Quick Bites: Bar Americain

June 2nd, 2009

The Basics: Bobby Flay’s once-hip Midtown staple is in desperate need of a facelift. There’s nothing innovative about grilled tuna with avocado relish or “spice rubbed” steaks, certainly not when charging $30 for an entree and when they taste as if they’ve been sitting for a period of time. The whole restaurant feels like a tacky cliché from 10 years ago. The folks from Kentucky next to us seemed happy enough, though.
Best Dish: Mussels and Fries with Green Chile broth
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Value: Poor
Average App/Entree Price: $14/$30
Location: 152 W 52nd Street (between 6th and 7th)
You Gonna Finish That? Meh, you can taste the side.
Bar Americain on Urbanspoon

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Filed under Midtown West, Neighborhood, New American, Restaurant Reviews | Comments (5)

5 Responses to “Quick Bites: Bar Americain”

  1. Robert Dwyer on June 2, 2009 10:15 am

    Thanks for the heads up on this Bobby Flay restaurant- sounds like one to avoid for sure.

    My wife got me his Mesa Grill cookbook for Christmas last year, and the pictures make it look fantastic (both the restaurant and the food). Have you been to Mesa Grill? If so, I’d be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

    I’ve always found his style on TV to my liking, and the dishes he cranks out always look tasty, so I’ve always wanted to try one of his restaurants.

  2. Erika Strum on June 2, 2009 12:58 pm

    I haven’t been to Mesa Grill, this is the first restaurant of his that I’ve been to. I have nothing against Flay at all, his recipes do always look awesome! I think this is just one spot that has been ignored for a bit, it needs a refresh. I think they draw in enough tourists in that location that they get by, and probably haven’t needed to.

  3. stepho on June 8, 2009 2:36 pm

    hahaha, “the folks from kentucky next to us seemed happy enough, though.” too funny.

    i heart bobby flay. i wish i knew how to make something really well besides frozen pizza so that we could have a “throwdown”.

  4. Erika Strum on June 8, 2009 2:41 pm

    You do! I make your whole-wheat pasta with chicken sausage and mushies recipe all the time!

  5. emily on June 8, 2009 9:17 pm

    I think the food at Bar Americain is better than the food at Mesa Grill, though it’s still not fabulous. And I’ve had pretty horrible service at both, though the combination of food and service at Mesa Grill was bad enough the first time that I didn’t go back. The last time I ate at Bar Americain, we informed our waiter at the beginning of the meal that we had theater tickets and had to be out by a certain time. Not only was there a huge lag between our apps and entrees, but the 5 other people I was eating with were served their entrees and had time to finish eating before my meal was brought to the table.

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