetizers were great. I wish we had gotten more appetizers as all of our entrees were good, but didn't blow us away like the appetizers did. The service was okay as well, the best customer service was definitely the sommelier. The waiter was inattentive. read more

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Cafe Chelsea is such a vibe. We went for Sunday brunch and had an amazing time. There's plenty of seating and even some space near the entrance where you can tuck a stroller without it being in everyone's way, which I always appreciate as a parent. The space itself is beautiful. The decor feels classic but trendy at the same time. It's comfortable without trying too hard. The staff was super helpful with recommendations and really friendly throughout the meal. We never felt rushed, which made it easy to just relax and enjoy being there. My daughter loved the fries and fruit bowl. Big win. I ordered the Pain Perdu and wow. It was rich, decadent, and honestly one of the better versions I've had. I couldn't finish it because it was that indulgent, but every bite was very, very good. Overall, great food, great energy, and a perfect brunch spot. Highly recommend. read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

What a treat to have dinner at the Chelsea cafe with my besties! The best ambiance, was hoping it would be dimly lit and it was! The service wasn't very into conversation but was super friendly. I got the chickpea fried cubes? Was delicious but was a very interesting texture and shape. I also had the ravioli, it was so good. Came out as a little sheet and loved it felt like a simulation. read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

Feels more like a hotel restaurant aimed at tourists than a place you'd go out of your way for. Prices are high for what you get, and the food was pretty subpar overall, nothing memorable. Ambiance is nice but there are 100s of "nice" places in NYC... The one bright spot was the service, which was genuinely friendly and attentive. If you're in the area, there are much better spots nearby worth your money. read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

Decided to visit the Chelsea Hotel and found their café. We just decided to have some coffee and tea and sit and admire the café. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. The food other people were getting served looked great, but we did not eat here. It has a very nostalgic vibe inside and had great decor. Try them for yourself. read more

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The gorgeous sheet of pasta filled with comté and crème fraîche was exactly why I rushed to make a reservation at this french restaurant in the historic Hotel Chelsea and believe it or not it kind of lived up to the hype. After all, what's not to like about freshly made, perfectly al dente pasta filled with airy and creamy cheese? I so rarely seek out French food but quite enjoyed my meal here. While I admittedly came for that dish, I also favored the maitake, which is my favorite mushroom, turned into a whole meat-like entree prepared au poivre, like with steak. A tuna nicoise salad is a tuna nicoise salad but I did love their slices of slightly seared ahi tuna, tender in the middle and flecked with black pepper on the seared sides. With tender hard boiled potato and eggs, I'd say the French knew a thing or two about making the perfect salad. As I was dining with a friend who's friends with the chef, we were also gifted multiple dishes, including pate, and some red meat dishes I didn't eat. An amber hue soaked the walls of the swanky space. I also found the soundproofing of the walls pleasant in a way it absorbed the hum of conversation over the dining space, as I didn't feel that I had to scream to hear my dining companion, who felt far away because the tables for two were so long. French food costs feel a bit prohibitive for me to consider this a neighborhood to just drop into, as I think for two people we casually dropped $300 on a regular meal, but I'm glad to have tried it for that Ravioli Dauphine. read more

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Nice brunch. Bit pricey. $8 drip coffee. 3 strips of bacon $12... Atmosphere is very nice. Not rushed out! read more

4.25 stars Ambience: Parisian Café. Decor was intimate. Lots of cute booths for privacy. Service: good. Did not feel rushed nor did they force the check on us early. Such a rarity in New York. Goes with the Parisian vibes. Food: Best: croquette (the honey makes this dish) Say yes to the Bread and butter. Butter B maybe b- bread A. Side salad- Huge. Bitter. Salty. Perfect. Tuna crudo Good Decent oysters. Panisse was unique. Chocolate soufflé was great but not OMG YES Would order next time ravioli du dauphine - the dish they are known for French fries Would definitely be back Best for small parties, family get-togethers read more

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We came for the chocolate soufflé but while at it split the steak frites and the potatoes and it was all delicious!! The steak, cooked to perfection, potatoes delicious and the soufflé did not disappoint. Service was great and I look forward to returning to try something else. Only thing that did surprise me was the price of strawberries, we were asked if we would like to add ice cream or strawberries to our soufflé and we went with strawberries. There were 10 on the plate and it was $18 for the strawberries. read more

Café Chelsea - Soufflé with plate of strawberries - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Go to see and be seen. Great ambiance n great fun, food can be hit or miss but the drinks are always in point. What's your poison? Espresso martinis , manhattan? Or rosé. Always buzzing around 6:30 -7:30. The bar seating is where's at. The mixologist are always friendly n courteous. Neal is the best. He makes the best espresso martinis! read more

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I was meeting up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. I don't live in New York anymore so I had asked her to pick a restaurant. She picked this restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel. The hotel is historic and gorgeous. Inside in the lobby where we had drinks, I felt it was like a museum with all the artwork. Inside the restaurant was gorgeous. The food was also very good. I shared a cheeseburger with my friend and my cousin had the steak frites. I also ordered the ravioli to share. Both were really good. Also this place is very busy. My friend snagged Friday night reservations at 8:30pm. Definitely have reservations before you go. All in all, a new cool New York experience. Places like this make me really miss living in the city. read more

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We visited Cafe Chelsea for brunch before a matinee in NYC at the recommendation of a friend. I easily made reservations in advance, and we were promptly seated once we arrived. The space is beautiful and elegant - it really feels like you're back in the 20s! We sat near the bar, but I wish I would have explored more of their dining area to take in the whole restaurant. Our server was kind; they seemed to be in a little bit of a hurry at first with taking our order, but then once we got our food and were finishing up, their attention tailed off. No big deal since we weren't in a rush, but the change was surprising. For food, the focus in French cuisine, featuring a variety of sweet and savory dishes as well as pastries. I went for the Florentine (eggs Benedict with spinach), and my husband went for the Croque Madame. My dish was solid, with the eggs perfectly poached and the Hollandaise being the "just right" amount without overwhelming the dish. I was a little disappointed in the English muffin that held the contents - it was a little weak, and for being a French spot, I would have enjoyed a brioche or croissant instead of the standard and lackluster muffin. The small side salad was a nice accompaniment, and I much preferred this to breakfast potatoes for a lighter touch. My husband enjoyed his dish, sharing that it was well done. We paired our meals with regular drip coffee, which hit the spot but was not overly memorable. At ~$25 per dish, Cafe Chelsea is certainly on the pricier side, but then again, it's NYC pricing and in an upscale environment so it's not surprising. The food was solid, but not my favorite brunch that I've had and could have used a little more oomph. I would definitely return for the vibes and to try other menu items that hopefully bump this review up to a 4 or 5! read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

Nice ambiance, Eggs Benedict was pretty good... could have a done a half order. Service was quick, coffee wasn't very hot...

Such a cozy spot!!! The ravioli was delish- wish there was a bit more filling. Steak was perfectly cooked medium rare & enjoyed the herb butter on top. Dark chocolate soufflé was yummy but VERY rich- needed some flaky salt to balance maybe. Service was pretty good. Was easy to walk in and get a table on a week night read more

Café Chelsea - Steak Frites - French Near Me - New York, New York

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I met a friend at Cafe Chelsea for brunch with an open mind but fairly low expectations. The restaurant is decorated beautifully and I really enjoyed looking at the finishes selected throughout the restaurant. I also liked the name branded coffee saucers and the china overall. Service is where Cafe Chelsea shines, our waiter was so nice, didn't balk at our order (we shared 3 dishes) and really gave us our time at the table. For such a busy brunch restaurant, this European standard of service is much welcomed in New York. Food-wise I also enjoyed myself , although slightly less than with the decor and service. I had the fine herb omlette which was perfectly fine, I added gruyere to push the omlette's price over $30 (mon Dieu) and I would recommend going with the potatoes for the side. I also had the vichyssoise soup, which I forgot to ask what kind of stock it is made with, and it tasted like beef stock to me, but either way, not vegetarian (fail on my part). Finishing off with the pain perdu, this was delicious and very sweet, I doubt I could have finished it if I ordered it by myself... definitely more of a "for the table" dish. read more

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The chocolate soufflé makes this a destination spot. The waiters were outstanding and very accommodating. Tables are a little tight. The entrees were okay. The soufflé just outshone everything else. read more

Food was great but I'm not itching to come back. Got the ravioli which I liked but is small. The oysters were yummy and the burger was great but it just all feels a bit overpriced. Service was great and it's cute but it's just not my favorite! read more

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Burger was nuts. One of the best I've ever had probably. Very memorable, simple, but epic. also split the steak frites, and that was also awesome. Don't usually order drinks, but I tried a French martini and it was nice. Pretty fruity and sweet but tasty if that's what you like. Nice spot for a nice dinner with friends on a late weekend night. Sitting outside is a good vibe. Service was nice. read more

I recently traveled down to NYC from CT for an appointment but had time to kill beforehand so stopped in for breakfast after seeing several Redditors say this was excellent breakfast. Sadly, I was not impressed. The ambiance and decor are very beautiful and historic, so the vibe is good. Since I was alone I sat at the bar but it was a long time before anyone even acknowledged me. No on said hello or let me know someone would be coming soon. Finally a server provided menus and coffee but it was not his section, the bartender was just M.I.A. The hot coffee I ordered was cold. The bartender did finally come back and was pleasant enough but was very in and out. I ordered a croque madame, which was okay but bread was a little too charred and the only flavor I really got was from the ham. Supposedly it was rosemary ham but I didn't get the flavor of rosemary or herbs at all. This was not worth the $30 for a basic hot ham and cheese. Lesson learned. read more

Great food and service was wonderful. Andrew, the sommelier gave us some delightful recommendations

Tried this over the weekend. The space is beautiful. We sat outside and were enclosed by lots of foliage, which almost made it feel like we were not sitting on 23rd street, but rather, in a beautiful garden. The seating is not super cramped and you don't hear everyone else's conversations. The food was good, a bit small and expensive but presented beautifully and tasty. Service was attentive and efficient. read more

Took a colleague here while in town visiting. Promised to be a quintessential New York experience and didn't disappoint. The food was good (not standout for the price point, but good), service was attentive, and ambience was nice. read more

Medium to high prices, the lemon spaghetti was rich and flavorful. The David ala coco sorbet is their best dessert, with a wide range of sweetness and tart. read more

Café Chelsea - David ala coco sorbet - French Near Me - New York, New York

Our waiter was attentive and patient with us as we looked over drinks. We had appetizers- fries, coquettes, baby ravioli and steak tartar. Everything was yummy minus the coquettes and the soufflé. The breading on coquettes left a weird mouth feel and aftertaste. The soufflé was doughy and gummy- not cooked through unfortunately. The drinks were creative and delicious so definitely come for the bar! read more

Café Chelsea - Chocolate soufflé - French Near Me - New York, New York

Beautiful spot for a meal located inside the Hotel Chelsea. I'd been here for cocktails at the bar and was impressed and came back for brunch. The spritz with cherry and raspberry was unique, the croque madame delicious. The space is so pretty. Make sure to take a walk around the hotel and check it out! read more

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First off the patio experience is fantastic, I came here solo while my kid was at a concert and the ambiance was just what I needed, relaxing beautiful and serene (very difficult to find in the heart of NYC) and the wait staff was top notch! Sebastian was the best waiter I have had in a very long time, for that alone this place rates a 5, but then you add the incredible dark chocolate soufflé I ordered for dessert with cognac vanilla ice cream accompanied by an oat latte and you have yourself a dessert to remember. I did order a light bite before I indulged in the dessert. In full transparency I wasn't that hungry so I ordered the tuna crudo with capers which was well balanced and the right size for the occasion. If you find yourself in the Chelsea area stop by and have a meal or even just , make sure you make a reservation though this place is extremely busy at peak times!! If you are lucky enough to get Sebastian, you will see why I rated this place a 5 and tell him Stefanie said hi!! read more

Café Chelsea - Dark Chocolate Soufflé - French Near Me - New York, New York

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I find that Cafe Chelsea having so many negative reviews interesting. Usually when I see a place having less than 4 stars I stay away, but as native New Yorker who was hanging with a life long friend who is a huge Sid Vicious fan, we have been wanting to come to Cafe Chelsea for a while. The building itself, is on the registry of National landmarks. The interior is beautiful and charming. It's amazing really. We walked into the bar area which is where there are a bunch of booths and this is where we were seated. This is back In August. Last week, I returned with another friend who was dying to go there and we sat in the same area. The first visit, we were seated right away, the second time it took a few minutes and I'm pretty sure we ran into the same resting bitch face hostess that other people have complained about. We ended up seated by someone else. I'm not sure why she is in this line of work. She is not nice and doesn't acknowledge you, But thats her and their problem. Going to just list of food eaten for both visits, may have to go by memory: Salad with avocado and seared Tuna: yum yum The burger with Gruyère, excellent both times. Fries: some of the best in the city, and the dipping sauce, it's out of this world. I asked for recipe but haven't been able to recreate it yet. Omelette with Gruyère , it's ok, nothing to write home about. Overall, it's a great place to come in to sit by the bar, sit in a booth and chat with friends, I hear the happy hour is great, very busy. Just avoid the cranky hostess and the other parts of the restaurant and you'll have a great experience. read more

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It belongs. I'm obsessed with the atmosphere and interior here. Steak was good. Maitake Au Poivre so tasty! Ravioli wasn't my fav. Frites was perfectly salted and crispy. Chickpea Fries was a bit mushy. Will come back to try brunch and dessert. read more

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Our friend took us to Café Chelsea where we had a nice quiet ending to our Saturday evening. It was a classy establishment, and the bartenders played up the vibe with their dapper white suit jackets and ties. I would go as far as saying that the bartenders made my night. They were hilarious and fun to talk to. I peeked at the menu and realized that the place was a French bistro. I wasn't in much of a drinking mood, so I opted for a dessert instead. I got the almond pear tarte, which tasted like a hug. The ultimate comfort food. My husband ordered the lavender colada mocktail, which was excellent. If the food and drinks were this good, I look forward to coming back and trying more things off the menu. read more

We dined at this restaurant again and I ordered the Facon Niçoise salad since I have been craving and dreaming about that salad. It was a cold day and we were seated near the door where there was a draft coming in. It was chilly but we didn't complain. Our waitress looks annoyed at us because we didn't know what we wanted to drink. I ordered the pear spritz and it was lovely. Of course, I ordered the Facon Niçoise salad. There is something in this salad that I love! The butter beans, Yes! Olives, Yes! Ahi tuna in top of the salad, Yes! The perfectly soft hard boiled eggs, Yes! The creamy dressing, yes! The way the chefs makes this salad is pure perfection! The service was okay. Our waitress abandoned us and never gave us our check. We had to ask another waitress for our check. I'm coming back just for the Facon Niçoise salad. read more

Café Chelsea - Facon Niçoise salad - French Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for the Ravioles du dauphine which i liked! It's like a sheet of ravioli with a buttery sauce. For appetizer, we had the chèvre croquettes which was on the small side but I liked how the cheese paired well with honey. My partner had the steak frites which I thought was good because the meat was cooked well and the fries were crispy and plentiful. We had the chocolate soufflé for dessert which was decadent. Note that it takes a little bit of time for the chocolate soufflé to prepare and they do note this on the menu. I would recommend this place to try! read more

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Great late night spot. Very accommodating! Ravioli always a favorite! Simple and delicious. Love the chickpea fries! read more

Café Chelsea - Ravioli!!! - French Near Me - New York, New York

I was in the area and walked past their outdoor dining area. The lush botanical appearance really struck me, so as I walked back to my car and realized I still had 40 minutes left on my meter, I deced to have a solo brekkie. I popped in and the host staff was very accommodating. They showed me to an outdoor table but I have to say, the interior is equally impressive. It has an old world feel but the staff makes it feel very current and not at all stuffy. I happily sat alone and whipped out my phone so as to get caught up on my current Netflix binge, The Perfect Couple (don't judge me). My server was very nice. For the most part, he was attentive but I lost him when it was time to get the bill. There was a young woman that was serving water to all the tables, so I asked her. It was a nice, quiet meal. I would love to return for dinner because the food pics look amazing. This was a pleasant start to my day and I'm glad I took an impromptu self care moment. I had the Saumon Fumé, with sliced smoked salmon, herbed crème fraîche, capers and toasted sourdough. The crème fraîche was soooo fluffy and light. I could eat that with a spoon. They also served a few lemon slices for the salmon. It was a very nice, light meal. I also had a side of chicken sausage. It was large, nicely seasoned and slightly sweet. I liked it a lot. Mint tea was my choice of bevy and I appreciate the tea setting. It feels like a tea ceremony just for me. I loved every minute. I would and will definitely be back. A girlfriend of mine has a birthday fast-approaching and I know she would love this restaurant. Let the reservations commence! read more

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Hate to say because this is such a beautiful cafe, and the food *can* be very very good, but service was just so bad this time that I don't think I want to keep going back. Only one of us had received our drink by the time our entrees arrived, the burger we ordered medium was fully well done, just all around a bad scene read more

Café Chelsea - Burger - French Near Me - New York, New York

Very nyc French cafe/bistro. The ambiance and decor is very nice. Service was good. Food was good, standard. We came for brunch had a couple of salads, sides, coffee, drinks and it was 60/person. It's in a nice location. I think what stands out the most is it feels unique and not just another French bistro type place. read more

Café Chelsea - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Café Chelsea nails the vibe--elegant but unfussy, with polished service and a menu that mostly delivers. The highlight was the classic French-style omelet: soft-scrambled on the inside, perfectly set on the outside, with just the right amount of melted Gruyère. Served with a handful of fresh greens and solid sourdough toast, it's a light but satisfying plate done right. The Quebec-style pain perdu--a thick slice of brioche with a crumb topping, powdered sugar, and melting ice cream--looked more decadent than it tasted. Warm, rich, and well-executed, but didn't quite hit the "wow" factor. Good, not unforgettable. Coffee was strong and smooth, and the space itself is gorgeous--classic café design with great energy. A reliable brunch spot with a few standout dishes. Worth a visit, especially if you're in the neighborhood. read more

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