Brasserie Athenee

We read the reviews and thought we'd give it a try. This is not a cozy French bistro. There is nothing cozy about the place. It is large with wooden tables close together, no table clothes. Service is atrocious, very slow and unfriendly. Food is just ok. Steak tartare was acceptable. Onion soup was good.

This restaurant is located in the heart of times square, but if you need to a make a show, steer clear. The service is slow and the food takes forever to come out. When we asked our waiter how long the food was going to be - after advising him at the beginning of the meal that we had a show to make - he responded, "we get busy around this time for the shows, so the kitchen is backed up." A table next to us had the same response. As for the food, one of my dining companions had the escargot appetizer, which was fine. I ordered the seafood bruschetta and asked that the sauce be on the side, and requested steamed vegetables instead of sautéed. Neither of my requests were honored. The fish was doused in sauce - but, no wonder, it was chewy and did not taste fresh. Obviously the sauce was used to mask the taste. Another dining companion had a salad, which was topped with a stale piece of pita that was so hard to bite into, you could chip a tooth. Overall, this place is a real loser.

The only part of this restaurant I liked was the man I was with. The fish was good, and the veggies okay, the drink was great as was the cherry on top :o), was that rice it was served with ? The waitress was unfriendly

Even after reading all the negative reviews, I still wanted to try Brasserie Athenee. I've learned from past experience not to rely on reviews because each diner's experience is unique. I was highly satisfied with my dining experience. I enjoyed the mussels and frites accompanied by a nice French rose. The service was attentive at the appropriate times and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Prices were reasonable. What's not to like?

The atmosphere and aesthetics are absolutely lovely but when the food came out it was absolutely unrefined and really very grotesque.

A nightmare. The food was not fresh. The wine served was not the one ordered. The cherry on the cake: A 18% gratuity is included even If you are 2 to eat. To sum up .... a place to avoid.

My friend and I recently stopped in for a light meal after seeing a show at the Lunt Fontanne. As soon as we walked in we were seated and our glasses filled and bread brought out. The atmosphere was wonderful and the service friendly. We started out with the Steak Tartar, which we didn't particularly care for. But then our entrees came out! I had decided to just go with the Cheese plate (eating light), and it was wonderful! I know you're thinking, "Cheese? What's so great?" The presentation was great and the cheese was a delight. My friend ordered the Ratatouille and somehow managed to finish it off! I would definitely recommend this place to friends and anyone searching for a reasonably priced meal after a show.