Le Veau D’or

First of all, why read my review — or anyone else on Unilocal — when you can read Adam Gopnik’s review in the 12/​14/​2015 issue of The New Yorker? Just Google the restaurant’s name, it will pop right up. Gopnik has it that the persistence of Le Veau D’or, when other NYC restaurants of great longevity and character have gone, is «mystically comforting.» I think he’s absolutely right.
Before turning to the food, which is excellent with a kind of understated, modest French homeyness, consider that this restaurant does not have a web site. They don’t collect email addresses from diners to alert us to the next special thing. Even the Le Veau D’or Facebook page is «unofficial.» Their menu includes an explicit prohibition on taking photos of the food — indeed, during our dinner, a 30-​something woman (without question the youngest diner there that evening) asked if she could take a photo of one of her dishes, and she was point-​blank told «no.» Walking into this restaurant, you might even think it was pre-​Internet days, say, 1957 or even 1937, when the restaurant opened. A bit of a dining time capsule, which won’t be for everyone. If you want something new and flashy, you won’t find it here,
I do think it’s an exaggeration to say, as one old-​timer did, that «the only way you get appreciation and love from this restaurant is if your a regular who has been going for 50 years.» There for the first time, we found Catherine to be a charming and engaging hostess.
As for the food, do try the celery salad to start. I recommend the Oeufs a la Niege for dessert, not a common item for something different. In between, I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with anything on the menu.

Very well preparedClassic french food in a nice midtown spot. Lunch menu not to be missed!

This is going to be really hard to say, but the only way you get appreciation and love from this restaurant is if your a regular who has been going for 50 years. The guy who started the place is against trends, against large groups, against change and against everyone who thinks they are better than the food itself. The food is fantastic and the service is great and if you feel mistreated go somewhere else, they do not care and neither will us regulars.

This is my favorite French restaurant in town.

Last night I met friends for dinner at Le Veau D’Or. Coming in to a cozy bistro on a freezing cold evening is a treat. We were immediately seated at the small bar while awaiting the last of our group to arrive. The restaurant is family run, the noise-​level just right and the food I ordered was fantastic — celery remoulade, coq au vin, oeufs a la niege. The seasoning, sauces and dressings complimented but did not overtake the dishes. We were able to have a long, leisurely, chat-​filled dinner with no pressure from the staff to hurry. One of my dining companions was unhappy with the sole dish because it had very little fish (end –of –the– evening pan scrapings, or so it seemed.) I have had celery remoulade as often as I can order it and will say that the bountiful, perfect creation I had at Le Veau D’Or is a strong incentive to return for more as soon as I can. The oeufs a la niege dessert was light and tasty — also a winner. The coq au vin was also excellent. Classic bistro fare prepared perfectly.

Very disappointing. Dined here recently with 3 friends. Appetizers were disappointing – onion soup was mediocre and artichoke was served directly from refrigerator but sausage was very good; bread was stale and tasted as if purchased from a local grocery store. Coq au vin tasted like a simple stew, poached salmon dish and accompaniments had little taste, kidneys were so-​so, and monkfish and accompaniments were good but served only lukewarm. Lemon sorbet was icy and had little taste, chocolate mousse and crème brûlée were tasty. Atmosphere pleasant but hostess was pretentious. When one guest noted that she was gluten-​intolerant and asked for guidance, hostess said she was not aware of this food issue and was unable to help.

The old fashioned plain room is fine and it is nice to see the repartee between the staff and the regulars. The sole was ok, the duck was ok, the leeks were yummy. Celery remoulade ok and the artichoke not so much. I am told the wine list was reasonable and the 3 courses for about $ 45 is tolerable. What made me nuts is that my dining companion asked nicely if she could just order from the appetizers, as she prefers to eat vegetarian. The waitress, who was generally nice if brusque, told my friend” you should have called and I would have told you not to come!” Seriously? Stunned me…

I still love this place — the red banquettes, the old-​style Upper East side ambiance, and the traditional French food tag it as part of a dying breed. Go with a friend and sip some wine, talk about fun times and slowly enjoy all three courses that form the prix fixe menu. The mood is relaxed but classy, quiet and welcoming. Stick with the tried and true warhorses — yes, vichysoisse is still on the menu and it is great — creamy, rich, but not too rich. The celeri remoulade is one of the best. My dover sole almondine was good but not great (hence the 4 star not five star review). My friend’s trout was quite good. The floating island is great but on the sweet side — so I’d advise splitting it with your companion and getting the apple tart or mousse as well. La veau d’or doesn’t fit in our world of hurried eating, fusion cuisine, noisy see and be-​seen restaurants, and that is why I still love it.

After 50 years, I made it back to this wonderful French bistro in MidTown. Just as I remembered it to be as a teenager with my parents. Even the menu has changed liitle in design or selections, a very good thing. My sole almondine was perfection, as was the coq au vin. Of course the Oeuf a la Neige was the piece de la resistance! Our hostess monitored our needs with style and aplomb.

They are NOT open for lunch on Saturdays and there are NO hours on either menu out front, or ANYWHERE at the restaurant. There we hours posted on another travel site 12 – 2:30 everyday for lunch but when we tried to call Friday night several times to confirm during dinner, no one ever answered the phone. We took a chance and walked up from Times Square arriving around noon… saw the lunch menu and were thrilled until we tried to enter, door was locked. When I called to find out if they were open for lunch the RUDEST woman answered the phone screaming they don’t open until 5:30. When I told her we were out front reading a lunch menu, with NO HOURS posted anywhere she said «oh well» and hung up! We ended up at another french place, Jo Jo’s at 64^th and Lexington and had a WONDERFUL meal instead!

My fiancée took me to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I must say, the food is very incredible. Amazing service. The ambiance makes me feel like i’m in France. I will definitely go back. :)

I am always amazed that I can still be surprised here in Manhattan. In this case, I was surprised I had never made my way to Le Veau D’or, especially as I make it a point to pay homage to wonderful old places that have stood the test of time.
So finally, I made my way here… and what a truly lovely experience. The restaurant clearly has a faithful regular clientele, but we were welcomed with incredible warmth and enthusiasm by the owner, Cathy. She is an absolutely delightful person, by the way. The interior is warm and inviting — in the way that makes you feel once removed from the hustle and bustle just outside the door.
The service was impeccable and the food every bit as good as I hoped it would be, I had the patė, followed by the duck (served with a wonderful cherry sauce. My wife had the celery remoulade followed by the sole almondine. We split the fabulous Oeufs A La Neige for desert. Perfection!
With apologies for my absence to this point, I intend to make up for lost time and become a part of that loyal clientele!

It feels like a private club here at night and their lunch special is a great NYC bargain and the owner was charming and very down to earth but she’s a chic French woman all the way. Try rhe salmon, try the Ouef a la Neige and sip something bubbly (even if it’s ginger ale in champagne glasses). Celebrate the fact that such a spot still exists in New York. Wishing the owner and staff many more years of success!

I love this place. Tableside service, kidneys, house pâté. It’s soooo retro and in Manhattan and as a native to this city it’s great to have these around. To all the offended Urban and Suburban Narcissists who are oh so preciously delicate and perfect… I’m sure this place will do fine without your presence.:D

So happy to see Le Veau not coasting on its history and operating with all classique cylinders burning. Had not been since just after patron Monsieur Robert passed in 2012 and happy to report that this legend still earns its reputation with every service. The current chef, Cedric, is terrific and the Patronesse and her son oversee all front-​of-​house matters to the highest standards. This is the best bistro experience I have ever had in almost 5 decades of Manhattan haut dining. Turn off your cell phone, behave and dress like a civilized adult and savour the magique.

This is the first restaurant I have seen who’s Unilocal reviews are spot on (all of them)! I am not so sure this place is a trip to Paris, but it is certainly a trip to 1950s! The food is solid and classic… think escargot and sole meuniere. The maitre d’ is clearly trying to be welcoming and even nice, but it just does not come naturally to her… c’est la vie. This well-​heeled crowd is nearly all in sensible shoes and remembers NYC’s french restaurants from the 1950s first hand, but its nice to be the youngest in room for a change!

Sorry to hear some peoples’ bad experiences — mine have been the absolute opposite — welcoming, well served, wonderful food, appropriate price, and a very positive vibe! I can’t wait for my next visit — so close to dining in France — no time pressure, just perfect…

On a cold, rainy Saturday night, after a lovely trip to the Met Museum, my boyfriend was so excited to finally take me to this restaurant. He is a food critic and had been raving about this place for years, claiming it his favorite French restaurant in the city.
After emerging from the subway into the torrential, unrelenting rain around 8:30pm, we traipsed a few blocks to our destination. He excitedly pointed out the quaint exterior and told me to prepare myself for a true old-​world French experience.
We entered the restaurant and were approached by the hostess, apparently the late owner’s daughter. The atmosphere was lively, yet there were quite a few empty tables so we anticipated being seated right away. Unfortunately, our reception was far from friendly: «I’m sorry, we’re not taking anymore customers this evening. It was too chaotic earlier.»
We were bewildered. It was 8:30 on a Saturday night – quite a regular hour for restaurants if you ask me. We glanced around and observed patrons enjoying glasses of wine, some indulging in their entrees, as we stood completely flummoxed at the door. After trying to reason with her, the hostess would not relent. She turned us away, back out into the freezing rain in an unfamiliar part of town. Luckily, we found a delicious Middle Eastern place a few short blocks away.
I, for one, will never return to this establishment. Neither of us had ever been treated with such rudeness and disdain upon entering a restaurant. This hostess most certainly lacks strong business and people skills, not to mention common decency. This humiliating experience has soured even the sweetest French dessert on their menu. I can safely bid this place «adieu.»

Being a French in NY, I was feeling in the mood for some real French food, and not some French-​fusion-​modern-​hip stuff. It was my first time at Le Veau d’Or, and it was a great experience. The coq au vin was delicious, so were the rognons. The prices were very reasonable.
The place is filled with history – which I didn’t know, so that was not my reason for trying it. Chat with the daughter of the previous owner. She’s a wonderful person.
The ambiance is definitely retro, and I mean that in the best way possible. As I said, if you’re looking for loud music, hipsters, and mini skirts, that’s just not it. When you walk in, you feel like you’re in Mad Men, not W’burg or the Meatpacking District. So make the best out of it. Dress nicely, have a martini at the bar, and turn off your cell phone to enjoy the experience!

Oh, how silly all these objecting reviews are. Le Veau D’or is as good as it gets for Old Manhattan. It’s is a place frozen in time. It’s like being abroad decades ago. It truly was a magical night. I am not a regular (but I will be now) and my husband and I are in our 20’s but we certainly dressed appropriately. No ripped jeans here.
My husband and I originally found out about Le Veau from Bourdain’s episode of Disappearing Manhattan. An old soul and closet ex pat, I immediately fell in love with the idea of this place (and the darling owner.) We planned on attending for our first wedding anniversary but something happened, I can’t remember what, so we ended up going to Keen’s. Which has amazing steaks and poor, poor service.
So I was so delighted when my husband told me to get dressed up last night for our anniversary and took me to Le Veau D’or. I wore a dress and heels and my husband had on slacks and a collared short sleeve dress shirt. As it is August he forwent the jacket. When we arrived we peeked in and saw many men with jackets and ties. Before we walked in I had him call to make sure it wasn’t going to be a problem. He told Cathy (Treboux, the original owner’s daughter and now chief) that he had forgotten his jacket and wanted to make sure it wasn’t an issue. She very warmly replied, «Not a worry, please come.»
It was a Tuesday night so there were only about three other tables. We were given the option of seating and chose to be side by side in a banquet where we had a view of the whole restaurant. To our left was a table of four, regulars who spoke french and were very typical blue blooded Manhattanites who spoke of there friend who authored a book on Marie and Louis’ daughter as well as birthdaying in Tangier or Marrakech. They couldn’t decide. Sigh. To our right were two very funny businessmen taking selfies where their i-​phones at the table.
The restaurant is small with low ceilings but couldn’t be more charming. Old pictures line the wall. Lovely mirrors including one with a mural of France painted on it. French streets signs also adorn the wall which I really enjoyed. «Rue St. Germain… etc.» Red banquets and white linen cloths. Very dated which I absolutely loved.
My husband ordered a vodka with gingerale and received a goblet of vodka with a small glass bottle of gingerale on the side. It was nuts. I ordered a brandy alexander and at first Cathy wasn’t sure of it, so I told her it’s terribly old fashioned and understood that she probably hasn’t made one in forever. I gave her the recipe and she made the most delicious alexander ever! She was so gracious about it.
Dinner includes starter, plate, and dessert. Plate prices vary from high thirties to low forties so to get three courses at about 12 – 15 dollars a piece is very affordable. Especially when such an experience accompanies the food.
Vichyssoise: their cold potato soup which was light and creamy and garnished with chives was sooooooo delicious and completely refreshing.
Saucisson Chaud: The garlic sausage in a pastry crust with boiled potatoes and dijon mustard was also amazing. It’s large rounds of dried sausage with just a bit of pastry crust and it was so flavorful and not greasy at all. The potato side was also delicious. I really enjoy what the French do with the humble potato.
Roast Baby Chicken with white wine and mushrooms: Carved at the table and absolutely succulent. The sauce was light but divinely flavored and the bird was tender.
Boeuf Bourguignon: Rich, rich, rich. Red wine sauce with pearl onions and mushrooms. It was so delicious and I chose to have it served with the scalloped potatoes, per Cathy’s request. It had a delicately smoky taste from bacon and was really decadent. My only complaint is that too many pieces of my beef were on the dry side. But I didn’t care, the sauce was delicious and everything else was perfect.
Floating Island: Light but also rich. Bizarrely addicting flavor. Delicate meringue with a caramelized taste and a sweet, rich crème anglaise.
Peach Melba: Light and lovely and delicious and perfect for August.
Cathy couldn’t have been more charming. My husband referred to her as «a doll,» which it cute because I don’t think he’s ever said that about anyone before. But that’s exactly what she is. She kind and warm and gracious and completely knowledgeable. We were so fortunate that it wasn’t busy that she hung out with us at our table for a decent time. She took pictures off of the wall and explained them to us. She came in close and gave us the 411 on some very interesting patrons at the bar. She also reminisced about her lovely father with us, which was really wonderful. We are pleased that she enjoyed us as well and told me if I was ever shopping in the neighborhood to stop in for a drink. I look forward to being a Le Veau Regular. Über moderns: stay away. Old souls: come and get lost in the magic of Le Veau D’or.