Ladurée — Restaurant in New York

Laduree did not meet my expectations at all. It ain't bad, but I doubt I will ever dine-in here again. At the same time, do not hesitate to pick something up for takeout here. I've seen a separate business listing for Laduree Le Restaurant, but I do not think it is fair to split one business into two parts, trying to hide some obvious drawbacks, so I'll go over the restaurant briefly, and we'll talk about the desserts. As to the rating tho, 4,5 stars are for desserts, and 2,5 for the restaurant, I think. Now, at the first glance staff seem nice and friendly and the interior fancy and stylish. However, as you go deeper in, it appears that those guys have A in manners class, but D in common sense and everything else. As to the party of two, of course we were given the smallest table right in the middle of the room (see picture), but on top on being in everyone's way, it also appeared to be so wonky, as one of the legs had like an inch clearance, while other were on the floor; thus, I had to ask for another table. Having one more room COMPLETELY free of people, they of course sat us on the similar table right next, although still it had similar issues. Upholstery on all of the chairs and benches is filthy, as it is all in spots of something spilled a decade ago. Same thing with the silverware, cups and plates - they are all authentic and match the interior, however, they were bought back in the 90s I believe, as they are look super worn. I'm not getting it, why not to start replacing those at least partially, piece by piece? And one last thing, room management is very poor, it feels like 10-year old could possibly arrange those tables within the area better then they are now. Furthermore, the server did not provide us any dessert menu or list until asked. What you guys think I am likely to be here for, western omelette or french pastries? The worst part happened, when the waiter came over with a check. When I put the card in, instead of taking it and returning for the tip with a pen, he asked for a tip right in front me, giving me 3 options that are on a check (common thing, like 18, 20 and 22%). He stared at me and waited for my decision. I was shocked, as this has to be private and confidential, as in all other places in the US, so I told him what if I don't think you guys don't deserve that much? Who told you this is polite to do it this way? Very poor! As to the desserts, they were pretty good. Ispahan was outstanding, raspberries were fresh, all the macaroons delivered exactly the flavor they described, you can tell Laduree knows the drill, and the raspberry pastry (forgot that French name for it) had that wonderful croissant dough and had quite a lot filling in it. I also got the eclair, which was of course pretty good, however, it wasn't on any menu so I do not know if there was a choice of fillings. The one I've got had that bitter Belgian Chocolate filling, but I'd rather go with something neutral or sweeter instead. To me bitter chocolate is a bit weird in the sweet pastry, but I am not a pastry chef, so it's just my own preference. Would've been great to...

Read another post that had a similar experience. We were really disappointed. We came in with a young child and ordered two types of afternoon tea and a kids afternoon tea set. The food really is fine but the balance between the sweets and the finger sandwiches are off to the point where you feel overloaded with sugar by the end. The macarons are by far the best thing they have there. Also the finger sandwiches are individually wrapped and felt like it was prepared way in advance. However, again, the food was fine.

The main issue we had was with the service. Perhaps the server was new, but he seemed to lack the care and attention to detail that an establishment like Laduree should have. Honestly, our local diner has friendlier, attentive service. 1. The food for our tea set arrived but we had to ask for a plate to eat? I don't think it was being brought if we hadn't asked. 2. Maybe we had just been at afternoon teas that have different service expectations, but when a plate full of pastries is placed in front of us, a quick explanation of each item seems reasonable. "And, here are your pastries," doesn't seem right. 3. Just overall care was missing. Another member in my party where the list of flavors of macarons were, he pointed at my menu (I was sitting diagonally across from her) and he said, "it's on that page" and pointed to my menu. That's really not helpful. We also thought it was so weird for our server to explain the smoked salmon sandwich as "raw salmon." Raw salmon sandwich sounds weird and in the wrong cuisine... Oh, and they had run out of cucumber apple sandwiches. In any restaurant, we would have been asked our preference to substitute. Our server just decided to replace it with whatever he felt like? We ended up with a lot of chicken Caesar sandwiches. It felt almost as if he was just trying to get rid of sandwiches that weren't popular.

All in all, the food is fine. The space is beautiful. The service is bad. I hope it's not a representative experience, but we won't be dining there again. Getting something to go and eating it in the park sounds much...

Ladurée in New York offers a little slice of Paris in the heart of the city. Known for its luxurious, pastel-hued interiors and iconic macarons, Ladurée has established itself as a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth or a penchant for French patisserie.

Atmosphere: The ambiance is charmingly sophisticated, reminiscent of a classic Parisian café with ornate decor and vintage furniture. The tea salon’s soft colors, floral accents, and elegant chandeliers create a perfect blend of vintage luxury and modern comfort. It's a lovely spot for both intimate gatherings and leisurely afternoon teas.

Food and Drink: The menu at Ladurée includes more than just macarons, although they’re certainly the highlight. The macarons come in a wide variety of flavors like rose, pistachio, salted caramel, and more seasonal options. Each one is delicate, with a perfect balance of crispy exterior and soft, creamy filling.

Beyond macarons, Ladurée offers a selection of French pastries, like éclairs and mille-feuille, as well as a brunch and lunch menu featuring quiche, croque-monsieur, and a selection of salads. Everything is prepared with careful attention to traditional French techniques and flavor profiles, providing a consistently authentic experience.

Service: The service is polite and attentive, with staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and often willing to make thoughtful recommendations. However, as the location can get busy, particularly during weekend afternoons, there can sometimes be a wait, especially if you don’t have a reservation.

Pricing: Ladurée is on the higher end in terms of pricing, especially for desserts. However, for the quality of food, the beautiful presentation, and the experience, it feels like a worthwhile indulgence.

Overall: Ladurée New York is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy French desserts or a refined tea experience. It’s ideal for special occasions or for those times when you want to treat yourself to something extra special. The beautiful setting and delightful flavors make it a memorable spot...