The Leopard at des Artistes

Food was excellent and our waiter was competent, very nice. However, we were first seated at a table near the bar which was quiet. When we asked to sit at another table we were seated at a banquette area next to the computer. We chose not to sit there and of course that was a great decision, the traffic at the computer was constant. Then my order was incorrect and finally a manager (I presume) came to ask how our meal was. The food was quite good, but when we explained that my order was incorrect and that while I waited for my dinner, my husband's order (over 5 mins wait) was getting cold. No comment other than I'm sorry and then no acknowledgement during the rest of the evening. Even when we left, the same manager thanked us for coming but never acknowledged the error. It's pretty clear that the difference between a good restaurant and one that is considered high quality is dependent on these small, but critical issues. An acknowledgement when we left, would have gone a long way to resolving our concern that bringing an incorrect order to the table, and then having us wait, while the other diner's dinner begins to get cold, is the least that could be offered. Not a good start, and though Sam Sifton's review was glowing, these kind of critical points make an important difference. We live in the area, and I'm not so sure that we will return as quickly, and certainly, as often as we might have had we been considered in this oversight. And by the way, our waiter also left prior to dessert. Not a great way to offer good service to clients.

Stopped in Friday after work just for drinks at the bar to check it out. The restaurant is beautiful and has a refreshing glow about it. Bartender was very friendly and wine selection was great with a good range of prices. The restaurant was packed by the time we left with a very sophisticated, "well-heeled" crowd. Staff were very accommodating ..will definitely go back for dinner ... Drinks at bar came with complimentary arancini and olives which were both delicious..

The food was delicious, perfect size portions, the service was phenomenal! We had the Rigatoni, the Veal and the Meatloaf....all were really tasty, as was the mousse and the pannacotta (which was recommended by our waiter and we loved!)! Loved the atmosphere. The hostesses were friendly, the manager was very accommodating and the wait staff was wonderful. We will definitely be returning!

Service was great. Miss the old bar, and darling Victor. Food-pasta(al cemente) not al dente-meat loaf was swimming in something like ketchup-chicken was 2 tiny dry thighs. Thank goodness they kept the murals!! Too bad they bought such cheap chairs. The cache is gone. No one is running the ship.

andaaFinally the Murals are back The ladies are more beautiful than ever And the southern Italian food is at its best The trofoe al pesto with pistachio from Bronte is to die for And the bucatini with sardines are as good as in Sicily The fish was fresh and so simple And to finish the best pannacotta we ever had

We have been at Cafe' des Artistes several times and probably the last time was over 10 years ago'and the only thing we liked was the murals Now we have many more reasons to go back The murals looks splendent the room looks bigger and more inviting and the authentic Italia Food is superb, pasta are the best you can get outside Italy Bravo

I used to come to Cafe des Artistes for many, many years. it was always a great experience. had waited impatiently for its re-opening. was bitterly disappointed. the food was not bad, but not that great: Dorado was a bit tough, the dessert menu boring... but could live with that. for some reason they moved our long cozy bar to the other side, and now it look bare, uninviting - no longer a place for those post theater late night chats. but most importantly, the service is really strange. last night, the waiter just disappeared on us in the middle of the dinner. just like that. we realized after a while that the dirty empty plates had been sitting in front of us for a long time, nobody came up to check on us for over 20 min., and nobody asked if we cared for dessert. after turning our heads around like owls, we started asking where our waiter was. nobody knew. some shrugged their shoulders, others went to check... finally someone else came up to us and said that he was going to be our waiter from now on. we asked what had happened to the previous one and were told that he had to leave. then we asked the manager whats had happened to the waiter, and he told us that his shift was over - all of a sudden - and he had to go. we looked at the dessert menu, and asked for check. i had to hold the credit card in my and for about 5 min before anyone even paid attention. as we were finally struggling to get up, as the corner was very tight, nobody even cared to come up and pull the table. when i looked around to see what the manager was doing, he was just standing, looking bored, and was pulling up his pants. generally, he seemed more of a clown than a manager. overall, from the old Cafe des Artists - only the address, and the murals. SAD.