La Parisienne — Restaurant in New York

First off, this is the first time I’m leaving a negative review — and that’s because this was the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. My husband, our friend, and I were literally kicked out of this café within 10 minutes after we came. Why? Because I ordered a bowl, and they decided not to order anything.

I ordered the Parisienne bowl (which, by the way, was just a random mix of ingredients drowned in balsamic vinegar, making the whole meal very sour and unpleasant). About five minutes later, my husband and friend joined me, and from the moment they arrived, we were asked three times within two minutes if I was the only one ordering and whether my friends were sure they didn’t want anything. “Only you ordering?”, “Are you sure?”. Not to mention, there’s a note on their menu that says: “Please be mindful and do not overstay.” This is not a great attitude. If you’ve ever been to a tiny place, you totally get that every customer matters and that you shouldn’t overstay. So why put that notice on the menu? Do you think your customers are dumb and wouldn’t understand that in the first place? I agree with another reviewer who said :“Staff was somewhat friendly, somewhat felt they wanted me out as quick as possible.” After I called out their impolite policy to the owner (or manager?), we were asked to leave — without even letting me finish my meal. We ended up arguing with him outside the café, where he repeated several times, “If you go to a restaurant, you have to be ready to spend money.”

Tbh It’s the first time I’ve ever seen such an attitude. I see their point — this is a tourist spot, so they’ll always have customers, and that’s probably why they don’t value them. I get it. But kicking people out just for pointing out a flaw in your service? That’s insane!

This place is not welcoming — I’d even call it toxic. And the food? Well, judging by that Parisienne bowl I tried (which was served suspiciously fast and, I’m pretty sure, straight from the fridge), there’s definitely room for...

La Parisienne, located in the heart of the Financial District at 9 Maiden Ln, is a charming little French café that feels like stepping into a slice of Paris amid the busy energy of Wall Street. The space is a bit tight, but that only adds to its cozy, authentic Parisian café feel.

I went with the Salmon Brioche, and it was nothing short of exquisite. The toasted brioche was buttery yet light, carrying layers of smoked salmon, creamy herb ricotta, cucumber, avocado, capers, pickled onion, and fresh dill. It reminded me of how the French approach food quality ingredients prepared simply but with balance and care, letting freshness speak for itself. Brioche, with its rich and pillowy texture, has always been central to French baking, and here it becomes the perfect base for something indulgent yet elegant. Every bite was a harmony of textures and flavors silky, tangy, creamy, and crisp.

My friend ordered the Avo Toast on multigrain, with miso tahini spread, lemon, scallions, black sesame, and ripe avocado. It was so good that I didn’t even get a chance to snap a picture ,the kind of dish you dive into before your phone comes out. What I loved most was how it felt like a modern, global nod layered on top of a French café tradition. Avocado toast may not be French by origin, but the way it was plated and seasoned reflected that same spirit of refinement and attention to detail you’d find in Paris cafés reinventing classics.

La Parisienne blends New York energy with timeless French café culture small tables, artful plates, and food that’s as comforting as it is thoughtful. I’ll absolutely be back to explore more...

Really disappointing this time.

I had a great experience at this place when I visited New York last year, so I came back during this trip hoping for the same. Sadly, this time was completely different — especially because of the male staff working on Friday morning (May 9, 2025).

We came in right at opening, around 7:30 AM. No one showed us to a table, and it took quite a while before anyone took our order. The guy seemed busy tapping on a tablet and wasn’t very friendly when he finally did come over.

The food was actually really good — that’s the only reason this review isn’t worse. But the real problem started when we asked for the check. He said “okay,” but then just didn’t come back for over 10 minutes. Instead, he was climbing a ladder, moving stuff around, and ignoring us.

Since we had a flight to catch, we had to ask again. This time he came back with a pretty annoyed face. * While I was adding the tip, he stood there staring at the screen — and when he saw the tip amount, he told us in a sharp tone that most people usually leave 20–30%, basically questioning our tip. I didn’t think the service deserved more, so I left it as is, and then he even asked, “Are you sure?” in a really aggressive way. **

For clarity: the staff member I’m referring to was a shorter Black male. I’m mentioning this only to avoid any confusion — the other staff members were not involved and I don’t want them to be misunderstood.

I totally respect tipping culture — but good service should come first. Being pushy about tips when the service was lacking just left a really bad impression. Sadly, I won’t be coming...