Papillon Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in New York

I treated my partner to a much-anticipated trip to NYC for Christmas. Seeing Tik Toks for Papillon’s over the top decorations he made it a must-see for us for our day 1 lunch. Our early-morning flight arrived 9 a.m. We dropped our luggage at the hotel and joined the wait line outside about 15 minutes before opening. Scanning the menus online (Tip 1: There’s a bar menu online that isn’t posted outside of the restaurant), we decided on the burger on the bar menu, also noting a weekday drink special for the bar. Upon entering we were indeed enamored by the volume of decorations in the lobby and beyond. The hostess informed us that the dining room upstairs was full, but there was seating in the bar area first floor, and that both areas were equally decorated. We were fine with downstairs and were seated adjacent to the bar at a high-top table with bar stools. I mention this as – Tip 2: We found out that the drink special is only valid if sitting ‘at’ the bar, and not ‘in’ the bar. When our server finally did make his way to our table, he directly informed us that the restaurant was out of the burger and BBQ. 30 minutes after opening. Having our initial choice negated, we chose the ham sandwich with gruyere, their Croque Monsieur, expecting, well, a ham sandwich. Mistake. When it finally arrived, we were presented two pieces of cheese toast, each with the slightest shaving of ham imaginable. So slight, as you can see from the photo, that it maybe measured 1/32 of an inch. I think we sat in shock for a bit. Mentioning our disappointment to our server, he alerted the manager, who did drop by our table to inform us that he would ‘inform the kitchen’ of our dismay. Overhearing our exchange, the party next to us conveyed that, upon poking about their steak sandwich to locate some steak – they found none. Another with a chicken sandwich shared that her sandwich did indeed have chicken – across half the bun. There was no offer of any compensation, nor did any appear on our bill. Which led us to wonder if ‘informing the kitchen’ meant to congratulate them on boosting profits by serving as little meat as possible. $60 paid for 2 ‘sandwiches’, a soda and tip – we left hungry and disappointed, no amount of decorations able to compensate for such a poor experience. Tip 3: Dip into the restaurant to see the decoration if you must, then leave to satisfy your...

Posting to yelp and google. I've never left a review but I feel like this needs to be said. Save your money. Three things. Bugs, attitude, and gross food. My suggestion if you want to look at their christmas decorations would be to walk in, view everything from the doorway, and then walk right out.

The menu was extremely limited. We saw a bug (stink bug or roach, not sure) and told our waitress. She was unphased and didn't really say anything besides "oh okay". Makes me wonder how many they've seen to not care or give a simple apology. I don't even want to know what could possibly be going on in the kitchen.

As far as the attitude and food: Several times throughout the night our waitress was very defensive and argumentative, and it came off very rude. We were told the kids pasta would be with red sauce before placing our orders. It came out with butter, which was not so much the issue if it would've been handled more professionally. They took it back and added red sauce on top...it was like a greasy, brown bowl of soup when it came back, and it was completely inedible. The waitress came back to our table a while later and asked "how is everything over here?" and we shrugged and looked around the table not really sure what to say. Things had been missing/wrong orders, and the apps came out with the entrees so we were pretty thrown off. She then asks again, this time with a bit of an attitude. At that point we pointed out the pasta being buttery and she just argued back saying she "watched him do it in the back". Several times throughout the night she made things seem like WE were the issue, down to the little things. She argued we had ordered an entire meal that we didn't until she realized her mistake. A family member who's food they forgot just took the extra order to make things easier. Throughout the whole thing, another family member must've told them what burger toppings she wanted about 10 times and they still couldn't get it right. Trust me when I say I'm a very patient person and was saying please and thank you throughout the whole experience despite being highly unsatisfied. This is not a place I would ever recommend giving...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – An Unforgettable Experience at Papillon!

From the moment my wife, my daughter, and I walked through the doors of Papillon, we were welcomed with warmth and genuine hospitality. The atmosphere was vibrant yet inviting, and it was immediately clear that this place is run with excellence from the top down.

Adams, the manager, is truly the heart and soul of Papillon. His leadership is evident in every detail — from the smooth coordination of the staff to the impeccable service we received. Adams not only made sure everything ran flawlessly, but he also took the time to personally greet us, check in during our meal, and ensure that we were completely satisfied. His professionalism, charisma, and commitment to creating memorable experiences make Papillon stand out above the rest.

Maria Barrera provided outstanding table service. She was attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about the menu, and always made sure our glasses were full and our needs met with a smile. Her friendly nature made the evening even more enjoyable for all three of us.

At the bar, Nicolás Morales showcased his incredible talent as a bartender. Every cocktail was a masterpiece — perfectly balanced, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. It’s rare to find a bartender who blends technical skill with such creativity, but Nicolás exceeded all expectations.

Papillon is not just a restaurant and bar — it’s an experience that combines amazing food, world-class drinks, and top-tier service. With Adams at the helm, supported by stars like Maria and Nicolás, you can be sure every visit will be unforgettable. My wife, my daughter, and I all left feeling the same way: absolutely impressed, completely satisfied, and eager to...