I've been the Bluestem a few times already, and each experience had been notably different. Some nights there is a forty minute wait, and some nights you get seated immediately. Other nights, it's best to sit at the bar. And still other nights, I have ended up on their rooftop patio under a heat lamp.
Sunday buffet has a great selection of food and the service is very friendly and reasonably attentive. Only problems are that some of the food isn't as good as it should be (quality-wise) and it's quite pricey.
Had the wonderful Sunday buffet. When in NY it will be a must for Sunday. The shrimp, omlets were excellent and the sweet table was so big it would take several sittings to sample everything.
french food and the scene at this location is great. I give this place two thumbs up. I will be back with my relatives. Bring your appetite because portions are large. They have so many reviews for a reason.
The door was not open and we waited outside for 10 minutes in the cold until someone came with the keys. Not a very good first impression.
I went to this restaurant with my colleagues to try dishes from their restaurant week dinner menu. The service was very attentive and efficient, and the food was delicious. This was my first time eating a boneless quail, and I was quite impressed with how it was cooked. I really appreciate a lot of effort that was put into removing bones from this little bird, and the result was a very flavorful and tasty dish. Duck breasts were also prepared perfectly and seasoned well. This is definitely a restaurant worth visiting.
The Sunday brunch is an experience to behold. 38 dollars literally offers you the widest selection of breakfast/ brunch imaginable. At times it is almost overwhelming. The buffet is excellent, & it is a very popular place to come.
We went for lunch and had the fixe prix menu that was a good deal. An appetizer and an entre for $29.
The service was very good and the wine list had some good options.
We had the goat cheese salad, the trout and de steak, all very good. Unfortunately the creme Brule was not in the same level.
It is place that I would go back for lunch? Definitely.
In my view, a good restaurant should satisfy a diner one of two things: either for the feast of the eyes (good ambiance) or the feast of the tastebud (good food); if a restaurant would have both qualities, as Brasserie 8 1/2 did, it was divine. First, the sweeping star presence grand staircase to lead me to the lower level of the building - the restaurant was very impressive. Then when I was sitting on my seat, facing directly to me was this giant colorful Picasso akin artwork featuring two sailors' dancing, made from vibrant and colorful blue, yellow, orange, red, brown glasses. It was a very beautiful piece of modern art. I couldn't take my eyes away from it during my entire meal. After a glass of red rose wine, I almost forget where I was, I felt like I was in a modern art museum. The food was excellent as well.
Went here for restaurant week, food was pretty good but not what I expect from a fancy, expensive French restaurant. Even though it was presented nicely, ultimately I could have had a very similar tasting Fillet Mignon in a dinner. The decor is very nice, especially for a date night but after reading the hype on the website it was little disappointing. Perhaps the redeeming quality of this was place was the attentive staff. Even though she did spill wine on our table every time she refilled our glasses, she was obviously trying very hard to make our dinner enjoyable.
Overall, I would give this place 3.5/5. Good for a date night, not great if you are just looking for good food.
Food was very good,,,,,service
Very SLOW. NO music of any kind
For that kind of restaurant they should have a pianist of any soft music,,,,,didn't accept our gift certificates,,,,,,when they were for all occasions Brunch and dinner....
VERY DISAPPOINTED,,,,
As good a bistro as there is. A bit pricey but worth it.
Everyone else definitely also enjoyed their food (tacos, sandwiches, and salad)."
This place is the one I like best. I visit a lot of restaurants but here I go the most. The crew is very helpful and the food they offer is so flavorful. I never decline to have a good dinner in this place. Highly recommended.
Went here for brunch in our anniversary. We were underwhelmed. The food was okay, and the service sub par. Selection of items was okay but nothing that I didn t feel like I could get anywhere. Cruise ship quality food at best.
nice food, bar area has an austin powers vibe, always a winner
Our fifth visit and a major disconnect in service on a Saturday at 9pm. Not even a busy evening, seated without menus, waiting for anyone, drinks arrived last, repeatedly placing plates but no silverware (at entree & dessert) until asked for. We brought friends on our recommendation for their first visit. Food was excellent; great cassolet, gravlax, octopus, so some disconnect upon leaving kitchen. We've been here with 2, 6, 8 but our 4 last night was uncomfortably awkward.
Superb happy hour. Pre-fix is great deal with high quality food and service
This spot knows how to treat their clients. Constantly with a super friendly approach. The food is fairly priced, constantly tasty and clean.
Best brunch buffet in NYC and the food was delicious too. Service was professional in a relaxed atmosphere.
Two words -- FRENCH TOAST! The best in the city, thick big slices of it with delicious maple syrup. Everything is tasty and pleasing aesthetically, fresh smoothies and juices. It's really good. I think it offers one of the best brunches in the city.
The perfect place for a perfect date. Must try especially during the New York Restaurants Week. Thank you for our server Lisa!
good food in a spacious and comfortable room. great for clients and others where you need space and peace.
Excellent venue, delicious food, good wine, and exceptional service!
Upscale french restaurant . Had good time here with office collegue and their family.
I constantly stop buying some food in this place. I liked the rapid customer service and well prepared dishes. Kudos.
amazing. amazing. just ate there last night - amazing
Great place for a family brunch. Wish they changed their brunch buffet items every season though
They are losing a star because they're not vegan-friendly. Only one salad did not have dairy in it, if not, they had parmesan and cheese on all other salads. However, service was impeccable and the staff super courteous.
beautiful place and really great brunch and service. it was mothers day so they charged extra but food was really great i ln particular filet mignon and smoked salmon. Desserts were only fair which surprised me because previous visits they were excellent.
Loved the food, the decor, the ambience. Good date spot.
This spot offers excellent service as well as delightful meals. My favourite place around town. The food came out quickly and the prices are reasonable. Highly recommended.
Great ambiance, great service and great decor.
For the location, the price of drinks is very reasonable.
While sitting at the bar with another person, the kitchen sent us a pizza, compliments of the chef!
I recommend this place.
Top French restaurant in NYC. Superb appetizers, main course, make sure you save room to amazing dessert options.
I was here for brunch. The food was tasteless and service was pretty bad.
The food was fresh but not as flavorful as it looks. The food is decently priced and the menu is varied. The restaurant is spacious and beautifully decorated. The service was impeccable.
Not crowded for business lunch. Prix fixe option. Lounge area for afternoon caffeine and snack break or happy hour.
I love the atmosphere at Brasserie 8 1/2, its calm (no music playing! which means that you can carry on smooth conversation with your tablemates), its comfortable chairs and lounge, the wide spaces between the tables, the amiable & knowledgeable staff, its classiness with out snobbishness.
The food is French-inspired, well-prepared and of high quality, in moderately sized portions. This, too, is good, because you don't leave feeling stuffed. Tasty bread selection.
We've been for dinner a few times (September lobster nights!) and, most recently, for a team lunch with 5 people. Food arrives on time and at the correct temperature. The wine list is uninspired, but dependable. Corkage is $25 and if I have a good bottle, my preferred avenue.
Fantastic service! Food was delicious and beautifully presented
Yes, it's a brasserie, but the menu could be more imaginative. Execution on the food side is par, but not outstanding. Decor starting to feel dated. Service on last visit was decidedly disinterested.
This place offers amazing service as well as yummy menu. One of the best spot in town. The drinks and food came out quick and the prices were economical. Recommended.
Excellent food. I had the filet mignon and the 3 sherbet dessert.
The best spot for Sunday Brunch in New York. I fell in love with their food and Mimosas. The service was mind blowing. Our servers kept refilling the Mimosas and made sure that we were liking the food and the experience.
For just $38, you get the brunch and $15 for endless Mimosas. Pretty inexpensive for New York.
Great atmosphere, beef tartare was the highlight of the night
I was not impressed with Brasserie 8 1/2. Setting nice, pricey. Food had NO flavor
My wife and I (from Baltimore) met up with our daughters (one from New Haven and one from Queens) at Brasserie 8-1/2 for their Sunday Brunch before seeing a show on Broadway. It was the perfect place to meet, enjoy a good meal, and spend some time together before the theater.
The food, service, atmosphere, etc. was perfect. They allocate a couple hours for your meal, so you can relax, socialize, and eat your meal without feeling rushed.
From the moment we walked in, and were greeted upstairs, we felt welcomed, and knew we made a good choice. The room is large, but not voluminous, and although it was crowded, it felt as if we were the only ones there.
The food was well prepared, plated beautifully, and there more than enough options to choose from...in the mood for breakfast--eggs made to order--waffles, bacon, bagels, lox and so much more. Didn't want breakfast...well, there were salads galore, a whole table of great looking, salads to choose from...and let us not forget the meats...Sliced NY Strip seasoned and cooked to perfection, and lamb and turkey...I am getting hungry just thinking about it. And don't get me started on the large, plump tasty cocktail shrimp...they were so good.
My favorite was the sliced steak. My wife actually loved the baked macaroni, one daughter loved the turkey, and my other daughter loved it all. By the way, the bagels were delish, and the lox...yum yum.
There were about a dozen gorgeous dessert options, and I chose the Mini Pavlova. It was my first time seeing that dessert and I hope it is not the last. It was heaven on a fork...light, airy, sweet, tasty and crispy. Basically, it was strawberries in cream in a crispy meringue base. Oh, I wish I had one right now!
As you can tell I enjoyed my brunch, as did everyone else in my family. None of us over ate, yet we were more than satisfied. And the brunch satisfied me all afternoon, during the show, and even for the ride home on the bus back to Baltimore in the evening.
If you are looking for an upscale relaxing brunch, that won't cost an arm and a leg, check it out. You will be glad you did!
Great place to meet people that you want to talk to over dinner. Atmosphere is elegant and quiet
Good menu and attentive service. For business, you need one of the booths as it is otherwise very noisy.
The atmosphere is unfortunately very clinical and lack the warmth for a non-business meal.
Great atmosphere, food and service. A good place for meetings and friendly gatherings with lots of space, good food and drink, and just enough, unrushed, attention from the staff.
Good food and beautiful atmosphere. Good prefix menus during the week with BYOB and the Sunday's brunch is awesome.
Good food in an attractive setting. Good value in the Prix Fixe menu. Reservation suggested but often unnecessary. Wines well chosen prices lowish to highish.
I eat here a lot since I work right next to it. I like how their customer service is always good and they keep the spot well kept at all times. Pricing is convenient and they serve big portions.
Excellent menu, all options are tasty, relatively quiet and good for small meetings
Prix fixed menu was a great value. Beautiful decor.
I went back to Perch about a month ago for breakfast. I love the views, it's very relaxing. You do have to take 2 elevator rides to get up there lol, but once you're there, it's pretty relaxing place. The food is ok, but you should go there for the atmosphere, other wise there are better places just for food. Also try to go when they have live music, it's very nice!
Quiet, relaxed, and spacious French restaurant with a good variety of items. My salmon filet with salmon caviar was delicious. My friend was pleased with her rack of lamb.
Really elegant atmosphere. Very good food. Wish I could give it a 4.5, because I reserve 5 star ratings for truly spectacular dining, and Brasserie 8 1/2 doesn't quite achieve that level.
I'm a huge fan of their Sunday brunch buffet. The food is high quality, and plentiful. From standard breakfast fare (eggs, bacon, omelets to order, pancakes, breakfast potatoes, lox) to some more unexpected (paella among others) there are many wonderful choices. When you're done, go ahead and visit the dessert bar, filled with delectable treats. It isn't the cheapest option around, but well worth the value we get.
I've only been here for Sunday brunches, but when I do come very nice. There are very large tables for big parties. There's no waiting since it's a buffet. You can bring like kids here because it's considered okay to get up and walk around.
I came here for a New Year's Eve dinner and was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Everything from the service to the food was excellent.
I'm not sure why the restaurant is not fully packed with the great food. I will be back to try their weekend breakfast buffet!
Food was ok. Manager was kinda rude when we tried to use their $50 birthday promotion
I had my birthday party there. Was very pleasant brunch experience. Worth the price. The drinks are average.
The menu and service were above our expectations. We surely loved the vibes of this restaurant. Excellent restaurant to take my family out for dinner.
Went to this lovely restaurant with a couple of friends during restaurant week and we were thoroughly pleased. We tried a couple of dishes and it was hard to pick a favorite everything was delicious. The lobster risotto or the onion soup gratinee are perfect appetizers. As main course the steak frites with bearnaise, which I love or the Atlantic salmon was heavenly. If you like duck you will love it after eating their duck two ways, so amazing! The service was excellent. I also enjoyed the elegant decor inside and Matisse art, beautiful! Brasserie 8 1/2 perfect for a Valentine's Day date. Start with one of their signature cocktails 8 1/2 Cosmopolitan is amazing!
A delicious intro to french cuisine. Most of the dishes i tried, from the duck to the salmon, to the roast chicken were foods that i had before but not at this level of sophistication. It was all wonderful a total recommend for those who want to try french food and still eat what they know
Got a discount coupon for my birthday and had to try this place. The food was out of this world. Best meal I've had in years! Staff was spectacular. Definitely will be celebrating future birthdays there!
Great food! Great deals! And a happy hour is unbelievably cheap!
Ooh la la. .one of the most spacious, elegant restaurants in town starting from the grand staircase entrance, artwork, decor, vibe...food and service are excellent too. If you want to impress someone, bring the guest here! I heard they have specials/events like oyster happy hour or such so check out the website before scheduling.
Came here for the Sunday brunch buffet. The service was spot on; our maitre d' Dana was really nice, and a lot of attention was placed on our needs. Whenever we grab another plate and come back to our booth we had new utensils and our napkins folded back. Food variety was good, they had a little bit of everything so you cannot go wrong. The one that I recommend would be the seafood paella. The other food is okay. I wish they served Irish sausages instead of Italian ones but that's just a matter of preference. Their dessert station was plentiful, and really good. I would recommend the pecan and macaron.
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