L'Ecole, The Restaurant of The French Culinary Ins Reviews
Reviews from Citysearch
Overall Rating
- Service was top notch
Read More On Citysearch by TardyKat at Citysearch 7/21/2011 - L o v e this food! Favorite. MMMMMMmmmmmmm!
Read More On Citysearch by nina nina at Citysearch 10/28/2010 - Very good restaurant.
Read More On Citysearch by brunoc at Menuism 8/22/2010 - A brunch that did not live up to expectations
Read More On Citysearch silverblue 2/28/2010 - Wonderful 5 star experience
Read More On Citysearch Citysearch User 2/27/2010 - Great food at a great priceDarn. I thought I'd found a secret but there are already more than 50 reviews. Without repeating all the nice -- and true -- things that have been written about the food, let me praise this place for something else.
I had an 8:30 reservation on a Saturday night and walked in to find no table ready for 20 minutes. This happens at a lot of restaurants, and most of them act like my time is no big...
Read More On Citysearch Scoop NYC 12/14/2009 - Precision diningIt was cold and snowy when L'Ecole became our oasis for friendliness and warmth. The hostess seated us swiftly without circumstance followed by the waitress for our drink orders and to describe the specials. Our organization, Math for America, was particularly keen to hold our holiday luncheon at the French Culinary Institute because of the stellar reputation for quality food and to observe ...
Read More On Citysearch leeumphrey 12/30/2008 - perfect french cuisinethis place knows what's important - the focus is on the food. simple but perfect french food. food was delicious.i had the tomato goat cheese and the crusted lamb chops with ratatouille. this is a great place to bring the parents to but it's cheap enough that it can also be a more regular part of your diet.
Read More On Citysearch juliekal 12/6/2008 - FANTASTIC..FANTASTIC.
Why?
It's cute.
It's tucked away and not screaming for attention (but still busy as can be, so you know they must be doing something right).
It's casual and unpretentious, but very still very classy and oh-so-French.
It's delicious. The food was so well-prepared, with flavors that were not too heavy or overdone.
The portions were just about the right size.
Our servers was perfec...
Read More On Citysearch sweetemmy 10/2/2008 - Useless. Spend the extra money and go anywhere else!
We went here with a group of 5 after a special event here, and had heard the price for a 5-course dinner was really good. I must say, the menu was nice enough, and the manager was really friendly when we arrived, and had wonderful ideas for complimentary wines.
However, after the experience I have two words: BUMBLING MESS! One of the meat courses was SUPPOSED to be medium-rare, and came out co...
Read More On Citysearch Jenna1070899 7/31/2008 - Good!I ate dinner here and somehow didn't leave very full after 3 courses. I guess they serve French instead of American portions. I started with the bay scallop ceviche with caviar (deliciously salty). Then I ordered the Hanger Steak With Red Wine. The steak was soooooooo gooooood. something in that sauce was addicting. For dessert I had the passion fruit baked alaska wasn't so good. boohoo.
Read More On Citysearch MarkMunafo 7/6/2008 - Great restaurant if lowered your expectationsI love the fact that the staff here are also students of culinary. It makes the experience very unique. The food is actually very good. There are obvious flaws in the prep in some of the dishes and the taste combination doesn't always come out perfect. But go with such expectation and you'll find yourself enjoying the atmosphere quite nicely. I read about this restaurant on the WhereIsCID Blog an...
Read More On Citysearch NYCfoodguy 7/3/2008 - Amazing!One of the best complete meals I've ever had in my life. Servers were polite despite the fact that we were young and students, and gave us a seat in a window, and we were sent out a small dish gratis. Everything I had was great. I really highly recommend the duck with rhubarb, the trout, and the chocolate tart for dessert. Only complaint would be that service is a little slow, but if you're with ...
Read More On Citysearch michelle6887 5/3/2008 - Average!I have been there twice and i can say that the palce itself is nice.However the service and food quality is not good as you expect.
Read More On Citysearch Helenic 4/30/2008 - BravoGreat food, great experience and I will be going there everytime the menu changes. I love being a part of the students training. Every six weeks or so a new class is preparing the food so it's like a new experience each time. The location is warm and I never felt rushed. a "must try" for NY at a great price.
Read More On Citysearch nixon99 2/10/2008 - best food, great customer serviceL'ecole was a such a treat! I went a few months ago with my fiance and sister and was so impressed. I'm a serious NY diner and I love to visit new spots. L'ecole was as good as some of the more expensive restaurants in the city but for a third of the price. I ordered the cod and my sistered ordered the seabass. The fish literally melts in your mouth. Literally every course was so light and re...
Read More On Citysearch lovetodine08 1/28/2008 - Great Service, great foodWe arrived 30 minutes late to our reservation, and I was worried that they might not seat us at all, but the staff was nothing but nice and welcoming! Our waitress gave great recommendations, and the food was just perfect. It was my first time trying duck and it was so delicious. Exceeded all expectations!
Read More On Citysearch bellaboo1 12/5/2007 - DESSERT was GREAT!!!!This place definitely has the best dessert! I had the creme brulee and it was seriously the best thing I have tasted in a long time! I had tried the pork chop for my entree and that was good. I overheard at another table that the Steak is actually really good. Definitely recommend this place. Defiinitely DESSERT makes the whole thing worth it. I will definitely be returning for the dessert ...
Read More On Citysearch goodfoodrocks_dup 10/9/2007 - One of the bestRead all of the reviews and its easy to determine that the people who didn't enjoy L'ecole simply don't know food. The handful of people who gave it less than a great rating were looking for a place to eat goat food or chat rather than to experience the newest designs and tastes in culinary fare. This place is supervised by some of the worlds leading chefs. Granted, the food is prepared by stu...
Read More On Citysearch nycsamurai 9/7/2007 - ALWAYS A GOOD VALUEI've been going for many years--and the place has certainly changed, no doubt due to the enormous public awareness engendered by the TV Food Network, Top Chef, etc etc. Last night's dining experience was typical: a lovely room, attentive service, and tasty food on a rather ambitious, relatively inexpensive menu. The corn soup was nice and packed a wallop; the pate was also fresh and delicious. Th...
Read More On Citysearch aaw926 8/9/2007 - prolly one of my fav's in the city. great deal, changing ...
Read More On Citysearch by ClaraPark at Menuism 7/30/2007 - prolly one of my fav's in the city. great deal, changing ...
Read More On Citysearch by ClaraPark at Menuism 7/30/2007 - Good Food for a Fair PriceGo for the fixed price menu - it's worth it. Dishes are not very large but after having an appetizer, fish, meat, salad and dessert you should be allright. Service is good - there are plenty of people ready to help. Definitely a place to go.
Read More On Citysearch ldicola 7/11/2007 - Great service, good food & nice winelistThis was our first time dining at this restaurant for the 4 course dinner prix fixe. We ordered the lamb chops (which was tender and tasty) and the sesame crusted tuna which cooked to perfection. The corn soup appetizer was okay but my boyfriend enjoyed the carpaccio as his starter. For dessert, we had the passion fruit cheesecake and creme brulee which were both done well. The dinner prix fi...
Read More On Citysearch kellysan24 6/28/2007 - good service and ambianceI made reservations 2 weeks in advance because there wasn't any reserved openings but when we arrived there were several open tables that remained open for the entire night so I'm sure I could've just walked in. The decor of the restaurant was really nice and clean and the service was decent. The waiter was great and polite but each courses took forever! I understand giving us some time to dige...
Read More On Citysearch cityhopper21 6/13/2007 - Best Kept Secret!My boyfriend took me there for my bday since I mentioned I've been wanted to go and try it out. They were very accomodating to my boyfriend who does not eat red meat and gave him a veg dish. All of the food was beautiful and delicious as expected coming from thr French Institute. The price is amazing and the food is scrumptious. I ate the fennel soup which is just ok, french onion was better. I h...
Read More On Citysearch sairs143 3/20/2007 - Good Ambiance, good service and great french food (except for the bad salad they try to pass off as a course).I took my girlfriend here for dinner last Friday. I had read good reviews for this place to I decided to give it a shot. I had made reservations a week in advance and they were good about calling a day in advance to confirm it (turned out they had written down the wrong time but corrected it immediately). Upon arrival at the restaurant, we were seated immediately and i found everyone working ther...
Read More On Citysearch parkslopeboy 2/12/2007 - NOT AS GOOD AS IT USED TO BEa fine place for group.
low price of French food.
the food is well but not perfect.
great service but very slow.
Read More On Citysearch diorhommeforme 1/23/2007 - Did not meet expectation!Me and 3 other girlfriends decided to try this place out, because of the name and all the good reviews.
Service and environment:
We came here on a Wed had a 6pm reservation, we were seated prompted, the deco and atmosphere is very nice and elegant. They had bazillian jazz (my favor) on which goes well with the cozy enironment.
Our waitress was attentive and serive was good, untill the end....
Read More On Citysearch foodfanaticnyc 12/14/2006 - Best French Food For The PriceI have been going to L'Ecole for 13 years and have never been disappointed in the food or the service. Recently I took a friend from Paris to dinner there and even he was impressed!
Read More On Citysearch bettyboopnro 11/2/2006 - Very goodWent hear for the 4 course meal, which is technically only
three. Next time we will go back later for the 5 course, we
didn't choose that this time since with less courses, there are
more variety, but now we know that everything will be good!
Staff was very nice, and let us move to a table by the window
Read More On Citysearch bootsytown 11/1/2006 - one of the best dinners in a long timenyc offers so many restaurants and lately I have not been impressed. But this dinnner experience was different. Service was fantastic and the food more than words can describe. I especially liked the sorbet after the meal to clean my palatte. I will definately ccome back with a group of friends!!
Read More On Citysearch nyctes 10/7/2006 - Not what it used to beI dined at L'Ecole for my fifth time in September of 2006 and it was like a completely different restaurant. Not only did they discontinue the salad with goat cheese portion, they raised their prices. If you go before 7:00pm, you will no longer get a nice four-course meal, you will get a three-course meal with a cheap sorbet substitute. In addition, the food was sub-par compared to the other t...
Read More On Citysearch hayleychap 9/25/2006 - Students do it RightMy boyfriend and I went in for lunch and had the pre fixe meal with the wine paring...it was great. The server was wonderful and friendly. I couldn't hae askfor a better time.
Read More On Citysearch lindamerlot 9/11/2006 - Great Food amd AmbianceWhen we first learned that the food at L'Ecole was prepared by the culinary school students we were apprehensive.When we learned that the students attended the French culinary Institute, we became excited!! Our excitement was justified: the food was delicious, the presentation was exquisite and the whole experience was memorable!
i would highly recommend L'Ecole, especially their pre-fix menu wh...
Read More On Citysearch Citysearch User 8/7/2006 - Great value for foodTwo of us were there for dinner. Seating is a bit crowded but service is very attentive and wait staff is knowlegeable. Food is not excellent but good, ambience is good (very pretty flowers). Overall it's good value for the price you pay.
Read More On Citysearch spider66_nz 7/23/2006 - highly priced terrible foodi went expecting a great meal. as a vegetarian i was given boiled vegetables. very disappointing. too expensive as well. on a pre fixe meal we had to pay for coffee and additional money for some dishes. one is not accepting these charges on a fixed prepaid menue. tasteless boiled food not worth the price
Read More On Citysearch rookaya 5/2/2006 - A Hidden TreasureWe relocated from Chicago a little over a year ago, and love to eat out. This is the first high end restaurant that we have been to in New York, that we would take out of town guests to. Our expectations were fairly high, and they were all surpassed. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was "the best". The "wine pairing" concept was great. Also, to find a place that offers half bottles o...
Read More On Citysearch berniebob 3/8/2006 - PerfectWhat more can you say. Came here for lunch and couldn't have been more impressed.
Read More On Citysearch panthalassa 3/6/2006 - Good eats!I took my girlfriend to L'Ecole for Valentine's Day, and we could not have had a better dining experience. The food was incredible, our waitress was top notch (she even offered to take a picture of us without asking), the atmosphere was great, and I dare you find a better value. I highly recommend you give this place a try, just be sure to call ahead.
Read More On Citysearch tommymat 2/23/2006 - The SchoolLecole literally means school in French and they are doing and excellent job training the next generation of chefs. The food was great, nice selection of wines but the service was ok. The menu changes seasonally and the prix fix menu is a good deal.
Read More On Citysearch narae 10/13/2005 - What can you expect?I loved dining here for lunch. The selection was good, the presentation divine, the ambiance beautiful, the waitstaff cordial, and the food- delicious. All the food is cooked by senior students at the French Culinary Institute, and I have to admit that I'm very impressed. For lunch and dinner, do try to get the prix fixe, it will save you money. The desserts are also quite good. The portions are ...
Read More On Citysearch pandacub143 9/14/2005 - French Food 101This is the place to introduce your friends to really good French food without the heavy French restaurant ambiance. Definitely consider the wine pairing as well. The service is all students which I think adds a nice touch. I'll be back.
Read More On Citysearch camps74 7/27/2005 - my favorite restaurantThis is by far my favorite restaurant. Everything I have ever eaten on this menu has been great. The menu is creative and I am never disappointed. Plus $30 for a 5 course meal is a great bargin. I love this restaurant. I would highly recommend it.
Read More On Citysearch juana1010 7/16/2005 - Yumwhat a great treat! delicious food and attentive, gracious service. love love the short ribs and the vegetable terrine is out of this world!!
Read More On Citysearch sellybelle 6/13/2005 - great experienceFCI's definitely commited to quality service and outstanding food experience. Classic French dining experience and unforgetable atmosphere is not suprising, knowing the legends involved - Jacques Pepin, Andre Soltner, Alain Sailhac (who came over and spoke to me during my first dining experience) and Jacques Torres.
Read More On Citysearch chefb2003 6/11/2005 - the best value and best experienceexcellent, what a great deal! multi course lunches that are outstanding! and the chefs are always sending thing out (at no extra cost), that aren't on the menu. The staff is excellent, you want for nothing here! they also can direct you the right wine for your meal. overall, i've never had an experience like the day i visited Lecole. be there at the right time and you might have the chance t...
Read More On Citysearch chefzevon 6/10/2005 - ExceptionalIn a town where there seems to be a French restaurant around every corner, this is a really great deal. Best prix fixe meal in the city for $30(!). We went there with some friends for my birthday and had a great time. As long as you don't expect Jean Georges, you won't be disappointed.
Read More On Citysearch leean1221 12/14/2004 - One of the best meals ever...I had a completely different experience than the other person who posted...L'Ecole treated me and my date like a king and queen. They were attentive, the food was excellent, they answered all of our questions about the cuisine nicely, the ambience is romantic, and they let us linger and talk as long as we wanted. The place was packed, too. Although the food is a tad expensive, it's a nice trea...
Read More On Citysearch thesouthportcar 11/12/2004 - Terrible ServiceThe service was terrible. We were rushed to order, and then 70% of the today special was not available. After we ordered, some other waiter/manager (not the one that served us first) came over, asking for us to order again. They failed to refill our water. Food was OK, not the greatest, dont know why got such a rave review. Soon after dessert, the waiter/manager (same one again!) came by and j...
Read More On Citysearch bonton427 9/20/2004 - Night & Day difference than last visit!My wife and I visited L'Ecole two years ago since we live in the neighborhood, are both foodies and wanted to support a local culinary school. We were horrified by the poor service we received from the host to the server. We recently had friends in town who insisted on going. Not only was the inside of the restaurant renovated, more importantly we couldn't have been more impressed with the ser...
Read More On Citysearch soufflegourmet 8/26/2004 - Fantastic experienceThe most outstanding aspect of our meal was the incredible, attentive service from our totally friendly and very knowledgeable waiter. His mastery of the wine list was pretty astounding considering he is probably not a day over 21. When I ordered my pork loin, he explained the preparation to make sure I would be satisfied. Our appetizers were also excellentl; the foie gras pate was a standout and...
Read More On Citysearch poesy_nyc 7/31/2004 - YumEverything was very good. The wait staff was very attentive and knowledgable. The food was the perfect amount and very good. The ONLY negative thing I could possible say, was that my lamb was slightly dry, but still tastey. Overall I would definately recommend this place, it is an incredible deal.
Read More On Citysearch tfrost19 6/14/2004 - feast of flavourMeals can vary from acceptable to very original but Flavour is the leitmotiv. Great deserts. Great wines.
Professional staff.
Read More On Citysearch gride 8/19/2003 - very good !- food : great (the best I ate in NY)
- service : it's ok
- price: it worth it !!! it's very cheap for a 5 courses menu this quality !
- the menu changes everyday, with 3 choices for each course. There's no "a la carte" menu. So choose your reservation the day when the menu is convenient for you ! there's a website.
- I heard that sometimes the food and the service isn't great : it depends w...
Read More On Citysearch carolourin 5/9/2003 - Not Just FrenchI was surprised by the southwest influence in my meal since I assumed everything would be traditional French food. It was a great meal.
Read More On Citysearch Holly 3/28/2003 - You are missing out!Excellent, friendly service, delicious food and an overall unbelievably rare value! Run!
Read More On Citysearch stephbny 2/26/2003 - Classic FrenchGreat French food thats reasonably priced and served in a low-key setting. Its not a huge space, but its quite and perfect for catching up with friends
Read More On Citysearch Matt22A 2/11/2003 - Great Find!Good French food hard to believe its prepared by students. Also glad to see there are places in NYC where you can get a good meal at an affordable price.
Read More On Citysearch KatieNYC 2/10/2003 - Great Surprise!Surprised by the negative reviews since we had a great dinner. Food was good and very reasonable. Its a quiet place thats great for lingering over dinner with friends.
Read More On Citysearch RCB0916 2/10/2003 - Very DisappointedI too was very disappointed in L'Ecole since Zagat gave it a good rating. The service was just terrible. The host & waitresses had a strange unfriendly attitude - even the bartender. I just couldn't believe it. The food was not good at all. It's not worth spending money here. But it's a quiet place to chat.
Read More On Citysearch Annabel_Wu 1/3/2003 - crap in the hole
The restaurant looks good but the food and the service there isn't all that good. I don't think it was worth it for the money i paid to be treated like that when i just wanted a min more to decide what to get. Lousy waitress gave me a attitude and it made my whole evening go down the drain. The food isn't all that great and i dunno y zagat gave it such a great review. I wouldn't recommend u go th...
Read More On Citysearch mynameispak 1/3/2003 - My all time favorite!L'Ecole is the best restaurant, value or otherwise...the food is fun and delicious and I love this place! Everyone should try it at least once.
Read More On Citysearch drfazio 11/15/2002 - terrible service!!!the food was so-so, we expected it to be better because zagat gave a pretty high ranking on food quality. the service was terrible, we didn't even greeted when we came in. the waiters were awkward and clumsy. they didn't even bother to refill our glass of water.
there are other better french restaurants in the city..
Read More On Citysearch fhartono 6/4/2002
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