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Ouest
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch French, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2315 Broadway(between 83rd St & 84th St)
New York, NY 10024
Neighbourhood: Upper West Side
(212) 580-8700
- Nearest Transit:
-
86 St (1, 2)
79 St (1, 2)
86 St (A, B, C)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Wed-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun 11 am - 2 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
130 reviews for Ouest
Review Highlights
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"HOUSE SMOKED DUCK BREAST -- creative, great contrast of..." In 4 reviews -
"You must try the goat cheese ravioli." In 7 reviews -
"FINALLY a great resturant on the upper west side." In 17 reviews
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130 reviews in English
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Review from Mitch C.
New York, NY
1/10/2012
Decided to try a new place and was pleasantly surpsied by Ouest.
Service was friendly but crod seemed like a mix between young and hip and old and cranky.
Appetizer: Goat Cheese Ravioli with Pancetta was very good and perfect dipping sauce for the bread (4 stars)
Entrees: Date got the Grouper with vegetable puree, bacon, walnuts which she loved (best fish shes had in a while)
I got the Simply Grilled Double Rip Pork Chop which was delicicous and I could barely finish half of it (nice lunch though for the next day) (5 stars) and ranked up there with Little Owl in my opinion
Side of spinich was unimpressive and could have been seasoned better
Felt like relatively limited wine menu by the glass
All in all would definitely go back -
Review from k E.
Chicago, IL
3/11/2012
Ehh.
First, the hostess was unable to find our reservation from Open Table. Fortunately I was able to produce the confirmation email. The bar is nice and cozy. Dinner was good, not great. A diner on the balcony dropped her knife and it hit my guest in the head. While the staff saw this happen, there was absolutely no reaction from any employee. The food was unremarkable but ok. Bread was good. Won't return. -
Review from Min K.
Manhattan, NY
2/17/2012
I love french food and can't help but compare this place to all the other places I've tried.
We had had reservations for s Sunday brunch for three. The place itself was spacious and we were greeted by a friendly staff.
They served us a complimentary basket of goodness. This HAD to have been the highlight of my experience. All of the breads were delicious.
I ordered the omelette souffle with spinach and gruyere cheese (waitress recommended). It was good but I definitely wasn't impressed. And the combination was a bit overwhelming and I felt really fat after eating a small portion.
My friends ordered some granola yogurt thing and I believes french toast/pancakes. They both enjoyed their dishes.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? *shrug* -
Review from Sacha M.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
Not bad
The food I ordered wasn't incredible or terrible and i know this because I cant even remember what i ordered. It was very unmemorable.
Their side of cabbage was good but how hard is it to cook cabbage.
I wont go back again
just not special enough -
Review from Kurt R.
New York, NY
3/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Superb in every respect: attentive, engaged wait staff ready, willing and able to partner with you to make your dining experience the best it can be; beautiful, delicious, inventive cooking. I wish I could afford to dine their weekly.
-
Review from Kurt B.
Freeport, NY
10/15/2011
I like Ouest...been here three times and out of all my UWS restaurants, this gives me the most memorable meals. Don't get me wrong, I love Compass and Telepan..but there is just something about this place that brings it home food wise.
The decor is somewhat old school but it's kinda cool. Plus I dig the "old money" clientele that seem to gravitate here.
Anyways..on to the food from the last visit-
apps-
Cauliflower Custard with Butter poached Lobster, Leeks & Trumpet Mushrooms...great...tasty
also a special app which was home made gnocchi with a broccoli rabe pesto...innovative! we liked it a lot!!
Mixed Greens with Herbed Red Wine-Parmesan Vinaigrette- I know man...it's just a salad....but it's great here..I always get it.
Dinner:
I had-
Braised Beef Short Rib with Horseradish Speatzle, Swiss Chard, Glazed Beets & Crispy Shallots....that was really, really good.
She had-
Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary-Garlic Sausage, Lamb Bacon & Lentils...terrific
The service was great and I am looking forward to my next visit here...and btw...yes...I did copy and paste the menu item descriptions from their website.... -
Review from Amber M.
New York, NY
10/2/2011
Enter into what feels like a legendary, rich wooden bar and up around the corner this restaurant opens up into one of those epic looking spaces you expect to find in New York.
Red velvet, booths, rowed tables close enough to hear some good stories next to you.
Menu is French inspired by portion and plating. Seasonal but a bit repetitive (i.e., fried egg on a number of dishes on the dinner menu) so you may find yourself asking for exceptions. Service was very good.
Good spot to celebrate an occasion or special company. You'll beam over white table linens and probably take more enjoyment from your company than the food. -
Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
9/3/2011
Located right next to 5 napkin burger in the UWS, this place has a deceptively small entrance. One little door, you walk in and theres a long coridor of booths and a narrow hallway that leads either upstairs or downstairs to the kitchen where other seating is available. Its actually quite big and roomy inside, so dont be turned off by the small entrance.
Now on to the food, we ordered the salmon gravlax which was served on top of a chickpea cake, with caviar and fish roe and mustard seeds. The salmon was fresh and delicious as well. Very tasty, easily one of the favorites of the night. I ordered the braised beef short ribs "pot au feu" which was served on top of cous cous with veggies. It was nicely executed and the meat was delish. The wife ordered pork chops which is pretty huge and thick, yet somehow quite juicy. The cream spinach side which feeds 2 was easily the best creamed spinach ive ever had. Its a must. We did not opt for dessert as we were in a hurry to catch a movie and we were stuffed, but this place was surprisingly decent.
The total damage. 1 glass of wine 1 appetizer 2 entrees = $115 -
Review from Will W.
Manhattan, NY
2/4/2012
We finally tried this supposed oldie but goodie on the UWS because we bought one of those $25 http://restaurant.com coupons.
In my opinion, there was lots of old but sadly not much good to write home about.
The decor is definitely fuddy-duddy.
The clientele primarily included people like the cackling surgerized bag with clown make-up sitting next to us. Her dinner companion was either deaf or doing his best to ignore her given how much she was shouting. On the other side, there was some sort of interview dinner going on next to us, with some guy going ON and ON and ON ... about his career advancement opportunities at some lame company.
Now, you might ask, why am I writing so much about the people who we were sitting next to? The answer is that our service was absolutely miserable and it took FOREVER to get our entrees. Our appetizers came in a reasonable amount of time, but why we had to wait 30 min between when our app plates were cleared and the entrees arrived, I don't know. The fact that we didn't even get a simple sorry was surprising as well. Maybe, it was because of the coupon? If they are going to be jerks about it, then why bother offering it? Oh right, because nickel and diming is how they do it.
In fact, despite confirming at the beginning of the meal that the coupon was valid with the waitress (who confirmed this with the manager prior to our ordering), the guido at the front of the house (was this the manager? he didn't introduce himself ...) came to our table and quite rudely told us that this was not the case. I suggested that he speak again to the waitress who either had no clue what she was doing or simply lied to us earlier. Eventually, begrudgingly and without so much as a sorry about the confusion, we did have our coupon honored. But, the experience was a horrible one.
The food was good. Not fantastic. The broccoli rabe had neither salt, pepper, olive oil, nor garlic. I much prefer the other places in the neighborhood with much better service and more innovative dishes. -
Review from Christopher T.
Brooklyn, NY
7/26/2011
I was taken to Ouest for a surprise congratulatory dinner. While at first I was excited because I thought I was being taken to 5 Napkin Burger, I was more than happy with the selection of Ouest.
We opted for the prix-fixe meals that end at 6:30pm. I had the baked mozzarella with arugula and truffle oil along with the hangar steak as the main sitting on a bed of polenta. Both dishes were executed really well.
My dining partner had the gazpacho and the skate. The skate was well crusted and had a lot of flavor.
Overall, a very good dinner for the price.
Just remember that gazpacho is cold. We didn't. -
Review from Jason L.
Berkeley, CA
3/15/2011
Lynn and I found this restaurant quite interesting . . . on the one hand, the food was indeed wonderful . . . on the other hand, this was one of the noisiest restaurants it has ever been my DISpleasure in which to dine . . .
Why, then, four stars instead of three or even two? Because I suspect that part of the noise level was due in no small part to where we were seated -- back room, along the wall under the "overhang" and thus with a very low ceiling. The main dining room has a very high ceiling, and even the upstairs enjoyed a higher-than-average ceiling height. If seated there, I am sure the noise level would be far more manageable. But -- Danger! Danger! Warning, Will Robinson! -- if you are unfortunate to be seated at one of the five tables under that overhang, you practically have to shout to be heard across a table for two. Both Lynn and I had to raise our voices significantly, as did all of the tables under that overhang . . .
Otherwise, this place reminded me of small restaurants and bistros I've dined at in rural France and (although the food was significantly better*), the restaurant I used to work at in Santa Cruz, CA. In that regard, the ambiance (minus the volume) was spot on.
The decibel level aside, I have to say that food was excellent. Lynn started with the Roasted Bone Marrow with Short Rib Marmalade, Shallot, Parsley & Apple Salad -- absolutely wonderful! -- while I had the nostalgic Chicken Liver Mousse with Chopped Onions -- pure pleasure. (It was a classic dish at that Santa Cruz restaurant.)
Moving on to our entrées, Lynn had the Pan Roasted Squab with Duck Liver Risotto, Crisp Artichokes and Parmesan . . . perfectly cooked, exquisite flavors, and a significantly better presentation than the squab at Manka's (if you've been there, you know; if not, just trust me on that one). I opted for the thumper -- sorry, the Roasted Rabbit with Garlic, Capellini, Chanterelles, Pearl Onions and Natural Jus -- which was the best rabbit I've had in a long, long time, juicy, succulent, flavorful and wonderful!
So if the food was so good -- and it was -- why not five stars? I mean, if the noise level went down, would I give it five?
No.
Because their wine list basically sucked . . . there is nothing wrong with a limited selection (one need not have 500+ offerings to be a great list), but there was very little here of interest.
Solid four stars, and I hope to return -- just not under the overhang. -
Review from Maly A.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is superb. The ambiance is romantic/intimate/upscale. Generally an older clientele middle aged, but definitely 'classy'. Lots of red in the decor. Service was excellent. Food.......delectable. I tried the tomato/goat cheese ravioli appetizer, mushroom puree soup (yum), and then for my entree.....I tried the rabbit. I'd never had rabbit before....it was tender and very flavorful. My friend & I shared a bottle of wine and indulged in desert as well. Crème Brule was very smooth & just the right amount of 'sweet'. For a three course meal and 2 drinks the tab can be around $120-140 (including tip) which is I think fairly standard for a classier/upscale place.
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Review from Kristi E.
New York, NY
6/10/2011
I went to Ouest for my birthday dinner last night and was very impressed top-to-bottom. The hostess was very kind and wished me a happy birthday, offering to take my wet umbrella - good service off the bat. I put in a request for a special table in OpenTable and they met my request with a power table in the corner.
The cocktail list is lovely and my Vespa 84 was made perfectly. My dad's wine pour was very short but when we made mention of it, they had no problem topping it off.
The menu is a bit pricey but the options all look glorious and it was difficult to choose. I checked in on Foursquare and the NY Times tip said to order the sturgeon appetizer. I was not let down by the house-cured smoked sturgeon with frisee, lardons and poached egg. DELICIOUS. My dad's quail appetizer was gone in a matter of seconds as he inhaled it and raved about how it was the best quail he'd had in ages!
For entrees, I ordered the house favorite Roasted Salmon and it was phenomenal. My dad's squab was wonderful as well and we both cleaned our plates! The lemon chifoute (sp?) dessert was light and refreshing and can almost be described as a lemon creme brulee, but lighter. My only gripe is that they knew it was my birthday and did not put a candle in the dessert.
I will 100% return to this establishment as well as continue to refer my hotel guests there. Bravo, Tom Valenti. -
Review from Eric P.
New York, NY
3/2/2011 Seated via OpenTable
A great place for an intimate date. Delicious food, ideal portion sizes.
In my case, I went to with an old friend I hadn't seen a while -- and that fact that he footed the bill was also a perk (Thanks you-know-who-you-are!) -- it's not a cheap place.
I had the Pan Roasted Squab with Duck Liver Risotto for $35. Delicious!
Something to consider for my gluten-free friends: The staff goes out of their way to alter anything on the menu to fit your dietary needs. My date could not eat gluten or dairy and they worked out something with him. They were great! The bartender and sommelier are also good about making wine recommendations. -
Review from Omar C.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2011
I took a date here and happy I did. It had a great atmosphere - dim lit, moderate noise level. I thought the layout was very unique, lots of reds. The appetizers were incredible, probably top 3 restaurants as far as apps go in the city. The main courses were pretty good, but not remarkable.
I would reccomend this to anyone eating on the Upper West Side or close to it, but wouldn't make a trip to eat here, there are plenty of comparable restaurants all over the city. -
Review from Taka A.
Jersey City, NJ
12/16/2010 Seated via OpenTable
Great food! Awesome Service.
I was disappointed to be seated in the bar area and I feel like it may have been due to the party I was with but the food and service blew me away.
I had a few bottles of wine as per the recommendation of the server, a lobster bisque and a rabbit entree in a mushroom cream sauce and a nice Oban to end out the night.
The food was fantastic but the best thing was that we never felt rush despite the crowded establishment and the attention to detail was phenomenal. I will be returning to try to the prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin. -
Review from Jen O.
1/22/2011
Cute, elegant restaurant that - as many have mentioned before me - surprises you. When you first walk in it appears teeny-tiny, but once you're led to the dining area in back you see how expansive it really is.
The hostess, waiter and bus boys were all super attentive. We started with the house smoked duck with crispy egg and bitter greens and the goat cheese ravioli - both exquisite. My friend ordered the roast chicken with mashed potatoes and I had the prosciutto-wrapped cod with braised cabbage and potatoes. I found my dish pretty bland and would have much rather had the chicken entree - ah well.
All in all a pleasant place to enjoy French food in the UWS. -
Review from Melissa G.
New York, NY
6/13/2011
Went for brunch prix fixe - $28/person includes coffee, tea, your choice of an appetizer (yogurt or a salad, or a gazpacho, etc.) and an entree. Mimosas not included (downer!)
THe food was great. The service not so much - it took forever. We did have a delicious basket of assorted pastries, muffins and sweet rolls though which was a great way to start. The gazpacho was to die for. I had the braised short rib benedict - and it was amazing.
Really yummy - I'd reccommend it - but it's only open for brunch on Sundays! We made the mistake of going on Saturday and it was closed. -
Review from Nick S.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2010
It may be 4 - 4.5 star food, but I enjoyed dinner so much that I had to give it 5 stars...
Welcome to Diagon Alley.
Why? Huh?
It's like this:
You walk in and think "oh this place is kinda tiny". It's a narrow rectangular shaped place and if you look down at the end you see the kitchen and over it there looks like a small balcony with a few tables. So you ask to use the bathroom and are pointed to the end of the restaurant by the kitchen. Ho hum. You walk and as you get to the kitchen look to your right and out of nowhere appears a huge room with 30 foot ceilings and gorgeous booths with seating for 60 people. Also that small little balcony turns into something that wraps around the top of the whole dining room. Honestly it felt like I just walked into Diagon Alley when I saw this (IMO If you make a reservation ask to be in the main dining room, not the bar area).
The food here is really really good. Delicious actually. The only thing I found bland was the quail stuffed with mushroom and sausage. However the oxtail and marrow was heavenly, the pork belly was outstanding, and the double cut pork chop was so thick and juicy (it could have been 3 - 4 inches thick). Also the creamed spinach is fantastic. (Tip: Tell your waiter right away if you want the pork chop so he can put it on hold for you - at 8:30 on a Thursday I lucked out and got the last one).
The bartender here is amazing (shoot I'm running out of adjectives...that's what I get for writing a review after a long days work). The drinks are superb and fresh (Love it when they squeeze fresh lemons/limes into a drink instead of sour mix/Rose's lime juice).
Really this place is just great. A lot of fun, fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, friendly staff (except for 1 of the 3 hostesses who was a little cold). Really a near perfect place. -
Review from Danielle W.
New York, NY
5/20/2011
Old school New York this place is...red leather padded chairs, dark wooden tables, white linen tablecloths. You truly feel like you are in a scene out of a movie or something- its got a good New York vide, while staying away from the glitz, glam, and trendy decor that most restaurants are trying on these days...
My parents and I went together before theatre and enjoyed some wine, dirty martinis (which we fab!) and a few appetizers before our main courses came to the table.
I ordered the fish strew, with a red broth mixture and some garlic bread to top it all off. My dad had steak and my mom the pork chops - which was the largest dish of meat I had ever seen in my life- not kidding. The meat at Ouest was great, my fish was good as well. I probably should have ordered something more meaty, instead of fishy.
My parents and I did get lucky and we sat up above the normal level seating area so the noise level the night we ate was great...we could hear each other, however we also ate at "grandparents" time at around 5:45 - we needed to catch our show!!
I will be back for their drinks and atmosphere and small bar feel in the beginning of the restaurant. Feels good to a little dark sometimes... -
Review from Scott Y.
11/16/2010 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
"She got a ass that'll swallow up a g-string
And up top, unh...
Two bee stings."
Wow, this place is really tiny in the front, and huge in the back. You would never know it when you first walk in. The tables are a little squished together, though, which is not ideal.
The food and wine were pretty awesome, though. For my entree, I had the braised short rib vol-au-vent, which was exactly what our waiter told the table next to us (excellent, but not a particularly large portion). My girlfriend got the scallops, which she said were very good. I don't eat seafood. So I can't really comment on that. We also had the hand made mozzarella carpaccio as an appetizer. My girlfriend liked it better than me. The stars of the dish were the mushrooms and pine nuts, apparently. I'm not a mushroom fan, and I found the mozzarella to be a bit disappointing.
Our waiter was also very knowledgeable. His wine recommendation was very good, and his description of the dish that I had ordered was dead on.
I would definitely recommend Ouest to anyone looking for a tasty, classy dinner (as long as they don't mind being a little cramped). -
Review from Olivia V.
11/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Now this is the ultimate classy date place. Walking in, it seemed like a super small, super crowded bar area with a few booths in the back. Even with a reservation, we still had to wait in the overly packed bar area for a bit. Its just too narrow and between people at the bar, and people coming and going, its just too tight. But that's where my criticism ends.
Beyond all that, the dining area is actually pretty open and on par with the rest of the classy French restaurants. Our server was attentive and helpful, especially with wine choices. Ouest has an excellent wine list.
We started with the Mozzarella "Carpaccio" with mushrooms and pine nuts. Definitely a great little dish.For the main course, I had the scallops, which were amazing. Nice big, perfectly cooked, smooth buttery consistency with an amazing fennel-mint risotto as well. Wonderful. My boyfriend enjoyed the short ribs very much as well. All the dishes were cooked to perfection and every bite was a little bit of heaven. We did not stay for dessert, sadly.
I would definitely come back. There were so many things on the menu that sounded fantastic that I'd love to give a try, including dessert. Also, reading the reviews, I'd love to stop by for brunch sometime as well! -
Review from Jerry C.
New York, NY
12/24/2010
Ouest is my favorite UWS restaurant. Service is always excellent from the front of the house host and hostess to the waiters and bus service. I requested a table in the main dining room and got it. I didn't want to sit in the bar/passageway as it kills half the ambiance. Still, it was noisier than I recall and hard to hear across the table.
I consistently rave to my friends about the food, especially pork belly, duck and simple grills.
On my recommendation, four of us ordered the Spinach and Sausage Stuffed Quail with French Green Lentils & Cabbage appetizer and were not disappointed. For the first time, I was not blown away by my entree which was a seasonal pot au feu, and Ouest lost my fifth star. The braised short ribs were chewy and grilled hanger steak was tough. Flavorful though.
I will definitely return to see if Ouest gets its fifth star back! -
Review from Michael K.
Manhattan, NY
11/14/2011
I felt like I was in "The Fountainhead": a delicious, multi-course meal from a French-inspired menu; tasty wine; rich, golden lighting; attentive staff; we'll-dressed patrons. The upper level looks over an expansive dining room with red velvet booths. A lavish yet intimate setting for special occasions.
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Review from Masumi T.
New York, NY
10/15/2010
WHY??! Why didn't I come here sooner? It's only about 10 blocks away from me and I've walked past for however long it's been around. From the outside, it looks like a long narrow bar, but when you walk in it opens up into two floors of tables. It has a steakhouse feel with the warm lights and little lamps with shades on the wall.
The service was average. The waiter told us about the specials and took our order.
The food came pretty quickly and portions were generous. We tried the roast duck carpaccio first and it was really nice. It had a very smooth and soft texture with a salty (but not too salty) flavor. It had a mayo based sauce was drizzled generously on top with a fried or poached breaded egg and some greens. It was a really nice starter. I had also ordered the endive salad but I guess they forgot about it because it came half way through our other starter. It was not what I was expecting. It was a mound of chopped endive with a blue cheese dressing served on a white plate you find in the cafeteria. It's pretty comical now that I think back.
I ordered the "Pan Roasted Squab with Duck Liver Risotto, Crisp Artichokes and Parmesan." The skin was crispy with some pieces of liver sitting on top of a soft and tasty risotto. I really liked my dish. My friend ordered "Salmon, Lightly Smoked and Roasted with Potato Puree, Leeks & Caviar Remoulade." The salmon was just barely cooked so it was really soft and delicious. The potato puree was too soft with too much butter for my taste but my friend liked the dish so that's all that mattered. I preferred my dish since it's not something I can find everywhere. I will definitely come back, but maybe I'll shoot for the prefix which is from 5-6:30pm. The prices are a bit high so be prepared. -
Review from Steve M.
Manhattan, NY
10/19/2011
Fine dining with petite portions and pricy plates. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed every morsel of food here. The hangar steak was so juicy and succulent that it tempts even the most hard-core vegans. Salmon dish was tender and tasty. Vegetable sides were fresh. Service was prompt and attentive. Red velvet booths were soft and comfy. BUT, when you spend $$$ on a meal, you should at least receive a satisfying portion in return.
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Review from Al S.
Manhattan, NY
11/15/2011
Went to Ouest for brunch with a friend. Brunch is a two course prix fixe menu, but literally everything except those two courses is extra and not cheap...juice, coffee, etc.
Mushroom soup for the first course was excellent, but their fried poached eggs were just okay. Kind of tasteless and certainly oily.
Our waitress was pretty snarky, but we were there for two hours and they did not rush us at all. Room was large, but not too loud, which was nice. Also, I arrived at the restaurant before my friend and they actually seated me before he arrived, which is a rarity for NY and something I appreciated.
All-in-all just an average tasting brunch, so I would say not worth the expensive price tag attached. -
Review from AJ K.
Brea, CA
5/13/2010 5 photos
(This is going to be a weird review).
After having already eaten dinner at Prune, we decided to stop by Ouest for some dessert and to visit a family friend that was working in the kitchen that evening.
So, for "dessert" we ordered their apple tart with vanilla ice cream and peanut butter-chocolate bombe. Oh, and their mixed greens salad.
Yes, I like salad for dessert. If I ever happen to visit a buffet, I usually have salad last.
Anyway, back to dessert... Wow, that was some good salad. It was a pleasant medley of butter lettuce, red lettuce, and frisee tossed in a light and tangy vinaigrette. I can close my eyes and imagine the salad right now. Yes, the desserts were not bad either. The peanut butter-chocolate bombe was much lighter and not as sweet as I had anticipated.
But man, the salad, it left us perfectly satiated. I would definitely come back, just for the salad. -
Review from Rachel J.
9/17/2009
How have I never been here??? I remember hearing that Ouest was an "It" place about 6 years ago when I last lived in NYC, so I therefore avoided it at all cost. That, plus the fact that its name is ridiculously pretentious made me completely disinterested. That said, I'm over it. Ouest completely lived up to it's mythological status.
Because everything looked delicious and because our waitress declared that she "wanted to eat every single thing on the menu," we ended up ordering a bottle of wine, 2 apps, 2 main dishes, and splitting dessert. I don't think I've eaten so well since Thanksgiving 2007. Hallelujah.
The bartender was happy to suggest an amazing red wine while we waited for a table - though we were seated within 3 minutes of toasting. I would like everyone to know that the salmon gravlax (smoked salmon) with chickpea pancake was incredible, as was the edamame-stuffed ravioli. The main dishes were equally mind-blowing. I had Black Fish with truffle oil risotto, and wished I hadn't scarfed it all down so that I could have taken some home to savor tomorrow.
The service was phenomenal - we were extremely well attended to. The tables are such that you can either pick a round booth or sit on the more private balcony overlooking the main dining room. The ambiance is both classy and cozy. Dinner will definitely coast you a pretty penny, but the experience is worth every cent!Listed in: Best of the West - the Upper…, Fancy Shmancy... and…
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Review from Megan C.
12/7/2009 1 photo
Have come here a handful of times over the years. Haven't had a bad dish yet. Upscale, plenty of neighborhood people, good staff, excellent bartenders. Plenty of dark wood, hearty dishes, and an old world feel.
Poor little quail; so delicious.
Date Rating: 8
Pick up Scale: 3
Strong Suggestion: Reservations. The back dining room is beautiful. -
Review from Srini V.
3/26/2006
I must say, the number of fine dining establishments in downtown or midtown Manhattan dwarfs what you can experience in the UWS. But let us compliment Ouest for tilting the balance somewhat in favor of one of my fav neighborhoods of New York.
The pastas and wines are superlative. The first time I was here was with a friend who had chanced upon the restaurant in Timeout NY. We were seated upstairs. And much to her amazement, the table next to ours was occupied within minutes by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen, Michelle Pfeiffer and a couple others. And this is not the only celeb sighting I have had here over the years.
Oh, the dense chocolate cake dessert--yum yum. I would much rather that than a celeb sighting. In closing, I have to take a star away--for relative vegetarian insensitivity. -
Review from Sam P.
New York, NY
1/28/2008 2 photos
Taking the parents out, part 2: Brunch.
This place is just cool. I don't think I was expecting it to be so cool, but they've done a great job using the space. It sits unassumingly on random stretch of Broadway in the 80's, but once you enter and pass the bar, you realize it's a bi-level, open-kitchen fusion of classic and modern design elements. Mahogany woods and cranberry-colored booths are hardly new, but Ouest curves all the booths, creating an amazing slithering effect throughout the dining room. Then come the sunny windows, warehouse high ceilings, and modern lighting fixtures which create an amazing blend of old and new.
As for the food, well, it was good, maybe even very good, but I wasn't blown away. I had the yogurt and an omelet. I probably came with too high expectations having heard this was "the best brunch on the UWS," and the prix-fixe is a great deal, but I still think that title belongs to Sarabeth's. I'd love to return to Ouest for dinner and really see what these guys can do, but for now, it's a solid 3.5-4 stars. -
Review from Jon G.
CA
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Terrific food, great service, good wine, atmosphere - you can't go wrong! Very private in the booths. This is a great place if you want to have a conversation with your dinner partners.
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Review from d'N'L m.
Brooklyn, NY
5/7/2008
I live around the corner from this place and for some reason had a mental block.. I have gone to this restaurant perhaps 3 times in the last 6 years.. Though, it is steps from my place..
A main reason is the fact that the windows are dark and the first thing you see when you look inm is a small crowded bar area .. Past the bar, is a long narrow hallway where the dining room is not visible.. So I just assumed this place was completely packed all the time..
After walking past the restaurant the other day and seeing such a wonderful menu, I made a commitment to eat there more often.. So, being home early from work, I made an early rezi and they were happy to accommodate me..
The food is upscale comfort food.. Very heavy, pretty expensive, with the style a tad outdated. I only say outdated because it seems very 80's early 90's to me.. Large over sized plates, with the plating style of an almost neuvo stacking design.. Certainly not reaching for the ceiling type presentation, but it is like an 80's hairdo with not as much hairspray..
Our table started with an 1)endive and blue cheese salad, 2)gnocci with short ribs and a herbed ricotta, and 3)cauliflower flan with lobster, mushrooms, in a lobster bisque.. All of these things were freaking fantastic..
I have been eating heavy lately so I was really looking forward to a green salad.. The salad was simple, it was maybe 7 or 8 endives that were just chopped in large pieces.. A wonderful creamy blue cheese dressing was placed over the endives.. The endive was bitter and crisp and just perfect..
Tom Valenti is a braising master.. I have read his cook books and seen his recipes.. The man goes above and beyond what normal restaurants do.. The thing that takes food to the next level is stocks.. And he certainly knows that.. The braised short ribs were the best I have ever had.. Which is a little blow to the ego considering I pride myself on my shortribs.. But this is why people go to restaurants.. I dont have time to make my own Veal Stock, my own beef stock, and chicken stock, solely for one dish.. But that's what he does to his short ribs.. In it goes, veal and beef stock, red and white wines, and a host of herbs. The gnocci were perfect little pillows of air, the meat was perfectly tender, and the remaining sauce on the plate was get extra bread and clean the bowl good..
The cauliflower custard with the lobster, mushrooms and lobster bisque was equally amazing.. Again, its all about the stock.. And this was one of the best lobster bisques, if not the best I have ever tasted..
A remarkable dish..
For entrees I order a grilled pork loin wrapped in bacon, served with grilled ribs and some corn cakes.. For me it was just ok.. They server said we suggest you order the tenderloin medium rare.. I happily accepted but then received a tenderloin the was medium.. Though it was good, it was a bit boring after awhile.. Though most main courses tend to lose my interest.. The ribs were wonderfully fall of the bone and well glazed at the end.. However, I really missed the smoke component I expect when eating ribs..
Someone else at the table got the short ribs for an entree.. Just more of an amazing thing.. Really, if you like shortribs, or want to try the best in town, this is the place to go.. Or if you want to make your own veal stock and beef stock and buy his cookbook, you can always do that..
Desserts were really good.. I had a coffee sunday served in an old school sunday glass.. Like a parfait with layers of coffee ice cream, heavy whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and caramel.. All with chunks of espressos crunch placed through out the dish..
A pannacotta with passion fruit sauce was equally good..
I wonder how the menu changes for the summer or if it does.. This seems like a perfect winter restaurant. Though, with food this good, I would eat this during the summer too..
I am writing this review so I can remember that I need to come here at least once a month.. -
Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
11/5/2009
Ouest is a gem. People who complain about the prices forget where they are. The real estate this place sits upon is expensive, this is a millionaire's neighborhood, though it's the un-showy "we're really cool people anyway" kind of millionaires you find on the UWS, but running a restaurant at 84th and Broadway is not cheap. Ouest is not cheap, it is also not a rip-off. They bring it.
First, it's nice when you walk in and see the executive chef in the kitchen, in worn jeans, beat-up sneakers and a kitchen smock, checking plates in the window and mopping up spills with the towel he has stuffed in his belt. He's not dropping in to see how the worker bees are doing, he works in the restaurant.
That kind of hands-on attention to the food is reflected in my experience as a diner here. I was also a big fan of Allison on Dominick, a restaurant now closed, with which the executive chef here was previously involved. Ouest makes me nostalgic for those days, there's certainly a common theme of expertise and beauty in the presentation and execution of their menu.
First and foremost, if you dine here for dinner, have the gravalox appetizer. It is a signature dish. Served on a chick-pea pancake of sorts, it is absolutely divine. I used to make gravalox myself, I worked quite hard at it, and the gravalox here just blows mine out of the water. The plate is near-perfect. It's beautiful, the flavors mix perfectly, the textures are just right, and it is so well executed it is hard to imagine how you can top this. My companion and I considered canceling our entrees and just getting a couple more of these for dinner.
We also had an off-menu special, roasted beets with goat cheese. It was excellent too, and if it had been standing on it's own it would have been fabulous, but the gravalox is hard to follow. For entrees, my companion had a seafood dish that was sort of like a very thick chowder, I can't remember what it was called, and I had lamb chops. Her dish was perfectly cooked, the seafood, a mixture of scallops, mussels, and lobster, among other things, was perfectly cooked--done, but not rubbery, quite a feat since not all of those cook at the same rate. My lamb chops were also expertly cooked and seasoned, the accompanying greens were al dente, not at all bitter, and delicious.
Also, not to forget, the portion sizes were reasonable. Ouest is not a place that tries to sell you by piling the plate with too much food. Your dollar is spent here on quality, not quantity. My companion and I are both prone to overeating when the food is in front of us, the portion sizes at Ouest are adequate but not overwhelming, something that reminds me of Allison on Dominick. At the end of a three course meal we were satisfied but not stuffed.
The wine list is refreshing. They aren't trying to impress, but whatever your desires are for wine with your meal can be satisfied by their selection, which is varied, but packed with competent producers and good vintages. The by-the-glass selection is also unusually good.
Table service was right on the money. We showed up a little early, they seated us a little early. Tables aren't crammed together, there's room to move and serve, and the booths are awesome. If you plan to come here for a special event, particularly a romantic happening, be sure to ask for a booth when you make your (highly recommended, by the way) reservations. The bar is open and friendly, though as other reviewers said, it is full of the Thirty-Something crowd twenty years later. It is probably a good place to pick up a divorcee.
There are lots of restaurants in the city like Ouest, it isn't going to single-handedly change the restaurant business, that's true. But it is a place that earns it's keep. It is not a bargain, but it is not a waste of the $60-$100 a head investment for a fine meal. Fundamentally, it is a good value and a lovely way to get a good meal. -
Review from Pierre S.
Manhattan, NY
1/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Way too expensive for the experience that I had.
Out of 3 scallops, 2 were very sandy. Not sure if I am alone here but having this weird crunchy feeling when I eat seafood just makes me want to push the plate away.
I heard prix fixe is good here I'll have to give it a try. But so far I'm not sold. At all. -
Review from Arielle W.
New York, NY
12/6/2007
Absolutely delicious.
My bf took me here for my birthday on Tuesday, and it was everything we hoped for and more.
The martinis are plentiful and strong, and the wines by the glass are delicious.
We ordered the roasted duck and goat cheese ravioli as apps, and both were poetic - the ravioli brought tears to my eyes, and the duck is the right combination of salty and sweet.
Main courses were the seared tuna steak and the short ribs. The tuna wasn't rare enough for me, but it was still delicious, and the white bean puree was a nice compliment. The short ribs... there are no words. The beets were a nice combo and in all, just love (went really well with the Bourdeaux by the glass, actually!)
Dessert was "something chocolate" - I was a little drunky at that point, but I ate all of it so it must've been good!! And while our waitor didn't sing, my bf did, and he was quickly joined by our neighboring tables, so I felt special.
I don't think we were sitting in the nicest part of the restaurant, since we were on the bottom floor with the open kitchen, but it didn't matter - everything was so perfect. We're going to take our parents here for brunch in a few months!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Marissa P.
Dallas, TX
9/24/2007
Oui, oui!...
Intimate, interesting atmosphere.
Competent service.
Lovely baguettes rivaling those found in the rues de Paris.
Solid wine offerings.
Weekend brunch is rumored to be a show-stopper (we had a late Friday night dinner, so I can't comment here).
Mais non...
The crust of my seared tuna was unnecessarily over-salted.
Our booth seating felt awkward.
In summary:
Ouest--ce n'est pas parfait--but it's definitely worth a try for a solid meal on the Upper West Side. -
Review from Amelia S.
Washington, DC
4/19/2006
I'll admit I arrived with limited expectations, so Ouest was a pleasant surprise, being the first truly excellent restaurant I've found on the Upper West Side. (I had previously been disappointed by both Compass and Nice Matin.)
The narrow front room, where we were seated, is characterized by dark wood, red leather banquettes, diffuse lighting, and grand, vaguely Asian octagonal ceiling lamps. If you continue toward the back, you'll step into the large main room featuring an open kitchen to the left and overlooked by two balconies.
Although I at first mistook our server's efficient manner for gruffness, we were soon fast friends, especially after she swiftly brought us a bottle of wine (if you like sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, this is a particularly good one - Huia, $40/bottle) and a basket of French bread, which was hot ...real hot...DAMN HOT. I know because I immediately grabbed a loaf, and immediately dropped it. But delicious once you can actually eat it.
Oh, but back to the service. It was excellent. The server made sure to warn us when supplies were running out so we could beat out the other tables, and indeed we snagged two of the last appetizer specials - a crab cake served in a tomato coulis. I've got to say it was the best I've ever had. She also reserved a second bottle of wine for us, since there were only a couple left.
The crowd: well heeled, generally older, plus some younger Wall Street suit types.
The food (and I'm picky): the veal and lamb tenderloin were excellent, while my sister proclaimed the roast chicken merely "good." I had to be aggressive to get a couple bites of the shared apple crisp, which was another party hit.
So, my compliments to the chef and owner - Tom Valenti. And I hear his second restaurant, Cesca, is even better....Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Marleigh M.
New York, NY
6/15/2010
Ouest (pronounced West) on the Upper West Side is a two-story French eatery catering to those who appreciate the finer things in life--namely great extra virgin olive oil and more extra virgin olive oil.
Immediately after being seated, we were given a bread basket served with a special almond paste mixed with olive oil. I ordered the Earl Grey Martini to drink, which is essentially grey tea infused with gin. My drink was amazing; a refreshingly light taste and crisp feel.
As a starter, my dining companion raved about the Truffled Omelet Soufflé with Mousseline Sauce. We ordered two. For the main course, we were crippled in vegetarian entrée choices (there being none). Thus, we opted for dinner size portions of the "Goat Cheese Ravioli w/ Tomato, Pancetta and Basil" and "Chickpea Pancakes w/ Green Beans."
The omelet was light, fluffy, and fantastic. It may be one of the best things I've had in my entire life. Like certain bars that have a two drink minimum, I would suggest Ouest have a one plate minimum and that plate be the omelet soufflé. It was this particular dish my companion used as leverage to convince me of dining there in the first place. The goat cheese ravioli and the chickpea pancakes were good, but as stated before, the soufflé and the bread basket almond paste trumped the meal.
The key ingredient at Ouest is extra virgin olive oil; I practically asked for a glass of it. From the initial almond paste with the bread basket to the omelet soufflé, my taste buds remained on cloud nine throughout the evening. My only complaint was the utter disregard for vegetarians, at least according to the dinner menu entrée list.
