French Roast Uptown

My original review:
2.0 star rating ¼/​2010
«At a recent French Roast breakfast, the omelet was delectable, the coffee comforting. Too bad that the kid behind the bar, who was also my server, was significantly more interested in amusing his co-​workers than in providing service and attention to the guests in his charge. Pure coincidence, no doubt, but a modicum of attention and service just happened to be what this guest required. Expert with the song-​and-​dance aspect of his work, he couldn’t lift a coffee mug without an aerial twirl of it, and he had the behind-​the-​back and juggle-​type stuff down pat, to be sure.
The menu said my breakfast would come with baguette. It did not. I inquired. The assumption, I learned, is that the bread is not wanted; one has to ask for it in order to get it. I refused to ask for it, since it was supposed to come with, but insisted that it be brought. That was fun.»
So here it is, 6 ½ years after my first review of French Roast, and I finally returned. The food was just as good as last time, but the big difference? This time I was treated like a king. I was well and fully attended, and even my semi-​high maintenance request was cheerfully granted. I highly recommend this fine establishment.

A loud and crowded venue, but the food is always delicious. The French Roast burger is like a cross between French onion soup and a cheeseburger. You’d better be hungry to eat one. They also have classical French onion soup and that is good too, though not the best I’ve ever had. I’ve also enjoyed the octopus appetizer and the artichoke and portobello mushroom salad. The Saturday lamb shank special was huge and delicious, probably my favorite dish to date.
Wheelchair accessibility notes: There is a ramp available to enter, but that door is normally locked, so the host or hostess needs to come around and unlock it. The place is cramped, but there is room to accommodate a wheelchair and there is a decent sized wheelchair accessible bathroom. Sometimes, extra chairs are stored in the hallway to the bathroom, though, which the staff will move if you ask.

For a place called French Roast, the coffee is terrible. Iced, hot, doesn’t seem to make a difference. It was weak, and had a terrible aftertaste. The ambiance was that of a loud, overcrowded diner. The food was mediocre and overpriced, and the hostess was unaccommodating.

This place could be so great but it has the problem of being so uptown its practically upstate in terms of the vibe. The eurofrench cAfe atmosphere is assaulted by blaring Top 40 that makes it feel like a pizza place or a sports bar… HOWEVER they agreed to put on a better mix — at least more creative rock — so will give it another chance.

Mickey is the best bartender at French Roast! My boyfriend and I always come here for late night happy hour and it’s incredible! The Mac and cheese is delicious and less than $ 10! Portions are smaller for he happy hour menu but the taste is so good!!!

Came here at night, big mistake. We asked to sit outside and got an unusual response, but we were seated quickly. The waitress then forgot about us for 10 minutes, and once the order was in it came quickly and tasted great. We were also given strange, fervent responses when requesting more bread. How cheap! Lastly, we ordered coffee and crème brûlée. The coffee tasted bitter as if it was stale, and the crème brûlée was burnt. We asked for a new one, and we were talked down to explaining poorly how it was made, then we received one very under, and were told it was preferential. How ever is a dish like that preference. It should always be right. 1-​star.

I always passed by this location and finally decided to give it a try.
I came here with my partner & we sat by the bar since table seats were a 20 minute wait, we didn’t mind anyways.
We came in during Brunch hours so we had a couple of Mimosas, which were great and strong.
I ordered the Brioche French toast with a side of bacon. I can’t complain about the meal, just that it was too sweet for me. My partner had the Brunch burger. It looked pretty good, I didn’t have a bite of his this time! Our experience at the bar was great, bartender was nice and attentive.
It was a good experience over all, I would definitely go back and try new things on the menu!

Until a few months ago this would have been an EASY five stars. It was the go-​to place for a nice quick date with my wife because of the awesome service and the incredible food at all hours of the day. Not anymore.
Sadly, the food has taken a big downslide the past few months. Our servers were still incredibly helpful, but they informed us that they had just hired a new chef and he was still ironing out the kinks. Homeboy didn’t plug that iron in.
On two separate occasions the crème brûlée looked like scrambled eggs, and the server noticed right away and took it off our bill. The other food wasn’t much better. Decent, but nowhere near as good as it used to be. Think Kobe’s last few seasons.
This really puts me in a bad spot, because I used to be able to surprise my wife with a visit on an impromptu date night and she was thrilled. Not any more. Now i have to research other date spots on the UWS. So thanks for making me a better husband?

Seeking breakfast after the big snow proved difficult as many places were opening late. Found French Roast after getting off the 1 train at 86^th St. Looked good so I went in.
At first I thought it looked a bit expensive for breakfast but saw some plates come out and saw that the food was done nicely. Not just diner eggs.
I ordered the polenta and eggs which came with pancetta. OMG. The presentation was very nice, the eggs sat atop the pancetta which sat upon the polenta. A perfect pile of deliciousness. The eggs were fried nicely and not turned over so it looked really good.
The place is tight seating-​wise. The service was very good.
Worthy.

I truly do not understand where some of these «THIS PLACE IS AWFUL!!!» Reviews are coming from besides maybe manhattans most bitter assholes who complain about everything because they have nothing better to do.
As a recent grad (read as: low on funds) and lover of good food, this place is one of the only places in Manhattan where you can spend what you want whether that be $ 5 or $ 50 and always be satisfied. I have been coming here very regularly for years and it never disappoints. The wait staff are all friendly and never leave you sitting there idle for too long. I have been here at all hours of the day (it’s open 24 hrs) and in all states between sobriety and absolute drunkenness and this place never fails to please!
They have a pretty wide variety of food and drinks and a pretty fully stocked bar. I recommend the beer flight :)

Late on a cold Wednesday night, French Roast had no crowd as well as an inviting atmosphere with a healthyish food selection. Free bread to start is a plus, especially warmed up and served with soft butter.
Entrees are on the expensive side, so we stuck to the appetizers/​small plates. Settled on the Endive Salad ($ 11), Glazed Baby Carrots ($ 7), and Truffled Fries ($ 7). The salad started off really well — the combo of feta and cranberries drowned in a sweet honey vinaigrette is divine. However, halfway in, the endives overpowered the rest of the meal, as the flavor is especially onion-​like. Glazed carrots are superb, cooked thoroughly with just the right amount of seasoning. Truffled fries don’t seem to be truffle anything — your standard fare — though they give you a lot. Also ordered the Mulled Wine ($ 11) to warm me up with the meal… refreshing.
I’d say this spot is 3.5 stars (up and downs) yet the service was top-​notch, thus the rounding up. Wouldn’t mind coming back for another warm drink and a snack.

Their brunch menu is great, especially if you’re looking for nothing too over-​the-​top. They have the classics… Pancakes, french toast, eggs benny, and so on. The inside is adorable and chic. It reminded us of a quaint café in France. The staff was also super friendly, although a bit slow and overwhelmed. To their defense, it was a busy Saturday morning. We sat outside. Unlike downtown, being on the UWS, the street noise was kept to a minimum so if the weather calls for it, don’t miss out on eating outside!
Food — We got the traditional eggs benny, french toast, and shakshouka. The eggs benny was delicious but nothing that you can’t find anywhere else. The real stars of our meal were the french toast and shakshouka. The french toast was cooked perfectly — slightly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It was also sprinkled with cinnamon and served with fresh fruit. The shakshouka was exactly what shakshouka should be — a little spicy and topped with a generous amount of feta cheese. The eggs were poached to perfection and the yolk was oozing into the delicious tomato sauce.
Overall, we had an amazing experience here and would absolutely come back. If you’re looking for a solid brunch spot that serves up the classics and isn’t going to break the bank, then this is the place for you.

Love this place… so cute and super vintage décor. Food is also pretty good and they have a wide selection of choices. I would go here before you hit up the movies in the area for a nice casual date night :)

CAREFUL. USE CASH. Very average/​sub par taste. What makes this place deserve 0 stars is THEY OVERCHARGED MY DEBIT CARD. I guess they felt it would be OK to add an extra $ 5 onto my card. I called and spoke with the manager and he got my information down and said they were issuing a refund. STILL NO REFUND. I know it’s $ 5, but it’s the principle. Especially when the manager himself assured me that they would credit my bank account within two business days. Awful awful awful! DO NOT USE YOUR CARD HERE. Apparently taking more tip money than you give is common in NYC, especially if you’re visiting.
Update: I finally got refunded. Call these people up and dispute overcharges. I’m sure this happens frequently and people think it’s too small an amount to confront. It’s not. It’s illegal and needs attention.

I am surprised reviews are so all over the place. My best friend and I have been here twice recently and although service can be spotty (we loved one server the other a bit absent) but this place really shines because of the food.
I have gotten the Shakshuka both times and good lord it’s the stuff of dreams. Amazing peppery sauce, perfectly runny eggs, expertly cooked spinach and feta in your own little cast iron skillet with a little mitt over the handle. And did I mention the perfectly toasted baguette on the side. Why yes yes it is there too. My best friend has gotten both the Eggs Benedict and the oatmeal and really loved both.
And as their namesake goes the coffee is good too.
Come for the shakshuka and thank me later.

Makes me happy. Simple civilized dignity and wholesome food with a warm atmosphere + style.
Lost one star only because the hot cocoa was cold and flavorless. The big beautiful cup it came in almost made up for it. Not quite.
Lovely, kind staff too.
Would prefer more soup and salad options or a vegetarian entrée and/​or a classic seafood option.
Or it would be AMAZING (and I would pay more) for grassfed/​freerange options.
In fact does anyone know a place like French Roast but which offers those humanely-​sourced options? Please let me know.
Merci

Sunday Brunch all day? Yes please! A friend of mine lives on the same block, and after sleeping in last Sunday, we thought we’d just pop next door to this place for lunch. Well, they handed us a brunch menu and ushered us inside the cutest little place on the Upper West Side!
The mint lemonade is absolutely devine, and I was head over heels in love with the Almond Croissant! The home fries were really unique: more spices than actual potato, which he loved, but we’re a little much for me. Still good, though.
I’ve had/​made a lot of Croque Madame, but this one was really, REALLY savory!
The side of fruit? Large. You’re paying $ 5, but the bowl was a big portion, so I’m not complaining. The menu offers a lot of variety, and when I come back to NYC in two months, my friend and I are headed back for another Sunday Brunch :)

So I’ve been to both French Roasts and can honestly say I prefer the downtown location.
Food is the same and very good quality, however, the difference lies in the service.
Downtown has a more «ready to help» vibe while this place certainly makes you wait.
Both places are busy, but downtown is much faster and friendlier. Maybe it’s the downtown vs. uptown topic, but it makes a difference.

Cute, quaint French bistro with an awesome wine list. I tried a chardonnay and the specialty wine and both were excellent. Prices are pretty good and the menu expansive enough to leave those wary of French fare with options.
Great choice to grab a quick drink — outdoor patio area had a cool ambiance. Fruit and cheese appetizer was delicously fresh. Service leaves something to desire, but not horrible by any means. Worth stopping by if you’re in the neighborhood.

Four dinners, and all of them were four-​star, including the service and setting. I think of French Roast as a step above a diner in quality and price.
Here’s the deets from our latest dinner, for three (04/​19/​2015):
Sauvignon blanc — glass, 10
Calamari, 9.25: A unique crunchy corn-​meal coating and sliced jalapenos mixed in.
Mahi-​mahi paella, 20
Ratatouille, 7: nicely-​done, with all the vegetables retaining their individual flavors
Salmon moroc, 20: Perfectly-​cooked, medium rare
Brownie coupe, 9: large, indulgent dessert with the brownie warm in a parfait glass with gelato, whipped cream and chocolate syrup
TOTAL, 92

Went here for Mardi Gras. It was crowded and a bit loud, but there was no wait. We were seated promptly.
I tried the following dishes:
Goat Cheese and Mushroom Crostini (³⁄₅): Crostini loaded with goat cheese and tons of mushrooms. It wasn’t particularly memorable, but I enjoyed this dish.
Kale and Beet Salad (⁴⁄₅): Very good salad. The beets were fresh, the goat cheese was ample and well-​herbed, and the dressing was flavorful yet still light.
Pumpkin Ravioli (3.5÷5): Decent ravioli. The pumpkin wasn’t too sweet, which I appreciated. The butter sage sauce was a bit too rich for my taste, but it was savory and full of flavor.
Macaroni Gratin (⁵⁄₅): A fancy name for mac and cheese. While not particularly authentic, this macaroni was really amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the cheese was an amazing flavor. I absolutely loved this mac — definitely one of the best I’ve ever tried.
King Cake (Mardi Gras special) (2.5÷5): Okay king cake. Being from the south, I have had my share of king cake. This one was okay, but it wasn’t great. I did appreciate that it was offered, though — definitely wasn’t expecting it!
I enjoyed my experience at French Roast. I will definitely return.