Raoul's, New York NY

Yes - the steak and burgers are amazing. However, when you ask your waiter if the tuna in the Niçoise salad is rare and he says yes and it's served dried out and well done - for $34, it definitely doesn't entice you to return.

Go here. Spend the money. Have a nice dinner. Get a bottle of wine. Get something raw. Get something cooked. Roll on the weekend sorted

Our favorite restaurant in our neighborhood hands down. Where we take our visiting guests. Service, food and atmosphere exemplary. A true gem in Soho.

Came here for the burger. It has been mentioned in many top ten lists so I was curious. If you want one of the burgers you'll need to put in some effort. First (and probably most important) be standing in front of the door at 5PM when they open so you'll get a seat at the bar, this is the only seats they serve the burgers. There are only twelve burgers served per night so getting in there and sitting down is essential. Next, you'll need to wait, they won't take your burger order until 5: 30. No choices, you either want a burger or you don't (they may or may not ask about one of the condiments, don't remember). Then, you'll get your burger.
The good news is that is totally worth it. Enjoy!

The service was spot on. The food incredible and an awesome atmosphere. I would definitely go back.

A burger pilgrimage well worth the wait! Exactly @5pm, seated at the bar, a friendly, professional team at every turn, and a meal to savor. Highly recommend. Patience required & rewarded.

I wish waiters and bus boys don't rush you and take your plate while you are still eating. Please only in the US you see that!

What a great spot! My new girlfriend tells me this is a must try, the steak is like nothing she has ever had before. Let me tell you, she was right.best steak I have ever tasted. The words cannot even describe how delicious this was. We were lucky to get a seat, the place was packed. This place is a must try if ever in SOHO! I’ll be back!

Still one of the best, most consistent friendly neighborhood restaurants. The steak au poivre is always excellent

Possibly the best restaurant in NYC due to not only their great food but unbelievably attentive service and unforgettable atmosphere.

We came for the famous hamburger and at 2 pm were simply over, if demand is high, increase production, frustrating to hear that we couldn't eat one of the most famous hamburgers in the city, given that it's not easy to get a reservation at the restaurant

The way I remember it from 40 yrs ago. Great food, ambiance, vibe. Had the steak, crab beignets snd bread pudding. All good. Want to try the profiteroles next time

Managed to get an early lunch reservation; however, they definitely will accommodate if you don’t have one and arrive early. Had to try the burger and it did not disappoint - highly recommend!

Hot Take!

It’s not your typical seasoned burger with thick melted cheese on top. But, honestly Raoul’s has taken my heart as one of the top burgers in the city. Love the peppercorn crusted (au poivre-style), butter seared beef patty. The St. André creamy cheese with fresh watercress and tiny French pickles. But most definite the star of the show is the au poivre sauce. Might have gotten high cholesterol from the amount of sauce I drizzled all over that burger and the duck-fat fries.

The tables are tight, servers are constantly (and carefully) rushing by. But taking a bite out of that drenched burger seemed more decadent because it was happening inside a historic restaurant. From the eclectically art lavished walls to the chilled wine and martinis on every table, this nearly 50 year old SoHo institution has not lost its charm. Not sure if this continues to be a celebrity hangout, but it’s surely one of my favorite brunch spots now and possibly a monthly tradition!

Another overrated place in NYC.
Went on a Saturday night with my wife without reservation and we were able to get a spot at the bar for dinner and drinks.
Whilst food was good and the vibe amazing, the way things are run are to try to maximize revenue without necessarily caring about customers.

The good:

1) Drinks are good (not great though) with prices on the average side for Manhattan
2) The vibe: This would be the only reason I would come back. It's great for all ages and on the "elegant" side (which is what I like). Decoration is kind of a French bistro.
3) Food was better than I expected (we had the steak with fries and the scallops). However, prices are too high for what it is. You could get much better food for this price elsewhere.

The bad:
1) Service: From the beginning to the end. They just want you to drink and eat as much as you can, fast. They brought me the check without even asking if I was going to order something more.

Not sure I would come back but had to scrape it of the list.

Awful service, be ready to wait forever and have someone else take your table, or for them to lose your place in line, etc.

Not worth it.

Quintessential NYC restaurant and always a very fun night here. We always start w martinis before heading to our seats. Staff is and food are awesome.

Incredibly underwhelming and disappointing. The way people talk this place up, you'd think they'd have at least somewhat passable food. I hope it's moreso a case of a long-established institution resting on its laurels and getting lazy with creativity and food prep.

We ordered the artichoke, seared foie gras, steak and finished with creme brulee. Artichoke is just an artichoke (as it should be, so that's fine). Foie gras was laughably small (I get that it's viewed as a premium dish but we're talking the size of a child's fist here). Steak was just meh, even a bit chewy, the sauce and peppercorn are fine but man it's just not a dish I want to order again. Creme brulee was cold on the inside and somewhat warm on the outside.so just sloppy in general.

That said, Pablo, our waiter, is the man. For the first time in a long time, I got to see a server anticipate diner requests and adapt to the guests' pacing. Just really incredible service and only bright point in an otherwise lackluster dinner.

The burger is as good as they say. But the key is that you must get a seat at the bar. Once you do, hopefully you’ll get to wrest the magic of Angus, the most fantastic bartender. He makes the entire experience enjoyable.
**Definitely recommend getting there a little before they open if you are hoping for a walk-in seating and are going on the weekend

Everything is excellent. I highly recommend the burger au poivre at brunch. It’s a big one!