Little Owl Reviews

4.5

72 of 13,360 Restaurants in New York City


Reviews

Excellent dinner: probably best food we had

By LOVE2EAT56 |

Our reservation was early but that was fine, having only just arrived in New York. Excellent and friendly service, terrific food and a really great vibe. Started with an ok cocktail. I had a couple of sliders (comforting mini burgers) while Himself had confit duck. We both had the Halibut and the corn & pea salad gave texture and sweetness. Couldn't recommend it enough.

A Lovely Experience

By TAsaro |

The Little Owl is a charming restaurant on a quiet street in a lovely part of the city. The inside of the restaurant is warm and welcoming and we were lucky enough to get a window seat. The service is very good as is the food. I had the arctic char and my wife the halibut and for dessert we indulged in the gelato. Our meals were both delicious. I recommend the Little Owl - it will not disappoint.

Cozy delicious dining

By Mai M |

Although there’s not a lot is space at The Little Owl, the dishes that came out of the small kitchen were definitely big in taste. The risotto Blanco was wonderfully creamy. It’s a small serving so don’t plan to share. The lasagna on the other hand is big enough for an entree. We were told it came from a family recipe and it did not disappoint. If available (it was a special the night we dine) definitely order it! The fish dishes were also good. We had the halibut served with chive mash potatoes and Porgy fish with crispy lobster paella. Both were delicious. Also ordered the pork chop with butter beans which was another good decision. The service was excellent. It’s perfect for couples and for groups if everyone does not mind dining in close quarter.

Pleasant place with great food

By Peter B |

Everything was fine and right. We went early and it was about 3/4 full. Small place, can be a little cramped, but the coziness makes up for it. Informal but very polite and effective service. We cleaned every plate. Mussels were plump, soft and the soup was nicely spiced, dunking strongly recommended. Nice bread only encourages it. Grilled sardines are unexpectedly combined with caesar salad, but the result is excellent. Cauliflower with oyster mushrooms - not a side, has to be appreciated on its own. Nights' special was Black Cod with lobster salsa. Also excellent. Strongly recommended. Don't be distracted by hordes of tourists taking pictures of the house - it's the "Friends" house (from the show).

Fantastic service

By SE7727 |

We arrived here a tiny bit late but thankfully our table was still held for us, despite it being super busy. I had put on our reservation that it was our anniversary and they gave us a glass of prosecco on the house which was such a lovely gesture. We had amazing service and the food was fantastic! Definitely go here if you can!

Return visit, still great

By Le Frank |

This is my wife and I's third trip but our first for dinner. We made reservations for 2 but I called an hour before and asked to change it to 3 people and they were very nice and accommodating. None of the entrees really jumped out at us so we split several appetizers and desserts with a bottle of Prosecco. It was a very nice evening. Corn soup was good but a little sweet. Beef Carpaccio was good. Sliders were delicious, as always. Ricotta Cavatelli was a highlight. Cheese cake was excellent but a little small. and the Beignets are a favorite of ours. Will return

Good food, but such a tight space

By Caroline S |

My husband and I met a friend for lunch. Overall, the food was great, but the space was so tight that it made the experience uncomfortable. That was true both physically (and we are not big people) and because you felt pressure to get the table turned over quickly to accommodate more people trying to enter who couldn’t fit. So, it was not a relaxing place to catch up with friends. I had the branzino with lobster paella, and he had the onion soup and eggplant parm.

Amazing Service!

By EastBostonGuy |

I don’t understand some of the service criticism. I’ve eaten in a lot of restaurants and I think the service here was among the best I’ve ever experienced (warm, informative). Bravo!

Flavorful afternoon snack

By Sally B |

Came here for a very late lunch/snack. Had the sliders and the beet salad. Both were so tasty. The staff were very professional and friendly. Many tourists taking photos bc the facade was featured in Friends.

Rude staff

By jessml89 |

Liked the look of this placed so headed in and were met by a waiter at the door, we told him that we'd like a few drinks and despite the restaurant/bar being less than half full, were told they were "busy" Nothing else. Had they said all these empty tables and seats were reserved maybe I would have bought it, but that was clearly not the case. I assume they don't want anyone in there for drinks only(not that they bothered to say that) even though you could very easily surpass the cost of a meal with drinks.. If the place was remotely busy I might have understood, but it was dead. We moved on and had much friendlier service elsewhere.

An Intimate Dining Experience

By Alan R |

This was my second visit to The Little Owl and it was an outstanding experience again. Theresa who is the manager is so lovely, welcoming and kind, as well as her staff who are truly committed to their service. Zack who was our waiter for the evening was very accommodating. The repast was definitely a gastronomic delight and every bite was mouth watering! This Le petit bistro is worth the unforgettable dining experience!

Great Brunch!

By MrsMax |

Came here with my husband for brunch on January 1, 2019. Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere inside. The place is intimate and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The nostalgia of being under the “friends” apartment was just awesome and the front of the building makes for a great photo!

SO good!

By linnycas |

Went here on a recent visit with friends. The food was amazing as well as the service. Definitely make reservations as it is a small place and always busy. I had a special that was a skirt steak and arugula salad. Delish!

Charming and Romantic Dinner

By ApprovedbyCraig |

What a little gem! it is the cutest little restaurant with amazing food and service. You do have to just sit and chuckle at all the people taking photos of the building ( i guess the building is where the show Friends was based) it will be a regular stop for us when we return to NYC!

Finally -- The Restaurant with the Famous Awning

By Canne803 |

OK, so I had to finally see what was inside of that awning-fronted cafe I have noticed for 30 years now at the base of the Friends' apt building! On a family trip to NY, our table of 6 were seated right in the middle of the petite inside space for Sunday brunch. It's a lively scene in there, and we were moved by the proposal that took place when we arrived, at which time Little Owl played Nat King Cole's L-O-V-E on their speakers to celebrate! Had a reservation for noon, but table wasn't ready until about 20 minutes later, but that was totally ok, and the food was worth the wait. French toast - wonderful. Mushroom omelette - yum. Our niece had the chicken sandwhich and it was huge - she loved it and had leftovers for later. Really enjoyed our time at Little Owl, the neighborhood and hope to be back.

Lovely Breakfast

By NyMcW |

Found by accident, only had to wait a few mins for a table and had one of the nicest breakfasts ever! Lovely staff and atmosphere Tiny place but Huge value

Perfect

By inskip |

A truly magical experience. The food was fantastic and the vibe was buzzing. The staff made us feel welcome from start to finish, next time we visit NYC the first thing we will do is book a table. cannot express how much of a good time we had.Perfect !!

DELICIOUS BRUNCH!!!

By Jennifer F |

We went here because of a friend's suggestion and glad we did... Our family of four, had brunch here, this past weekend and we loved it! You MUST make reservations because the place maybe has 15 tables. It's so tiny, but so quaint...perfect neighborhood haunt. My daughter had the French toast and it was incredible! We all LOVED IT! I had the chilaquiles and they were very, very good and my husband had their version of an Eggs Benedict and again, GREAT! My son had the bacon cheeseburger and WOW! DELCIOUS! Great service, and fairly quick arrival for the food after we ordered. We would highly recommend this place!

Buzzy restaurant with great food and wine

By ElaineHHiggins |

A lovely find as when their sister restaurant (Mary Lane was unexpectedly closed) they booked us in to the Little Owl. The welcome 'tea' was a delight and 4 girlfriends settled down for a great dinner and just what was needed for our first night in NYC after our flight from London. I can't recommend this place highly enough and look forward to a return visit. Do go and enjoy the atmosphere and the very friendly and professional staff - at every level. Enjoy

Great lunch spot

By cassieweller |

A perfect little neighborhood restaurant. It has great staff, food and setting. As it is small, it has a nice homey atmpsphere. The menu is carefully composed. Recommend the soft-shell crabs.

Lovely lovely place

By AndyandHeather |

Stumbled upon this place whilst wandering in a lovely relaxed part of New York, a crowd outside taking pictures of what turned out to be an apartment block used in scenes of Friends (which I have never watched!) Anyway, we booked to return for lunch a little later - and what a decision that turned out to be. Great service, excellent food with a Mexican theme - every dish was extremely good. Highly recommend and love to return for dinner when next in New York as I think it would be a bit special.

You need to visit

By Trusty_Traveller |

Such a cosy little spot in a lovely location. I couldn’t recommend the Little Owl more to anyone visiting New York. All the staff were great and the food was some of the best on the trip.

Not the best visit at all

By Netakuzy |

We have waited for a very long time for the dishes, they were ok and some were less than that. They forgot our sides…The host was super rude! During the payment she literally was making sure we will give a big tip. When one of us had decided to tip 15% and not 20%, she actually said out loud “ oh so u’ve tipped 4 dollars. When it was my turn she was so impatient and rude that she just left her machine and took off. Not recommend unfortunately…

Worth the Wait

By alchemistchef |

Am happy to have waited 30 min for today's brunch. The beignets were great; as good as Cafe du Monde's. Brioche French toast was custardy, delicious and served with real maple syrup. My companion had the cheese and mushroom omelet, served with a side salad, and raved about it. The lace was clean and the service was great. We sat quite comfortable at the bar. Our server, Erin, was quite pleasant and welcoming. This is my new 'go to' place for brunch!!

10/10 meal and atmosphere

By Ryan M |

Delicious specials today for brunch - the outstanding French Dip and a Salmon Scramble. Maybe the best french fries in the city, and fun to see the tourists outside the window across the street marvel at this quaint corner of the West Village.

Great food and great space

By jg2203 |

This restaurant is on such a quaint street. The food we had (short ribs, cavatelli appetizer, crispy chix) was great ! The staff is very attentive. Make sure you make a reservation - the space can only accommodate a small amt of tables)

Very nice

By Kevin G |

Following a friend's recommendation, we decided to give this place a try, and we were not disappointed. The outdoor seating area was lovely and added to the overall experience. We sampled boiled eggs and sliders with meatballs and sauce. Both dishes exceeded our expectations. The poached egg biscuit was delightful, and the sauce on the sliders was particularly delicious. I wholeheartedly recommend this place to others; it's a culinary gem worth visiting!

First visit will definitely go back

By Dan K |

My brother was in town so was looking for a West Village restaurant after a matinee and came across really good reviews. Excellent food, really good service, wine was a bit pricey but will return.

The Noise is Excruciating

By BabsDan |

The food is very good, I think. But, they were blasting music so loud we couldn't talk or actually taste anything because the sound level just overwhelmed our senses. There were 5 of us at a table and none of us could talk to the person next to them without screaming. Of course, everybody in the restaurant was doing that which added to the noise. Then, I guess because everyone was talking so loud, they turned up the music, despite being asked to turn it down. We were there to catch up with people we hadn't seen in a while and could not have a conversation. Literally, the music was as loud as in a dance hall - just outrageous and excruciating. The best part of the evening is when we left and walked outside. The quiet was a pleasure. I've been there before and this wasn't an issue, so perhaps there's new staff or ownership. Whatever, it was an excruciating evening.

A Village gem! Great brunch and amazing service!

By BushTraveller_9 |

We bumped into this place after running away from the North Fork, just a block away. From the moment we arrived, the service was super friendly and quick. As we were there for brunch, we got the poached eggs, pancakes and a side of fries. All super tasty! The place is also very charming and in a quiet corner of the Village. We will definitely come back!

Overrated Restaurant

By Laleh |

Went to the Little Owl for dinner with 3 friends. It is a lovely restaurant with beautiful decor and good ambiance. Though it was a little too dark when it got dark outside to the point that it was hard for us to see our food. I ordered their fish and risotto special and the Eggplant Parmesan from the menu. I liked their eggplant dish, however, the special wasn’t good specifically for the price we paid. Overall, all of us found the food overpriced for the quality and taste we got and believe that the restaurant is overrated.

Fantastic little place

By TopTraveller101 |

10 years ago my wife and I got married rather spontaneously in New York (proposal/engagement on Sunday, licence on Monday, married on Tuesday) and after the wedding and formalities went for lunch to The Little Owl for our first meal as a married couple. Back in NYC to celebrate our 10th anniversary we went back to The Little Owl for our anniversary dinner. Of course we’d booked, which is essential as it’s a tiny place and rightly very busy, and let them know the reason for our return visit. They were very sweet about it, loved our story and treated us really well. The meal was superb, atmosphere lovely, everything perfect. Can’t speak more highly of it.

Really lovely but over priced ..,

By Guy Armstrong |

Nice restaurant with pleasant staff. Good music and vibe. The quality of the food was high but the price of a mediocre bottle of wine push the price of the meal beyond the value of the experience, which was a shame.....,

Heard it was the Best Brunch in NYC

By NYCtoEurope |

As a die hard New Yorker, I'm always looking for cool new place to try. I heard this restaurant was the "Best Brunch" in NYC. Now here is the deal, this is a small "local" restaurant. Absolutely packed and you need to realize up front that you may have a stranger sitting on your lap. (We experienced this and did not mind) I would recommend a reservation, it is that crowded. All of this said, a terrific and inventive brunch menu, heavy on the Mexican and Italian, but I like that. I ordered the Chilaquile and substituted the green enchilada sauce for the red sauce, delicious. My wife ordered the Joe's Special and loved it! They were extremely solicitous and apologetic for the crowding situation. Also a short but terrific beer list.

Amazing!

By Momoise |

Dinner for one did not disappoint. My travel partner's flight was delayed. I called in hopes to get in last minute. Jorge made a space for me at the end of the bar. He, Jenn and the entire staff provided me with the best service and recommendations. I started with the squash and ordered the entree special - the monkfish and risotto, everything was delicious. They also recommended the Baby Bear, Syrah, yummy! Thank you for making my trip to NY extra special!

Wonderful!!

By Ryan |

This place is a go-to for us!! Jorge has been our server several times now and huge kudos to him for his lovely personality and hospitality. The food here is amazing and they always have delicious seasonal ingredients.

Cute and cozy Village spot with excellent food

By WonderMan3 |

Had dinner here while visiting the West Village based on reviews here on Trip Advisor. Made a reservation about a month in advance since it sounded like it was a fairly busy place. That turned out to be true. Arrived for our 5:30pm reservation on a Saturday and found the place almost fully booked. Our table was ready for us though so no waiting. The restaurant is very small with tables close to each other. We live in Provincetown where most of the restaurants are like that so we're used to it. As it filled up it also got very loud so this is probably not a place to go for a quiet and romantic atmosphere. Service was casual, friendly and efficient. Almost too efficient as the server brought me a third glass of wine when I hadn't ordered one. She apologized and took it off the bill but left it on the table which was nice. The food was the highlight as everything was excellent. We both had the corn soup to start which had fantastic flavor. Then we split the gravy meatball sliders which were smaller than expected but very tasty. For the main entree we both ordered the crispy chicken which was cooked perfectly. For dessert I tried the Spiced Sugar Beignets while my husband had some sorbet with both rounding out the meal nicely. We would definitely return and would highly recommend.

Anniversary Meal

By PetePanda1972 |

Fantastic experience from start to finish. Staff were really welcoming when we arrived, and despite a very short delay in waiting for our table to be free (which meant we could soak up the local atmosphere anyway!) we were soon seated.. Menu choice was good, and the quality of the food was excellent - as was the wine. We would definitely recommend this place and will certainly visit again on our next trip to NYC

Great meal

By louisebleas |

My family and I visited this restaurant in the West Village on our last evening in New York and really enjoyed it. The restaurant has a lovely relaxed atmosphere - the service was very good and staff very welcoming. The food was excellent - all four of us has a different starter and main course and all were delicious. The meatball sliders were a particular favourite! I’d recommend a visit if you’re in New York.

Overpriced and menu not suited for families

By PAN A |

So this is the restaurant in the shot of the Friends appointment. Menu way overpriced and not kid friendly. Waitress was constantly turning people away .. there were plenty of empty tables inside and out. These guys could do so much better as the only reason to visit is the Friends connection.

Wow this is a real Gem

By Macdariens |

What an exceptional experience. The service is unbelievable and the food to match. We met with friends and had such a wonderful night over a perfect meal. I can’t recommend this experience strongly enough. Enjoy!!

small and noisy

By mvittoriaItaly |

I can't say the the food wasn't good (though not very sophisticated), but I didn't enjoy it to the full due to the noise: ok people chatting and having fun, but please turn down the volume of the music! We could hardly hear each other at the table. When we got out we found out that the building is where the tv series "Friends" was located.

Sunday Brunch

By Rose_Kavalier |

The Little Owl is a wonderful gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. We were a party of four and all of us loved the food and cocktails. The service was excellent. The restaurant is very small and I recommend making reservations in advance. The only negative is the noise level which makes it hard to have a conversation (we were there for a Sunday brunch and the restaurant was full).

They worked hard to accomodate us

By Michelfoucault |

We had a 24-hour-long adventure in which we were initially told our reservation, due to computer scheduler error, had been cancelled. We loved the reviews we had read and had reserved for the celebration of our daughter's college graduation. They dealt graciously with my irritability and pushiness over multiple phone calls and eventually made it work that our original reservation was honored. They deserve and extra star for their effort. The restaurant is small and homey. Nothing overly glitzy, and very one-of-a-kind personal. The staff are attentive, human, warm, and down-to-earth, without hovering. The food was all good. We had a variety of seafood dishes--grilled whole fish with tomato-based sauce, and pan seared halibut over a really nice gazpacho.

Fantastic dinner

By blakecleary |

The entire experience was great. We had good wine, great side dishes, awesome main dishes and amazing deserts. The staff was friendly and helpful. I can’t wait to go back:)

Everyone at this place is so cheerful. 😚

By Lori springer |

A lovely evening at a really iconic restaurant. The service was impeccable, the food filling and delicious, and the atmosphere was truly unique. Everyone at this place is so cheerful. The happy vibe of this place makes it a really good experience.

Excellent lunch

By Wansp15 |

Strolling through the streets of Greenwich, we arrived in Bedford street by the end of the morning. Unfortunately The Little Owl was not open yet, so we checked the menu card by the entrance door and decided it was worth to wait till the restaurant would open. The restaurant is really tiny but very cosy, and maybe because it was just open for lunch, we were lucky enough to have a table without any reservation. The staff was really welcoming and friendly and took the time for us and the other guests. By their suggestions I had the cheeseburger, which was really delicious and my friend the risotto. The price quality is really good, considering the size and the quality of the dishes. We enjoyed our dishes, the service and our time there. The neighbourhood is also lovely, a little escape from the busy centre. I will definitely recommend this restaurant when you visit New York.

Fantastic meal!

By Nestacres |

Was lucky enough to get an early table at this restaurant and it was well worth it! Fairly easy to spot due to the hordes of tourists photographing it as it is the bottom floor of the apartment building used for 'Friends'. Small with only about 20 tables but really high quality food, with excellent service and very large portions! Well worth a visit!

Cute and cozy brunch

By HolidayE |

My daughter and I met friends for Sunday brunch and we really enjoyed it! The food was really delicious, especially the croissant sandwich special. My mimosa was tiny and at $15 probably not worth it, but the coffee was hot and delicious and our server was very friendly. The beignets were yummy - be advised that the raspberry and Nutella sauces are poured on top and on the plate so if you aren’t sure you like that, ask for it on the side. Leave time to walk around this cute neighborhood too!

The best place we ate in NYC

By CO 111 |

What a jewel. This charming place had (by far) the best food and at the best cost on NYC. Friendly staff. Charming location. Worth the drive. And of you like the sitcom, Friends ... you will have an extra surprise. You won’t be disappointed.

THE LITTLE OWL TOWNHOUSE EVENT SPACE

By dca1125 |

REALLY WELL DONE. Last night we were guests at a dinner for about 40. Cocktails were served both on the main floor of the townhouse and on the lower level (basement) which was quite pleasant. Then dinner up two flights. We joked that it was like being at dinner in Amsterdam. The table was long and we were able to talk with about 8 people with whom we were sitting (sort of like being at a table for 8). Staff was terrific. Food was terrific. Of course, this was a 25th birthday celebration and we were the old guys. For a private party, consider it.

Must go

By Martin L |

Seats approx 35 people. Every dish was delish. Started with split pasta and beet salad. Then the entree’s- Orkin chop with beans and a special fried crab. Brought it home with a half order of binieghs sp? Highly recommend

Dinner

By bksjrau |

Had the most enjoyable experience at little owl for our final night in NYC! Staff is incredibly attentive and food was amazing! Had the fish special, smoked pork chop, crispy chicken, all prepared to perfection. The little cafe is quite a gem! Highly recommend

YOU WOULD BE WISE TO EAT HERE

By 1Trippermonth |

First time at The Little Owl. It is a small and quaint restaurant in the West Village with excellent food. The flounder and seafood spaghetti were great choices. Service was a little slow but the staff was pleasant. Nice spot to try if you’re looking for a cozy place to eat. Probably not recommend a large group due to the size.

The place is simply fabulous. Just loved it.... again! A real find in a busy city.

By AlexGil |

Hits the mark every time.... well, both times that I've been here! Halloween and our placement in a window table brought a wealth of joy from all the children passing by on their way to/from the parade. I love the atmosphere, the service and the quality of Little Owl. Tucked away in a local enclave it is a welcome relief from the never ending hustle bustle that is the Big Apple. Recommended: gumbo (unbelievably good); cod, sardines and whole filleted fish, all cooked to perfection. French Rose was a perfect match. A wonderful night in this gem of a restaurant.

Phenonmenal

By Comandante-of-Fun |

This is an amazing place. Food was outstanding, atmosphere was relaxed and cozy, and service excellent. Everything was great-- the meatball sliders, pork chop with brown butter beans, and string beans with chile and oyster sauce. Enjoyed the cheesecake topped win fruit and mint for dessert. For a cocktail, try their Negroni

Fabulous Find in The Village

By herb12345 |

Our visit to The Little Owl was fabulous from start to finish. We were warmly greeted at the door and every person on the staff was also friendly... you are made to feel tremendously welcome. The soft shell crab appetizer was outstanding. Pork chop was juicy and tasty. Crispy chicken was the perfect combination of crispy outside and moist inside with great flavor...served on a bed of roasted crispy potatoes and perfectly sautéed asparagus. String bean side dish is almost Szechwan style with soy, sesame, and red chili pieces. Great wine list and assorted desserts. Please note this is a very small restaurant...tables are small and close and it can be noisy (we ate at the small bar where there is a little more room). Can’t wait to go again!

Very authentic feel

By elin8 |

Would have give this 4.5 but couldn’t. Great atmosphere and very cosy place. Staff were very nice, cosy and authentic vibe all around. Steak was fantastic, scallop starter had a bit ‘too many ingredients’. Got good wine recommendations. We would definitely go back. Not cheap though. :-)

I Won't Go Back

By Rose_Kavalier |

I went a few years ago and loved this restaurant. However, I can not recommend it now. The skate sandwich was over-cooked and the fish was not fresh. The chilaquiles came with soggy tortilla chips covered in a red sauce with a teaspoon of guacamole. The roasted corn was okay. Very disappointing.

A 10* restaurant

By Suzy G |

Favourite restaurant & meal this trip from London... My pork chop & butter beans was beyond delicious... & the Service was 10* - all the staff made it a more than memorable evening. Thank you.

Very nice little restaurant in the Village in the “Friends” building

By garomano |

You are practically in the Village, and in particular in the building where "Friends" was filmed, in fact at any time of day or night there are tourists and locals on pilgrimage. Very simple but nice and "warm" room. We ate a steak (very good) while sipping a glass of Pinot Noir red wine and my daughter a trio of hamburgers which she ate with appetite, finding it to her liking. Average prices for being in NYC but high for a European.

Top 5 west village restaurant

By mhl202018 |

One of our favorite local go tos. Never disappoints. It’s tight but 5ats just ano5er way to say cozy.

Fun, flirty, amazing - you should get reservations!

By Mary F |

Wow wow wow! Friendly and fun staff with delicious flirty food. French fires are listed as a seasonal vegetable!! We had a 5 PM seating because we had a 7 PM show. The staff rolled right with us and kept us on schedule. We both had the scallops, which were on special - AMAZING!!! The Little Owl couldn’t have been more perfect!

best restaurant in New York!

By Truereview122 |

In our opinion we had the best meal in 4 days at this absolute little cracker of a restaurant. Located in the building ‘friends’ was filmed at this little place was a winner from start to finish. Casual and bustly, extremely friendly serving team and food was fantastic. All made on the premises and a surprise cheesecake for my husbands birthday which was the best cheesecake I have ever eaten (I let him have some too!). Would recommend anyone to go here (just as I was recommended). Thank you Little Owl for such a great lunch. If we visit NYC again we will Definitely be back !

Saturday morning breakfast at The Little Owl

By Charles West |

My husband brought me to NYC for my first ever visit and this was my first meal in NYC. Could not have been better! This was a very charming corner cafe. It was nice people watching and the food was incredible with a ton of flavor. Would highly recommend checking them out!

An amazing meal

By Brian R |

Intimate but lovely restaurant, not a bad seat in the house. Just might have been the best food I’ve had this decade.

Not good

By Walk On I |

Service average. Food not special. Dirty surroundings. Leaking aircondition. Overall nothing special. Not recommended.

Never disappoints!

By Go2FunFood |

Seating is tight which makes it fun. Meatballs are always on the menu and we love them! Service is perfect, this time it was Meredith. The benignets are fabulous.

Friends

By IYVRTRAVELLER |

The most charming dining room , Amazing food . Amazing Service ! Can not wait to go back ! Make a reso & go ! Found out later the ‘Friends ‘ apt was photographed from the top floor above this amazing place .. just a fun fact ..

An exquisite brunch

By Gkpv |

We were seated outdoors on a very nice day. Service was prompt. Food was delicious. Seating seemed a bit crowded. But it worked out. The beignets was delicious. The French toasts were yummy. The delicata squash was amazing.

Cozy spot, good food

By C B |

The Little Owl is a small but very nicely designed space; although possibly somewhat touristy (due to the famous "Friends" apartment across the street) at times, it seemed like a nice mix of locals and out of towners (our party included). We had a salmon dish (very good) and dorado (also very good) with a paella, though the lobster paella seemed a bit too much of a mixture to differentiate what was in it (mostly rice; lobster was good). Next time I would try the halibut with chive mashed potatoes - comfort food would have been great on a very cold night. The brussels sprouts with pecans was a very nice veggie dish. The cherry kahlua bread pudding - excellent! They know how to do desserts here. Tables are a bit close together so if you don't mind cozy, it's fine. We went early around 5:30 pm and were able to call that day and get a table reserved.

Excellent food, nice wine selection, horrible waitress

By cynthiakunz |

The food was excellent and I love the atmoshere in this little restaurant. We also had a really good wine although a little overpriced. I would have givven 5 stars, but the waitress we had was so rude, I couldn't believe it.

Perfect as usual

By Mary M |

When we arrived for our reservation our table was not yet ready so they put some seats outside, poured us some prosecco and even came out with a little bowl of fries. They kept us informed and offered a different table but we held out for the corner which was ideal. What a difference it makes when a restaurant focuses on customer service. Keeping us updated and providing a snack and drink was a perfect touch. The meal itself was wonderful from the tuscan bread with olive oil to the marvelous, not-to-be-missed meatball sliders to an amazing peach and almond crumble topped with mascarpone ice cream. It is a little space with a sweet atmosphere and great service. If I'm in New York - I try to visit The Little Owl.

Quaint neighborhood joint

By Kenneth Pages |

Our good friend Ed Gunning suggested this as one of his favorites. I didn't know it was in the Friends' building and it was funny to watch people outside jumping up to take pictures like the cast in that show. It was easy to get a reservation and even to expand the reservation from 2 to 4 people. Our table was ready when we arrived. It's a small place and cozy - not too tight. Regular menu all looked great and the specials involved Truffles. The truffle shave was generous. Wine options were good and there were some modest options. There is no liquor - only been and wine so keep this in mind. It's a lie I can see people going as regulars!

Romantic dinner

By East_Molesey |

The restaurant was recommended by a good friend and so we had fairly high expectations. We ate well. Service was prompt and very friendly. Tables are a bit close together, so not a lovey/dovey venue, but fun nonetheless. Recommended.

Fabulous Lunch!

By AmyC723 |

Went with three other women, and we all had salads and I will say that all plates were entirely cleaned at the end of our meal. For the Birthday Girl, they brought four delicious beignets. Very scrumptious and the waitress that we had was outstanding. I had the Arugula Salad which they were kind enough to change to Bibb Lettuce and to which I added chicken. I would imagine that it is hard to get into Little Owl without reservations.

Superlatives do not do justice

By TreehouseRetreat |

Ok so I quite often rate highly. But we choose carefully. On this occasion I wanted to give 6 stars. I would rave about the service but the food was better, but we did follow most of the recommendations of fantastic staff. As a couple we ordered an entree, and a side of asparagus and a main ... .ample food of the highest quality (the sauce with the gnocchi and the taile fish were standouts and then dessert (wow). On top of this we did not have a reservation on an obviously busy night but still made to feel especially welcome, even as visitors to the city.

Expected to Love this Place But . . . . . .

By jbgshrink |

Met a friend here for dinner recently and we were both disappointed. I know this is a very popular place but I wasn't prepared for how tiny it is; how the tables, as a result, are very close to one another and it is noisy; how limited the menu is and how pricey it is. The corn soup was incredibly delicious. We both loved it. Because none of the entrees appealed to us we both ordered the eggplant parmesan, which is listed as a side vegetable. The coating on the eggplant was mushy and the dish had little flavor. For dessert we shared an order of beignets, which were lovely. Would I give this another try ? Yes. Because of its reputation. So many people can't be so wrong.

Tell all your friends

By Jay |

I have wanted to dine here for a little while and I was not disappointed. The food was exceptional, as was the service. An incredibly pleasant dining experience from start to finish.

Bar underneath the Friends apartment building

By Rachel F |

We stumbled upon the place because we went to see the friends apartment building. It’s a lovely bar with really friendly staff. Well worth a trip. We stopped for a bottle of wine and just loved it here.

Back to Little Owl

By Wheels8165 |

Our reservation was for 8 pm and we were seated promptly! We sat outside and the tables were spaced with plenty of room between them for comfort. Our server was friendly and professional , she didn’t rush us and was helpful in making menu choices . The bucatini was outstanding , as was the halibut , just delicious, fresh, and hearty . The strawberry rhubarb crumble with gelato was warm and yummy, perfect for sharing . We have been to Little Owl before and would not hesitate going back, great little restaurant!

A little gem of New York!

By sjs27 |

We had lunch here yesterday having visited the ‘friends’ building. From start to finish it was perfect. Upon arrival our coats were taken & we were seated by the window. I Instantly loved the relaxed atmosphere. Our server was named Jessica and she was very polite & helpful! My partner chose the chicken with Brussels fries, sounds odd but he said it tasted really really good, he cleared his plate! I chose the bacon cheese burger and fries & it was by far the best burger I’ve had in New York and the fries were perfectly cooked and seasoned! As with a lot of things in New York the portion was big which unfortunately left me no room for dessert but the menu looked delicious! My partner always has room for dessert & ordered the cinnamon beignets with raspberry sauce and chocolate spread. Jessica kindly left 2 forks, just in case I wanted to taste it. I’m so glad she did. Those little cinnamon balls are AMAZING! Warm, soft, sweet.. like little drops of heaven! We almost ordered more but unfortunately had to carry on with our day. If you’re in New York please visit the little owl you won’t be disappointed! The food is beautiful, the ambiance is lovely and the staff are so nice! A little gem of New York! When we return in the future we will definitely be coming back for lunch and dinner! :)

Friendly welcome, tasty food!

By GreenwichSarah |

We had walked past this restaurant during the day and it was packed so decided to try it for dinner one evening. We were not disappointed. Welcoming staff and a cosy environment were good starters. The menu was a delight to read too so making a decision was tricky! I opted for the onion soup followed by the Seabass which was the special and my partner opted for the Pork-neither of us were disappointed. Would love a restaurant like this in our neighbourhood in the UK!

Stunning, Cozy, Just Lovely!

By Sara Cooper |

We went as a group of 5 friends. We instantly got the cozy feeling of home when we stepped inside. Lovely atmosphere with great staff, and an inspiring kitchen staff to boot! Our drinks were superb, and our food was something out of a magazine! Absolutely stunning for a few small towners in a big city!

A Find in West Village

By Antionio10 |

It's been at least a dozen years since I have been to this restaurant. Not many restaurants keep up the quality, but this one does. Everything was very good. We loved the sea bass, cavatelli, and eggplant. The desserts were nice too including the bread pudding. Service was very good. Attentive, helpful, friendly and personable. The only drawback at this restaurant is the fact that there are only 28 seats with means that you would be wise to book well in advance.

Good food

By marcusgsh |

Had to make reservations to get in the woman on the phone was pretty rude and when we got to the restaurant we saw the woman in person and she was still rude. Anyways we got our table a lot of the things on the menu cost a lot but are of high quality and mostly you're paying for being the friends building. The food was good and was in my opinion worth the price.

Memorable

By helen_sylvester |

What a great place, have walked passed many times and photographed it as it is at the bottom of the famous building in Friends. Tiny little place with exceptional food and exceptional service. Highly recommend and make sure you book in advance. This is a very popular restaurant.

Good reviews but could be better

By alank1101 |

Nice, cozy atmosphere. Wouldn't recommend children as placed is small and tight, Serving portions small but helps with a glass of wine to not care. Just expected more in the quality of the preparations. Service was very good though. Worth to try at least once. Total meal cost a little pricey, ok, but no value with what was served.

Big Surprise for the Good!

By bcarpou |

Last evening we had what I would consider one of the best dining experiences we have ever had in NYC and we are seasoned visitors of the City. Everything was a 10 or better if possible. Incredible staff, great atmosphere and guests, food was simply off the charts. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks Teresa!

Wonderful time !

By hrmgr44 |

Thank you Monica and the fantastic team at little owl ! We were treated with joyful kindness & spoilt with amazing food ! Wonderful memories :) Angela Nick Eilis @ Caitlin xx xx

A wonderful lunch spot

By BALSydney |

A great little restaurant tucked between Greenwich Village and SoHo. The staff were fun and knew their menu and the food was lovely. Unknown to us the restaurant is in the "Friends" building so it was fun watching a procession of tourists rolling up outside to take the obligatory selfie. Skip that and just go for lunch.

Perfect Mother's Day Brunch

By Madeleine B |

Loved bringing my mom here for Mother's Day! We made reservations online and were seated right away. Our food was out fast! My french toast was delicious and she loved her Eggs Benedict. Good coffee & fun but slightly overpriced cocktails - it's NYC. It's a small place, but didn't feel too crowded and you have a beautiful view of one of the cutest streets in the Village. Looking forward to going back for lunch or dinner. *Learned this from the woman who asked for it next to us - they did not have dairy-free milk options*

Relaxed ambience

By janeaustinNY |

We never realized this is open for breakfast! We actually went for Black Friday brunch. We both enjoyed a special omelet: smoked salmon, mushrooms, spinach, and peppers....quite delicious. That and a lovely cup of tea. The view looking down Grove Street toward St.Luke’s is quite historic, and quintessential West Village.

Small but delicious!

By NSD70 |

Had a lunch meeting at The Little Owl, the place is very small. The seating worked for my party of two specifically because there wasn't anyone sitting to our left or right which helped a lot. I would have felt a little claustrophobic if the place was crowded. The steak tacos were delicious, the other person in my party had the fish tacos which they loved. The kitchen is behind a glass wall, I do like when I can see inside the kitchen of a restaurant. I recommend this place and would definitely try it again.

Decent food..

By Eclectica E |

If you are looking for an early breakfast, this is not your place, otherwise they have a good variety of dishes, tasty food and good environment.

Fantastic place!

By DJC |

We had an amazing brunch. The meatball sliders are fantastic. The poached eggs as well. Small but cozy room. We will be back.

The Little Owl

By galluscat50 |

Walking round the Village, just before leaving for Kennedy, we found the Little Owl, and stopped for a last New York snack. Everything about this place is right. Relaxed atmosphere, cool decor, pleasant, helpful staff, and good food at reasonable prices. Personally? My favourite New York eating experience.

Yummy Chilaquiles

By justinel234 |

I wandered in here for brunch with some friends and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the chilaquiles and they were some of the best I've ever had. One of my friends ordered avocado toast, and the other had eggplant parmesian. They loved their food as well! We also appreciated the laid-back atmosphere and the prompt service.

A find for out of towners

By susanj007 |

Those of us who live in the city know about The Little Owl. It is small so reservations are hard to come by. Keep trying to get one as the food is first rate and the restaurant is loaded with charm!

Exceptional

By Amy T |

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Little Owl. It was a cold and rainy evening so when we rushed into the restaurant to get out of the rain, we were smack in the middle of the place...it is small. Really small. Which is probably why it’s tough to score a reservation. They open up 30 days prior and are highly recommended. Once we sat down (which did take some maneuvering), the server and the maitre d were right there checking on us and making sure we had everything we needed. The food...my husband got the daily special, which was a veal stew over papparadelle with shaved black truffles. It was out. of. control. It was the perfect meal on a cold, rainy night. I had a delicious salad of citrus and hearts of palm with a simple risotto that was perfectly prepared. We had a great wine with dinner but were too full for dessert. The only reason I would have ordered it is to have stayed a little longer to enjoy this cosy little spot.

Great brunch spot

By Happy415 |

In the Village, nice neighborhood restaurant. Do make a reservation because they are small and very busy. Service excellent and friendly, good coffee, fresh juices and many good choices for brunch. Have also been for dinner which is also very good.

First time at little owl

By Duddly |

My wife and I thought we would have brunch here since it is local dinning and of course the Friends Building which we always watched the show together when we were just friends growing up. The restaurant was small but the food was very good but priced reasonably. Enjoyed the Nutella raspberry app. I do recommend to eat at little owl but be prepared to have your picture taken from people standing and snapping pictures from outside the building.

Beer & Balls and brilliant service!!

By Neil S |

Popped in for a quick beer, whilst visiting the Friends apartment building, and was met by a very friendly host. Ended up having a snack and it was delicious….i can highly recommend the meatball sliders! 😋

Charming

By Whitney M |

Cozy space with amazing food. A place you can go back to again and again. It’s also entertaining watching all the tourist take pictures of the building (amazing how many people do). It’s a place everyone should go to whether a visitor or long time New Yorker.

Yum!

By Liz B |

We have visited a few times and every time we really enjoy it. The food was amazing as was the service. My only complaint is that the tables are so close to each other and I could hear the couple next to us argue very clearly.

Absoulety one of

By rbitv |

The best places we've had dinner in while in NYC. From the carpaccio and tuna starters to the salmon and amazing pork chop rherr is plenty of tasty food to fill you up. The service is second to none and the timing of the meal is perfect. It's amazing such good food comes out of such a ask kitchen, these guys are incredible. Small seating area so a reservation is recommended and no spirits only beer and wine, but don't let that stop you from a top notch NY meal..

Lovely little place

By Laura C |

This is a cute little spot with a few tables and a tiny bar area. We went for brunch. Service was good and the food was tasty, fresh and beautifully presented. The portions were small, though, especially the drinks - we got a small mug of coffee and a very small glass of juice for ten dollars. Not a cheap spot by any means but nice as a treat, and you get to watch crowds of tourists taking pictures of the Friends building if you sit by the window!

First rate quality of ingredients and preparation

By Gastronomers |

Very low key environment provided some of the best eating we have had as a family in a long time. My daughter had Halibut which is easy to overcook but it was flavorful and tender. My wife and I both had whole dorade that was crispy on the surface but very tender.

Absolutely Recommend this

By M S |

This is a great place with a warm atmosphere, and great food. I highly recommend this place, your goona love the whole meny.

Lovely Out of the Way Restaurant

By AndyMM1963 |

Seen “Friends” external building? well this is a lovely little restaurant. Could be a romantic place as not many tables. Monk fish was gorgeous but didn’t hear that it came with Risotto as this was a special.

Great little restaurant

By R_Hodgson |

One of my favorite restaurants. Very small and hard to get a table, but once you are in the food is outstanding! Everything is very simple and flavorful, even the brunch.

Great atmosphere and lovely food

By Lyn B |

We were lucky as we called in on the off chance after walking through the neighbourhood- we sat at the bar, which didn’t spoil it at all. Lovely atmosphere - you could “feel” the happiness!! Small inside, so tables are very close together. Portions are not as big as you get in other restaurants- but the food is tasty and appealing. The kitchen is open so you can eat with confidence- very friendly staff. Best to book if you can as they had to ask people to wait who walked in after us.

Tiny, Noise and Phenomenal

By Tracey V |

Had lunch here while taking a break from shopping. Wow, excellent. Wait staff was attentive, food was delicious. We started with the corn risotto, which was to die for. Also had the meatball sliders, very good. Our party of four had the Italian pork sandwich, the chicken, gnocchi and steak tacos, not a bad meal in the bunch. HIghly recommend this place. It is tiny and very noisy, but wonderful.

Fabulous food, charming environment, great neighborhood.

By Bethwoff |

It's perfect for us. After going to several incredibly sophisticated dinners in high end restaurants, it was a delight to feel like we were dining in a good friend's home. Our meal was delicious, the wine list well rounded, and the service - so completely natural and friendly. You can tell this little bustling restaurant has honed their routine to a fine practice of preparing and serving great meals in a tidy, friendly dining room. It's such an open space with the windows wrapping around, one never feels hemmed in. It's just charming! Do NOT miss out!

Lovely small restaurant in New York

By sarahlwalls |

We had booked a table for this beautiful restaurant (Via email) a week before we travelled to New York, and it was something which you would need to do, as the restaurant gets extremely busy. It’s a small quaint restaurant that serves lovely food. The attraction of it having the views of the above building features from the TV “friends” made the place memorable too. We took the underground train to get to the restaurant which was only a short walk away. They catered and acknowledged my birthday which made this meal very special. Lovely staff, with lovely food.

Great little cafe, very busy

By Globe Trotting Gems |

Great little cafe, very busy and definitely need to make a reservation. Luckily they had room for us at the bar. Good was really good we have the pancakes and they were delicious. Lovely friendly staff too and a great location.

Great for a light meal

By goodtravel |

We came before theatre and did not want anything heavy. 2 vegetable side dishes, chicken liver rillette and a rhubarb crisp were delicious and just right.

The perfect West Village dinner experience

By hwallace4 |

We had a fantastic experience at Little Owl, and would highly recommend. The atmosphere in the restaurant was cozy, with a great view out the window at the lovely West Village neighbourhood. We had several guests visiting NYC from out of town, and it was the perfect quintessential NYC dinner experience. Despite being a bit late for our reservation, staff were incredibly kind and accommodating (and had previously shifted the time of our reservation twice, due to shifting travel plans). The food was excellent, but really it was the service that blew us away. Would highly recommend Little Owl - we will definitely be back!

Loved it

By Seamus G |

We went here whilst visiting NYC based on friend's recommendation. It has a lovely cosy atmosphere with excellent service. Very reasonable for the quality. Food was lovely and the meatball sliders were awesome. Would definitely return.

It lives up to its hype

By candicaneadventures |

There is a reason that the Little Owl has such a high rating on TripAdvisor. It is everything that everyone says it is. We went for Easter brunch and had a great meal. The service is really good, everyone was engaged in providing a great dining experience. It gets busy because and there was a line outside of people waiting for a table, yet we were not rushed and the staff made us feel at home. The food is really fabulous. We all ordered something quite different and everyone enjoyed their choice. I had the skate sandwich and it was a really high level fish and chips type dish. My mom had an egg dish and said it was the best poached egg that she ever had!! My daughter ordered the pork enchilada and it was a really nice plate. We also tried the eggplant side dish and my daughter was hoping to bring it home as a leftover but no such luck because we ate every bite, it was that good. I looked around at other diners and everyone cleaned their plates. And for a quality level NYC eatery at this level, a meal doesn't break the bank. It isn't easy to get a reservation at this restaurant because it is small and it is a gem, so if you can get a table, grab it and enjoy!!

We only went here for 1 thing

By TeamWard |

This place looks like a nice place to eat and its situated at the bottom of some apartments that are famous from "Friends" this is the only reason my daughter got us to walk across Greenwich to locate the building, wish we had time for lunch.

NYC Sat Night

By victoria w |

Sweet and cozy place - staff very friendly. Went on a friend’s recommendation. Ordered steak and the fish of the day. Fish was disappointingly deep fried and tasteless. Steak was ok, but nothing special. House wine so-so at 15/glass. Was hoping for better.

Meatball Sliders 😋

By Stan Tecza |

Meatball sliders & Negroni were delicious. My wife liked her French toast and eggs. Burger maybe next time if I ever go back.

Tiny restaurant with fabulous food

By donna s |

We eat out frequently and this is one of the best meals we have had anywhere, including cities like New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco, Houston. Service impeccable, food original and delicious. Loved the atmosphere and location in the West Village. We usually try to eat at restaurants we haven’t been to before when visiting NYC but we will definitely go back to this one.

Another perfect meal

By Tim T |

I didn't have a reservation so I grabbed one of the 4 seats at bar Started with a glass of Pinot noir, bib lettuce tuna wrap, side salad and the mussels appetizer. Always great dinner

Lovely restaurant

By Octavia93 |

One of my favourite meals in NY. Little Owl is tiny restaurant on the corner of a street which I only realised after my visit was actually the old "Central Perk" from Friends! The service was great and the food was excellent. I had the pear and gorgonzola salad and the lobster risotto and both were amazing! Would definitely visit again if in NY.

Honest review

By Mr Wood |

This place was a lovely experience. Perfect place for brunch if walk through this side of town. The novelty of being under the "friends" apartment did not ware off, with the really friendly, relaxed atmosphere. With good classic songs in the background. The food was lovely and would definately recommend to friends. :)

Lovely little restaurant

By WDandAK |

This cosy restaurant was a real find. Really friendly service, great food, imaginative wine list and easily some of the best fries ever....Parmesan and truffle drizzled. We were slightly puzzled by people taking photos of the upper stories until we discovered "The Friends" connection. Definitely somewhere to revisit. Thank you Little owl for a great evening.

Pre birthday brunch

By Maria Irene P |

I’ve always wanted to come here since I’ve read so much about it. My sister in law and daughter accompanied me. I think we ordered everything on the menu and all was delicious! Service was great!

Fantastic !

By jclinden07 |

Yes it is small. Yes it gets crowded. Yes it is worth it ! A simple,cozy neighborhood spot that has a chef who clearly knows great food & how to present it. To compliment the great food, they have a warm & happy staff.It was a fantastic brunch !

Still Amazing!

By melisende |

After stumbling on to this restaurant this past November, I just had to visit again. I started my reservation stalking early as I know they filled up fast. I had been talking up the restaurant to my new traveling companion and was hopeful it would be as good as last time. I can report that it was STILL AMAZING! Again, we showed up a bit early and again was seated immediately. The menu is small, it's not the typical overwhelming "what the heck will I get from the 10 page menu"- I still had a hard time choosing but I loved the oven roasted halibut last time, so I decided to the get the oven roasted codfish- again it was simply divine. My friend got the Porgy whole fish- it was so good! Finished with the beignets- so yummy! I can't forget the service- friendly, attentive-perfection! Unlike almost every other restaurant - they actually tell you the prices of the specials! If you get to NYC and can get a reservation to the Little Owl- DO IT!

Nice food, but felt rushed

By Wrightj71 |

We booked a few weeks ago for a special treat for my son and we were all really looking forward to it. We arrived just after 10 on a sunday morning. We ordered coffee, juice & three brunch/breakfast meals which were delicious. When finished eating the plates were taken away pretty much the second i put down my fork , we had to ask for more coffee and another juice - it wasnt offered. I have to say we felt very rushed to leave which i think unfair when paying a bill of near $80..... i noticed people who i can assume were “locals” just drinking coffee and not been rushed in the way our table and another “tourist” table was. I didnt want to sit there all morning but 10 minutes after eating is not outstaying our welcome. In the UK we go out for meals and have never been rushed to leave. Yes i get its a business but just because some people had not booked and were waiting it shouldn't mean we have to be turfed out. Unfortunately this spoiled what would have been a 5 star review. Maybe wait until your customers ask for the bill.... and let them finish their meal at a nice pace - after all its not a drive through 🤷🏼‍♀️

Still a tiny restaurant with fabulous food!

By donna s |

This is our third visit to Little Owl-second for dinner. Again, amazing food and service and love the ambiance. Do make reservations!

great food; friendly vibe; cozy atmosphere

By srjfmdl |

Amazing food/people/vibe; its all great! Small kitchen and restaurant; so great attention to detail. Food is excellent(i recommend the meatball sliders and the pork chop!) No mass production here. Make a reservation; they do reserve some spots for walk ins if you are willing to wait a bit. Will be back! Cant miss!

Amazing, cozy, romantic, incredible service and food

By henry8robin |

Located on a secluded residential area in the West Village, this small, romantic eatery has it all right. The service - from the moment you enter - is incredibly friendly and professional. There are a small number of tables, many of them close to each other, but the overall feel is romantic. The floor to ceiling windows give a great feel with street scenes, including (if during the daytime for lunch) tours of the neighboring building that is filmed in the opening of the TV series Friends. The menu is relatively small; we have had nearly everything, and always have had a wonderful meal. Reservations are necessary. A great NYC experience for cozy, Village dining.

A wonderful local restaurant

By Robert W |

Truly a throw back to the time when Greenwich Village had multiple wonderful LOCAL restaurants, independently owned, with excellent food and a convivial environment- a delight on all levels. Do try it, though reservations must be made well in advance..

Wow

By Jaime G |

Wow what an amazing brunch in a great location , we loved it. The food was amazing and the atmosphere and staff totally great . The drinks and food choices , the taste all wow wow . Loved it and totally recommend you go here but make sure you have a booking to be safe . Great place

Dinner at the Owl

By Tim T |

4th time at this great restaurant. Moderate price, welcoming, quality food. Happy employees and owners. Small, fun, MAKE RESERVATION

Where value for money goes to die

By Scott M |

Good but not great food. Fantastic atmosphere and a fun spot in the village for lunch. The place where value for money goes to die. I don't mind dropping $145 dollars on lunch for three, even with no wine, cocktails, soda, or coffee but I expect it to be a culinary adventure. This was not. Service was good. Guess we got lucky based on the other reviews. Take a pass you won't miss much.

Brunch at the Friends building :)

By juliebugalpine |

We made reservations and enjoyed brunch here where we could enjoy the exterior view of the Friends building - since it's one of our favorite shows, it was fun to see and spend some time here! The restaurant was tiny, but the food was delicious!

This place epitomizes a Village restaurant

By tms215 |

Tiny, crowded, loud, and just about the perfect place to eat in the Village. Excellent food, great service, and not crazy expensive. Neat place to take out of town guests

Amazing brunch!!

By ClaireandChris_10 |

If you are in Manhattan, Little Owl is a must! Fabulous food, great location! The meatball sliders are among the best we’ve ever tasted. But there was nothing on the menu that wasn’t fantastic!

Incredible!!!

By kittysback |

They squeezed us in and were so pleased with our lunch. It is small but worth it. Try to make reservations. You can really feel that they care about each ente they serve.

CHARMING NEIGHBORHOOD GEM!

By Carolyn C |

We had dinner at the Little Owl before a performance at near by Cherry Lane Theater and were delighted with the cozy atmosphere, charming service and delicious food. We had halibut with pesto served over a cold salad with fresh corn that was great along with scrumptious peach cobbler for dessert . A nice cold rose was the perfect match.

The perfect lunch

By Pablo |

A fantastic place located on the corner of the building of the series friends, Very friendly service and lovely people. The food exceeded my expectations for a quick lunch. I recommend

A recurring pleasure

By gdeb88 |

Always good and welcoming atmosphere and staff. Fantastic onion soup and South American inspired main course with black angus beef. Looking forward to the next time!

Cozy and yummy

By Goldengate3 |

My niece and her husband love this place so when we came for a visit from California, she booked us a dinner. The four of us had a lovely dinner. Duck breast salad (could've been my main), soft shell crab and steak (cooked exactly as I asked for), spicy green beans, the chicken (oh yes!) and a wonderful server. You walk in and you feel welcomed and well taken care of. It was a wonderful way to end our last night in New York. Book it early and enjoy.

Return visit to a wonderful small restaurant

By Dan K |

First time back after COVID hit, Che kid ID and prof of vaccine at the door, table inside, less crowded than pre-COVID but lots of tables outside. Seemed like fewer staff but service was I rushed and excellent as in past, food was great.

Great Meatballs

By Nomadic-Route |

Great Service without being obtrusive, tried the meatballs for a light snack, they were fantastic. Memorable place.

Always excellent!

By Jpjenn |

The Little Owl is a cozy restaurant with excellent food and cocktails. I have been to brunch twice there and it is always perfect. The portions a big enough to cure a hangover and the cocktail are delicious, I really like the Sangria and Bellinis. The meatball sliders are a must have to share with the table. The eggplant parm has eggplant cut so thin with the perfect amount of cheese, it is actually light. I have also had dinner at the Owl and it was amazing. The wine list is extensive.

Yummy!

By lisa l |

Came here because it’s the Friends apartment building (above the restaurant), and I am so glad we ate and didn’t just take pics outside. The food was incredible and so flavorful (no salt/pepper needed). It is a cute, but very tiny, restaurant. The bathroom is super tiny and not made for larger people for sure. Avoid it if you can. Price was comparable to other local NYC eateries. Will definitely visit again!

A foodie delight accented with charm

By HMason22 |

Adorable is the least of compliments I can give, when the food, cocktails and service threaten would only mean this is a paltry word to use. Treat yourself to an eve that is quintessentially a low lit corner, cozy New York experience that usually is only reserved for the movies.

Nice Happy Hour

By YaninaLeCristal |

Lovely little place. We came here during The Happy Hour over the Easter weekend and we enjoyed everything. Great service, delicious menu choices. We we are looking forward to coming back and try the dinner menu.

What a treat!

By ukkim1958 |

Visited the Little Owl on a recommendation from a friend! Wow! Wow! Wow! We love a dining experience and the staff made sure we were not disappointed! We started with a lovely wine selection. The Sunflower Salad was so fresh and tasty! AND the Eggplant Parmigiana was absolutely the amazing! The best I have ever had!! My husband raved about the Lamb Cutlet! Our server found out it was my birthday and treated me to a candle on my Strawberry And Rhubarb Crisp! Then, to make our perfect night even better, the staff gave me a copy of their cookbook as a gift! Our evening was spectacular in such a lovely find in the West Village! We can't wait to visit again!

Poor attitude - walk away they don'y deserve your dollars

By ScootLondon |

Walked in as my daughter is a Friends fan. Asked re coffee -met with a curt 'We don't do only coffee' and made to feel uncomfortable for asking. I realised it was near lunchtime anyway so asked for the lunch menu noting that a table was just leaving which would have been perfect for 2 adults and 3 kids. Despite this the unfriendly waitress pointed us to 3 bar stools. After she realised we could well afford to have lunch there and after she had given our potential table to 3 ladies who arrived after us -she told us another table was almost ready. I pretended there was not enough veggie food for our kids and left. This place needs to accept tourist dollars will pay their wages and a bad attitude is not worthy of our custom.

Tight but tasty

By DustinB |

Our breakfast in this cozy space was very good. Service was friendly and attentive. The overall pace was honestly too fast for a Saturday morning experience.

Another great experience

By David W |

This was our second visit to this cozy little gem of a restaurant in the West Village. Teresa welcomed us back after 5 years and made our evening memorable. Zack provided wonderful service which really added to the festive mood of the evening. He suggested a pasta appetizer, and I once again had the famous pork chop, which was once again very good. I would recommend this wonderful place highly on your next venture to Gotham!

A totally great find!

By Joe P |

Tucked away on a couple of narrow streets in Greenwich Village is this hidden gym of a restaurant! Thank you, Chef Art Smith for recommending this little hidden treasure! Chef Joe knows exactly what he’s doing. The staff couldn’t be more friendly and outgoing and each and every course was delicious. We sat outside and the weather was perfect tonight. The french fries are freshly cut and are some of the best I’ve ever had, we both had the pan seared chicken half with mashed potatoes, which was exceptionally yummy! We shared an order of their freshly cut, french fries which were over the top delicious! the strawberry rhubarb crumble with fresh strawberry ice cream at top it was so good. I ordered another dip of the ice cream. Amy was the gracious hostess and Adrienne was our friendly and great waitress. Small and charming, subdued lighting inside definitely a must!

Special

By mojoFCH2020 |

This small restaurant in the West Village of NYC is very special. The cuisine, while quite elaborate, comes across as home cooking which aligns very well with the atmosphere and friendly service.

Amazing, Adorable

By AroundTheWorldIn80kDays |

Absolutely loved this place. I started with the sliders. They were delicious and heartwarming. I then had the Filleted Whole Branzino over paella. Delicious! Finished with the bread pudding. More please. And in the Friends building!

Such a gem of a restaurant!!

By Stockholm2295 |

It was a chilly windy night and we had apprehension about being seated outside but the outside heaters were fantastic and we were well protected from the elements. Service was outstanding and our meals were delicious. Because we wanted to try several things there was no eye rolling at our request to split 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. Special mention to the kale pesto pasta appetizer and the burger, which were both excellent.

Charming hole in the wall

By CWR01 |

Met friends here for brunch, Very crowded, and I can see why. Menu had a lot of variety. Good, but not totally memorable, food. But fun little place. I did not recognize the Friends connection until after-but maybe everyone else did.

Very good food! Superior!

By tian s |

Food is excellent! Not cheap, but excellent! You can sit outside as well and it is heated there. We had a very good salad, an excellent chicken dish, a lobster paella dish and a fish special. As well, pear crisp with gelato and a chocolate brownie with gelato, for desert. Frankly, the food was superior. I don't give too many 5 ratings.

Cozy little restaurant with good food

By antonisgravanis |

Stylish New York restaurant. Even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff was very helpful to find one for us after 30 minutes. The food was good but not that great so that I will return in my next New York visit.

Still exceptional!

By Judy P |

My husband and I try to eat dinner at Little Owl whenever we are visiting our daughter and son-in-law. Tonight we shared yet another exceptional dinner here, with great, warm service and fantastic food. We always start with the delectable meatball slider, and tonight we also shared delicious basil gnocchi. My daughter and I both went crazy for our halibut with corn and pea salad—fish cooked perfectly, packed with flavor. My husband loves a well prepared pork chop and he rates the one at Little Owl his number one. ( Some of his other top-rated pork chops are in San Francisco and Sonoma; he knows from pork chops.) Finally, my son-in-law had the petite filet with delicious papardelle noodles, also perfectly cooked. We always call a month in advance to secure a reservation and our planning is always worth it. The charming ambience enhances the whole experience. I highly recommend Little Owl!