Not bad, but definitely overpriced for how much food you get. Perigord cheese fondue: the fondue was wonderful, but the bread was so old and tough we had to tell them; they brought more bread, still hard and quite old. Are you kidding me? It was soooo low of them to have such a bad quality bread for their fondue. Unbelievable. The salad that comes with it was pretty plain and sad...just some lettuce...they could do better than that, for what they charge you. The Leticia broth cauldron was nothing special. I guess the mistake this time was on our side. The pork tenderloin and steak were pretty good, though, and so were the sauces that came with it. The dark chocolate fondue was delicious, but, again, limited. After a few pieces of fruit we were already touching the bottom of the bowl. Not much of a reason to go back, frankly, except their great BYOB (no corking policy). read more

Best fondue in NY! Taureau is the total package and if you opt for the baseline dinner of $41 it's a great deal for the amount of food you get. Even the $50 full dinner is totally worth the price. You will leave stuffed! There is a great variety of cheeses and they give you a lot! Our favorites were the soprano and the alpine We went with both the oil and broth and preferred the broth. As for dessert, dark chocolate all the way! I highly recommend this place and will definitely head there again if I crave fondue read more

First of all, LOVING the fact that this place is BYOB with no corkage fee. Based off the previous reviews, my date and I decided to just get one cheese fondue and one broth. It seemed like the pre-fixe would be too much food and unfortunately we didn't have any tums with us. We ordered the Perigord (a cheese fondue with truffle mushrooms and truffle oil) and the beef filet mignon in a Leticia's Broth (red wine and veggie stock), as well as thick cut slab bacon (absolutely delicious and thick), portobello mushroom, fingerling potatoes and broccoli for dipping in the truffle cheesy heaven. In addition, we were given complimentary croutons (for dipping into the cheese) and salad. The Perigord was absolutely delicious. It had the right amount of truffle oil and truffle mushrooms. However, I felt that the cheese got too thick too fast. It might've been the temperature of the stove top on the table. In an effort to be somewhat healthy, we got the Leticia's Broth to dip our beef filet mignon, which might've not been a great idea. Sometimes it's better to go the full fat version route and get the oil. read more

Taureau - Perigord! Cheese fondue with truffle mushrooms and truffle oil :) - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Had a reservation at 730 on a Saturday night. Place was pretty empty when we arrived, but did get busier as the night went on. We did the Prix Fixe menu (3 fondues). The cheese was good and really filling. Meat was good pieces and tasty, the dark chocolate fondue was amazing. We enjoyed our selves and would consider going back. For what the meal is, it is extremely expensive, even for the city. The Prix Fixe, a glass of wine, a $13 beer and a side of potatoes ran us $180 with a 20% tip. I'm sure we could of had a better meal for that cost some where else, but the expereience was good. read more

Taureau - Flank steak and chicken ready to be cooked. - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

See all

A few housekeeping notes before the main review: 1- Several reviewers have claimed this is a BYOB establishment. iT'S NOT. Brought a bottle of wine with me as I thought we could but was told no. FYI. 2- They only take AMEX, Cash or bit coin. 3- Sort of BS the Yelp offers a coupon to check in and then reveal the restrictions after you do. Low class by Yelp. On to the review.... The Good: Food taste. Cheese fondue - cheddar was nice. Soft croutons to dip. We had the the filet which was also good. Desert of fruit and chocolate was good. We tried both dark and milk. The So-So: Had a wine list but not a lot by the glass. Beer was only crafted and pricey $13 and up and no cocktail list but could mix soda and liquor drinks. The Bad: Nothing really. The atmosphere: intimate, nice upbeat music, very narrow dinning area and you could end up eating very close to another table Almost like table sharing because some are just inches from each other. However there are several rooms of seating and the proximity didn't bother us. Not good for small kids, no place for strollers or anything. But nice date or grown up place or kids say 10 and up. Overall good experience. Will return. Parking close in pay lot. read more

See all

Came here to have at least 1 fondue experience in my life and it was not regretful. If you do plan to eat here plan to spend at least 40$ because there is nothing cheaper as it is a prefix menu with 3 servings of food. 1st course- smoked gouda cheese fondue with unlimited salad and bread. The cheese was extremely flavorful and this was the best course in my opinion. I was skeptical about just eating cheese and bread at first but while eating it i felt as if i could go on for days at time because how overly satisfying it was. 2nd course- choice of meat and oil/broth. I got the chicken and oil since the waitress recommended so and it was rather disappointing and my reason for subtracting a star. It does look like they season the chicken, but your tongue wont be able to tell. On the side they give you 5 different dipping sauces, 2 of which i liked while the rest tasted like a random mixture of condiments. Not a very flavorful experience so don't expect much here. 3rd course - milk chocolate fondue.. Geezus this thing was really good finish. It definitely made up for the course preceding it. It comes with a pot of hot milk chocolate, many different fruits, brownies, homemade banana cake pieces, and the best thing you can possibly dip in chocolate - marshmallows. If i ever came back here i would honestly get the same prefix menu and just omit the meat course completely so that i can indulge in the cheese and chocolate fondues as much as humanly possible. Lovely place. read more

Taureau - Smoked gouda cheese fondue with chorizo on the side - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Id give no stars if possible. THIS IS A TERRIBLE TOURIST TRAP! The menu is depressing and it's clear that they are wildly overcharging for what you get. I wanted to do fondue and my husband wanted to get something from the French restaurant next door (same place). The waiter said if my husband had ONE bite of the fondue that he would charge him for founde ($52 per person ). Ha! This owner is ripping people off. How freaking ridiculous? Also, it was not clean and smelled terrible. AVOID! Walk 2 blocks to soho and don't get ripped off. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in New York. It's a quaint little spot with a simple price fixe menu of yummy fondue. They have excellent vegetarian choices if meat isn't your thing. Every time I'm here I try a different cheese and I'm never disappointed. The best part is the chocolate and fruit to top off a great meal. Always a great experience when dining here. Just know it is a typical New York restaurant meaning it is quite small and not great for larger parties. And definitely make a reservation or expect a wait. read more

Amazing experience along with great food. J and I had an early reservation and we pretty much knew what we were going to get. We got seated immediately and our waiter was very helpful and efficient. We ordered the Perigord which was absolutely amazing. Cheese with truffle is the best. The highlight of the night would be cauliflower, mushrooms (this was love!), and the thick cut slab of bacon, all which is refillable. If you think cheese fondue isn't filling, think again. After stuffing ourselves with the cheese, we moved on to chocolate fondue. Opted for the milk chocolate and it came with a tray of sweets and fruits. All were great when dipped in chocolate, I loved it so much I even ate a spoonful of chocolate. I'll definitely be back since I would love to try their oil/broth fondue. Plus I just can't get enough of the chocolate fondue. Totally better than Max Brenner any day. BIG thumbs up! read more

See all

I came here once with my former fourth-grade teacher. She recommended this place for fondue. It was my first experience of dipping food into cheese and canola oil and with chocolate. I had always thought that fondue was only to dip with chocolate and fruits. I had a really good time having different variety of fondue and recommended my friends to come. Although it is pricey... It's nice to treat or take a friend to experience. Today, I decided to take my friend, Julie and her baby girl to a nice hangout. The service was great. They have a nice and comfortable atmosphere. The food portion was very good. I like the different variety of cheese dip. If you decide to come, remember to reserve a day and time. The restaurant opens from 5pm- Midnight. read more

See all

"BYOB + Quality Fondue = A great East Village Combo meal" Yes, it is very hard to find really good, unique dining experience AND BYOB. BYOB is great not only as a "recession concession" but as way to savor some awesome wine of your choosing. As you know, so much of the East Village is populated with ethnic restaurants that don't give a second thought to their wine menu. No, really, white Zinfandel isn't really a wine. It's pretty much for juice boxes. Sacrifice food for good wine isn't necessary here. (yes, the author is self-aware that he is a wine snob) This is a destination place, not a stop along the night out. This is not a place to graze or small plates style. The prix-fixe meal is the only one that really gives enough food, however it isn't inexpensive. Go there hungry and with someone whom you don't mind doling out the coin. This is the Museum of Fondue. Wonderful examples of a variety of types and flavors. Way beyond just the bland cheesy stuf that someone puts out at their holiday party with bread. An array of cheese. No cheese, and just broth. Or tender, top cuts of beef cooked in oil. And a super dark chocolate fondue with cool sweets to dip: Did you chocolate fondue was invented in NYC? It's true. I read the other reviews that say this is cozy restaurant. I'm not so sure. The decor is average, but that's ok, this is a food destination. Hit one of the cool lounges nearby afterward for atmostphere. I take away a star since the portions are small for the price. However, I've given them an extra star just for the BYOB. Enjoy.... read more

I'm a huge fan of fondue. My husband= not such a fan. So when my colleagues mentioned we'd be dining at a fondue restaurant when I was visiting NY I was estactic. Like many restaurants in NY this is a super tiny space so our party of 12 took up most of the restaurant. The owner was a total sweetheart and I could tell he takes pride in what he does, which is to serve his customers awesome fondue. And awesome it was... We started with the cheese course. We tried a few different cheeses and I think the swiss is the way to go. I could have happily continued eating cheese and bread all evening, but the main course came next. The main course involved lots of raw steak, chicken and pork...and a variety of veggie and potato sides. I was overly cautious when it came to cooking the meat since I'm pregnant so it was a tad bit overcooked, but still tasted so good. I'm not usually a steak person, but I think that was my favorite...especially after smothered in their béarnaise sauce. I love dessert, but surprisingly this was my least favorite course at Taureau. However, that didn't stop me from indulging in lots of milk chocolate covered fruit. Our massive party left so full that we decided to walk 30 or so minutes back to our hotel. I hope to head back to Taureau for some more fondue goodness the next time I'm in Manhattan. And next time I even hope to take advantage of their BYOB policy since I'll mostly likely have had this baby by then. I think even the hubby could come around to fondue if he experienced a meal at Taureau. read more

I'm glad The boyfriend took me here for Valentine's day dinner. It was a great experience! Definitely get perigord cheese fondue. It's simply DIVINE! and don't forget to order chorizo and portobello to dip in. The milk chocolate fondue was also delicious. Im not a big fan of the oil fondue though as they only have meat options. It would be great if they have meat and seafood combo like the melting pot does (I used to go there when I was in NC and D.C.) read more

See all

Truly unforgettable experience! We walked in on Saturday night and we've got a table in a couple of minutes. The restaurant divided into two parts, two separate rooms: French bistro and fondue restaurant. Bistro was very noisy with a small tables close to each other, the menu looks pretty good tho, and the place was full. Anyway we came for fondue:) Fondue room - totally different story: more quiet, less tbls, very romantic atmosphere. They offer only prix-fixe menu (choice of 2 or 3 courses) which includes cheese fondue, meat platter and chocolate fondue. Price for prix-fix is very reasonable, food was good, server was nice and attentive. Wine list pleasantly surprised me as well. Overall very good experience! I'm definitely coming back soon! Moreover they except bitcoin payments!! Isn't it cool? read more

See all

Never knew that this is such a small place so I now understood reservation is definitely a must... anyway this is my first time for fondue so everything is purely based on my biased taste, rather than comparison. It was always hard for me to make decisions, hence I chose the prefixed menu with three courses, that is, three different pots. Salad went with cheese pot, meat with oil or wine, fruit with chocolate. The best part of it, probably you can already tell, is the chocolate pot. Marshmallow always is the best fit with chocolate sauce! read more

See all

This place remains perfection in my book: I brought two of my good friends and we ordered a cheese fondue, meat fondue, and chocolate fondue and were perfectly full (pre-fix would have been way too much for us) Service: (5/5) I wanted to start with this because our philipina waitress was perfection. She was helpful and polite and just simply amazing. Food: (5/5) We ordered the Perigord at Taureau which is 18-month old Parmesan and white american cheese with Truffle Mushrooms and truffle oil. You could see the truffles in the fondue. REMAINS AMAZING.... my friends said they would simply come back tomorrow just for this!!!!! We also ordered the Filet Steak to be dipped in peanut oil. The beef here is so tender and we dipped it in all the different dipping sauces prepared by the chef. Our favorite sauces changed many times during our meal. Chocolate fondue... it's chocolate and it was great. Wine: It's a BYOB ;) Tip: amex or cash only read more

Taureau - Perigold (black truffles) - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

Expensive and delicious. I went when someone else was paying the bill and it was wonderful! Would I go if I was footing the bill? It's a toss up, I'm not sure. I did love the food and the service was friendly and prompt. But for fondue, it's expensive. If you love the Taureau atmosphere, I'd recommend its sister restaurant La Sirene which is not fondue, but it is French and absolutely lovely. If you are coming to Taureau, get the truffle cheese....only way to go. Don't get distracted with the other dips like oil. Truffles! Cheese! No need for anything else. read more

Taureau - Dessert fondue. Delicious. - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

Loved the outdoor seating - private rooms! All the fondue was super delicious and fun. Would love to go back. Highly recommended.

Delicious fondues ! Charming dating spot with attentive service. Good time for a good gooey romantic moments! read more

Taureau - Creamy Cheddar Monterey - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

I came to this place over the weekend with my girlfriend. I had high expectations from reading previous Yelp reviews. Taureau met my every expectation wonderfully. Taureau is a tiny place. So much so that you might miss the first time trying to find it (like myself). The inside is very quaint and personal: it being decorated with a few of their instances of their trademark symbol and some nice ambient, colored lighting. The tables are very close as to accommodate the most amount of people possible. I and my girlfriend found this very nice, others would also describe it as romantic. However, If you enjoy a lot of space, you may not be a happy camper. I came on a Saturday when they have their 45$ prix fixed menu. This included one cheese fondue, a choice of meat, and all of their dipping sauces for said meat. The cheese portion was fantastic. We chose the Perigord and could not be happier. Next came the meat portion with a pot of oil for you to cook the food with. After two or three attempts you will find the sweet spot for how you like your food to be cooked. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would come back again. If you are in the market for fondue, you could not find a better spot. read more

Taureau - Perigord! - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for a friend's birthday. They have prefixe menus which is what we got. First course was truffle cheese with unlimited bread and salad. Idk if I was hungry but that salad was so good. I definitely asked for three plates. Also the bread is good too, especially dipped in melted, hot and delicious truffle cheese. I could not stop eating!! Second course we got olive oil with hangar steak. I mean how can oil and meat taste bad? It comes with 5 different sauces and my favorite was the garlic butter one. Also, the bread dipped in hot olive oil was also delicious! For the last course, we got the dark chocolate. It comes with an assortment of cakes and fruits. I thought the dark chocolate tasted best with the pear. In the end, you're hit with a $$$ bill. I paid ~$90 for the meal and 3 bottles of wine among 7 people including tip and tax. I don't know if it was worth it because the meal is so simple, but it was a good meal and filling too! read more

I visited this restaurant for my husband and my anniversary dinner. I have not been here for at least 3 years and it was so yummy. The place is bit pricy with prefix meal but I think it is worth it. We had the truffle cheese and filet mignon / hanger steak with oil and milk chocolate with fruits. Every Ingredients were fresh and delicious. The cheese was fresh and I loved how they served us croutons and salad. The steak was sensational and it melted in my mouth. Chocolate was high quality and they served us with a small candle for our anniversary (I marked it when we reserved via open table). We also had a fun waiter who was very friendly. Atmosphere was romantic and we had a great time. We love fondue. read more

See all

I went here last week after reading all of the great reviews on yelp. The restaurant is a small, intimate space in a fun area of the East Village. Upon entering we were immediately greeted and taken to our table by our waitress, where we were then greeted by the chef/owner, Didier. The tables look custom made and have burner inserts that heat only when something is on top of them to avoid burns! After reviewing the menu my 2 dinner companions and I all decided on the prixe fixe deluxe at $57 per person. The menu is a bit tricky to navigate at first b/c most of the items have a 2 person minimum. (i.e.- if we had not done the prefix and ordered 2 types of cheese fondues we would have had to pay for 4 people). It seemed to us like the prixe fixe was the best deal. What we ordered: (Course 1) green salad w/ croutons (complimentary) The Perigord cheese (mix of swiss cheese, white wine, garlic, nutmeg and truffled mushrooms!!! To die for!) veggies to dip (button mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, apples, broccoli rabe and some type of cured meat). (Course 2) fillet mignon & pork we choose to cook in extra virgin olive oil (chef's recommendation) came w/ 4 homemade dipping sauces (we kept the Perigord cheese too, which they offered to refill) (Course 3) dark chocolate & milk chocolate (they let us have both!) fruit to dip (fresh strawberries, pears, apples, pineapple & marshmellows) we chose shredded coconut, sliced almonds and candied walnuts as toppings *also had them add hazelnut paste to our milk chocolate half way through Overall, this was a magnificent dining experience. The food was exceptional and the service was the best I've had in NY to date. Both our waiter and Didier were extremely attentive, but also gave us our space to eat and converse. During course 2 when the meats came out Didier even came over to demonstrate how to properly cook the fillet and pork. All of the items to dip (fruits, veggies & toppings listed above) were all refillable if we wanted more and they cooked our leftover meats for us to take home along with some veggies. Though the restaurant filled up halfway through our meal (our reservation was @ 7:00pm on a Monday night) the noise level was never too loud to comfortably converse with my dinner partners. Also, something to mention is this place is BYOB so make sure you bring a bottle of wine if you want to drink- they do not serve a corkage fee and happily chill & pour you your beverage. It is also CASH ONLY, so don't forget to stop at the ATM beforehand. Food recommendations: THE PERIGORD! Order it! This is not a decision you will regret! -button mushrooms & apples to dip THE FILLET w/ the extra virgin olive oil to cook! Tender & flavorful! MILK CHOCOLATE dip w/ the hazelnut paste! We should have had it added at the beginning b/c it was by far the best! read more

See all

I highly, highly recommend this place. It was my first foray into fondue and Taureau did not disappoint. The meal was three courses: CHEESE: Perigord, it was AMAZING. It came with croutons and a salad. If you have extra cheese, they provide more croutons free of charge! Yay! MEATS: We went with filet mignon and hanger steak. So perfect, and thinly sliced, so it didn't take long to cook through. We had a red wine broth, which went very well with the meats. I wasn't too fond of most of the dipping sauces on the side, but I'm not much of a sauce person, in their defense. DESSERT: The crowning moment of the meal. The milk chocolate was fantastic, and to die for. It comes with a nice assortment of fruits, marshmallows and cake (Banana cake and pound cake, I believe). I could eat this every day and still be satisfied. The service is above and beyond. We had a tall French man as our server; he was so attentive and polite! Made our stay fabulous and that much more awesome. He called us mademoiselle, so cute! The price is steep, but so worth the experience. Do buy the $50 for $70 Yelp deal to be a little less hard on the wallet. Regardless, I'd go again, despite the price. Also, it may not look like much, but we left super stuffed! It's a lot of food! I have zero complaints about Taureau! Bravo! read more

See all

C'était absolument incroyable! I'm a HUGE fan of fondue and of course, raclette (FYI they don't have raclette here though). I studied abroad in France as an undergrad and I spent most of my time scarfing down cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My sister was in town a couple of weeks ago and she's a cheesehead just like me...We found Taureau listed on a bunch of "best fondue places in NYC" lists and of course it's HIGHLY rated on Yelp....Rightly so. I loved the ambiance. Very cozy and intimate. The staff was very warm and welcoming, which for me is one of the most important things about a great restaurant experience. Let's get to the food. We decided to go all out with the prix fixe menu and got the more expensive one. Course 1: cheese fondue with a side of salad and unlimited croutons; I was a TAD disappointed that this didn't come with meat but we ordered a side of chorizo to go with this. We got the truffle btw but next time I'm gonna want to just go with the classic Course 2: meat fondue. THIS was the standout dish for me. I mean the cheese fondue was exceptional but the meat was EXCEPTIONAL. we got both the beef and the pork and wow. the meat was tender, perfectly seasoned, and melted in your mouth. it also came with a large variety of dipping sauces. Course 3: this was probably my least favorite course just because they didn't give you ENOUGH chocolate. it's chocolate fondue with fruit. I think they should've added a little more chocolate. Overall I'm giving this 4 stars because I would definitely return. Make sure to make a reservation! PS: The only negative thing about our experience had nothing to do with the restaurant. there was a couple sitting behind us (likely on a first date) and the man was just SO obnoxious. Loud and annoying. It ruined the intimate atmosphere a little bit which was a bummer. read more

OMG! Oh! My! G-O-D! Whattay a place. Food - yes! The food - yeah - yum! Like slurp! Lip smackingly delicious! Did I just visit - Fondue only place in Manhattan?! *Pinches self* Come here and try it - (too full and lazy with all the deliciousness to explain anything else). Just visit this place- once! By the way, it's BYOB! So grab a bottle of white and a red and stay here for two hours..or more- and get high on wine AND food AND cheese AND chocolate fondue. P.s. Let the diet take a walk for a day or two! Happy smiles read more

Taureau - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We went back here for the first time since the pandemic, and we were soooo glad they made it through! Our first date was here, and it holds a special place in our hearts. We always get the three course fondue, and we always come away happy as can be. The cheese is rich and flavorful, the broth is good without being overwhelming, and the dark chocolate is top quality, especially with the pound cake. If you want great fondue, this is your place! read more

Our experience started off a little rocky. I was disappointed that the cheese only comes with hard croutons. Not very yummy at all. You have to pay extra if you want anything at all. Next was the meat...which was very tasty (we chose to do the broth vs the oil). I thought it was weird that they didn't have veggies or anything that went with it. It needed something else. Last was the chocolate. I wish they had a couple more options, as you can only choose milk or dark. The fruits and things they bring out are good and all you can eat. This place is NOT byob anymore either. read more

It is so expensive and the worst dinner experience I every had. The average price each person is 70 with the dry bread pieces and salads. The meat side is very salted and not fresh. The cheese is salted and greasy. read more

Taureau - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Came here with my boyfriend for our Anniversary, they brought us out a little candle on our last desert meal! They made it so special for us! read more

Went for a pre-Valentine's date night on a Friday night. My gf had never had a full-course fondue dinner before, so she was excited to give this a try. We ordered the $52 prix fixe dinner and a bottle of red wine. For the first course, we went with the traditional gruyere. It was really tasty, but only came with bread and a small, unnecessary salad. We ordered some pear slices for $6, which went really well with the cheese. For the main, we both went with the filet option, which was topped with cracked peppercorn. The meat was delicious, but picked up little flavor from the red wine broth option. The sauces were underwhelming (marinara?), but the steak was good enough that it didn't heed a lot of help. To finish, we had the dark chocolate, which was awesome with the assorted fruits and marshmallow. The ambiance was less than desirable for the price point, with EXTREMELY cramped seating. We had the pleasure of a pair of loud talkers next to us, so it was hard to have a quiet, intimate conversation. For a dinner approaching two bills, I'd have expected something a bit more classy. It seems they are banking on being one of the few fondue-specialty places around, and the fact that people seem willing to give up price expectations in return for the fondue experience. Overall, we had a good time and left stuffed to the gills, but to consider what it was for what we paid, I likely wouldn't come back. read more

The food and experience was great. The only qualm is they shouldn't be more staffed to accommodate or checking in the customer enough and having them wait. Otter than that the waiter did recover by offering to change the fondue out because I was unhappy with the original order. I would definite return. Just be more attentive. read more

Taureau - Fondue Near Me - New York, New York

Complete decadence. Cheese overload. Very popular fondue restaurant with good wine and great service. I'll be stuffed for a while... Cash and AMEX payment only. read more

Sometimes I wish I had paid closer attention in school. I would love to be one of those people who could wax poetically on the amazing service, the intimate decor or the wonderful contradiction of dipping fruits and veggies into decadent chocolate and cheeses. I long to come up with colorful adjectives to describe the tasty pork, pleasantly fatty hangar steak and the accompanying dipping sauces, my favorite being the pepper sauce which taste like Thanksgiving, if that makes any sense to you. I'd somehow figure out how to present those boring but necessary facts such as: it's BYOB with no corkage fee, presently cash only, reservations strongly suggested and prices are per person with 2 person minimum order (probably not good for solo dining) in a creative, free flowing way. I'd have to dedicate a few lines to the owner, who went beyond being merely polite and was quite helpful, genuine and sincere. And I'd some how figure out a way to thank my wonderful dining companion Liz C for suggesting this place and being a great conversationalist and listener. Unfortunately I spent a disproportionate amount of time hanging out by the track, smoking while listening to Van Halen and Zeppelin. So all I have is.... DUDE THIS PLACE ROCKS !! read more

Fondue is suppose to be a fun experience right?? Everybody LOVES dipping things into sauces AND you're not just mindlessly shoving your food into your mouth. Fondue gives you the opportunity to pay attention to your food and take that pause between the next bite to pay attention to the person across from you. It probably is how man, who is not starving, which is most of us, is suppose to eat. I have been to other fondue establishments before but the experience and the food was extraordinary at Taureau (Taurus in French, I think). We made reservations easily on OpenTable and confirmed by a courteous call the day before letting us know all the important details like BYOB, the prix fixe menu and the two hour table limit. To fit your wallet needs there are three different three course prix fixe menu options - the eco village for $42 pp, the full village for $50 pp and the deluxe eat your heart out for $70 pp. We went for the full village because we wanted filet mignon but not so gluttonous that we can benefit from the deluxe. Course one - Pick your cheese. We picked with the Pyrenees which was mixed swiss with garlic and nutmeg. Can't go wrong here. It was deliciously served with refillable bread and salad. Course two - Pick two meats of your choice and an oil or broth cauldron. Served with five different homemade dipping sauces. We came prepared with red wine so opted for the olive oil sizzling cauldron. The five different dipping sauces adding an amazing variety. This is where you pause to take time to enjoy your company. The meat is cooking and it's not going anywhere so you can learn about each other without worrying that your food is going to get cold. Course three - Milk or dark chocolate served with fruit, pastries, marshmallow, etc. You'll make me proud if you go with the dark ;-) Although this may seem like an expensive meal but let me break it down for you. Even if you went with the most expensive option which is $70 pp on a date. That's $140 or about $160-170 with tax and tip. It might seem expensive to you for the amount of food that you are getting but break it down to $170 for two ppl for two hours in NYC. That's $42.50 per person per hour and you get to choose your own alcoholic poison. You simply cannot get quality entertainment in NYC or anywhere for that price. Now go with the cheaper options and you are golden. We only spent $30 per hour of good food and good company per person. That was a good date night :-) read more

We came after dinner and the owner couldn't have been any ruder. We were seated and then told that we had to order multiple courses and that if we just wanted desert, to "walk to 6th avenue because this was not a coffee shop". Granted this restaurant was barely half full and it was after 9:00pm. We asked if he could make an exception since this wasn't clearly advertised and he dragged us out of his empty fondue joint. Add to the fact they are cash only and this place is an overpriced miss. read more

Fondue brings up memories of the '70's and my parent's garage. Which was where I kept coming across the boxed fondue set that was used once and put away forever. Taureau, you have updated and brought fondue back into my life. For this I humbly thank you and hereby sing your praises. So a late Friday night, my beautiful and ebullient girlfriend, our son, and our ever so faithful cohort venture out for that "special" meal and, lo and behold, there is Taureau. Now, my initial attraction to the place has nothing to do with the shared astrological sign nor my penchant for things of a hot and gooey nature but more the experience of long pointy forks and scalding, viscous liquids. The ambience of Taureau is perfect. While small and somewhat cramped, the space accommodates comfortably and creates a sense of warmth and community. The white plaster walls glow with under-lighting, the dark leather clad benches and chairs invoke an old-world ambiance. The staff is equally as satisfying. They are attentive, kind, and quick to open the BYOB wine, free of cork charge. Admittedly, I have never been to a fondue restaurant and had not a clue as to the what, how, or even when to order the scrumptious delectable set forth on the menu. Our helpful waiter came to our rescue, recommending the prix fixe menu with a helpful and friendly demeanor that made the experience that much more enjoyable. First course was two different kinds of cheeses with various vegetable and bread vehicles. I will call them vehicles as they really are just meant to bring that delicious cheese concoction into your mouth. Fantastic. I am actually salivating writing this. Next came the meat course. Pork, beef, and chicken, all delivered seasoned along with what must have been a dozen different home-made dipping sauces and canola oil or chicken stock to cook them in. Our hostess expertly showed us the best method to cook in either medium, a lesson we quickly forgot and managed to get several pieces of meat stuck to the bottom of the hot pots before we got the hang of it. I would have to say, although all else was absolute stellar, the meat raised the bar even higher for an enjoyable experience. Lastly was the dessert course. Melted dark chocolate and a plate of fruit. A perfect finale to a perfect meal. I think we might have freaked out our neighboring eaters by wiping the inside of the fondue pots clean with our fingers. God, it was good. Thank you, Taureau, for making a rare night out so wonderful and delicious. We are saving up for a second round. read more

Seems like an awesome new place to have in my neighborhood! Came by after work today and bumped into the owner/chef guy and he explained his fondues and how it's BYOB and he's still waiting on a few things before they are fully functioning...but the place was CUTE and sexy! It seemed perfect for a date night...with girlfriends or a lover #_# I felt like VIP here and he told me he wanted a quiet opening so he wouldn't be swarmed so he could treat his guests well, but some magazine already put them on the map so he's fully booked for this weekend!...well that just sucks doesn't, but good thing it's literally across the street from my apt, so I'm pretty lucky :) It's very French, which I liked too...I'm a sucker for French accents @_@ read more

Didier Pawlicki has changed my life twice. Once, at La Sirène, he taught me how to love mussels. And now, at Taureau, he taught me how to love fondue. Sure, call me crazy, but I had never enjoyed either of these dishes, in whatever style they were prepared. But with Didier's fastidiousness and obsession with client service, he has created dishes and restaurants which envelop the senses, make you feel at home and allow you to truly enjoy and discover foods, "again for the first time". Truly a testament to Didier's dedication to providing the most warm, friendly and comfortable environment possible, Taureau is welcoming, enticing and sensual. Tasteful music. Flattering lighting. Red and white, everywhere. The food was wonderful. Not only was the set up brilliant (built-in induction ranges in home-varnished heavy wooden tables), but the dinner was interactive, allowing you to cook your beef or pork (or in my case, beef and pork) to your liking, allowing you to mix and match flavors and textures throughout the meal. This continued on to a brilliant dessert of fresh fruit and dark chocolate, ending the sensual journey and sending me off into the night happy, full, and already planning my next trip to Taureau. The flexibility allowed by Didier's corkage-free BYO policy is equally brilliant and very much appreciated. It allows the same interactivity as the meal itself, and though Didier excels at making you feel taken care of, you feel like you play an active role in your meal experience, and makes it a night that you'll savor long after you leave the restaurant. read more

There is nothing better than a meal that's delicious, fun, and affordable. Taureau has hit the jackpot. The East Village Fondue spot, which is owned by Yelp celeb chef Didier Pawlicki, flawlessly delivers the french tradition with fresh ingredients, good ambiance and helpful service. The variety of cooking oils started the meal off well. I tried the Peanut oil, which is a good choice unless allergies are a problem. For meats, I had the fillet (obviously great) and the Beef Hangar steak, which was better than expected. Really though, any of the high quality meats would have sufficed; they all looked fantastic. The cheeses were the real treat. All freshly made and served with fresh croutons and salad, each pot serves at least two people. My favorites were the Perigord, with its mushroom-y aroma, and the Pyrenees. In terms of sides, the sliced figs and chorizo were musts. As for dessert, dark is the way to go. Also, don't forget your wine - Taureau is BYOB. Taureau was truly an experience, one that I would highly recommend. read more