Marcel

ꜰ ꜰʟᴏ 61 reviews · Local Guide 24 July 2026

Lovely atmosphere with warm, attentive service. The martini was excellent, the foie gras was beautifully done, and the vanilla cake was a perfect ending. The escargot wasn’t my favorite, it had a lingering earthy flavor that wasn’t to my taste. Overall, amazing restaurant with some standout dishes

M Mariya R 138 reviews · Local Guide 9 July 2026

A very authentic French restaurant, serving classics like frog legs and foie gras. The interior is sophisticated yet welcoming, combining elegance with a cozy atmosphere. The food was excellent overall. A few elements, such as the salad, were a bit too salty, but everything else was well prepared and flavorful. The generous portions of the delicious desserts left a great final impression. The service was professional, although it felt a bit robotic and lacked warmth.

J Jae Yeon Kim 29 reviews · Local Guide 9 July 2026

Since I had been to all the restaurants that occupied this space before Marcel, I was really looking forward to visiting, especially after hearing that Roman and Williams was opening a restaurant here. First, all the waitstaff were friendly and nice. That said, the service did not feel especially polished. We ordered the baguette with the chili butter, but regular butter was brought out instead. We let it go, but when we later asked for another baguette, we were told that the first one was complimentary and that a second one would be $12. I wish they had mentioned that from the beginning. It felt like the staff had not been fully trained yet. There was also no apology or acknowledgment that the wrong butter had been served. The zucchini cold soup we ordered was delicious and fragrant, although I thought it would have been even better if it had been slightly less creamy. We had mentioned when ordering that we would be sharing it, but it was simply placed in the center in one large bowl. At a restaurant of this level, it would have been nicer if they had split it into two bowls. I ordered the cod with herb butter sauce, but the fish had a very strong fishy taste. I found myself wondering, is cod usually this fishy? It had an unpleasant flavor that was not very enjoyable. The French fries came in a generous portion, but they were just classic French fries and did not feel particularly special. The dessert was good. The baguette was served warm and was very tasty, and the pastries we bought to go were also delicious. The packaging was beautiful as well. The space itself is absolutely gorgeous, and the branding is excellent. On a nice day, it would be lovely to sit outside and enjoy a meal at one of the outdoor tables. After eating, walking upstairs to browse the auction viewing also makes for a wonderful little outing. Overall, while there were some disappointing moments with the food and service, I do think I would go back. I hope the restaurant continues to improve.

S Scott Greenspan 26 reviews · Local Guide 14 June 2026

My wife and I took one of our friends to Marcel last evening and had a wonderful time. From the terrific hospitality of its top tier doorman Romario to its excellent Maitre D’Hotel Cheutine, to Michael, one of its hosts to its other wonderful staff, it is no wonder why this new restaurant is one of the toughest tables to get on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The restaurant is located on Madison Avenue below Sotheby’s in the iconic Breuer building. The design firm Roman and Williams, which also owns La Mercerie, owns and runs Marcel. The decor is gorgeous. Massive open spaces and soaring ceilings. They have both indoor and significant outdoor dining. There are flowers everywhere, and lots of art. The food is French and outstanding. We are all still raving about the chocolate soufflé and the foie gras, which was sourced from upstate New York. The duck, beef tartare and filet mignon were all excellent as well. The bread tasted like it was straight out of a bakery in Paris. All in all, the food experience was sublime. Service was on par with the food. It was friendly but not overintrusive. Our sommelier was terrific and guided us through some perfectly curated wines. Our waiter, Alexios, didn’t miss a beat. The crowd is absolutely what you would expect at a trendy new restaurant like this in the heart of Madison Avenue in the 70s. Wealthy and sophisticated. All in all, this was a terrific experience that I would highly recommend. Tables are not and will not be easy to get.

S Shabi N 84 reviews · Local Guide 13 June 2026

Went for lunch and dinner on the same day. The service was top notch, the whole vibe is very upper east side, chic and sophisticated. The desserts were excellent. The food was hit or miss; the cod au gratin and shrimp salad were delicious. The steak ($200 one) was chewy and subpar. The leeks were hard to cut and tasted ok. Cocktails were good. In general, great addition to the neighborhood. Would come back.