Cafe du Soleil Reviews

The food is average. This restaurant would not survive if there were a few more French restaurants in the neighborhood. The main complaint is the noise level. As the evening progresses and there are more patrons, the music keeps getting pushed louder forcing people to speak louder, sending the relentlessly pounding best ever louder until all one hears is a Thuringia bass competing with any attempt at conversation. I have neglected reviewing the menu, The food varies from just above passable to okay, never memorable. Order a bottle of red wine and it will come off a shelf above the bar and at a temperature of about 75 degrees. Ask for it to be put in the cooler for a few minutes

Based on reviews of others it appears that most people liked the restaurant more than we did. My wife found her roasted chicken to be very dry and my coq au vin was good but nothing special. The bread was just okay. Service was spotty as I needed to ask for more water and another glass of wine two times before we got them. It was also loud with most of the noise coming from the bar area. While the web site indicates street parking is available we could not find any on a Tuesday night at 6PM and garage parking in the area is quite expensive.

Had the mussels and some calamari. Fries and a glass of wine. Service was a bit slow and hey ended up closing due to a situation inter kitchen. Food was mediocre.

One dish was very good and one dish was terrible. The Le Cassoulet Toulousain (a white bean stew with sausages and pork) was very good especially on a cold evening sitting in a "bubble". The Foie de veau aux echalotes (calf's liver, gratin potatoes and asparagus) was not only terrible but was not even calf's liver! My husband, who ordered it, should have sent it back, but didn't. What he got was a big slab of beef liver and under-cooked asparagus. He was very disappointed. The other couple with us didn't comment, so I can't review their dish. The service was terrible. We won't go back. This was our first dining out during the pandemic and we were sorry it was not a better experience.

We were 3 last Sunday to have our lunch here and it was very enjoyable. After 1pm, it got a little crowded but earlier it was easy to walk in and find a table. Two of us tried the mussels with frites and this was delicious, a good portion of both. I could not resist a "Mousse au Chocolat" for dessert (despite the guilt!!). Overall it was good value too. Friendly bilingual and attentive service.

We were staying with friends in the Upper West Side and after a long day of exploring the city, we just wanted to find a restaurant close to home so we didn't have far to go after dinner. This place was adorable and I felt like I was in a French bistro. The service was great and fast. I enjoyed the food too and if staying in the UWS again I would dine here for sure.

This is a small cozy restaurant on the upper west side of New York, but its menu is extremely limited and there are no interesting dishes. When I was there the bathroom was very dirty.

Perfect atmosphere with excellent service, I actually felt like I had walked into a Parisian cafe. The mixed salad that comes with many of the dishes is absolutely amazing with the dressing that comes on it. I had the kale quiche and was not disappointed. The coffee was good and plentiful. We were there in the winter so we were all cozy inside, but I’m sure the place is delightful in the summer when all of the doors are open and you can spill out onto the sidewalk.

We live around the block and are regulars. It has a nice, authentically French vibe and is largely responsible for leading the restaurant renaissance in the neighborhood. Good deals on weeknights, like the moules Monday with free glass of wine, and discounts at the bar. The food is generally very good, reasonably priced (early eve. prix fixe is a very good deal) and the service has improved from its early days, when the servers all seemed to be in training. I recommend the soups, chef's salad, excellent fries, steak, coq au vin, moules and burgers. It can be a bit on the noisy side when busy but try to snag a corner table for more privacy. Most enjoyable.

Not sure where to start. Ordered cocktails off the menu and was disappointed with the results. Opted for bottled beer and poured wine for the second round. The beer was safe but even the wine was off. Calamari appetizer was edible but the country pate was dried out. The burger was ordinary. Not much else to report.

My wife, son, and daughter in law came for a prix fixe menu of seafood offerings tonight and everything was as promised. The appetizers were both aurhentically French and wonderfully tasteful. My soupe de poisson was perfect. Our main courses , particularly the whole sea bass were perfect. The wine, and the bread and even the sounds of the house made me feel like I was back in Paris again. This is simply a priceless part of the Upper West Side and a café I have been going to for nearly twenty years.

Though noisy from very loud music playing at the bar, we tumbled in to this great restaurant as we found a parking spot across the street. It was a busy Saturday night but they found us a table. Great escargot and wonderful mussels. Crispy and salty pommes frites just as they should be. If you're on Broadway in the 100's give it a try.

I love French Bistro fare and was thrilled when this place opened in my hood. The food is good, but rather pricey for the quality and quantity. Service has been chilly when I've wandered in as a solo female looking for a local place to have dinner out. Better to go with a group. The wines are way overpriced and the corkage fee is too high for this caliber, but if you've got a hankering for moule frites, it's ok. The interior is lovely and very rive gauche-like. They have a spacious outdoor seating area which is almost always hopping on summer evenings.

Lovely meal, nice seatings in a restaurant where you are able to have a conversation! We had a pre-theater-dinner before going to The Met and everything worked out perfectly! The only place in N.Y. where we enjoyed homemade bread with oliveoil.

My wife and I went up to NYC to see an opera at the Met and prior to the opera we went to the Café du Soleil.. We both had Moules and Frites (different styles) and the portions were large and the taste was great. The service was impeccable and I would certainly highly recommend this restaurant. Also. for NYC the prices were quite reasonable.

Cafe du Soleil is a survivor in a city where restaurants come and go rapidly. Excellent service, dependably good food, and reasonably priced.

We live on the Upper West Side, but we don't usually go this far north (104th Street) for dinner. But this place is definitely worth the walk. The food was excellent, the service impeccable, and the free jazz delightful. We'll certainly be going back.

We struggled to find food we liked in NY without going to high end restaurants. Difficult to find anything g in the mid ground. Cafe du Soleil is an oasis in a desert of fast food joints. It is French themed good quality and good value food and drink venue staffed by helpful and friendly people. Great value, great ambience, great food and wine, simply GREAT!

Beautiful decor, good service and very good food make this a great choice if you're in this neighbourhood.

This has been my favorite restaurant for 15 years - pre-theatre dinners, brunches with friends, happy hour laughter with my daughter, and especially sharing candlelight and pate with my dear husband.Last week my daughter and I went to celebrate his memory. What a let down. No more country pate. Some awful duck shreddings. Chicken so dry I could hardly swallow it. We had a $100 gift certificate but had to pay $50 more for two "prix fixe" menu dinners. So that's $70 = $150. Also beware "happy hour." There are no seats for new people as "regulars" hold every available space. I don't know how we ever managed a pleasant time here. Eh bien, merci pour les bons souvenirs!

We used to come from time to time but will no longer come. Service was very very slow. The server forgot about us it seems like. Food was probably waiting for 20+ minutes to be served. Our croque madame was dry and hot. The fries with the burger were not good. Hugely disappointed.

I took my family here for a pre-fixe Christmas lunch and it was wonderful. There were many different dishes to choose from, and my filet mignon was perfectly cooked. One of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, with the best mussels on the UWS.

Not that long ago, Café du Soleil would have French speaking waiters, a variety of mussels dishes including Dijonnaise style, and good value. At our last visit, nobody spoke French - I can manage in English, but the home touch would have been a plus; only the basic "moules marinières" were offered, and there was an unacceptable tag walz, as we say in French. I was offered a French language menu list with moules @ $12.95. My American partner, who also speaks both languages, was presented with the English language list ; the same dish @ 15.95. When I called the waiter, he just said that the French menu was "a mistake" and took it away. Well, I can accept a little increase on a bill, but not 23%! I am sorry that we won't step in this restaurant again for a little while...

My wife and I are visiting New York City this weekend - we lived here until early 2014. Cafe du Soleil was one of our favorite spots, so we made a return visit yesterday. Same friendly staff, same decor, same fine food and drink. We just had drinks at the bar and some happy hour food - all very fine.

Ate at CAFE DU SOLEIL for my birthday this past Sunday. Restaurant was packed but maitre d kept a table for us. The wait service was immediate and took our drink orders and wished me a happy birthday.started with the escargot in herb sauce which was superb,dipped baguette slices into creamy sauce,next n delicious mussels in white wine with a tower or French fries,lastly beef bourgignon that was pure foodie heaven served with gnocchi could not finish,offered free dessert but refused,all in all one of the best meals I have eaten HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

It´s a nice choice in New York, near Columbia University. A french taste in the middle of New York. And if you are vegetarian they have a main course with grill vegetables that is so yummy.

Just happened to stop in. Soup and half sandwich was $14. Best crunchy bread, generous half sandwich ham, brie, arugula. Delicious onion soup. Quick service. Really enjoyed.

Stopped in for late snack and enjoyed escargot, country pate and delicious wine. The place is totally French with both indoor and outside seating.

My wife, myself, and another couple stopped in for a Saturday evening meal and had a good meal, reasonably priced. I had the braised lamb and I highly recommend it...it was delicious! They have outdoor seating on Broadway and some folks had their dogs with them...pretty neat.

You're classic neighborhood French restaurant - reliable entrees, friendly, knowledgeable staff, and talented bartender. On Friday evenings they feature live jazz in the bar. The outdoor sidewalk dining is now available. Great local place, we should get there more often!!

On a recent trip to NYC I ate at Café du Soleil twice first because the food was very good and second because the prices were reasonable. I love to sit at a sidewalk table when alone and this restaurant was perfect. Located 2723 Broadway, it was just a block from my hotel in the Upper West Side. There were other people there dining alone and no reservations were required. I had the delicious pork pate to start my meal and on Mondays they have a special price for mussels which were very good. The mussels are served in a pot with the liquid in which they are cooked and were delicious. I loved the bread they bring to the table first. It was a very pleasant evening and I will return there on other trips. The waiters were very good also.

This cute, French style brunch place was one of my favourite places during my trip to New York. The food was delicious (including their breakfasts and lunches that I've tried!), and the atmosphere was pleasant. The crème brûlée was so yummy! Great place for both couples and group of friends.

We went to Cafe du Soleil for breakfast one morning while visiting New York City. This place was amazing. We had the best breakfast and the prices just could not be beat. I had the Eggs Benedict. It was so delicious. I could have easily licked the plate. And the coffee was wonderful. They bring it with steaming milk. I honestly think it was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. Our waitress was really nice and made us feel very comfortable from the moment we sat down. It was a great eating experience.

Amazing restaurant. We were staying at a hotel nearby and decided to have lunch there, and what a pleasant surprise! The restaurant is very affordable, the lunch prix-fixe menu is less than $20 with many options, even for kids or vegetarians. We'd been there twice, the manager was always friendly. You must try the onion soup, it's quite something.

This lovely French Bistro is on 104 st West side and Broadway. Lots of open air seating air we had a lovey Memorial Day . We were going to a 7;30. Show so we told the waiter. Maitre di (casual in Bermuda shorts)and waiter French males. They Have a Prix fix 6-7;30 which is a very good bargain ( Main menu most dinner alone $24 plus appy $9 desert 6$) for menu 24$ three course . I had Escargot in creamy garlic and basil butter, 4 + the Coque Vin ( am not French so excuse my spelling ) in red wine with mushroom and onions pearl very good. Meat fell right off the bone ..1/2 chicken then good Chocolate mouse my wife a a very good entre Cobb Salad all fresh I had a French beer 1664 ? served in a nice tulip beer Glass Over all very good . I recommend this highly. Some construction near buy on awing affect outdoor ambiance a little. Good bar Happy hour 4-7 ? We Made it to our show Cirque Du Soleil "Paramour" for a very French nice evening .

Want to cafe du Soleil for Sunday brunch it was just great nice ambiance good food,menu selections and service will definitely be back

From the reservation through the special desert request, everything was great. The moules e frites were perfect, not under or overcooked as is common in many places. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Our water glasses were. Ever empty and our table never left with completed dishes languishing despite being moderately busy. Highly recommend the moules, Greek gazpacho (odd premise, but it worked deliciously) and the escargot. Only suggestions: warm the bread, and replace the table salt and pepper with grinders.

It has been a while since I visited the upper west side of big Apple especially on a rainy day. The sun is shining inside the plates hearty soups classic french onion soup, escargots Charcuterie and salads are delightful. Cafe du soleil is a family French American Bistro hosted by veteran restaurateur Alain Chevreux a expat from Lorraine attached to earthy dishes quality meats and sea fares you"ll smacks your lips over. I tried the Bronzino my friends tried the succulent daurade while the men had a ribeye steak with au poivre sauce cooked to perfection. The decor is brasserie style while the service is very attentive and professional. Definitely will try the terrace café on a brunch and sunny day . Cafe du Soleil is a solid value on the upper west great for all occasions. Bon appétit Pascalpicks

We visit this restaurant quite often and always enjoy the food, service and atmosphere. The appetizers, steaks, fish and desert are great. If you are in the UWS and crave something french, this is the place to go

My wife and I had dinner there recently -- pleasant atmosphere, pleasant waitress but the meal was no more than average. She had the salmon which had understood would be grilled (it wasn't) with ratatouille (she couldn't eat the latter at all); I had the hanger steak (reasonably flavorful but not high quality beef by any means) with garlic fries (pretty good). Would we go back? Maybe since it's in our neighborhood but I'd "walk, not run." One oddity -- we were informed when the bill was presented that if we used cash rather than a credit card, they would reduce the bill by 10%. I was surprised but availed myself of that discount.

I do want to support the restaurants in my neighbourhood, but I always hesitate to come here. Latest visit was where we were a group of four. They forgot to put in one meal. The meal was not wrong, they just forgot to put it through the kitchen. This was only realized after the three meals were served. We acknowledged that they were busy and mistakes happen. The three of us ate our food. Half an hour late, the fourth meal still did not arrive. We asked for the waiter to check, and apparently it was ready awhile ago, but not picked up and brought our table. One would think that after forgetting to submit the meal, that there would be priority in making sure that our fourth meal would arrive. Instead it was forgotten again. The restaurant apologized profusively again, and offered a free bottle of wine. We accepted. Yet again, it was another 20 minutes that the free bottle showed up.

Pancakes were ok. Coffee was fantastic! Eggs Benedict were very good. Great staff and service. Glad we went

Service is practically absentee but food quality is good, so I guess it works better on pickup or delivery.

Went on a suggestion of a friend. Was meeting a family friend for lunch with my adult daughter. The service was very good , (although the server had a computer issue and there was a delay with my order, he was most apologetic). The ambiance was great, it was a beautiful day. Everyone with me raved about their food. Excellent little spot for lunch or just to visit with friends.

Lunch specials! $14 for a full pot of mussels, appetizer or dessert. What a steal! I paired it with a nice glass of chardonnay. What more can one ask for, lunch with a good friend at your neighborhood bistro, good food, nice wine, and creme brulee?

A standby French Bistro on the Upper West Side - 104th Street and Broadway. Lunch specials are a good deal. The dinner menus are good, however, a bit more variety would be a nice change.

Stopped here on a work visit to Columbia University. The staff here were very friendly. Menu is good with some French classics. I had the Coq au Vin which was very tasty indeed. Nice size portion without too much to eat on. Range of beers is not huge but the wine was good (recommended by server). This is a nice spot to stop by if you are around, food is good quality and worth the money.

Whenever I go here, I always leave with the impression that I might actually have been in France. There are French speaking diners there, the waiters seems freshly from France, and the attitude/mood of the place has this distinct vibe: they are polite there, but the service and quality are not quite as important as just hanging out there. That is not to say I don't like it, I do. The food is pretty authentically French (hanger steak with frites, frisee lardon, and coq au vin are some of my favorites) which for me means it is good, but nothing remarkable. I just like the feel of the place. A little bit blasé, but people having a good time and lingering.

We loved the food. Very French. We loved the ambiance. The service can be a bit slow (very French), but plenty of time to talk and enjoy the street scene.

Stopped in to this little slice of southern France on Broadway for a late lunch. Blissfully quiet at that hour. Very nice bright French country sort of decor and friendly helpful staff. The eggs benedict Florentine with mushrooms, tomatoes, and potatoes were good: would have liked more sauce, but still well prepared and delicious. The creme caramel for dessert was also just fine. A pleasant little cafe, and the outdoor terrace is also very pretty: would be wonderful on a balmy summer's evening.

In the words of McKinsey's forthcoming report on brunch, "pressure from an increasingly competitive brunch industry requires top-quartile restaurants to win repeat customers with a value proposition that delivers quality offerings at low cost." Well how a brunch special that cuts prices in half until 3:40 if you sit at the bar? Add that to French speaking garçons and pancakes covered with caramelized bananas and I think we have enough to make Soleil a top-quartile contender. I paid $7 for my pancakes thanks to the half price rule, which my friends and I earned by sitting around two bar tables. We lounged for a few hours, watched basketball and unsurprisingly saw a bunch of people from last week. I came all the way from Bed-Stuy to do this. Worth it.

We ate lunch at this informal French bistro and found the food to be quite good and reasonably priced. Our party ordered grilled salmon, soupe a l'oignon and the American breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon), and it was all very tasty. The bill was only $50.46 including tip, so quite reasonable. Service was fine.

First of all they have the Crapes in the America’s . Second I get chicken 🍗 one it’s good 👍. Third the restaurant has a lovely setting. Lastly, the people who work here are very nice.👍.

To begin on a positive note I ordered the prefix lunch with the cold salmon having an excellent sauce together with a small salad also very good. However I began with the Gazpacho which tasted like it came from I can; the very smooth tomato part of the soup I think must have come from a can. Service was very slow. It seemed to take forever when I ordered a 2nd glass of wine which when delivered was tossed on the table and the empty glass from the 1st was left beside it.

I was over on Upper West Side to meet some friends who recommended we ate here. From the welcome I'm guessing they must frequent this place relatively often. A good looking bistro menu. I can't recall what might have shared for starters, but I went for the shredded beef ribs, which goes under the name of Hachis Parmentier au Four, plus the spinach on the side. Yummy. The company and the wine made for a convivial evening. This place will be on my repeat list when I am making the recommendations on where to eat up that way. ** one additional comment, the map location on TA is a bit off: it is actually on the West side of Broadway, just up from 104th.

A charming, unassuming cafe on the Upper West Side was a delightful spot for lunch with a friend. Delicious and authentic menu selections from beautiful soups and salads to bistro entrees were perfect.

We had brunch here and it was bustling and busy on a Sunday. Ideally located on Broadway steps from 103rd Street subway stop on the No.1 line, service was very good and food was delicious at very affordable prices.

'French' usually means expensive, esp. in Manhattan, but this restaurant is reasonably priced. It's called a café, but the French would call it a bistro or brasserie because it has a substantial menu. I came here with two friends who live in the neighborhood and thoroughly enjoyed the paté de canard and the Parisian ambience; the French onion soup was some of the best I've ever had. This was a warm but not horrendously hot early September day and the French doors were all open; we sat on the cusp of the outside seating, looking directly onto the street, but fortunately, it wasn't very noisy at all -- this restaurant is on a relatively quiet stretch of Broadway on the Upper West Side. The only slightly disappointing experience was the confusion our waiter had over the bill, which was odd; he just couldn't seem to handle two credit cards at the same time. But other than that, this was a wonderful experience and I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting a reasonably priced (mid-range) French restaurant with ambience.

The food was delicious, I'm not surprised by many restaurants and I loved this one. The incredible service, the recommendations they gave us, the kindness, everything 100!!!

The meats are delicious ! The service's perfect ! Excellent restaurant. Je conseille à 100 %. Merci beaucoup !

I went with my husband for lunch - we sat outside- which was nice - I ordered the montagnier - a baguette sandwich with ham and Brie I think I can’t even remember coz it was very mundane and with a green salad- my husband had a burger- came on a dirty board and the fries were cold - burger was not good - it took for ever to get our food - Our serve did how ever apologize- not sure I would go back - there’s many better restaurants to try in the UWS- maybe I would go back just for a drink and to sit outside- no food tho!

For a neighborhood restaurant, this is not bad, but it is no destination. The fried calimari app with like rubber bands. The coq au vin was delicious, but when the lid was lifted from the casserole, I saw that the noodles were dumped on top of the chicken without any thought of presentation. That said, it tasted excellent. However, the lighting was so dim, I could barely see anything. The service was extremely slow, though I think it was the fault of the kitchen, rather than the servers.

What a lovely surprise! Had dinner here to celebrate a friend’s birthday and had such a great time! Very charming atmosphere made you feel as if you were in some neighborhood gem in Paris. Service was engaging and friendly and the food delicious! My cassoulet hit the spot on a cold winters night. This will not be my last visit!

Beautiful weather and we had a delightful dinner on the sidewalk dining setup. Service was impeccable and the gazpacho and baked chicken perfect!!!

Came here for a Saturday brunch with a friend that frequents it, and recommended. It's a very nice place, with a very easy atmosphere. We both took variations on the poached eggs. My friend took the Eggs Florentine (with spinach), and I took the Eggs Norwegian (with Salmon). Both were very tasty, even though a little on the small side. We also had the Tarte aux Pommes - a home-made apple pie, which was impeccable. Definitely a place to return to.

Our server, Gisella Málaga was superb! We were not an easy group as we had 4 adults and 4 small kids and she made sure the food came out quickly! Food was fantastic! We had and omelet, croque madam and yogurt and fruit. Fresh and delicious! Ambiance is nice, especially for an airport.

Searching for an easy lunch stop, we spotted this gem. The decor and menu took us back to last summer's trip to France (and the meals we enjoyed). The Prix Fixe offered a great value - delicious winter squash soup and salad to start, followed by a large piece of salmon. A glass of wine and coffee .......we didn't really want to leave. Très bon!

As a dog owner, it's always a pleasant surprise to find good, dog-friendly restaurants. Cafe Du Soleil has a pleasant outdoor patio where we can bring our dog as we enjoy dinner. Food is always good, service is always friendly (if a little slow). We've never minded the slower pace of service - it allows us to relax, enjoy the meal, and people watch. The views aren't that great - it looks out on the traffic of Broadway - but the interior of the restaurant is charming if you choose to eat indoors.

Liked the ambiance, was like a french bistro with a singer and good energy in the place. All that was missing was the smoke :) Food was average though and a bit on the pricey side for average. Pretty good service

The food and wine were absolutely fine. Unfortunately the music was turned up so loud that it was difficult to have a conversation with my guest. We requested that the volume be turned down and were told "no".

This restauarant is a treasure in the upper east side of Manhattan. It will transport you to a fine dining cafe in France. The ambience, the outside seating, and interior design will have you convincd you are only blocks from the Eiffel Tower. The wait staff are excellent; both friendly and attentive. The French Country cuisine is outstanding, better than I have had anywhere in Paris. And now here comes the real treasure of this location; the prices. The prices are absolutely fantastic. Escargot or French Onion soup at $9.00, an entire roasted chicken with side at $19.00, I had a huge bowl og mussels in dijonaise sauce (there were 3 sauces to choose from) served with a bucket of fresh, really tasty, fries at $21.00. Fresh homemade deserts, hefty portions, reasonable wine and food prices, and a full bar, made this by far the pinnacle of my vacation dining experience.

We love this gem of a restaurant in our neighborhood. We have eaten here about 10 times over the last 4 years. Last night we went for dinner and discovered it was the first night of a new menu! Many of our favorite stand-byes were still on the menu (Moules frites Marinieres) but they added new items throughout the menu. I tried the new grilled sardines and my wife had the tartar of salmon — both were worthy additions to the menu and delicious. For entrees we both had moules frites, I had the classic "marinieres" and my wife had the "a la biere" sauce. In the past I have always thought their marinieres was the most flavorful in the city, and thought last night was not quite as good as before. My wife's beer-based sauce was more flavorful. But I am not giving up on the marinieres, I have fond memories of it and perhaps it was just an off night. I especially enjoy the friendliness and attentiveness of the waiters. We usually have one of the main waiters and they always greet us with a warm smile and take good care of us. There is never a rush and a relaxed meal is the norm. Now that summer is here, the cafe has opened it's outdoor seating which greatly expands the capacity. On a Friday night there was no problem getting a table without a reservation (don't try that in wintertime). This restaurant is the great a casual restaurant with a new menu to explore. We recommend it.

Cafe du Soleil is an authentic French Bistro on the Upper West Side. The food is excellent with service to match and the value is extraordinary with pre-theater 3 course discounts and discounts on various mid week nights for fresh fish and beef preparations. In any case, their prices are always fair, and the portions ample. On a recent visit we had excellent onion soup, coq-au-vin, and salmon and beef entrees. All were great. The atmosphere is typical Bistro, with a nice bar and outdoor seating as well. It's one of the best restaurants and values anywhere. Bravo!

Disappointing- had eaten there before and it was great! Not sure what happened- the coq au vin was terrible- had no wine - tasted like brown sauce - no mushrooms or taste! Ambiance is always attractive but someone should be tasting the food. Service was so fast a seemed as if the food was sitting around waiting to be reheated- escargot were barely warm. Bread was marginal and boring

Had brunch with family: pain perdu, crepe parisienne, steak and fries, and eggs benedict. Super nice staff. Can’t go wrong with this place. Highly recommended.

We have been going to Soleil now for many years and are faithful fans. However, a recent dinner (3 of us) was a major disappointment. First of all, there was a promotional ad saying, come in for Beaujolais Nouveau; we ordered it and were told they didn't have any! Second, the swordfish steak platter was mediocre: a very thin slice of fish with tasteless sauce on it, way overpriced. Finally, the bubble we sat in had intermittent heat and we were often cold, although a waiter did come to help with the heater. The mussels and salads were good as usual, fortunately. I know these are difficult times and restaurants are struggling, but we depend on this one in the neighborhood and we it to succeed. I hope they can tighten things up.

Delicious brunch! Friendly and fast service. Croque Madame and crêpes were excellent! We loved the atmosphere of this bistro!

went here on December 30th, 2021....heard great things from a friend. The igloos are out of a movie....and watching the strollers go by is 1/2 the fun! Food is plentiful and excellent. And service is wonderful!

During the 6 or 7 times I dined at Cafe du Soleil, the food and service met and usually exceeded my expectations. I especially liked their mussels, cooked in flavorful sauce, good for dipping thick-crusted bread. Today's lunch, which we never got to, shocked me. The waiter set our table and filled our glasses, and did not return! I signaled several times. They ignored us. After waiting a good 15 minutes, we left. On my next visit to NYC, I'll try another place. Too many good restaurants are in this neighborhood.

We arrived around 9 am for an early brunch on a Saturday morning. We did not have reservations and we didn’t need it at this time. This place was recommended to us by friends who live in the area. Two of us ordered one of the quiches and two of us ordered the salmon Benedict. All the food was delicious and the service was excellent! The decor made you feel like you were in a cafe in France.

I took my friend to Café du Soleil for his birthday amid the first major snow this year. A special deal was offered for two at $90, including a bottle of wine, appetizer, main course, and dessert. The food taste good, and the portion is rather big by the standard of French restaurants. My friend could not even eat three crepes as desert. I joked that it was almost like a main dishes. I enjoyed mussels, salmon with mashed potatoes, and desert. Sauvignon blanc is "crisp, elegant, and fresh" as many described. The waiters are attentive. The place is not big, and the bathroom is small. I think the deal is good, and do not know about regular means here.

Le Soleil means “the Sun”, and Café du Soleil at 2723 Broadway you can sit in the sun on the sidewalk or eat inside; in good weather full length windows are opened to provide a spacious dining area. The cuisine is French and the waiters are French speakers. The favourites are there on the menu, including escargots, French onion soup, rabbit stew, salmon, moules et frites, crème brulee etc. Look out for their special menu, which can offer remarkable value – two three course meals with a wide choice and a bottle of French sauvignon blanc for $75. Excellent value and service with some room for improvement, eg slightly undercooked asparagus and slightly overcooked salmon. A nice place to eat.

I went to Café du Soleil for lunch with friends who live nearby, but it was much more than a convenient place to eat. The menu has variety but keeps to a modest selection of French café dishes that it prepares and presents very well. The food was fresh and all items we selected were deliciously flavorful. You knew the people who designed and prepared the offerings were experienced and appreciated good food. The gazpacho was especially delicious, the feta cheese they add brightens the taste without distorting it. Service was quite nice, gently efficient without being intrusively perky. The space is medium sized with comfortably spaced seating, higher ceilings lend an airiness. Sound level was quiet during our late lunch on a weekday (restaurant about 25% full). Overall the room has a light rustic bistro feel that's not theme park-y. I will definitely make Café du Soleil a destination restaurant, rather than just a convenient one.

We reserved a table to Christmas dinner at my moms favorite place, the service was great and the food was very tasty and well prepared. The dishes I took were delicious. The environment was very nice , highly recommended.

I've gone to Cafe du Soleil since the second day it was open. It has lived through years of ups and down here in New York City, but one thing has remained fairly constant: the staff. It stays on forever. The young man--Max--who once was my bus boy is now a manager and is a crackerjack bartender. The fellow who made my cappuccino 12 years ago is still making it. There's a reason: The Cafe is family, both for staff and for regulars. Even people who walk in for the first time are treated like old friends. There is a feeling of camaraderie and conviviality in the air that is infectious and that I have found no place else in the world. And I have been there. I've lived in the U.S., Brazil, London, and Japan, and have travelled all over Europe, Central and South America. The Cafe is a unique environment that should not be missed. And the food is extremely edible, right down to the endive and roquefort salad and your last nibble of baguette.

Four of us went for dinner in early December. The food was good, the prices reasonable and the service was also good. I had a filet, and it was delicious. I order frites since nothing else comes with the meat. I recommend Cafe du Soleil if you are in the area.

I had truly hoped that dining here would be a pleasant experience ... but those hopes were dashed soon after we were seated. A noise level bordering on deafening (and far past the unpleasant) followed by inattentive service pretty much tanked this place before the food could be ordered! Now, when a place is slammed with trade and they seem to be short-staffed, I try to allow for the conditions. In this case, there was plenty of staff -- but they were lousy in the service they gave. I love almost all seafood dishes. However, in this instance, another diner warned us away ... so I went for a rather simple omelet following a middling gazpacho. The French fries with the omelet were cool to the touch and the main plate had clearly been left somewhere out of sight for so long a time that it, too, was cold. Am I going back? NOPE!

I recently had Sunday brunch at Cafe du Soleil and was impressed with the varied menu. I had Eggs Benedict with bacon and homefries and everything was delicious. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. Had it been a bit warmer, we would have enjoyed eating in the outside eating area.

A good place for brunch and casual catch-up with friends on a weekend morning/afternoon. Conveniently situated on Upper West Side for a walk in Central Park after the eggs Benedict and the pancakes you should try if you stop by. Nice vibe and fair menu selection.

We had brunch here on Sunday and the food and service were excellent. I am not sure why others have not experienced the same, but we have eaten here twice and been very satisfied both times. I had the homemade Boudin Blanc with scrambled eggs, roasted mushroom and tomato, and apple confit, with garlic pommes frites. It was satisfying and delicious. Others had Omelette Montrachet, Pancakes Special, Oeufs en Cocotte (baked eggs with red and green peppers, sautéed onion, chevre, and spicy tomato), with garlic pommes frites. Everyone was very pleased with their plates. Servers were attentively filling our coffee cups and refreshing the hot water for tea. The place is bright and cheery, and the service was excellent. This has become a favorite place for a casual meal in this neighborhood.

we stayed in a hotel nearby and decided to go here for a dinner. Spend $100.00 (including tip) for 2 persons. The food was delicious, staff friendly and know what the're doing. most of the staff either is French or spoke the language. What for place is it??? I don't know what the owners like to be a restaurant or bar. it even has a disco ball..... The place has ambience for being a restaurant and bar. In my opinion it doesn't go together. therefor I rated it 3 star. Maybe it's nicer when you're late afternoon rather than evening. Would I come back?! Yes, but not after 6pm

My wife and I went with friends for dinner to Cafe du Soleil -- it had been since well before the start of the pandemic that we had eaten there -- not likely to return very quickly. The menu description of the swordfish entree sounded quite good but, in fact, it was average at best. The green peppercorn sauce just didn't do it justice. More than that, we could hardly visit with our friends -- the noise level in the restaurant was excruciating and truly annoying. The service was good; the pricing was a bit on the high side but not exceptionally so.

We arrived in New York late one evening last week and were met by our family on the upper west side and went immediately to Cafe du Soleil, a superb "neighborhood" true French restaurant. The food was superb - I had Coq au Vin and my daughter had mussels, served as in Brittany. The waiter spoke French, of course, and the service was excellent. We also enjoyed some splendid wine. Can't wait to return.

This is good local French restaurant with all the usual menu favourites (French onion soup/Steak frittes etc). Atmosphere was very cosy on cold December night and service very efficient. Not an adventurous menu but typical French bistro.

We met at Cafe Du Soleil for lunch with friends. The place was packed because of a soccer game between France and Switzerland. It was also extremely noisy, but that is something we could understand......Loud and excited French fans. We reserved an a/c Bubble which is a kind of a Covid invention coupled with the heat wave that was raging at the time. The bubble was airconditioned. Service was through a zippered door which was strange. Due to the crowds, the service wasn't good enough and the waiter missed some of our requests. The salads we took were O.K. but nothing to write home about. The Tart Tatin we shared as dessert was nice. When France lost the game the cafe became much quieter........ Nothing special. Pricey for the quality.

We really enjoyed this place. Steak tartare and moules frites (dijonaises) were delicious. Nice and relaxing atmosphere. Great outdoor space on Broadway. We will return!

fabulous food, service, reasonable prices--classic French dishes--excellent steak, salads, pissaladiere; we really liked it

We sat outside on a gorgeous summer Sunday evening. We had the Prix Fixe menu and we both chose the Hachis Parmintier du Beouf (short ribs and mashed potatoes). It was very flavorful land filling. And the portion issue is just enough to eat it all. The Cream Brûlée is very traditional and good. Attentive and personable service added to our enjoyment. These folks want to be the best!

Good food and wine selection. My husband had the duck special which he loved. French onion soup was ok. Bathrooms need a little TLC.

French cafe that offers beer events such as Octoberfest. Now that may sound stage but their food is very good. Both lunch (lamb and lentil soup and an endive and chorizo salad) and dinner (lamb Tajin) were flavorful. They bake their own bread which is excellent and they are generous with their servings. the cafe style interior is conducive for a casual dining experience.

Two of us had a celebratory dinner at Cafe du Soleil a while ago and enjoyed it very much. Honest French bistro style food at reasonable (for NYC) prices. Tried one of the more expensive white wines - turned out to be really wonderful. Only complaint was the coq au vin, which had an almost raw whole carrot on top - not my idea of the vegies in that dish. Otherwise, we enjoyed it a lot.

Save the airfare to France or even Montreal and dine uptown at Cafe du Soleil. We go often but last night with another couple we got to try some new things, for us, on the menu. Escargot, so good we ordered a second. French onion soup, their version with an excellent concentrated beef broth and a welcome lack of the usual bricklike flavorless cheese. Strip steak cooked perfectly and approximately 8+oz. In addition to favorites: whole branzino, and whole red snapper; plus some sides and two desserts we were duly impressed, again. Complimented by efficient service and a lively dining room which opens onto the street, Cafe du Soleil is, imo, the best French restaurant in the City for the money. The bill: under $75 pp with tax and 20% tip included! Now that’s an excellent quality-prix ratio.

Enjoyed the wine, the half of an organic chicken with rosemary potatoes and greenbeans as well as the coq au vin. A bit noisy. Nice servers but they paid no attention to us and we had to ask them for attention to get our dessert, to get our check, to correct our check and to pay! That's 4 times too many. They were busy chatting amongst themselves. Other than that, it was enjoyable.

Had not been to Cafe du Soleil in a while. The menu has changed a bit , for the better. The only thing I missed was the Steak Tartar, but I am told that it is not good for you anyway. The anchovie and vegetable salad was "extraordinaire" while the Moules Frites was as it should... great. The wine list is short, but a Cote Du Rhone Rose proved a great summer evening choice. The service was impecable and never had to search for the staff that seemed to be very attentive to the empty glasses or the change of courses. Good choice for the Upper west Side.

You can have a very good meal in this charming cafe with a very french look. Order french classics that dont need too much fancy prep and you will be OK. Steak frites is always good. Same with onion soup, escargot and pate. The mussels are usually OK but I have had them when they were not great. The salads can be good or so so. Other dishes like fish or chicken can be bland or off tasting.The wine list is unexciting but has some solid choices. All in all, a good place to go to to channel paris if you stick to the classics.

Not awesome, but not bad either. Food was agreeable and service was spirited. Memorable - neah. But when you have to eat and it has to be French, I can't think of a better place in this 'hood. I'd go back for sure.

delicious food. Their french is okay but when you speak french they act like they can’t understand. You don’t ask for french fries but will serve and then charge of it. The place is beautiful and comfortable. make sure you say no fries-

It was my birthday weekend, and a very close family friend of mine wanted to take my mother and me out to this restaurant for quite some time. This family friend is a regular customer at this restaurant. It was not an easy drive to get to this restaurant from New Jersey, but by the time that I found a parking spot on the street, I was very hungry, thirsty, and tired. The energy and enthusiasm of this restaurant’s staff members and of its fellow patrons was incredible. I really enjoyed the various entrées and drinks that we ordered. Everything that we ordered came out within a very reasonable timeframe. My birthday dessert was absolutely scrumptious. I have never had a restaurant experience that consisted of my birthday dessert being delivered to me by both the waiters and the patrons. During my visit, this restaurant had its seating that was both indoors and outdoors, and there were restrooms inside of this restaurant. I felt that the prices and that the portion sizes were very generous. I would certainly come back to this restaurant, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to other people.

The ambiance is lovely, from the natural light to the cafe style tables and chairs and most especially the cozy but not sardine like spacing between tables. I went with a friend who lives two blocks away on a Wednesday for lunch at 12:45, it was perhaps half full and we were seated immediately. The menu is not extensive but everything was done exactly right! Each of us had half a sandwich and soup. The french onion soup is divine! Rich, flavorful broth, a piece of hearty bread to hold up the melted cheese which I think was guyere - just scrumptious. We went over the top and had garlic fries as well, they came is an adorable mini fryer basket and were thin, crispy and lightly salted - just the way I Ike ‘em. My friend had the steak and onion sandwich and I had turkey with avocado and spicy mayonnaise and lettuce. The bread they came on was I believe a rustic roll, crunchy crust and tender interior, really held up to the filling. My friend indulged in a Kir royale, which at $5 was a bargain! Finally the test by which I unmercilessly judge any French cafe or restaurant: coffee! I ordered a latte and was delivered a smooth, hot, delicious beverage that capped off a very enjoyable and tasty meal. The waitstaare not French, they are polite, helpful, unintrusive and well deserving of a 20% tip. Next time I will leave room for dessert!

This café on the Upper Westside is a neighborhood favorite, serving a standard French bistro menu. Nothing outrageously good, but tasty. They know their way around a salmon with excellent salmon burgers and tartare.

I love this place. I have been going there for a couple of years now. They have half-price specials a couple of nights a week... great deal. The fries are excellent. The bar is fabulous. I'm not much of a salad person, but I had the Cobb recently and was really impressed... didn't think you could do all that and call it a "salad".

The $30 snapper filet was overcooked to the point of looking like strange building material -- it could have been styrofoam chips or wall insulation, really -- brittle and dry and hard. Revolting. Ditto for the salmon filet, which was requested "medium" but was served hard as a rock. A request for an appetizer-sized half-portion of mussels was flatly denied by the server. Finally, the restaurant is LOUD and cramped. Avoid.

It is very much a neighborhood restaurant catering to Columbia University faculty and students as well as residents of the area. Excellent food and moderately priced, especially if you take advantage of their daily specials, early bird menu and Thursday evenings which include a bottle of wine with one of their offers. It is also popular with those outside of the area who are familiar with it's reputation.

we had a great breakfast at the cafe du soleil! lovely place, feels like Paris... very good service and great food. we enjoyed it very much!

I've never had such terrible service anywhere I've traveled. We went for lunch on Christmas Eve Day, reservation for 12:30. When we arrived there were only three other parties and we were seated promptly. We were offered drinks which we had to ask for after a 10 minute wait. Our order was taken and we waited, and waited and waited. We asked at least twice and were told "it was coming" and then "the kitchen was short staffed". We noticed that parties that arrived after we did were served and leaving. After we got up to leave, volila! our order appeared - the omelette was cold, beef bourguignon was overdone and stuck to the serving dish and the third order was wrong. We were starving and decided to eat rather than hunt for another restaurant nearby. We were offered a free dessert which we declined. The final explanation we were given was that the health department made a surprise appearance....questionable. Who knows what went wrong? I would not trust this place again or recommend it.

I had dinner with a couple of friends at Cafe du Soleil, and while the food was delicious and not outrageously priced, the service was so lousy I will never go back. It was a slow night so the servers decided to spend their free time standing in the middle of the restaurant and talking to each other. It took a big effort for us to flag our server down when we wanted to 1) place our drink order, 2) place our food order, 3) get some more water, or 4) pay the check. There are so many choices for restaurants on the Upper West Side. I will definitely never go back to Cafe du Soleil.

We enjoyed this Bistro - the food was better than acceptable - good comfortable French bistro fare without being brilliant at anything. Good service and a kitchen that opened 'til 11pm.

A very pleasant restaurant. Outdoor seating and large open windows to allow an open air feel inside in the warm weather. The food is very good and fresh. The onion soup was very flavorful and not a thin beef broth. The Coq au Vin was delicious, fresh salads with grilled seafood were perfectly prepared. Save room for dessert! Nice wine selection. To choose from. The staff is all very friendly with great service. Makes for a perfect neighborhood restaurant.

The restaurant has usually kitchen, but good cooking! The French onion soup was tasty but not warm enough and little. But the steak was good. The spinach tasty (salt, garlic). But please! Say Good bye and Thank you when the customer leaving!!!

Avoid. Time between salad and entree was over an hour. Salad very good, entree was bad diner food Have been there numerous times. Previous good but now really long waits and food inconsistent and not good

Covid Theater Today at Café du Soleil, a restaurant with outdoor seating on the upper west side, I looked inside and saw many of the staff with their masks down. Outside, they put them on for the customers. When I pointed this out to the unmasked manager, he got very angry at the challenge and told me to "go f**k myself" and kicked me and my husband out of the restaurant. Such anger! Will not eat in unsafe places.

A lively, enjoyable neighborhood bistro with excellent food, service and ambience. The French fries are delicious.

After a long flight we ate here in desperation and out of a lack of willingness to walk much further. I wish we’d made the effort! We both foolishly had the roast chicken and it was fairly awful, dry and woolly with a severe absence of flavour. On the menu it said it came with a simple jus, realistically this was a bit of greasy chicken cooking juices. I doubt I’ll ever visit here again, or at least I hope I won’t.

The atmosphere is so great here. Easy to feel transported to a side street French cafe in Paris. Christmas lights and other decorations enhanced this further. The vodka martini and wine were just fine, Our excellent waitress - Kelly - forgot the onion soup I ordered. Her sweet apology was touching and her not charging for the glass of wine as part of her apology much appreciated. My dinner companion was extremely pleased with her Salmon Burger and Garlic Fries as was I with my Classic Burger (i.e. plain 'ol hamburger) with fries, as well. I found their menu very appealing and want to return to sample some of the other items like French style beef stew, braised rabbit, seared calve liver, and many more. Sampled enough, methinks, to give it kudos and recommend it to you.

Had reservations on evening when NYC air quality was hazardous due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. It wasn’t safe to walk the streets without an N 95 mask that evening. The restaurant owner had the entire front of the restaurant opened up, despite his staff asking him not to. We showed up for our reservation & asked if the doors could be closed. The owner told us that if we didn’t like the air quality in his restaurant we should leave. As we were quietly walking out, he called after us that we shouldn’t have left the hotel if we didn’t like the air. I felt very sad for his wait staff.

I really like this place. I've eaten here probably about half a dozen times, and I've never been disappointed. I've taken out of town guests who really enjoyed it. There are lots of French bistros throughout Manhattan, but this Cafe du Soleil stands out for me. The atmosphere is always pleasant and the clientele is a fun mix of young, old, neighbors and visitors. They do all the classic bistro fare and do it well. But they also have daily specials, which are always delicious. They have a good wine selection, heavy on the French, and a number of wines are available by the glass. There's a full bar service and live musical entertainment on the weekends and around the holidays. La cuisine de la belle France bien faite et à bon prix!

Solid neighborhood bistro! We arrived with out a reservation but were worked in nicely on a Saturday night. The service was attentive, food and features well described. Ranging from cpq au vin to lamb, salmon and a variety of bistro burgers, all our food was hot and tasty. The place is noisy when full, rally the only drawback. Wines are limited but good variatels to pair with foods. I would return

Went with a friend who loves their mussels and fries. I thought they were good, not great (I've had better). The salad was good and I was relieved it wasn't overdressed because I usually get dressing on the side. Also the pate received high marks from one of our party.

This is an absolutely average place really. Despite calling themselves a cafe they are more of a restaurant. Therefore (?) they're lacking on a good selection of quality tea and coffee and cakes, which is a shame really, given we only went in there for these 3 things... I would rather go elsewhere next time and will not recommend this place to friends.

I have gone to Cafe du Soleil twice in the last week or so for lunch -- in each case with an old friend. The service and setting are just fine at this popular Upper Westside eatery. On one occasion I had a pasta; on the other their special burger. Both were quite good but hardly memorable.

Cheerful venue (bar and restaurant) which immediately transports you to France. An extensive and varied dinner menu. Very attentive and competent service. A decent selection of wines on a not overwhelming list produced a good white and red for our table. At a table for 10 we tried many choices on the menu--pate, escargot, salads, mussels, steak, and a perfectly prepared turkey for Thanksgiving. I felt instantly comfortable in this place. It is a definite keeper. I am told the Price fixed menus are worth trying when available.

Great French decor, warm and attentive service. The food doesn’t always live up to the decor but if you stick to classics like steak frittes and the reasonable wine list, you will be fine

The restaurant landscape up-town is changing so rapidly. Every day you can discover "new kids" on the many blocks. Café du Soleil is a nice Bistro with simple and good food, and friendly staff. The terrace is inviting during the summer months. The settings remind me of Le Vieux Nice, the old town in Nice, the South of France, but here with the touches of New York City. The day I had lunch there with friends, a gorgeous sunny Fall day, I walked just about 100 blocks from the East Side of town, through a magnificent Central Park to Café du Soleil. We were so famished and thirsty, anything sounded good and appetizing by just looking at the menu. We had their Salade au Rocquefort and Les Moules Provençale, so good, so tasty, so delicious in garlic, tomato sauce, basil and white wine. I will be going back next week just for the mussels alone.

Really good brunch menu great service and choice Eggs cooked to perfection The waiter really does resemble Superman!

I've been to this restaurant several times, and have had consistently good food and service. There is no problem with ordering a coffee or glass of wine and sitting in the cafe--very French. I have never felt rushed or pressured to leave. The wine choice is very nice, and I have never had a bad meal. The regular menu is great, but listen to the specials, too. They have a pancake brunch deal, and the coffee is wonderfully strong. The omelettes are perfect--no brown. The burgers are absolutely wonderful--cooked to order, and the garlic fries could be a meal on their own. Coq au vin, the mussels, hanger steak--everything has been absolutely delicious.

the food is good, the frites excellent. The addition of a prix fixe makes this sometimes more affordable. Good wines, nice service, I go here 2x/month.

This restaurant/bistro has been here for several years and until recently, was just an unorganized, tasteless, sometimes friendly, neighborhood social eatery. The current management has settled in and created: A consistent kitchen with the addition of an excellent choice of grilled steaks, well prepared. An atmosphere is comfortable in the tradition of a neighborhood outside Paris. With a staff that is friendly and attentive offering professional service with the typical laid back non rushed attitude.

Enchanting and convivial French atmosphere, great wines, and fine menu. Charming waiters with French accents and a convivial crowd including an operatic happy birthday applauded by the crowd. Loved the duck and hachis parmentier also excellent. Nightly specials are fabulous. I want to go back on a Monday for mussels!

My family and I have been going to this place for many years, but due to the virus scare we stopped going out to eat. When we read about the bubble we decided to have dinner there twice in 3 weeks. The first time, we were very disappointed. A 2 hour wait for our meals which was not up to their reputation . The second time was a disaster! A 2 and 1/2 hour for our meals which was just awful and inedible! My husband’s steak was cold and nothing else on his plate. My boudin was fatty and tasteless. They just did not care ! Will never go again.

Great find on Upper West Side. Outstanding and friendly service. Great bistro menu and excellent wines. Excellent for dinner with friends. Many classic and well executed dishes, from pot au Feu to hachis parmentier to roast chicken.

A while ago I was disappointed by the quality and food care of this restaurant. So, i was very pleased, when returning in November 2021, the food was very tasty,well prepared and pleasant. Returning in December, the menu had changed and not for the better. Mussels ordered by our guests were excellent, the 'Osso buco' was no 'buco' but a lamb bone with some meat, the 'Boudain' was two tiny, dry sausages served with raw string beans and twice heated dry potato gratin. A clear rip-off for the prices charged. The staff was very nice but I will avoid this place as in the past.

French Classic at great prices! They have a Thursday Night Special, 3 courses dinner menu for 2 people at $79 which includes a bottle of wine. Best deal in town.

We have been dining in this NYC bistro for several years, but lately the food has been declining in quality and flavor. Last meal there was a few days ago. I ordered steak and it was terrible, obviously not fresh, and my husband's meal, Fettuccini was very poor also. It is clear the restaurant is cutting corners, and I'm wondering if there is a new chef. Definitely I would not recommend it any more.

First went there several years ago and ran into an old friend who was the Maitre. Quel surprise. He is no longer there, but the place has been continuously running, adapting to the economic downturn and well worth a visit. Always delicious specials, French classics and well priced. Indoor and outdoor seating. Place gets a little crowded and noisy. But food has never disappointed .

My wife and I had the Sunday night menu de jour. we were greeted by a friendly captain and the service throughout was excellent. Upon ordering the waiter immediately brought out a bucket of delicious Crusty bread and an olive oil dip. Each dish that came out was beautifully presented , hot, and delicious. The meal included a bottle of a cote du rhone. We will definitely return.

We were looking for a place near Central Park that was medium priced and something other than American or Italian. We chose a great place. The service was superb. We had a sausage appetizer and coq du vin. They were both wonderful. Then we had the chocolate mousse. This was good but not amazing. I would recommend this place highly.

THe usual selection of bistro fare with good steaks and mussels.excellent frities, and lovely salads. Good wine selection. Also lovely for lunch with outside seating and classic bistro decor inside. It's our fall back place

I'm not gonna lie but until private dining pods, yurts, & bubbles happened, I never even heard of this place, but lucky I have now. I made the rez on OpenTable which was super easy unlike some hard to book places. The entire experience was lovely from the minute we arrived and greeted by the friendly host. He sat us right away to our lovely heated bubble towards the corner and by curbside. Our waiter was great and spoke French to my hubby who is Canadian and loves to practice. Our drinks were great and food was fantastic and plentiful! We ordered the mussels as an entre and there was like 50! Needless to say, we had doggie bags for our dinners. We also saved room for dessert which was also delicious. I HIGHLY recommend this dining experience, we felt covid safe the entire time, and I can't wait to go back again! Thank you!

A classic UWS institution. Delicious French food; not fussy and not a broad menu, but us always been well-executed and should remain a mainstay of NY. Liver was delicious and wine a great pairing.

I had dinner there with my husband and we were in the mood for mussels. I have to tell you they have amazing tasty mussels with perfect pommes frites. We ordered a bottle of Pouilly Fuisse to go with it and both agreed that this was one of the best dinner we had lately. The setting was romantic, lights were dimmed, perfect!

This was a return visit after a couple of years. The first visit was during the week and this one was on a Saturday evening. The wait time between ordering and serving was almost 40 minutes. The grilled sardine and mussels were well prepared.

What a great dining experience we had at this cute upper west side restaurant! Beautiful decor made us feel like we were in Provence. Try the french onion soup or the mussels. You won't go wrong. And our server was great. She even had a french accent. Perfect!

I went with a group of friends to Cafe du Soleil to celebrate a couple's return to New York after an absence of some months and we had a superb dinner. The Poulet Roti was among the best I have ever had and one of the folks, who also had it, declared it the best roast chicken she had ever had. The ambiance was wonderful as was the service. Definitely a "go to" sort of place.

Delicious food and great coffee. An authentic atmosphere with efficient staff. Our orders were brought out quickly but we never felt rushed. I recommend the Croque Madame and French fries.

Often French restaurants have the reputation of being snooty. Not Cafe du Soleil. The food is very good, a little more pricey than average for the neighborhood, but worth it. The wait staff is warm and friend and attends to your every need and desire. Bear in mind the portions are European in size though.

They make BEST eggs benedict in NYC! Food is delicious, atmosphere is friendly, peaceful, welcoming!

Since March, being a local, I have supported this restaurant, hoping that one of the locals survived the pandemic. They have a reasonably good chef and although priced high for the quality of the food I have remained steadfast in support given the circumstances. First off, I work in the industry, having several restaurants and hotels under supervision, I understand the challenges we all face. However, rarely have I ever experienced such poor customer service, or focus on the customer. I chose Cafe du Soleil for my birthday as well, my partner a concierge in NY could have set up any venue in the city, but I chose here. We arrived to the restaurant 5 minutes early only to be made to wait an hour for our reservation. I am an empathetic person when it comes to the industry but obviously as we were watching tables be seated and standing in the freezing cold it made me feel un valued. Nonetheless we were finally seated and the dinner was adequate. This evening at 7pm we stopped by to see if maybe seating was available only to be turned away, Understanding we grudgingly accepted the answer despite several unseated tables, only to find out five minutes later that there was availability for 7pm on open table. Thinking perhaps the hostess was in err we returned to the hostess only to be told she was calling us to tell us the table we reserved wasn't available. Interestingly our phones never rang. We requested the GM, only to be told the Hostess WAS the GM. Interestingly she was our server a week before. She then beckoned a server stated he was the owners son who seemed unable to explain the situation. Rarely in any venue have I ever felt personally slighted, I understand the operation and the challenges that a restaurant faces, they are multifold. However the actions and demeanor of the staff is utterly antipathetic to the customers needs and we have encountered this almost every time we have gone. At this point I am recommending to all concierge in the city, if you value your clients, do NOT send them to this restaurant. Any restaurant owners or operators, do not subject yourselves to this establishment, The value is simply not there, Unless of course you enjoy being treated as anything less than a valued customer. I am truly disappointed and hope the ownership takes note of how rude, unprofessional and discourteous the staff, hostesses and management are. This for me, and any of the businesses I work, with is a no fly zone.

Having had several meals here over the past year my wife and I wanted to confirm that this bistro has everything you could want in typical French cuisine. Excellent moules et frites, classic hanger steak and great fish dishes. Excellent bar and very reasonable wine list. Our number one neighborhood place !

This is a nice place which could do much better would they have a bit better food. Egg Benedict are not a complicated meal, but what I got was not good. Just get a better chef and that’s it.

I'm a world traveler and have been to France quite a few times. The cuisine is one of the things I enjoy most when visiting France so I'm always happy to find a place that recreates the experience of a French restaurant in the USA. When I'm in New York City my shortcut to France is Café Du Soleil, easy to find on Broadway in the Upper West Side. Among the many outstanding restaurants in this neighborhood this is the one I visit most often. When you see the furniture and decor, whether in the dining room or out on the sidewalk, you might as well be eating at a café anywhere in France, and the food and atmosphere live up to this initial impression. There is a warm welcome from the owners who go out of their way to make everyone comfortable. The servers are professional and friendly. The dishes are authentically French, and the desserts alone are worth the visit. My favorite extra is the lemon sorbet with vodka. It is especially refreshing in the summer. The côte de boeuf and penne pommodore are the best ever, and the escargots, served Parisian style, are amazing.

This crowded, popular French bistro is what the upper west side is all about--neighborhood gems serving fresh and reliable food (nothing wildly creative here) in a friendly setting. I had the roasted chicken--not the best I've ever had, but very, very good. Nice, reasonably priced wines, efficient if somewhat curt service (it's a busy place).

We went on a Sunday night for dinner with a baby. Staff was very friendly with the baby. But there was no changing table in the bathroom which always will be a minus point for any restaurant that does not understand that it makes your experience worse. Waitress offered to change him on a shelf where I had to push things away, but it did not sound inviting. The temperature was very hot and they did not care to open any window. The Noise was very high . I could barely hear my baby crying. Gazpacho was fresh and delicious, escargot were the chefs version of mixed butter with herbs but it lacked the traditional taste and seasoning . Thank god they were not in a shell. My husband liked the pate and was not impressed of but ate the coq au vin. Our friends had the onion soup and the steak frites on a prox fixe and they said that it was good at the end of the meal, never during so we don't know if they did like it or it was a polite answer. They finished it. Not sure if we are coming back,

Ate lunch with a friend at this lovely indoor/outdoor cafe. The atmosphere was very pleasant, but that was the only good thing about the experience. Service was inattentive, at best - and the restaurant was mostly empty. My friend and I both ordered the "homemade" veggie burgers. They kind of tasted like a greasy potato pancake with pieces of frozen vegetables mixed in. My friend's burger was actually cold inside. The fries were pretty good. It was nice to sit outside on a warm Spring day, but I wouldn't return.

The best escargot I have enjoyed in the US. Went for Tuesday night/steak night this trip and the meat, sauces, and vegetable sides were all fabulous. We will continue to make Cafe du Soleil a part of eac NYC visit.

I happened to be walking Broadway when I came across this place and what Drew me in was seeing that they had escargot, my favorite, on the menu. I had to go in and give that a try! It was around 3 p.m. and I had a $5 cocktail that consisted of champagne and creme de cassis and was excellent. Who can beat that price? 6 escargot smothered in butter and parsley with fresh delicious French bread for $7 was a great price and a great value! The service was very good. At 3 p.m. on a Friday there were a lot of ladies having cocktails and lunch together. I chose be lunch combo for $10 which was a half of a sandwich or croque And soup. Their sandwich listings and salad listings were all excellent. As I looked at the breakfast and lunch menu I was quite impressed with the diversity, the offerings and the prices. Everything was wonderful and I will definitely visit this place again. It has now become one of my new favourite in the Upper West Side at least for breakfast or lunch. I don't know if they have a dinner menu or are open in the evenings for dinner but if they are I plan to return. I highly recommend this cozy little Bistro. They have an excellent selection of wine and great prices on cocktails. Well the atmosphere is a little bit noisy that is pretty much to be expected in New York City. The prices of the menu offerings the service all makes for a great rating from me. I give them four stars because it has to be something really exceptional for me to give you five stars. Maybe next time but for now they're on the top of my list and I recommend you visit them too.