Le Botaniste — Restaurant in New York

Update: 4 years later and it’s still bad service. I ordered the chili bowl but the man working there clearly wasn’t into being friendly. He had no expression, no mask, and didn’t ask if I was staying or going. I don’t understand people who work in customer service but hate people. I kept trying to get his attention as he was making a chili in a washable bowl, but since he ignored me I assumed it was for someone else. I was rushing in from doctors appointments and hadn’t eaten all day. Had to rush out. I tried to say it was to go, but he just wasn’t listening. He wasn’t all that friendly to the woman in front of me who couldn’t decide. The other man there ended up making my food so I could hurry back out. I recommend the chili and the Lincoln Center location. I only go to this one because it’s near memorial Sloan Kettering and I’m there a lot. I think I’ll avoid it from now on. ————————————————————— Original review:

For a place that caters to certain food sensitivities, this place is not very accommodating to food sensitivities. Their menu is confusing and their ordering system is as well. I can’t get some of the bread with mushroom gravy unless I pay $7.95 (😳). It’s only for the potatoes, which I can’t eat. I was forced to get the chili as a bowl on some other stuff that cost more, but all I really wanted was a small container of chili, bread with some mushroom gravy, and a brownie that tastes like brownie. The brownie tastes like bland, dry cake. The staff are arrogant and because I was confused they didn’t really want to spend much time explaining it all to me. One woman kind of made an effort, so there’s a third star here for that. But they packed it all to go and the bowl leaked and the paper bag got wet in the rain, and it all cost so much money for not very much food.

I appreciate they are vegan and gluten free friendly, but there are other food sensitivities and customers should be treated kindly when we ask for substitutes for certain things. Mushroom gravy on rice, perhaps? I managed to get chili but it had to be put on top of a bed of greens and covered in toppings I found unnecessary. What’s a girl gotta do to get a simple cup of vegan, gf chili without anything else?

Note that my sensitivity is to lectin. I can’t eat most grains or potatoes. I’m also sensitive to extreme cost. I’d pay $7.95 for just a thing of chili only, but I was refused that option.

I’ve eaten in this place once in the past and it wasn’t pleasant. Just a weird vibe or seating arrangement. From my point of view. I preferred eating it all...

Food: It was alright. We were a party of 5 and everyone’s feedback on taste was more or less „okay“. I myself was not amazed at all. The food was healthy. If you are in the mood of having a healthy meal, this is definitely the place to go! I would almost call it the exact opposite of junk food! You can feel good about yourself having consumed natural, vegan nutrition. In the pictures you will see what I have ordered. I guess, my favorite was the avocado.

Service: First question of the employee was „have you ever been here?“ when answered no, she started to describe all the different options and rattled down the complete menu. Literally everyone in our group was even more confused after her presentation than before. She explained the entire menu, very fast with no time to ask inbetween questions. This resulted in all of us pointing at things and saying „I want that mixed with this and that. Rather than choosing from the menu she just presented.

Atmosphere: The place offered indoor and outdoor seating and had bathrooms. What I liked was the location being so close nyc center and all the plants for decoration.

Have a look at the...

Perfect place to enjoy a meal after work on a chilly day.

We popped in for dinner. We took advantage of the “dinner therhappy” deal. $24 for a bowl and glass of wine after 17:00. I would recommend the vegetable tajine with a couple vegetable balls. The mushroom dish was also very hearty. They have wine and regular (not gluten free) beer in addition to lemonades, tea, coffee and kombucha.

We left satisfied. I took some of my main meal to go so we could have room to sample a couple desserts. The chia mud was a super rich chocolate treat. The brownie with cashew cream was picky toddler approved. Looking forward to trying the veggie sushi and peanut butter cookie next time around. #glütensiz #glutenfree

There are a few tall tables that seat approximately 6 people each in the main dining area. The regular height tables seat 2 people. There is also a lower eating space with short stools. In the very back there is a short wall with bench seating. It was an excellent seating option for a couple adults and a three year old. We moved the two tables together and didn’t have to worry about encroaching in to any one...