French Roast

Great food great mood! Fabulous dishes. Really liked the steak sandwich. All so tasty. Little bit salty in my taste. But anyway great place!

We had a small brunch type of situation when visiting NY. The server and staff were the highlight. Every one was so sweet and courteous, a hands off to the entire staff at this place. The food was also pretty good. Definitely worth a visit.

A visit here brings me back to Paris where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks on the sidewalk watching people go about their daily lives. They have a nice menu and assorted drinks as you would expect. The service was very attentive though not intrusive even though the restaurant was busy. If you’re in the neighborhood you should check it out.

It’s my 27th birthday and wanted to treat myself to a birthday breakfast. The service here was and is great. I was presented a birth special, Stephany was my waiter and she’s the best. Thank you to all the staff. Food was amazing, hospitality 5 stars…

I came here for my birthday and it was an amazing experience!!! Lena was such a great server - super attentive and accommodating! Lauren was awesome too and plays the BEST music. Also, best honey lavender latte I’ve ever had. Will definitely be back!

The escargot and onion soup were quite good—definitely the highlights. The rest of the brunch menu was just okay. I ordered the ‘Friggin Delicious’ cocktail, intrigued by the name and the unique ingredients, but it ended up tasting like a standard Moscow Mule, hence a little disappointment for $18+tax.

No frills French cafe meets vintage vibe. Came here for the inaugural Forgotten Foods festival that I saw online as I love to travel for food. Off that menu we had the pastry with sweetbreads in the middle and the pheasant. Off the regular menu we had the pheasant. I’m pleased to say the pheasant was marvelous. Great presentation with a glass dome removed upon service. Very moist. The sweetbreads dish was beautiful but unfortunately on this and the escargot somebody in the kitchen was very afraid to use salt, and I typically prefer escargot with more garlic. It could just have been different and personal preference. Great service. Very popular spot.

My daughter brought me here to celebrate my birthday. First time here. Staff was very accommodating and helpful when we asked questions about the menu. Such pleasant service from our server. Food was immensely delicious. No complaints here at all. Everything was great. Thank you to the staff and manner for helping in celebrating my birthday. .

So I was in the neighborhood and wanted to grab some breakfast and decided to hit French Roast up. I've been going there for a while now and I know they have some good food. They have quite a few different food options but I was set on breakfast. I ordered their brioche French Toast and their Hot Chocolate Smores. (Hot chocolate with marshmallows and a graham cracker) The French toast comes in 3 triangular slices with a berry spread and Maple syrup. They were good. The hot Chocolate was delicious. Great taste. The marshmallows were a great addition along with the graham cracker. Service was excellent. Waitresses were very accommodating and helpful. The venue itself has a nice French diner aesthetic. Not too noisy. Average. People conversing amongst each other. Nice and easy going spot. Great for a date too So if you're in the upper west side neighborhood and are looking for a cool easygoing spot with delicious food this is your place right here. Alright y'all, have a great one! -Ray

Visiting here is just like stepping into a lovely Parisian cafe in every sense. From the decor to the quality of the product to the unhurried nature of the service, French Roast is a lovely little treasure - and true to its name. Our coffees with amaretto were bold, strong and delicious - just what we needed on a bitterly cold night. The bread pudding with berry compote and vanilla ice cream was the ideal dessert to split - not too sweet, yet very substantial. Nelson took wonderful care of us, and thanked us for coming out on a particularly cold evening. Everyone was friendly, kind and efficient. When we left we saw some entrees come out that looked and smelled absolutely wonderful, too. We will certainly be back.

The French Roast, located on the West Side, brings the charm of a classic Parisian brasserie to New York City. With its beautifully curated decor and cozy ambiance, stepping inside feels like being transported straight to Paris. The menu is impressively extensive, catering to both classic French cuisine lovers and those looking for something familiar with a French twist. We tried their French toast, and it was nothing short of phenomenal--perfectly fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness, and a generous portion size. Coffee enthusiasts will be delighted to know that their coffee is sourced from Kobrick Coffee, one of my personal favorites. Pairing their rich, flavorful brews with the delectable dishes here is a treat in itself. The prices are refreshingly reasonable, making this spot a great option for a relaxed weekday meal. When we visited, it wasn't busy, but I'd imagine the warm, inviting atmosphere draws a crowd on weekends, so making a reservation might be a smart move. Whether you're in the mood for a leisurely coffee break or a full meal, The French Roast is a delightful escape to France, right in the heart of the city.

I came to dinner with three friends on a Friday night in December at around 7pm and had a phenomenal time. This was my first time ever trying French Roast and I can see what the hype is all about. This corner restaurant is so cute and has an immaculate cozy/intimate neighborhood bistro feel to it. They put up some Christmas decorations which made it also feel a little festive! We had a reservation in advance which was a good idea since the place was absolutely packed. We got seated on time and our waiter quickly came by our table to get our order for drinks and explain the specials for the day. My friends all got different drinks with a favorite being their Negroni. For food I tried: -Soupe du jour: today the soup was a red pepper cream soup which was very good! The day was cold so this was the perfect starter to warm me up before the meal. The soup was creamy and had a deep flavor of roasted bell peppers balanced out by a light cream. Very nicely portioned for the price! -Black sea bass: tried this as my main and was very happy. The fish was cooked very well overall (although some of the side pieces were slightly chewy), but the center was perfectly flaky. This is a pretty substantial meal and comes over a bed of the most deliciously roasted root vegetables that just add the perfect caramelized and earthy base to this dish. There is also some mashed cauliflower that adds a little bit of texture without the heaviness of potatoes. This is drizzled with some lobster reduction which just ties it all together and elevates this dish x1000. Would order again. -crème brûlée: my friend and I split this! Price was a little high for the portion but the dessert was pretty delicious:creamy, a little sweet, and with a nice caramelized top that you can tap with your spoon. Nice portion of berries on top. - vanilla gelato: I ordered a scoop of their vanilla gelato since it was only $3. I did not have high expectations but their gelato is pretty good here! Super creamy and the vanilla flavor was really rich. Perfect to complement any dessert. -profiteroles: tried half of one from my friend and was not a huge fan. These were definitely a little stale and I did not love them. My other friend did get the bread pudding and loved it so this may be the way to go if you want a bread dessert. For other dishes, two of my friends got the burger which they both really enjoyed, and highly recommended. My other friend got the duck which she loved but she thought the risotto was a little bit insipid. Overall, the food was good for the most part but the ambiance is what really makes this place special for me. I usually don't put a lot of weight on that aspect of restaurants but I think this one has a particularly exceptional vibe for a very cute cozy dinner or brunch. The service was also so good and I really appreciated how they left our table to hang out for like an hour after dinner without pressuring us to leave, it really felt like we were in a European bistro. I can now see why this place is such a popular one in this neighborhood. I look forward to coming back to try their brunch!

I was hoping to try a real chocolat chaud which is advertised on their menu, but I was highly disappointed. They served me milk with hersheys chocolate syrup (I know the taste I drank it my whole life). If this was a real French restaurant they should have authentic French food and drinks. Very disappointed will not be stopping by again.

I have been coming here for years, always for dessert. I am so happy to see it has not changed. We ordered the chocolate brownie with ice cream and it was good. My friend ordered a cappuccino and he liked it. This reminds me of the New York; I grew up in and brings back memories of when I was younger. We would order dessert after the movies. The service was great, very friendly. The place is nice and takes me back in time, a perfect place for a date.

The pâté is stellar!!! Great short ribs on mashed potatoes. YUM. The mussels were enjoyed by my table mates. I thought the service rocked!! My husband actually thought they were too fast. We might have lingered longer if given the opportunity. The decor is very much like a French bistro.

Good, solid spot on the Upper West Side exuding a chill NYC vibe. There was another location downtown which I believe closed but I've been to both for a combined handful of times. French Roast sits right on the corner of Broadway and 85th Street with indoor, sidewalk and shed seating. Yes, some restaurants have kept the additional shed seating option. Service was friendly and quick. We ordered twin meals: Aperol Spritz and 3 egg omelet (choose 3 fillings). We selected mushroom, Avocado and spinach for the filling. Mine with home fries while my friend chose the French fries. As we waited for the omelet, Aperol Spritz was brought to the table and made satisfactory. In no time, our mains arrived looking inviting and delicious. The omelet was on the drier side which may be good for keeping healthy. On the other hand, it was a bit dry. Perhaps the lack of cheese contributed to it? The fillings were a bit skimpy as I couldn't taste much spinach. Avocado was sliced and sat on the top of the omelet. Overall, we were very satisfied with our meal and service. I've had better omelets but this was just fine. The home fries were more like sliced potatoes and a little odd to what I'm used to. Again, it worked. I'd say French Roast is about a 3.5. I'd return.

Such a classic UWS cafe with a comfy French diner menu, cocktails, and plenty of outdoor seating I had the brioche French toast, and it was delicious! Thick pillows of custard-rich triangles with crisp corners made perfect when bathed in pure maple syrup. I ordered a side of sausage, and they only had chicken links which were a bit tough for my taste. Service with a smile made for a pleasant breakfast on a sunny, chilly day.

David our server was great!! All of the staff was great actually. I have been here numerous times and this time the food was underachieving. My wife said the Shushuka is usually great but this time her egg was not runny(which she requested) ..and the spinach did not seem sautéed ...my waffle was a bit on the "toasty" "Leggo my Eggo" style ..don't mean to be picky but want to offer constructive criticism. Still a great place to visit and will come back FO SHO !

I adore this place. Whereas all this staff is lovely, the bartender Juan is brilliant and comes up with insanely delicious cocktails and the manager Sam is equally amazing. I am old and a widowed and live around the corner so I practically live there. The chef Loi Benitez is from Chile and his cooking is as sophisticated as any great French chef. The menu is seasonal and I love most of it but my absolute favorite currently is Confit of Duck on a bed of Pesto Risotto.

While the food was mediocre at best, what really led to the bad review was our service. We got seated at 12:25 for brunch and put in our full order right away (one drink each and one entree each - not a complicated order). We watch several tables get seated after us and also put in their orders. At about 12:45 we see the main entree food come out for tables who have been seated and ordered after us so we check with our waitress and she says she forgot to put in my husbands order which was just the smoke salmon bagel (aka not a hot meal that had to be cooked - just assembly). She says she'll put it in asap and we should have our food shortly. 1:15 rolls around and we still don't have our food and our waitress is no where to be found and has not checked in with us. I finally get up myself and ask another staff member and our waitress finally brings the food. The smoke salmon entree is just a deconstructed bagel so unclear why it took so long even after the delayed mistake by our server. We eat quickly because we see a line of people waiting and want to be respectful of our table time since we know we've been seated for so long since it took an hour to get our food. Our waitress brings the check finally (after we had to ask twice) and I was hoping for her mistakes she'd take off my husbands entree from the bill or at least one of our drinks. I notice she hasn't so I just make a casual comment about it. She starts getting aggressive and saying why would we do that, the food wasn't even late, it wasn't my fault or the restaurants fault (after openly admitting she forgot to put his ticket in). At this point we were so appalled and dejected by her behavior we just paid and left but we will never be going back.

The food was delicious. I ordered the special, the house wine, and the escargot, which paired very well with the wine. Our waiter, JP, recommended the wine. He was very kind and provided excellent service. The French Roast is a great staple on the Upper West Side with a cozy atmosphere. It definitely deserves more than three stars.

I highly recommend this place. It's one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. I love the classic French bistro style. More importantly, food is authentic and delicious. I highly recommend the duck confit, they are popular and they run out quick. Coq au vin is also a great choice. And steamed mussels are our favorites. Food here is much better and authentic than some insta famous restaurants. I have no complaints about the staff and service. They are nice and friendly. I only hope they serve us bread without us asking for it every time.

Perfect little French restaurant to spend a rainy NYC evening with close friends and family. Our server, Marco, was at the original location at W.11th & 6th from 2006-2017 when we frequented that location for homey Sunday brunches with wonderful cappuccinos. We enjoyed escargot, duck pate and the French onion soup starters. All were well prepared, all reminiscent, in a good way, of the west village fare. For our entrees, we shared steak frites, perfectly medium-rare with crispy fries; lamb shank, with fork tender meat, creamy mashed potatoes and a rich demi-glace. Dessert was a satisfying bread pudding and rich chocolate brownie. Only bummer of the evening was the rum raisin gelato which was very grainy...but Marco changed it right out for another bread pudding with vanilla gelato which was just right, warm bread pudding, cold, creamy gelato! Dinner was paired with 2 bottles of Cotes du Rhone and dessert accompanied with 2 cappuccinos. Everything was priced fairly and all was right with the world.

I came here for their restaurant week menu and fell in love with the casual and relaxed vibe mixed with delicious French Food. We made reservations a week in advance so we were seated promptly; although there was a waitlist outside of the door for walkins. The staff are incredibly friendly and personable. The chai martini tasted like a regular espresso martini. My partner loves his very dirty vodka martini and the french 75 was classic. I had the escargo which was deliciously garlicky. The french onion soup and the duck mousse (similar to a paté) was very rich and a huge portion too! We barely made a dent in it and there were 3 of us! The steak frites were good. The truffle fries were perfectly crunchy. The steak was cooked to a beautiful medium-rare. It was a bit chewy and fatty but tasted good. The brownie dessert and the bread pudding dessert had great reviews from our table as well.

French Roast is an intimate bistro tucked away in the upper side of Manhattan, came here on a rainy Wednesday with my loved ones to celebrate my recent engagement. We all ordered off the Winter 2024 Restaurant Week menu, which was quite a deal for $45. I ordered the escargot, steak frites, and chocolate brownie, all of which were generously portioned and well prepared. My fiancé ordered the duck mousse, lamb shank, and gelato. The highlights of our meal were definitely the appetizers and entrees, the dessert was a little disappointing (my fiancé's gelato was grainy and unappetizing). Overall, I would recommend coming here for restaurant week if you get a chance!

Walked in for an iced coffee, hostess spoke very good and clear English, she was dressed very nicely. The person who made my coffee was very nice. Coffee was a bit bitter though, but not too bad, 4 out of 5, thank you.

Cute trying to be authentic French bistro that looks like a neighborhood fave with lots of takeout business. We ate there during Octoberfest and my husband tried the menu special chicken schnitzel which was huge -(two big cutlets ) but he found bland. Isn't it usually served with lemon ? The appetizer chicken liver pate was decent but needed more bread. I had the classic moules frites and it was fine and also a large portion, but the mussels themselves were the smallest I have ever eaten. about fingernail-sized. The service was attentive, with waiters quickly replacing a dropped fork and water refills.

From my 5-year-old: "I liked the french toast." We came here from brunch on a Sunday, it was packed and lively. My two sons each at an entire adult order of the brioche french toast.

I'm embarrassed for the owner of this establishment. I came here awhile back with family and it was fine, but wow, have things changed. We had a 7:00pm reservation and arrived ~6 minutes early. The hosts seemed nice enough and sat us right away. A waiter / manager (unsure) came to take our order around 7:12. Not sure why it took so long, but we're good sports. We ordered wine and plenty of food, but, to no avail, were ignored afterwards. Only after asking three staff members for water and bread around 7:18, did the bartender begrudgingly stop his hang out session with his buddies at the bar to bring us warm water in a dirty glass bottle. It tasted off. Cold bread followed; it was stale. The wine never came. The waiters walked around aimlessly and hung out with the hosts the whole time while the restaurant remained empty. There were a few older patrons there, but it's the UWS, so not surprising. At 7:22, we got up, told them to cancel everything, and left. They were offended that we called them out on their poor service and disinterest in serving us. 0/5. What a joke. Sad to see another old UWS restaurant go down the tubes. I'm sure this place will be a Chase or Wells Fargo within the next few years. Go to The Consulate or any other French restaurant to avoid this kind of treatment.

Okay food, terrible service. A few friends and I came for Sunday brunch. We were quoted a 45 minute wait, then the manager came and sat us down immediately (makes me distrust any wait times restaurants ever give you). We ordered burgers, fries, and a the steak sandwich. Food was pretty good, especially the fries, except we waited over an hour for our food so I guess we ended up waiting after all. At least we were seated. In that hour, our server didn't give us any update, and came to refill our water only once after asking for it twice. She overall had a terrible demeanor. I get it, people have bad days and I know it's not the server's fault when food takes forever. But please, at least don't say anything instead of making weird sarcastic jokes and comments. I asked for utensils twice when the table didn't have any, and was only able to get it when another server stopped by. If it wasn't sunny and pleasant outside, we probably would've been in a worst state. Don't think I'll come back. Too many other good places in the area with better service.

Solid brunch food, good service, and casual ambiance. Tried their eggs benedict and french toast. No complaints -- everything tasted as expected. Wouldn't mind returning here for brunch because I really like the relaxed atmosphere. Next time, I'd make a reservation to be on the safe side especially if we were to come closer to noon. We came here at 10am on a Saturday without a reservation and all indoor tables seemed to be booked, so we got one of the few available tables outside.

Had a lovely meal here before going to a show at Lincoln center. Great for sharing, and all the food was excellent. There's a lot of food to try here and worth coming back.

Initially 1 star review: Our server could've been more pleasant and perhaps a bit subtle on how she didn't want to serve a table. Made a great meal an overall horrible experience. ________________________________________________________________ After the Manager Sam reached out to discuss about our experience, not only did he made sure that mistakes were corrected, he guaranteed that our experience was not their standard play and HAD proved that to be case. Food is in fact delicious service was good and ambiance is always lively. Will come back and continue to support this place- and try their dinner menu.

One of the reason I have love New York City is for the international food and drinks. The upper west side have a piece of delicious French cuisine, it's a plus to go during the week of Mandi Gras for the Jambalaya and for desserts the beignets.

Before I went to this restaurant I read the Yelp reviews, naturally, and was skeptical based on the mix. That said, I personally had a great experience. My friend and I participated in the summer 2022 restaurant week, which was an incredible experience and great price for everything! Ambiance: 7/10 Average, nothing special but not bad. We sat outside. Service: 8/10 Everyone I interacted with was really nice but no special service or anything I thought was extraordinary. Summer salad: 7/10 Very good and refreshing. Fried goat cheese: 8.5/10 Very good! The goat cheese was warm and lightly fried. I loved the beet purée. I only wish they provided some bread or crackers. You can get bread if you ask, which I found out later. Short rib: 10/10 I was so surprised with how good the short rib was! It was nice juicy and soft pieces of shredded short rib in between mashed potatoes. I loved the sauce too although it doesn't taste like truffle. I wish they sautéed the rosemary and thyme in the sauce more but very pretty garnish. Bread pudding: 2/10 This fell flat. Hard like a rock and chewy. It doesn't taste like anything either. I give it a 2 only because I liked the ice cream haha. Crime brûlée: 8.5/10 Very good! Not the best I've had but a very good crème brûlée. It's dependable as a dessert.

I find it very difficult to understand how a restaurant can be so busy with such terrible food and mediocre service. The. Coq au vin was filled with mashed potatoes extremely salty and was sent back my bouillabaisee. was nothing but pieces of tasteless things and other extraneous pieces in a broth. My advice is find another restaurant and don't waste your money here

We had a great meal tonight. Service was prompt but not intrusive. My cog au vin was so tasty, dinnermates loved their salad and salmon. Hope to come back!

What a perfect night we had at French Roast last week! The Moules Frites was an ample portion-more than enough for the five of us to share. And oh the dunking-so good! We went with the wine sauce. Delicious. I had the Duck Confit which was fabulous! It's was crispy and served atop a creamy risotto. Perfect balance of crisp with the creaminess of the risotto. My daughter had the gnocchi and it was so rich and creamy and the added veggies gave it some crunch and color. For dessert, we had a crème brûlée with a candle in it to celebrate my mom's birthday. Our waiter, JP, was first date! He put up with our shenanigans and was quick to bring us bread when needed for the mussels. He brought the energy to the night and he's a great sport!

We usually come to this restaurant for brunch and it's really good. Today we just walk passed it and wanted to dine. I didn't like my food so didn't finish it and the manager asked me if I wasn't happy with the food. She was so kind and understanding. They take out the food from the bill and invited me to a free desert. Lovely

the best union soup in the NYC and also the best restaurant . Strategic atmosphere at 86 broadway .sitting area in the pergola cafe while enjoying French roast style food and drinks

We came in here for dessert and coffee so it was a very quick stop. Right off the bat, everyone was so friendly and accommodating. Since we only ordered cappuccinos and gelato, we were done within 20 minutes, the hostess was so concerned that we were leaving so quickly, that she asked if everything was okay and if she could do anything else for us. We assured her that we ordered, received everything and that all was well. It was good to see that the staff was concerned to have satisfied customers.

I used to live right down the street from French Roast for eight years never going once, and then, on my first visit back to the city after moving to Boston, this place was my first stop. Such is life. It's a slightly dressier diner with a French spin, and both the menu and interior make it a good spot to bring your parents and also get that brunch for when you're hungover and can't handle sustained eye contact. Every time I've walked past, they were running a bustling business both inside and for the outdoor seating, and it was one of the few pandemic restaurants that seemed to keep its head above water, so that should maybe tell you something. Definitely an institution for the neighborhood. I came here for breakfast and couldn't stomach anything too heavy, so ordered an English breakfast and the yogurt/granola bowl. The food was kind of simple (just a handful of berries, yogurt, and granola that tasted like broken up chunks of Nature Valley granola bars) for $14, but tasty enough. My friend's baguette though looked and smelled amazing. I had in mind going to some bakeries for later that day - else I would've totally sprung for the butter croissant. Service was prompt and friendly, we didn't have to wait long for food. Maybe I came on the earlier side of a Friday morning. Next time I'm back in this area, I'll have to try their French onion soup and the fries.

Went here today with my mom while we waited for our dog to finish up her vet appointment. The food was great, atmosphere was nice but most importantly the service was awesome. Both the host and our waitress (Lena) were accommodating and patient with us. Lena was attentive and friendly. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

I really do enjoy French Roast! I've been coming here for years. Locals enjoy this spot for tasty food and coffee. I usually come in for breakfast or brunch but unfortunately they don't open until 11 AM The food is always solid and the pastries are delicious! However, I order the chicken Apple sausage and my mouth started itching. Beware- it's wrapped in a pork casing!!! I don't eat pork or beef! Everything else was good. Eggs were fluffy and light. Croissants and Coffee are always amazing! I would definitely recommend this local favorite spot! Just wished they opened earlier.

I liek this place but I'm not sure why they charge 20 dollars for a chicken sandwich and 18 for a single piece of bread w avocados and egg The bread is tasty Coffee just okay Not sure why they dint provide two slices of bread for the avocado toast My friend said the shakashujw was a bit salty

Nice neighborhood place, with pleasant ambiance, friendly service and good food. My one complaint is, I asked for a medium rare steak and was given at best medium.

Worst brunch spot probably on the UWS. And definitely worst eggs benedict and croque moniseur I have had. No idea how this business is surviving!

Once again poor French Experience ! We took "moules frites marinière" ( spelled incorrectly Marnieres on the menu) : I would say 20% of the shells were empty! And they were dry. We ordered 2 glasses of Riesling ....which was sweet !! Riesling is a dry wine .... Never sweet! We had to send it back! Took Sauvignon blanc instead. Which was just ok. And the dessert was a disaster : fruit cobbler was not good. The crust was not even cooked - see picture ! Cherry on the cake : it's expensive !! Meaning expensive for mediocre food! Positive points : music is not loud, staff is nice, and their chairs are cute . But never, ever again.

This was a great French bistro. The service and food were fantastic. We would definitely go again and recommend this restaurant to others.

TLDR: NJ diner with French food vibe, good food, service when not busy is great Like many people on here, I'm a couple blocks away and was always curious to eat at French Roast. When we finally decided to go we sat down and immediately the vibe is cute rustic French decor meets diner. It was amazing, if you've gone to enough diners in jersey you know the feel. The first time we went we dipped our toes into the happy hour with ordering the French onion soup, and the sliders with side of fries. It was great, legit, soup was french onion, and sliders were sliders. When a place meets the mark you don't really have any reviews, it was tasty and that's it, order it again next time we want a snack lol The second time we went for dinner we ordered 2 cheeseburgers with fries because the giants game was on, my gf got a dirty martini and I stuck with water. The place was a little packed so I didn't get water as often as I was hoping (I drink a lot). But that was my only concern and the burger size was perfect, gets you full and the fries was some crispy some oily but again I have DINER in mind so I'm not judging too harshly like I would Maison Pickles or the smith The pictures included is our 3rd time around when we came for early brunch (11am), we had a break in our schedule from work and came on down. We ordered 2 cappuccinos, baked muffin and croissant, the baked muffin was SOOO good, all they did was toast it and gave us butter on the side, it was crispy on top and warm inside. You can do this at home honestly. The croissant was the same, flaky and baked, with a side of jelly and butter. Now the main course I got the croque madame, I'm forever cursed to never have croque Madame from Jacobs pickles again because they stopped over the pandemic and now I order it wherever I go. ANYWAY my gf ordered the quiche of the day (I think quiche) and it was mushroom. The quiche (not in picture) was great, nice size for 1, like a long pie slice and a little salad, the croque Madame was amazing, over medium egg, over the croque monsieur, cheese was so good and hugged the bread right, the beschamel ham was tasty, and the egg was perfect 9/10 just because it wasn't Jacobs pickles , the bill was fair for the area, pastries like $6 each, cappuccino $5 each, croque was $20, quiche $17-18. It was lovely, I was regenerated to go back to work on my computer I will say around this time the service was REALLY attentive to our needs since it was low traffic, and there are plenty of outlets to bring a laptop. So if you want to have a cozy self help day with a book or get some work done, this is the place. But laptop time is only like 1.5 hours max because they need the tables

This review will recount two visits, the second of which undoing the pleasantness of the first. Visit 1 (May): Having lived in the neighborhood for years, I've walked by FR numerous times. My mother and mother-in-law were in town in May, so I thought I'd take them for an early Mother's Day brunch while my wife attended a training. It was a sunny morning. We ate outside and experienced a rather enjoyable time. I remember each of us feeling satisfied by all accounts. The staff checked on us promptly, but they also let us be to enjoy our conversation. Visit 2 (November): Over the weekend, my wife and I (and our young child) decided to do Sunday brunch with my wife's cousin and her spouse. We got a reservation online. Knowing how Sunday brunch can be in NYC, we had appropriate expectations for what the atmosphere might involve (a bustling dining room without much room to stretch out). We were fine with that because it was rainy outside, and we didn't want to take a chance on things (especially with our child). The host greeted us upon arrival and asked if we would need anything special for our child. As new parents, we appreciated that thoughtfulness. Sadly, though, he was one of two on staff (the second was a waiter we flagged down to ask for help and perhaps some bread to tied us over after waiting 1 hour) who shared any real kind of care or intentional consideration. While the food is rather tasty, the way they handled what followed was rather sour. Essentially, we waited almost 1.5 hours for our food. While waiting, we watched many surrounding tables sit, order, dine, pay and leave. When asking our waiter, he blamed the kitchen staff. Instead of coming back to give us any update or apology, he proceeded to help new diners at other tables. I understand one has to keep things moving during rush hour, but at least come up to explain what happened and try to make it right. Instead, they passed blame, and at one point, made it seem like it was our fault, saying "you asked for the food to come out delayed, right?" The manager (while she did comp us 50%) handled the whole situation without care or concern. She said, "I haven't spoken with my team yet. I'm here to listen to you to hear what happened." We began to explain, and then she cut us off. If somehow our order just didn't get submitted, own up to that. If the waiter didn't hear us and thought one thing, own up to that. If you ask us if we want any dessert or anything else, don't make us assume if it will be free or if we'll have to pay for it. We would be gracious and understanding (even if a bit hangry) if we were just given proper consideration and clearer communication. While we were grateful for the discount for our trouble, the way that even transpired was murky and haphazard. We know we aren't some VIP spending a lot of money or buying out the whole place, but the whole experience was rather crummy and will certainly make us think twice about returning ... even if the bread is good and the neighborhood bistro vibe is pleasant. FR, and especially the manager, could learn a lot from the host (taller gentleman with dirty blondish hair ... sorry, sir, if that's not how you'd describe your hair color) or the kind waitress (the one who brought us the bread after learning how long we'd been waiting). I wish I'd gotten their names to really shout them out. *It's worth disclosing that it takes a lot for me to give 5 stars at a restaurant. And I weight service ratings highly, so if one misses the mark in that category (and makes it worse by how they mishandle with the fix), that leaves a very sour note in my book and impacts my overall star rating.*

We sat at the bar and had wine and a crab cake. It was lively inside and there were plenty of bar stools available. I would have given an extra star if the bartender cared that we were there. No water refills, no interest in asking if we wanted another drink. He just didn't seem like he wanted to be there.

The food was extremely delicious and tasty. The service was very good. It very clean and it was super nice.

Great food and service! Ambiance is lovely and makes evening dining and a Friday vibe come together!

It's always a pleasure going to French Roast. Service is amazing. I have gotten to know the manager from going so often, and I have to compliment him for a job well done. Always with a smile on his face. Always welcoming and accommodating. And it has translated to his workers as well. From the servers and bartenders to the service helpers. And let's not talk about the food. Always delicious and consistent. Thank you Sam and and ALL your workers coz they always make coming to French Roast a pleasure.

It was a nostalgic visit. A good friend came to visit and we both know this chain from the NYU campus area location. So we went in. The host was wonderful and set us to a table right away, it was Monday happy hour. The had a great selection of lemurs, the Happy hour menu also offers great option. We started with the French onion soup which was delicious. The moulle arrived with it. We ordered the liver pate but they ran out so we order the duck confit form the dinner menu instead. And guess what, the duck confit arrived while we were still working in appetizers. Not good. Realizing they don't have room on the small 2-people table, they took it back to the kitchen. That was "strike one". Than, I finished my mussels while my friend was still savoring her soup. They took my plates. Strike 2. You don't clear half the table while someone is still eating. Very I -French. Than we got the confit which was delicious over a pistachio risotto which was also flavorful, ala dante'. The duck was crispy skin with perfectly tender meat under in spite of taking it back to kitchen. Bravo!! Really! For desert we had the 3 frommage plate. Excellent choice of three cheese, while I'm not sure I got it right (Camembert, Brie and Gorgonzola) were delicious! We wanted to refill our wine glasses, one red one white. The server (who was the bar men bc of the section we sat at, right by the bar), was hard to get his attention. When he did, and bright the wine relic that comes in a small carafe, it was nice but a classic place will give you a new clean glass too. But sure, that was ok. But than cam the red wine "refill" the same way and he poured it with no respect to the wine. It was full bodied Pinot noir, you don't just drop it into the glass like it was sparkling water. That was my strike three thru 10. In conclusion- food is very good, so is wine selection including during happy hour. Service is good at the door but otherwise they could use some basic manners as to when and how to collect empty plates, how to pour a full bodied red wine.

Discovered by Andrew and I almost 20 years ago and then lost for about 10 years, the French Roast remains one of my favorite spots as a last stop before Zabars and the trip home. I had forgotten both the name and location and was delighted to discover it again by accident. The kids started off with a hot chocolate with melted marshmallows while my wife ordered a Frisée salad. I ordered the crispy fried goat cheese which was delicious. For the main I got Mussels Catalan which is a tomato broth with Chorizo and a side of fries. I think this is perhaps the first time ever I could not finish a dish of mussels. Delicious as they were, it was a very full and rich meal. My wife had a quiche which was fresh out of the oven. Stopping at French Roast before heading home is our family tradition