MenuPages

After three visits, I kind of loved this restaurant. It looked right, the food was right, the noise level was right: they even let you linger over lunch without pushing you out. Then we asked for the check. It didn't come and didn't come and when it finally did, it was almost three times what it should have been. When we questioned it, the hostess was embarrassed, but what if we had just flipped our credit card at them? Was the waiter deliberately scamming us? Makes you not want to go back.

I'm so disappointed by the service at the restaurant that I'm writing this review while sitting here waiting to pay. I got an early-bird prix-fixe. Salad and wine were decent. Burgers and fries were like cardboard. Worst thing, though, was the waitress completely ignored the table after the burger showed up. It took about 45 minutes until one of the men helping with busing tables finally asked if I was done and whether he could bring anything else. And the waitress had walked by about 10 times talking with her friends who were bartending! Unfortunate. And I sit here and wait for them to run my credit card...

Sel et Poivre is a classic "neighborhood" place to stop in for a decent, reasonably-priced meal in pleasant surroundings. It is not a "destination" restaurant, nor does it make any pretense to be more or less than a comfortable local restaurant serving good, solid French bistro food to appreciative regulars. I eat there a couple times a month when I'm looking to get fed without fuss or bother. Christian, the maitre d', is charming and the staff is good natured and helpful. Portions are substantial, and the drinks are hefty. Sure, not every meal is sublime, but who's kidding whom: this is not La Bernadin, it's your wallet-friendly neighborhood bistro where regulars and first-timers are always welcomed.

This is not a hip, trendy French restaurant. But, it is a very classic and reliable place. It's a place for the 50+ set. All three of us enjoyed our meal and our conversation (it's NOT noisy - thank goodness). The prices are fair and the service is just right. It's a good place to dine with old friends.

We were new residents in this neighborhood, and were looking for local restaurants to call our own, but after three meals here, these are our comments: Unfriendly, brusque welcome; unkempt appearance; slow, surly and rude service throughout the meal; stale bread, tiny portions of messy looking, overcooked, underseasoned and really mediocre food. Boring wine list. No thank you or farewell as we departed. Save yourself from a thoroughly unpleasant experience and dine elsewhere!

Loved it. I've walked by this place countless times meaning to try it. Parents in town and we needed a place on the fly on a Thursday night. Nice atmosphere. Menu is great - you'd find it in Paris. Friendly staff. Never felt rushed. Never felt desserted. Food was delicious. Those from out-of-town will feel like they've found a NY secret.

The good news is a pleasantly appointed, romantic restaurant with reasonable prices for the neighborhood. The bad news is that menu descriptions are inaccurate -- there is almost no cheese on the Roquefort salad, for example; the quality of the food varies widely from item to item and, worse, from visit to visit; and the service is very inconsistent, often absent, then present but rushed, always disorganized. Overall, expect mediocrity and a nerve-wracking experience.