L'Express

4.5 (1244)

$30 and under

French

249 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

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L'Express

4.5

$30 and under

French

Gramercy Park

Make a booking

2 people

25 Oct 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 59 times today

About this restaurant

Neighbourhood gem
Great for brunch
Great for outdoor dining

Iconic French bistro in NY, serving classics such as steak frites, cassoulet, mussels & moules-frites, beer, wine & breakfast. Located on Park Avenue South, mere blocks from Union Square, in the heart of Gramercy. Now serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert and late night.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
French
Hours of Operation
Mon, Tue 08:00–00:00 Wed, Thu 08:00–01:00 Fri 08:00–03:00 Sat 09:00–03:00 Sun 09:00–00:00
Phone number
(212) 254-5858
Website
https://lexpressnyc.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Amitzur Mor
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
249 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003
Area
Gramercy Park
Parking Details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

Offers

Late Night Dining at L'Express
1 - 8 people
Multiple dates available
Fri - Sat - 3:45 pm - 2:45 am
One of New York City's late-night institutions, right by Union Square - Gramercy Park, this quintessential Lyonnaise bouchon is open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays!

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

SOUPE DU JOURUSD 12.00
ONION SOUP GRATINEEUSD 15.00
caramelized onion, swiss cheese, crouton
ESCARGOTS DE BOURGOGNEUSD 16.00
in garlic butter
CRISPY LOCAL GOAT CHEESEUSD 17.00
arugula, walnuts, cherry tomatoes & black olive coulis
ATLANTIC SALMON TARTARE*USD 21.00
cucumbers, scallions, mint, jalapeno, avocado mousse & pomegranate vinaigrette
CRISPY PIG CROQUETTESUSD 22.00
haricots verts, frisee, radishes & tartar sauce
HOUSEMADE COUNTRY TERRINEUSD 20.00
duck, pork, pistachio, grilled sourdough
HAND-CUT BEEF TARTARE*
arugula salad & country bread
- 24
- 30
CRISPY BABY ARTICHOKEUSD 17.00
lemon, parsley & ceasar aiol

LES OEUFS ET CLASSIQUES

CROISSANT BASKETUSD 15.00
assortment of french pastries
BRIOCHE FRENCH TOASTUSD 18.00
mixed berries, cream chantilly
THREE EGGS ANY STYLE*USD 18.00
sausage or bacon, house potatoes
SPANISH FRITTATAUSD 20.00
merguez sausage, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, scallions
OMELETTE PARISIENNEUSD 21.00
smoked ham, gruyére, mushrooms
COUNTRY AVOCADO TOAST*USD 21.00
two poached eggs, guacamole, radishes, mixed greens
THE "BENEDICTS"*
two poached eggs, english muffin, hollandaise, home fries or salad
- traditional-22Iflorentine-22IcopenhagenUSD 24.00

LES SALADES & SANDWICHES

add to any salad: chicken paillard - 10 / grilled shrimp -10 / grilled salmon - 15

ROASTED ORGANIC BEETSUSD 17.00
whipped local goat cheese, pickled red onions, watercress & toasted pecans
ARUGULA SALADUSD 16.00
local apple, shaved parmesan, endive & lemon vinaigrette
FRISEE AUX LARDONS*USD 20.00
lardon bacon, croutons, poached egg
GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALADUSD 24.00
little gem lettuce, white anchovies, grilled bread & parmesan
SEARED TUNA NIÇOISE*USD 26.00
fingerling potatoes, roasted peppers, haricots verts, white anchovies, olives & egg
CROQUE MADAME*USD 23.00
fried sunny side up egg, parisian ham, swiss cheese, choice of pommes frites or salad
VEGETABLE BIYALDI PANINIUSD 22.00
eggplant, zuchini, tomato, tapanade, basil & goat cheese
HOUSE CURED TURKEY CLUBUSD 21.00
avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato and swiss
GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICHUSD 21.00
tomato, baby arugula, pickled red onion, smoked aioli

ENTREES

MEZZI RIGATONIUSD 24.00
tomato-basil sauce, parmesan cheese
HOUSEMADE GNOCCHIUSD 26.00
broccolini, wild mushrooms, cream
L'EXPRESS BURGER*USD 22.00
HOUSEMADE LAMB BURGER*USD 24.00
moroccan spices, harissa aioli
P.E.I MUSSELS SKILLET*USD 26.00
white wine, thyme, garlic & leek broth
GRILLED ATLANTIC SALMON*USD 35.00
haricots verts, baby carrots, roasted radishes & citrus beurre blanc
PAN ROASTED BRANZINOUSD 36.00
grilled corn, blistered baby tomatoes, zucchini & roasted red peppers coulis
ORGANIC ROASTED HALF CHICKENUSD 29.00
au jus, pommes frites or pomme puree
GRILLED PORK CHOP*USD 35.00
fingerling potatoes, blistered shishito peppers, wild mushrooms & pork jus
STEAK FRITES*USD 41.00
14oz NY strip, pommes frites

LES GARNITURES

BLISTERED SHISHITO PEPPERSUSD 13.00
HARICOTS VERTSUSD 10.00
SAUTEED BROCCOLINIUSD 10.00
POMME PUREEUSD 10.00
ROSEMARY FRIESUSD 10.00
GARLIC SPINACHUSD 10.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at L'Express.

4.5

(1244)

4.3Food
4.4Service
4.3Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

L'Express offers a vibrant atmosphere with "excellent service" and "delicious food," including authentic French bistro dishes. Regulars rave about the "fun and stimulating" ambiance, and servers like Carmen and Moises enhance the dining experience. While some dishes could improve, the restaurant remains a "true New York institution" and a reliable favorite.

1,244 Reviews

P
Phil Gold
Las Vegas3 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great place. Note that through Opentable I booked 1 seat at the bar but when I arrived they said they didn't accept that, and the bar was walk-in only
L'ExpressResponded today
Phil, thank you for pointing this out. Our bar is walk-in only, so I’m sorry OpenTable gave you the impression that a bar seat could be reserved. That’s something we need to review on our end so the booking options are clearer and guests aren’t put in that position when they arrive. I’m glad you still enjoyed L’Express, and we appreciate the 4 stars. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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S
Sylvie Gold
New York City66 reviews
2.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
I ordered the “quiche du jour” the plate arrived, the daily quiche was a quiche Lorraine that is what I ordered, on my plate there was some sliced quiche with a green aspect, I called the waitress and told her that was not what I ordered, she went to the kitchen and was told that the quiche I ordered was sold out…. I have been to l express several time, it was always good this time was very bad,…. and I ordered an omelette , i was very disappointed that no one came to tell me after I place my order that the dish was sold out….the plate was just presented to me as the dish I ordered…..no presence in the restaurant of a manager apologizing … Unexpected experience and really a shame …
L'ExpressResponded 3 days ago
Sylvie, I’m sorry this visit was so disappointing, especially after having good experiences with us in the past. If the quiche Lorraine was sold out, that should have been communicated to you before anything else was brought to the table. I also understand your frustration that no manager came over to acknowledge what happened and apologize in the moment. I’ll be sharing this with both the management and service teams so we can address the communication breakdown and make sure situations like this are handled much better. Thank you for being direct with us. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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M
Mel
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Everything about our lunch was great except for the noise level. Around 1pm it was quite loud, but by the end of our meal--shortly after 2:30, things had died out. The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars across the board was the noise level.
L'ExpressResponded 3 days ago
Mel, thank you for such a thoughtful review. I’m glad lunch was a great experience overall. I also understand your note about the noise level — the room can get quite lively around peak lunch, especially near 1pm, and I know that isn’t ideal for everyone. We really appreciate the 5 stars and the honest feedback. Torris Pelichet - Manager
1 person found this helpful
B
Bette
Greater Boston23 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great brunch! Food was well prepared, timely, and delicious. Servers were friendly.
L'ExpressResponded 6 days ago
Bette, I’m glad brunch was such a good one. It’s great to hear the food was delicious and well timed, and that the team made the visit feel friendly and easy. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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P
Philip
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 10 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had an excellent dinner Saturday evening . The restaurant had a vibrant atmosphere and or server Carmen was terrific.
L'ExpressResponded on 13 October 2026
Philip, I’m glad Saturday night was such a good one. A vibrant room, an excellent dinner, and Carmen taking great care of you sounds like a strong combination. I’ll make sure she sees your kind words. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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K
Kathleen Gold
Houston14 reviews
4.0
Dined on 8 October 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The pommes frites were soggy, oily and fairly tasteless -- this must be an easy thing for a French restaurant to get right, but they were glaringly not up to par.
L'ExpressResponded on 13 October 2026
Kathleen, I’m sorry the pommes frites were disappointing. That’s a classic we should be getting right, and I understand why it stood out when they came across soggy, oily, and lacking flavor. I’ll be sharing your feedback with the kitchen team so we can take a closer look at the preparation and consistency. We appreciate the 4 stars and the direct feedback. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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A
Andrew
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 7 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very enjoyable meal. Great waitress - made the dining experience outstanding. Very convenient walk to the Gramercy Theater. Delightful way to savor New York.
L'ExpressResponded on 9 October 2026
Andrew, this was such a nice review to read. I’m glad the meal and service made the evening feel special, and that our location worked so well with your plans at the Gramercy Theater. “A delightful way to savor New York” is a beautiful compliment. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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M
Marlene
New York City8 reviews
4.0
Dined on 5 October 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
As always, staff is professional with great service. I was a tad disappointed in the quality of the food this time. The cheese platter was really uninspired and for a table of 4 came with 2 pieces of bread. They quickly brought us more...but really should work on a better cheese to bread ratio. My burger was cooked perfectly but the fries were dare I say, soggy and only so so. But I will return...been coming here for so long --still one of my favs in the City.
L'ExpressResponded on 9 October 2026
Marlene, I really appreciate the honesty, especially from someone who has been coming to us for so long. I’m glad the service was as strong as you expect, but I’m sorry the food felt uneven this time. Your notes about the cheese platter, the bread portion, and the fries are fair, and I’ll be sharing them with the kitchen team so we can take a closer look. It means a lot that L’Express is still one of your favorites in the city, and we’ll work to make the next visit feel more like the one you know us for. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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J
Jeff Gold
New York City145 reviews
3.0
Dined on 2 October 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Carmen our server was fabulous Crispy artichokes are wonderful Lamb Burger eh pretty small and overcooked wouldn’t order again Beef Bourgignon was very good but had more fat than previous times quite a bit actually
L'ExpressResponded on 4 October 2026
Jeff, thank you for the thoughtful feedback. I’m glad Carmen took great care of you and that the crispy artichokes and beef bourguignon had some strong points. I’m sorry the lamb burger missed the mark and that the bourguignon felt fattier than what you’ve had from us before. I’ll be sharing those notes with the kitchen team so we can take a closer look at the consistency of both dishes. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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B
BARRY Gold
New York City27 reviews
1.0
Dined on 1 October 2026
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Steak was extremely hard to cut and was fatty and chewy. Noise was overpowering!
L'ExpressResponded on 3 October 2026
Barry, I’m sorry the steak and noise level made this such a disappointing visit. The steak should have been much better, and I’ll be sharing that feedback with our kitchen team. L’Express can have a lively brasserie atmosphere, but I understand that the volume can sometimes be too much depending on where you’re seated and how busy the room is. I appreciate you being direct with us. We’ll take both concerns back to the team and work on where we can improve. Torris Pelichet - Manager
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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
French
Hours of Operation
Mon, Tue 08:00–00:00 Wed, Thu 08:00–01:00 Fri 08:00–03:00 Sat 09:00–03:00 Sun 09:00–00:00
Phone number
(212) 254-5858
Website
https://lexpressnyc.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Amitzur Mor
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
249 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003
Area
Gramercy Park
Parking Details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access

Make a booking

L'Express

4.5

$30 and under

French

Gramercy Park

Make a booking

2 people

25 Oct 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 59 times today

L'Express

Make a booking

L'Express

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Additional information

Late Night Dining at L'Express

HORS D'OEUVRES

SOUPE DU JOURUSD 12.00

ONION SOUP GRATINEEUSD 15.00

ESCARGOTS DE BOURGOGNEUSD 16.00

CRISPY LOCAL GOAT CHEESEUSD 17.00

ATLANTIC SALMON TARTARE*USD 21.00

CRISPY PIG CROQUETTESUSD 22.00

HOUSEMADE COUNTRY TERRINEUSD 20.00

HAND-CUT BEEF TARTARE*

CRISPY BABY ARTICHOKEUSD 17.00

LES OEUFS ET CLASSIQUES

CROISSANT BASKETUSD 15.00

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOASTUSD 18.00

THREE EGGS ANY STYLE*USD 18.00

SPANISH FRITTATAUSD 20.00

OMELETTE PARISIENNEUSD 21.00

COUNTRY AVOCADO TOAST*USD 21.00

THE "BENEDICTS"*

LES SALADES & SANDWICHES

ROASTED ORGANIC BEETSUSD 17.00

ARUGULA SALADUSD 16.00

FRISEE AUX LARDONS*USD 20.00

GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALADUSD 24.00

SEARED TUNA NIÇOISE*USD 26.00

CROQUE MADAME*USD 23.00

VEGETABLE BIYALDI PANINIUSD 22.00

HOUSE CURED TURKEY CLUBUSD 21.00

GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICHUSD 21.00

ENTREES

MEZZI RIGATONIUSD 24.00

HOUSEMADE GNOCCHIUSD 26.00

L'EXPRESS BURGER*USD 22.00

HOUSEMADE LAMB BURGER*USD 24.00

P.E.I MUSSELS SKILLET*USD 26.00

GRILLED ATLANTIC SALMON*USD 35.00

PAN ROASTED BRANZINOUSD 36.00

ORGANIC ROASTED HALF CHICKENUSD 29.00

GRILLED PORK CHOP*USD 35.00

STEAK FRITES*USD 41.00

LES GARNITURES

BLISTERED SHISHITO PEPPERSUSD 13.00

HARICOTS VERTSUSD 10.00

SAUTEED BROCCOLINIUSD 10.00

POMME PUREEUSD 10.00

ROSEMARY FRIESUSD 10.00

GARLIC SPINACHUSD 10.00

Review summary

Additional information

Make a booking

L'Express

Make a booking