The Consulate - Midtown

Took the wife here for Valentine's Day, and we're BOTH glad I did. Not a huge fan of pre-fix menus, but I'll definitely make an exception for this restaurant. The place has two levels and a grand balcony staircase, which we got seated alongside. Decor was fancy, but probably not as "stuffy" as you might expect from a French restaurant. You can tell this place is trying to attract more than just the "Old Money" crowd.Service was great. Coming in, the hostess handed my wife a rose. And as always, I appreciate places that take extra care to accommodate my wife's gluten allergy. We got free glasses of sparkling wine. For my app, I ordered the strawberry beet soup. For my main, it was the lobster risotto. For dessert, the crème brûlée."Strawberry beet soup" sounded so weird, naturally I had to try it. It's served cold and creamy (but not so creamy that I felt full before my main was served). The lobster risotto, well, you know that scene near the end of 'Ratatouille' where Anton Ego takes one bite of his meal and gets instantly transported back to his childhood? Yeah, it was kinda like that. Only it was me and my Nona's risotto. The crème brûlée was the venerable icing on the cake. It was my first time having one. An intriguing combination of flavors, with a thin, candy-like outer layer and a creamy depth. Sweet and delicious!It's not cheap, but this place makes an ideal date night. The food was not only delicious, but perfectly-portioned. As in, by the end of the night, we didn't feel stuffed. Just...satisfied. Which is probably the way Humans ought to eat. But I digress. Would we come back to The Consulate on a non-holiday? Absolutely!

The theater menu is offered 4:30-6:30 and a pretty great deal. We came here for President's Day dinner and it was the least busy as we ever saw it. Nice actually for us since it's usually loud when it's full.The new items we tried were the desserts. The chocolate lava cake seems to be meant for 2 based on price and size. The inside is very liquidy so it sells on its promise. Good deep flavor and went nicely with the Gelato.The pineapple upside down cake we got to try in the restaurant as intended and I actually wasn't as big of a fan. I think the syrup is too sweet for me. There's pineapple sorbet on top which helps with some tartness.

Recent visit to the consulate was well received. Elegant interior makes for a romantic dinner scene. Attentive staff and quick service. Ordered short rib cavatelli and the duck frites. Visited on restaurant week so I added a Caesar salad appetizer and bread pudding as additional picks included in my three course meal. Cavatelli stole the show among main dishes but the bread pudding was delish.

Came here before a broadway show to enjoy the pre-theater menu. We got the kale salad, escargot, striped bass, roasted chicken, creme brulee and pineapple upside down cake. The kale salad was so refreshing with the perfect hint of sweetness from the apple slices and savoriness from the pecorino. The escargot was decently good. The striped bass was nicely seasoned and skin was so crispy. The red pepper gastrique was great with the vegetables. The roasted chicken was slightly dry and honestly, I found the spinach to be a bit salty. The creme brulee was done very well with refreshing fruit on top. My partner enjoyed the pineapple upside down cake, which was a bit sweeter than I preferred but overall, very good. Service is great! Our water cups were never empty! They also have a coat check so you don't have to feel cramped with extra clothing at your seat during your meal.

I came here during lunch. The Consulate has a classy atmosphere with two floors and a beautiful staircase. The second floor was the main dining area. The food was perfectly prepared and the service was solid. The tartare trio, crab cake, pork tacos, and the creme brûlée were delicious and portions were good. You can also enjoy a pre-theater menu for $65 every day from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, definitely a steal. I would come back to try this menu.

Wish I'd remember to take pictures. We couldn't get a table at the last minute at the first few restaurants we tried (our bad - dinner time in midtown, serves us right). But found The Consulate on Open Table and so we decided to give it a try. Inside the vibe was awesome. We were led upstairs to what felt like a semiprivate space. Despite it being a full house, noise was fairly manageable and totally faded away once wine and cocktails showed up! Service was super attentive despite being upstairs. And the food was perfect for the occasion. I had the rib cavatelli and would not hesitate ordering it again. And the menu had plenty to choose from for everyone as we had a couple people with dietary restrictions. We all left full and merry!

One of my friends was craving french onion soup. We found The Consulate had it on its menu. The Consulate is a beautiful restaurant. In all my trips to NYC, I cannot believe we missed it. We arrived during the brunch hours and were quickly seated. The service was great too. Our server was attentive and polite. He offered his appetizer and dessert recommendations when we asked.We ordered the shrimp cocktail. There were three VERY large shrimp to an order. They were delicious. I also ordered the roasted maitake mushrooms which came with a flavorful aioli. It was heavenly!! My friends weren't too thrilled with mushrooms, so while they tried it, I basically got it all to myself. :) It was perfectly roasted with crispiness on the edges. I'm glad we shared the order because I would've been too full for my main course. All three of us ordered the french onion soup and it was DELICIOUS! It was perfect for a chilly day. It warmed us up in time for the theater. The soup had the right amount of cheese to bread ratio, IMO. For dessert two of us ordered the creme brûlée. Perfect way to finish brunch. Just a wonderful experience! We'll be back!

Had a business lunch at The Consulate and loved it. The tuna tartare was beautifully presented and the perfect start to the meal. The service was stellar and the dining room on the second floor was beautifully designed. The tuna sandwich and perfectly cooked fries were equally satisfying. Look forward to having the excuse to come back for happy hour to try more. Loved my time here.

Came here for a work dinner and had a really nice meal. The restaurant is nicely decorated and has two floors, but is a bit loud and crowded if you are a large group. The service was fast and friendly and the food came out nicely timed. I ordered the grilled octopus as my appetizer and it was cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed the dish. I had the roasted chicken for the entree and it was delicious, moist and full of flavor, it paired well with the spinach. I usually do not order chicken out, but this dish looked good and lived up to the hype.The portions are decently sized and while it is a bit pricey, the food is worth the cost. A great spot for a date night, work dinner or nice evening out with friends.

Fantastic drinks, great atmosphere, and outstanding service! Make sure to ask for Emma at the bar, she makes the best French 75 I've ever had!