French restaurant

French Roast

Upper West SideManhattan

4.7· 4,050 reviewsClosed now
French Roast — french restaurant — in Upper West Side — Manhattan — NYC
French Roast interior — Upper West Side

Upper West Side

Manhattan

The brief

About French Roast

Casual Parisian-style bistro, open since 1995, serving classic French fare, cocktails & wines.

Health inspection

NYC DOHMH Grade A

A

Score13(lower is better)

Inspected1/7/2025

Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.

How grades work

Community Rating

4.7

½

out of 5

4,050 community reviews

Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.

Community-sourced rating

Reviews

What diners say about French Roast

15 verified Google reviews · 15 with owner responses

4.9

15 reviews

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Alex V MartinezLocal guide
a month ago

The food was exquisite! Maria Alejandra was my server and she was super nice and helpful.<br>I had the French Soup, the short rib Parmentier and the creme brulee 😍. I would definitely would recommend this place for someone who is looking for delicious and affordable high end French Cuisine in the Super West Side .

Response from the owner

Alex, thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. We appreciate you

T HLocal guide
2 months ago

This morning we stopped by because my friend’s parents recommended this place. It was easy to make a reservation; when we showed up there were a few empty tables but I’m not sure how long the wait would have been.<br><br>We had iced lavender honey lattes (they have oat and almond milk for non-dairy folks), eggs benedict with smoked salmon and shakshuka. Our server Steph was very nice!

Response from the owner

Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast

Theresa Kusak-SmithLocal guide
2 months ago

Such a cozy place to dine in or out!<br>I ate my arugula salad before any pics it was a 10.<br>The restaurant is casual; a cozy Parisian spot on the upper west side of town.<br>Family friendly too.<br>From previous dinners there, i can say w confidence, the hamburger is heavenly. When you add cheese and caramelized onion you won’t believe the juiciness and the flavor, like no other, absolutely gourmet.

Response from the owner

Theresa, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. We appreciate you.

Fen FenLocal guide
2 months ago

Every time we pass by this place, it’s always busy, so today my husband and I finally tried it.I got the cod bouillabaisse,I really liked it. The coconut gelato was sooo good too.We’re definitely coming back to try their breakfast next time:):):)

Response from the owner

Fen Fen, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself, we look forward to seeing you agin soon.

Iderlin Tavarez
3 months ago

I had an amazing experience at French Toast in New York! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. The restaurant is clean, cozy, and perfect for brunch with friends or family. The food was absolutely delicious. The French toast was perfectly cooked—soft on the inside, slightly crisp on the outside, and full of flavor. Every bite tasted fresh and homemade. The presentation was beautiful, and the portions were generous. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. The service was fast, and the overall experience was excellent. Special thank you to Betsy, Brianna, Yesenia and Jorge.

Response from the owner

Iderlin, this is wonderful to hear, so glad you enjoyed your experience with us and thank you for taking the time to review French Roast

Alain KodsiLocal guide
3 months ago

French Roast has become one of my happy places. I’ve become a regular for breakfast whenever I’m in the area. I feel like Norm at Cheers. Jorge knows my order and my place at the bar. And he always has a smile on his face. The food is excellent. Enjoy.

Response from the owner

Alain!!! ( to be read with a Cheers Nod) Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. We appreciate you.

Knute OlsenLocal guide
3 months ago

Steph was such a great server! Super friendly, helpful with the menu, and always checking in to make sure we were enjoying everything. She made our dinner even better. Would absolutely love to have her as our server again.

Response from the owner

Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast.

Lauren Stokke
3 months ago

I sat at the bar and Jorge was an amazing bartender. Hardworking at a busy restaurant and still made time to create some latte art for my mocha 🥰 sweet place and great atmosphere

Response from the owner

Glad Jorge could make it special for you. Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast.

Ray FloresLocal guide
3 months ago

Great experience overall! The service was attentive, friendly, and made the whole meal very enjoyable. Stephany B took great care of our table and made sure everything came out smoothly. She checked in at the right moments and had such a positive attitude throughout the visit. It really made the dining experience feel relaxed and welcoming. Would definitely come back again!!!!!!

Response from the owner

Ray, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast.

Tara Lawrence
Edited 4 months ago

Such a feel good place. We also<br>had the nicest waitress, Maria Alejandra. She had the best energy and was so careful to make sure we got exactly what we ordered. Feels like a little European bistro tucked into the upper west side of New York. Perfect place to meet a friend, spend a rainy afternoon or a Sunday morning. Had such a nice time! Food came out fast and was lovely.<br><br>Went back again and had the most sincere careful waiter David. He is the nicest person and we had a lovely brunch! Thank you David you are incredible and so warm and wonderful.

Response from the owner

Tara, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast, we appreciate you

Lisa.KLocal guide
4 months ago

Food was ok (home fries were not warm) but plates were warm.<br><br>Staff were very attentive and friendly.<br><br>It was a windy day so the window seats were a bit cold. If you can, stay away from the window seatings

Response from the owner

Lisa, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. We hope you brought the cold home fries to the attention of your server so it could be corrected.

Thomas HostetlerLocal guide
5 months ago

French Roast is a delight for food, drink, and atmosphere. We Ate brunch at around 1030 AM. Everything was delicious! The Brioche French Toast was light and sweet and the fruit compote added the perfect amount of tart to the meal. The Shakshuka is delightful and full of spices! The Mezcla sausage tastes great, but be-warned it is spicy! The cappuccino was Great! The tight cozy feel with the vibration from the subway passing beneath gives this restaurant that NYC ambiance that’s second to none. Whether you’re a local or visiting Manhattan for the first time this is a great place to stop and eat!

Response from the owner

Thomas, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast, Happy Holidays

Tate Thornton
7 months ago

Great staff! It was super easy to get on the waiting list as a walk-in of 2. They even let us sit at the bar to wait the last few minutes. David was an excellent server and so so kind! The best French toast we’ve ever had and super cute atmosphere :)

Response from the owner

Tate, great to hear, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast

Andy BenaventeLocal guide
7 months ago

First I have to mention that the service was impeccable from the moment we walked in! Our server Lena took care of us and gave us recommendations! We came in for happy hour and started with a couple of drinks and small plates (mussels, potato skins, and cheese plate). All were excellent! We had Coq au Vin and Cassoulet as our entrees. They both hit the spot and provided a level of warmth on a cold autumn night! We cannot wait to return to try the rest of the menu with service so welcoming and outstanding!

Response from the owner

Andy, thank you for taking the time to review French Roast. We appreciate you.

Andrew RussellLocal guide
7 months ago

Came her for Saturday brunch with some friends. The restaurant is styled as a classic French brasserie and had lots of outdoor seating.<br><br>The French onion soup and croque madames were perfection. We ate every last bite. Only negative was that one friend had an omelet that wasn’t cooked long enough for the cheese to melt. Overall, the food was delicious. Our server was attentive and friendly. Will definitely be going back to try more!

Response from the owner

Andrew, Thank you for taking the time to review French Roast, we appreciate your feedback.

Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.

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