Reviews of Brasserie 8 1/2 (Restaurant)

Aron Galonsky

I'm a huge fan of their Sunday brunch buffet. The food is high quality, and plentiful. From standard breakfast fare (eggs, bacon, omelets to order, pancakes, breakfast potatoes, lox) to some more unexpected (paella among others) there are many wonderful choices. When you're done, go ahead and visit the dessert bar, filled with delectable treats. It isn't the cheapest option around, but well worth the value we get.

Simon-Base Familia!

Very good!

ENA WU

I went there for a networking event and expected a bar. They also offer some good food, which were similar to appetizers. The food is quite good and not just bar food. I liked the fact that they did not throw us out even after the networking event was done. The drinks are good and I recommend the wines.

Arthur Carvajal

Quiet, relaxed, and spacious French restaurant with a good variety of items. My salmon filet with salmon caviar was delicious. My friend was pleased with her rack of lamb.

Eric Rock

Fine dining at reasonable prices. Every time we visit we comment on how remarkable the setting, service and food is. It is a go to place on any occasion. Another memory locked in.

Mike Shackley

An extremely fancy restaurant makes you feel like you're dining with a celebrity when you walk in you get a spiral carpeted stairs and a frontal view of the food there's a dashing bar and the dining rooms have stunning wallpapers the staff service is top quality and you feel very taken care of here

Gal Hulli

Good food but overpriced...

Anshul Augnivansh

The best spot for Sunday Brunch in New York. I fell in love with their food and Mimosas. The service was mind blowing. Our servers kept refilling the Mimosas and made sure that we were liking the food and the experience. For just $38, you get the brunch and $15 for endless Mimosas. Pretty inexpensive for New York.

Zella H

The prix fixe menu is a really good deal - a very reasonable price for three courses of excellent food. The filet mignon was the star of the evening - I recommend getting a side of pommes frites to soak up all the delicious sauce. The waitstaff was extremely polite and attentive and the space is lovely. Overall a very pleasant dinner.

Colin Mansfield

Sunday brunch might be the best deal in manhattan

Jack Paulus

Had the wonderful Sunday buffet. When in NY it will be a must for Sunday. The shrimp, omlets were excellent and the sweet table was so big it would take several sittings to sample everything.

Tone Honey

5 reviews 4.0 star rating 9/12/2017 I dined once in December 2015 and will be there again this weekend to treat my friends who are newly wed. The reason I picked this because I like the decor, the space and the no rush service. I recalled the food were nice especially my favor molten chocolate cake. I love French cuisine and been at those Michelin *** as JG, LeB, etc. but this place had given me the impression that I can dine for any special occasion.

Laura Gillenwater

Sunday buffet has a great selection of food and the service is very friendly and reasonably attentive. Only problems are that some of the food isn't as good as it should be (quality-wise) and it's quite pricey.

Jack Mowreader

Have gone to this location twice for business dinners in their private rooms. They have an attentive staff and the food was excellent. I had chicken the first time and salmon the next time. Would recommend for a similar event.

Dan Cea

I've only been here for Sunday brunches, but when I do come very nice. There are very large tables for big parties. There's no waiting since it's a buffet. You can bring like kids here because it's considered okay to get up and walk around.

Edisson Gomez

Simply amazing (a little pricey but well worth it)

David Balantsov

Very fancy. Food was good too

William Zheng

Pretty good food, went for the French restaurant week. It looked like their lobster special was really good although we didn't try it. Pricey thoo

David Ray

One of NYC's best kept secrets. And certainly among the very best midtown restaurants for either lunch or dinner, business or pleasure. Wonderful space, service, food, wine. Quiet, un-hip.

Foodie Traveler

Another great find in the city. We were looking for a dinner that wouldn't break the bank. Used open table and found this, glad we did. Wine was a little pricey but dinner price and size of the portions were great. Very nice atmosphere but not pretentious. We weren't dressed up but didn't feel out of place. Overall it was another great find for a french dinner.

Stacey Pedone

Excellent Service & Food Went to a 90th Birthday party It was great

Andy Lee

Amazing experience, and great staff. We dined here for dinner on a Friday evening, and had a great time. From when we sat down to when we finished, the entire experience was great. The food tasted great, and the service was excellent.

Greg Armstrong

Happy hour was great! $1 oysters and $10 glasses of wine. Dinner was exceptional and quite filling with a main and a side. The service was great, felt like we had a server all to ourselves.

Maurice Carter

Good food in an attractive setting. Good value in the Prix Fixe menu. Reservation suggested but often unnecessary. Wines well chosen prices lowish to highish.

Anders Jakobsen

I ordered a mimosa and then read online that it included refills. After confirming this with the bartender, I had my refill but was then billed for a second mimosa by another waiter. Apparently I was not eligible for refills because I went there with a larger group - fair enough, but the bartender failed to tell me even after asking which party I was part of. Overall, the food was okay but (some of the) staff very impolite.

Ying Zhou

Went for restaurant week dinner and food was amazing. Husband says the octopus was the best he ever had in his life. Service was beyond excellence. Steak was too raw and they immediately made another one. While hubby thought it was still raw the second time and didn't want to make them cook and bring another one, they apologies sincerely and offered my daughter any desert from the regular menu and took the steak off the bill. My daughter tried the marshmallow on the side, thought it was too sweet for her and put it back in the plate. But after I had finished it, she started tearing up and wanting "her" marshmallow. The waiter even noticed this little incident and immediately brought a small plate with four extra marshmallows for her!

A Leonard

This site is my favorite place. Of all restaurants I know I prefere it most. I never miss an opportunity to go to this restaurant. when I feel like having a fair supper, this is the place that comes straight to my mind. exeptionalgorgeous and many types of food and a large list of dishes.great staff members, and nice vibes. Also, the tariff is modest. I praise this restaurant with no doubt.

Ian Tyack

Wonderful French brasserie with a great prix fixe menu

Matthew Freeman

Superb happy hour. Pre-fix is great deal with high quality food and service

Sara Valcourt

They are losing a star because they're not vegan-friendly. Only one salad did not have dairy in it, if not, they had parmesan and cheese on all other salads. However, service was impeccable and the staff super courteous.

Ilya Z Yermolenko

Great place. Tasty food. Great brunch

surgedomine

Good Sunday buffet

Joy Downs

french food and the scene at this location is great. I give this place two thumbs up. I will be back with my relatives. Bring your appetite because portions are large. They have so many reviews for a reason.

Yvonne Mukamal

The food here is very good. It is a French restaurant.

Maria Math Tutor

A very nice and elegant restaurant. Very good food. We were a group of five. Very spacious and elegant. I liked the selections in the menu for the restaurant week. Good service. I recommend this restaurant. Thank you!

Lawrence Otter Esq

Great happy hour oysters. will be back

H MH

This place shines on many levels but the friendliness, professionalism, and elegance of the staff shines brightest. From the moment you enter, the hostess is smiling, kind, and helpful. The waiters are fantastic and make you feel you are dining in NYC (which you are) but are also very accommodating. The carving, omelet and crepe station attendants are also very nice and do a superb job cutting and creating delicious food. I could say more but I won’t—just go! You won’t be disappointed if you’re wanting a spacious, upscale but affordable, Sunday brunch spot. *thanks to all staff for the aforementioned accolades. Keep it up!!!

Carol Unsworth-Cardy

In New York at Xmas and our son picked this place out for our Xmas Day lunch. Not cheap but good food and service.

Jennifer Evans

Great fine dining experience! The food was well prepared and delicious and our server was fantastic - very attentive. We had the onion soup, foie gras, scallops and steak along with a pear tart and beignets. Everything was so good. Would recommend for out before a show.

jenny jardine

Food was good and So was the staff

Gail Tillman

The food courses were delicious.The Wine that was paired with each one was perfect.Our glasses were never allowed to get empty.They should have this wine tasting more than once a year.

Carrie Latman

Excellent food and service

Mohamad Hussein

Excellent menu, all options are tasty, relatively quiet and good for small meetings

Max C.

Had company's holiday party there, nice place, some barmen are too condescending, but the staff is overall great and trained.

Shari Kerr

Unfortunately mediocre. Tired looking with distracted staff. Missing it's prior glitz and glamour. The mad men have moved on.

Herman Higuera

Not the best brunch ever, but good!

Aj M

Nice place good buffet

Amelia Christie

Came here to celebrate Mother's Day. What a great experience! Everything tasted fantastic and the service was spot on. Glad we made a reservation, this space filled up quickly. Thanks for a great day!

Adil Pereira

Great food and service

Dennis Ames

Prix fixed menu was a great value. Beautiful decor.

Kristy Hudson

A curious adventure in American Brunch. This place is (I am led to understand) representative of the classic American brunch of the type one would take your parents to. It is very popular and it seems bookings are required. The Sunday brunch offering is an "all you can eat" buffet that offers a variety of classic breakfast foods, roast meats, and desserts. It also offers bottomless Mimosas. (It appears you can substitute a Bellini). I had a respectable Bloody Mary (not bottomless), served by a very elegant and charming gentleman who was the epitomy of old-world service - nothing was too much trouble, and offered help at every turn. To this Australian, the whole concept was strange (breakfast food and lunch food and alcohol but called brunch), so please note that my observations are biased. The seating area is quiet, elegant and well presented, and the staff were an insightful balance of unobtrusive but always ready to assist. The food offerings were well executed and beautifully presented, allowing you to try morsels of many different types of food. Offerings included prawns (shrimp), smoked salmon and accompaniments; a "made to order" omelette station, freshly made waffles and crepes, fruit salads, savoury salads, and a roast carvery. Many sweet offerings were presented, each beautiful, and each in a tiny serving so that you felt able to sample a few types. Our group included people from several different countries, all of whom had different ideas of what constituted breakfast or brunch, and all were able to find food that pleased them. One group member was vegetarian, and felt that she had reasonable choice and came away satisfied. The buffet is oddly stacked around what appears to be a foyer area, and I was a trifle concerned that the omelette/crepe station chefs were not set up for safe/appropriate serving - they were trying to work in a cramped area using portable camp burners (the type with a small butane cylinder screwed in), and it was clearly awkward for them... It seems strange that this is the standard set up for such a long standing institution, and that they haven't been provided with a proper work station (even if it needed to be mobile) - this was concerning from a staff care point of view. I will probably never understand the concept of going to brunch at 1pm, and then eating foods that (in my Australian mind) don't go together, nor the idea of bottomless drinks with brunch, but that's my problem. Brasserie 8 1/2 is a lovely place for a reasonable elegant adult brunch, where you would happily take a group of friends, or a family group. Everyone will find something delightful eat. If my tone sounds lack-lustre, it is likely more that I've come from a background where brunch happens at 10am, involves excellent coffee, one dish of food, no alcohol, whereas a buffet and/or bottomless drinks is not consistent with elegant eating (rather it is a 'cheap eats' option). It's bending my mind a bit and it's time for me to adjust!

Anna Malafronte

Great atmosphere.. Food is delicious! Ceabcakea are fresh, flavorful and no repeating! Moules et frites.. Tres bien!

Julien Armstrong

Everything was excellent and the service was great as well. My parents are difficult to wow with food and even they were impressed. The French Onion soup was particularly good and the meat was rare like we asked for, which is never a given even in French restaurants. Portions were generous considering the price and quality of the food; none of us had room for dessert. My only issue was that the markups for the wine seemed excessive.

Bonita Roopnarine

One of the best restaurants we visited. Good food and great service.

Austin Harrod

Was honestly a little disappointed with our time here. Took the family for a birthday dinner. Had questionable service from the waiter who was a little impolite and was hard to hear. Dinner took quite a while to come out and the family almost missed their show because of this. Appetizers and drinks were great, but the main courses left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately I'm not sure I'd return or recommend to friends in the future.

Donna Xu

Great service. Delicious food

Olga K

Excellent ambience, professional attentive service, delicious food and great value for the money

Jacki Barnard

Food was lovely

Alex Santos

Steak, Lamb, Eggs Benedict worth the eat

Nick Jefferson

Great

Mg 0

I love the atmosphere at Brasserie 8 1/2, its calm (no music playing! which means that you can carry on smooth conversation with your tablemates), its comfortable chairs and lounge, the wide spaces between the tables, the amiable & knowledgeable staff, its classiness with out snobbishness. The food is French-inspired, well-prepared and of high quality, in moderately sized portions. This, too, is good, because you don't leave feeling stuffed. Tasty bread selection. We've been for dinner a few times (September lobster nights!) and, most recently, for a team lunch with 5 people. Food arrives on time and at the correct temperature. The wine list is uninspired, but dependable. Corkage is $25 and if I have a good bottle, my preferred avenue.

Celine Aka-Koffi

The food was fresh but not as flavorful as it looks. The food is decently priced and the menu is varied. The restaurant is spacious and beautifully decorated. The service was impeccable.

Kerry Forchin

Went for lunch....great service....delicious food . .awesome dessert choices. Will definitely dine again. Yes also great ambiance.

Juliet Wingo

For a buffet it it so CLEAN....AND THE SERVICE IS

Joyce Mitchell

The buffet offered many choices, but the food was mediocre. The hospitality was generous and the atmosphere was gracious.

鹅狗

Food is okay, with the price lower than average. Drink is the key selling point of this restaurant. The cocktail is really good, except for the Manhattan, using bitter a little too much. The price of drink is a little bit high.

Olesya Galko

Great food! Great deals! And a happy hour is unbelievably cheap!

Ron Chun Foo

Best brunch buffet in NYC and the food was delicious too. Service was professional in a relaxed atmosphere.

Upmanu Lall

Nice Ambiance food good pricey

Divine

Ooh la la. .one of the most spacious, elegant restaurants in town starting from the grand staircase entrance, artwork, decor, vibe...food and service are excellent too. If you want to impress someone, bring the guest here! I heard they have specials/events like oyster happy hour or such so check out the website before scheduling.

Marlene Glazer

beautiful place and really great brunch and service. it was mothers day so they charged extra but food was really great i ln particular filet mignon and smoked salmon. Desserts were only fair which surprised me because previous visits they were excellent.

Joseph Wilmarth Tyna

Our server at the Sunday morning brunch was amazing! She was very attentive to all her tables and didn't miss a thing. We had a great experience.

Fran Pomerantz

Excellent food and service. Tuna nicoise salad particularly fantastic

Linda Hines

I was not impressed with Brasserie 8 1/2. Setting nice, pricey. Food had NO flavor

Lee Mandy

Love the food and services

Jason Prescott

Definitely try the duck two way... if you're interested in trying something new.

Kelvin Niu

I went here for a restaurant week dinner. The lobster ravioli appetizer was amazing as well as the duck breast (the skin was nice and crispy and the black currant gastrique sauce added a sweet touch to the flavor). I am not very big on dessert but the frangipane gateau and almond ice cream was decent. Nice ambiance and interior design inside as well.

Elisabeth Hediger

It looked like an interesting place to check out but I was a bit disappointed with the majority of dishes (duck, tartelette, crepes) I tried. They were just okay and nothing too special. I did, however, enjoy the cod and our waiter was very accommodating!

Sithanda Ntuka

One of my favorite restaurants ever. The prix fixe dinner menu is great, the staff is amazing and ambience is unmatched. The staircase just makes me so happy.

kelvin tsang

Great food no lines but feeling like I'm in a empty hotel - creepy

Karina Eframian

Good sercice, tasty food, pretty ambiance. Visited this place during winter restaurant week. 4 stars becase nothing really striked me and stayed in my memory.

Garza V

I very much enjoy their dishes and service, good location very close to my residence. The workers are always very nice. Will visit here again.

Dan G

Came here for the Sunday brunch buffet. The service was spot on; our maitre d' Dana was really nice, and a lot of attention was placed on our needs. Whenever we grab another plate and come back to our booth we had new utensils and our napkins folded back. Food variety was good, they had a little bit of everything so you cannot go wrong. The one that I recommend would be the seafood paella. The other food is okay. I wish they served Irish sausages instead of Italian ones but that's just a matter of preference. Their dessert station was plentiful, and really good. I would recommend the pecan and macaron.

Jeffrey Bolding

GREAT place

Sophia Registe

Loved the decor and the food was great. 4 stars because the wait was a little long considering the restaurant wasn't that crowded. Everything else was awesome totally worth a try.

George Curran

A very good French inspired menu. The rack of lamb is first rate and the braised short ribs are excellent. The Sunday buffet is very much worth a visit, especially on Easter.

Brayden Mora

Had the Sunday Buffet at 39 dollars pps with endless mimosas for 15 wheich we didnt have but looked lovely. THe buffet was just superb...all kinds of fruit, veg, breads, meats, pastas...just a fabulous experience from start to finish. Dining room here is just beautiful with lovely lighting and you go up a few steps to access the buffet. We found it so relaxing and couldnt eat for the rest of the day...DO NOT MISS THIS GEM!

Stephen Yu

Among the best French cuisine with reasonable prices.

kristy waddell

My server was absolutely fantastic! I asked her name but the host said she was new, but she had a beautiful jamaican accent. The food was phenomenal!!! My first visit to New York and I have loved every moment

Зоя Павлицки Павлицки

I like food here it was delicious but desserts are a little simple for such gorgeous ambiance

Darexys Delgado

The food is awesome and the place is really nice.

Jenna Cat

It honestly wasn't that great. Some of their food was good, but most of it was just average or less than average taste, etc.

Kevin Pineault

My girlfriend and I had a lovely dinner at this modern restaurant if you're looking for a quiet relaxing meal in the middle of Manhattan. Service was excellent. The Brazino entree and octopus starter were delicious. Older crowd and fairly quiet but the atmosphere was relaxing.

Kristin Pryor

Went here for brunch in our anniversary. We were underwhelmed. The food was okay, and the service sub par. Selection of items was okay but nothing that I didn’t feel like I could get anywhere. Cruise ship quality food at best.

Sean XS

food is not bad, but not surprisingly good neither.

Sharon T Glass

Food was delish and service was impeccable! Highly recommended!

Adam Brickner

The BEST brunch in NYC. Period!!! Just an update... By far the best brunch in all of NYC.. But they really outdid themselves for Mother's Day!!! Great brunch, great atmosphere and great Mother's Day experience.

Amy B. Bienstock

Got a discount coupon for my birthday and had to try this place. The food was out of this world. Best meal I've had in years! Staff was spectacular. Definitely will be celebrating future birthdays there!

Rachel Qin

Not my place...it seems like they try to offer a fancy environment with high-end food/service. But everything was very off - the decor, food, prex-fixe menu, selection etc etc..

Gresseline Jean-Philippe

I love the setting and its vast space but the food was a little above average; nothing to rave about.

Urijah A

One of my go-to spots to grab something to eat. good location, well kept, and very good customer service. A must try!

Jay Elfman

Great buffet style brunch. Great food and service

Gordon Van Sise

Elegant restaurant and great food.

Clarence Tso

Food was ok. Manager was kinda rude when we tried to use their $50 birthday promotion

Kiran Mandhadi

Good ambience and great food.

Indy Jordan

Delightful atmosphere, great service in all areas, very accommodating, cleanliness 2 dumbs up. The omviat is family friendly as well romantic no matter the time. Smiles from every staff member walking about made it even more warming and inviting to all.

Reiko Kohata

Had dinner with friends to celebrate one of my friend's birthday. We all tried Restaurant Week menu. Both appetites and mains were great. And our waitress and other staffs were very friendly and professional. I def come back and want to try regular menu, happy hour oyster and Sunday Buffett!!

Gregory Breeze

Really elegant atmosphere. Very good food. Wish I could give it a 4.5, because I reserve 5 star ratings for truly spectacular dining, and Brasserie 8 1/2 doesn't quite achieve that level.

Denise Tate

Awesome brunch!!! Great variety of different dishes. The staff was very professional and friendly.

Anuta Na

The perfect place for a perfect date. Must try especially during the New York Restaurants Week. Thank you for our server Lisa!

salvador pepe

Really good

Carol Smith

Excellent food; fun to enjoy a special Monday night of choices from famous Fench restaurants menus.

Diana Lindt

I went for restaurant week. I had the pate campagne appetizer and the lamb with potatoes and ratatouille. The pate was great and the lamb was very well done too. Ratatouille was oversalted and I've had better. Service was very attentive. Overall good French food but nothing life-changing.

Michele Wulf

Excellent ambience to go with fantastic food. I had The Best Filet Mignon of my life!

Sha Nas

Great ambiance, food, and service from staff.

David Krivit

Our fifth visit and a major disconnect in service on a Saturday at 9pm. Not even a busy evening, seated without menus, waiting for anyone, drinks arrived last, repeatedly placing plates but no silverware (at entree & dessert) until asked for. We brought friends on our recommendation for their first visit. Food was excellent; great cassolet, gravlax, octopus, so some disconnect upon leaving kitchen. We've been here with 2, 6, 8 but our 4 last night was uncomfortably awkward.

Ginger Gower

Amazing Oyster HH followed by restaurant week and a candle to celebrate my birthday! Always a treat.

Craig Miller

Treat your self to a wonderful meal. The food is excellent and service is amazing. Hard to find this combination in a lot of restaurants today. Atmosphere is great with the private booths

Claire Amodio

Food was excellent . But to charge $4.00 for a cup of regular coffee was a cheap move on their part. Coffee should've been included in the price

Tom Moncho

Good food and service at prices to be expected in midtown Manhattan.

Ron Drick

Birthday bruch very nice

Rose Liang

I had my birthday party there. Was very pleasant brunch experience. Worth the price. The drinks are average.

Tatyana Baranovsky

I was here for brunch. The food was tasteless and service was pretty bad.

Rico4you

Nice place but expected more..

Jenice Robertson

Amazing brunch special. Nice for a large group

Fernando Mola-Davis

Fabulous space, impressive architecture by a famous NY architect. Reminds me the Brasserie that used to be in the Seagram Building. The food is quite, French mostly. Prix Fixe dinner is a very good value.

barbara kil

We really liked this restaurant I mistakenly thought it was the old Brasserie it was a little hard to find. It was downstairs small sign The lamb chops were outstanding. The decor very modern. We had a 5 year old with us and the staff and chef were very accommodating I would return.

Stephen Halperin

8 1/2 is one of my go to restaurants for a Sunday dinner. I am always greeted warmly by multiple members of the staff. I enjoy the food, and the decor. It is a rare place in Manhattan that offers plenty of space. I have gone there with groups as large as 16 people and as small as 4, and I always enjoy the experience.

Roz Mays

I have been making an annual visit here for several years. I love the service, decor and, of course, rhe cuisine. I was looking forward to the French Onion soup, and it did not disappoint. The crab cakes were packed with meat and the slaw on top was fantastic. Always a great visit!

Paul. A Meyer

Tiny French Restaurant serving wonderful authentic cuisine. Slightly expensive, no parking, full bar.

Edna Banks

In my view, a good restaurant should satisfy a diner one of two things: either for the feast of the eyes (good ambiance) or the feast of the tastebud (good food); if a restaurant would have both qualities, as Brasserie 8 1/2 did, it was divine. First, the sweeping star presence grand staircase to lead me to the lower level of the building - the restaurant was very impressive. Then when I was sitting on my seat, facing directly to me was this giant colorful Picasso akin artwork featuring two sailors' dancing, made from vibrant and colorful blue, yellow, orange, red, brown glasses. It was a very beautiful piece of modern art. I couldn't take my eyes away from it during my entire meal. After a glass of red rose wine, I almost forget where I was, I felt like I was in a modern art museum. The food was excellent as well.

Sadie Sie

Nice environment, wonderful service and great food.

Shelbyc

Always consistently great.

Rajiv Dewan

The Sunday brunch here is incredible. The service is fantastic and the food is awesome. Great omelettes, excellent roast and lamb. And the seafood choice is plenty. With really good paella. The dessert selection is huge and good.

Binyomin Bendet

Great ambiance, great service and great decor. For the location, the price of drinks is very reasonable. While sitting at the bar with another person, the kitchen sent us a pizza, compliments of the chef! I recommend this place.

Aaron Allen

Absolutely the best place for brunch on a Sunday in the city, they have a great selection of food, friendly and attentive wait staff

Alex Zaidlin

Definitely not what it used to be. Well it sort of is - the decor and furniture, hasn’t been renovated since the early 90s. The service has gone down the drain, the food is not cooked to order (filet was way over cooked). The place seems to be slowly dying. Not going back there.

Amir Baxter

First-rate environment and very affable service. The food was crisp and delightful. Will definitely recommend this restaurant to my friends. Reasonable prices and generous portions. Keep it up.