Petite Abeille

I have never been to any of the other Petite Abeille restaurants in the city, so my review is solely about this one. I have been here several times, and I have had maybe one bad experience I can remember. And it was food related, not service. Some people, sadly, are overly picky and if they don't have someone waiting right next to them to cut their own food, they complain. I have ALWAYS found the staff to be welcoming and warm, and sure, sometimes it's not easy to immediately flag your waiter down, but maybe that's because there are a lot of tables they have to deal with, hmm? During the warmer months, there is outdoor seating. The portions are large, and I've usually taken them home with me. When I last had fish, it was moist and "fresh" tasting. The chicken the same. I always make it a choice available when I eat out with my friends. The constant crowds there must mean they are doing something good. There is also a HUGE selection of Belgian (and other countries) beers and lambics.

I was skeptical about the other negative reviews, but I should have listened. The host could hardly be bothered to seat us, the utensils were not clean, and the strip steaks were very overdone and hard. I won't return.

I chose this restaurant because the outdoor seating looks nice and there always seem to be customers here. However, my entire group of four was disappointed. Two of the four entres were left completely uneaten! The mussels are a specialty there and even those were somehow off. The waiter saw the uneaten food, collected the plates, and ran...did not inquire about the experience. Unbelievable that this place is even in business.

I went here for dinner. I ordered the crab cakes for an appetizer. They were tasteless and disappointing. The main course, my friends ordered the salmon which was bony and fishy tasting very unfresh. The lamb I ordered was stringy and the marinating sauce was extremely dull. For $130, it was some of the worst food I had ever eaten at a French restaurant in my life. Also, the waiter was rude and did not ask how our meal was... he clearly was not confident enough in his chef to ask.

Went here on a Wednesday for the Mussel special. Got there at 4:30 and was informed that the special didn't start until 5 pm. I asked the waitress why it didn't specify that on the black board or the website...she just stared at me and apologized. I noticed the manager standing there and asked her if she could ask him if it would be ok, she did...it wasn't. Place was 90[%] empty, it just got even more empty when I walked out. I live in the area so I suppose I'll give it one more try just to see if the mussels are any good. Bizarre.

We went to Petit Abeille to the Tribeca location because they supposedly had aweseom Belgian Waffles (it is a Belgian restaurant). Cute little place, inside and out, people there seemed to be enjoying the mussels. But we went specifically because we heard they had good waffles. We have had Belgian Waffles many times and these were by far the worst excuse for a Belgian Waffle we have ever tasted. The whipped cream was very weak, too. The whipped cream should be solid, but this was a watery whipped cream. And not because it had melted on the warm waffle, because the waffle was basically cold by the time we got it. Oh well, never again.

Our family eats here at least 3 times a week. Yes, it's the only decent plac ein the neighborhood fo rblocks, but we're guaranteed, a delicious meal that each one us can enjoy. As a mother of 2 tweens, it's always a challenge. It's their suggestion and this is our meeting place. Petite Abeille is our meeting place We meet early evenings and brunch. We enjoy the mussels, steak frites, organic roasted chicken and mac & cheese. My husband and I indulge in the different beers. It's friendly atmosphere with great food. Brunch on the weekends is a must!! Fluffy delicious omlettes served with salad and stoemp, the Belgian mashed potatoes.mmmmmmm