Kay T.

A couple of friends and I made reservations for dinner. I walked in and stopped by the bar, the ambiance was warm and inviting and the staff was polite and polished. Now down to the food and drinks. The drinks, the paella, calamari, the bread and desserts were delicious. The pâté and ravioli was ok but I would not order again. Great spot for date night or dinner with friends.

Joi B.

Another exquisite dining experience, thanks to the preternaturally- talented Chef Guy Valkin. You know a place is good when you're still fantasizing about the food you ate almost a week ago. We hadn't planned on getting brunch, but there we were, hungry on a Sunday afternoon and walking around in the blazing heat. We didn't have reservations, but it was late for brunch (3:30, which is really the only time I ever eat brunch) and they had plenty of seating available. You may order from the brunch menu or the regular menu. My friend is gluten-sensitive and ordered from the regular menu, where there's plenty of gluten-free options. Plenty. And honestly, the decision fatigue for both of us was for real, whereas that never. ever. happens. for either of us (and you'd be surprised how it's not always easy to find restaurants where we can both be happy). Again, I can't go on enough about how appreciative I am for Chef Guy's restaurants. But I'll stop gushing. No, I won't, actually. Let me tell you about the Chorizo. Dear god, this is everything I could want in a protein. It comes on a skewer and is perfectly succulent, slightly charred but melts in your mouth. Served over a decadent puddle of smoked goat cheese, I urge you to say yes to the bread for scarpetta and you can die happy. Sigh. I fear I'm spoiled for caviar now because that salmon caviar toast did it to me. Also, I never had smoked salmon that had me wondering, could this be the real thing? The texture... how did they do that? I'll be honest, I had to put it out of my head in order to truly enjoy but it's so incredible. Served on a thick slice of crusty bread that's lightly toasted, order this if you want a heartier brunch. My friend loved her duck salad, a sight to behold with shaved lettuce piled high over tiny cubes of potatoes, duck and manchego. I had a bite and secretly plotted to steal it from her. It's the perfect light starter or main event if you want to save room for dessert. Which we did not do, sadly. But we also had cocktails and here's a little secret: Le Basque has an off-menu Bloody Mary that is literally the best Bloody Mary that I've ever had. It tastes strongly of pimento and it's all the good things: tangy, salty, spicy. I'll say it again. The best Bloody Mary that I've ever had and I live in New Orleans. Le Basque truly has it all for me from food to perfect service (our waitress was so lovely, so attentive) to jaw-dropping ambiance. I adore the astonishingly beautiful dining room where upstairs is large and a skylight allows in natural light. A lavish floral arrangement hangs from above, making you feel like you're existing in a secret garden of the Gilded Age. There's space to breath between tables, yet it feels deliciously intimate whether you're on a date or sharing a meal with friends. I love a dining experience that ruins you forever (in the best possible way).

Everything was wonderful. It's a beautiful restaurant. The service was excellent and the food was wonderful. If you didn't know it was vegan. You wouldn't know. Thank you for a wonderful experience

Morlene C.

18 years ago, one too many gamey bites of subpar meat drove me to swear off red meat entirely. I've since developed a deep appreciation for the rare chef who can coax the same dynamic, umami-rich complexity from plants that most cooks only achieve with animal flesh. The brilliant minds behind City Roots Hospitality have figured it out at Le Basque, their French vegan concept, and they deserve their flowers. I think this review deserves a proper breakdown of each dish I ordered. Faux Gras: This wasn't quite a foie gras dupe, but it didnt need to be. The saffron infused butter helped the lentil base be more spreadable, and the bread slices were gently to the right point of crunch. The apple slices also paired nicely with them, making this dish a strong opener. Salmon Rillettes: I'm looking at the ingredients list now (Crème fraîche, dijon mustard, truffle caviar, quail egg, capers, toasted demi baguette) and it's unclear to me what the "salmon" was actually made of, but I really felt like they replicated diced raw, salmon quite well. I just had expensive caviar (the real stuff) the night before, and honestly, this was quite close. The quail egg that drips yolk onto the salmon when you cut into it was quite impressive. This is an excellent dish. Heirloom Tomato Salad: A clean, bright intermission between richer courses, with cuts of tomato that were so juicy and so sweet with each bite. I'm also realizing now that I felt like I was eating real feta in the moment, and could not tell it apart. Their cheese game is impressive. Mushroom Paella: I love mushrooms, so I was more than happy to dig into this dish, that had king oyster, chanterelle, and wood ear mushrooms. The tomatoes and wine had been cooked down in the rice, giving each bite nice savory flavor. Tarte au Citron: This delicate dessert tasted impressively buttery, and the wildflower honey custard had just the right amount of sweetness to go with the brown butter tartlet. Our glasses were never empty and the servers were careful with pacing and didn't hover. The space is small and looks grander in photos, but quite nice for a date. I could easily hear my date over the din of the music and chatter around me. Tables were nicely spaced apart, which is a rarity in this city where restaurateurs try to utilize every inch of floor space. Go!

Taylor E.

Taylor's Tayke: Le Basque is a beautifully curated dining experience that feels both elevated and inviting. The decor is extraordinary, with a warm, intimate atmosphere that makes it perfect for date night. There's a real attention to detail in everything from the plating to the ambiance, and the service matches that energy. Even the vegan dishes are so well executed that they make you want to eat that way every time. My Tipsy Tayke:The Sangria de la Costa was my favorite, refreshing, smooth, and easy to keep going back to. The Bubbly Affair stood out for its lychee flavor, light and enjoyable with a nice balance. My Taysty Tayke: Get Down & Dirty, Expeditiously: Truffle Shrimp RavioliMy favorite dish of the night, rich, flavorful, and perfectly done. Sleeper Pick: Romesco Grilled ChickenA quiet standout, well seasoned and definitely worth ordering. The Chorizo was delicious and full of flavor. The Mushroom Paella wasn't my favorite, but still a solid option depending on what you're looking for. Desserts really closed things out strong. The Tarte au Citron had a bright, flavorful lemon curd that stood out, while the Entremet aux Noisettes delivered a rich chocolate finish. Honorable Mention: The brioche bread, I could run through loaves of it alone. Service: Great service throughout, attentive and aligned with the overall experience. Plates From My Visit: Truffle Shrimp Ravioli Chorizo Romesco Grilled Chicken Mushroom Paella Tarte au Citron Entremet aux Noisettes Sangria de la Costa Bubbly Affair In Conclusion: A refined yet comfortable dining experience with standout dishes, great drinks, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. Perfect for date night or a slow, intentional dinner. Stamped by Elajas

Emily G.

This is an all-vegan restaurant! I was curious how they can feature Spanish and French cuisine (this restaurant features dishes inspired by Basque country) like cheese, but Le Basque did it very well. My party really liked the cheese board - multiple "cheese" and spreads that are all vegan! There were many other dishes we tried as a large group and many were hits. I loved the small plates (pintxos) the best, including the wild mushroom & truffle croquettes, romesco grilled chicken, and calamares fritos. I love City Roots' restaurants' desserts. They are always worth it! The entremet aux noisettes is A+! The service was a bit slow that night. It looked like someone was training under our server, but because it seemed they needeed debriefed after each interaction, they left in the middle of taking our orders for cocktails, so we had to flag several servers down for that. The staff was great in offering recommendations for our large party of 9. Since everything looked good to us, we gave them the ok to choose what they wanted to order for us.

Ashwini A.

SERVICE - located on the north west side of union square - we went for a restaurant week special menu as it was one of the few vegan restaurants participating - ambiance good for a semi formal meal - decor is rustic and cozy - tables can accommodate small or larger groups - service was friendly when we asked for extra plates and cutlery though if you go during a busier time the servers may take a minute to accommodate your request - food served relatively quickly and per course MENU - elevated plant based bistro dishes - all vegan/vegetarian - average price FOOD - smoked salmon caviar toast (6/10): thick sourdough toast topped with herb rlcotta, plant based salmon and caviar, dill, and a tarragon sauce. As someone who has not eaten real fish, the texture of the salmon was not a pleasant feeling. However, it may be worth trying if you enjoy the fishiness and chewiness of salmon. - savory breakfast crepe (7/10): thin flour pancake filled with spinach, plant based cheese, plant based ham, and topped with a plant based sunny side up egg. I was most surprised by how real the yolk on the egg was, almost to the point of questioning whether it was truly plant based. Similar to the salmon toast, I was not a huge fan of the plant based substitutes inside the crepe and would have liked more vegetables such as mushrooms for the meat replacement. - wild mushroom allium quiche (8/10): mini quiche with two types of mushrooms and leeks served with a side salad and dollop of plant based cream cheese. This was a cute size to sample a quiche. I liked how it came with the salad and crème for a pop of freshness. This may be harder to share but would be adequate for one person for a lighter brunch. - pressed balsamic croissant (9/10): grilled pressed croissant with a toasted meringue, strawberry mint salad, and balsamic drizzle. This was the best of the dishes we ordered. The flavors are an unexpected combination but work smoothly together. The sweetness from the strawberries with the freshness of the mint and the acidity of the balsamic against the crisp buttery croissant makes for a sweet addition to a brunch spread. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! The food is inventive and the space is welcoming.

Jenn S.

I'm an omnivore with a strong lean towards being a carnivore vs. herbivore, hands down. So when I was asked to go and check out this vegan spot, I was skeptical that it would fill me up so was already looking forward to eating a big steak afterwards... I just never got to do that this night as I was full to the gills after this epic meal. Ambience is a very romantic, warm and inviting 1950's modern art deco design where the level of detail and attention to the decor, the cutlery and tableware were thoughtful and carefully crafted in the most beautifully tasteful was possible. When I try a place for the first time, and depending on the cuisine, my tried and true go to way of ordering is to order one of each small plate/appetizer course offered on the menu because I believe these are the dishes that a chef can really pour their creativity into vs. a main course dish. I was not sure what to expect from the menu here as it's all vegan and even though the name of certain dishes sounded like they were non vegan offerings. But I really loved how each dish was made to stand on it's own both in taste and plating. Not one dish was too over seasoned nor under seasoned as well. Onto the food! For our four top this night, one vegetarian and 3 omnivores, ordered the cheese board, all nine offerings under their Pintxos section, all of their side dishes, the Faux Gras from their starters, and all of their dessert options. Unanimously loved by all at the table: The cheese board: all of their cheese offerings on the board were so good that it made us forget we were at a pure vegan restaurant. The Steak Tartare: two of us at our table knew what real steak tartare tastes like, what the flavor, texture and mouth feel should be so was completely floored how chef was able to bring all the elements of a traditional tartare into this vegan version. I would come back here and order multiples of just this dish because it was that phenomenal. Wild mushroom & truffle croquette: one of my guests is not a truffle fan and yet they ended up having 2 servings of this. Beautifully fried crispy exterior bite size balls that were really soft and creamy on the inside and just kissed with a touch of truffle. Stuffed Piquillo Peppers: small but mighty is the way I can describe this dish. The goat cheese inside the lightly charred pepper complimented it really well and didn't over power the overall dish. Tomatoes & Toast: this classic tapas dish was always a hit or miss for me because it can be quite boring and bland or way over seasoned. This one was presented with thin crispy wafer like baguette pieces with the tomato pulp in a separate bowls. Perfectly seasoned and we liked that we could control how much or how little we wanted on the crispy baguette. Truffle Beef: bright bold flavors and the black garlic lemon sauce has a great mouthfeel and balanced this dish out nicely. Loved how the quail eggs really mimicked the texture of the egg white part of a real quail egg. Potatoes Bravas: their version is a deep fried ball that reminded me of a arincini, very comforting and addictive. Truffle Caviar Montadito: beautiful presentation. Surprisingly light and we all got a kick out of the seaweed caviar. Faux Gras: Again, two of us at our table knew what foie gras tastes like and only thing missing from this is the slight gamey flavor of an actual faux gras but this one had both the mouth feel and texture down to a T! Cannot wait to return to try more of their menu!

Tami Y.

What a surprise today... omg!!! This place is elegant, service is great and the food... omg! The food... I'm not vegetarian but I like to eat everywhere. My friend asked me to try with her and I got tell... it was the most delicious vegetarian food I ever had. I couldn't tell was vegan... it was art not food what I ate. The flavors... I had 3 courses and they were amazing!! I'm a foodie and I eat everywhere. I will be back.

Vishnu G.

Interesting dishes that seem to be pretty realistic imitations of meat dishes. My partner and I tried the truffle shrimp ravioli and grilled chicken paella. The chicken was my favorite, with pleasantly chewy skewers on top of a slightly spicy and aromatic rice dish. The ravioli was my partner's favorite due to its realistic seafood flavor. The shrimpiness actually was a bit too strong for me as a lifelong vegetarian, but that's the dish doing its job, so no points off from me there! It's a bit pricey at around $76 after tax and tip, but worth it if you're looking for realistic meat imitations.

Ilonachka N.

Just WOW. This was my sixth Chef Guy Vaknin restaurant and I must admit that it was my favorite! Although French is usually my first choice, the food here was simply outstanding. Drinks: I don't drink alcohol so I had the saffron mocktail drink. Very delicious! Food: Cheese plate (absolutely fantastic!) The Romesco chicken (probably my favorite thing of the night) The salmon roulette (delicious but my least favorite) Shrimp ravioli (very good too!) Hazelnut dessert (delicious and similar to the dessert at the other Vaknin restaurants) Citron cake (sour and delicious... but I like the lemony cake at Coletta more) I will absolutely be back!

Alan S.

I once complained to a friend after a particularly disappointing meal at Ernesto's that Basque cuisine might be the least vegetarian friendly in the world. Someone upstairs must have heard my prayers, because it wasn't long after that Le Basque ambitiously took on the challenge of transforming this meat and seafood dominated cuisine. I give an A for effort, but the results were mixed. I enjoyed the wood ear escargot because who doesn't love garlic butter, and similar to the steak at sister restaurant Anixi, the lion mane-based protein works phenomenally, although the chimichurri sauce was less successful. I also enjoyed the bites of duck confit in the frisee salad. As far as pintxos, I wanted to get behind the stuffed peppers, but the vegan goat cheese had a bit of an aftertaste that I couldn't overlook. The steak tartare was also generally unmemorable. My biggest issue is the environs. It really feels like a hotel restaurant because it is, in fact, a hotel restaurant. The ambiance at Anixi is quite magical, and that just wasn't quite recreated here.

Pree R.

Lea Basque is a fully vegan restaurant inspired by French and Basque regional cuisine. I discovered it after dining at Coletta (a vegan Italian spot) a few months ago and learning about the restaurant collective that owns Coletta and a bunch of plant-based restaurants offering global cuisines all around NYC. Since then, I've made it my mission to try one every time I'm in NYC -- and La Basque definitely caught my eye! French cuisine is typically very meat-heavy, so the idea of an entirely vegan take was exciting and unique. I arrived around 4 PM -- an off-peak hour -- and had no problem getting a table for one. I was seated upstairs in a cozy booth, which was a nice touch. I skipped appetizers to save room for the main dishes and started with the vegan salmon Pintxos (skewers). These came with paprika-crusted salmon, sunchoke, dehydrated black garlic powder, and both balsamic and herb sauces. The skewers were beautifully plated over a creamy balsamic drizzle. The "salmon" was tender, chewy, and full of flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the "Port Beef Bourguignon," a vegan take on the classic French beef stew. It featured plant-based beef (I believe from Chunk Foods), a rich port wine sauce, heirloom carrots, pearl onions, crimini mushrooms, and Yukon gold potatoes. The dish was elegantly presented on a rounded rectangular plate, with the protein on one side and roasted vegetables on the other. Everything was well-seasoned, hearty, and filling -- high in plant protein and incredibly satisfying. I didn't order dessert (wanted to save room for gelato later), but I did have a bottle of sparkling water. The service was fast, the ambiance warm and welcoming, and the presentation and flavors were top-notch. I love that this restaurant -- and the whole restaurant group -- is making gourmet, cruelty-free dining so accessible and enjoyable. It's empowering to eat amazing food without compromising on ethics or experience. I'll definitely be back and continue supporting their mission!