Chez Napoleon Reviews

For decades, I have gone to Chez Napoleon every time I visit New York, and gave it previously a five star review. My last experience was not a happy one, however. I reserved for three people but one of them could not get there on time and said she'd like to join us for coffee and dessert. I explained this on arrival and was informed that it is the restaurant policy not to seat customers that are not ordering a meal. We were also moved to a tiny table, which made it difficult to enjoy comfortably the excellent foie gras, kidneys, sweetbreads and souffle that I so much enjoy and that has kept me coming back for so many years. Not the way to treat a loyal customer, to say the least. Very disappointed, and sad to lose a long time favorite dining spot.

The restaurant is celebrating its 54 anniversary. So you have to give it a little credit, Napoleon, you don't win the war in this battle. The bread and the mastered vinaigrette was divine. Well we were hungry after the matinée. Escargots was great, the other dishes were disappointing to be honest. We had, between all of us, the rack of lamb, filet mignon steak with black sauce, baked chicken and the veal from the fixed menu. I had the veal and was warned by the waiter that it would not be a big dish, I guess I didn't listen. This was the worst dish that can be chosen. The thin slices of veal were a total embarrassment (thin slices indeed) 2 slices of 1mm and it was chewy. My point, if the waiter has to warn you... take the dish off the menu or change the dish. The chicken was good, I wouldn't say spectacular, the filet mignon was the same, a bit small. The best dish on our table was the rack of lamb. Here comes the "but..." take a look at the pictures to see my point. Why would you have to serve our dishes with "French fries" we are in a great NYC establishment and I am getting more French fries than a super-sized McDonald's meal; why can't you serve us a nice side dish of great vegetables, cooked or fresh. Yes, they gave all of us tiny dishes of cauliflower... For 5 of us with one bottle of wine. We spent over $275. 3 of us had the fixed menu. Not a small change for so so meal and an hour and half.

This is rated as a four star restaurant for what it is. It is not for a famous chef or farm to table new cuisine. It's rated as one of the last of New York's old world style French restaurants that serve satisfying meals. Most have clsed. There use to be so many in New York, but I guess health challenging meals and reasonably priced simple Prix-Fixe dinners generally with green beans as one of the veggies is not trendy. Where else do you get such deeply flavored Coq au Vin (a favorite-half a chicken in a scrumptious heart stopping fatty wine sauce), Cassoulet, extremely sticking to the ribs, Bouillabaisse, Beef Bourguignon (at first glance it looks like a smallish portion but you soon find out it is very filling), etc. old style duck, brains, kidneys etc etc. Dessert soufflés are available(of course) ....we never had one but they look fantastic. As to the fixed-price dinner (they also serve lunch) the daily specials tend to be simple fair but the addition of soup or salad, dessert, and beverage. makes this a good deal. Since my wife likes dessert she orders the prix-fixe and I order an appetizer and entrée..often it's the chicken, we do some sharing. You can get wine by the glass, bottle, or our favorite, by carafe.To be fair, as some you read this you are probably asking, what is he talking about..this is primarily a list of items. However, if you are familiar with this fast disappearing cuisine in this area, you realize I was smiling broadly as each item was recounted. Trendy this is not. It is not on the South Breach diet. It is just good old fashion well turned out French home cooking. About those green beans. If you remember these places in the past, the pre-theater lunch or dinner meals always had string beans. Same here, but the $34± fixed-price cost is modern. During the season we generally make reservations in advance. It is a small restaurant. Lastly, the wait staff are very friendly and do a great job. We have been here many times and have always enjoyed the experience. In fact, I have to make a reservation today for an upcoming special occasion.

The last time I was to this restaurant, the waiter told me this restaurant serves really good innards. I decided to try them on this visit, so I ordered the liver with onions and I have been happy ever since then (last night). If you like liver with onions, try theirs, really good. The small portion of mixed vegetables that came with the liver were fresh and tasty.

Delicious food, wonderful, cozy ambience, excellent service. French onion soup, Coquille St. Jacques, and Steak Au Poivre were all perfect. And the souffle was great. We really enjoyed it. Can't wait to go back.

I have reviewed the food at CN before and it continues to be good, hearty, simple and French(and I too have travelled extensively in France as did one reviewer, evidently, who claims this is anything but French). Not haute cuisine French, just meat and potatoes, farmhouse French. Cornish game hen, eg., with only tarragon as a seasoning on its crispy roasted skin. Pureed carrots, boiled white potatoes, house pate with the requisite cornichons. As for the mousse, it takes exactly like the mousse I make which is from a recipe in a French book and is anything but mix-made, being heavy on the heavy cream, eggs and semi-sweet chocolate (and nothing else). Today though I must complement the service. We were in a hurry, sandwiching dinner here between a matinee and a tour at the Met. We had about an hour. The waitress was extremely understanding and helpful, trying to make sure we got our food and everything squared away even as the restaurant got busier and busier (and she had to deal with a definite oddball at a neighbouring table who refused to eat anything but vegetables and thought it was "ridiculous" that they didn't have asparagus and kept asking them to make her a special plate of vegetables...the waitress came back more than once trying to satisfy this woman, who was so unreasonable that it seemed she was embarrassing her companions/parents). This woman remained so pleasant under pressure, not only from us trying to get out quickly but also with several patrons ordering at once and this one woman repeatedly nixing whatever the restaurant tried to do for her...it was a real class act.

First time at this longtime NYC favorite. Read the reviews on Trip Advisor and they we spot on.Both are meals were great and the service too!!!

We have been eating at this restaurant for more than 10 years and it never disappoints. It is located on the west side of Manhattan and is a great pre theater spot. Food and service are great and prices are moderate. The restaurant is intimate and conversation is easy.

This gem of a restaurant (see all positive reviews) has been closed for months because of a "gas problem" in the building and unbelievable red tape! This after they survived the most disastrous period of the lockdown. They have a GoFundMe - see their website. A treasurable bit of France!

We had the prix fixe menu. It was remarkably good value especially for New York. I had the lentil soup, then rolled beef with veg. Service was excellent; friendly, helpful, informative. Desert was creme caramel; excellent - perfectly prepared. This restaurant has been around a long time and the whole ambiance was truly lovely and very french. The food was well prepared with a classic French bistro menu

Lovely little French restaurant! Only noticed it due to the French flag outside the building, otherwise it doesn’t look much at all from the outside. Inside it’s really quaint and lovely staff, nice pictures everywhere, lots of jigsaw puzzles everywhere too! Very reasonable prices, small menu but enough to choose from. Would highly recommend.

A big disappointment! My cow au vin tasted like it had been cooked in vinegar. Every person in my group was disappointed, including one member who had been going there for years. Even the soufflé which other reviewers had raved about was mediocre. Would not go back.

We booked a pre-show dinner for three here after reading a recommendation in the Rough Guide New York. Upon arrival we immediately noticed the musty and unpleasant smell. I'm not sure if this was a hygiene issue or the aged, dated fixtures & fittings. Upon ordering drinks, we were surprised to learn that they don't even have lemonade. You would expect the basic soft drinks on the menu. The Côte du Rhone wine was average. We ordered the Coq au vin for main, and when it showed up we were quite shocked. The sauce and meat were black and it looked more like Beef Bourgignon. The flavour was very dull, and it lacked the quality we'd expected given all the positive reviews we'd read. The staff were really rather eccentric, which same may see as part of the charm. The dude behind the bar with the heavy black eye liner looked slightly out of place. Very odd! Overall a very underwhelming experience. Je suis desolé mais on ne peux pas recommender ce restaurant

This restaurant has been one of our favorites for many years! We were so pleased that there were able to reopen after some significant challenges over the last 3 years. The atmosphere is exactly like a bistro on a lovely side street in Paris. The food never disappoints and the staff is attentive and pleasant. The mussels are enormous and the sauce so flavorful. The vinaigrette on the salads and with some of the apps is so delicious you'll want to take some home...and fortunately they sell it! Had a fabulous Peach Melba for dessert. We LOVE this place! A bientot!

In a small, intimate space on the 50th St. is this inviting gem of a restaurant. The décor will not bowl you over but the food and service will. Try the escargot and mussels for appetizers. Frog Legs and Beef Bourguignon were terrific main dishes. It's like eating at home with a very friendly staff and a great cook in the kitchen.

I absolutely adore this place! The fabulous family that runs it are not only French, they’re quintessentially French! This is a very small place with the best food! Seriously, very, very small. Very bistro. Small tables. The whole place seats maybe 30 people. Make reservations and don’t be late. Or at least have the common sense to call and let them know. The food is remarkable. If you want their famous Soufflé, order it with your appetizers! I always leave happy, and overly full with rich French food!

This place is reminiscent of all of the French Bistros that were in NYC decades ago. I'm not even certain that there is a name on the front of the place but there is a French flag hanging and their menus posted mention their name. The modesty of the exterior continues as one enters. The first room is very small with tables on each side. There is a second room adjoining set up in an identical way. French paraphenalia decorates the walls. One is immediately struck by the French waitresses that look like they have been here for a long time. Some are very pleasant and others seem harsh. But it all makes you feel as though you are elsewhere - as in France. The bread basket had some slices of toasted French bread and two rolls for the two of us. They were accompanied by a lovely mustard sauce as well as butter. They were delicious. The onion soup was traditional and very good. We both ordered fillet of sole meuniere. The portion was small but it was perfectly done ie. lightly breaded in a subtle lemon and butter sauce. It was accompanied by two, small boiled potatoes, one grape tomato, and a small side of zuccini and carrots. We happily finished everything enjoying the good food as well as the feeling of an place of a different era and location.

I've lived in NYC and been to NYC on visits many times but never knew of this place. It's awesome. A small place on 50th street that is homey and unpretentious with great food and service. Very much worth it

This is a very small & intimate restaurant. You definately need reservations. The menu is very extensive. They had a price fix menu choice. It's 3 courses, choice of soup or salad, a choice of 3 entrees, trout, chicken, or veal, & choice of 2 desserts all for $36. My wife had the trout, which was excellent. She had the asparagus soup & chocolate mousse. It was all delicious. I had the duck a l'orange ($32). The duck was a half duck & was crispy & delicious. It was served with vegetables. The fresh French food, the very nice decor, & the service added to the great eating experience.

Chez Napoleon is 100% French and 100% traditional. La cuisine bourgeois. No innovation! No celebrity chef! Just good old-fashioned French bistro food, in a charming atmosphere run by the same family for decades.

Read about this restaurant and as my husband loves French food decided to give it a try. Firstly the food is classic old fashioned French food. The ambiance is very French in the late 60s/70s. We arrived after booking by phone a few weeks earlier for 530 for a 730pm show. Very quiet but it began to fill up. Some confusion about the specials and decided not to have canard a l’orange because menu said it would take 1/2 hr and the other diners had already waited ages for coffees. My vichyssoise was delicious. Sole superb but potatoes were underdone(need to balance keeping the shape with being cooked enough). Told waitress fish great but potatoes needed a little more. She just shrugged- why you’d probably expect from a French server anywhere. My Tartuffe was fantastic. Also disconcerted that the 2 loos were separated by the kitchen fridges. If you want an old fashioned French meal with a little Gallic surliness go for it. However give yourself time to enjoy. Perhaps for something a little better try Chez Josephine’s

Ate here with family recently. Located in Hells Kitchen but walking distance from the theatre district, the restaurant offers 2-3 sittings for dinner. It's quite small so reservations are pretty much mandatory. The menu covers classic French dishes like canard a L'orange, steak frites, coq au vin, etc. Quite extensive for such a small place. Specialty is soufflé, but it takes a while so don't order if you are on a deadline. Service is friendly and good. Good wine list, limited to France, and reasonably priced. Not a cheap place but it provides a good meal and a good experience. Would eat there again.

We were a group of four dining before the theater. We had the cassoulets, rabbit, steak and roast duck. We also shared escargot. For dessert we shared the Grand Marnier soufflé- don’t forget to order at the beginning ! The meal was outstanding and the service impeccable. This is a small restaurant that is family owned. I just can’t say enough good things about our experience. It was one of the best experiences of our New York vacation. Go ahead and reserve your table, you’ll be glad you did

This restaurant just makes me so happy! It is truly the type of restaurant that used to populate the city but now is almost extinct. 100% not trendy. 100% not pretentious. 100% AUTHENTIC! The quality of the cooking and ingredients is terrific and everything is home made. We had the duck rillettes as an appetizer and it was outstanding! My husband had the chicken cordon blue and I had the veal sweetbreads with mushroom sauce and we loved it. $30 for a bottle of delicious rose' sparkling wine? Where are you going to find that anywhere, let alone in Manhattan? Great cooking done by people who care about what they're doing, it just put a smile on my face and while I hadn't been there for over 2 years, I'm not going to wait as long to go back again because when my craving comes for calf's brain in brown butter and capers, there's no better option than Chez Napoleon.

In the heart of the theatre district, a reasonably priced, very good traditional French restaurant. Daily prix fixe three course a very good value. The food is well prepared, tasty, and well presented. Good, friendly service.

A charming little restaurant serving traditional French fare with a menu that would have pleased Julia Child and a staff of genuine French waitresses who are very cordial and professional. The food is excellent and the prices are very good, especially for the theatre district. I personally love the decor with its theme of all things Napoleon.

I took my mother to dine here as part of our mother/daughter day. The restaurant was empty and NYC was cold and quiet. I did not see a hostess and since the restaurant was small I proceeded to one of the many empty tables to have a seat with my mother. The elderly bartender asked me what I was doing? I informed her I was going to take a seat and asked her if there is some place else she would prefer me to be seated. She asked if I had a reservation and I told her no. She advised me she didnt have an open table for me to sit in. My mother is 72 yrs old with a bad leg. We left the restaurant and had to walk in the wintery night to 46th to have a nice family dinner. This was such a bad experience.

We visit this restaurant every time we are in New York. It is a little slice of France. You must have a reservation as it is very small. The owner is so pleasant and kind. I always get the cucumber salad with their signature dressing and it's light and good. I had the sole meuniere and my husband had the coquille st jacques. Both were delicious. Drinks are well made and the bread is to die for! My only complaint is as it was crowded, its a bit hard to get into your seat.

Was in the mood for French and recently tried out this spot for an afternoon lunch. My colleague and I spied the lunch menu on their website for visiting and were intrigued. Unfortunately though, when we got there, we were given the dinner menu and were told there was no lunch menu. I asked about a sandwich I had seen on their website and was told they could still make that. So, I chose that as my entree and my friend had some onion soup and leeks. The sandwich came out as two, thin Pepperidge-farm pieces of bread with a slice of ham and barely-toasted gruyere on each. A far cry from many of the delicious Croque Monsieurs I've had in NYC and Paris. It was all rather disappointing, lacked flavor, and most importantly cost a small fortune. Understandably prices in this part of town are higher, but for what we were served it was appalling. At first glance, it's a cute French-looking taverna. But my recco: save your money and go somewhere else...plenty of other yummy spots in the area.

Same charming crowded high quality French country fare, like a side street bistro in Paris. Don’t look in the kitchen and try to avoid the restrooms. The offering are extensive and without a weak spot on the menu you can be confident about anything that you choose. It’s a French restaurant so order French food. Always finish with caffeine and dessert.

First, we were late for our reservation, a major inconvenience for this popular, always full, French restaurant. We will greeted warmly, with understanding. Drinks were super. My martini was perfect. The wine list is well matched to the cuisine and reasonably priced. The choices of appetizers makes for difficult decision making. Mussels were perfect as was the pate. Entrees were classical French with a great cassoulet and steak that was tender, perfectly cooked and sauced as only the French can do. The incredible chocolate soufle must be ordered with the appetizer, allowing time for a heavenly finish, easily shared by two! A must visit in NYC!

Amazing French Bistro in the heart of NYC. Silky smooth, slightly peppery, rich vichyssoise, best I’ve had. Tender Canard a l’orange with crispy skin and not-too-sweet sauce. Do yourself a favor and order a soufflé at the beginning of the meal. Carried proudly from the oven with a high crown and smooth ( in my case gran marnier) sauce was an amazing end to a lovely meal. Do not be in a rush! The kitchen does not and will not rush! Take time to enjoy yourself! Merci Madame!

The interior is small and uninviting. Service is cordial and efficient. Bread was disappointing for a french restaurant. The veal dish consisted on two slices as thin as a turkey slice from a deli. Tasted ok but nothing great. The other dish was a beef in a brown sauce, a little on the heavy side but tasty. The table wine by the carafe was good a reasonably priced. Crème caramel was ok but I had better. In summary not a bad place but nothing special.

Loved the food and we told the waitress what time we were going to the theater and the service was perfect. We were able to have a souffle and stroll to the theater.

Been there a few times last few years. They seem to be inconsistent lately. Have had some good excellent meals but lately. Not as good, They do the classics and desserts well but some more complex not well. The roasts were tough and their usual impeccable service was off. Still o would rate them better than average but inconsistent. Feel bad but that is what I think now.

And I still go back every other month. The food is so french: sole meuniere, moule napoleon, rillettes, confit de canard. Anytime, I need some French comfort food, instead of flying back to Paris, I just make a reservation there! And the service is so friendly. We love Madame Jeannine so much.

I have been going to Chez Napoleon for close to 30 years, a wonderful small restaurant close to the theater district. The staff is great, the food is authentic French and really good. Nice cozy set up and and little noise level which means you can actually carry a conversation.. unusual in most New York restaurants!

A restaurant dating back to the '60 in Hells Kitchen is a rarity in it self. This hidden gem is very much worth å visit instead of some of the hipster places on 9th ave. When did you last time taste a filet mignon with a dark black pepper sauce done by perfection! With all possible respect, the grandmas that serves you, really do know what a real french bistro is all about!

This is a fabulous and cozy little French bistro in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. As other reviewers have pointed out, one has the feeling of stepping back in time as they enter the restaurant. This can be a negative aspect for some people, but for me it was the selling point. The hostess and the waitress both spoke French and have probably worked at the place for a very long time. The food was excellent. The portions were perfectly sized and the ingredients used were fresh and tasty. I wish there were more places like this around!

And I have been a regular since then! Food is deliciously old French, as if my grandma was cooking it! The Moules Napoleon are amazing, same goes for the Sole Meuniere. but more importantly, Madame Elise and Madame Jeannine are always so lovely with us. It is like flying back home, but only few blocks away!

This is a cozy (which always means small and charming) restaurant serving classic French cuisine. It has the atmosphere of a downhome coffee shop, but serving French food that is very unostentatious and nonpretentious - this is not nouvelle cuisine but that the kind of food that someone's French grandmother, who cooked well would make. The service is friendly and kind and unintimidating, if you are an American who is unsure what to expect and has heard that the French and their cuisine are unfriendly and pretention. This place it quiet, has a classic French menu with food that is served all over France - the French version of spaghetti and meatballs, recognizably French by all French people and makes you feel like you are part of the family, a very special find in Manhattan in the theater district, where there are also large, noisy restaurants filled with young people who are boisterous and who enjoy a party atmosphere. You should go to one of those, if that is what you are looking for...

Chez Napoleon is more than just a dependable, reliable place...it is where memories can become woof and wool with your visit, as you return year in and year out with family, friends and new friends. The food is marvelous, and the portions realistic and right. The servers become a joy to see time and again. This is truly a jewel in a busy, frantic city.

Here is a spot of Paris in midtown Manhattan close to the shows of Broadway. The onion soup followed by steak au poivre were just incredible. The trout special was also raved about by our small group. A most enjoyable experience.

We love French food and this turned out to be a find while staying on west 50th. We will definitely go back. We had the frog legs one night and went back the next night for rabbit and soft shell crab. All were prepared nicely. Gave you the feel of being in France. The service was very good. Definitely a family run establishment. We had a soufflé the second night and it was also very good. If you like small authentic French restaurants, this is the place to go.

5 adults enjoyed a wonderful mid-week French dinner. Restaurant is small and casual , located close to the corner of 9th Avenue. Been in the neighborhood since 1960. Reservations strongly suggested. Service professional and very pleasant, from two servers who have been at the restaurant for many years. We could not have been more comfortable. Delicious breads placed on the table with house sauce for dipping. Garlic sausage with warm potato salad, duck rillettes, and soups were perfect starters. Can recommend veal sweetbreads, duck a la orange, and seafood dishes. Everything that we saw being served to others looked wonderful. Wines were realistically priced, and complemented the meal perfectly. You want to save room for dessert. Good coffee. Prices for all dishes were very reasonable by NYC standards. Will very happily return; wish we lived in the neighborhood!

This was a gem we were lucky to find on our recent visit to New York to view the Holiday Lights. For appetizer we had the delicious Escargots in an awesome garlic butter sauce, and the creamy Pumpkin Soup that looked really appetizing, and tasted just as good.. The Grand-motherly older Waitress replaced our basket of fresh breads, saying we needed more bread with the Escargots and the Soup, even though we had not finished our initial basket of breads. For the Main Courses, we had Bouillabaisse for two, Coq Au Vin, and Filet Mignon. Every dish was outstanding and cooked to perfection. For dessert, we had the Crepe Flambe. Very nice. Unfortunately, we could not get the Souffle since it takes about 45 minutes to cook, and must be ordered before dinner. No problem, There is always a next time. Our Servers were very helpful, friendly, attentive and professional. We were intrigued with the stern Bartender with his dark stage makeup, who acted like he was Napoleon looking over his troops. The decor is all about Napoleon (as the name suggests) from the framed jigsaw puzzles to the maps, and finally to the cute and quirky signs posted all over. We found this to be a very cozy and comfortable Restaurant. We arrived at 8 PM, so we could not take advantage of the Prix Fixe prices, but the bill with the wine was OK for fine dining in NY in a Theater District. The portions were fairly large for a French Restaurant. Our first experience here was excellent, and we certainly intend to return.

As somebody previously mentioned a true gem in Hell's Kicthen! It's like if you were teleported to small town french diner! It made me feel so French that next time someone invades my country I'll be the first one to pull up the white flag! The food is fantastic and all of it was delicious! The staff consists of middle aged french ladies which could be seen as eccentric but I actually very much appreciated their style!! Both my wife and me loved it! So far best place we dined in during our trip to NYC!

the prices are fair for some real great food. Nothing special on the interior improvements but that adds to the charm

How good it is to find a typically French restaurant in the Times Squares area Madame Bruno or Elyane by her first name welcomes us with this beautiful inviting smile which will set the scene for the meal. The homemade dishes are very good, on my side, the artichoke vinaigrette and the sweetbreads and on the other, the asparagus vinaigrette and the veal liver, excellent! To discover

Pick the prix fixe option, and enjoy a top notch country French dinner. The restaurant has been there since 1960, and it's easy to feel and taste why. Efficient service, excellent wines, exquisite dishes. Perfect for the 6 pm show reservation!

Having lived in Paris and visited France numerous times, we needed a French "fix," and Chez Napoleon is as close to a French brasserie as one could expect in NYC. Though the bread is not a classic French baguette, it was served with a lovely red wine vinaigrette for dipping. The same vinaigrette was served with the endive ($11) and the cold artichoke ($11) and as most folks know, a good vinaigrette makes any vegetable better! The appetizer portion of the tasty moules "Napoleon," baked with garlic butter and bread crumbs, were $13. My veau forestiere (veal scallop served in a light mushroom sauce) was tasty, but I felt it was a meager portion considering the $29 price. The like-priced canard a l'orange (half duck served with orange glaze and wild rice) was good but nothing exceptional. The wine list included several well-priced bottles and our red was appropriately served at cellar-temperature. We found the service reminiscent of many French brasseries with "Madame" running the front of the house . . . efficient but not effusive. We will return should we, again, feel the need for a taste of classic French.

I've been enjoying French food since I was a child growing up in NYC. The west 50's were once home to countless options that unfortunately over the decades have closed for any number of reasons. This small place has charm and what I remembered as pretty good food. Unfortunately we were greeted by a freakish looking guy with black eye liner who asked about reservations (which we didn't have) and to not "bother" the waitresses until they were done with the theatre rush. We were one of 4 tables occupied so luckily the wait was not too long nor did I have to "bother" them. Since I was with my wife I didn't automatically tell this guy to _ _ _ _-off but what a turn-off. Funny that when I went to the bathroom the other dining area was completely empty. What a total jerk-off. Food was OK.

I had dinner here with a couple friends recently and we were looking for a restaurant that would allow for conversation. The restaurant has a very homey feel to it and the food was good. I had the shrimp in garlic over rice, which hit the spot with me. One of our party had the mussels and the other had coq au vin. We split a chocolate souffle which gave each one of us enough and didn't make us feel overfed. While I know the owners pride themselves on how long they have been operating this establishment, I would suggest that it might be time for a face lift on the inside.

Solid and old-fashioned French restaurant in style and service and cooking. A lot of classic dishes, a few nice extras. Small wine list and decent house wine. Small place, feels very personal.

Just like a Parisian cafe. Puzzles are fun. Wild boar delicious but duck average. Went with two couples and all impressed w/souffle desserts.Recommend,

Excellent beouf bourguignon and the service is good. The location is convenient for the theater and Times Square.

An amazing find for the streets of New York. We stumbled across this restaurant and wasn't disappointed. The food was very old French village with all the taste class and style you would expect. The staff are very traditional and friendly and give you that taste of French hospitality. It's old fashion deco and quant style fit perfectly and we would recommend this restaurant to everyone for an individual, taste bud treat experience.

This small French restaurant is easily identified by the large French flag in front. Reservations are a must. It is small. The food was on point, good value and helpful wait staff.

The first sign that this restaurant would disappoint was the fact that the butter, served with bread, came in plastic containers of the kind one gets at a fast food restaurant. We opted for the prix fixe menu of the day, and found the asparagus soup to be quite watery and tasteless, and the veal to be extremely overcooked and covered with a tasteless brown sauce. The food did not seem fresh at all: boiled potatoes, french fries, vegetables all seemed overcooked and perhaps not too recently cooked. All in all, a major disappointment!

A few friends--6--dined here before seeing Gigi. We wanted to continue the french theme, so we chose a french restaurant with a prixe fix. The menu was perfect and the wine list was excellent. We all enjoyed a great meal and a fun time

This restaurant couldn't be more French. I had visited before with my husband and loved it so much I took a friend back on this trip. Excellent food, keenly priced for NYC and very handy for the theatre. It is very typically French and has all sorts of interesting and less common food - liver and rabbit being just two. Hope to return again soon and hope to get a soufflé next trip...

Authentic French cuisine ruined by arrogant son. What could have been a nice birthday dinner fell short due to his manner and accusations.

If you like French Cuisine but you are looking for your dinner to be prepared by the likes of Ducasse, Boulud, Bouley , Tourendel, George or Ripert... this is not the place. There is nothing exquisite about it.. it is however refreshingly simple, warm and homey. My rillettes were great but were straight out of the fridge, and were much better when they came to room temperature, the escargot was as advertised. My wild Boar stew was as if there really was a grandmother in the back with a interesting acidity and the cassoulet was wonderful. You will have to get past the bizarre Goth bartender who just doesn't fit. As a matter of fact we walked in the door and the old, tired, and dated yet warm décor was so inviting on a cold night until we were greeted by a Goth costumed but friendly bartender in full Goth makeup and attire... my wife almost bolted for the door... I am, however, glad we stayed and we are looking forward to returning and trying the rest of my new French Grandmas' food. The wine list is short and a bargain.

A return to France experience. Greeted and waited on by owner. In French. Like having your grandmother look after you for a meal. A wine list, but also un litre of house wines. Food quite good, bistro fare, but ambience priceless. Reminded me of Café Republique in Strasbourg 1986.

Step into Chez Napoleon –– inhale deeply –– it is as if time has stopped and one has been whisked to the banks of the Seine at dusk, fallen into the fervent embrace of a family whose only concern is providing you with the freshest and most delectable, traditional French fare. Everything is impeccably fresh. After many meals at this establishment, our favorites from the printed menu are Asperges Vinaigrette, divine Celeri Remoulade, Soupe a L'Oignon Gratinee, sweet and velvety Coquille St. Jacques (available as an appetizer or main), densely flavored and hearty Boeuf Bourguignon, and a steaming, generous Bouillabaisse. But check out the daily specials, and order anything, we've never been disappointed. Last evening we had an extraordinary, perfectly balanced Vichysoisse, melt-in-your mouth Filet of Pork in a rich sauce with a hint of cognac, and boneless Cold Salmon with fresh mayonnaise, cucumbers and tomatoes. House wines by the half or full carafe are fine, unless you want to splurge on a bottle from an impressive wine list. Don't forget a soufflé (or two) when you order your main courses – all are wickedly superb. While you are at it, go ahead and order a Grand Marnier crêpe, nothing like watching your dessert flame in front of your eyes! And lest we forget, for you martini drinkers out there –– this bartender simply makes the BEST!

If you see a critical review of the great Chez Napoleon on 50th near 9th, you know the writer is not a regular except in this case. The problem with "regulars" is that there are so many of us. We keep hogging the place. We're the reason you need a reservation. We regulars have long ago adjusted to what another diner might label a short coming. Could they use another wait staffer? Probably. Has a diner ever missed a curtain? No. Do people have different "favorites"? Of course. If the onion soup is not a fave, try another. The soup de jour is always delicious as are the escargot. And be sure to taste the leeks (by all means, the leeks!). The one issue we regs have is that the place no longer serves lunch. Oh, forgot to mention the artichokes. Yeah, those artichokes.

It's a lovely restaurant in every way. We had reservations for a Thursday night at 5 ahead of a play. We ordered cocktails, the mussel appetizer, wild boar stew, Cordon Blue, crepes & ice cream with chestnuts. Everything was wonderful and the service was top-notch. You also get a basket of french bread with a dipping sauce. You can tell this place has been around for years, and the decor is as quaint as you can get. The two women in the photo for the restaurant were both there the night we visited. I loved everything about this restaurant.

Myself and three friends stopped here for dinner in what turned out to be a great find, lovely restaurant with good service. Food was extremely tasty, fair priced and large portions.

I reserved our table four weeks in advance in anticipation of the dining experience that awaited us. And it was a truly outstanding dinner. Between the three of us, we enjoyed the escargots, the mussels, the boeuf bourguignon, the veal scallopini, and, of course, the souffle. The preparation was perfect in every way, but it was the service and personality of the servers and the owner who made it so special. Looking forward to returning next time I'm in the city.

Now this place shocked me on how Yelp can miss lead you. I was planning to go somewhere I been before but my girlfriends wanted to try this place as menu and all these wonderful reviews led me to believe that this place was the right pick. Again, i have stated this over and over in my reviews, if you have been to France this place would be out of business in 3 days or less. The food is so far from being French, it lacks flavor and quality. Everything that we ordered was either tasteless or unappealing all together. My friends veal looked like two pieces of road kill, my beef lacked any tasted and another friends seafood dish pretty much had the taste of the veal. The mouse was terrible, it tasted like one of those quick mixes that you get in the $1 store. The only good thing about this was our server, she was quick and tired to be helpful

We loved this small French Restaurant with it's quirky vibe. Apparently the owner is 92 and still involved with the menu. The food was perfect, we could have been in Paris. The decor is typically old school French and we loved the vibe. The staff were jolly and it was clear it is frequented by a lot of regulars. The food was perfectly French however there was no Creme Brulee on this menu apparently it is a Spanish dish, you learn something new everyday. Creme Caramel is French!! Our night took an interesting turn when we were invited for drinks by two other diners back at their apartment. We had only spoken to them for about five minutes! The evening was great fun and left us with a number of great stories. If you ever get chatting to Mark and Ramona they are great fun and you will be in for a ride!

I enjoyed wonderful real food in a classically shabby real restaurant. The service was attentive, the menu had all the French traditional dishes - Chez Napoleon was such a happy find.

I was recommended from a very good friend of mine to visit this restaurant since I am French and to taste the best soufflés in town... I had a full lunch at the Napoléon restaurant and I was impressed with the variety of typical French dishes that this place has to offer... When I tasted the dishes, I felt like it was my mum's food! I highly recommend this place to try typical French cuisine at its best! The only thing I must say is that I found it a little bit expensive for some dishes (some mains are around 30$ and the Soufflé (around 25$) but I am guessing it's because of New York and also it's because of the well know French cuisine... That's the only thing i want to share and it's not even negative but prefer to inform people who are thinking of going there! You will fall in love with the food, the place, the decoration and the staff is extremely friendly and professional (clin d'oeil pour la demoiselle qui m'a servi et dont j'ai oublié l nom et j'en suis désolé)!! I will definitely come back and telly my friend about this place if they want to escape the few blocks away from the main Times Square since it's 5 mins walk and a visit to the Napoléon Restaurant is not just worth it but a must! Merci beaucoup à toute l'équipe et bravo encore... Sébastien

We had a very good meal here. Scallops, veal, salad, dessert - all good. The service was also excellent. Our attempts at speaking French went down well! The only downside was the table of loud Americans nearby who thought we were interested in their conversation!

It has been a few years since I ate at Chez Napoleon and I regret it! The manger/hostess, Elyane greeted me graciously, described the specials for the evening (wild boar stew, veal roast and fresh trout) and then asked if i had any questions. After much deliberation, I decided on the Vichyssoise to start, whole artichoke served with the house vinaigrette was next, followed by the rabbit served in a light mustard and white wine sauce and ended with poached pears. The food was fresh, prepared deliciously and served with much care and attention. I so enjoyed this meal! This authentic, family run bistro which exudes French tradition has been there for 54 years. They must be doing something right! It is small and intimate so be sure to make a reservation.

What a wonderful real feel Paris Bistrot. Not many French restaurants still offer poached artichokes with stick to the leaves vinaigrette. This one does! Was hard to choose from all my favorites on this menu. I had roast duck and my husband had cassolet. We will be going back here often.

We were recommended to go to Chez Napoleon by a family member. It was very small and the food was excellent. The service was terrific. Only 11 or so tables and two servers. If/when we go back to NYC we will return to Chez Napoleon.

If you like basic french food at an affordable price and a good bottle of red wine this is a place for you. Nothing fancy but real foods at a reasonable price.

I visited in November 2017 and had an excellent dinner. The escargots were delicious and the sweetbreads (ris de veau) were mouthwateringly good. The attention of the staff was impeccable. The price was very reasonable. It was a wonderful, memorable dinner.

We chose Chez Napoleon due to closeness to our theater. The on-line information suggested a good value, however, we were disappointed. It seems that most restaurants in the Theater District are only average in food preparation and service. Food was bland and not the French cuisine that we expected.

We have loved Chez Napoleon for 15 years and had our last NYC meal on Feb 26, 2020 there. So delighted to learn in Jan that we could order a few of their best dishes on line.. and since then have enjoyed Chez Napoleon in Princeton every other week. I highly recommend ordering from them... and can't wait to get back.

If you're looking for nouvelle cuisine or the latest celebrity chef, this should not be on your radar. Pick this place on the outskirts of Times Square for pre-theater or if you love old school French fare. The interior is dated for sure, and the bartender is the guy people have mentioned in previous posts. Come here for the food- I had escargots in buttery garlic snail shells with French bread that was perfection, followed by a soft shell crab almondine, sautéed crisp but not greasy. My husband had onion soup and couquilles St Jacques, textbook perfect. The mousse au chocolat and crème brulee also heavenly. A bottle of Bordeaux wine for $34 was passably good and service 7 out of 10 (the waitress was also taking care of her elderly mother at the next table)- this is obviously a family run affair. Go for the food if you appreciate old school French cooking.

We thought this would be a fine place to dine in before a play. Before dinner, we had ample time to walk around the neighborhood and were happy to see that we were only a few blocks from the August Wilson Theatre to see the Jersey Boys. We were also fortunate that when we called for a reservation, they had only "one" table left. My husband's dinner was perfectly fine. He ordered the prix fixe and that evening it featured lamb. It was amazingly good. For dessert, he had creme brûlée, one of his favorites and he enjoyed it. I didn't fare that well. I do like sweetbreads and went with that. It was disappointing to receive a plate of thin, fried cutlets that really didn't taste like sweetbreads at all. You know how they say "tastes like chicken"? Well, this did taste like chicken. It came with a couple of boiled potatoes which were just okay. We hadn't time to reorder as we were headed to the theatre but I was very disappointed that a French restaurant could "blister" such a fine thing as sweetbreads. There was a very tasty dipping sauce for the crusty French bread that was served. It tasted of vinegar and mustard and was a welcome change from butter or even those olive oil sauces that you see everywhere. We may return as I thought the proprietors were quite welcoming and although small, this cozy little place, I am sure, is capable of serving up delicious sweetbreads to future customers.

Bloody awful. We pain extra for fillet steak which was tough and smothered in awful sauce. It was simply terrible experience. The only thing that was nice was the lovely waitress who tried hard despite the awful food.

We enjoyed this restaurant very much. It's one of our son's girlfriend's favorite places. It's more charming and cozy than trendy or glitzy. Our son ordered a selection of hors d'oeuvre which were all excellent. My wife had large asparagus as her main course, which she raved about. I had beef burgundy and mashed potatoes with onions. The Cabernet wine was very delicate. Our server was from Montpelier and did a wonderful job.

This is clearly a placed loved by its regulars. Solid French food. Stalwart servers and an unexpected goth bartender. I’m glad I had the experience.

The restaurant offers some kind of french atmosphere with charming deocaration and that's a plus. The waiters had even learned 5 or 6 sentences in french, but was clearly not french. The food revealed that the kitchenstaff never had been to france neither. I've never tasted worse "french cousine" in my life and it has absolutely nothing to do with french cousine - who serves dry french fries to Confit de Canard? It's not french. And the duck was dry as hell covered with large layer of fat. If you go to this place and wants to try french food you'll be cheating yourself and paying overprice at the same time. Restauranten var ok i indretningen, men der stopper rosen også. Maden var så elendig at det vil få enhver europæer til at krumme tæerne. Find hellere et andet sted at indtage jeres aftensmad.

It makes no sense to spend so much money to get bad food. The restaurant is very cute and old fashioned a flash back to old New York from the 50s. We love that history, but did not love the food. We had a steak au poivre that was swimming in a sea of black sauce that did not taste good. Starter salads were just OK, and very, very old fashioned. And the bottom line was astronomical, not at all worth the mediocre food. There is no reason for this place to survive other than nostalgia.

We chose this wonderful restaurant based upon online reviews, and are so happy to have visited this weekend during our brief NYC stay! The staff is gracious and approachable (without any pretension), from the first phone call for reservations to the waitress that night. When we walked in and gave our name, the bartender immediately knew how many people were in our party and greeted us warmly. The restaurant was empty, but a few other tables were seated throughout our stay. Decor was darling, inviting and the restaurant has obviously been here for years - apparent in a good way - google online images and you'll see what I mean. The bread and house vinaigrette were delicious. We began with the Pate Maison and Escargots - both were divine (the bread was perfect with each). There was a slight, distinctive flavor in the pate - nutmeg, maybe - that made it interesting. The wine offered is all French - and delicious! Wine list is on the table - we tasted the House red (not great) and decided to go with a bottle of the Burgundy - excellent, and not expensive at all. Our entrees were timed perfectly. My husband tried the Cervelle de Veau (calf's brain) - a first for both of us. Its sauce was wonderful - a butter-caper sauce. However, the texture of the dish is an acquired taste, we think. Think warm tofu, not much flavor at all. So I assume that they did it perfectly, based upon the entire taste of the dish - we are just going to check that off our bucket list now. The reason why I didn't give 5 stars was my entree. I ordered Boeuf Bourgignon expecting a silky, tender stew with flavorful veggies and mouthwatering beef. What was served, however, was stringy, tough beef in a dark broth with only a couple carrot and mushroom slices to be found. I know what it takes to make a wonderful beef burgundy (a lot of work), but was surprised that they did not do so, to match the level of excellence seen throughout the rest of our visit. I didn't send it back as I was getting full anyways, but ate the more tender parts I could find. Each entree came with a side of the most delicious ratatouille we've ever had - we should have ordered more! We declined dessert as we were full. Overall a wonderful experience, I highly recommend it!

We came with cousins who highly recommended Chez Napoleon. We were not disappointed. I've been to France many times and I can tell you that the restaurant along with the people who work there are truly authentic and the food is very good. Overall, an enjoyable evening and a good value.

A former professor of mine said this was her favorite restaurant, and since my friend and I were looking to splurge a little one night, we chose Chez Napoleon. We were not disappointed! Eating here is a wonderful dining experience. The only thing I was not fond of was the kir, but everything else was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed my filet mignon slathered in peppercorn sauce and fries. I had never had a souffle before and after this experience, I would certainly try another. The waitstaff was exceptionally attentive and the restaurant itself is filled with quirks and fun. It is expensive but far worth every penny.

When you walk in it's a bit musty smelling and very tight. The bar would barely sit a person comfortably without being bothersome to the table next to it. However, there is more seating around the bend. Again, it's a tight seating but at least more tables to choose from. We started with the house red, very delish. We had about 2 different waitresses which i wasn't really sure who was the main and who may be an assistant. One out-shined the other. We had the french onion soup (i would've liked a bit more beef to the stock but it was good) and the baked mussels (which were steaming garlic but didn't taste as much and were very good but HOT!). We had the mussels in a cream sauce and the beef stew for our mains and they did not disappoint. Table-side service for the beef stew and they were very attentive. The boiled potatoes in the stew lacked seasoning and i barely ate thru 1 (i love potatoes by the way). the beef i couldn't get enough of. i was basically spooning the sauce at the end. Both portions were very generous (2 plates each) to ease the pricing of the restaurant. all in all - a definite secret gem off the theatre district but close enough for tourists, and for us HK locals - a spot i know i'll be able to get a great meal and service. definitely will return.

Chez Napoleon recommended online by local brothers. Why not? But, when we came to the door, we almost didn't go in b/c it looked liked it was closed. My friend didn't want to stay as it didn't look inviting. I said, Let's go in an see. Very quaint, inviting atmosphere. Almost didn't get a table b/c we had no reservation and were on our way to theatre. We got lucky and enjoyed the Fixed Prix Menu. Plenty of food and priced just right! Great service, too. Made it to the theatre on time. Go,...You won't be disappointed.

This is my friend's favorite restaurant. I don't love French food but was very much looking forward to the souffles. I first had it in Paris, and this is not how I remember it. No one in the party enjoyed it, sorry to say. Quaint restaurant, attentive service. Was told the owner was giving us looks to get out of there before their next seating, which I ignored, as if you wanted us out quicker, then serve quicker. As I said, this place was not for me, but would suggest if you enjoy French food like my friend does, to give it a try.

We brought friends here during the U.S. open. The staff made us feel right at home and even with a table of 8, never made us feel like a big table. Everyone treated us so warmly, and the food was -- as always -- just perfect. No fuss at Chez Napoleon, they just make the food perfectly and offer it up in a wonderful little hideaway that is outside of time, and allows you to dine in a peaceful and happy spot.

This old line French restaurant is conveniently located near the theater district and we've eaten here in the past for pre-theater. They offer a reasonably priced prix fixe menu as well as a fairly extensive list of al a carte options. The service is friendly and prompt and they sure know how to get you to the theater on time. But, we thought the dinner mediocre. I had poulet and my wife the venison special. We were told about the wonderful and different sauces with multi spices, but it looked to us that we got the same brown sauce. If you want casual and reasonable this might be OK, but I don't think we're going back.

Although on the Trip Advisor page it says this restaurant is open until 11:00pm, when I called to make a 9:30 reservation I was told the last order was at 9:00. As we planned on going after theatre, this wouldn't work......i only gave a terrible as I had to give a rating to get this information on the web site. I tried in different ways unsuccessfully

Chez Napoleon bills itself as "Authentique, Historique and Classique" It is certainly all of those and morte. You'll have a great French meal here at a reasonable price. Their fixed price dinner is superb and nicely priced. You can't go wrong here for pre theater dining. The place is small so reservations are a good idea, although last night I walked in off he street and got a table right away.

It was our first experience in this old fashioned restaurant close to the theater district in Manhattan. Overall it was a pleasant discovery and we enjoyed the evening. Les mules to start were followed by asparagus soup for myself and a cold potato/leak soup for my wife. The main courses , rabbit for me and a rack of lamb were substantial and we would rather order one for two if we were aware, in advance, of the sizes served. The rabbit was a little over marinated but, of course, that the judgment and taste issues. The lamb delicious and done to perfection. Green beans, on the side, a little overcooked and without taste. The lemon souffle for desert (30 minutes waiting) was ordered by everybody around including by my wife and generally highly praised. The place is not "bon-marche" but also not extraordinary priced taking into account its location. We plan to return but will order a little less next time.

Neighborhod gem. Classic old school French restaurant. Very authentic traditional menu. Friendly servers. Eccentric owner. Convenient for Broadway.

This was my second time visiting this charming restaurant. I got a weekday evening meal without booking, but the place was quite full; i think mostly locals. The serving staff are so charming, the place so atmospheric. My first visit i had veal kidneys, this time i had the special: pan fried trout. A disappointment. The fish was tasteless and grainy, the potatoes equally tasteless, like the pre-peeled ones that come in a big bag. A few green beans-an excuse for veggies. My partner had prawns- they were delicious. We tried to oder a souffle, but at 9 pm it was too late to order; it takes one hour to prepare-another disappointment. Remember; the souffle is outstanding- order immediately when you come in

Over the years our favorite affordable French restaurants in the city have disappeared: Larre's, the Quercy, and the Birraritz, for example. Fortunately we have discovered Chez Napoleon as an excellent restaurant. It's intimate, it's friendly, and the food is excellent, in the French tradition. On two visits we have been treated well and have eaten - and drunk - well and were even able to practice our long-dormant French. One can spend much more money in New York for food that is less satisfying. My leg of veal with a mustard sauce brought me back to my days in Paris decades ago. It's a walk away from the main tourist areas, but the exercise does one good, and the food and the ambience are most rewarding.

My mom and I just finished a meal here and it was awesome! We have tickets to Bullets Over Broadway and we wanted a close, decently priced prix fixe. For 32 per person, we got that and so much more! The restaurant is small, with about 12 tables. It is owned and run by third generation French natives. The restaurant is celebrating 54 years. It definitely has that native New York old world charm. The food was great! We had a choice of soup or salad, then an entree selection from the chefs choice. Our choices today were Trout and veal and beef braised in beer and onion sauce. I had the trout, which was perfectly cooked. My mom had the beef. It was so tender you could eat it all with a spoon! Dessert was chocolate mousse or creme caramel (flan or non crunchy creme brûlée but as they charmingly inform on the menu, creme brûlée is really Spanish!). They do not rush you and the prix fix includes coffee. Definitely get a reservation after 5.30 on a Saturday but don't miss this spot!

We were recommended this place by my sister from Long Island and by golly it lived up to her description. Very traditional French style bistro, small but excellent menu. The soufflé was to die for, the ladies were adorable very attentive and chatty. This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Make a booking so not to be disappointed.

We have been going to Chez for years, enough times that we are greeted like family when we walk in the door. That's because the staff inever seems to change and they are friendly yet professional. The food - well I did say we've been going there for years! I've probably eaten just about every dish on the menu and can recommend them all, but I do come back for the sweetbreads, the Steak Guillume (named after the owner's son who tends the bar) don't miss the bouillbaise, the broth alone is worth the price, and the rabbit stew. I could go on but I'll skip to the dessert. When you order your meal make sure to order a souffle, if you wait it will be too late as the kitchen is small and they run out of oven space. Vanilla, Chocolate or Grand Marnier, your choice, all delicious..

Good food and sweet service. But absolutely overpriced and feels quite dusty. Usually very busy with all the tourists before 8 PM, better to go after shows have started but as mentioned: overpriced.

We had dinner at Chez Napoleon most recently this fall. It has been a favorite destination of our family for over 20 years. We are never disappointed. The country French cuisine is outstanding. The staff, mostly family, are so happy to see you, make you feel right at home as soon as you walk in the door. I hope this restaurant lasts forever.

Very disappointing. My friend lives in NY and this is a favorite. I don’t have any idea why. We ordered Bouilliabase ($70 to share). We each got two mussels, one 2” square of mystery fish. My friend got the half lobster and I got one claw. If you are offering it “for two,” you should find a way to give each person a decent portion of the lobster. And while they were closed couldn’t they have painted the dreary walls? And the decor is partially framed jigsaw puzzles? Won’t bother with this place again.

Delicious find on my last visit to New York. Great classic French food - the mussels and the duck confit were some of the best I've had. Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I was there for lunch, but I'm looking forward to coming back and trying this place as a pre-theater dinner.

The PERFECT New York, family owned dining experience! Wonderful food, wine, cocktails and service. A very special, non tourist, quiet, lovely dining establishment!

We have been dining at Chez Napoleon for the last 10 years and have always had a great meal. The wait staff has been there forever and always provides top notch service. If you like mussels, this is the place to go, They are served in a big copper pot with lots of French white sauce. This dish never disappoints. Since the restaurant is near the theater district, it is a great stop before going to a show.

What an unexpected delight. We were looking for something different. We found this little restaurant on a side street and decided to stop in. Warm welcome from the owner “mom” and the waitress. A little piece of France in Manhattan. The food was wonderful, conversation flowed and it was a very relaxed and homely feel. The pate was lovely, the wine perfect and the main was like my own mother would make. Simply lovely find for me and something I would have no hesitation in recommending... loved it!

This is a family run classic French country cuisine in the center of the Broadway theatre district. Dishes are well prepared and tasty and portions are generous. It's small but very comfortable. The daily prix fixe is a good deal. Reservations are suggested. Note that it is closed on Sundays.

Chez Napoleon is a small, unprepossessing restaurant in the Theater District that has consistently excellent food. The interior is, well, a little dowdy. The staff are friendly and helpful, if sometimes stretched a little thin. You go here, however, for the food. It's the real thing. Really excellent French meals, with dishes representing the different regions of France, and all well prepared and truly delicious. The boeuf bourguignon and steak au poivre are positively restorative. The desserts are first rate, too. This writer is particularly fond of the coupe aux marrons, vanilla ice cream with a sauce of candied chestnuts. The place maintains a very amiable family atmosphere, and the prices are, for New York, very reasonable. A fine meal at a good price, with the feeling that one is among friends.

Found this little gem when trying to find somewhere different to eat in New York that wasn’t your typical American food. Found it due to the Frech flag hanging outside. Great food with attentive service. I had the rack of lamb which was cooked to perfection and my husband the steak which he said was perfect. Would definitely recommend this place.

We went there with friends, all of us being French. On top of a very bad food in a basement, the owner of the place (Guillaume - a gothic grown up teenager) yelled at us when we decided to split the bill. Conclusion: bad food served in a basement by the worst of French people.

We’ve gone to this restaurant for 47 years infrequently because we live out of state. We have loved it all these years. Although we are sympathetic to the restaurant’s problems with the building’s gas lines needing replaced on top of Covid, our recent experience was very disappointing. My husband and I had two courses each plus shared a souffle. We had no complaints about the salad or amazing cold asparagus and dressing. My sole was nicely prepared and my husband’s beef bourguignon tasty. Presentation was curious. His burgundy was not served in a crock but plated as a heap on a cafeteria-type plate. While mashed potatoes used to be the norm with the burgundy, we each got one small peeled cooked oval potato and a cherry tomato on each of our plates. They were insignificant. There was a tasty spaghetti squash side about the size of a half dollar. To continue this theme of unsubstantial, I asked for more bread. The waitress turned to my husband and asked if he needed more bread! He said no so no bread arrived. Our bill was over $200—didn’t we deserve more bread since we asked?

We wanted to like it more than we did. The place is a throwback to restaurants from years ago: white table cloths, ambitious menu, but everything was a bit off: Water was room temp with no ice and never was refilled. Celery root remoulade was too heavy on the mayonnaise. Bread seemed a bit stale. Butter was ice cold and rock hard. Filet of trout ok but bland and served with plain white rice. Chocolate mousse a bit runny. And the prices are pricey. Croque monsieur was not so good either and served with one cherry tomato and a tiny sprig of parsley. Total bill with no drink with tip was $77 for 2 lunches.

Chez Napoleon offers superb authentic, no- nonsense French Cuisine and is a long-time favourite of my husband, myself and many of our Friends. An established original in Hells Kitchen, tucked away modestly off 9th Avenue, this exceptional restaurant tops rustic home-cooked French meals that will place you right in the heart of France and will touch every one of your five senses in complete and utter delight with its romanticism, wit, harmonious Gallic flavours and quirky characters. A family-run Bistro oozing with charm, hospitality and the best French food, Martinis and service this side of the Atlantic. We as New Yorkers must treasure our NYC gems of fine-dining institutions like Chez Napoleon, so do plan a rendezvous! to ensure this experience can be enjoyed by both current and future generations for many years to come. Thank you for reading...enjoy!

Don't think you can rush this place .Take your time and savour the wonderful ambience and food. You could be in France. We always go here on Valenties day. BUT BOOK.

Great preparation of classic French entrees, including Cassolet, Sweetbreads, Kidneys,as well as more commonly available others. Appetizers are excellent, I favor the mussels. Service is congenial and attentive. While others may decry that it has not been redecorated in years, it retains a pleasing ambience. Good, but small and also affordable wine list. You will probably need a reservation.Go and be pleased, read about the founder-great WWII story.

We loved this place! The food and service were perfect. Old world French and my husband and I had a great dinner. Coquille St. Jacques and Beef Bourguignon were unbelievably delicious. Filet mignon au poivre also great. The restaurant is small and quaint and so comfortable. If you like good French food, go here! The soufflé for dessert was excellent. I can’t wait to go back.

This restaurant is across the street from the New World Stages theater where Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Desperate Measures and The Imbible are playing. The quality of the food seems to have gone down since I was last there over a year ago. The soup of the day ($10) was Watercress Soup and I thought it was very ordinary. The Duck ala Orange I had lacked moisture from the duck itself. The only moisture I noticed came from what I thought was an ordinary tasting sauce that had little recognizable orange flavor.

If you're in NYC but want to have dinner at a bistro in Paris, this is it. One of the last of the Theater District French restaurants, and definitely the best. Eat whatever is written on the blackboard.

Mom in the kitchen, daughter on the floor, old fashioned French classics well done, and consistent value. Quiet, small room

0 friends 4 reviews Peggy C. Brooklyn, NY 8/23/2014 Crazy (in a bad way!) - let me begin by saying that my husband has dined here several times recently and LOVED it. We had theatre tickets last night so it was a no-brainier that we would eat here. I had never been and he was excited to have me eat there with him. He ordered the three course dinner and a 1/2 bottle of a lovely white wine since he was eating fish. Everything about his eating/drinking experience was superb, btw. I ordered the a la carte filet mignon and a glass of Pinot Noir. My wine came first, of course, and on first sip it was clear that it had gone bad. My husband agreed that it tasted as if the open bottle had been around for a very long time. We called the waitress over and respectfully and discretely told her and she immediately began arguing. "It is Pinot Noir", she said. Ok, it is bad Pinot Noir we said. In a huff, "do you want another glass?" Only if it is from a different bottle I said. She went on about how they open and pour bottles all night long. I decided to ask for something different at that point and ordered a glass of "house red". It came, it was fine but definitely not a great wine. I could live with that. Ready to look past that bit of unpleasantness I awaited my meal. It arrived and I noticed that the piece of meat on my plate did not resemble a filet mignon. I cut into it and saw that it was barely cooked - I had ordered it "medium" - and that it was tough and sinewy. Not wanting to create anymore unpleasantness (and don't forget, my husband was thoroughly enjoying his trout), I took a bite. It was rancid! Seriously, I almost became ill. I handed a bite over to my husband and all he had to do was smell it to know. Called the waitress back. This time she simply whisked my plate away and said NOTHING. No argument, no apology, no "can I get you something else?". I really did not want anything else at that point. The manager (or owner?) then appeared to ask if everything was all right. No, everything was not all right. He, too, simply walked away saying NOTHING. My husband finished his fish, declined dessert - which was part of his three course deal - and asked for the check. They had, at least, removed my meal but had charged me for two glasses of wine. So, we had to deal with that! Truly awful and bizarre. They really did not seem to have cared one little bit.

This restaurant founded in the 1960s is as close as you will get to a true French restaurant in France. It is modest, homey, and solid classic French food. The servers were friendly and it was "real" French! We spoke only French and not English. Its was just like being in France in the 70s.

The food is as close to a French home cooked meal as one can get in NYC Prices reasonable. Ambiance -old school, homey, nothing fancy. Came very early cause it was booked all night after six. Although they had a good prix fixe, we stayed ala carte focusing on the sauces There is a martini and wine menu with a decent small selection. We had escargot in the shell provided with all the necessary utensils. We followed with liver and onions and shrimp and rice. Everything was amazing Highly recommend and plan to return soon

The perfect place for a cozy French experience in the heart of New York. Simple and elegant with impeccable service. The menu includes so many wonderful entrees but I keep going back to the frog legs, the best I have ever had. We've been coming here for years and have enjoyed every visit. Always looking forward to the next visit!

perfect dinner after the theater. Well located in the theater district. I had the menu comprise, for 32.00 you get a starter, main dish and dessert. It's a good price for good food and service. I also bought their bottled dressing for $8 and it's very good too.

I always go here before the theatre for dinner. I have always had a truly fabulous french dinner. A few days ago we took our friends who love good food. They raved about it. My husband had rabbit and the cream sauce was divine. Two of us had the fish special cooked to perfection. We had escargot which is served the traditional way with the holder for the snails. Remember the scene with Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? The best escargot. We had poached pear and cherries jubilee for dessert. I could have licked the bowl. The two women have run this restaurant for many years. If you like modern don't go. It,s ver european inside.

My husband and celebrated my birthday with dinner at this charming French restaurant before the theater. We couldn't have been more delighted with the food, atmosphere and service. My cordon bleu and his boef bourguignon were very, very good. This was such a special evening.

As a Napoleonic history fan, I first went to this restaurant because of its name. That was over twenty years ago, and I've been going back ever since whenever I am in New York. Quite simply, I feel back in Paris when I come in. The food, atmosphere, and service are those of an unpretentious but very good French bistro. I love the variety of classic French dishes, and specialties such as sweetbreads, veal liver, kidneys and even brains, which now you can no longer get in France! The small but well selected and fairly priced wine list is a plus. I'll keep coming, and highly recommend it.

Can't say enough about the grand old place...charm, traditional french cuisine, friendly service. Everything we had ("sweet breads", lamb) was excellently prepared with the right blend of spices. Salad of greens-- fresh and crispy with the house dressing. And the dessert of caramel custard! (You really need to order the souffle at the beginning of the meal; take it from my experience, you can not go wrong with any one of them.

This is one of the best French restaurants I have eaten in. The food tasted just like the food i ate in France when I was a young man in the 60's. We received a warm welcome and excellent service. The prix fixe menu at 35dollars was excellent value and the wine list was good. A carafe of Languedocianne wine at 30 dollars was cheap for NY and went down excellently. A thoroughly pleasant eating experience. This is a truly family run enterprise. We were greeted by Grandmere and served by the family. Wish this place was in London.

Cute little restaurant in the Theatre district with a great menu but mediocre food. The wine list is minimal, especially for a French restaurant. What is most striking though is the owner or manager. Dressed all in black, with black eyeshadow and black nail polish, he stands behind the bar and complains to his waitresses about the guests in French, just loud enough for them to hear it. “Are they going to eat or just talk”, “he’s alone why does he need to sit a that big table”. I had the rognon, they weren’t bad but far from excellent. The Pate Maison is decent but not stellar. The chocolate mousse is good but not exceptional. I wouldn’t go back.

I try to come to this place very time I visit NYC. It's charming, a bit worn, decidedly not one of those contemporary restaurants with a chef straining to make a name for himself and noise levels to make your head explode. Two small rooms, a tiny bar, warm atmosphere. The food is simple, unsurprising, but delicious; I've had some entrees that were prepared to perfection, others a bit salty. One of the two elderly French servers explained that the place had been in her family since the 1960s, and the recipes they use are all her mother's. As for the Goth guy (obviously also in the family) who presides from behind the bar--well, as other reviewers have said, he strikes discordant note, but he's harmless, and his maman must love him.

Having a short holiday in Manhattan. Dinner in a cozy French restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. Bread basket served with house dressing. Beef Bourgugion was excellent. Husband had Steak au Poivre said it was nice cut of beef, prepared well. Served with French fries and spaghetti squash. Dessert was Peach Melba and Chocolate Mousse with coffee. All very good. Ambiance was close and intimate. Music with singing lyrics in French made it authentic. "This way to the Water Loo" bathroom sign gave it a little humour and realism. Would definitely return.

The waitstaff was nice and knew the menu and the food was good, just nothing to write home about. It appeared that the restroom was an afterthought with it being in a corner and not maintained regularly. The restaurant is small and cramped which made our dinner especially troublesome because of the loud couple seated next to us (and I do mean right next to us), on top of that the table was part of the main thoroughfare from the front door.

This warm and comfortable French bistro, within walking distance of the theater district and the subway, features wonderfully prepared food and top notch service.

If I was French and living in US, this little gem would have been probably my home away from home. And it being one - it is my imaginary home dining room away from home when I am in New York. Having dined in hundreds of cities and by now at over thousand restaurants, Chez Napoleon will always have a special place in my heart. When you enter the restaurant and the door closes behind you, all your worries, matters and concerns stay behind on the other side - on the streets of NYC. You get truly transported in some other time and place - where atmosphere, food and people are just different.. wonderful .. and magic... Your private "Midnight in Paris" place for the few hours. Try some foie gras with Sauternes for appetizer - it's a perfect start, together with Clams Josefine. Marvelous selection of French Cuisine classic will satisfy all tastes, though rabbit have always been my favorite. You can't leave after having only one dessert! Cherry Jubilee table side is one of the few remaining displays of art anywhere in metropolitan dining and signature Grand Marnier Suffle is to die for as well. I'm not a big fan of the Grand Marnier crepes, but my friends who leave crepes swear by them. Been coming here for years and look towards being back, when I am in New York again.

We have been going to Chez Napoleon for many years and have enjoyed every visit immensely. The food is always excellent and the prices are moderate. Service is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is located on the west side which makes it a great stop for a meal before the theater.

Chez Napoleon is a great pre-theatre dinner restaurant. The food is classic French. A great Fois gras appetizer. The veal for a main course is tender with a light mushroom sauce. A great grand monier soufflé for dessert is the icing on the cake. And the wine list has wine from my favorite French region. Reasonable prices and close to the theaters.

I was expecting a very nice pre-theater dinner. The restaurant was quiet. The service was very attentive. We had beef Beef Bourguignon and French onion soup. The food tasted great. And then the trouble started. Les then 3 hours later we had the runs. I don't know how the kitchen is preparing the food but something is very wrong.

I don't get here as often as I would like! This little gem of a restaurant serves up a wonderful array of wonderful plates of old world French cuisine. If you don't start with the Moules Napoleon then start with the Escargots. Either way you will not be disappointed. The House wine is always good. I enjoyed the Rognons dijonnese cooked medium. Or as I like to call it. Cooked perfect ! For desert we ordered the soufflé. What a wonderful end to the meal, but don't forget the espresso and your after dinner drink. I choose calvados! Enjoy !

This small restaurant definitely seems to be a neighborhood spot and family-owned, which is nice. Also nice is its comfort-food-French bistro menu. The prix fixe menu is a terrific bargain if you want that much food. The night we were there two of us got it: a light creamy tomato soup, buttered brown trout (which was delicious) or leg of veal in mustard sauce, which was a bit tough; dessert was creme caramel (ok) and light fluffy chocolate mousse, very mild in flavor. My daughter-in-law got asparagus vinaigrette as an appetizer (fabulous) then boeuf bourguignon which was a great disappointment; the wine in it was sharp and unblended and the meat was quite chewy; if they had cooked it again the next day it might have ended up with more tender meat and a much improved more mellow and rich (not sharp) flavor. It was nice that this restaurant was is quiet as many in New York City are not.

Our son chose Chez Napoleon to celebrate his graduation from CU ... the mushroom soup was tremendous ... then our entrees were served with French fries. What?! It was explained that is the norm--or boiled potatoes (huh?). Swear the coffee was Folger's instant. Will not return.

This is a lovely quaint little French restaurant where you are most likely going to be greeted and seated by the charming owner. Don't expect any modern riff on French food here - it is strictly classic French cooking here. That means an emphasis on protein and not much in the vegetable department. But everything is delicious - especially recommended is the cassoulet. For dessert, splurge on the Grand Marnier soufflé which will serve at least 3 people. Good wine selection and the service is attentive. Nice cozy place on a cold winter evening.

Authentically French. Perfect for pre- or post-theater. Modestly priced. Great back story. As to fare, we've never had any food here that was short of near perfect. Foie gras. Soups. Fish. Beef or veal or lamb. Rich saucing. Delightful owner and attentive and friendly servers.

My son’s steak and frites was okay. His wife’s chicken cordon bleu was forgettable. Same thing for the chocolate mousse. My duck à l’orange was delicious. Servers were nice, but the owner not so much. We had to move our table half a foot to accommodate our seating needs (too tight): she complained about it in a very disagreeable way. Not nice.

We ate here on a whim since it was so close to our Airbnb. We were pleasantly surprised. Sweetbreads were excellent. Loved the back of the menu especially the comment about Pinot Grigio.

The food was excellent. The rabbit in a cream sauce was perfect. The sweetbreads were very tasty. Our friends ate the frogs legs and said they were spectacular. I hesitated to choose the escargots and the frogs legs because it referred to the sauce as having Absinth and I don't like that taste in food but our friends told me they couldn't taste any trace of anise...next time. I found the bread did not measure up to the food and is a shame. But the vinaigrette used on the leek salad and served for the bread was wonderful. We sat all the way in the back and I was taken aback by a chemical smell which made the meal less pleasant for me. The decor is very shopworn and could use a bit of sprucing up not a total makeover mind you. The service was prompt and lovely.

The atmosphere of Chez Napoléon is that of small-town France, which is to say charmingly old fashioned. The minute we walked in earlier this month we sighed and imagined that we were back in one of our favorite French eateries. The food was French, the décor was French, and people spoke French: delightful atmosphere. We decided to have the prix fixe dinner and were immediately brought a basket of excellent bread (the French love their bread) and a dipping sauce. Then came salads, nicely dressed. My husband had hunter's chicken, while I had a superb trout with vegetables. Dessert was included in the prix fixe, but we wanted soufflés. That took a bit of maneuvering, as Madame insisted we then had to change to the à la carte menu rather than just having the prix fixe and adding a soufflé. So we did, which was a bit pricier, but the soufflés were well worth the extra bother. Chez Napoléon is definitely a little bit of French heave in New York.

You have to hear about it because its a NYC secret! Small restaurant (guess about 30 - 40 people). Wonderful food, quaint, fine dining.

Visited directly after a theatre matinee. Not that far to walk from the main theatres of Time Square. A reservation is a good idea as it is relatively small and popular. I have eaten in many French restaurants in France and a reasonable number in the US. This is not gourmet food but good solid cuisine that you find in good family restaurants in France serving traditional dishes and without the pretention of many French restaurants in the US. The hostess and wait staff are friendly and helpful and along with the old decor give you very much that authentic family restaurant feel. Prices are not out of line for the area for a good restaurant.

We have dined here for many years and Chez Napoleon never disappoints. Service is always prompt, courteous and professional. This restaurant is great for pre theatre dinner. We especially enjoy the mussels in white sauce.

Had high hopes for this restaurant. Sadly, were disappointed. Service was very not up to par. Only two servers for restaurant. Unable to keep up. Water glasses not refilled, long time between taking orders for each course of menu. Waited forever to have dinner plates picked up, then waited even longer to even have dessert menus brought to our table. When server finally returned to take our order, informed us we couldn't get souffle because we didn't order it at the beginning. Very frustrating especially since we waited so long after finishing our entree before anyone even came to take our order. Seemed like more than enough time to get the souffle. Overall, probably worst dining experience we have ever had in NYC. If you are used to great food/service, please don't waste a meal here. Overall, food was mixed. Escargot was good, French onion soup was just ok... Entrees were good. Service was definitely bad. Nothing about the place is exceptional or worth visiting for travelers. Atmosphere was cozy.

Love this restaurant! We always head here our first night in NYC. Love their vinaigrette, always buy a couple of bottles to bring home. We appreciate the inexpensive - but good - wine list. Love the steak guillaume, sole meuniere, frog legs, cassoulette, artichoke vinaigrette, soupe l'onion, foie gras...and the Grand Marnier souffle. Service very French, Our favorite restaurant in NYC, not gourmet, but home cooking from grand-mere.

I’ve had better French cuisine elsewhere, frankly; my sirloin steak was just meh, but the real disappointment was the chocolate mousse for dessert, which had the incorrect texture & tasted like Jello pudding, frankly. To top it all off, the owner bizarrely wedged us in next to a table so close by, I could literally hear the people @ the next table chewing & even breathing. Completely uncomfortable & totally unnecessary—particularly since there were open tables on the other side. While I empathize with how much restaurants have struggled amid the pandemic, that does not excuse mediocre food & poor judgment. There are simply too many other good choices elsewhere. If this establishment plans to remain afloat, it needs to seriously step up its game. Immediately.

We have been coming to Chez for about 8 years now. Each time we go my wife always gets the Duck Confit. This time was no different. Awesome food as always. Chez has always been a little quirky, but that is what gives it the charm it has. Just beware they don't do seatings after 9:30. So get there before the show!

Exquisite, classic French bistro favored by New Yorkers for decades, still serves timeless Gallic delights in its cozy West Side space: escargots, duck and fish are lovingly prepared, and of course, the bistro specialty of steak frites is uncommonly tasty, but you should order an extra plate of frites because those without them will poach yours. However, order the superb souffle before anything else, so it can rise lovingly after your main course. And, if you are going to a show - they will definitely get you well fed and in a good mood as the curtain rises.

We were really looking forward to dining at this French family-run restaurant, and to start it appeared we had made a good choice. It was somewhat odd having a Goth bartender, but he had nothing to so with us and seemed to spend most of his time just sitting and using his mobile phone. The meals were not up to expectation unfortunately and the service was basically non-existent, with no attempt to pour wine. The duck (Confit de canard) was passable, but just came with a load of French fries and a small side dish of shredded squash.

We had high hopes for this highly recommended restaurant but they were dashed from the beginning. We selected Bordeaux Superior but were served a Bordeaux with a brand name, but clearly they could have given us any Bordeaux. The escargot was out of a can and served in reusable shells. They charged us $10 to share the duck, which amounted To $10 for an extra spoon full of very ordinary wild rice. The duck was nothing to write home about. One may call it a neighborhood restaurant, but we call,it "tired".

On oasis in bustling NY, this is Chez Napoleon. You want to eat French, speak a little French, be treated by the ladies like in France, this is the place to be. A small place with a cozy atmosphere makes you feel very comfortable from the very beginning. To be specially recommended is the three course menue. Wines from France add favorably to the exceptional experience.

I had a business lunch in the front part of the restaurant. This area is a bit tight for space, but there seems to be more room in back that probably wasn't open for lunch. The waiter was knowledgeable about food and wine, preparation techniques and suggestions for pairings. He was a combination of French and perky which was a little more energy than I wanted for the business lunch. He provided great service with attentiveness. The food was terrific. The sauce on the asparagus appetizer was delightful, and the asparagus was peeled (a lost art) near the base and was cooked until crisp but chewable. Delicious. Coq au vin came in the pot. The sauce's color was a deep burgundy bordering on purplish-brown. It was LOADED with flavor, and the chicken was tender, juicy and also wonderful. Just wonderful. My colleague enjoyed the fois gras and a fish entree. I'd surely return, and you should try it out or go for the first time. This is a smaller gem worth patronizing.