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Le Monde French Restaurant UWS

Le Monde is where 'the World' Meets on the Upper West Side

October 10, 2017 / Upper West Side Neighborhood UWS / Manhattan French Restaurants UWS / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

It was mid September and school had recently begun as I made my way toward Le Monde French restaurant on the Upper West Side. Le Monde is located along Broadway between 112th and 113th Streets - only a block away from the Samuel Tilden monument along Riverside Drive. Tilden was the first presidential candidate to win the popular vote and lose the electoral vote back in 1876. He had been the Governor of New York State. But I digress.

Le Monde is a classical French brasserie, with dark wood paneled booths; a small hexagonal piece, stone tile floor; high ceilings with fans and cafe style seating outside along the street. Given it was a near perfect night, we chose to sit outside.

After being seated, the sommelier was first to welcome us. We went with a Bordeaux. I skipped the appetizers and went straight to the Coq au Vin, while my dining companions ordered the Steak Frites and the Organic Chicken. The wine arrived shortly after we ordered it and our conversation turned to the new school year.

After the food arrived we all went silent for a bit as we savored our respective choices. The Coq au Vin had a mellow flavor to it. The small pieces of chicken were tender and likely had been marinated and were accompanied by vegetables including medium-sized mushrooms cooked al dente, as well as carrots, garlic and onions in a thin wine sauce. On top of the stew there was a portion of Dauphinoise gratin, which are thin cuts of potatoes cooked in a layered manner and brown atop.

The 12 oz steak and fries seemed to hit the spot as the young man who ordered it didn't come up for air until he was largely done. He said it was tender and flavorful and the fries slightly moist on the inside while crisp and salted on the outside.

The organic chicken had come with asparagus cooked al dente. The chicken was moist and served simply.

Meanwhile the street traffic seemed comprised of mostly coeds from Barnard heading down into town, while the people in the restaurant seemed a mix of neighborhood folks including several young couples, possibly from nearby Columbia.

The prices seemed reasonable for NYC, with the appetizers coming in around $10, while the main courses ranged between $16 and $30. Le Monde, where 'the world' meets on the Upper West Side.

Dining on the Banks at the Boathouse

Central Park Boathouse Provides Bucolic Ambiance in Big Apple

June 15, 2016 / Upper East Side Neighborhood UES / Upper East Side Restaurants UES / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

About a month ago, I met an out-of-town guest for breakfast at the Central Park Boathouse. The Central Park Boathouse is one of the few venues that has remains a consistent treat not just to visiting guests, but resident hosts as well.

The Boathouse is located in the center of Central Park, north of the Great Lawn, just beyond Bethesda Fountain, along the winding roadway on the eastern side of the park. You can access it from 72nd Street, 76th or 79th Streets off Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side.

While I was there for brunch on this particular Sunday, my favorite time to visit the Central Park Boathouse is in the middle or late afternoon on a weekend for a glass or more of wine to wind down the day and the week with friends.

It's frequently crowded and takes a bit of patient waiting and strategic positioning, to get a seat to rest one's weary bones ... but once settled in ... it's an unbeatable venue for late afternoon relaxation. More later.

Nice Matin Restaurant in the Lucerne Hotel

Nice Matin is a Great Way to Start or Continue a 'Nice Morning'

May 16, 2016 / Upper West Side Neighborhood / Upper West Side Restaurants / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

The Lucerne Hotel was designed by Harry Mulliken and Edgar Moeller, and opened in 1904. The Lucerne Hotel exhibits the architects' trademark facade which is a rich, brownish-red and pink, brick and terra cotta facade. The architects designed a number of other well known New York City buildings, which still stand today.

The Nice Matin French restaurant is located on the ground floor of the beautiful, 12-story building housing the Lucerne Hotel, which is located at the corner of Amsterdam and West 79th Street on the Upper West Side.

The Lucerne Hotel closed for a while in the last half of the 20th century, and the building was temporarily converted into Columbia University housing. In 1995 the Lucerne Hotel reopened. And it's worth noting that the building was landmarked sometime in the last half of the 20th century.

But I digress, as it's Nice Matin, the French restaurant that we're about to explore. I have eaten at Nice Matin on numerous occasions, and within the past month enjoyed yet another fun outing. I arrived embedded with a large party of just under a dozen at around half past noon on a Sunday. We weren't allowed to make reservations for the party because of its size, but we had called ahead and within about 15 minutes we were seated.

The ambiance has always been festive, as the 20 foot high ceilings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows along both the southern and western walls allow in ample light and a great feeling of space. While the ambient conversations fill the background with sound, it's not noise, but rather part of a melodious rhythm.

The photo at right shows the Lamb Sausage and Scrambled Eggs at the Nice Matin French restaurant on the Upper West Side. You'll be able to click here late this week for the rest of our report.

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Mother's Day Restaurants In Manhattan 2022

Restaurants For Mothers Day Brunch & Dinner on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, East Village, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca & Downtown NYC

April 26, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods / Manhattan Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Mother's Day is soon upon us. It's a good day to let your wife or mother or daughter know you appreciate their efforts in the most important role of their lives. Flowers, gifts and brunch or dinner are always welcome, as is any thoughtful gesture that provides some measure showing your recognition of her efforts in her role as mother of some children. After all, without mothers, we would all cease to be.

It's best to book a restaurant reservation early for Mother's Day brunch, as on Mother's Day in Manhattan, many restaurants are full. So if you're thinking about eating out at a restaurant this Mother's Day on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown Manhattan, the East or West Village, SoHo, Tribeca or Downtown NYC; it's best to do your research early, and call ahead to book Mother's Day restaurant reservations.

Remember, restaurants also have additional capacity since the pandemic began, via all of those outdoor shanties built during the pandemic, which greatly increased overall space / seating capacity. And with the weather warming - the temperature is expected to be near 70 degrees on Mothers Day without rain, so outdoor dining is a pleasant, even welcome option.

But as the saying goes, the early bird gets the [worm] better seating, so book early.

Mother's Day History - Restaurants In Manhattan

The origins of Mother's Day in the United States began with the efforts by Anna Jarvis to honor her own mother. According to Wikipedia, Anna began the campaign in 1905 - the year her mother died - and in 1910 West Virginia was the first state to adopt Mothers Day as a holiday. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.

Click this link to view a brief guide of Mother's Day restaurants in Manhattan NYC where you will find links to Manhattan restaurants we've visited in the past or have reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines.

We've identified over a half dozen Manhattan restaurants open for indoor / outdoor dining on Mother's Day in Manhattan NYC. Enjoy.

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Upper West Side Italian Restaurants: Cesca

Cesca Italian Restaurant On UWS Manhattan

Upper West Side UWS Neighborhood / UWS Restaurants / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

It was a clear, cool Sunday evening as I made my way up Amsterdam Avenue to 75th Street. The sun was setting and the shadows had begun settling into the nooks and crannies of the cavernous streets, only to be whisked away by street lights and the lights of small businesses.

One member of our party had made reservations online through the Cesca website, and as it happens, this party member was also the last to arrive. But it was no wait and no big deal, as Cesca has a full sized bar in the front of the restaurant [capacity 40], that’s separate from the dining area. And while the bar was populated with soon-to-be diners, it wasn’t crowded. So I found myself a seat and shortly thereafter, the rest of my party arrived.

Casual, Comfortable Italian Restaurants: UWS

The maitre d' escorted us into the back of the spacious upper west side Italian restaurant [capacity 175]. We walked past the open grill into the main dining area where we were seated. The restaurant was full this evening, as it has been the times I've dined here, but generally comfortably so. The staff is equipped to handle the pre-theater rush crowds prior to performances at the nearby Beacon Theatre, as well as for the folks heading south to Lincoln Center [although the latter is a ten block walk or taxi ride away], so tonight was a walk in the park for them.

The crowd generally appeared to reflect the surrounding UWS neighborhood. I spotted a Sunday night date couple or possibly young romance nestled along one of the walls, a family with twenty-somethings and their friends hosted by one of their parents, and a middle-aged couple with their teenage kids. Everyone seemed relaxed and comfortably seated.

Click here to read our review of one of the leading Italian restaurants on the UWS of Manhattan NYC.

Cafe Luxembourg

UWS French Bistros & Restaurants

Upper West Side Neighborhood UWS / Upper West Side Restaurants UWS / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Cafe Luxembourg is located on the upper west side at 200 West 70th Street just west of Broadway. The French Bistro / Brassierie is a casual dining place that is located well for those hoping to catch a bite or a drink prior to a Lincoln Center performance.

Cafe Luxembourg has been serving the Upper West Side since 1983. The UWS French restaurant has a Parisian cafe feel, and both the service and food are generally quite good. And you can usually expect a crowd.

Upper West Side Restaurants & Bars Business Listings UWS

Click here to view a listing of other restaurants and bars on the Upper West Side UWS NYC.

Mc Aleers Pub

Irish Pubs, Bars & Restaurants On The Upper West Side

Upper West Side Neighborhood UWS / Upper West Side Restaurants UWS / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Mc Aleers Pub and restaurant stakes the claim that they are the oldestfamily owned Pub on the Upper West Side of NYC. Mc Aleers was opened by two brothers, John and Frank Mc Aleer in 1953. The family-owned Irish pub survived the drugs and prostitution ravages on the Upper West Side of the 1960’s and 1970’s. And the neighborhood began gentrifying. In 1988 Keith Mc Aleer took over and adapted the fare to suit the newcomers’ tastes. Mc Aleers has been featured in TV scripts like NYPD Blue as well as in a mystery novel, Libation By Death, by Dorian Yeager.

Appetizers run between $6 and $14, sandwiches run from $9 to $12 and platter entrees run from $10 to $16.

McAleer’s Pub is located at 425 Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side UWS of New York [10024].
Tel. 212.362.7867
WS. McAleersPub .com

Click here to view a listing of other Irish pubs, bars and restaurants in Manhattan NYC.

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Manhattan St Pat's Day Irish Pubs, Restaurants & Historic Bars in NYC 2022

Historic Manhattan St Pat's Day Pubs, Irish Bars & Restaurants On St. Patrick's Day In NYC, UES, UWS, Midtown & Village

March 11, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Restaurants NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again and it’s time for one and all, regardless of genetic history, to don their green clothing and head out to the Irish bars for a pint of ale or to the Irish restaurants for some down home Irish fare … or something like that.

This report is about some of the Manhattan Irish bars and restaurants that have survived the test of time, and likely a might bit … more. The Irish pubs include Irish bars and restaurants from the Upper East Side [UES], the Upper West Side [UWS], Midtown Manhattan as well as the East Village, as McSorley's remains not just a pub, but a good piece of history.

St Patrick's Day is on a Thursday this year.

While St. Patrick's Day is one big party, it's important to keep in mind, that like New Years Eve, all the amateurs come out to play [it's not just the Irish who are out drinking on St. Patrick's Day]. So some measure of caution is advised and you have to be careful.

At a later date we'll add a bit of history of St. Patrick's Day.

Click here to read our report about the St Pat's Day Bars, Irish Pubs & Restaurants in Manhattan NYC. We'll begin our journey on the Upper East Side UES where the Manhattan St. Patrick's Day Parade ends and then work our way around the rest of Manhattan.

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Upper East Side Restaurants - UES Restaurants In Manhattan NYC

December 2017 / Upper East Side Neighborhood UES / Manhattan Buzz NYC. 

This section contains restaurant reviews of the restaurants in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan NYC.  The Upper East Side has some of the finest restaurants in the city.  

Click here to enter the Upper East Side Restaurants UES section of the site.

Viand Cafe

UES - Closed 1011 Madison Avenue Location

UWS - Newer Viand Cafe in Beacon Hotel

Upper West Side Neighborhood UWS / Upper West Side Restaurants UWS / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

This Greek diner has been on Madison Avenue near 78th Street on the upper east side since the late sixties. Known for its diner style breakfasts, lunches and dinners it had become a neighborhood staple for decades.

In April of 2015 the owners decided to close the restaurant for economic reasons. Among the issues cited in a local press report were the cost of rent and lower pedestrian traffic.

The owners of Viand opened a second location on the Upper West Side in the newly refurbished Beacon Hotel at 2130 Broadway at 75th Street on the Upper West Side UWS. The Greek diner on the ground floor of the Beacon Hotel is open from 6 am to 2am daily.

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Valentine's Day Restaurants In Manhattan 2022

Manhattan Romantic Restaurants For Valentines Day in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, East Village, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca & the Lower East Side

February 3, 2022 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Restaurants NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away. It's a good time to let your loved one know you care. Flowers, gifts and dinner are always welcome treats, and / or some thoughtful gesture that shows that the lady [or man] you're with, still means a lot to you.

All events have been updated and are asterisked.

This report provides an update on who's open and taking reservations, but also highlights quite a number of local restaurant closures.

Like last year, this year it's especially important to make restaurant reservations early and be sure you're prepared to meet the state CoVid guidelines for indoor dining.

Given Valentine's Day is on a Monday, it may be fair game to make your VDay reservation on Valentine's Day or any day of the preceding weekend. Also, restaurants have outside dining capacity - so depending on the weather - NYC restaurants may have additional capacity [versus prepandemic] Valentine's Day weekend. But many restaurants have been casualties during these pandemic times, so for dinner on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown or East Village; it's best to do your research early, and call a week or at least a few days ahead to make the reservations.

Valentine's Day History - Romantic Restaurants In Manhattan

The origins of Valentine's Day are not well documented. It's believed to have been named after Saint Valentine who was apparently a Catholic martyr who died over 1500 years ago. Today the holiday is not associated with religion so much as flowers, candies, cards and romantic dinners. And the holiday spokesperson is now Cupid, a Roman god of desire, and quite a mischief maker.

UPDATED FOR COVID. Click this link to view a brief guide of Manhattan Valentine's Day restaurants - Manhattan NYC where you will find links to Manhattan restaurants we've visited in the past or have reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines. Enjoy.

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