Café Chelsea

Amour Café Chelsea! I made a reservation for Valentine's Day, and I'm so happy I did! From start to finish, everything was absolutely perfect.Upon stepping into Café Chelsea, you immediately feel transported to an elegant French café, a beautiful setting for a romantic evening.We were seated right away, and our server introduced himself with a smile, offering us water and setting the tone for a relaxed, special evening.For drinks, we ordered two martinis. While they don't have blue cheese-stuffed olives, the martinis were still spot-on, a great start to the night!Now, let's talk about the food -- the real love story of the evening:Appetizers:- Valentine's Day Special Scallops (delicious, though a bit on the small side for the price!)- Ravioles du Dauphiné (the star of the show! I'm still dreaming about these perfect little morsels)Main Courses:- Steak Frites (my boyfriend said the steak was cooked to absolute perfection)- Spaghetti au Citron Meyer (wow! The combination of lemon and basil was bursting with flavor)- A side of Fries (crispy and irresistible--definitely a must-have)Dessert:- Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream (decadently rich, the perfect sweet ending to a memorable night)Our server was charming and offered some great suggestions, making the experience even more enjoyable.I can't wait to come back to Café Chelsea to share another special meal. There's still so much more to explore on their menu, and I'll definitely be back for another unforgettable Valentine's Day celebration!

When my friend suggested we meet for dinner at Cafe Chelsea, I was thrilled, because I had been dying to try the hot, trendy spot. I had been to the swanky Lobby Bar at the Hotel Chelsea, but had yet to check out its restaurant scene. Well, the place was just as cool as the rest of the building. It had the same historic feel, but with an atmosphere of exclusivity. In fact, celebrity chef, Michael Symon, happened to be enjoying his meal only a few tables away from us, so I knew I was in for a delicious experience. Also, most of the patrons seemed more like locals in the know than hotel guests from out of town.I ordered the Ginger Hubert cocktail to start. The sweet and herbaceous drink was a blend of several familiar items and others that were less known - tequila, French lager, Amer dit Picon (bitters, according to Google), ginger, and cassis. I was thrilled that the restaurant still offered a bread basket, something I find a sad rarity nowadays. The thickly-sliced artisan loaf had a flaky, crunchy crust and a fluffy interior. For appetizers, we tried the Panisse, or chickpea fries, that were shaped like cubes and seasoned with rosemary and garlic. These bites were like soft croutons, and they were simply perfect! We also shared the signature Ravioles du Dauphiné, an assembled sheet of comté cheese-filled ravioli in a white wine and butter sauce. I am not usually one for creamier sauces, but that one was delicious! The tender pasta had also been cooked perfectly. Lastly, for my entree, I opted for the roasted Salmon, which was served over a warm stew of French green lentils, mirepoix, and red wine jus. The lentils and broth were so earthy and comforting. The fish filet might have been on the smaller side, but it packed a ton of flavor. In addition to the great food, the service was similarly terrific! Everyone was friendly and welcoming, while also being refined and professional. I had expected to like Cafe Chelsea, but I did not plan to LOVE Cafe Chelsea. But, truly, every aspect of my experience at the beautiful French bistro was stellar!

This place is super cute!! I love Chelsea. I came here for brunch at 12:30 pm with some friends. We were seated in the first dining room tucked away in a corner booth table. What we got:- peach and melon spritzes: I really enjoyed this. Fruity and you can't really taste the alcohol - iced americano - iced mocha - Norwegian: I got the whole so I could get 2 pieces - Bénédicte-Croque-Madame-Saumon Fumé with side of avocado Our server forgot to place our orders in.... So we got our food 20-30 minutes later than we should have. We got some of our coffee drinks taken off the bill.I think I would come back again. I liked the vibes a lot.

Charming spot with a Parisian vibe, but the standout dish by far is the ravioles du Dauphiné--pillowy, cheese-filled pasta that melts in your mouth. The Salade d'Endives is also a favorite, with a perfect balance of crisp bitterness, tangy dressing, and a satisfying crunch. Great spot for a relaxed meal with a touch of French flair!

Came here for dinner and to celebrate a friend's birthday. The drinks were really good! We got the ravioli to start and it was remarkable. We each got our own entrees, I got the maitake mushroom. The sauce of the mushroom was delicious it had a deep rich taste to it and lots of umami. My only complaint is that it would be better if they served it with some bread. You can order bread or fries on the side but it will cost extra. And the dish itself is already quite pricey for a mushroom dish. The service was very good and the restaurant ambience was bustling. The decor of the restaurant was beautiful. It's definitely a place worth checking out for its vibe.

Our waiter was attentive and patient with us as we looked over drinks. We had appetizers- fries, coquettes, baby ravioli and steak tartar. Everything was yummy minus the coquettes and the soufflé. The breading on coquettes left a weird mouth feel and aftertaste. The soufflé was doughy and gummy- not cooked through unfortunately.The drinks were creative and delicious so definitely come for the bar!

The atmosphere at this restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel is absolutely wonderful, and the salad and soup were delicious--fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. Honestly, the food and vibe were fantastic.But the waitstaff? They're so snooty they make you feel like you owe them a service fee just for daring to speak to them. It's a shame because I really did love this place, but the attitude of the staff put a damper on the experience.That said, if you're planning to go, definitely make a reservation--they fill up fast, and the food is worth it despite the pretentious service. Just don't expect a warm welcome!

Fabulous brunch, great atmosphere and energy on a Sunday afternoon. Green juice & burger were both delicious, service was good, no complaints at all

I find that Cafe Chelsea having so many negative reviews interesting. Usually when I see a place having less than 4 stars I stay away, but as native New Yorker who was hanging with a life long friend who is a huge Sid Vicious fan, we have been wanting to come to Cafe Chelsea for a while. The building itself, is on the registry of National landmarks. The interior is beautiful and charming. It's amazing really. We walked into the bar area which is where there are a bunch of booths and this is where we were seated. This is back In August. Last week, I returned with another friend who was dying to go there and we sat in the same area. The first visit, we were seated right away, the second time it took a few minutes and I'm pretty sure we ran into the same resting bitch face hostess that other people have complained about. We ended up seated by someone else. I'm not sure why she is in this line of work. She is not nice and doesn't acknowledge you, But thats her and their problem.Going to just list of food eaten for both visits, may have to go by memory:Salad with avocado and seared Tuna: yum yumThe burger with Gruyère, excellent both times.Fries: some of the best in the city, and the dipping sauce, it's out of this world. I asked for recipe but haven't been able to recreate it yet.Omelette with Gruyère , it's ok, nothing to write home about. Overall, it's a great place to come in to sit by the bar, sit in a booth and chat with friends, I hear the happy hour is great, very busy. Just avoid the cranky hostess and the other parts of the restaurant and you'll have a great experience.

We dined at this restaurant again and I ordered the Facon Niçoise salad since I have been craving and dreaming about that salad. It was a cold day and we were seated near the door where there was a draft coming in. It was chilly but we didn't complain. Our waitress looks annoyed at us because we didn't know what we wanted to drink. I ordered the pear spritz and it was lovely. Of course, I ordered the Facon Niçoise salad. There is something in this salad that I love! The butter beans, Yes! Olives, Yes! Ahi tuna in top of the salad, Yes! The perfectly soft hard boiled eggs, Yes! The creamy dressing, yes! The way the chefs makes this salad is pure perfection! The service was okay. Our waitress abandoned us and never gave us our check. We had to ask another waitress for our check. I'm coming back just for the Facon Niçoise salad.