Le Bilboquet
“Oh I forgot too mention don't leave without trying the mushroom side I love it most also rave about Cajun chicken”
“Try the tuna tartar, which is extremely fresh and some of the best you'll have in the city.”
“The people watching is fun, the dancing is fun, and you'll leave with a bit of European in you.”
Le Bilboquet
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
We went in a Sunday night so I guess it was a bit tamer than some others have mentioned.
I will say the prices are aggressive. Other than that a really nice place.
Great service, very attentive.
Lovely preparations of classic French dishes, and some newcomers.
I had the crab salad to start and it was refreshing, light and nice.
Had the Cajun chicken for the main, and it was a very large portion of very tasty chicken. Lightly crispy in the outside and the Cajun seasoning was good.
The bread there is incredible.
Really enjoyed our dinner at Le Bilbouquet! We went there for a work dinner after an event and were all very pleased. Our waitress was very helpful with wine recommendations (we were kind of picky with Rose and didn't want something too sweet…but kind of sweet).
Very nice atmosphere, good music, and it looked as if there was a mix of groups (couples, friends, work colleagues, etc.) The place was packed and I recommend a reservation.
We ordered a few salads and enjoyed some of the freshest Mozerella I've had. For my entree I had to get the Cajun Chicken after hearing everyone rave about it. SO yummy. I never have leftovers, and I'm notorious for eating my whole plate..and occasionally someone else's. The Cajun Chicken was such a large portion that I had about half leftover. I recommend getting the sauce on the side if it's your first time — That way, you can dip your chicken AND the frites. The frites are thin, crispy, and so delicious.
We were all stuffed and didn't try dessert, but I'll be sure to try something sweet next time!
Omg these people need so much help. The menu is fine and so is the food, but that's not what people are here for. Rich (but not famous) people come here to check out each other's botched plastic surgery. In fairness some of the lifts aren't bad. Lots of diamonds and fur. Anyway, the service is a nightmare. When the employees and even owner has an ego the customers end up suffering. Unless you are a regular you are treated like a side note. Not attentive with refills at all and the host came over and opened a large ceiling to floor window next to our table and said "how about some fresh air?" How about you don't open a door sized window next to our table when it's the middle of winter and raining outside, sir? They just miss a lot of common sense things. I can't stand when someone is providing you a service and somehow they find it appropriate to act better than you when they are serving you. Someone needs to come give management and maybe even the owner their own "face lift".
Ahh, Le Bilboquet…a NYC Institution for Europeans and well-traveled Americans that want to eat, mingle and dance among their peers.
Please Note: the reason there are very few reviews or pics on Yelp for this place, even though it's been here for a while, is because the majority of patrons are European and don't know or use Yelp. So, don't let that dissuade your decision to come here.
This place is definitely more upscale and for guys, I highly recommend you wear a jacket or suit, although there were a few guys there not wearing one…but they just looked like sloppy Americans compared to everyone else…just being honest, and I guess I can say that cause I'm American.
Also, went on a Thursday night and the place was packed, but the person I was with is somewhat of a New York Socialite, so she knew the owner, maitre 'd, etc, so they seated us within five minutes of getting there, but heard them tell other people it was a two hour wait. So, make sure you make a reservation before coming here. I just got lucky and slipped through the cracks, haha.
The ambiance is chic and feels more like you're at an intimate dinner party…low lighting and candles everywhere with cool, modern art on the walls, and a mix of U.S. pop and Euro dance music playing in the background, along with people standing up and dancing at their table at a whim when a song they fancy comes on. Really festive and fun to watch.
For food, I made the mistake of eating a few appetizers with ex-coworkers across the street at Philippe Chow, so I wasn't that hungry, but given the food looked so good, I pushed through it.
As this place is traditional French, the food is excellent as is the Wine List.
We orderd:
Bottle of Raifault Chinon- earthy red with good balance of tannins and a great old world feel on the palate with a long finish. We both loved it.
French Baguette & Butter (complimentary)- I only mention it cause it was soooo good. Like being in Paris. The butter had fleur de sel in it, so was deliciously creamy & salty.
Butternut Squash Soup- exceptionally rich taste of the squash with a smooth and creamy texture. The homemade croutons added a nice touch as well.
Lobster Bisque- super fresh and clean seafood taste of lobster, so good, I used the baguette to wipe the bowl clean, lol.
Le Bilboquet Green Salad- was my date's pick, not mine, lol, but had a few bites and it was fresh with great flavor from the dressing.
Salmon Tartare- since I was full already, I passed on getting an entree, and instead got an appetizer. I love tuna tartare, but rarely see salmon tartare on a menu, so I had to order it, and it definitely did not disappoint, it was amazing.
Side of Sauteed Mushrooms- I love mushrooms and these were unbelievably tasty and rich. It's an awesome side to order, make sure you do.
For Dessert, we had the Cheese Board- 4 French cheeses paired with 4 sides…
– Comte (hard, cow) w/candied walnuts
– Fourme d'Ambert (Blue) w/fig
– Sainte-Maure (Goat) w/apricot jam
– Camembert (soft, cow) w/pears
Excellent, well-paired and well-balanced board and went extremely well with our red wine. Perfect finish to a meal…
…but all was not finished…our waiter brought two "Le Bilboquet Shots" on the house, and it was just the right palate cleanser for our meal. They were strawberry/guava/vodka shots and were delicious – could've had a few more.
Last thing…Yelp has Le Bilboquet listed as $$$, but it should really be closer to $$$$ as the bill with tax, tip & wine was $300, and we didn't even order entrees. It's worth it, but just keep that in mind when you come here.
Overall, this place is Excellent, and is perfect for great food, great wine and great company. The people watching is fun, the dancing is fun, and you'll leave with a bit of European in you.
My Mother used to dine here annually on her buying trips to NYC. We were lucky to be in the city on a warm, Indian summer night and secure a table outside. My Mother was surprised to find that the restaurant had been renovated and was much larger than before. Sadly, she said it had lost all of its original charm.
The waitress was very friendly and helpful recommending dishes. I started with La Salade Bilboquet and my mother had the crab terrine. The salad was light and delicious and my mother seemed satisfied with her dish. We both had a fish dish for our main course and elected to skip dessert. We were not impressed with the wine selection and overall found the food and wine overpriced. I would not recommend this restaurant and would not go back.
Just come for the cajun chicken. Seriously it is the tastiest chicken in all the land! And with french fries… So good
Came back here today after several years being absent from NYC – and a new larger location. Love it! Maybe a little less of the squeezed ambiance than in the "old" location, but in general very much the same: lovely food, very nice service from professional staff, "European/French" atmosphere and of course super cute girls….. Highly recommended!
Okay this place is full of French diners. So you would think the food is pretty good, right? I'm afraid not so with the seafood portion. I had tuna tartar for appetizer, which was fresh, but not a great cut, because I saw some part of the skin attached, which I see as a failure of processing. There's no flavor added to the meat, I was looking for some acidic taste but it's just not there. My entree halibut was dry, and the flavor was not in the dish at all. The sauce is good to dip in, but the fish is just so underwhelming (especially for the price is charging, I'd really expect more). But according to my dining companions the steak, veal, and chicken was all good. I'm afraid I just picked the wrong section of the menu, but still. Consistency in all entrees should be guaranteed, no?
The wine and bread we picked and received before food was good.
Another point, the place is simply crowded, and you should expect some wait for food after you are seated. And the wait staff is not extremely graceful with their walks(probably hard because it was table to table), I got elbowed in my head by one, and my dinner companion got stepped on his scarf. I'd received better service elsewhere is all I'm saying.