Café Chelsea — Restaurant in New York

I’m not normally one to post reviews publicly but I feel very compelled to tonight following my experience. First off, I’d like to say that I see so much potential in this restaurant. The food is divine and I will definitely be back for more of it, every dish we received, with the exception of the artichoke which was cold and as a result not to our liking), was perfectly balanced and delicious.

The first of our troubles started when we first walked in, we were seated right next to the door that would make a loud bang every time it closed. I would’ve understood if there hadn’t been any other tables available but there were several within my sight line. Now I may not have been dressed my best so I somewhat understood, but what followed didn’t merit that decision whatsoever. We were soon checked on by our waitress to see if we were ready to order but as it had only been a couple of minutes, we weren’t quite ready yet. We were not checked on after that for another 10 minutes.

Once our waitress returned we ordered our meal and received our 1st appetizer, the tuna crudo(which is a raw dish) within a couple of minutes. It is probably one of the best tuna crudos I’ve ever had. Following this triumph, we waited another 10 minutes for our second appetizer, the artichoke, while it tasted pretty good, the consensus my party came to was that it’d be much better served hot. Another 10 minutes went by and after asking for an update on our food, it was swiftly brought out. Everything was delicious once again, the Goat Cheese Croquettes, Meyer Lemon Pasta, Maitake Mushrooms, Loup De Mer, as well as the Omelette with Frites.

Once finished, we had to wait almost 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge us and give us dessert menus. We ordered five minutes later once we were able to flag down a waiter and waited about another 15 minutes for our two servings of ice cream/sherbet. During those 15 minutes we requested our bill(along with our dessert which was taking an abnormally long amount of time for just two scoops of ice cream), and received it on a dirty metal dish. Following the receipt of our receipt, see what I did there, we received our orders of lemon sherbert and vanilla cognac ice cream which were very well balanced as all the dishes that preceded them.

My final comments:

I DO NOT blame our waitress fully for what transpired, when she was taking care of us she was very hospitable and kind. However, it always seemed like she was in a rush as if she was under stress trying to get to every table she was serving.

As I previously said, the food was amazing and I will definitely be back for more of it, especially the ravioli that I wanted so badly.

One member of my party was so fed up with the service that they didn’t tip, while I do not condone this(and will make up for it by tipping extra during my next visit), I thought it was worth mentioning to help any reader understand how we felt.

I hope to return sometime next year when they’ve hopefully worked out all of the kinks I mentioned above and then, and only then, will I update...

I wish I could give zero stars! Unfortunately, we chose this restaurant for our anniversary last night. We liked the ambience at first, but even though we had a reservation, we were kept waiting for 20-25 minutes. Our first order and the wine came quickly, but we had to wait 1 hour for the main and appetizers. The raviole arrived cold, my boyfriend's pasta was extremely sour, and although he did not want to send the plate back, I told the server that the pasta was sour. He said he could have a new one made immediately, he came back to our table and said "our chef tasted it and says it's normal", this was very rude, we didn't like experiencing this unpleasantness at the restaurant we chose for our anniversary. They asked us to choose something else from the menu, but we did not. We lost our taste, and since my boyfriend couldn't eat his food, I couldn't eat mine either. It was a very very bad experience. Afterwards, as we were getting up, a female server (I don't know her name but dark orange hair) deliberately bumped into my boyfriend while he was standing and left without even saying sorry. As we were leaving, the servers were looking at us and laughing. None of this is a professional approach. When we made the reservation, we stated that we were coming for our anniversary, and when we arrived, they asked and we told them and to make a couple who had an anniversary have such a bad experience... it was terrible, I will never go again and I will not recommend it to anyone! Don't be fooled by the photos and the ambience, there are many restaurants in New York that are smaller than this but much more professional! I hope you teach your servers and chefs some...

Tucked inside the storied Hotel Chelsea, Café Chelsea feels like a love letter to Paris penned in the language of New York cool. The French-American bistro, with its neoclassical flourishes and art-laden walls, exudes the kind of timeless elegance that makes you wonder if it’s been here forever. . From breakfast through late-night dinner, the menu is a curated blend of French classics and inventive twists. Morning regulars rave about the French toast—custardy, golden, and subtly sweet—while the steak and eggs and smoked salmon offer savory starts. Brunch brings the merguez sausage and Nicoise salad, both praised for their authenticity and balance. Come evening, the hanger steak with maître d’hôtel butter, steak tartare, and roast chicken emerge as standouts, alongside indulgent sides like goat cheese croquettes and chickpea fries. Dessert is no afterthought: the almond tart and chocolate soufflé have earned near-universal acclaim. . The atmosphere is as much a draw as the food. A fabulous main dining room where tables are set close enough for a lively hum without losing intimacy. The space’s historic charm—accented by original artworks from the hotel’s collection—pairs beautifully with the brasserie’s warm lighting and polished service. . If there’s a caveat, it’s that popularity can mean a bit of noise and tight seating. But for those seeking a slice of Paris in Chelsea, Café Chelsea delivers: refined yet approachable, steeped in history yet vibrantly of-the-moment. Whether for a languid brunch, a romantic dinner, or a glass of wine at the bar, it’s a place that invites you to...