Le Café Louis Vuitton NYC — Restaurant in New York

I wanted to share feedback about our recent dining experience at your beautiful New York location. I’ll begin by saying that the ambiance and design of the café were absolutely stunning, and we were excited for our first visit. However, several service missteps unfortunately overshadowed what could have been a truly memorable experience.

We were warmly greeted by a manager in a black jacket who was friendly and promptly seated us—this initial interaction was pleasant and set a positive tone. After a few minutes, our server arrived and dropped off the menus. She returned shortly after to take our beverage order. My friend requested a dirty gin martini (the server asked if she preferred Hendrick’s), and I ordered a green juice. We also inquired about the tasting menu and whether it could be modified to accommodate my friend’s dietary restrictions (gluten- and dairy-free). She said she would check with the kitchen.

The server returned without our drinks—which was fine at the time—to inform us that the chef would not allow any modifications to the tasting menu. This was surprising, as the menu seemed to consist of à la carte items already available. Still, we understood and proceeded to order the Crab Louie, tuna tartare, Caesar salad, fries, and Dover sole. We also requested gluten-free bread, which the server confirmed was available.

We relaxed and took in the elegant surroundings, but after about 25 minutes with no beverages, I flagged down a manager. She apologized and said she would check on our drinks. A few minutes later, she returned to inform us that the drink order had never been placed. She asked us to repeat the order so it could be submitted immediately.

As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry, I understand mistakes happen and was more than willing to be understanding. Still, it was 35 minutes from the time we were seated before our drinks finally arrived.

Our food began arriving shortly after that. The Caesar salad came first, but despite requesting dressing on the side (and the server offering a vinaigrette alternative), it arrived without any dressing at all. My friend chose to eat her portion without it to avoid any issues.

The Crab Louie was delicious. However, we never received the tuna tartare. Since we were starting to get full and had our main courses coming, we let it go. No one checked on our table during this time, so we waited patiently for the Dover sole and fries, which eventually arrived. Everything was well-seasoned and nicely prepared.

At this point, I flagged down another manager to let them know the tuna tartare should be canceled. She apologized and confirmed it wouldn’t be brought out. A different manager then stopped by to check on us, and I mentioned the tuna tartare. She seemed unaware of the issue and asked if we still wanted it. This suggested a lack of communication between team members.

We had not seen our original server in some time, so I flagged her down to request dessert and a mezcal espresso martini for my friend. My dessert and latte came about 15 minutes later, but my friend’s cocktail did not arrive until I had already finished both my dessert and coffee. The bartender eventually brought it to the table, leaving us sitting awkwardly as we waited for my friend to enjoy her drink.

When the check was finally delivered, the server comped our drinks and offered a brief apology. While I didn’t have a specific resolution in mind, I must admit the experience felt disappointing—especially considering this was our first visit, and the Louis Vuitton brand represents luxury and excellence.

As someone who has both worked in and dined at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, I know that great service isn’t about perfection—it’s about attentiveness, consistency, and care. I’m sharing this feedback not to get anyone in trouble, but in the hope that it helps your team improve the overall guest experience. This café has so much potential, and I truly hope future guests are able to experience it as it...

We had the pleasure of dining at the Louis Vuitton café last Saturday, and it was truly a unique experience. When we first tried to visit after shopping at LV, the restaurant was fully booked, so we made a reservation three weeks in advance—a necessary step if you want to secure a table.

The interior is everything you’d expect from Louis Vuitton—sophisticated, elegant, and meticulously designed. Every detail, from the decor to the tableware, reflects the brand’s signature aesthetic. The ambiance feels exclusive and refined, making it an ideal spot for a special occasion or an indulgent treat.

The food is just as beautifully crafted as the setting, with stunning plating and luxurious ingredients. Many dishes feature the iconic LV monogram, adding a stylish and artistic touch to the presentation. What We Ordered: Appetizers - Tuna tartare with gaufrette – it was fresh, and the crispy waffle provided the perfect crunchy contrast to the silky tartare. Monogram flower ravioli – delicious and visually impressive too. Highly recommended! Entrées - Scallop soufflé – airy and delicate, with a refined balance of flavors. The caviar added a rich, salty contrast that elevated the dish even further. I really enjoyed it. Filet mignon bœuf – my boyfriend’s main course. He said it was cooked well and very tender, but the portion size was quite small for the price, which left him wanting more. Pomme mousseline Louis Vuitton – smooth and buttery, with a decadent truffle flavor that took it to the next level. Dessert - Chocolate entremet cake & signature coffee – Both were very good. Once again, the presentation was stunning and very instagrammable. We also ordered wine to accompany our meal, which was a great choice. Additionally, we were served complimentary bread and butter at the start of the meal. While I usually love fresh bread, this one didn’t stand out—it was too sour for my taste.

The staff was warm and welcoming, but the service was slower than expected, especially considering the restaurant wasn’t at full capacity. We had noticeable waits between courses, which made the pacing feel a little off. (Or maybe the portions were just so tiny that we finished them too quickly! 😆)

This isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience. The food is undoubtedly good and delicious, but the real highlight is the atmosphere, branding and presentation. If you appreciate fine dining and luxury aesthetics, this is definitely worth trying at least once. However, for the price point, slightly larger portions would have made it feel like a better...

Tourists will cream their TikTok pants dining here (as evidenced by all the rave reviews so far). This review isn't for them. This review is for the jaded NYC local who wants to know if it's worth the pain and suffering of securing a reservation + the pain and suffering of depleting their wallet, to come here so their visiting relatives can have a high-end NYC Christmas experience.

I say no. But if you must come here, here's what you need to know:

The store that looks like LV bags isn't done. The store across the street on E 57th St is where you have to go for both store and cafe.

They have no idea what they're doing right now, so they're making everyone line up just to even enter the store--even if you have a cafe resy. Don't let them make you wait in the freezing cold: go inside and then find someone to show your cafe rest. However...

...The right hand doesn't speak to the left hand--or in this case, the store staff seem to have no connection to the cafe staff. So even if you do have a resy, the store staff need to manually call the cafe staff to verify your reservation. I have no idea why the process is so convoluted. You'd think all that money would have bought a more efficient system.

Some of the front door staff--esp. the security guards--are power-tripping bullies. Don't let them push you around. Because they will.

Expect to pay $25 for appetizers, and $40-60 for entrees. Portions are minuscule, even if the presentations are more Instagrammable than a Kardashian boudoir shoot.

The food is so saturated with LV branding that you'll think you stepped into a Mad Men meeting with Vuitton himself.

What's worth getting: Crisp Monogram Waffle with caviar, Le Burger '1898' (even if it IS $36), Vanilla Entremet, Hazelnut Entremet, and Barlett Pear Tart

What's worth skipping: Monogram Flower Ravioli (blander than Taylor Swift's potato salad), Black Bass (see Ravioli), Scallop Soufflé (interesting but tiny and wayyyy too salty), Lobster (laughably tiny and boring), Chocolate Entremet (all darkness, no joy).

If you're new to luxury fashion brand restaurants--and NYC, for all its sophistication, has woefully few of them--then you'll probably be super impressed by all that this LV cafe has to offer. If you've actually left the country and, say, visited the Chanel restaurants in France or the Prada cafes in Italy, you'll likely find this a fantastically overpriced disappointment.

That's my $0.02. Your...