Brasserie Cognac East Reviews

This inviting setting had intrigued me on my walks by this restaurant. The primary dining room is below sidewalk level and with the large windows and light, the French country decor was appealing. Far in advance I had made a reservation and in writing requested a table along the windows for a special occasion. However, these choice tables were seated, with the prime table occupied by the ?wife and child? of the one-in-charge. Bummer. What good is making the far-in-advance reservation and request? As for the food, it was enjoyed, though my mate did not care for my salmon burger.

I am not sure exactly why I love this place except that it strikes the perfect balance in NYC - it is not plain, yet it is not pretentious. I really like the salad. I have come here twice with my sister-in-law for lunch. We split a salad and a sandwich or yesterday we split a salad and the cheese platter. We will be coming here regularly. I really like the salad and the food is fresh and excellent without being pretentious. Too much pretentious food in NYC. Also, very nice staff. I like the pretty seating with tablecloths and linen. I just like this place. It has turned into one of my favorite places on my short list in NYC. I think they suggest you make a reservation but they have an upstairs and you can walk in. No problem. Thank you for such a delightful dining experience in NYC.

There was four of us for dinner. We were eating on a Sunday around 4 so it was not crowded. I can't speak for later hours or other nights. Service was attentive and the food was very good. Beef Bourguignon was rich and well executed. Halibut w/mushroom risotto was also very good. Steak Frite was a perfect med-rare and excellent. All in all from cocktails to desert (floating island and coffee crème brulee) everything was very nice. This is not a large restaurant so I recommend reservations. Price wise I would put it at the upper end of the mid-range.

This used to be a great warm friendly restaurant. Not anymore. On May 18 I made there a reservation for 8:15pm. When my husband and I came the new manager (don’t know her name) without even seen our reservation said that there are seats upstairs. Space upstairs is small, tables are literary on top of each other, and it is extremely noisy. She said that we had to wait for half an hour to get table downstairs. It appeared to be a lie. She was not looking at us as if we were totally transparent and didn’t bother to tell another hostess what we were waiting for. When I asked another hostess she said that the table will be ready in 5min. The food was not bad but absolutely mediocre, cocktails were just bad. But the worst thing was the arrogant manager who lied to us about table availability and looks above us as if we weren’t there. When former manager Michael was there it was one of the best neighborhood restaurants!

We had to go back to this place that we discovered in 2014. There is cilantro margarita that is just so delicious... Oh my! The menu is creative. The beef tartare is delicious : nice bite to it. We were sad to hear that they did not have the Veuve Cliquot featured on the menu. They advertise drinks for 2 for 1 until 6 but you have to be seated at the bar... :-/

Or any day for that matter is truly like dining in a French Bistro in Paris. We were fortuniate to fine a place that had not upped their prides just because it was a holiday. Two menus were offered a Valentine Fixe Prix and A La Carte Menu where we chose just few things and split/shared the plates, restaurant very acomodating. We choose from a la carte, appetizers, and you must try the Cheese Puffs, melt in your mouth, then we shared.split the Spinach and Avocado salad with roasted pine nuts and yes, we even shared the Beef Bourguignon served on separate plates. Of course, libations are separate and my host ordered red wine. However, any day is perfectly delicious here, and somewhat more reasonable at lunchtime.

One of many east side sidewalk cafes. Very good salads, esp. Nicoise, and various versions of Eggs Benedict. We lucked out with a sunny corner table and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Their version of iles flotante was light and tasty. Very pleasant service.

We went to this restaurant a week after they opened. We were not disappointed. The dining space has not changed from the previous owners. We ate upstairs which is quieter and more private. The waitress was ok but could use more training. We ordered a glass of wine which they didn't have. Instead of telling us, the waitress substituted a more expensive wine. When we saw this on the bill and questioned it she spoke to the manager who took both off the bill. The food was outstanding . We will go back.

Down the street from Orsay which is better value. I had the beet salad at Cognac and it was ridiculously small. Two little Boston or Bibb lettuce leaves, maybe one beet and some goat cheese. Very disappointed. Two salad Nicole's were much better. Not rushing back.

Service was amazing !!! Just stopped to get out of the heat. We sat outside with lots of fans , it was nice!!! Got the puff balls= OMG !!!🤤🤤 We felt lucky to find this place .

I had a reservation Feb 19, sat at the bar with a friend, nice experience. sat down the 3 of us and ordered. all of the food was disappointing, but the steak tartar was simply not prepared well. we ordered two Steak tartars and one tuna tartar. i should have returned the steak tartar. it looked and tasted line raw beef swimming in catsup. i know what tartar should be and this was just terrible, so sweet, like the chef put 3 spoonfuls of sugar in.

If you can’t get to France, go here! I went alone and was treated very well. Lots of classic brasserie fare, well prepared and presented

I had the Avocado Toast Salad with poached egg & asparagus on the side. This isn't my typical fare, but it was very good. Very nice ambience and friendly staff.

Comfortable good food. Best to request seating upstairs which is a calmer and quieter location. Good attentive service ce.

Stumbled upon this place while looking for breakfast, & ended up going back for dinner. The best dinner we had in New York. Service & location fantastic, atmosphere awesome. would go back again in a heart beat.

Nice atmosphere but unmemorable food. Many better restaurants in the area to dine for same and less money. Not on my

Hubby and I stopped here for a late lunch bite. I had the spinach and avocado salad, he had Turkey Club Sandwich. Both meals were excellent, fresh, filling and very tasty. Average NYC price. Would love to try their dinner menu sometime.

Everyone enjoyed the ambiance, food, and service! Quaint! Friendly! We will be back! Authentic brasserie style.

best mussels ever!! have eaten them in several European countries and in the U.S.A (my home in CT) the Bronx, Belgium, Holland, Italy- many cities plus Sicilia, Brittany, other Manhattan restaurants Greenwich CT, restaurant and my home cooking. Please send me your recipe- probably the proper blend of herbs plus a little cream in the broth?

We were on the upper east side and looking for a restaurant where we could hear ourselves talk but that really good food when one of our friend’s suggested, Cognac on the corner of 70th and Lexington Avenue. We started with their “Fabulous Tuna Tart”, and their Salmon Tartare. Both were an excellent starter to a great culinary evening. My wife had their special “lentil salad” with Brussel spouts and artichokes . I had the Cognac Chef Filet Mignon Burger with guacamole and French Emmental cheese. It was sublime! I thought the prices were affordable!

Execeptional food service and outdoor seating area. The 'gougeres' (cheese puffs) are amazing. My mother used to make them when I was a child in France so they are special to me and theirs (basket of 8 or 16) are divine. I also had the special heirloom tomatoes with peaches and cider vinegar that was equally delicious and finally one of the most amazing filet mignon ('filet mignon' in France is porc loin but we are so used here to it being beef that they use the expression) au poivre flambe with cognac and served with pommes dauphines; a type of French potatoes that are almost impossible to find in the US. Last but not least ask for their off menu 'isle flottante' a delicious piece of soft meringue with caramel and almonds floatting on a river of creme Anglaise. An all around superb dining experience at somewhat reasonable prices. Bravo Brasserie Cognac. You never disappoint

Very Nice Menu for the area but I found the prices a bit higher than I thought that shoudl be. Food was quite good and service better than average. They do fish very well and have a large variety of veggies that you can have. The dessert list has all of he usual and the floating island which is one of my wife's favorites. The place is very servicable for most people and is clearly modeled after the French Bistros and is pretty accurate. Try the salmon burger with its spicy tomato and ketchup remoulade.

Charming,French bar and restaurant. Order the Shrimp and avocado appetizer, it was delicious! Interesting clientele, great wine and lovely corner location.

Excellent food especially the onion soup, orange scargots and the best for dessert, floating islands. Very good service. Better to have a reservation.

I have been here several times as it is favored by a client. OK, its New York and this place is pretty typical in sort of a neighborhood area. The setting is nice but cramped for my southern taste. They do know what they are doing in the kitchen, because the food is pretty good french fare. Three glasses of house white wine, a bowl of soup, a house salad and and a salmon entree will get you above $100. The wine was about half of the damage. If you are in the neighborhood, the food should not disappoint you, the price might.

Good French food, excellent martini! and friendly staff. Wine list is overpriced. Pleasant setting and not noisy

Excellent service and a nice atmosphere in this traditional style french brasserie. The waiter sent out for bottled tonic for my mother !! The escargot are delicious and the cheese puffs a must have.

Chef and Owner is great great grandson of Victor Hugo who also worked at Alain Ducasse - expect good food! This Saturday night we were surprised with live trombone music, guitarist and vocalist for entertainment. Food was delicious! The fried calamari with 2 dips wS good and they make excellent French fries. Special for the night was paella with seafood and chicken and sausage. We liked it so much that we ordered another one. My other friend ordered the seared foie gras as her main course. I was jealous. Best star in the menu for me was the white and dark hot chocolate soufflé. It came with pistachio cream that you pour into. The place feels so local, homey and friendly. Not a big conglomerate. I would like to go back anytime - especially for their soufflé!

Had business lunch with colleagues this week. Cognac always has outstanding fort and service and I can’t forget to mention reasonable for an especially pricey neighborhood as a rule. Cheese puffs a MUST!!!

This is an amazing place. The foi Gras was an delicious start. I loved my coq a vin and my husband loved the mussels and salads. Sitting at the front window watching the people go by is nice. Our meringue angel cloud desert was heavenly. The server was nice and efficient

Exquisitely patient service at lunch. We had to catch up before looking at the menu. Restrooms one flight down by elevator in adjoining hotel. Quiet enough to talk. Food meh. My frittata came with bagged lettuce and limp French Fries on top, neither appetizing. If you’re in midtown,it is ok.

This location is smaller of the west side but the food and service are very good as usual. Good choice of french food at a reasonable fair.

Atmospheric spot. Charming location and decor, but OH MY GOSH...so loud. Service a bit rushed and the Bouilabaisse, which was the special that night, was a skimpy, watered down, lukewarm bowl of tomato colored fluid, two mealy shrimp and a couple of mussels and an unidentifiable cube of fish. TERRIBLE. My companions meals were apparently ok.

Tiny yet delicious French bistro on the upper east side with outdoor tables along east 70th street which is nice and quiet and a nice bar inside to suit any taste. If you are looking for a reasonably priced neighborhood bistro this is the place. Everything on the extensive French menu is good and the service is excellent. Enjoy!

The Cheese Puffs are a specialty and my hostess insisted we start off with this traditional melt in you mouth appetizer...good for you too, but get the small basket 8 warm puffs they can be filling. The atmosphere makes one feel like you have entered a small but pleasant Bistro in Paris. I ordered a Kir libation, a typical French drink, but they do serve other American drinks.. The front room, where we dined, seems more intimate and cozier to me, but there is a larger dining room beyond the reception guest..There appears to be a number of regular locals dining here as well and that must attest to the restaurant's cuisine, I never felt like I was rushed. Stay we did and enjoyed another birthday celebration with Floating island dessert.

Although this is called a brasserie, it isn't really. There is a good bar, I'm not sure they serve ANY draft beers as a brasserie should. It's more of a bistro, and a very good bistro in most respects. The food, including desserts, is excellent, although they had already run out of the souffles by 1:00 P.M. The ambiance of this light-filled corner restaurant is also very nice. Where this place fails is in its service. Although the polite and friendly waiter was very solicitous about taking our order, he flubbed it a bit, bringing two glasses of wine when only one was ordered. We had to ask to get our water glasses refilled and he never asked us if we would like a second glass of wine. He was slow in clearing our very small table for dessert and it was a bit of a struggle to get the bill.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced neighborhood bistro this is the place. Everything on the menu is good. The service is excellent.

I chose spinach and avocado salad $14. Avocado was crunchy and not ripe sent it back. No ripe avocado available. Settled for cucumber cold soup. Meh. Tiny 4 0z portion maybe half a cup $12. Next mussels in white wine sauce for two of us. Mussels SO tiny I couldn't see them literally and half the shells were empty. Sauce- hey, where's the wine guys? Fries OK bit soggy. Husbands pork chop tough as an old boot. Friends husband had six escargot (snails). He said OK. But $16! 5 glasses of wine at $14 each. But OK. Total $268 with tip. Don't go. Just don't. Try Bella Blu same block instead.

In the area, menu seemed interesting, so we dropped in for lunch. No need to do that again. Menu is interesting, food is not. And the service is average. Clearly each person has an assignment and is not allowed to do anothers assignment. Each question we asked or request we made was answered with "I will get someone for you". Gets a little silly when you need to speak to 3 or 4 different people. I had the Salmon burger, it had a strong smell of fish. Generally that means the fish is not fresh. I did not get sick, but with each bit I worried. She had the spinach and avocado salad. Whole thing was slimy. Clearly either the spinach or the avocado or both were well past fresh and coated everything with a yukky oily film. Too many good places in the area to bother with this one.

We called in for breakfast, the place was empty apart from two other people. The food took ages to come, the portions were tiny, the staff didn’t come near after they gave us the food, they didn’t ask if we wanted more drinks and it was expensive.

Quality French bistro - excellent food, service, wine - good value for the money.They have excellent weekend brunch - in the warmer weather they also offer outdoor seating. Nice family setting, couples, etc. You will not be disappointed.

Four adults had an early Sunday night dinner here on a frigid night following a matinee performance. They restaurant staff were very accommodating; the cocktails were excellent and the food was very good. Service was relaxed but not too much. White table cloths (a plus for me) made this cozy dining room a very nice experience. We will return.

I hesitated when a friend wanted to have lunch here because my dinner experience wasn't so good the first time I ate there. I'm really glad I gave it another try. Platters I saw going to other tables looked very appealing. My own order of a filet mignon hamburger was delicious. My friend's choice of plump mussels with frites was both superbly presented and abundant. Service was courteous, professional, attentive, prompt. The restroom is snug and dimly lighted. The restaurant itself does not feel as large as it actually is because it has front and back areas, also an upstairs which I did not see. That layout makes it feel more cozy. It also helped that it was not as crowded or noisy at a late lunch as it was when I first went there for dinner.

Lovely French restaurant at 70th and Lex. As I was trying to get into the restaurant, one of the wait staff spilled ice water down my front. While the restaurant apologized, they offered no concession. Comping my hot tie would have been enough. The food was good but I am not impressed witht the management.

The menu had a special box featuring cheese souffle and cheese fondue made with kirsch. Even though it was summer, nostalgia for Switzerland coaxed me to order the fondue with a glass of kirsch. It had taken quite a while to get our waiter's attention as is, and there was more delay about communicating the kirsch. First a glass of beer-colored something came. I had to get the menu, point to where it said kirsch, then the waiter came back with a bottle of it, and that got settled. The fondue came impressively presented, but the cubes were so tiny they kept slipping off the fork. The cheese was not anything like what I've had and more like a mish mash of what was on hand in the kitchen. My companion's scallops order looked excellent and she liked it. The service continued inattentive and the noise level was deafening.

This charming little French Bistro is just a few steps down from Lexington avenue. We came for lunch and were promptly assigned a table. The Prix fixe menu was varied and reasonable. The salad was fresh and crisp, and my French onion soup just the way I want it. The main courses were equally good. The room does, maybe, have a few too many tables as it gets a bit noisy, but the lady assigning tables is good at spreading people out a bit for privacy when possible.

Near the Frick, so we followed up our viewing of The Goldfinch with a delightful, delicious and inventive lunch at this neighborhood bistro. Truly creative tuna tart appetizer was more than enough for a main, salads impeccable and service cheerful. Not cheap, but careful ordering produced a reasonably priced meal.

Great location, and is the perfect New York experience. We ate upstairs and it had the feeling that we were in someone's home. The food was really good, and the service great! We were there w/ a large party, and the service was perfect. I would give it a 5, but the desert was just average!

Pleasant outdoor seating on the side street and a menu with lots of options from salads and burgers to tarts, etc. The tomato and goat cheese tart on puff paste was tasty and light. The guys in our foursome tried the tuna tartare on avocado and the salmon burger. A bit pricey for what we ordered, but this is Manhattan.

Just stopped in after walking about and shopping. I had the french onion soup and the chicken salad. It was very good and we sat outside on the sidewalk. It was a lovely day. The staff was great and attentive. The food was good. We enjoyed it and will be back.

So enjoyed this restaurant we stumbled across after visiting the amazing Frick gallery. Staff gracious and welcoming. Food and drink fabulous and worthwhile. Another great NY venue worth experiencing. Don't miss it!

if you are looking for a buzzy restaurant this isn't it. It has a feel of a Parisian bistro with a lovely menu that is more safe than bold. But when you are looking around and you get the feeling that you are the only people that aren't regulars you know you have chosen well.

Casual spot that is in the old Lumi site. French bistro menu..short but good. We both had the chicken salad which was delicious. Service was excellent . Decent white wine at a fair price. Great spot for casual dining especially in the summer as they have outside tables which always seem to be popular.

So I m a dirty martini drinker & was absolutely shocked to see that $4.00 was added onto my bill for 2 martinis. I have had them at THE PLAZA, THE PALM, RUTH CHRIS & everywhere in between & never have been served with an extra charge for a straight up martini. I find this outrageous......truly a big big ripoff & insult to us martini drinkers. Needless to say.....I won’t be back. Beware ❗️they were good but not the best, but it doesn’t even matter......MAJOR RIP OFF ❗️Plus an empty glass of beer sat in front of me until I had to move it. My order of gougere was delicious BUT NO NAPKINS other than the little one which came with my martini. I had to ask for more napkins ❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️

I have eaten here 8 times before and it always has been good. We made a reservation for brunch the Sunday of Labor Say weekend, They promised us an outside table, but gave it away 5 minutes before we arrived. The Maitre D' said it would be 10 more minutes until the next one opens up. We were seated 25 minutes later. The food was good—I had a cheddar and ham egg white omelet. The service was good, but we didn’t hear from or see the maître d’ again. He was gone from the premises when we left. I asked the bartender for his name, and he responded "Lumi" - the name of the previous restaurant at this location. There wasn't much the maitre d' could have done wrong that he did not do, culminating in hiding behind the anonymity provided by his bartender. On my total experience, I would rate Cognac East a 4, but the maitre d' didn't even deserve a 1.

Very nice ambiance and good food overall. I chose the Cheese fondue - which was not great - but the others in our group loved their food choices. Good prices and service.

We were looking to have lunch in the area and this place looked good with seating outside. The restaurant is nice. But the service was really far from good. There were only a handful of tables occupied because it was 4pm, not lunch and not dinner. We had to wait and ask for everything. I even gave up waiting for utensils and just got up to get them from the nearby table. The bus boys were around but I literally had to call out to them to bring salt and ketchup for a $19 burger. The waiter was nowhere to be found. We wanted to order drinks and left without doing it. For such an impressive location and look, the service was pretty embarrassing. It felt like while the cat's away, the mice will play.

We had a nice Sunday lunch. Burgers come with good buns but are otherwise quite plain. Lovely handmade pommes frites. Nicoise salad was rich, colourful and with full of fresh ingredients. House wines are selected with good nose. Service was also good and efficient. Highly recommend!

We happened to find and had brunch here. As a French brasserie, French toast was very good, and.croqué madame was pretty good as well - honestly, as long as I know good croque madame is not easily found in the city. Only set back is from American’s egg quality perspective, preferably, egg white should be a bit more cooked but I should say they stuck to more authentic way of preparation. The serving was a bit hustling, I could see tables were still available but in the middle of taking coffee, the bill came in unlike authentic French bistros... this is more New York style. But the food wise, we enjoyed a lot. Good food!

Attempt to have late lunch on a recent Sunday afternoon. We enter. There is only one couple at the bar. The barman takes a look at us and keeps busy arranging his glasses. A waitress is reading a book on a table. Loud music all over the place. Eventually, barman notices us and we inquire about eating (they are open non-stop starting at 11AM). He points not to a table in the restaurant part, but to a miniature table in the bar area. The table is not even set. We turn around and walk out. Another place bites the dust in my books.

We sat inside at a cozy corner table on the lower level opposite the mirrored bar. It was just the right place for a simple early dinner. My spouse and I shared the fried calamari—heavily crusted, but very tasty—followed by the salmon burger and fries for him and a Nicolse salad for me. Their version of this classic salad is done chopped style with good Italian tuna with small pieces of green beans mounded over some boiled potatoes surrounded by several wedges of hard boiled egg on a bed of Bibb lettuce. Very appetizing! This with a glass of wine or two was perfect.

We went to Cognac for the first time On a Saturday night and we very satisfied with the experience. It offers a typical bistro type menu with a varied, but not large array of choices, a nice wine list and friendly service. We had the endive/blue cheese salad, more than adequate to share, and the moules frite and steak frites - dessert was the coconut shell with fruit and coconut sorbet! It was all satisfying, prepared to order and nicely sized. Service was friendly, correct and prompt. Was it great? No, but would we go there when we say let's go out tonight? You bet. In a neighborhood dominated by Italian, it is a very attractive option.

We stumbled on this little French restaurant while walking in the UES. The seating area is small, but the food makes up for the close quarters. We started with a cheese fondue, which was delicious. The cheese puffs compared well with the ones I enjoyed in Paris last month. The beet salad and quiches we had for lunch were also good. The prices were not inexpensive, but they were what you would expect in NYC for a plated meal. We really enjoyed our meal and would go back when in the UES.

The venue is small and many of the tables are cramped. Bread and olive oil are good starters BUT the appetizers were not remarkable. The onion soup was disappointing and the salads limp. The pasta was OK but the various sauces all tasted similar. Service friendly but not efficient.

The first time I made a reservation for BCE I expected to eat at what I'd come to expect was the typical French Brasserie...a single, long, narrow dining room with tables against the wall and down the middle. Looking at pictures online, the original store mirrors that model but BCE is more along the lines of a fancy bistro or restaurant. The menu however, features the usual and requisite brasserie items and they do them well. We'd picked BCE out of a Zagat guide a few years back having the need for dinner in that area of town due to follow on events and came back due to the food. Specifically, we came back for their tuna tartare which is probably the best example of the dish we've found in NYC or any number of other locations. After a pair of good cocktails, my Manhattan and my wife's Paris (house cocktail), we dove into the tartare and weren't disappointed. The tuna was cut fine enough that lumps didn't fall off the spoon and with the sauce, very tasty. A grilled pork chop with a Calvados sauce and potato/noodle side was an outstanding main course. Both of us wanted to pick up the bone and gnaw off the final morsels of meat but were able to keep our decorum and work them off with a fork and knife. Sharing the courses allowed us the room to order the chocolate soufflé and were we glad we did. We'll go back again and order a new main entre to go with our tuna tartare and chocolate soufflé. Service was spot on and although we really never gave it a valiant attempt our water glasses were never empty and our food arrived at the right temperature and at the right time. We spent about 90 minutes at the table and were glad we visited.

We had been looking for a new spot for steak frites on our anniversary trip [since Les Halles on Park is now closed] and read about Cognac in the Times. I figured if the steak frites were good enough for Eric Ripert, it would be good enough for the two of us. Maybe we should have made the reservation at the original on Broadway rather than this outpost on the Upper East Side as I truly can't imagine him speaking so highly of what was rather pedestrian food. We were terribly disappointed. The restaurant had no record of our reservation but gave us a nice table nonetheless. It was downhill from there. On its own website, steak frites is said to be grilled sirloin and comes with either bernaise or peppercorn. The actual menu described it as a hanger steak in a red wine sauce. Ugh. We tried to communicate our desire for peppercorn [me] and bernaise [my wife] to our waiter, but I think there was either a language barrier or he was too new on the job. I also think he confused our temperature request despite our having repeated it....slowly...several times. Hers ended up coming in the red wine sauce while mine at least had peppercorn--albeit on the side. The wine list was also disappointing and much different from what appears on the restaurant's website. We had a rather desultory Cotes du Rhone by the bottle that may not have even been as good as what they were offering by the glass. Speaking of glass, the first wine glass they sat down in front of me had a number of black spots inside the bottom of the glass. I asked for a replacement and the waiter took it to the bar where he, the manager and the bartender proceeded to examine it as if I were crazy. Geez. I just wanted a clean glass. Was that too much to ask? Oh well, sure it was only one meal. But one out of 10 on a trip to a city with hundreds of restaurants that are more deserving of my dining dollars.

The fact that it was a perfect late summer day in NYC and we ate on the patio made it feel like Paris, so there were bonus points before we even ordered. Three of us had the Nicoise salad with Italy canned tuna. It was fresh and lovely. They had a nice wine list with affordable selections. I would return. Nice menu. Reasonable prices for NYC. Quality ingredients. Great bread.

Great menu with delicious cuisine presented elegantly. The ambience is magnifique and the team is terrific. Highly recommend!l

Lovely place to have a nice salad and glass of wine. Will certainly go back when craving the delicious signature chicken salad. A little pricey for the experience but overall a nice choice.

We 3 sat outside and 35 mins for service. The $51 white wine is $7 at liquor store and served room temperature so we asked for ice. The french fries inedible and almost broke a tooth on one. What a waste of an evening.

We absolutely loved everything we ate at Cognac East. The scallops were delicious, as were all the appetizers. Service staff was prompt, friendly and helpful. We'll be back!

This lovely small french bistro was perfect for lunch on a sunny warm day. The food was very good (Croque Monseiur and Turkey Club). Service was perfect. A very pleasant experience all around. Don't know how it would be for lunch or even what the dining room looks like as we were outside the entire time.

We (one senior, two 50's and two 12's) eat here monthly when traveling to New York. Even with three generations and a few health restrictions we can always find something for everyone; the chef has always catered to special requests. Reservations are pretty much a must unless you go for an early brunch or dinner. The Beef Bourguignon is very tender, Calamari crunchy and salads are colorful and full of flavor. There is a small room upstairs for parties of 10 or more. The one draw back is the noise level on the first floor.

Amazing amazing amazing. It's a shame I couldn't take any photos of this place because it was packed and it wouldn't feel right. The food here is fresh and well presented and the taste was amazing. They also give you some fresh bread and butter so good. Most of all I would like to say that the staff are amazing and you get an amazing service as soon as you walk in. The manager is very friendly and easy to talk to. Amazing place would definitely recommend it.

Nice quaint restaurant, we had the prix fixe for lunch and enjoyed the French Onion soup with a chicken entree that had a delicious sauce. The service was very good, and the crusty bread basket wonderful! The server was very gracious. There is even outside seating. I would come back to try other dishes.

Lovely dinner at this charming local French restaurant. Delicious French specialties and more. Nice ambience and Solid Service.

Thrilled to have a Brasserie replace one of our LEAST favorite places in our neighborhood, my husband and I went for dinner shortly after it opened. We called that morning for a reservation and was told they had nothing until 9:00 pm. REALLY?? A quick check on Open Table proved that to be wrong and in fact, the place was practically empty when we arrived at 6:30 and only a few tables were occupied when we left at 8:15. The staff is clearly in the "internship" phase. A few more experienced wait staff personnel would be helpful. We had to ask for bread a few times. That being said, the food was excellent. We had a sea scallop dish and a halibut dish which were both extremely tasty - (I assume lots of butter was in the sauce but didn't think to ask.) Hopefully they would be able to have some tables outside soon. Prices are high (too high, in my opinion) - this is prime real estate. We think it's worth a second visit and will bring some friends soon.

We all enjoyed our recent dinner at Cognac East. Very quaint French style restaurant on two floors with excellent service and decor. The food was also very good. My only criticism was the size of the portions of some of the entrees. For example, I had the sea scallops and was a little surprised to see only three, although they were nicely cooked. The dark chocolate soufflé for dessert was rich and delicious. Overall, a very enjoyable evening dining here.

After having been here for many occasions over the years, we were quite disappointed with Christmas dinner. Prices were high and quality was not. Lobster bisque seemed to lack lobster. Sauces and potatoes were drab. Most food was warm but not hot.

Delicious dinner, waiter excellent….despite how busy they were we did not feel rushed. It was nice and quiet upstairs.

Elegant small place on the Upper East Side. Sophisticated, quiet clientele. Make sure you have a reservation. Traditional French bistro cuisine. The food is fine, but the atmosphere is the high point. Very attentive service. Not inexpensive, even for Manhattan, but worth it.

This is a tiny yet delicious French bistro on the upper east side. They have outdoor tables along east 70th street which is nice and quiet. Menu is extensive with typical French bistro fare. They also have a full bar to suit any taste. Enjoy!

I reserved a table for 10 and were seated upstairs. It was a bit tight but we managed. All of us enjoyed the food and liked everything from appetizers to dessert. The only complaint we had was that the food was just a bit under seasoned. The dishes were well prepared and for the most part was delicious. I loved the floating island as I haven't had that since I was in Paris 25 years ago. Soufflés were good as well. the service was ok, just had to flag down the waiter a few times as they were busy. The restaurant was not cheap $1100.00 and this is without alcohol for a 3 course meal, but this is NYC so its expected. I would go there again.

A neighborhood favorite for good reason: great service and terrific food. Everything is good...the chicken salad, the filet mignon burger, all the fish...

Just tried this restaurant for the French Restaurant Week as I love escargots and duck. Did disappoint. I love their escargots, esp their sauce. the duck was very good two except there was a tough tendon running across the whole duck breast. otherwise, it was excellent. the restaurant was very busy and at first we were asked to sit at a small table right behind the entrance despite the fact that we made our reservation in advance. after some negotiations, they sat us on the second floor, which was nice. but the room was small and full and therefore a bit too noisy and hard to hear what the other said even though he's only across a small table. i looked at their regular menu and like many of the dishes. will definitely go back and try those. btw, it's $35.78 for 3 course, not the traditional $17.89. i guess this price is just too good to be true :(

Needed a place to eat after visiting Frick Collection with my brother-in-law. He wanted a beer with lunch and place looked immaculate. We sat inside by the beautiful picture window and loved watching the dog walkers and New Yorkers running errands. We split a filet mignon burger and salad that were delicious. Timely courteous service. Lovely brass and hobnail bar. Fun and convenient. Wonderful food and NYC experience.

Sat outside, excellent wine list and cocktails. As recommended on Seated, we ordered the crab cake (amazing) and fois gras for appetizers, Steak and Pomme Frites and Filet Mignon for dinner. Everything we ate was divine. Ended the meal with best creme brûlée i've ever had, and aperitifs on the house. The service was superb. Can't wait to go back.

Francois, the manager, told me outright he was the owner which is not true, was so obnoxious and sarcastic, I will never return to my favorite french restaurant again. Syed who has waited on me for years, has much more class than this low life manager does. He has no quality and does not belong in the neighborhood. Wish he represented the restaurant as it should be. This restaurant needs to get s sophisticated manager to represent a quality restaurant. I’ll stick with Bella Blue.

Stopped for pre theatre. Tolerable noise level, very good front of the house staff. Table bread high quality if a little skimpy. Small but well curated wine list. Hlaibut entree, in a cream sauce over truffled risotto,I think. Tasty, imaginative, , fish cooked just right, decent portion.

My wife and I had such a delightful lunch that we came back the next day. A true bistro plucked from Paris. All the preparations were fresh & yummy. The ceviche was terrific and a different presentation from the usual fare. The paté is worth the trip alone. Promenade up Lexington on a beautiful spring morning and reward your trip with an apéritif and nosh.

For New York prices this was OK. Risotto with mushrooms and (minimal) truffle shavings not worth the price. Salad Niçoise OK but canned tuna. Good bottle of overpriced Chianti. All in all acceptable but not great.

Good food. Good Outside Seating. Good and Helpful Service. If in the area and need a place to have lunch or dinner, a good option. The sangria was great.

Enjoyed the food and the ambiance. We were getting a little tired of Italian food, and it was nice to find an accessible French Bistro in the east 70s. Will be back for another visit soon.

When I first started coming here years ago I gave this place 5 stars. Loved it. Then I had some bad experiences. Tried it again after a year. Now I'm removing another star. The only reason I'm giving it 3 is because the waiter tried very hard and the food wasn't bad tonight. We used to come here all the time but then we had some bad experiences. The last few times the escargots were like rubber and the beef bourguignon, which should fall apart at the touch of a fork, couldn't be cut with a knife. We decided to try it again and the food was actually pretty good. However, if you go here, make sure you check your check. We ordered two martinis for which they charged us one price. We ordered another round and they slipped a larger charge ($8 more) into the middle of the check. When we pointed it out to the waiter another man came over and he said "The computer does that and charges one price all the time but we fixed it for the second round." Now, I can understand a mistake but if you know the "computer does that" wouldn't you fix the computer or at least have pointed this out to us if it was an honest mistake? Instead of just apologizing, he pulled an attitude. I asked for his name and he said "I don't have to give it to you." I guess he doesn't but I never heard such a thing. I asked if he was the manager but he said he was the owner and he didn't have to give me his name. I suppose he doesn't, but since it's a matter of public record that made no sense to me. If you were the owner wouldn't you just apologize for the mistake? I guess he has enough business that he just doesn't care. My husband said "Why are you talking to him? Can't you see he doesn't care? Look at him, he's not even apologizing." But I feel people should be given the chance which is why I tried to talk to him. I guess my husband was right though...he doesn't care. We left the waiter a 20% tip anyway because I got the feeling, since he obviously wasn't American born, that he probably isn't paid well and relies on those tips. No sense cheating him. I just hope the waiters here actually get to keep their tips. But there are too many better restaurants in NYC where the owners do care and you'll leave happier. Spend your money elsewhere unless you want to be treated like they're doing you a favor taking your money.

Beautiful card with choice Beautiful decoration and pleasant service Very good mixed French / American cuisine A little expensive but like everywhere in New York but it remains pleasant when you have eaten well because it is not the case everywhere

We’ve been coming to this wonderful French Brasserie for years, it is one of our favorite spots on UES . We always enjoy French classics and other dishes at Brasserie Cognac. Lovely ambience and solid service. One of the all times favorite French classics are: Beef Tartare, Escargot and Mussels. Also check out their other location on 48th st and Lexington Ave.

This restaurant was recommended by someone at the Frick Collection. It is a pleasant atmosphere, definitely recalling French bistros in Paris. The waiter was professional yet seemed to be lacking a sense of individual attention. The food was good, not outstanding. The small basket of cut baguette was not served warm. One diner had beef bourguignon, served in a non-traiditonal presentation. The beef was in two large pieces rather than cubes and was a bit overcooked. The cauliflower and carrots surrounding it were good, but a bit sparse. The delicious roasted potatoes were served on the side rather than incorporated into the main dish. The other diner had the special Saturday dinner offering of paella which he said was marvelous. Two glasses of cabernet were excellent. While the food and experience were fine, they did not leave us wanting to return.

We had a reservation, and Viviane was our server. She is very impatient when taking orders, has no people skills and she does not understand that she cannot slide someone’s ketchup to the other person instead of bringing a fresh one. She told us to sit down, when one of us wanted to use the bathroom. She is the boss! We tried to enjoy our family brunch, but I would not recommend this place. Why subjecting yourself to a bad attitude of your waitress when you want to enjoy holiday spirit in the City.

I went here for light lunch with a friend. If I had had such bad blisters I would have gone back! But it was 20 blocks from my hotel. Anyway we ordered the tuna tart and I am kicking myself I took no photo. Tuna tart to me was 'tuna quiche' in 1980s made with Wholemeal flour. This was tuna like carpaccio on thin crisp flat bread with ginger, Mayo and scallions. I just ordered ingredients to try and replicate it It was my food highlight of New York 2016. Anne

Its a local cozy restaurant in the east side. Dishes are tasty, with "touch" Enjoy a good meal with a nice atmosphere. I recommend this place.

Although not inexpensive, Brasserie Cognac is always good with efficient service. Inside is a cozy setting with tables close together and the noise level on a busy night can be a bit much. But we love the gougeres and the rotisserie chicken in particular, especially when the latter has enough au jus on the plate.

This past Saturday afternoon, while walking down Lexington, I took a turn onto 70th Street, and decided to have lunch at Cognac. I had been there many times before, but always sat inside at the bar, occasionally outside but this was my first time there during Covid. What an unbelievable glorious afternoon. The patio is lovely & done so tastefully. The way they have the tables set up, everyone is at least 6 ft., away from each other. I had a terrific table. Started with the Gougeres and an ice cold Sauvignon Blanc; sooooo good together. Then opted for the crab cake appetizer which was fantastic; served on fresh corn & edamame succotash. Another glass of wine, & was enjoying a lovely summer afternoon. Service was very good & cannot wait to return. Either for late lunch, brunch or dinner.....it is such a perfect idea.

I had the filet burger for lunch; my wife had the chicken salad. We were both pleased with the food, the service and the atmosphere. However, it comes with a price which is a bit too high.

After a morning of walking NYC, we stopped for lunch around 1PM Saturday. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. Waiter was prompt and took care of our every needs. We had the Salmon Benedict and Burger. Both were awesome. Wonderful experience and being just across 48th Ave from the Lexington was a plus fir us.

Had a lovely early evening meal, the main course being scallops, asparagus and asparagus risotto - all extremely well cooked. Waiters were very good and friendly. We liked the french themed rooms but understand there is no french link (don't let that stop you though!). This ended up being one of the more expensive meals we ate during this NYC visit.

I found this place to be good for a casual evening with friends. Everybody at the table seemed to enjoy their food. I picked an appetizer to be served as a main course and was not so enthusiastic about the matching of steamed octopus with a tomato coulis, an odd combination. However considering the reactions of my knowledgeable party, I cannot penalize this place over my one likes. Service is attentive and I had the feeling we were not rushed through our meal. Deicious creme brulee, trust my wife on this one, she is the ultimate expert.

Stopped here to eat lunch recently. Had the spinach and avocado salad, it was good reasonably priced for New York City, would eat here again. A few outside tables, hard to get, I ate inside.

Having eaten here several times (lunch), I recommend the onion soup, the cheese fondu, the burgers, and the salads. Service is very good, and the atmosphere is pleasant (not too noisy!)

I come here a lot. With friends I sit at tables and they are always super accommodating. Earlier this month, I came with friends from Greece. I told the restaurant that we were celebrating a teenager's bday and they brought chocolate cake with a candle and sang. The food is really very good and there is a kid's menu too which is great. The only thing I have not liked was the salmon croquet monsieur (greasy).

Unbelievably rude managers. Teeny portions. Salade Nicoise With fresh tuna had tiny pieces of tuna Pick another restaurant. Rude manager. Sad to want to eat out and be treated badly. Ageist.

The only reason we didn’t give our favorite locale spot is because five stars is reserved for the very few spectacular. However, Cognac East is absolutely perfect. Quaint, typically tight seating as one would expect in Paris with a great wine list and fantastic fare. This is our go to on the UES and when we waiver, we always question why didn’t we just go to Cognac. Staff wonderful, prices reasonable. Winter it’s cozy & charming and as warm weather hits they have sidewalk seating. As a local, if you haven’t been then you should go, just don’t take our table!

The food is fresh and delicious. Classical French with good service. It is a real find on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The prices are also relatively reasonable and it is usually quiet.

Had dinner here with another couple. Food, service and ambiance were terrific. Drinks were good size, and wine list varied.

Located on the corner of Lexington and 70th, Cognac has a couple of sitting areas. Part of the restaurant is bright with large windows overlooking the street, and the other side is dark, more romantic and cozy. I also saw stairs going up. Overall its a charming French bistro with white table cloth. Very good food, friendly but slow service. They were able to help me navigate the menu and I found plenty of gluten free options. I was there for Brunch. Prices were reasonable, they even had a prix fix brunch with a choice of an alcoholic drink.

Food is ok but service is lacking. Came here yesterday with friends who eat regularly at this place because they live around the corner. They are much older (90's) and he has a hard time walking and uses a rollator. His wife had come by earlier and requested a certain table. When we got there it was occupied. The woman who seated us was beyond rude when my friend remonstrated with her. Personally, I won't come back. This neighborhood is full of lovely little places that are happy to serve you. Why come to one that doesn't appreciate your business?

We have been to this restaurant a few years ago on previous visit to NYC, so we decided to go back but this time with friends who had not been. It did not disappoint. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. We had reserved a bottle of champagne as well as the cheese puffs to be brought to the table when we all arrived. This was all done as per our request. Will keep recommending this restaurant to others visiting NYC and we will definitely return.

Great little charming Bistro. Service and food were great all around. The special of the day was a chicken on ciabatta thing which was delicious and I'd order over and over again if I could. Perfect pit stop whilst touristing the streets of NYC.

Went once when it opened and was not impressed but they have grown into their "French skin". The menu looks and reads as it should if this was a Paris brasserie. VEry good food with thoughtful service makes this a place to visit on the UES

We went twice in a week! I really recomend this restaurant. Nice food, nice service and fair prices!

The place is always packed and I don't see why. They didn't have what I wanted on the menu so they recommended the fish which was over cooked and black. The starter - tuna tart was not what I expected. It was raw tuna slices on thin bread covered in ginger. I couldn't eat it. The cocktails were great though. I found it bad service when my partner went to the bathroom and the waiter came over and asked if I were ready to order - yet I was on my own. I paid $200 for 2 - so over priced and disappointing.

I actually liked the unusual presentation of beef Bourgignon. The beef is in two large pieces but it comes apart easily and so you can make your own exact version of how you like it. Very tasty. I was impressed that the service seemed attentive and personal, not pro forma. Best, the employees seemed happy to be working there, always a good sign. There is a quieter upstairs area that we didn't know about. I might try that area next time, but the noise downstairs wasn't bad, we could converse easily. I don't understand the bad reviews unless they are just out to be nasty or are mistaking the place.

We had no clue where to eat while out walking in the area, but if all else fails - GO WHERE IT IS CROWDED! We ended up with two dishes that were great, crab cakes and chicken salad. Beers were served very cold and the food was delicious!

The food was good, but the prices astronomical! Example: $18 for a glass of tequila; $32 for a mediocre Coq au vin. Service was no more than adequate. Suggested gratuities ranged from 18% to 22%, so the bill for four people having a drink each, an appetizer, main dish, and dessert can easily exceed $300.00.

It was my second visit to this authentic brasserie and I was not disappointed at all. Service is very attentive. I was promptly offered a table (despite not having a reservation) and then a beverage, while I perused the many lunch options. The 'salade verte' was more than just greens, lightly dressed and a generous portion. The moules/mussels were served in a traditional iron cast pot and were slightly sweet, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I will definitely return to Cognac on my next visit to Manhattan.

Cognac East is one of those places from the outside that you may simply pass bye. That would be a mistake. From the warm welcome through out the meal we felt like we were in someone's town home, quite a change from many other restaurants in NYC. Our waiter was quite friendly and helpful. The food was very good from the onion soup through the main courses. Our entrees arrived hot and full of nice flavors. This is a rather small restaurant and even though they pack the tables in I would highly suggest reservations as on a Tuesday night every table was full by 8 PM.

Warm greeting and good night, with quite good food and service in between. Fine Italian dishes, excellent mussels, simply prepared pasta, duck. Downstairs or up with upstairs preferred. Wines fairly priced with good pour. Reservations suggested.

High expectations when we saw the menu; disappointment when the food arrived. The steak was lukewarm, and the fries were a bit cooler. The Profiteroles were not made with potachu. But, the French onion soup was solid, and the Mona Lisa Tea was a great drink. $96.90 for two with our splitting an entre, salad and deseart, but with our own soup and one drink.

How fortunate to find a place, by chance, that reminded us so much of our New Year's trip to Paris two years ago. We were supposed to see the ice sculptures in Central Park, but it was too crowded, and we decided to find a relaxing spot for cocktails and a long overdue lunch dessert for Cousin Tina. Two for one drinks, a scrumptious dessert and a very courteous and professional staff in this very French setting made our stop a "mini vacation" to quote Cousin Tina!

Food is terrific. Dale had cheese souffle I had onion soup and steak frites. Lucy had mussels. Service was fine. Crowd was upper eastside old but waspy elegant. We very much liked it.

a very good service food is excellent reasonably priced and one does not feel that the restaurant just opened two weeks ago. the manager bernard is vert attentive and listening to any remark one has.worth a visit

We discovered this charming restaurant when we happened to be walking on the Eastside in December. Immediately we were pleased with the ambiance. It was intimate and reminiscent of restaurants visited in France. The meal that followed didn't disappoint, We enjoyed ourselves so much we returned on NewYear's Eve. The restaurant was full but the service and the food were still excellent. Definitely will go back.

What a pleasant surprise. Dropped in early before a Broadway show and had a wonderful meal. Excellent service. I had the Beef bourguignon, lots of tender beef and source you will want to dip bread in. Attentive waitstaff, great onion soup.

We had a very good cheese selection, and greens. Service was very good , it’s a very cozy place. Wine list is good.there is also a room upstairs, and had a small bar to wait.

We stopped at Cognac on Lexington at 70th for dinner recently after having walked by it many times. It was always full and people seemed to be happy. That's a great sign obviously! So we tested it out. Everyone else was right. This is a really good place. Like a small slice of Paris on the Upper East Side - complete with UES prices of course. A menu that combines the Parisian cafe old favorites along with some creative new takes on classic dishes. Good drinks. Actually, really good drinks. Efficient and professional service. This places is perfect for a nibble or a meal from lunch through dinner. My only quibble? The cookie plate is a bit underwhelming for $10. Come on guys! Add a few more cookies. Err on the generous side. It's the last memory some customers will have of their meal. Make is a really happy one. We'll be back.

We had driven into the city from the northern suburbs for the Friday night Vermeer exhibit at the Frick Collection. It was a freezing January night and we passed this restaurant on the way back to our car. We decided to see if we could get in for dinner (around 8 pm) instead of stopping somewhere closer to home. Although they were crowded they invited us in and said it would be a 10 minute wait - it was less than 5. Typical of Manhattan, it's small and crowded, but the waiters were very nice and helpful. We shared grilled octopus appetizer and a beet salad both very tasty. I had the delicious scallops, while my husband ordered the lamb chops. Unfortunately, the chops were almost raw, and when they redid them, they left them too long and now they were overcooked. My husband was severely disappointed/upset, but didn't want to ask for a new dish. While we were waiting for his chops to return, 2 women (local residents) at the next, very close table, insisted we try the remaining part of their tuna tart appetizer - it was fantastic. My husband did tell the waiter that the chops had been turned into well done -as evidenced by the fact that he didn't eat it all. The waiter was so apologetic. We asked for the check and were waiting, when the waiter returned, not with the check but with a dessert plate with profiteroles and chocolate sauce. Since there were 3, we gave one to the 2 lovely women at the next table who witnessed the entire affair. Very accommodating, all dishes except the lamb were delicious. We'd come again if we are in the area.

This is my mother-in-laws favorite place and she took us there for our last night in New York. I had the free-range chicken with organic veggies and a side of pumpkin puree. I love that there was an organic/free-range option on the menu. My husband had a scallops dish. Both were tasty. Everyone else enjoyed their meals, and the atmosphere reminded me of summers in Paris. We don't drink or eat sweets so couldn't comment on the wine list or the desserts other than they looked fantastic! ;)

I pass this restaurant all the time and finally went for lunch. It's an intimate restaurant, beautifully done with a distinctive upper east side New York feel. The food was wonderful, and priced well. Very enjoyable for folks in the neighborhood and for tourists who want an east side experience.