Bills Mora

One of the original French places in NYC. It’s a bit tight but the service is great at making it feel perfect. Gabrielle our waitress gave perfect recommendations. Best time is before 7pm for the foodies, later is more of a scene spot.

Brett East

I was told that this place is very scene-y, so I was skeptical of the food. And while it is definitely scene-y - I've never seen so many pairs go in and out of a single stall bathroom on a Thursday at 7pm - the food is really good and worth the visit on its own. Usually I avoid fillet mignon in favour of meatier cuts, but the steak au poivre is delicious and reminded me of how good a lean, tender steak could be - highly recommend. I'd suggest making a res, the day we tried to walk-in, they were booked for the evening, there is bar seating you can hang out for, but we got really lucky and snagged a table from a no-show reservation. In all, if you're looking for a French bistro style meal, Lucien is a great option, if you're looking to be seen, then it's great for that too.

+6

JUAN CARLOS ROJAS

I order the chicken it was very tasty and juicy just perfect. The food runners were very friendly! I will be back to try other dishes!

Demetris Demetriou (Dimi)

We had a great experience at this restaurant. The service was attentive and friendly, and since it wasn’t too busy when we arrived, everything felt relaxed and comfortable. The wine selection was fantastic — we really enjoyed the glass we had. As for the food, most of the dishes were excellent. We order 4 apps. The mussels were absolutely amazing, packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. The steak tartare was another standout, fresh and well-seasoned. The fraise salad, however, was just okay. It didn’t quite stand out compared to the other dishes, and the two large bacon pieces felt a bit random and out of place.

Brian Worthge

Lucien is a charming French restaurant located in the heart of New York City. From the moment you walk in, you are transported to a cozy and romantic atmosphere, with dim lighting and elegant decor. The menu is filled with classic French dishes, and attention to detail is evident in every dish. The standout dishes for me were the sardines and beef tartare. The sardines were perfectly grilled and seasoned, and they were served with a light salad that complemented the fish beautifully. The beef tartare was also outstanding, with tender and flavorful meat that was expertly seasoned. If you're looking for a classic French restaurant with outstanding dishes like the sardines and beef tartare, Lucien should be at the top of your list.

Made an 8 pm reservation, was told grab a drink at the bar which was 2 deep. Had stand agains t the wall like ice was questioning me. Unable to get a drink or a table. Female server slammed front door in my face trying to enter the restaurant. Obviously it’s amateur hour. Manger seemed shocked when we went to walk out. We came for dinner not a can’t move nightclub experience with a bar so packed it’s a fire hazard.

David Lemoine

Service - 3 staff and 20 min to get my aperitif ($15 for a Ricard that they did not know how to serve) on July 13 around 1.30pm. Busy day? Nah, only 3 tables with patrons. Zero excuse. The 3 ladies were more busy chatting than paying attention to their customers. Absolutely unacceptable. Meal: took pretty much 45 min between ordering and getting our 2 dishes (we did not order much). Bad bread…how can you own a French restaurant and serve subpar bread to your customers?! Grilled octopus? A piece of rubber, completely overcooked. Duck cassoulet? The duck was definitely canned duck as the meat fell off the bone by just touching it with my fork. It reminds me of those tourist traps on rive gauche in Paris that sell you canard fermier …fresh from the can! $110 + tips. NEVER AGAIN.

Jamont H.

I am writing to share my recent experience at Lucien in New York City, as I believe it is important to bring attention to a serious customer service issue. When I arrived, I waited approximately 20 minutes before a staff member came to ask if I needed to be seated. When she finally approached, she ignored me and immediately smiled and engaged with another guest, a white woman and her daughter, without first acknowledging that I had been waiting. The woman informed the staff member that I had been there first, yet I was still not addressed directly. When the staff member finally looked at me, she avoided eye contact and told me to “go look for yourself” regarding seating. I explained that I was waiting for one person and was open to either bar seating or a small table. Despite this, I was dismissed, while the other guests were personally escorted and assisted with seating. While standing and waiting, I also experienced an uncomfortable environment in which other patrons clutched their purses while watching me. Combined with the staff’s passive-aggressive tone and dismissive behavior, this contributed to feeling singled out and unsafe. As a Black customer and one of the only Black patrons present at the time, this interaction made me feel uncomfortable and targeted. I raised my concerns to two other staff members, who brushed it off by saying the server was “busy” or “a bit sassy” and suggested that I should not take it personally. This response showed a lack of accountability and social awareness, especially given the context. Although the coworkers apologized, the staff member directly involved never did. The situation felt passive aggressive, dismissive, and offensive. Customer service should be attentive and respectful to all patrons, regardless of race. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here. ——— Following this incident, I attempted to address the matter directly. I contacted Lucien on December 21st and asked to speak with a manager. I was told there is no manager and that only the owner oversees the establishment. The staff member I spoke with did not provide her name or any reference for the call and stated that she would pass my concerns along to the owner. No follow-up ever occurred. In the weeks that followed, I made additional attempts to seek accountability but was never contacted by the owner or anyone in a leadership role. This lack of response further reinforced the dismissive nature of my experience and the absence of any meaningful accountability. During this conversation, the staff member, who identified herself as Inez only after I asked, was confrontational when I requested clarity about who I was speaking with and who was handling my concern. Rather than addressing the issue, the conversation was repeatedly deflected with statements such as “I don’t want to make this about me.” This further increased my anxiety and discomfort and reinforced the pattern of dismissiveness I had already experienced. As a Black patron, these combined experiences made it clear that this establishment does not foster a space of care, transparency, or respect for all guests. Because of this, I will not be returning, and I would caution other Black customers about dining here due to the selective nature of the service and the lack of responsibility demonstrated when concerns are raised. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and used to improve how all guests are treated in the future.

Gauri Shah

Horrible service, the guy in the suit at the front of the restaurant (who appeared to be the manager) took my friends coats when they arrived to restaurant, I arrived slightly after and once we got seated I asked the guy if he could also take my coat since he took my friends. He takes my coat and puts it over the chair and goes “see it’s that easy, genius” points his finger to his head basically saying use your brain and his facial expressions were so unprofessional - actually INSANE for a manager or whoever the hell he was to say that to a customer. Manhattan has a million restaurants, save your time and money - do not come here. Food was also mediocre at best.

Isolde Aburabi

reservation means nothing here. it's good food but definitely not worth the prices or the bad service. i've been twice now, it's become super influencer-y and they definitely prioritize that. we had a reservation and waited over a full hour out in the snow for our table.

Jamont

I am writing to share my recent experience at Lucien in New York City, as I believe it is important to bring attention to a serious customer service issue. When I arrived, I waited approximately 20 minutes before a staff member came to ask if I needed to be seated. When she finally approached, she ignored me and immediately smiled and engaged with another guest, a white woman and her daughter, without first acknowledging that I had been waiting. The woman informed the staff member that I was there first, yet I was still not asked or addressed directly. When the staff member finally looked at me, she avoided eye contact and told me to “go look for yourself” regarding seating. I explained that I was waiting for one person and was open to either bar seating or a small table. Despite this, I was dismissed, while the other guests were then personally escorted and assisted with seating. As a Black customer and one of the only Black patrons present at the time, this interaction made me feel uncomfortable and singled out. I raised my concerns to two other staff members, who brushed it off by saying the server was “busy” or “a bit sassy,” and suggested that I should not take it personally. This response showed a lack of accountability and social awareness, especially given the context. Although the coworkers apologized, the staff member directly involved never did. The situation felt passive aggressive, dismissive, and offensive. Customer service should be attentive and respectful to all patrons, regardless of race. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here. Because of this, I will not be returning, and I would caution other Black customers about dining at this establishment due to the selective nature of the service I experienced. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and used to improve how all guests are treated in the future.

A Nicole

0 if I could. This score isn’t for the mid-food or the decent staff. It’s for the woman who took over the ownership of this once great place and made us extremely uncomfortable during our dinner. I’ll never go back and never recommend this place to anyone. The only good thing that came from this reservation was I found a great sports bar next door called Lydia’s.