Lucien Restaurant Reviews

Sooooo disappointed ! Arrogant service, late to give you a table, crowded. I was charged the wrong among (90 instead of 65USD) and the waitress did not apologise, and even acted annoyed. When I asked for the refund receipt they brought us crunched pieces of papers that weren’t even ours. Asked for them again, the waitress told me she threw them away and refused to look for it. Again, condescending behaviour. Contacted the restaurant twice about this, and they kept saying another member of the staff was responsible for this matter. Still haven’t received my receipt... On top of this, the food was ok but not great. I was warned this place wasn’t great anymore, I can confirm it’s true ! Will not go back.

A very nice late night dinner with friends and family. Totally crowded restaurant, very nice bar and drinks! The staff was awesome always close but not to close! :-) Food was really nice, fish, meat and moussels. Good winelist! I will return!

What a fabulous little french bistro right in the heart of the east village. The place was jammed to the rafters and even with that the service was perfect and the food fabulous. do not miss the roasted to perfection chicken! We were a party of 8 and everybody thoroughly enjoyed their dinner. We are already planning the next visit!!

Got a Saturday night prime-time reservation, but had to sit in the back of the restaurant, which one other reviewer here recommended against. The restaurant is small, tight quarters, the bar close to the wall and the people lined up against it, waiting for a table. Barely enough room to get in and out. I probably had the worst seat in the place, the first one at the first table in the back, at the end of the bar. As such, I was continually jostled and bumped by every waiter and patron going back and forth to the kitchen or bathroom. One fellow having a conversation from the bar stood for a minute with his derriere close to my head, while I was eating. There is no ambiance to speak of; you can barely even see the restaurant for all the people stuffed into it, and the noise level is high. The food was so-so. The merguez was tasty but not enough of it. The cassoulet was bland, and considering that that is one of the heartier, more robust meals in French cuisine, the tiny portions were annoying. Prices are not cheap, and as someone else also pointed out, this is a decidedly down-market neighborhood, so what's the big deal. I wouldn't bother.

I had a date and made reservation at 8:00pm. We got there at 7:47. Waited until 8:40, that was too long! We ordered margaritas while waiting, it was one of the worst margaritas we have had! The oysters were tasteless! The pate was served without any jam aside nor crispy crackers which are usually served together! Then we had the lobster! What a disappointment! The glass of wine we ordered Macon 15 usd per glass was so flat! Why carry a bad wine and put it in the menu! Anyway, i dont think i will go there again!

a good reputation, but last night service was disappointing. one of our appetizers didn't arrive until after the other two were finished. Why not wait to serve them together? Had to ask twice for bread. no tableware at one of our seats. long after we ordered we were advised that two of us had ordered items no longer available. Kobe burger (ordered medium rare) was so overcooked that it was almost burned and had to be sent back. (A Kobe hamburger costs $12.95 + and deserves to be cooked correctly. For these prices you can do better in South Harlem. Location in the heart of Harlem means this is a mecca for old-time Harlem residents. A happy setting -- the atmosphere is bustling and joyful, with friends and neighbors greeting one another. Weather permitting there's pleasant outdoor seating.

We were walking around with a friend looking for a place to eat. We found this small intimate restaurant just north of Houston in the lower east side. The service was warm and welcoming, the cocktails outstanding and the dinner superb. I had the squab with fois gras and was thrilled. Highly recommend this small intimate restaurant

I have no idea what the hype is about. Must appeal to anyone who has not eaten proper French food or traveled abroad. 1. Food is mediocre at best. Tuna tartare is bland and the scallops uninspiring. Other dishes are not worth mentioning. 2. You sit on on top of each other. The tables are so close to each other that you are essentially sharing the table. Very unpleasant experience. 3. The hostess is arrogant and on a power trip. Not sure why anyone would want to represent this business by hiring a bunch of kids who don’t know much about hospitality. The server could not care less about answering questions related to the meal but was was very alert when it came to pointing out the tipping options. 4: Watch your bill! So many inflated charges. Wine we didn’t receive. And there was literally a transaction fee on the bill. That’s a first. No idea what that is for. You will also be paying a fee for using a credit card. Who carries hundreds of dollars in cash to settle a restaurant bill? The whole thing is laughable at best. Go somewhere else.

Hands down, the best eggs menu for brunch....all for $12. Real French bread and butter, coffee made on a expression machine, small green salad and home fried potatoes, all accompanying a nice selection of Benedicts, omelettes (including a make your own combo) and other methods. A lunch menu is also available. But be careful, desserts cost $12 each! Charming French bistro decor. Excellent service.

We went here with a few friends and were told it was a very good french restaurant. We were seated in a cramped table. We ordered . Three of us had the french onion soup and the person at the next table told me it was really good. I told him the best onion soup I have ever had was at Cafe Luxembourg on West 71st street. after having the soup I know I was right! Our party ordered the Duck and mussels and chicken paillard. I had the steak frites. Their dishes weee good but my steak was tough. I told them but no reaction . I asked for some steak sauce because I wasn’t a fan of the sauce they provided.

This spot is always ready to please... the food, especially the Rabbit is exceptional. One of my favorite apps is the octopus. If your looking for a small, lively and a great menu, then Lucian's s for you. I would highly suggest ending the evening with their perfect coffee martini.

Went here with several business colleagues, and it was a good--but surprisingly noisy choice. I guess I don't know what the norm is for a french, bistro style place, but the loud classic rock blaring through the sound system was not what I expected. That said, the food was excellent. I ordered the NY Strip, which is usually not my first choice, but this was perfectly cooked, rich and flavorful. The rest of the meal was equally good. and most of my colleagues felt the same. The seating was bit tight, but OK as it made it reasonably able to hear each other over the music. Dial back the noise a notch and this would have been a 5

I was here with family and enjoyed an excellent meal. This place is cozy and it was filled with customers - between that and the charming decor, it gave the whole experience a very European vibe (I was practically surprised to step outside to NY!)... I had the escargot and the rabbit, and tasted my fellow diners' short ribs and filet and everything was absolutely incredible. I actually don't know what I'll have when I go back! Highly recommended - and because it's small, I suggest you make reservations!

We happened to stop in for a late lunch and loved it. Felt like we were in France. Small, comfortable, not to noisy and the food was great. Make sure to ask for the brunch menu, they only have one and we didn't realize they served brunch until after we ordered.

I recently visited the restaurant again with my wife and three grand daughters. We have done this every time we are in NY and we all love it. It was a great experience . Food delicious and service impeccable. Highly reccomended

We pre-booked a table for 11 people a couple of weeks in advance and had to wait an hour to be seated. Not a huge problem in itself as we repaired to the bar next door (at considerable extra expense) but the manager was casual/arrogant in his handling of the situation. Once we were finally seated the waitresses were excellent, as was the food. All in all a good dining experience but the manager was way too causal and could learn some manners from his waitresses.

I love this place! Cozy and lively decorated restaurant. Very friendly and owner greeted us with free glass of champagne. Escargot and its buttery oil was so yummy! I used the butter/oil for bread as well. I ordered a rack of lamb. My friend ordered mussels for appetizer and sea-bass for main dish. The wine sauce with the mussels were amazing! we also dipped bread in it.

The best shrimps I've ever had in my life.. And I've tried a lot! Guys are really nice and there's a warm atmosphere. I would def suggest this place if you're in NYC. Steph B

The staff are always friendly and take excellent care of us, even when it's busy. The food is excellent (my wife and I shared a rabbit dish several years ago that we still remember with great fondness). This where we go when we want to really enjoy our meal out... and Lucien has never disappointed us. It's a special occasion place for us–birthdays and anniversaries, primarily, but also to entertain special friends—and we always have a wonderful time and a fantastic meal.

The service was slow, the wine only arrived after our first dish. The waitress came 3 times because she had forgotten what we ordered. The portions especially for the tartare were too small compared to the price. The nicoise salad lacked key ingredients, and the taste of the tartare was not great. On an lighter note, when I pointed out that the menu written in French was full of spelling and grammatical error, the waitress said it was normal because it is New York French, not French from France!

A delightful surprise in an unlikely setting. Cannot lavish sufficient superlatives on the quality of the food served in this quiet, small bistro, with quiet, competent and friendly service and a fair price.

So this is my 3rd time here in the last 10 years, mainly because it is my dads favorite place. We walked in on a Thursday night and the place was packed. Great scene and ambience. Felt like I was in Paris which is arguably worth the experience in itself. But we had to stand for 10 minutes in the dining area bc the bar was packed. This felt awkward and the staff seemed to be irritated even though we were directed there by the hostess. Seats opened up at the bar an we ordered drinks. Again, bar feel is cool. We were seated and ordered food and a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, water was dripping from the vent on to my dad’s head. The waitress was responsive and eventually reseated us. We were friendly about it, but this was the second negative experience of the night. We were moved and happy, drinking/eating and having a good time. Escargot was good. My brother and I ordered the steak frites (one of their signature dishes) for our entree- medium rare. Came out well done! We showed the waitress and she took them back understanding. Of course, the rest of our party ate and we waited a bit longer only to receive rare, undercooked steaks. We ate half of them and I couldn’t bring myself to send it back again. For a $600 bill for 4 not including drinks at the bar, I thought this was poor value (and I am not a foodie!). I won’t come back here because of it... being fair the ambiance was great and our waitress was friendly and responsive to our issues with the water falling on our head and steaks being overcooked.

After an exhaustive walk around town he found his bistro to go to on his iphone. Dads paying so why not. I was amazed to find grilled sardines on the menu. I am a sardines crack addict. Son had the mussels moi the sardines. Great surprise. Great small meal. Fantastic staff.

Wonderful little place! As soon as they served me some french bread, I felt at home. The food is very tasty and the ambiance is very chill. The food is a bit more expensive than the average meal (i guess) but it's so good! La tarte tintin was to die for! service is also amazing

If you can put up with the abominable wait for a table - the food, service and atmosphere is worth it. Its a NY institution of a tiny slice of Paris. On a recent visit after many years away, I was so happy to see it packed with so many smiling faces. The food as good as ever and I've been coming here for nearly 20 years. The crowd was mixed but largely young and hip and cool. It's crowdred and loud, as it should be.

Long wait but great food. It was like a little slice of Paris. The staff was friendly and the wine was great. Will be go here more often.

We arrived in NYC around 7:30 and wanted something to eat. Found this place and it did not look crowded. We ordered and within 10 minutes, people were placed right next to us. It seemed a very popular place all of a sudden. We could not get out from our table without help because of the cramped quarters. I had the scallops on garlic mashed potatoes. They only gave me 4 scallops and charged over $25 for this. Very pricey food and not worth the money

Very nice place but a little bit crowded. We booked a table but we had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. I ordered the rabbit and was wonderful! They have very wines too.

As a vegetarian it is always tricky ordering food in a French restaurant. However, they did have quite a tasty vegetable dish as well as fabulous French Fries:) nice wine and excellent service. Overall a great experience. It was crowded as it was a Friday night and this is one small restaurant. I recommend that you book.

Had the good fortune to visit this restaurant again 11 years since our first visit. While many things have changed in NYC since then with lots of great restaurants closed due to the awful pandemic and more recently the financial and energy crisis, it is heartwarming to find that Lucien's is still here and still retains the buzz and quality that it is known for. We dined on a Thursday night and the place was exceptionally busy with several potential customers turned away. We did not have a reservation but the staff were excellent in fitting us in. It has more capacity than before since outdoor seats have now been added. Very sad to hear the owner has passed. A knowledgeable pleasant man, we were privileged to have enjoyed interesting discussions with him on previous visits, especially at the time of the Scottish referendum. No need to mention the food on this visit as it was great and good value as usual. You should try it for yourself.

My wife and I have been coming here for years, and bringing family and friends. Across the street from the Sunshine cinema, and always a great lunch before a movie, or dinner after. A recent visit saw many familiar items on the menu, but at higher prices. A $190 -- tip included -- lunch for three (including the cheapest sparkling wine on the menu at $42) did mean, unfortunately, that we'd think twice about another return. Two onion soups and a cauliflower soup ($14 each) were great starters. My wife had her favorite appetizer, St. Tropez-style Grilled Sardines ($15) as a main; I had my favorite entree here, Scallops (4) St. Jacques -- sauteed with lemon, capers and white wine over mashed potatoes ($32!) -- great, as usual, but I didn't even think about the bouilliabaisse at $42! Our friend had a salad with artichoke, hearts of palm and asparagus ($16) which she left half-eaten. If I had had a salad or an appetizer as a main, the bill would have been a little lower. We'll keep recommending it to friends -- with a caution.

We happened upon this great little French bistro with no idea it would be one of the highlights of our trip. The waitress was endearing; Lucien, the owner shared a bottle of wine with us and we had the a fabulous conversation. I started to look at the photos on the walls and noticed the likes of Robert De Niro, Russell Crow and Steve Buscemi. Some sitting in the very booth I was in. The food was fabulous-I recommend the crab cakes. A light lunch with great atmosphere and great food. Lucien is a little on the expensive side, but well worth it. The best thing is even though they have table clothes and amazing French food, the dress is casual. As Lucien said to us, "We don't take ourselves too seriously around here." he said this talking about life and in a way in regard to a comment I made about him being a famous restauranteur. I am so glad we found this place and that we met Lucien. Directions-Lucien is located in Manhattan’s East Village—two doors north of 1st Street on the East side of 1st Avenue and very near to the F train. Website- www.luciennyc.com

Lucien was recommended by locals from the neighborhood as the top restaurant in the vicinity, and it did not disappoint. We lucked out and were able to get a table without a reservation early on a Friday night. The tables are tightly packed and the place was very noisy, but the food was delicious.

Fun, crowded, loud, delicious. Excellent service. We saw a celebrity there! It's not cheap but worth every dollar. No one roasts a chicken like the French.

We enjoyed a good meal here, trying excellent fish soup and rabbit dishes. The place is modest, with a pleasant , pretty authentic French ambience and very helpful staff. Prices felt high, but no more so here than most places in NYC.

Food and services had gone downhill while prices went up. We ordered mussels and it was utterly tasteless. While we are halfway through the appetizer, the entrees came and there's no room for the runner to put the food anywhere. If you are a regular patron, you know how small and tight the restaurant is. I basically have to hold my plate up and try to eat as fast as I possibly can. So embarrassing and the wait staff could care less. Since the entrees came so early, the linguine with clams got cold. So were the fries. Only thing that was ok was the crème brûlée. We were there to celebrate my friend's birthday and the dining experience was a complete disappointment. The whole dinner lasted less than 60 mins. Worst French dining experience ever!!! Should have gone to Balthazar instead.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Both the food and rinks were good. My only issue was the cost; I thought everything was a tad overpriced. The next night four of us went to Marseille (on 9th - excellent) and had almost the same meal and it was $100 less?

We had a fabulous experience at Lucien! Our table of six expected and embraced the cozy, noisy atmosphere. We had excellent food and great service. Our group of four middle aged adults and two college students shared the mussels, escargot, and sardines to start. The entrees included steak & frites, squab, and the short ribs. Everyone ate everything! The sardines and escargot were especially good. I liked that the escargot were not in shells so very easy to eat. One suggestion that I would offer is that the loud music is unnecessary as the noise of the customers increases. It was hard to hear one another at times and for anyone with any hearing issues it would be a real problem.

Me and my family visited this restaurant in 2013 when my dad turned 60. We ate here the evening for his birthday. Dad was really happy about this experience and the entire family too. I am writing this review now even though its been many years because I cans till remember the atmosphere and that it was really good. I saw pictures from the trip and then i remembered the name of the restaurant and found it here. The food and the wine was amazing, it was a great Cremé Brulée that I had for dessert. I mean if I remember the taste 5 years later it most have been good.

My favorite place every time I visit NY. Food is outrageously good and staff are very down to earth. Love this place!

The food at this happening NY French restaurant is terrific, if it were served in mid-town or other more familiar French restaurants, it would be twice as expensive. The wait staff is knowledgeable and accommodating, with just the right amount of NY attitude. It gets very busy, but come early and enjoy one of the best meals you will have in this price range.

We went to Lucien many years ago, likely the first month it opened. We just returned and discovered that they are still doing the same things right. Their reservation system is a bit free form so be prepared for a possible wait. Do not despair however as they will quickly get you a glass of wine. The place is very Parisian in decor and design. Classic bistro. Tables are tight, lighting is bright but not obtrusive. Service was pleasant but not over the top. We went old school for the night (as there is really no other choice). Onion soup (the onions could have been cooked a bit longer for a greater depth of flavour), frisbee salad (the lardons were a bit too big and chewy for my liking), filet mignon with fries (simple and delicious) plus a very large crab cake (moist and flavourful). It was a pleasant evening with classical French bistro food in an environment with a warm glow.

Excellent food that is truly typical French cuisine! Nice waiter. The restaurant is small but nice. The cost is a bit excessive.

Best grilled shrimp I have ever had in my life. Others had grilled vegetables, onion soup, and Vichyssoise. Everyone loved the atmosphere, food, and service.

The evening started off rockily, we showed up on time for a reservation and were told we'd have to wait at least 30 minutes. The hostess showed little empathy or desire to help out. It is a small space, so there was really no where to stand without being in the way. After some cajoling on our part, they finally provide champagne on the house not so cheerily. That aside the food was very good bistro fare. Interesting choices, well prepared and presented. Be prepared, this is a small restaurant with overly loud music, so it is not intimate, romantic or slow paced. I found an interesting wine list, but very pricey. - $10 - 14 per glass for very small pours.

Why do you take reservations if you don’t honor them? Waited over an hour past our reservation...then got major attitude from the hostess when we asked him about getting seated. Ruined our night, went back to Nomad to eat after waiting 70 min. There are too many other great places in NY to put up with this kind of disrespectful dismissive attitude when trying to have a nice meal.

Rose de Provence, escargots, steak tartare, and tarte tatin. All delicious. All reasonably priced. And wonderful service, particularly by Marion. Surely worth a detour!

This warm and inviting neighborhood French restaurant serves up the classics without attitude. I'm afraid I never get too adventurous with the menu because the frisée salad and steak frites is so good it's hard to order anything else.

What a wonderful discovery this place was! The food - delicious. We were a group of 6 and went about it family style so tried a lot of items from the menu. Did not find anything that was not great. Good quality ingredients, well prepared, well presented. The atmosphere - it is a small place so feels very intimate. Nice decor. Tables smallish so you are cozy with your group but not cramped. The service - great. Very friendly waitstaff all around. The Prices - It was not a cheap meal but I did not feel like it was overpriced for what you get. Pretty fairly priced I would say. Overall - I will be back to Lucien!

Absolute one of the best French restaurant in New York.Not fine dine, but extremly good food. Meny has been years and years same and every evening it is full, i met also the old owners and He told me that customer do not wan to chance meny because it is so good. i agreed strongly. I got grilled Prawns wit fress salat and New Your strip with pepper souce.Fantastic dinner!!! All wall are full of His friend, Fame peoples, politics, artist pictures.Warm service, every customer welcomed like family members,wow what a place Jormaa

Had dinner here on our last night in New York. A bit out of the way on the Lower East Side, but easy to get to by subway. It's very small - intimate and charming - with the owner on premises and an "everyone knows your name" kind of vibe to it. The food was wonderful - had the beet and chevre salad, and my husband had the artichoke and hearts-of-palm salad...then we had the cassoulet and the salmon, and the tarte-tatin with cinnamon ice cream. Everything had a simple, authentic feel to the preparation and was delicious. So nice to come across a restaurant the knows exactly what it is - and excels at it versus trying to be something its not...This was charming, romantic...highly recommend for couples. The only downside to this type of restaurant (and not within control of the management) is that if you have the misfortune of sharing this small space with another group that is loud or overly talkative, they can dominate the room. Fortunately for us, we were almost done with our meal by then.

We had this place recommended by a Danish chef. We were seated outdoor on this lovely evening. Small bistro like tables and good wibes. Starter was a Lucien salad - somewhat disappointing and to the price not worth the money. Mains were very, very good. Accompanying wines also very fine. So all in all a very nice evening here.

A quick happy hour dinner before it got too packed.. lucky we got there early n got seated.... it was packed soon after

I was sent here by a friend for a solo lunch. Though it was quiet, I sat near the window and people-watched. The service was friendly and helped recommend dishes. I settled on the octopus, which was delicious. The only downside is that it was a bit expensive for lunch, but I guess when in Rome...

My recent visit to Lucien was nothing short of a disappointment. My friends and I were given a table in the farthest corner of the restaurant and felt coerced into ordering expensive items. The waitress displayed extreme rudeness, and to add insult to injury, we were hurried to vacate our table for another party while we were still eating. This experience was nothing short of horrible. Lucien's service and treatment of its customers were far from satisfactory.

This is a small restaurant at the beginning of First Avenue in Manhattan. We have not eaten here since we move and were looking forward to returning. What a mistake. We had a reservation but they put us in the dungeon in the back where it is hot ! and the din from the music and talking drowns out all form of conversation and thought. The wine menu has little if any wines by the glass and that ramps up the cost for dinner if you all don't drink the same thing. The Escargot were tasteless --I think they forgot the garlic. The pate maison was flat tasting. The Rabbit Dijon was over cooked but the sauce was great. The Rack of lamb was the only saving grace at dinner. But small cup of Fries was 8 dollars ! (please!) and I had ordered the Rack with the noodles served with the Rabbit and not the grains. I was served the grains AND a side of noodles and was charged $8 for the noodles. We skipped the rest of the dinner and ram.

This was one of the best meals we've had recently and surely the best on our current trip. We shared a shrimp cocktail, scallops, fillet mignon and a Tarte Tatin. All 4 dishes were amazing, just perfect. Since we shared the dishes, we were offered to have the 2 main courses one after the other and they were split for us in the kitchen. This was a fantastic way to enjoy the meal. We had a few glasses of excellent wine for a reasonable price. Service was so lovely and professional, truely great. Atmosphere in the restaurant was great. Good music in the background and overall a cool vibe. Went there on a wednesday night and the place was still packed when we left at 23:15.

Out of the way, compact, unassuming, SIMPLY DIVINE. It's the kind of restaurant you can't help but make friends... not just because you're so close to each other but because it fosters that kind of environment. When everything is done perfectly from food to service, it breeds happiness. Perfection.

There were 12 in our party and I was worried that we would have problems getting all the food at the same time, but they managed it and it was during a very busy period, the place was packed and the staff attentive and friendly, The score of 5 really is for the food, which was superb and all of a very high standard. I would go back for sure even if it was just for the French Onion Soup.

There’s plenty of better restaurants in this city that’ll serve you on time with better food. Came through the door of this place on time for our reservation to find people waiting for seating packed into the aisle, waiters struggling to squeeze through with food etc; we were told we’d have to wait 15 mins before we could sit. 35 minutes into waiting still we were told that the table who we were waiting to clear had been allowed to order more bottles of wine (how!?) so the wait would be longer. The hostess with a straight face said it wasn’t uncommon for people with reservations to wait over an hour past when they’d reserved to be seated (it’s quite common at other restaurants for customers to be seated on time at their reserved time. We were eventually sat 80 minutes after our reservation time, next to the front door, which has no heater or curtain. When asking to switch to a different table that was so cold from the outside we were told if we didn’t like it we should just leave - after waiting 80 minutes past the reservation. The attitude and approach to customer service here in a nation famous for it is genuinely shocking to the point of ridiculous. We were finally served our food 2 hours after our reservation. The standard of food was ok but nothing amazing. There’s also only one toilet for both sexes where you’ll queue for a while with other similarly bemused customers at how this place operates. The staff all look miserable, the bus boys here work a miracle given the conditions.

Great food, attentive staff, place has a nice atmosphere, although I could live without the drunks at the bar the night we were there. Place is a little cramped, but overall would definitive go back..

The food is good, prices moderate, and good wine selection. Only negatives were that we made a reservation but still had to wait 45 min for our table. The restaurant is small and narrow bar area, so it was an awkward wait.

Trendy restaurant frequented by a young and noisy crowd. The atmosphere is clearly the strong point of this establishment and alone justifies a visit (if possible on a weekend evening). The room is small and the tables are very close together, so avoid it for a quiet meal. The service is friendly although rather inexperienced. Rather surprisingly, the starters and main courses are good. On the other hand, the desserts are uninteresting. Allow $120 per person for starter/main course/dessert+wine. Reservations strongly recommended (but expect a good half hour wait on site). Choose the second service (from 8:30 p.m.). Overall, a recommended restaurant.

My husband and I went into the city to celebrate his birthday and a friend recommended we try Lucien. Its a small store front on the lower East side with airy light tables in the front, a bar in the middle and more table seating in the back. We both enjoyed our salads first. My husband had a mesulin salad with house dressing that he descirbed as AWESOME...wow! I had a salad with arugula and fennel with parm cheese shavings- just wonderful. Then my husband had a hanger steak topped with mushrooms. He said it was delectable and cooked to perfection. I enjoyed a grilled salmon that was cooked perfectly and on a bed of seasonal vegetables....delicious! They have a nice selection of wine and a full bar if you chose. It was a fabulous way to celebrate a special mans birthday!! Bravo!

We went with a friend to Lucien. It's a great neighborhood bistro and would fit in well in Paris. The food was traditional bistro fare and well made. The lardon salad, mussels, and fries were well prepared. The wine was good and reasonably priced. The dessert was nice also.

Even though we had made a reservation, we had to wait in a tiny area by the bar for 45 (!) minutes. There was no place to sit and we had to press against the wall in a row by the bar to let people and staff pass by. When finally seated we had to wait another 45 minutes for the food (which was far from excellent). The waitress was extremely arrogant and ran after us outside the restaurant when we left to question the tip amount (!). Seriously, this was the worst experience during any of our trips to NYC.

Lucien has exactly the atmosphere I want from a boozy french restaurant. It was packed when we got there, and although we had a reservation, we were told our table was not ready when we arrived. We didn't mind as my friend goes quite often and guessed this would happen, so we sat at the bar drinking and finally decided to eat at the bar too. The food was delicious, except the steak tartare starter was quite flavourless. We also shared an escargot starter and I had the steak frites as my main. The food is overpriced for what it is but you are likely to know this before you go.

First night back in NY, just few yards away from our hotel, we saw this busy French style bistro. Ambiance, noise and light were good, we decided to see if the taste also matched that. After a longer than expected wait at the bar...we decided to have dinner at the bar. The place is relatively small and it gets really busy, even on a Monday night. But the food was great, real French tasting. Wine selection was also excellent. Don't go for style and luxury, but for vibrant atmosphere and great flavours.

Lucien 10 years ago was a delight. Something has changed. I think maybe the owner? The bread was stale and hard, my garnish on my plate (great steak frites BTW) looked like it has graced a few plates before mine. Uncomfortable banquettes - needs updating. I am sorry to say, the place is tired.

Reservations don't really matter at this bistro. If not for the unbelievably good food I wouldn't have bothered with reviewing it. We've been to Lucien in the past and have always enjoyed it but lately their hostess is just awful. Go at your own risk.

My husband and I came here on a personal recommendation; we had booked as it was a Saturday night and, as mentioned in other reviews, our table was not ready when we arrived. We had a drink whilst we were waiting and there is not much room to stand anywhere, which would have been an issue if it had gone on for too long (or if sauce from another diner’s dinner had been spilled down my dress - which did feel like a possibility as the servers operate in a tiny corridor to get food out of the kitchen!). Staff were friendly and apologetic about the delay and we were seated within 20 minutes, cheek by jowel with other tables, but as everyone was upbeat, this was good fun and part of the experience! The food (everything we had was seafood based) and wine did not disappoint and as we acclimatised to the hectic and familiar ambiance, we had a great evening! Our servers were friendly but informal and the soundtrack to dinner was unexpectedly varied and good. It’s not cheap, but we didn’t find anywhere in New York that was and we felt this was money well spent by comparison. Mervielleux!! (Maybe not the place for a romantic dinner a’deux at a weekend though!)

you should show up at lucien if are in the mood to brush against some models, female, male, trans, your pick, and by that i mean your table knocked down by their strut on the narrow runway from bar to back of the house back to exit. food is decent if you don't mind the unjustifiable mark-up. expect irregular levels of saltiness, matching the cook model of the week unrequited love. we are regulars as we don't scare easy and we prefer bother to bored. enjoy. still two stars

Been to Lucien three times. The first was great and loved the menu so returned twice to try more. Second time was an hour wait at the bar despite a reservation, and don't even remember the food. Fool me twice, shame on me? Well, not quite. Friday night, I had a 9 PM rezzie, realized I'd be late, changed it to 9:30 and got a big thanks for being polite. Alas, the favor wasn't returned. Twenty minutes later (i.e. 20 minutes late), we were offered a table between the bar and a table where too many people had been seated and they appeared to be friends of the house and had no intention of making room for us. One and half seats for two, twenty minutes late with somebody's elbow in your side all through dinner? Fortunately, I knew a great restaurant two blocks away and ten minutes later we were seated and served. Tant pis, Lucien. Never again! But FYI: I feel sorry for the staff that has to maneuver around all the people waiting for the tables.

When you get to this side of town, there is a lot of noise on the food map. Trying to find what you want, when there are so many competing for your time and money can be incredibly confusing. I'd read a bit about this neighbourhood gem. I made a booking on the day, they were relaxed and it wasn't too promising when we turned up as it smelt like a bottle of bleach had just been spilt. I really wasn't sure. However an exquisite meal, with attentive, happy service and great wine in a lively atmosphere well sometimes this is what you want. We had lobster and hanger steak. The steak was cooked perfectly, meat in your mother perfectly, the lobster is a show stopper!

I don’t even really want to post this because I would prefer to keep my Happy Place a secret. I’ve been dining here since 2001, and I have NEVER had anything that wasn’t excellent. Every time I go back the restaurant is more and more hip, trending, and popular. The food- get everything I tell you- and everything else! Endive Salad with Roquefort, Escargot, Foie Gras , Beet Salad, Quail, and all the other entrees. Drink the Gigondas.. and if you’re lucky Chloe will be your server!

Despite its tiny size, Lucien offers an impressive French menu that excels from execution to presentation. Authentic dishes served in generous portions with a great wine list to match. Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth it. The tiny space gets noisy and crowded but with good reason. The service is also pleasant.

We ended up here on a rainy afternoon on the recommendation of a friend... and loved it! The service was charming and personal, ambience wonderful and the food fantastic. We went with basics - Onion Soup and Steak Frites with a bottle of lovely red wine recommended by the server. It is not inexpensive, but well worth a visit.

The restaurant is very typical of a bistro in Paris. It is small, crowded and filled with wonderful smells and people deep in conversation. The bread brought to the table was perfection, with crumbs falling as you break a piece to put in your mouth. We had a bottle of wine that was recommended and it was reasonable and delicious. First course was grilled octopus then small salads and french onion soup. I had a steak and frites, others had a pork chop, mussels and fish. The food was all very french and delicious. I couldn't resist ordering dessert - a french apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. So simple and perfect.

I love a good french bistro in the city, and this place is one of them. A cozy french vibe, great service and very good food. I had shellfish, my friend clams - mine where the best option we thought. Good selection of wine too. An enjoyable dinner in a great neighbourhood - will be back for sure.

Made a last minute reservation for 7:30 on a Saturday night. When we got there we waited maybe 10 min for our table but we ordered some cocktails which were very good. I'm writing this review to counter another review I read about Lucien that I felt did not characterize my experience. I'm sure that patron wrote a good faith review but that wasn't my experience. However, I feel a great restaurant is consistently on point with all the facets of a great dining experience. Lucien is in a happening spot in the East Village where people watching is one of the pluses. Inside it is loud and lively and nicely decorated. Once we sat the wait staff attended to us soon enough. (This place is narrow and tight. But we were able to sit comfortably.) She brought us bread then, shortly after, the waitress took our order. We ordered the arugula salad with shaved Parmesan, which was delicious. For our main courses we ordered the sea scallops and the hangar steak. Both dishes were tasty but the steak was a little tough. I'm not a steak eater so maybe it was me, but I think it was definitely a little difficult to cut. We also ordered a bottle of Chateau Ferrande Graves 2012. This was excellent.

One of the staffers at the Met referred us to Lucien's and we couldn't have been happier. The food was delicious and the owner held court in the best sense of the phrase. We brought our infant along with us and when he saw us waiting (we had reservations) he stepped in to help us get seated quickly. We loved the experience and will be back.

If you are fed up with those large synthetic formal chains, then give this small authentic taste of New York a try. Located in the unfashionable East Village, Lucien’s provided us with one of the most memorable dining nights of our New York trip. Walking in without a reservation we luckily were shown to the last available table in the narrow establishment. Customers kept arriving and were directed towards a small bar towards the rear of the restaurant. The walls were a tapestry of hundreds of photographs, with the owner prominent amongst them. A larger than life character, he greeted everyone as they arrived and seemed to know all the passers by in the street too. Though perhaps not nouveau cuisine, the crab cake starter and filet mignon served with a traditional peppercorn sauce and fries were extremely enjoyable and tasty, as were the short ribs enjoyed by my other half, and matched well with the party atmosphere and beating pulse of the place. It is likely that this restaurant is more frequented by locals than tourists, which is a positive recommendation in itself. The cost of the dinner was decent value for money too, certainly significantly less than the Capital Grille or Morton’s Steakhouse chains, which may sell larger but no more delicious steaks or ribs than this little family run restaurant. You may have to wait a bit for a table but what the heck, enjoy sipping a Brooklyn lager and mingling with real New Yorkers. We will certainly return to Lucien’s if the opportunity arises.

We went here specifically based on the great reviews in TripAdvisor, and we weren't disappointed. We were staying at the Indigo Lower East Side Hotel, an easy two-block walk. We all had seafood, all superbly prepared: sea scallops, steamed mussels (superb!), fish soup. Equally superb Tarte Tartin with Affogato (espresso served over portion of vanilla ice cream) for dessert.

A friend of mine told me about Lucien. I went there for the first time with my niece on 5th November 2008, the day after Obama had won the elections. It was a magic time in NY with positive vibes for all of the US. We walked into the restaurant and met Lucien who immediately spoke French to us, he was very charming. We had champagne to celebrate the new president and then had octopus. During the whole lunch we met a business man, a banker, a singer, a drummer, a drug addict who came in to see if one of us would buy him food (Lucien did). We spoke French, English, German, Italian,.. and spent the whole day there as a result. Since this day, whenever I go to NY, I go to Lucien. It's a must and I have never been disappointed.

Went there on a sunday eve at a friend´s recommendation, who apparently had not been there in a decade, the place is minuscule, tables on top of each other, an extremely noisy. If you plant to talk to your companion dont go there. I order a filet mignot ,$48, which was heavy on the pepper side sauce, they should serve it with out the pepper sauce. My companion order scallops )$34, , I think 4 scallops came. she is a foodie did not say much about the dish actually left one. Nothing to justify those prices. They seem to have a good selection of french wines and service is cordial. But I would not go back there.

Went with a group of four on a Saturday night, but there was no wait. A small East Village restaurant that has a marvelously relaxed atmosphere and a chef who likes to experiment a bit with French bistro classics. I had the sweet-brains, easy to overcook, but they were done just right. Staff was attentive but not in your face. Just right for that fancy, but not too fancy giant pepper mill experience.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in ny and I have been here more than 6x,. Lucien is a cozy french restaurant perfect for a date night, ladies night or just a night out to enjoy some french comfort food. I frequent this establishment in the fall and winter months and the food is wonderful on a chilly evening. The cassoulet is a must as well as the tartar , the foie gra and the escargot. The food is amazing without the hearty price tag of some other french establishments. P.s Make a reservation as the restaurant is small that way you are guaranteed seating

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I made a reservation five days in advance for a party of 5. Called two days before to confirm and they confirmed. Then they called me again the same day to confirm, and I confirmed again. We showed up on time at 8:00 PM sharp. We were left standing there like complete idiots for a full hour. No apology. Just empty, repeated promises: “Your table will be ready soon.” “Just five more minutes.” Until 9:00 PM. At that point, we might as well have just walked in without a reservation and gotten the same (lack of) service. And when they finally seated us, they stuck us at the worst table in the entire restaurant directly facing the toilets. When I asked why we even bothered making a reservation, the only excuse was, “We’re very busy.” So you overbook on purpose and make your guests wait an hour with a reservation? Make it make sense. Save yourself the time, frustration, and complete lack of respect. Go literally anywhere else.

I have been here twice and will certainly visit again on my next trip to New York. Great atmsosphere, friendly service and simple, elegant traditional French cuisine. Highly recommended.

amazing restaurant ! Local is full of history and typical French decoration which is very nice. we have been welcomed by two ladies (blond frenchy Sonia and an other woman with a blue hair color which makes her even more glamorous and stylish ! FILET MIGNON tender tasty and the sauce is just heaven ! We can recommend it for any venue and you ll be ensured to have a truly frenchy experience ... In NYC ! We would be back and thank you very much for making us home at 6000km away!!

Went to dinner at Lucien on the suggestion of a store clerk in their neighborhood. Didn't know what to expect but was very pleased. Came in and the owner offered us a glass of the very fine Vouvray he was drinking and charmed us. My husband and I shared the sweetbread app that was seasoned to perfection--crispy ends yet melt in the mouth texture, as well as the crab cake which was tasty and full of crab, not filler. For dinner I had the braised short rib, which was done to perfection and not overly sweet in sauce; my husband had the bouillabaisse which was chock full of clams, fish, lobster, and scallops. The sauce was a cut above others we have had, and he finished the bread basket sopping it all up. We rolled out of there full and happy and thinking about the next time we can get back there to eat.

Take a step back in time. Relax. Slow down. Enjoy good food, good wine and good friends. Lucien's is small and cozy. And you can always count on a great meal, whatever you select. I'm partial to the cassoulet, which you don't see on many menu's these days. But everything I've tried there has been done to perfection. Take the time to chat with Lucien, and you'll have a friend for life.

We booked a table and had to wait 40 minutes regardless. Food was very good standard French fare and service is good but prices are a bit nuts considering how small and noisy this place is. Toilet did it for me. Coed in hallway, no paper. Piss on the floor, looked like NYC pub toilet and generally disgusting. We paid +$500 for 4 and they don’t manage to clean the toilet! Bit of a scam if you ask me! Get a grip people!

A last minute decision to try the French bistro across the road from our hotel resulted in a wonderful meal on our last evening in New York before return to U.K. Some excellent reviews in Trip Advisor and some very negative ones. We are glad we ignored the negatives, which were not in any way borne out by our experience. We had not booked but that was not a problem. We arrived at 6.50pm on a Monday and had we left it later we might have been in difficulty as this is obviously a popular place with many customers arriving who were clearly regulars. A bottle of water delivered to the table by our charming waitress without our asking, and time given to consider the extensive menu of mainly traditional French dishes. We chose to keep traditional for starters with onion soup and fish soup, both first class and as good as anything we have experienced in France. Our mains were salmon, cooked exactly as requested and hanger steak in mushroom and red wine sauce both with perfectly cooked vegetables. We could not fault either dish either in quality or in quantity - these are New York sized dishes. The wine list is French with a good choice, and wine by the glass at prices which compare very favourably to those charged at other restaurants and cafes in the area (but obviously very expensive by U.K. or French standards.) Ignore reviews which suggest that there is a limited choice of wine by the glass. Not the cheapest restaurant, but very good value. One which we would certainly recommend to others and revisit if we are again in New York

This restaurant is off the regular track, but it is worth the detour to 1st Avenue/1st Street. The menu and wine list is well balanced, if just slightly pricy in relation to the objective offering. It is popular, especially at weekends, but service standards are high. Tables are quite closely packed but the noise level is tolerable (increasingly problematic in New York city restaurants). My vegetarian choice was very imaginatively prepared; my guests varied their choices between chicken, steak and rack of lamb. Timing this mix of choices is no easy task and the Lucien team passed the test with flying colours.

Very fun and cool French eatery in the East VIllage. Very good young hip crowd. If you go there, tell Zach Paul sent you.

Went here again for Christmas Eve. Took a friend and it was excellent as usual. I had the filet Mignon and it was great

They gave my BF and I and 8:30 reservation on a Saturday night. I think it was a farse, a way to create a crowd so that it looked like they were serving something spectacular that is in high demand. We waited over 40 minutes standing in a narrow area near the bar. When we were finally seated and ordered our food it was just plain awful. MY BF ordered mussels and he had to actually spit out one in his napkin it was so bad. My linguini with clam sauce was awful: linguini too underdone and stuck together, the clams were fishy and the dish was overly salted. It's so noisy you can't even have a conversation Their prices are no so cheap either for the crummy neighborhood. For the cost of our dinner we could have had a much better meal at a higher end restaurant with better atmosphere, service and food. Don't waste your time, there is nothing authentically French about this bistro.

Tight quarters but worth it. The place is a gem not only for the drinks and food, but the romantic atmosphere.

I am a new yorker and this is probably the best place in the city for steak frites. I love going here. Elizabeth Cook

Very much enjoyed our dinner. As with other review, the place is quite “energetic”. I would even say frenetic. Small place with a lot going on. All the food was very tasty. Octopus, Tuna tartare, lobster on pasta, duck, salmon. All prepared very well. Service was quite attentive given the fast pace. Don’t feel that you’ll be rushed though , even though the place is very bustling. Go and enjoy, but make sure to have a reservation.

I completely agree with the reviewers who laud the French onion soup. It was the best I have had in a long time. The rest of the menu is consistent and solid French fare. (Apparently the menu never changes.) The mustard sauce on the rabbit and pasta dish is very well conceived and executed. The tables are exceedingly but pleasantly crammed together. There is nothing terribly exciting about this place, but if you are looking for an absolutely solid meal, you won't be disappointed.

My friends told us that we had to join them at their favorite French Bistro in NYC and while I was a little skeptical, I agreed to their plan to meet them at 1st Avenue and 1st Street on the lower east side for what turned out to be one of the most exceptional dinners I've eaten at any restaurant. Lucien is a very small , narrow restaurant with a few tables squeezed in the front and then their is a long bar, where many diners eat their dinners and then a cramped dining area in the back. What became quickly apparent is that most of the people eating there were part of the restaurant's extended family of long term customers! And after sitting and enjoying our dinner, we felt part of that family too! I started with a grilled shrimp cocktail that was very different but also delicious. Then I had their duck, which may have been the most incredible duck I've ever eaten. I know my review sounds over the top, but often the duck is tough or fatty but this one was tender and prepared with spinach and figs and the flavors worked so well, I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be having this delectable meal.My wife started with an asparagus salad and then had their sea scallops and was equally thrilled with her meal.While we we were too full for desserts,they only offered three, so you knew everything they offered was being made in the kitchen, which only added to my sense that this was a place to return to soon. The other fun part of the restaurant is that the walls are covered with all the celebrities who have eaten there, and while Lucien feels like a neighborhood bistro, it is clearly a popular spot to the many New York celebrities who like to eat great food.

While walking in the area and looking for a place to have lunch we stumbled upon this place. It is a nice, casual restaurant with very good fresh food and good service. We liked everything we ate. We'll return to this place.

We popped in for drinks on our way home. Great vibe, very friendly staff. Definitely one of our favourite bars in the area.

I loved this place. They don't care you if have a reservation or not. Its a spot to see and be seen. Cool joint. All the cry babies who said stuff about waiting, then go somewhere else... I hate crybaby entitled ding dong anyway.

We were very happy with our meal. Beautiful restaurant and great staff! The bread was delicious. We got the steak, the snapper, and the mussels! Would recommend anything on the menu.

Nice French food in a quaint East Village shotgun-style location. The food is good, the service is friendly and bohemian, but the place is tiny and crowded. Reservations are pretty hit-or-miss, you make a reservation but then end up waiting at the crowded bar just like folks who didn't book a table.

Have visited a fair few restaurants over the years, both on business and with the family and by total chance we wondered into Lucien. Well, what to say!...the best Bistro in New York ? Simple answer, YES! Great atmsosphere, friendly service and excellent French cuisine. Something else as well, that certain indefinable ex-factor that is missing from the higher end of Manhattan and all done with a certain ease and elegance, that is more Paris than USA. Like Arnie, I will be back!

Just stumbled upon this place and what a find This place is charming and the server was friendly and attentive The fish soup although a tad salty was very flavorful and the pate was excellent Also had the merguez sausage which was so tasty

We found this beautiful little restaurant purely by chance. We walked in without any expectations! We were seated immediately without any reservations. Our server was so nice and sweet! We ordered the octupus, tuna tartar, arugula salad and beet salad! Everything was really tasty and just the right size! We will definitely return and is highly recommended

This was a last minute choice. We walked in and didn't have a reservation but we were seated within 10 min. The place is small and tight. basically sitting right on top on the people on both sides so not conducive for a private conversation. The foor was very good and enjoyed the meal. Started with the raw clams. They were fresh and the sauce was perfect. The main courses were rack of lamb and the squab. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the Squab was tasty as well. The two downsides of this restaurant which cancels out the pros were the size of the portions were very small and for the size they were very overpriced. The wine list was equally overpriced. The total bill with tip for two people was $307. For that price the portions should have been way larger. The Squab was small an the lamb was Two pieces with two ribs each and they looked like baby ribs rather then larger. For the price you can do way better somewhere else. Although the food itself was good I will not be back as in NYC you can do way better elsewhere with getting what u r paying for.

I took my wife, stepson and his girlfriend to dinner at Lucien at the beginning of his 30th birthday week. WHAT A FIND! Although small, crowded and cramped, there was undeniable energy throughout the restaurant that literally screamed out: FUN! That said, the food is the star of the show. Every dish that we ordered was absolutely top notch French bistro fare. The prices were New York fair, and the wine list had a number of selections that were both outstanding and not likely to break the bank. My wife and I are dedicated foodies, both when we eat our and when we entertain friends -- which is often. We have traveled extensively and often in France, and French cooking is one of my specialties as a chef. Lucien did not disappoint. The onion soup, moules mariniere, octopus, escargots and salad frisee all were sensational, and my rabbit in mustard sauce . . . well . . . I am still thinking about 3 weeks hence. "nuf said! Highly recommended!

Rendezvoused hear with one of my best mates who I had not seen for two years. First best thing - Kronenburg beer available (my favourite 2013 beer) - but of course it is because it is a French restaurant. I had not eaten much and it was late afternoon - but the French onion soup was amazing. So much so I had it the next two days in a row. Staff were great - friendly, attentive and a little cheeky which was fun.

Lil' Bit of Paris in New York. After our recent visit to Paris, we were yearning for that little Bistro, we loved so much. Who knew we would find it in NYC. Close your eyes and you are in Paris. From our beautiful waitress, who grew up in Paris, to the delicious food we were about to experience. Foie Gras Mousse that was rich and creamy on toast points, and the Squab that was served beautifully on risotto, with wild mushrooms. This is the way it should be done. A family owned business, with the owners son, working tables, and the owner himself sitting down with us having a wonderful Calvados, to accompany the perfectly made Creme Brulee, with essence on fresh mint, and Chocolate Cake, to die for. We were having such a great time, we missed the first half hour of the Broadway show, we were going to.

Great restaurant. Very busy, very tight. Sat at the bar waiting for our table. Food was very good. Did not give 5 stars because of the wait. Had a 8:15 reservation and only sat at 9. Good thing the bartender was excellent and was very attentive knowing that we were waiting for a while.

From photos looks great, nice crusty old village place. BUT the menu prices were not updated on the website and everything was 6$ more than advertised. Prices are astronomical for the quality and rude-almost humorous-service. We made a reservation 2 weeks in advance for an occasion and were seated next to the kitchen which was NOISY and HOT. Overall, a lousy experience all around. And the photos which looked charming failed to reveal the grimy intererior which looks like it was last painted in the 1980s.

I'm not the biggest fan of French Restaurants but I am now a true fan of Lucien, The owner was so accommodating and friendly, she made us feel like old time regulars! The mussels were simply over the top delicious. I love this dish and it is truly the best I have had anywhere. I followed it with Steak Tartar which was also perfectly executed. The service was excellent and even pushing through the crowds with plates of food, the staff kept their humor. Don't see that too often. It says a lot about how it is run.

Was visiting New York with friends in August 2015. A friend who was with us recommended Lucien as he had been there the year before. We were not disappointed. From the excellent table service to the to the fantastic food and wine , I couldn't think of a better way to spend our first night in NYC . Definitely pay this gem a visit if you're around the East Village.

Beware of this deceiving restaurant that charges you one amount when they swipe your card in front of you and another charge after you leave without your authorization. It seems like this is how this crooked restaurant operates based on someone else’s review with a similar complaint last year in July. Be careful! When you contact management which happens to be the owner, they don’t return your call. The waitresses and management are a bunch of delinquents who have no knowledge about the concept of customer service, honesty or hospitality. So many other worthwhile places to go to vs. being robbed! Spare yourself a horrible experience. Go somewhere else!

I love coming to Lucien. The food is truly incredible and the French music playing softly in the background makes you feel like you are in a cafe back in Paris. Extremely charming. I would highly recommend the Onion Soup, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Moroccan Style Shrimp and Arugula Salad with Beets & Goat Cheese. Some of my favorites. Food will def. not disappoint you. It can however get a bit crowded around dinner time / late night so if you do not like crowds, I recommend making it an earlier dinner.

Looking for fine French food or even just impeccably seasoned entrees? Lucien's in the East Village won't let you down! All 3 meals served to our table were tender and savory, the best I have eaten all year. A nice selection of wines was served by wait staff that was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was .cozy and intimate. What a treat to eat there!

I went with my daughter (who recommended it) her friend and my wife. The place is small, crazy busy, people can barely walk in the place but they are loving it. The food was very good, very French and authentic. Muscles and fries, escargot, steak and fritte, what else can you ask for. Everything was spot on, their steak au poivre sauce a bit spicy but I like it. Not cheap but that is NYC. The place was unreal busy, that was part of the charm. Definitely would go back. The servers are super friendly despite the craziness.

If you are looking for an authentic French bistro with foie gras, escargots, rabit, steak tartare and tarte tatin on the menu, Lucien is your kind of place. Nothing pretentious there. It's family style and cozy (to the point you almost touch the next table... as it is in any good Parisian bistro). Very friendly service. Interesting and reasonably priced wine list. Definitely an address to keep.

Nice place. Not all that big (little tight) but that's OK. Food was very good and reasonably priced. If you want brunch make sure you ask for the menu.

Definitely not coming back. We booked a table for 9:30pm. As soon as we arrived we saw the place completely packed. They weren't very helpful in telling us how long we had to wait until we had a table ready. We asked a couple of times. They kept on telling us a table was paying. That went for 30 more min. The last time we say: "but how long is the wait? You keep saying they are paying." The answer of the hostess was "and it's still true honey". Not a cool tone to use with someone that's been waiting for so long. After more than 30min waiting we decided to go to a Japanese that was just around the corner. It was very authentic and was suggested by a Japanese friend. UMINOIE. It was delicious. Happy we discovered a new place.

We made reservations one month in advance at 9.00 Pm for a Saturday. When we arrived the place was packed and they told us we had to wait for 30 minutes. We told them we had reservations, they said: people here have been waiting for more than an hour. We had to stay inside to wait otherwise our reservation was no langer valid. But it was barely possible to stand at the bar. We decided to leave and the hostesses became really annoying and arrogant. They told me: You don't know this place We are packed And changed the waitingtime to 10 minutes, then again to 20, while 5 minutes earlier it was 30 to 40 minutes. What is the point of making a reservation if you can not get your table, cannot go outside to wait etc? We have been out to dinner in several topnotch restaurants in NY but never experienced such an unwelcoming situation.

We read the reviews about the food and the ambience and we decided to give it a try on our 24hr visit to NY. Not disappointed! First, we had to call a couple of times to postpone our reservation, and both times they were very accommodating and polite on the phone, once we got there, we were really impressed by how friendly and present the waiting staff was. The restaurant is fairly small and busy, but cosy. We sat at the back of the restaurant, all the 2-people tables are really close to each other and so if you have a loud neighbour, like we had, it's a little difficult to tune out to hear your partner across the table. But the food came and we forgot all about the issue of proximity, it was that good! We started with oysters and that lovely shallots/vinegar sauce, so good, and the portobello mushrooms in garlic sauce as a starter. My partner had the lobster with spaghetti. The lobster was huge and succulently fleshy with spaghetti in a gorgeous tomato sauce! Un sans faute! I had the rabbit in mustard sauce with pappardelle and I can honestly say that it brought me back to my childhood as one of my mom's best home cooked meal! We were pretty full after that meal, but we did share the chocolate cake, and there again, it was super moist, chocolatey with a dark chocolate topping, without being too sweet and sickly...yummmy! We had a couple of kir royals with our meal which took us above the $150 range for 2! Rather pricey meal but the quality of the food and the service were faultless! Will go back!

A friend who lives in New York brought us here last month. He had been before and said the fillet steak was the best he had ever had. After saying that, the 3 of all ordered fillet steak. Before that we shared escargot with beautiful fresh bread. Had some beautiful wine too. The steaks definitely lived up to our friends billing and were just beautiful. Lovely atmosphere in the place and it was very busy

Since 2006 I have been here more than 100 times. It’s a small restaurant with the best food, great service and just a pearl in New York. Every time I’m in New York I pay the restaurant a visit.

I went to Lucien's on a friend's recommendation. I was delighted with the food, the quality, the service and the essence of French cooking. I had branzino, which was bursting with flavor! I highly recommend this restaurant to foodies, or anyone who enjoys a great meal!

I was so disappointed with Lucien - we were recommended by a friend as both my girlfriend and I are French. It was genuinely a 2/10 for French food compared to what you should expect, especially for the prices they were charging I couldn’t believe it. To make matters worse, they gave themselves a $40 tip taking it off my credit card after I had signed the total amount on the bill. It wasn’t till a couple of days later that I realised - I have called and emailed and they refuse to return them. Beware of this place!!

This review could really be a 3 or 4 star outcome, depending on a few factors, but I wish to err on the generous side today. The food is solid, and our waitress owns that dining room. She explains, in detail, what the offerings are, like she actually made the food, how everything's prepared, and is quite efficient and friendly. The food is a solid 3-star rating, but it's the service that takes the rating to a "4." What holds them back from being a better establishment overall boils down to two primary issues; 1) it's just way too noisy. At one point, early on, with a packed house, they actually turned-up the speakers, forcing the baseline decibel level to increase exponentially so conversation could be heard. There's just no good reason for this. 2) Their bar is awkwardly-close to the dining area, and is so crowded/noisy that getting through the people to the restrooms is quite the challenge, as is being forced to converse over their noise. Perhaps the bar area should be toward the back of the restaurant, yes? It's obvious that the layout of Lucien is all wrong. They should decide what they really want to be, a bar/restaurant, or a restaurant/bar. The good news is that the food, especially the duck entree (with figs, spinach & turnips) was outstanding. One of the best duck dishes anywhere. The steamed mussels were a good starter, steamed (white wine, etc....), however, a bit milky(?) for our tastes. Usually it's in a simple white wine & butter sauce. This was somehow "enriched" in a milky broth. The octopus starter was grilled and tender. Not much more you could want in this, albeit a bit more acidity would enhance the dish. Dessert was a "fail" for us, since it was the tarte tatin that brought us here initially. We had been looking for this dessert all over NYC and was disappointed by the time it arrived. It lacked the caramelized, rich, gooey and sticky characteristics of the finest ones available. This one was more wet and overly-spicy than it should have been. If you're in the mood for French, Lucien is worth considering.

We love everything about Lucien. The place is alive with interesting people and a dynamic ambience that takes you back to another time. We usually order the duck confit, or the lapin moutarde. Both are splendid dishes that you won't find anywhere else. Even the bread and butter here is divine. The wine list is terrific, too.

Lucien is one of our faves! Small place and nearly always a wait but it's so worth it! Great staff, super friendly and the Maitre de who has been there for years is amazing! The bread is always fresh and crispy. Steak frites are amazing as is the frisee salad. The place has a fabulous ambience and is always inviting. I think it's one of the jewels of NY! People thought your review was:

It’s a little gem in New York City. I’m from Belgium and i was so happy to be able to eat there and enjoy European cuisine. Had the endives with Rochefort as a starter and the Bouillabaisse as main dish = food orgasm ! With a delicious Sancerre it was a perfect meal. The atmosphere is so cosy and frenchy I loved it.

The food is hot and delicious. My wife enjoyed her fish and my new york strip was first class. The restaurant has the atmosphere of parisian bistro, but seemingly with some of the disdain for customers that can be found there. We were offered menus and the wine list as soon as we arrived and the server asked us our preferences for wine, I prefer red and my wife white. Without further ado he then recommended a particular bottle of red, at a mere $56, before leaving us with what appeared to be disdain written all over his face when we did not order at that time from the list. As it happens we had just a few weeks previously completed a tour of France and Italy and the main wine regions so do have some understanding of what we might like. We felt somewhat unwelcome and so had just a main course, pleasant as it was, before leaving. Be prepared for a bill on the heavy side of reasonable. There was no thank you or farewell as we left, what had we done I wonder??

Well, the place looks really inviting from the outside and the first impression inside is that of a buzzing place with a good vibe. As mentioned before, reservations are not really worth bothering with, you´ll have to wait at the bar until a table becomes available even if you do have a booking. The space is tiny and servers and other guests are squeezing past. Quite a job, carrying three or four plates of food. Anyhow, the tables in the front are preferable, since the ones in the back are affected by traffic from and to the kitchen and the restrooms. Staff was very pleasant on the night of our visit, doing their utmost to please their guests. The bar is well stocked and does cocktails beside all the usual you´d expect in a restaurant. The wine list is extensive and expertly commissioned. Wine is expensive by the glass though, 10-15 $ for a half decent, small glass of white. Bottles offer better value, as they do in most restaurants. The food, mhmm...as the title says, I think it is overrated. All the dishes on the menu are actually rather simple although they do sound fancy by their French names. Nothing wrong with simple dishes and to me they are preferable over something elaborate, when properly executed that is. A slice of wild salmon for instance does not need much but a pinch of salt and a bit of black pepper, grilled for a few minutes either side...lovely. What they do here is, poach or steam the salmon and top it with some slimy balsamic vinaigrette, thus removing all the original flavours and ruining that lovely piece of fish. What the menu describes as moules mariniers (thats mussels in a white wine broth with lots of parsley, celeriac and other root vegetables) are actually moules a la creme (mussels in cream), which are not bad but an entirely different story. Oysters are of unknown provenance and were quite a poor quality. They didn't come with "echalotte vinaigre" or tabasco as you´d expect but with ketchup..! The lemon was there in fairness, but no finger bowl or even a little pre packed citrus towel. If you are into authentic French cuisine, don't bother with this place, you´ll be disappointed.

French bistros are not hip & trendy hence good one are hard to find in NYC. Lucien has been around for a long time but this was the first time I went. It's amazing and by far and away the best French bistro food in NYC. If you miss a great steak frites, Lucien is your place in NYC.

we went to dinner with friends in this restaurant. we waited 35 mins for our table. it was very noisy and we had no space. the meat was good but but too much pepper. The frozen chocolate cake was discusting.When arrived the bilI , I left 20% of tips. they came back to me saying that it was not enough. the waiters started to be very aggressive and ask us for more money. They requested 30% of tips. We refused. we left very angry. we will never come back again.

Excellent French dining. Despite a long wait, we ate indoors at this terrific bistro. The three of us shares six excellent appetizers. Steak Tartare was very good as was the seared four gras. The fried octopus was also outstanding and great mussels. Reasonably priced food - good wine and plenty of delicious French bread.

Lively and delicious, we loved our visit to Lucien! The food was scrumptious, the look of the restaurant was engaging ( I loved the artwork and photos adorning the walls)—our servers were delightfully friendly and three couples had a great time! We are suburban New Yorkers and we’ll be sure to return with the same crew—or a new one!!

Fantastic food. We got very good service. Absolutely fantastic food. We booked a table the same day and it went well.

My wife and I were looking for a restaurant near a movie theatre on E. Houston in Manhattan.Checking many reviews of this area Lucien had very few detractors.Since we were going to eat very early we did not call for reservations.(5pm).I decided to call to confirm that they would be serving dinner that early and was told kitchen was open 11am to 2am.Arrived at 5pm and immediately seated at a window seat ,a few tables were occupied and the bar was pretty quite.Waitstaff was very prompt and friendly.The atmosphere is very cozy like an authentic old French bistro.My wife and I both ordered the frisée salad wittch was good.For our main course Diane ordered the Boullabaise which was very good(wide variety of seafood)and I ordered three appetizers,escargot,Medeterainian style lamb sausage on polenta and octopus with roasted small potatoes.they were all very good.We ordered a bottle of 2007 Trimbach reserve Pinot Gris that went very well.A nice slice of an apple tartin to finish off .As we were leaving the bar was full and seating was also.Would deffinitley go back.

The food is just alright for the price and the place. Not worth going on a weekend night. Maybe it would've been better during the week for lunch or something.

Can really recommend! The venue is cramped and you sit close together and the atmosphere is lovely. The food was good and well prepared, especially recommend the onion soup and scallops.

Lucien is by far one of the most authentic French spots I've found in NYC. Everytime I go, I hear whispers of French from all corners of the restaurants - and the energy of the staff transport me back to a Parisien bistro. Definitely try the Frisee aux lardons salad as well as any of the entrees, as well as the house wine! Also if you can snag a seat at the bar, it's my favorite spot in the house. Also call in advance if you want to make reservations - it can get pretty crowded on weekends.

Beautiful food, the best tarte tatin I've ever tasted and exceptional service. We discovered Lucien after our reservation at Prune along the road was not honoured and we were delighted to find this little gem. We can't wait to return to Lucien when we visit NYC again. Thanks to the delightful hostess who made us feel like part of the family.

First, we waited 45 minutes for our table. Honestly, I've never waited that long for a reserved table in my life. Anyway, we had nice cocktails, and waited . . . I was hungry and eager. My opinion of the food - MIXED. Excellent were: the hanger steak in mushroom sauce, perfectly cooked, and the rabbit in mustard sauce, very delicate. The haricots verts that came with the steak were so over-salted, they were inedible. One person in my party had the escargots, which were ok, I've had better -- I also prefer them served in shell, it's more attractive and more fun, which Lucien does not do. The big disappointment for me was their soupe de poisson, which is one of my favorite French dishes. It was bad. It was like tomato sauce with garlic and fish infusion, nothing like any of the dozens of soupes de poisson I've had before, in France and here. How do they call it "traditionelle?" The bread was not great and somewhat stale. With all the great baguette bakers in NYC, they can't get anyything better?? The prices are high, especially for the East Village, but the quality is uneven. I hated to leave a plate of beautiful string beans because the chef had a too-heavy hand with salt. They seem to love celebrity customers and their walls are full of photos. The service was friendly, but not as attentive as it could be. It was noisy, they were busy. The lovely woman bartender was superb. "Mixed" is best I can say.

We stopped in after a performance, on a lark - and so glad we did. Charming environment, friendly staff and talented kitchen. We started with the frisée salad and Moroccan lamb sausages over polenta - I was really impressed with the consistency of the polenta and the flavor of the sausage, I highly recommend it. We both had the steak frites for dinner, and again I was vet impressed with the quality and flavoring of the beef. Good Manhattan to start, and decent wine list. Overall a good experience, will definitely return.

Having seen some lovely French bistros close over the years was thrilled to have experienced Lucien. I am a big duck fan and theirs was beyond expectation. Low key and attentive staff.

I loved the ambience, the food and the service. The staff was lovely about letting us create our own happy hour menu!

I try to get back to Lucien whenever I'm in NY. The roast chicken is my favorite but the steak frites is a great choice as well. I also recommend the beet salad and always wish I could buy their bread to take home! Yes, it is often crowded but this is part of the charm. If you're willing to eat before 7, there's no problem. I have found the wait staff to be consistently friendly.

A beautiful French restaurant tucked away between a few bars on the lower east side, Lucien is beautifully done up in a very retro Parisian style. It has the charm of a late 80's European café. One of the easiest and effortless reservations to get, just call them and they always have a table open. Even though I called last minute on a prime time Saturday, they were very accommodating. The place was very packed towards the end of the night as people walked in to have drinks at the bar. The walls are packed with celebrity photos at Lucien but I wouldn't call it a celebrity hotspot. It is more of a LES/Nolita thing, moving over to the food he food was great, the tartare was amazing. The drink service was good, the wait staff was courteous enough to replenish our drinks whenever they saw our glasses empty. I would definitely call is a very New York spot and suggest this if you are in the neighborhood over the weekend. Definitely try the mezcal Negroni there, tastefully done.

The staff, and food is great here. The braised short ribs are not on the menu but they run it as a special almost all the time. I have had them, and they keep bringing me back. The restaurant is always busy, but Zack and the staff will always make room for you.

Been there many years ago. Third time dining there. Deliciously consistent French cuisine. As if the chef never left! Filet mignon au Poivre, muscles with butter base sauce, French fries (of course) salads, and above all, extremely well priced for the food and wines in an authentic French bistro experience table to table packed restaurant. Friendly service. Happy to see an establishment maintaining the standard for so many years for us to enjoy. Full of young people as restaurant stays open quite late. Loved it!

Went on a Sat. nite with 3 other couples. We had an 830 reservation. It was impossible to find a spot on the street, so we went into a garage for $23. The restaurant is small, really small when you are waiting. There was no room at the bar so patrons were hold up against the wall behind bar area. So whenever servers were coming through we all had to hold it in and try to maneuver to get them through. So by the time our table was ready(about 9) I wasn't expecting much. I was wrong. We were given a nice long table in the back, with plenty of room and not as noisy. Waiter suggested a bottle of wine instead of individual glasses. Everything was delicious and no one was unhappy. Salads were good, tuna tartare very good, onion soup also good. Most of us had the chicken which was excellent. Some had the steak and fries which they also said was good. No desserts, and no complaints. Would go again, but maybe not on a sat. nite.

Good food, we had steak frites and rabbit. Tasty fries and rabbit sauce. Steak slightly hard, as was the rabbit. tiny table. Very loud place, and music on top of it. Enjoyable but were glad to leave.

We asked the staff at our hotel desk where to go to eat steak and a fellow guest who overheard immediately recommended Lucien. It's a small and intimate place. Don't expect space around your table. But we were treated really well by the staff, and we loved the steak frites (which - at New York prices - was good value), as well as the ambience. A decent bottle of Gigondas and a tarte tatin too. We loved the place!

This lower east side French bistro is a taste treat as well as an immersion in the left bank. It is fine dinning and good wine with the staff well versed in both. This long term neighborhood restaurant is more expensive than most restaurants in the general area, but well worth they investment. It is small and intimate making the dinning experience almost communal.

THE WORST restaurant I’ve been to in NYC. We had a reservation for 7:30pm and made us wait ages. We NEVER actually got our table. They kept saying our table was about to be ready and NEVER was. The host, hostess and servers were arrogant and indifferent. DO NOT GO. I’ve been to many restaurants in NY and would never recommend this one. Avoid it.

Excellent service, super good staff that treats you like family, fantastic food. Loved the vibe so very much. The place may seem a bit expensive, but it's definitely worth it.

Lucien by far is my favorite restaurant in New York City to get authentic french food without the flair. The steak fritte is the best thing on the menu and the fries are rumored to be cooked in duck fat. They are THAT amazing! The waitstaff is personable, fun, and attractive (bonus!) Always packed, if you call they will add you to a list, but a part of the fun is having cocktails at the bar while you wait for your table, often stiff cocktails and one too many. Jose the cook is charming and will often bring you a dessert (or two) for free. They aren't snobby about accomodating special dietary requests (I am gluten free). Wine list is somewhat affordable and they will often suggest something better for the same price as the table win (honest!) Forgo the touristy and overpriced Pastis for a night in the East Village for an authentic and memorable experience. I've been going for years and will always make a stop when I travel to New York City.

Although we did have a reservation (admittedly for a rather large group of people), we ended up waiting for half an hour for our table. Because it is a small (tiny?) place, we sat rather "intimately" next to each other. I had no hors d'oeuvre, a steak with pommes frites, and a flowerless chocolate cake. My impression: nothing truly special; the steak was almost hard and the chocolate cake - at least for my taste - not sweet enough (for those - including me - who love flowerless chocolate cake, make a trip to Vienna!). The staff were in general very attentive and friendly. Impressive was the excellent wine menu.

We had a reservation for lunch today for noon. The restaurant is tiny with a large bar. The tables are crowded together and you can hear your neighbor's conversation. We were initially seated in back but it was too loud, too dark and too crowded. I couldn't even get up to use the restroom. They moved us to the front of the restaurant, to a table for 2 right next to the front window. Both of us were cold due to the draft from the window. It took the wait staff 15 minutes to come see if we wanted something to eat or drink. Once we ordered the wine and it was brought, it was another 15 minutes before someone came over to see what we wanted to eat. The food is good, but overpriced! I've never paid $46 for 3 scallops! The wait staff didn't check on us once! We would have had another bottle of wine and dessert, but since no one came over, we left cash for our meal and left. I would not return, and can't recommend.