Maison is a casual French Brasserie located in the heart of the theatre district of Midtown Manhattan. Open 24/7, the space is lined by a picturesque garden and features indoor/outdoor dining areas, a smoking section and the largest (climate-controlled) umbrella in the U.S., ensuring enjoyable all-weather events. Seated under the umbrella one has a clear view of Time Square to the right, and Central Park to the left.
"This is a bit of a tourist trap, given its proximity to Lincoln Center. The goat cheese tart was overdone and not made of the promised "flaky" pastry. The nicoise salad lacked greens, and its dressing was too sharp (a sign of a low-quality balsamic vinegar). The mussels were the most edible main our table ordered, coming in a large quantity--the "frites" were American-style and twice-fried, so nothing like a French restaurant would actually serve. Finally, the salmon main was overdone (when medium rare was requested), flavorless and overpriced.
As one of my fellow diners said: "the best thing about the food was the wine.""
Dined on 5/20/2013
Special Features: kid-friendly
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"We went on a rainy Sunday morning to meet with friends before theater. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cream for the coffee was warm and the food was overall quite good. I had the Maison burger and it was juicy - the aoili dressing was yummy. Overall a good choice for pre-theater."
Dined on 5/19/2013
Special Features: great for brunch, great for lunch
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"Made reservation for 5, but when we arrived were given a 4top to squeeze a 5th person on the end. I had to be quite assertive to get another small table added, but was given only a roundtop hanging off the end. Asked for wholewheat toast, but was given white with no explanation. They took it back only to return it a few moments later to tell me no more wholewheat. Pretty sad for a somewhat upscale bistro not only not to have different kinds of bread, but for the serving staff not to know. Waiters were excessively attentive, intrusively clearing plates as soon as individual diners finished, rather than waiting for all to finish, often reaching ACROSS someone still eating to clear or pour water. Crepes not buckwheat (this a Breton bistro?)."
Dined on 5/05/2013
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"We liked this restaurant very much. Dependable food and service, both for dinner and breakfast. Loved the Maison Martini. We would defintely dine here again when in the area."
Dined on 04/18/2013
2007
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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"Not going back. Staff really nice. Doesn't make up for stale bread, tasteless escargot and mediocre food. There is no excuse. We figured it out that the owner has an outstanding location for tourists so they don't care about the food. It gives our tourists a poor impression on NYC dining. There was a couple from France next to us. Can't imagine what they were thinking. They went to Maison for a home cooked meal. embarrassing! I don't get bad food in any restaurant in France no matter what the price!"
Dined on 04/20/2013
2007
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"In 9 trips to this restuarant in the last few years, this is the first time I did not enjoy the meal. The steak was not cooked to order and the fries were soggy. The fondue appetizer was a bowl of melted mess that quickly turned into a hardened block. They do not have sufficient air conditioning for this building. You cannot enjoy the meal if you are too warm at your table. Our waitress was very good but can only do so much when the kitchen lets her down. We will eat here again, just not in the near future."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2010
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"The service was very quick and efficient. The only thing I would've liked more would have been a wee bit more of a personable staff and more of an effort to describe the menu and all of the specials and to make recommendations, but my boyfriend and I were also in a wee bit of a hurry to catch an opera."
Dined on 04/16/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for outdoor dining, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"Several menu items were not available and we were told that they haven't been available for quite a while. Maybe it is time for a revised menu? In addition, there was only one wine available by the glass although the wine list showed two. No replacement was offered. Choices were available for white wine, none for red. Not a good way to begin a dining experience."
Dined on 04/16/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"The food was good, but a level below what I had expected. This is really a corner cafe as opposed to a restaurant. Also it was tight inside and we were asked to vacate the table after 45 minutes...a bit short for a sunday brunch (they had a large group taking the whole wall where we were seated)."
Dined on 04/14/2013
2004
Special Features: great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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"REAL COUNTRY FRENCH Took 7 family members here because it's close to Times Square. Very pleasantly surprised. I had the duck & pork sausage which came with beans and 2 well done duck breasts. The sausage was outstanding, the beans were delicious and the duck was good. Real country French (which I definitely did not expect). Order something French, and if it's anywhere near my experience with the typical country French dish, you will be pleased. The service was just good."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2005
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"The food here was good and the service was great but I still won't go back. The reason is that they pack the tables in so tightly that it is very uncomfortable for the customers. My husband and I were literally six inches from another couple. We had to listen to their conversation the whole night, it was ridiculous. There was a whole row of two-top tables packed in tightly like that. At first the hostess sat us in the middle of this row, but we moved down to the corner table so that we would only have people on one side of us and not both. This was bad too though, as the server and food runner had to reach over the heads of the couple next to us every time they wanted to serve us food or clear our plates. It was awkward for everyone."
Dined on 04/10/2013
2010
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
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"The service was disorganized and the kitchen extremely slow. My guest arrived before I did. They couldn't find my reservation and refused to let him sit down and were quite brusque in manner. He waited at one part of the restaurant, I arrived at another and the host was not aware that we were both there at the same time. I waited at my table for 20 minutes and my guest stood waiting at the other part of the restaurant - until I finally said something to the host and they made a connection"
Dined on 04/09/2013
2010
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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"A great experience overall; the escargots were delicious (prepared in Pernod, which added a wonderful "kick"); the salmon was cooked exactly to my liking, i.e. they actually listened to and complied with my request (which is sometimes tricky in NYC); the service was excellent and "unobtrusively attentive". We ate outdoors on that balmy day, which made the experience even more pleasurable. I would most definitely return."
Dined on 04/08/2013
2010
Special Features: great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"The prices are reasonable for the theater-district locale, especially if you can snag a Groupon or other kind of deal. Only the desserts are overpriced. The menu is eclectic with special and very good dishes such as a cheese raclette appetizer, mussels in your choice of a multitude of sauces, steak frites, and burgers. The inside of the restaurant is very cramped and noisy, and so it's best to go when the weather allows seating outside under huge orange umbrellas."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2006
Special Features: great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"The food was great. I ordered the moule frites, and the broth was spectacular. My friend also enjoyed her burger. The only complaint we had is that our waitress was over-solicitous. She checked on us about 10 times during the course of our 1h30 min meal, constantly asking if everything was okay, trying to engage us in conversation about the food, about the ambiance, about the weather--which would have been nice if I were dining alone, but as my friend and I were usually in the middle of conversation when she interrupted, we found it annoying and somewhat rude. I'll return to Maison since the food and atmosphere was good, but if the next waiter I encounter has the same demeanor, I might not be able to deal with it as nicely as I did before."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2009
Special Features: great for lunch
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"The staff was nice and attentive. Food was good. Some of the portions could have been little more, but generally were pretty good. I recommend the fondue and escargot from the appetizers menu and risotto from the entrees."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic
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"The food was delicious, especially the goat tart and the duck confit crepe. Our server was attentive and friendly. This restaurant is a gem in the theater district."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2007
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem
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"We made a reservation and arrived early. We were seated at the door, which was cold. When we asked a manager to please relocate us he was rude and unaccomodating. He told us all the other tables were taken(only 3 tables were seated at this time). No one came to the other tables for a out 30 mins. I can understand not having another table to moves is to, but not the manner inability h the manager blew us off and then became rude. They also moved tables so close together to fit this group that you couldn't even get out of you chair. Overall the experience was so uncomfortable that I don't even remember the quality of the food. Server as terrific, manager was a big fail!"
Dined on 03/24/2013
2011
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"extensive brunch menu. was seated almost right away even though we were 15 mins late for our reservation. the manager was great! and the waitress was good about refilling out drinks! definitely would come here again."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2012
Special Features: great for brunch
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"Went with a groupon, the service was spotty and the waiter was unhappy that part of my group showed up a few minutes late; however, the food was delicious and the $22 for mussels and frites was delicious."
Dined on 02/26/2013
2011
Special Features: late-night find
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"expected more ; got less ! tables are too crowded together, and almost all tables are close to one of the two entrances which makes for a "breezy" dining experience. across the street from the Broadway Theatre ( Cinderella - GREAT! ) so it was convenient for O.K. french food , but that's the only reason to go. wine prices are high ....... ... ditto for desserts :("
Dined on 03/09/2013
2007
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"Really average is how I would describe it. The wine list was extremely sad, and I went through about five different options before we finally came to one they actually had after about a 15 minute process. The tapas were delicious, and really the reason to dine there. I had the chicken as my entree and it was very bland. Ah well."
Dined on 03/12/2013
2011
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"been here before...have always had a good experience. This time the experience wasnt as nice...mostly because of the server/waiter. She was just not good."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for brunch, late-night find
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"Maison is a good choice for the theater goer. It's close to several theaters (including City Center & Carnegie Hall) and offers the kind of tasty food that starts the evening right. The ambiance is festive and the staff is friendly (if a little too busy the night we were there). To be perfect it needs a wine list with acceptable wine for $30. Then it would be easy to order another one."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Had a great brunch at Maison! Unlimited Mimosas and when they ran out of champagne they started serving screwdrivers. The calamari was so light and the dipping sauce was a great spin on tartar sauce. The creme brulee was too thin for me; but the dipping/side that came with the beignets was amazing! I could drink that on it's own. Had a great espresso flavor. Our waitress was very sweet and funny, felt like we were friends almost."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2012
Special Features: great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, great for lunch
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"The food was very good and presently well. Love the French ambiance! It is a small place, but I bet it will be nice when the outside portion is open. The service was good, but the staff and management seemed to struggle with the anticipated crowd. I saw many people get rejected from a seat for brunch when at half of the seats weren't filled for at least an hour due to reservations. I would suggest giving walk-in customers the option to eat in a timely manner (due to reservations). Seemed like business was lost for small tables. Also, a busboy was reprimanded right next to my table - just felt uncomfortable. Other than that, everything was great and I bet the staff will get it together as brunch season is in motion."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, special occasion, great for lunch
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