An Upper West Side staple since 1983, Cafe Luxembourg epitomizes the ideal neighborhood bistro. Whether a classic rendition of steak frites at lunch, duck hash with eggs in the morning, or the frozen banana pecan soufflé after a night at the theater, menu options accommodate nearly any dining circumstance. Antique mirrors, white-papered tabletops and red leather banquettes adorn the dining room, which is filled with a mix of theatergoers, longtime regulars, Francophiles and even a celebrity or two from time to time. Other bistro favorites include crispy skate and Long Island duck breast with escarole. Have a glass of Bordeaux and a plate of cheese, twirl your mustache, and direct your best "haw haw haw" toward the foolish Yanks who are missing out and fighting the crowds downtown instead. Reservations suggested. Full bar. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Late-night Mon-Sat. Sat-Sun brunch.
Where The Locals Eat rating
Best Bistro in NYC
Top 100 Restaurant, New York City
" ... the quintessential neighborhood bistro of the Upper West Side. The dining room of this charming 90 seat restaurant glows in the warm light of Jean Perzel fixtures and antique mirrors. ... The menu changes seasonally as well as offering daily specials. The classic menu dishes maintain a level of cooking on par with the city's best restaurants. Café Luxembourg offers beautifully prepared food with professional yet unpretentious service at reasonable prices."
– Café Luxembourg website
"In size, scale, atmosphere, menu, and objective, Café Luxembourg is the blueprint for a faultless urban restaurant."
—New York magazine
"Theatergoers and young professionals have been drinking and discoursing at Cafe Luxembourg for 23 years now, and there's always a timely cultural conversation taking place."
—Time Out New York
"The three-course prix-fixe lunch menu is a bargain."
– Newsday.com
"The Art Deco décor with warm, cream-colored walls offers a sophisticated and stylish atmosphere, but it's the consistently good bistro fare that draws admirers."
—Mobile Travel Guide
"With its brasserie lite mien and an appealing menu that combines French stalwarts and American favorites, Cafe Luxembourg still has charm. But this restaurant, which opened in 1983, may at this point have been desired for so long that it's stopped fretting enough over its desirability. Service can be distracted and food underseasoned or overcooked. The most reliable stretch of the menu is the final one: The desserts are terrific."
– Frank Bruni, The New York Times
How others rate Café Luxembourg
The New York Times
* (good)
New York magazine
Critics' Pick
Zagat 2009
20 food rating (very good to excellent)
Time Out New York
Critics' Pick