Klee Brasserie

My boyfriend and I had such a wonderful dinner at Klee that we we went back for brunch the next day. The pea soup was velvety and perfectly seasoned, adorable little lobster rolls so tasty. My boyfriend had the fire charred steak which was tender, delicious and juicy. Everything we had was really good. The waiter was so nice and recommended a great wine (something Austrian) and the prices were great. Brunch was equally delicious -- we had Austrian pancakes (I could not begin to spell what they were called). We will definitely be back many more times. Pros: fresh, seasonal ingredients. many selections, well priced more

I was really excited about dining here, but came away very disappointed. We arrived fairly early for a NYC diner: 7:45 PM on a weekday, and the restaurant was about 1/4 full. Yet, it took 45 minutes for our table to get our measly three slices of bread...we were seriously expecting something warm and freshly baked based on how long it had taken, but what arrived was three thin slices of basic, dry bread. The entrees arrived 15 minutes later with mixed fanfare--the steak and lamb dishes were pretty good, but the duck was unusually dry--like leftover turkey white meat..and it had an overbearing ""woodsy"" taste. But it was the BBQ Pork Belly that shocked us all. While pork belly is a fatty cut, what arrvied was beyond belief---a $30 2x5 inch strip of pure lard and skin...there was not even a trace of actual meat--just pure fat...I've never seen anything like it and though it mortified me to do so, I had to send it back (something I've never done before.) To boot, the $70 Bordeaux was about as good as a $9 Kendall Jackson. Pros: Polite/Friendly Staff; nice berry bread pudding Cons: Slow service, inconsistent food quality. overpriced wine. more

I sat at the bar alone on a Sunday evening after a long day of work and felt so good after I left. Had the daily pasta which was perfectly seasoned, made in house and just delicious with organic chicken. The salad had fresh ingredients like endve, radicchio and brussel sproutsand the perfect blend of flavors. And I loved the range of half bottles of wine which is great for dining alone. The sommelier (owner or manager maybe) was really knowledgable and personable and the staff made me feel really welcome. A great experience. Pros: Fresh ingredients, great wine list more

The duck breast was super-tender and delicious, the mac and cheese exquisite and the pork belly, OMG! We were having too much fun to make a wine decision, so our waiter picked a smooth and tasty 2002 Inu Contini that was very reasonably priced and a perfect compliment to all of our meals.\r \r We can't wait to return for another fantastic meal! Pros: Everything -- Food, Wine and Service more

The Chef at Klee beat Bobby Flay and my boyfriend and I are big fans so we had to have the menu and it was amazing. the most moist popcorn crusted chicken and sturgeon with caviar and white choclate so creative and delicious. The waiter was really knowlegeable about the beer pairings and the way the food was coked (talked about the cooking methods i neer even heard of). I had to wait at the bar for 20 mins and the bartender let me sample the wines by the glass and was so nice and accommodating. we will definitely be back with friends to try the regular menu too. Pros: Celebrity Chef, Great Service more

I live on the uppe west side so it was a bit of a trek for me to go to Klee but my friend insisted and she has exceptional taste. Klee was an excellent suprise and not like many restaurants. The design and architecture is truly beautiful with an Italian mosaic wall, warm eco-friendly reclaimed wood from Canadian maple trees, fun swivel chairs and lovely purple banquettes. The food is so pretty and well-conceived and yet delicious. There is nothing ego centric about Klee yet it has its own identity. I went on a Saturday night so it was packed (but I wanted to try the Wiener schnitzel). It was crisp, high quality and rich with flavor yet not over weaned or overly heavy. the egg in a hole salad to start was fantastic, creative and edlicious. Our server was sweet and smart and even funny. The staff seem to have a good time working together and this feeling is infectious. Klee is fun, unusual, smart all the way around and it has a great wine list. i think you have to understand food and design to get it. it's different so it's not for everyone -- for this I am thankful. Someone needs to bring back originality without the arrogance. Hats off to Klee! Pros: Unique and creative menu and design, happy and smart staff more

The Food is ok but pricey,... small cramped tables , way to much attitude from the staff .... very loud more

After an absence from the City for awhile, a friend took me to Klee on a recent visit. This Chelsea newcomer is a welcome addition to New York's already fabulous dining. The ambiance at Klee was fun, the drinks were creative and very tasty and the service was simply outstanding. But one goes to a restaurant to eat ....and this is a great place to do just that. Chef Daniel is unique and very talented. We sampled several of his signature appetizers and they were all wonderful. Our main course was superbly cooked and presented and thoroughly enjoyable. I am very pleased to have been introduced to Klee and will certainly pay a return visit on my next trip. Pros: great food, great service and pleasant ambiance. Cons: none that I found more

The food at Klee has been fanstastic every time my boyfriend and I have been there (over 5 times). The chicken soup is presented in such a creative way, everything there is very aesthetic but does not compromise the quality and taste of the food. The food is as good as and far better than many of NY's top /famous restaurants. Here they are low key about being great. There is no hype, just great food, beautiful decor and great service. The wine list is also well versed with so many unique well-priced choices. While Klee is not cheap it is a grat value because the quality of the food and ingredients is really superb. Pros: Excellent food, great value wine list, friendly and well informed staff. Cons: Can be a long wait for a table more

We came to the place this November as we missed the opening last winter and were very curious: we have been eating in Daniel's former Restaurant. We liked the atmosphere with a fresh joung, but not too modern touch. I would like to have some more light. We got a nice table with a view into the kitchen. I like it, when they do not hide! The friendly young waiter overacted a bit: relax! The menu was inspiring and we easily found something for every ones taste and some good wine for reasonable prizes. The food was very nicely presented and very tastefully made out of fresh ingredients. This is, what I call ""clean"" cooking into great taste and excellent look. If I would be living in New York, I would be there often: we came two evenings. Pros: very good food Cons: overactive service more

Overall, Klee gets some things right and some things wrong. Inventive drinks were fun and tasty. The pizza app & homemade chips were very nice. Lobster rolls were fine, but bread was dry and they were nothing special. Rigatonni special was horrible (a friend mentioned Ray's Pizza next door would have been better - and 1/4 the price!). Lamb Shank ""pie"" was serviceable, but pretty bland. Pear torte was fantastic, but the apple crisp was pretty doughy and tough. Bread pudding was simple yet fabulous. Decor is pure Ikea send up - though it's obvious many of the elements are custom, it just goes too far. The place could be a gorgeous blond wood mecca, but unfortunately wicker spheres and leaf garlands hanging from the ceiling (among other excess) push over the border into kitsch. more

This is a great restaurant. The service is great. The food is excellent. The wine list is terrific. I've liked everything I've eaten there. They have these special menus that are totally reasonable. The last time I was there, it was a cheese menu (meaning, not just cheese, but dishes including cheese) with the wines to accompany each dish. In the summer, they have a special peach sangria that's great on a weekend afternoon. They also do special picnic baskets in summer, which I never got around to taking advantage of, unfortunately. The decoration of the place is lovely, seasonal. I've been here several times, and I think that my general feeling about the place is that it is very original. I don't think you'll find this kind of menu elsewhere. Had a minor order snafu the last time I was there. I was given the wrong dish. The correct one came out very quickly. The kitchen sent out little milkshakes after dinner and lessened the over-all bill, and we hadn't even complained! Now that's good business. Pros: original menu, great service, lovely atmosphere Cons: can't think of any cons more

OK, so that doesn't really rhyme. Nonetheless, Klee is excellent all around. Great Austro/European-inspired menu. Satisfying yet not heavy, inventive yet straightforward cuisine. Superb wines and cocktails. Friendly service & vibe. Comfortable, contemporary 'west chelsea' atmosphere and design. Highly recommended - I'll be back! My only complaint - fix the AC (and bring the bread before our appetizers arrive)! Pros: Food, Drinks, Service, Atmosphere Cons: Fix the AC! more

They are nice from the start and you can feel a very pleasant neighborhood feeling in this little gem of a restaurant. They know their repat customers and welcome them as they arrive like friends. The hostess is particualry amazing and pleasant, the bartender, studied and serious and probably officially a mixologist, offers interesting fresh juice cocktails and great Sangria. The food is first class and equal in quality to some of New York's best chefs. The Chef is present (unlike New York's best chefs) and he is clearly hands on as the details are all carefully consider to make a very pleasant dining experience. more

I've been to Klee several times now and every time has been a great experience. The chef constantly has new, inventive offerings - and the food is always excellent. The Alsatian pizza is a must-have! Other than that I've tried various pastas, fish, and meat dishes - all very tasty. The owners are very friendly, as are all the staff members. The atmosphere is fantastic - not too fancy, but a nice hip vibe. They also have a very reasonable wine selection. Pros: Food, service, atmosphere more

The softshell crabs I had at Klee two weeks ago have brought me back two times since. The food is nothing short of exquisite. The crabs were lightly battered in a tempura and served with fiddlehead ferns, fava beans and wonderful herbs. There are so many interesting menu items to choose from. All the talk about the Alsatian pizza lives up to the hype -- cracker thin crust, smoky bacon and sweet onions. Great atmosphere too. I waited at the bar for my friends to arrive and the crowd was attractive, lively and the staff friendly. The host/owner is so accomodating and warm, the bartender was really knowledgeable and engaging, made a gerat martini and the service overall was well informed, personable and efficient. Definitely among the best restaurants to open in the past year. Pros: Amazing food Cons: a bit loud more

Klee is my new favorite restaurant. The pork tonnato is delicious and different, the best mini lobster rolls in town and the monkfish is ezquisite. I've been many times and am continually impressed by the inventive menu, the chefs new creations and spins on familiar dishes. the atmosphere is great too -- gorgeous design, friendly staff and owers and a hip vibe that stays warm and familiar at the same time. Such a great restaurant! Pros: excellent wine list Cons: hard to get a reservation at a good time more

Klee Brasserie is SO confused. There is no brass anywhere and they don't use clover. The female owner is a angry woman who has a tendancy to abuse the guests. (I saw her yell at one guy) The chef, Austrian, hides his roots and instead reached ALL over the world for his menu. Decor: IKEA? The wine list: ok but, pricey.\r Pros: There are other restaurants in New York Cons: Everything, except location more

Let me just say- Klee has solid food. Appertizers are much better than most NYC 5 star restaurants. Entrees do get a bit underwhelmed. Services, by far, are first rated. People who work here seem to care about their restaurant. Decor is cool, not overly Chelsea-fied, not too generic either. Price-wise, cheaper than most upscale restarants in the hood, but more $ than Cafeteria-alike. And the BAR! Love it. Here, you're paying for the food, not the wallpaper.\r \r However, I think Klee has an identity crisis. It wants to be a comfy cafeteria but at the same time, it thrives to be upscale. Weekends are bustling here while weeknights are so much more cozy. I prefer to come here for an early drink and appertizer, but services are almost too much at times and become intrusive. It's not a complain (I do truly enjoy conversation with bartenders-- very professional & friendly), but I can see how some customers have wrong expectations & get confused. Some get genuinely surprised by the food quality, while others expect Danny Meyer-ish circus digs. I just think Klee is trying to do something people are not ready to grasp.... solid / approachable yet understated / high priced. Klee almost requires its customers to be knowledgable to appreciate it.\r \r For the price and the food, this place is under-hyped and much more solid than most places NY Magazine has reviewed (IMHO of course). Try it for yourself to decide. I am definitely going back. \r Pros: Solid food quality Cons: Crowded on weekends more

Yummy! This place has the best paella and roasted lamb I have ever had. The hangar steak and potato chips are also a must. If you're a beer fan, go for the belgium beer. Be sure to call for reservations for any chance of eating at a decent hour. Pros: Food, Drinks, Decor Cons: Hard to get in, Service more