Cercle Rouge

Bummed this neighborhood spot has closed. While it always appeared empty, there were some European regulars, and of course in the spring and summer months the outside was cheerily filled like the cafes of Europe. Still, I wondered with such a large space how they kept paying tribeca rent. I guess they finally succumbed to these nyc rental rates that keep pushing long standing restaurants out. Luckily we visited last week, without knowing the restaurant would soon close, for what is now our last meal at Cercle Rouge. Sorry to lose this authentic French staple.

I love the croque madame here. I used to order it from here when I was working nearby for dinner. They also have very tasty charcuterie plates that you can order for an appetizer.
The ambiance is a traditional bistro with velvet seating. I came during the winter, but there are nice out seatings that they open up during the spring and summers. Waiters were very friendly and attentive and provided very good service. A nice place for a quick 45 min lunch/​meeting if you work close by.

Cercle Rouge is a typical French place. Looks like you have landed right in the heart of Paris. We went for dinner and had a good time. There was live music being played which was a great touch to the night. I took lobster bisque soup and steak frites as main. Both were pretty tasty. Nice place to try something different.

I usually don’t order chicken at restaurants as it is one of the easiest things to make and perfect yourself but I did order it here. Not expecting much of a WOW taste from the organic chicken breast, I was actually pleasantly surprised how well it was made. I chose that instead of the steak or fish (menu was a prix fixe) and did not regret it. Their ginger mojito was amazingggggg as well as their chocolate/​hazelnut dessert (which I typically don’t order since I do not own a sweet tooth). The waiters were very friendly and professional. Great spot!

Food was fine a bit bland but service was fantastic. Nice place to go for drinks, not sure about mains.

Had a great meal here on Saturday. Staff could not have been more pleasant and accommodating. Food was terrific. Can’t wait to go back.

Very nice lunch. Place was half full on a Wednesday; busier than I expected. Décor is excellent. Background music was a mix of French songs and jazz. Just loud enough to cover conversations at other tables. They seem to try very hard at service. Unfortunately our waiter had a heavy Spanish accent so communication was a little awkward.
We split an order of the lamb meatballs as a starter — nice — served in a good sauce — I would order it again. For my entrée, I had the petit cassoulet which was was good but mostly beans and bread — could have had a bit more pork or sausage — no duck was evident. My guest went with another starter — the terrine de foie gras — seemed like a generous portion and was well received.
Wines by the glass are a little expensive but a generous pour. List was extensive.
They have a three course prix fixe at lunch for $ 19.50 which would be a good choice.
I noticed several conversations in French at other tables. A manager was checking with each table; always a good sign. I was pleased overall and expect to be back.

Love this place for brunch or afternoon snacks. Really yummy chicken wings and a small but nice wine list. Cool space with live music from time to time.
Echo the other review on here about screaming bratty kids not watched by their parents. Wtf?

Highlights:
Terrine De Foie Gras was the best!!! Very fresh and had a strong umami taste. It melted right in your mouth!
Salmon Quiche! Nicely cooked
Aioli Provenale nicely seared cod with herby grilled vegetables. Very brightening taste.
Love the French bread too

PROS: Decent food for a weekend lunch.
CONS: Never, ever, ever come here on a Saturday noon unless you want to be swallowed by entitled, bratty, screaming children with clown-​made balloons who are minimally watched by waitstaff and utterly neglected by their parents.
This might be the most unpleasant eating experience I have had. We had to move up front and next to the window so kids would not run into our table screaming. Still, it was headache inducing. This place was like a daycare on steroids. They really need a warning sign posted on the window when it is the Playtime French Café.

This is an absolutely wonderful gem among all the restaurants close by in Tribeca. I would certainly recommend choosing it above the many other options just on the same block.
I’ve only had the opportunity to visit this restaurant twice, and both times with the somewhat gauche situation of needing to fulfill a very generous OpenTable giftcard on my own. The staff could not have been more accommodating in helping me use the giftcard (I believe they’d never encountered one of that kind before), and were so excited to tell me that there was more money left on the card so they could have me back! I was so impressed with this first experience with the staff at Cercle Rouge — in other restaurants of this caliber, I’ve found that using a gift card really makes for an unpleasant/​awkward experience, but here, it was the exact opposite. The staff truly went out of their way to make sure that I felt welcomed and comfortable.
– on that first visit, I very much enjoyed the special filet mignon (so delicious) and a glass of red wine (the varietal is slipping my mind). Both were wonderful, and beautifully presented.
On my second visit, the staff and managers of Cercle Rouge yet again demonstrated their utmost professionalism and care for their customers — except on this occasion, there was a sticky situation that none of us could have predicted.
I stopped by Cercle Rouge’s beautiful bar area [on my own] after a long day at work to continue chipping away at my gift card, and was eventually approached and harassed by a very, very intoxicated man. I tried my best to fend off his advances [to no avail], but the manager, Dorian, quickly surveilled the situation and signaled to me if I needed his help. I declined his offer, but soon thereafter fled to the bathroom, where I summoned the help of the incredibly kind hostess, Yara. Both Yara and Dorian immediately worked out a plan to shield me from this intoxicated man [literally, with their own bodies] until he left the premises. I was so flustered by that point that I had absolutely no idea what to do, but they handled the issue so professionally and so calmly, all the while making sure that I was alright. In the end, the staff and I shared a drink and laughed about how the long-​gone, very liquid-​confident gentleman had spent the last 12 hours (breakfast, lunch, and dinner!) drinking heavily at the bar.
An interesting evening, to be sure, but I am more than anything so grateful for the swift professionalism and second-​nature problem-​solving demonstrated by Dorian and Yara.
It’s a beautiful space, with wonderful food, wine, and cocktails, but most importantly, run by an excellent team. Stop by if you get a chance!

I love this place! Friendly staff that make you feel like family, great food and a cozy atmosphere (especially when there’s live music). Defiantly my favorite place for rosé and cheese on the patio in the summer time.

Ah Cercle Rouge, we’ve been through it all. From those Sunday seamless orders to the mid-​afternoon escapes from the office for a nice glass of wine. You’ve always been there to support me.
The ambiance of Cercle Rouge is perfect. It doesn’t try. It just is. You feel like you are in a café in Nice or Marseilles, or maybe Paris on a hot day. If you’re a small group and just want a glass or two of wine and maybe a snack the area by the bar has small tables and bar stools. The seating area at the back is more traditional restaurant style, and there is a lovely terrace in front of the restaurant.
My favorite area is the bar. You can sit at a small table by the front window and watch TriBeCa stroll by and see all the comings and goings of the restaurant.
The food itself is all quite good. The menu changes from time to time, but standouts include the Onglet with delicious risotto and bone marrow, the escargot (but only in the restaurant, don’t order them to go or you’ll get a lot of oil), the duck, and the steak sandwich.
Service is excellent and attentive without being intrusive. Many of the staff are, in fact, French. Either that or talented at faking accents, but I suspect the former. Their recommendations are always excellent, particularly when it comes to the extensive wine list.

Found this little gem of a French restaurant on West Broadway. It was a nice day and the outside seatings were packed. Luckily the indoor seatings were pretty empty, so we were able to get seated right away for a quick 30-​minute lunch. After looking at the menu full of scrumptious French dishes, we both had our eyes on the pricey lobster club, and so glad we did. It was fantastic! Every bite was extraordinarily delicious and a transforming experience. When we stepped out of this little gem of a French restaurant, it was like stepping out of a portal from France back to Tribeca. Excellent!

I love Cercle Rouge. My family has been going here for years. It is one of my favorite French restaurants in the city.
Chicken wing appetizer: a surprising menu item for a French restaurant, but so good. They are small chicken wings that are crispy on the outside. The bleu cheese is also great.
Escargot: very garlicky and delicious. And a generous portion.
Watermelon gazpacho: my uncle got this and he said he liked it, but that it was a bit too spicy.
Moules mariniere: This broth is delicious. It is heavy on the shallots and garlic, which I love. The fries are delicious.
Steak frites: always cooked perfectly here.
I highly recommend Cercle Rouge.

I came here with a large group so we got a brunch special deal that was pretty sweet. The special consisted of choice of brunch entrée, drink and shared dessert for $ 30 (including tax and tip).
I had the omelette with ham and goat cheese, which tasted quite good. It came with sausage, bacon and home fries. Really enjoyed the home fries– it was made out of regular potatoes and blue potatoes. They were just the right amount of crispiness with tons of flavor.
The dessert was Profiteroles and they were so delicious! Small cream puff like pastry with vanilla ice cream in the middle and lots of chocolate sauce coating the top.

This review only pertains to the brunch menu.
I went here as part of a group of 7 for brunch on a Sunday. We were just about the only table inside on a pretty nice spring day in May. I would have preferred to sit outside but their outdoor seating area didn’t have enough room for all of us. That said, I wish they had turned on the AC. It was rather muggy inside.
The brunch pre-​fixe menu ($ 21.50) is not particularly unique. You can pretty much expect the basics here. I went with the eggs Benedict and added smoked salmon, which I think they charged an extra $ 6.00 for. Oh well. At least it was good.
Each of the brunch entrées comes with a choice of fresh orange juice, mimosa, bellini, or bloody Mary. I went with the bellini, and then another. The menu states all drink refills are $ 6. I get why for the alcohol, but $ 6 for an extra OJ? Really?
The hostess who seated us was very pleasant, and very authentic. She was Parisian, as noted by her accent.
As for the service, however, it started off kind of weak, and finished even weaker. Once our order was finally taken, it didn’t take long for the food to come out of the kitchen, but once we were served, our waiter disappeared and literally never returned. It’s as if he got fired between taking our order and us finishing our meals. Or maybe he just took a long cigarette and espresso break? In this regard, I really did feel like I was back in France from my days studying abroad, so if this place is aiming for an authentic French dining experience, they hit the nail on the head with our group.
Considering I had to ask for the check when we were the only table in the place, I’d say their staff ought to Cercle around the dining room more often before they land themselves in the Rouge.

I love this French bistro!
The place reminds me Paris! Huge room but a warm atmosphere. The terrace during summer is the perfect thing for enjoying a glass of rose from Provence.
I’m crazy about the food! The lamb and the steak are my favourite, the burger is delicious as well.
Drinks are very yummy especially the special cocktail of the barman. The wine list is well-​made with a nice selection of everything. I do prefer the rosé by this time but the champagne is my favourite.
The staff is well-​dressed and professional! They know exactly all their products!
And if you’re lucky you will have a French band (Francois) — this guy is awesome.
I do recommend this place!

J ended up wanting to come here for some live music, K and I didn’t have anything to drink here, but J and E had an old fashion and we shared a crème brûlée and K and J had some fries.
I tried one and I thought the fries weren’t really good to be eating and adding more calories.
The crème brûlée was good though and service was good.
Fun times!

This place is super expensive — but hey, what can I say?
I stopped by with a group of friends and decided to dine at the bar. We’re not fancy. We ordered a bottle of Sancerre and each ordered food. One of my friends ordered the wings, the other, some sort of soup, and my other friend ordered a chicken dish (with an overeasy egg draped on top of it and french fries). His food was wonderful (as I kept sneaking pieces off of his plate. I ordered a delicious steal sandwich that was to die for. It was a perfect medium rare and the bread was fairly toasted, which added more convenience in eating this sandwich. It was just great. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meals.
I am excited about their new burlesque shows starting soon! count me in!