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I had heard many great things about this restaurant but was disappointed with the food (don't get the steak) and truly put off by the rude service. I would not recommend it, and won't be returning.

I've been to Tartine several times and it's great for its atmosphere, its food and its BYOB. But last time I only found out once I was home that we paid 12 bucks too much (that BYOB was definitely effective in troubling our minds). (80 in stead of 68). I counted over and over, and it just felt like a rip-off. Now that I read the comment about the gratuity being automatically included, this may have been exactly what happened -- we were only 3 at the table, so you wouldn't expect they'd add gratuity automatically! We wanted it French, mais on n'est pas en France, so please don't apply French service-inclus practices when we don't expect them.

i went there for brunch with a friend, and when we got the bill there was a 20% gratuity charge included in our bill - there were 2 of us total, and our waiter didnt even mention it. the same thing happened to the table next to us (also a party of 2), they almost paid the gratuity twice because they didn't see the bogus charge. when i confronted the waiter he insisted that was the way they do things and never came near out table again. i have been there at least 5 times and this has never happened, but maybe with the recent economy they are finding ways to earn some extra cash...sad.

Since there hasn't been a review since several months back, I'll post after today's lunch. When it comes to Atmosphere, btw, there's a big difference between night and day. We always go for an afternoon lunch, preferably on a nice sunny day when you can see about 50 dogs walk by in 2 hours. We love the intimate atmosphere as opposed to say the hustle and bustle of Morandi around the corner. I used to love the onion soup but now that I've tasted the richer deeper one of Bistro Cassis on the UWS I probably won't order it anymore. But the coq a vin we had today was superb, the beef mignonette an unusual and tasty cut of meat with lots of peppercorn sauce. The salads are fine and the desserts. Everyone around me seemed to be (and I overhead also) loving their food and their wine (in the afternoon). As for the service, it couldn't be better. What a sweet waitress. There's a change of staff here over the years but I've always had great service. Don't go too often and don't go when it's crowded (unless you like crowded) and you'll have a lovely meal.

I am so flabbergasted by my meal that the only way I will feel better is to either throw up or to write and dissuade others from ordering brunch at Tartine. My husband and I should have fled when they presented us orange juice before menus, effectively locking us into their Tuesday afternoon brunch (apparently lunch doesn't start until Wednesday). But the place was sunny and picturesque, so despite our better judgment and the diner next to us leaning over to confide that he was disappointed, we decided to try it. Besides, I'd already sipped my orange juice. The grilled salmon sandwich that was recommended to me arrived–smelling fishy and cold–on stale, chalky bread. My husband's French toast was perplexing in its distaste: hardened triangles with sludgy centers. There was runny, cheesy Hollandaise everywhere on both plates. We only ate a few bites of each dish, but that was enough to ruin our appetites and our afternoons; hours later it's still sitting ominously in my stomach. The best part of the meal was the walk home–or maybe that tricky orange juice. We were so duped!

Bring your own bottle and enjoy some French food. You can find the occasional exotic item on the menu.

I was disappointed with the quality of the food. I hadn't been here in several years, today I had lunch here for the first time in a long time and the food just didn't live up to my memories! The view and neighborhood are charming, but the food was forgettable, and average at best. The magic was gone. I expected my chicken sandwich's bread to be crisp and fresh, but it was soggy and flavorless, and the sandwich itself was disappointing. I could have made better at home! Something is definitely missing, I think the TLC and imagination are gone! My water glass looked old, worn and had scratch marks. The pastries looked good, but we didn't try them after the sub par lunch. The decor here could also use a facelift. Aside from the location and view, it was a very drab lunch. I don't think I'll go back. Sad to see it decline.