Mino Brasserie — Restaurant in New York

I was so excited because the reviews are amazing, but left the establishment quite disappointed. Maybe I don’t have the palette for French food, or maybe I am not fit for French Cuisine, so read with a grain of salt.

Atmosphere: It’s cute and cozy, I initially really enjoyed it but I felt like the music was so loud that I had difficulty hearing what the server was saying. I had to clarify what we wanted a few times and asked them to repeat themselves as well.

Service: Everything felt a bit off; after enjoying our appetizers, they were trying to take the plates back and asked if we wanted to keep our cutlery. Because we were offered the option to keep them, we thought why not and said yes. The server then put our used cutlery directly onto the table - I wasn’t a fan of this because it didn’t feel very sanitary. Maybe having a napkin would’ve helped. We were waiting for our mains when we saw a server with what looked to be our food. She seemed to be confirming things with a different server in the hall, so we waited patiently. She finally got to our table, put down the moules du prince edouard and magret de canard a l’orange and left. A couple bites into our food, she came back with a steak knife and extra dish to put the mussel shells. We had already tried cutting into the duck with our butter knives and kept the mussel shells in the corner of our dish. Iy was just a frustrating process to watch everything being delayed. Towards the end of our meal, a server asked if we were done with our food and took away the plate for the duck. It had my partner’s cutlery on top, so they took it away with the plate and we ended up sharing our forks for the last few bites of the mussels.

Food: I like to believe that I am someone who knows how to enjoy the flavor of the ingredients. Despite this, I felt like the food was so underwhelming and under seasoned. Tartare de saumon: It was refreshing and the avocado base made everything very creamy. However, I think a bit more acid than just a small lemon wedge would have helped the dish immensely. It felt very creamy so I was left craving something a bit more acidic. Escargots grantinés: It was good. Nothing to complain about. Moules de prince edouard: I’ve had moules frites many times and I feel like this was the least flavored one I’ve had so far. The sauce just didn’t have that oomph and no matter how much I dunked the fries into it, I couldn’t pick up any flavor. I think the fries overpowered the sauce and mussels, which I feel is hard to do since mussels are so fragrant themselves. As my partner was telling me that maybe more salt would’ve helped, we looked over to the table next to us to see a man who ordered the Steak au poivre - he was aggressively salting and peppering his steak. So, I believe we’re probably not the only ones who thought the food needed something extra. Magret de canard a l’orange: When asked how we would like the duck cooked, we said medium to medium rare. I understand that maybe there could some confusion with that, but when the duck came out and we tried cutting into it, it was so tough and dry it felt like a well done steak. The parsnip purée and orange glaze was good, but I think giving more of the glaze rather than a small dollop would have helped the dish.

Overall, this was a disappointing experience compared to my expectations. Maybe there is a specific fan base with the complete opposite palette as mine, so try for yourselves before making judgment. I don’t think I’ll be coming back to this...

Genuinely impressed with the authentic bistro experience offered at Mino. The service was impeccable (shoutout to Yohan!) and the food was delicious. Plates were served hot and generously portioned but not gluttonous. Both wines were very tasty and our complimentary champagne tasted even better :) We will definitely go back for lunch or dinner, either with friends or great for a cute date.

We went on a Friday at 7:15 and reserved one week ahead of time. I recommend doing the same as there was very little room for walk-ins. The space was warm and cozy – maybe too warm with the heater under the bench seating along the window, and a little tricky to pass by with everyone’s jackets on their chairs. The interior space was chic and filled with the familiar sound of lively chatter and kitchen clamor, which made me feel at ease. The entire staff was very attentive and prompt to keep our table bussed and served. Because there is a busy street corner outside, I might recommend some hedges or light fencing to keep the headlights from distracting and bringing down the swanky vibe.

I ordered the duck magret and it was cooked to perfection. The sauce was salted just right and the carrot purée was fragrant and fresh, light and creamy. My sister was very happy with her steak au poivre and said it was “exactly what she wanted” for a savory winter meal. My other sister, who is gluten free, ate every bite of her sea bass and my husband couldn’t stop raving about the burger and fries. I tried the mayo too and it was in the traditional French style and very yummy. We were treated to a chefs special gluten free leek soup starter and it was perfectly balanced with a light potato flavor and velvety texture, and served nice and hot. We all commented on how good it was!

For dessert, also generously offered and with the mousse tweaked slightly to make gluten free, we got that and the famous profiteroles. The chocolate sauce and whipped cream were the standout, and the choux was great but not exceptional according to my boo’s standards. The espresso came out steaming and well balanced, and we finished with some nice bubbly and friendly conversation.

We never felt rushed and the staff was truly there to make us feel welcomed and taken care of, which they certainly did! For a winter meal with family before heading out of town this was exactly what I had hoped for. It felt like we were in Paris more than NYC (yes, the staff was French) and the crowd was a mix of local finance / fashion types from SoHo as well as more modest educator / family types and younger first timers who seemed to pop in for a cute date. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a chic escape during their stay, or even just to impress a friend.

Will...

Stepping into this French spot feels like traveling back in time to Paris in the early 1900s. The aesthetic is beautifully curated, with attention to detail that makes the experience feel authentic. Most of the kitchen staff is actually French, which adds an extra layer of credibility to the flavors. We started with oysters, elegantly presented on what looked like a golden copper plate—stunning. However, I would’ve loved to know the variety and origin, and honestly, I expected more than just one option. Still, the presentation was on point. Next, we had the Burrata Des Pouilles, which was delicious but came with barely any bread. And let’s be real—bread is cheap. No excuse not to serve more, lol. For appetizers, we ordered the Gnocchi aux Truffes, which was solid, well-executed, but not mind-blowing. A solid 7/10. Then came the Escargots De Bourgogne, which I had been wanting to try forever. Let me tell you—these were AMAZING. Like, 100/10, life-changing, unforgettable. Easily the highlight of the night. For drinks, we had two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc—nothing special, just a nice pairing for the meal. The ambiance was great, music on point, and the vibe was flexible—you can go dressed up or casual, whatever works for you. Plus, it’s super close to the subway, so easy to get to. I went for my birthday, and it turned out to be a solid choice. Overall, I’d give it 4 stars. If they step up the oyster selection and don’t skimp on the bread, it could be even better. Definitely...