Orsay

I went for restaurant week and ordered off the prix fixe menu. The food itself was just ok - nothing spectacular - but the service was awful. Our server checked on us maybe twice during the entire meal. It took nearly 2 hours to get in/out due to the service. Even with the prix fixe pricing, this restaurant is not worth it.\r \r Oh right, I should probably say something nice. Ummm...the beer was cold. Pros: It does have a very nice look and aesthetic, and I was seated promptly Cons: food not worthwhile, service poor, tables are crammed next to each other more

I was looking forward to Orsay since I first heard about it. My experience was unfortunately the opposite of what I expected. I chose not to order off the restaurant week menu and to indulge in the filet. I ordered the steak medium, and it came to me virtually burned to a crisp. The description of ""shoe leather"" would not do my steak justice. To compliment the horrid texture, it was served with a bernaise sauce that tasted like feet. I love French food and have had bernaise sauce with almost every steak, and I can safely say this was the WORST bernaise sauce i have ever tasted. Ever. When I requested the peppercorn sauce instead of the bernaise, my entire steak and plate was taken away, which was unecessary. When it was returned, to my shock and horror, the steak had been cooked even MORE. and the peppercorn sauce was bland and tasteless. The waitress, sensing that I was about to freak out, began giving us free glasses of wine. It was exactly what I needed to forget the memory of this horrific meal.\r \r In addition to the food problems, the restaurant was so loud that I had to basically scream for my friend to hear me (who was a foot away). We were also tightly packed into our seating and it felt more like family style dining than a private dining experience.\r \r For $40, they should be able cook a steak properly. Orsay was a severe disappointment all around. If they continue to give customers experiences like mine, I highly doubt they will last another six months. Pros: The restaurant is sort of pretty, and we were seated promptly Cons: The food was overcooked and bad. more

Go on a nice sunny day and ask for outdoor seating. This is a brunch lovers paradise :) Pros: Good Service, Ambiance, Good Food more

We went here hoping for an excellent Valentine's Day dinner. We were seated promptly, and that is where our dinner went downhill. It took 15 minutes to get a menu, another 20 minutes for a waitress to come and take our order. The food was delivered quickly - acceptable, but nothing to swoon over. Then we waited another 25 minutes (!) for ANYONE to come and take our dessert order (we had previously seen our waitress going outside for a cigarette break and never coming back). After dessert, we asked the maitre de for our check three times and 10 minutes later we finally received our check. It was sad that the most attentive staff were the busboys. By the end of the night, THEY were the ones taking peoples orders! Next time, we'll definitley go somewhere else! Pros: Busboys Cons: Servers, Maitre De, Sub Par Food more

My wife and I went to Orsay for Valentine's dinner. But the thing that my wife and I hated was it was so loud and it felt like 'bar' or 'pub'. Food and service was okay. Interior was so so. The photos of the restaurant in its web site are way better than the real look. more

At first i was rolling my ideas of yet another French place on the UES. When I arrived at Orsay I was thrown back, in a veyr good sense. I in all reality felt as if I had just gotten off Air France and was in the 8th District in Paris. Orsay, is a very pleasnt throw back to traditional French food, and French service as well. Since my first dinner I have had the chance to have brunch at Orsay 3x. Never once did I leave feeling unwelcome or impressed. Orsay, is without a doubt one of the best values for authentic French food in NYC. Pros: ambience, cuisine, service more

We visited Orsay during NY Restaurant Week and tried their $35 menu. Service was very good - prompt, attentive and non-intrusive. Food was very good as well, considering that we tried the budget selection (though I wish the pork belly that I ordered was roasted a bit longer, so that fat was more of a ""melt-in-your-mouth"" experience). Wine list selection is good and wine-by-the-glass was generously filled to the top. Traditional French decour was pleasant though the hall was rather noisy - the restaurant was full and we had to raise our voices to be able to maintain a conversation. Pros: noisy when full Cons: food, service more

Food is ok and pretty expensive but you can't beat the atmosphere, especially during the summer. more

Greeted by a beautiful, knowlegable and friendly hostess, given a choice of inside or outside and seated according to our reservation time (within 10 minutes). The service was great, an informed waiter, good drinks and beautifully served and prepared food. Especially the salads. They did not rush us-we sat too long-but the ambience of carved ceilings and wood and old glass was delightful to be ensconced by. So till next time au revoir. Pros: service, food quality, atmosphere more

I went for an early dinner the other night and encountered the worst service i have experienced in a long time. Not only did i go for an early dinner and was therefore one of two tables eating at the time, I was also part of a small party. We didn't order for about a half hour and not once did we order a drink from our original waiter, in fact every drink we ordered came from a bus boy. It took just as long to order our dessert, however by this time we had learned our lesson and did not wait for the waiter instead we physicaly got up from the table and found another waiter to take our order. Needless to say the whole ordeal took well over 2 hours. Not to mention I could find better french food in about ten neighboring venues for half the price. Pros: Outdoor patio Cons: food, price, service more

The place still looks upper east side nice and the food can be okay - although the last time I was there the mussels were unexciting. It is the service that has gone downhill to the point were we will not go back. The waiter placed the wrong entree in front of us each time. It was like an auction by dessert. When ordering he was not paying attention and had to ask us to repeat our order since he was looking out the window. Pros: Ambiance Cons: poor service, expensive more

Quite the best cauliflower soup and mussels I have ever had! Outstanding food and service make this a must visit. Pros: Excellent food, Outstanding service, Great setting more

Great selection of tartares. Margarita tartare was excellent. Unfortunately, the service was pitiful, the waiter was rude and the entree was mediocre at best. more

A beautiful restaurant, Orsay could almost be an authentic bistro straight out of Paris. Filled with beautiful people, this place is a ""scene."" Just be ready to pay the price for it. Some dishes were a bit disappointing... more

I was walking down Lexington looking for a nice restaurant to take my girlfriend to, in order to celebrate her promotion. We randomly walked into Orsay and were greeted by phenomenally attentive service, amazing wine and some of the best French food I have ever tasted. We ended up lingering for hours over there amazing desserts. Although the bill was significant it wasn't nearly as significant as the experience. I recommend it to everyone. Pros: Outdoor Dining, Amazing Food, Great Service Cons: Expensive more

Expensive? Yes. Crowded? Yes. A Scene? Yes. Delicious food? Yes! Dine on the outdoor patio during the summer months and you will feel as if you are in Paris. Relax, enjoy the meal, spend some time talking with friends while you drink your red wine. This is not a quick hitting, cheap dining experience, but a nicely paced, culinary pleasure. The price may relegate this place to special occasions or for those times when you can truly 'relax' and enjoy a fine meal. Pros: food variety, overall experience, nice crowd Cons: cost more

Walked in , was rudely greeted by the hostess (who's attitude was lacking)...we were then placed next to a raucous table for 15 when there were several available tables on a Saturday night. THEN...I take one look at the menu to only notice the $10.50 onion soup???I""m not one to be concerned about expensive restaurants....but c'mon. It was the icing on the cake after the rude hostess sat us...we walked right out. more

A place where that I can eat french confot food, in a friendly true to the cord bistro where eating at the bar takes me back home to Paris. Must try the no frills tartars! When home sick it is just the place I need. more

Don't go for the food- go if you want a loud and lively scene in a fabulous, true bistro atmosphere. I've had outstanding lobster salad, served properly chilled, and Dover Sole served improperly chilled! Ouch- at $35 I think the fish should at least be warm... Friends have had similar situations, something is great one visit and horrible the next. The service is confusing, waiters are buzzing all over the place, but you are never sure who your waiter is. However, even when they are jammed (which is most of the time) they do manage to get you seated within a reasonable amount of time. The one constant are the bartenders- they are attentive, efficient and personable even with thirsty patrons three deep. Orsay is an event in itself, but not fine dining. Pros: location, atmosphere Cons: not consistent food, sloppy service more

Popped in on a Friday night for dinner. Matt Dillon was dining at a table just adjacent. Nice wine by the glass. Oysters were some of the best that I have had. The tuna tartare is great. And the cheese plate for dessert was a nice finish. One of the better Upper East Side bistros. more