August

The staff here is extraordinary. We came early for dinner on a Sunday and they seated us in a lovely corner spot. Service was attentive, sweet and polite.
The restaurant is lovely and a nice cozy and classy spot for a quiet Sunday dinner. I’m rarely on the UES so always pleased when lucky to have landed in a nice place.
I had the salmon and my friend has the cod and we both finished our dishes. The salmon is really superb. I loved the avocado cucumber relish that accompanied it. And the croutons. It was one of the most memorable and best salmon dishes I have had. Perfectly cooked.
My friend and I stayed for *hours* and the staff were just so chill about it. They left us to talk endlessly after we were done and they had taken our plates and that is what I would consider the perfect Sunday dinner experience. We hadn’t even realized how late we had stayed until I noticed the staff had even changed clothes and were eating their dinner. Really extraordinary service with smiles all around.

August was awesome! It was my first visit here and everything was perfect. The staff was incredibly nice, very knowledgeable, and knew exactly how to treat its customers. There was an issue with the bottle of wine we selected and with no questions asked, they brought us a new bottle. I had the tuna tartare and it was delectable… tangy, tender, and very flavorful. For my main course I had the cod and this could have been the best cooked piece of fish I’ve ever had. It was delicious! The sting beans and rice that accompanied it were seasoned perfectly. All 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Without a doubt I will be back.

I recently came to August for my third visit and was as impressed as my previous two. I selected it originally for it’s seemingly rustic and inviting vibe the outside offers, and feel that the culinary experience certainly upholds this feeling. Many great, fresh vegetable dishes that are reminiscent of a true farm to table restaurant. Food does have a higher salt content than many restaurants may, but this is something that appeals to me when done well and gives the food an additional flavor kick we all hope for. Menu is always slightly different (so don’t get too attached to any one dish, particularly the starters) but each time we have tried a special that has been a favorite. Will definitely be back!

I have worked in Midtown East for six years and know it to be a lunch-​time food wasteland. Until yesterday, when I took a client to August and was enlightened. I cannot emphasize enough how surprised I was at the quality of the food. The service was also great, but this is less of an anomaly in the area. We had the tuna tartare with cucumber and passion fruit sauce, the squash, prosciutto and ricotta salad, the orechiette with lobster and bottarga, and their barrel-​aged margarita. All three dishes were incredible. not just good. Fresh, high quality ingredients. Nothing over-​cooked. Specialty items like sunburst squash were an unexpected delight. The passion fruit addition to the tartar was not the usual syrup you find everywhere, but rather a fresh blend of passion fruit with other herbs that created a subtle, complex flavor with beautiful hidden notes. This was not what I expected at this price point on Lexington Ave at 2PM on a week day. I will most certainly be back!

I have to start out by stating that the staff at August are excellent. I made reservations online (day of) and contacted by phone to let them know that I would be proposing to my girlfriend before dinner. Andrew, graciously provided us with the Owner’s table, glasses of champagne, flowers on the table and a delicious desert. As it was a big celebration, we tried their cocktails, wine, apps. and entrees and all impressed. Some of my favorites included the crispy fried green tomatoes, tuna tartare, seared grouper and steak frites.
In addition to the food, the restaurant is lively and provides a great atmosphere for a intimate dinner or group of friends. The tables are also well spaced.
We will be definitely returning. Thanks for the great service and memorable night!

Excellent maitre’d, highly attentive service, great wine list, downtown vibe, intimate without feeling too crowded and consistently delicious and beautifully prepared food.

SO, the reasons why I am giving August three stars are the following:
Inconsistent food: I’ve had bomb meals here and then I’ve had half frozen crab fritters here. The chef is amazing but cannot produce consistency, which is a major problem for a restaurant to have.
Every time my boyfriend and I have gone and had something go wrong, they would either send something out on curtesy or take care of our check all together. The last time I was here was a week ago and we ordered our entrees which never came out, so they picked up the check for us.
This chef should move out to a more rural location with less traffic such as Westchester of Greenwich, where he would get the same cliental so he can focus on mastering consistency

Very good brunch, and «reasonably» priced. The food was very tasty; drinks are a bit on the pricey side. I had the August Burger and my wife tried the Short Rib Hash. Both were very good. Another in our party ordered the French Toast: excellent, probably the best I ever tried (yes, she gave me a bite!).
I would definitely return.

This place looked so cute when I walked by, that my boyfriend and I decided to stop after work and get some dinner. Terrible decision. The food was absolutely awful. We got this cornmeal gnocchi appetizer that said it had a cheddar sauce but was delivered with a brown mushroom sauce and pieces of mushrooms that made it look like a plate of diarrhea. Sadly, it didn’t taste any better. The center was dry and, well, cornmeal-​y. When our waitress came by and asked how the food was, I let her know it was only okay and tasted a bit odd. She just thanked us for the feedback, and that was it. I don’t expect them to take the meal off our tab, per se, but it would have been thoughtful to ask if she could get us something else or if she could do anything to make it better. Nope.
Then I got chicken. It had been 45 mins since we finished our appetizer and still no food. As soon as I asked how much longer it would be, the waitress soon returned with out food. The chicken was overcooked and tasted old and dried out. Not sure if it was sitting under heat lamps or what, but it was tough and not flavorful at all.
Sadly, we will not be returning to this aesthetically attractive spot.

This is one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood, easily. Hard to believe it’s just sitting there right on lexington avenue, but it is. Short ribs are exceptional; caesar salad also very unique. Great job.

Good eggs Benedict at a decent Manhattan price at $ 14. I was expecting the thin fries that I saw in the pic of someone else’s post, but I got four thick fries. I like thin fries better. Otherwise, the taste was good and I thought it was thoughtful that they put a little dish with ketchup in it already on the plate for you to dip your fries. The salad was surprising with lemon juice and coarse salt. Not too bad. But the potatoes I thought were on the salty side.

Came here for Brunch wile visiting my daughter who lives in UES. We opened the place at 11:30 on a Saturday AM. I indulged when I saw fresh grapefruit juice on the menu-@$ 7 a glass, it was wonderful! We started by sharing abowl of yogurt and berries. The yogurt was great and berries fresh!
Debating between two entrees, we decided to get one of each and «share». My Turkey Rueben was served open face and while very good and flavorable (loved the open face — less carbs and I planned on eating it that way). My daughter had the Sweet Rib Hash and it was outstanding. The favors in the hash were unique (think it was sweet potato or butternut squash), both sweet and savory.
Seeing that she was enjoying it so much, I told her I was fine with my dish and to enjoy! The hash is definitely a signature dish and one I would order again and again at August!

4.5 stars would be more appropriate, but can’t quite give it 5 stars.
Décor — the interior design is a good blend of modern with old school New York. The walls are sandblasted brick with a gray finish that have up lights coming from behind the benched seating that sets a good ambiance for work events or a romantic date night. The bar is slightly small, but enough to accommodate the casual walk in.
Service — the host was very welcoming and accommodating. The Resturant takes coats which is convenient in the winter, and the host/​concierge stops by throughout the meal to see how things are going. He was kind enough to pull up a second table to our own in order to give us room for our wine and house bread. The rest of the wait staff seem a little undertrained but performed at a high level. The waitress seemed to lack knowledge of the daily special, but other than that was very helpful
Food — The food was the best part of the experience. They serve house bread with homemade yogurt/​butter sauce. We started with the Burrata as an appetizer that was hard to resist ordering another. We ordered the braised short ribs and braised beef (daily special) that came wonderfully cooked and impressively dressed. The sides of grilled Brussels sprouts, fried green tomatoes, and eggplant were all amazing accoutrements to the dishes. We finished with a chocolate lava cake with peanut butter ganache with banana nut ice cream that was a satisfying end to a delicious meal.
Overall 4.5. Highly recommended

A perfect Valentine’s Day dinner date in a very cozy, intimate atmosphere with great service — one of the more memorable dining experiences I’ve had in the last few years and yet another reminder why the NYC dining scene is so much better than anything in DC. It’s all about the little things — the charm and intimacy you can find in such a restaurant in such a big city.
Though offered the special V-​day menu, we instead went with the regular dinner menu’s risotto with mushrooms that were perfectly sauteed — very meaty chewy in a subtle yet gritty risotto base.
My short ribs with crispy brussel sprouts glazed in a honey-​Srichacha sauce (giving it a General Tso-​like flavor but not as sweet or overpowering) came out perfectly as well — probably some of the most tender beef I’ve had.
The bread was pretty decent but the lemon yogurt sauce it came accompanied was a unique revelation (bread refills are free so make sure to load up).
Though smallish, tables were far apart and quiet enough to have engaging discussions about love, life, and purpose — a great place for dinner whether a first date or for celebrating a silver anniversary.
Side note: Our host (resembling a combination of Chekov from the Abram’s Star Trek and Malcom from Malcom in the Middle) was very entertaining — after spying me Instagraming the short ribs, he offered us free dessert for tagging the head chef — a great personal touch. We went home with chocolate-​covered strawberries.
Couldn’t ask for a better Valentine’s Day dinner.

Holy cow. This place is spectacular. Came here for the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner and was not disappointed. I must’ve said some form of «Wow. I am in love» after every bite.

Very nice atmosphere
Delicious food
Funny with seating, drafty areas
Service ridiculously slow
Drinks slow main course slow

This wasn’t my first time at this restaurant in its new location, but it’s been the worst experience. Friday nights tend to be busy in New York City, granted. With understaffed and overwhelmed servers and with an excuse of being short handed in the kitchen, the only thing prompt about this evening was getting seated and clearing the table of our plates.
It took FORTY-​FIVE MINUTES for our server to take our food order, and second drink order.
It took another twenty minutes for someone to realize our drink order was never put in. The manager, we think, tried to accommodate, but he pretty much served us whatever he wanted. When we told him that it was wrong, he said he assumed it was what we wanted because it started with the same letter. Then, he said he wouldn’t charge us for the mistake. Really, I would think not.
It was obvious that the kitchen was backed-​up when it took another twenty minutes to get our appetizers.
THE ENTREES were over salted and luke-​warm, the scallops were more like a salt-​lick than seafood. They were returned (and, I rarely feel the need to return anything back to the kitchen). So, half the party ate while half the party waited for the replacement.
The replacement entrée (which took another 20 minutes) was cooked with more care, served hot and well seasoned.
Apologies were given.
The meal took 3 hours and 15 minutes (granted we ordered dessert and coffee).
In one word… INCONSISTENT. The wait wouldn’t have been so bad if the food was done properly, hot and well-​seasoned.
I know this place can be good, I just wish it was good all the time. I’ve read reviews where people have said the food was a miss… now I know why. I’ll probably go back, but never on a Friday or Saturday night. And, maybe not for a while. New Yorkers work hard for their money and there are plenty of restaurants to spend it at (since, I don’t really cook).
The 3-​star rating is for the previous dining experiences, or it would have been a 2.

Review for the former West Village location:
The food comes from a well thought-​out and seasonal menu that ends up being perfectly executed on. Truly delicious food with wonderful presentation.
I’m a little sad to hear they have moved — I cannot understand why. The west village location was extremely cozy and created a wonderful atmosphere. I suppose though to have more revenue, you need more tables — and to have more tables, you need more space. I just hope this does not take away from the dining experience — will have to try new location and update.

I’ve been here a few times and it is consistently good. I’ve never had a disappointing meal. If you get drinks it starts to get pretty pricey very quickly. But I think it’s worth it. The people here are all so nice, I’ve never had a problem. The décor is very nice and clean.
Now I usually don’t write reviews unless a place sucks so much I have to write about it, but there’s something I need to share. I guess this week August is offering a restaurant week menu. It was all very good, but the outstanding thing was from the dessert. I got the apple and hibiscus sorbets. The hibiscus was too tart for my liking, which is fine others probably like tartness… But the apple was amazing. There were tiny bits of Apple still in it, it was so fresh, but at the same time almost nostalgic, like kids apple juice. It’s as if they made kids apple juice fancy 5 start fresh apple juice and then turned it into an amazing sorbet. And I just felt like I needed to share this.
I don’t know how long he restaurant week menu will be around but either way this place’s food is pretty great and the people are amazing.

Really good food, somewhat inconsistent service. Beautiful interior in a weirdly dodgy area of lex.
Roast chicken is great!

Came here for a birthday dinner for a friend. Everything was amazing! Grapefruit dessert wasn’t good. Way too tart to finish. But everything else was amazing! Service was friendly and food was all coursed out nicely.

Had dinner here with my daughter and niece, first time for all three of us. I was immediately impressed by the décor and energy when I entered the door. It feels welcoming and intimate without being low-​lit or cave-​like or filled with private booths… like the best modern bistros of Paris. The menu is shared plates and while not extensive, it is certainly sufficient. The bartender was friendly and very well educated about drinks of all kinds. The wine list isn’t extensive but it is good, and I know wine. We had cod, chicken, and delicious Shishito peppers — all were excellent. The bill was reasonable, though the wine markup does seem on the expensive side. Next time I’d bring my own bottle, but if I forgot to do so I’d still spend my money and choose something from their list. Definitely would return on my next trip to NYC.

West Village transplant (shame, new location isn’t great — though awesome for anybody living/​working in midtown looking for nice good food, maybe a weekday after-​work dinner with friends or date)
Brunch here is pretty good, their baked eggs are served in little square skillets and are small but a good enough portion. They accompany was a slice of really good bread.
For dinner I’ve had the half lobster with veggies which was good and reasonably priced (as far as lobster prices go in nyc)
Very cute spot, the décor is lovely. The bartender is super friendly

My friend and I dined here last night. Even on a Tuesday evening, it was quite busy, which for the UES is a good sign that many more hungry folks should give this place a try.
We both remarked that the interior design — with the brick walls, up lighting, and bar design — made an otherwise nondescript space quite welcoming.
But on to the reason one would come to August. First of all, the service was very good. Excellent recommendations on food, and while the knowledge of the wine list was a bit lacking, our choice turned out to be very good.
For appetizers, we had the burrata and hamachi (they had just sold out of the popular fried green tomatoes). The burrata was served with a very interesting crushed walnut dust along with some fresh beets that worked really well together. I highly recommend it. For entrees, we went with seafood. The red snapper was delightfully presented with excellent garnishments of tomato and cucumber. The cod, while not as aesthetically prepared, was fresh, delicate, and tasty.
As mentioned earlier, the white Italian wine selection was very good, quite complex, and served pleasingly chilled. Not outrageously priced either.
Give this place a try… great for a date.

Mixed green salad & fried green tomatoes were disappointing. Squash was very garlicky. Crab cakes were phenomenal. Good ambiance and service. I’ve also been here for lunch and the omelettes were a hit.

August Restaurant would have received 4 stars if the waiter that tended to us wasn’t so sour and unpleasant to deal with from the moment we arrived. I ordered a starter and entrée and he brought out both together while giving my starter to another guest in our party. He didn’t seem to care about the snafu. Also, it’s rather unprofessional to complain to your co-​worker about the table your working while they are still seated — that did not go unnoticed.
The food, décor and ambiance of the patrons are lovely and a welcome addition to the area.

August is one of my favorite brunch spots. The old location was probably one of the best outdoor/​indoor spaces in NYC, so I was sad to see the move! That being said, the new pictures look gorgeous and I’m sure the food is as good as it was back in the day. I have not been back to try the new location, but have it on my to-​do list next time I’m in the city.

The food is great, different and perfect combinations. The waitperson was super friendly and attentive. The only reason the restaurant didn’t get 5 stars was the person that greatet us at the door. She did everything to convince us NOT to eat here just because we had kids with us. The arguments:
1. We don’t have high chairs
2. We don’t know if we can fit your stroller
3. Our wifi is «down». And when she gave us the password she wrote it wrong but it didn’t require a rocket scientist to figure it out.
4. And generally just rude!
But avoid her at eat there! It’s great!

KenScale: 8.0÷10
August had been a perennial date spot in West Village before shutting down abruptly due to rent hike. I have never had a chance to check out the place, but fortunately it was reborn on the Upper East Side nearby Barneys. I’m glad that it has started its second life, because my recent dining experience was quite satisfying.
It’s hard to categorize the food at August; perhaps American bistro with French accent would probably be the closest description. I really don’t care either since the soulful dishes coming from the kitchen can make you smile. I’ve had some outstanding burrata dishes in New York City, but the one at August that came with sweet onion crumble and pickled ramps was another winner, and I can’t stop thinking about that delicious crumble! Hamachi crudo with avocado mousse, snow peas and lime sorbet also had very nice touch, with juicy crudo that had citrusy flavor working very well together. North Atlantic cod with lemon broth and sea beans felt somewhat overcooked but it nonetheless had clean flavor. I was also a fan of the roast duck, with the combination of sliced breast working so well with apricot purée and warm radish salad and making me think when was the last time I had a duck dish this good. For dessert, go with the crème brulee, While it doesn’t look fancy, the combination of yogurt and lavender won me over as well as my dining companion, who declared it the best crème brulee she’s had in her life.
I can’t speak of how the ambiance has changed at the restaurant compared to its old days on Bleecker Street, but the dining room is still modern without being stuffy. The restaurant has a full bar with some interesting cocktail choices. I had no problem getting a reservation a week in advance. If you happen to be walking by Upper East Side (perhaps after a museum tour or shopping at one of the department stores), do check out August. It will surprise with you some flavor and texture.

I pass by August every time I end work and I’ve always wanted to come in here. Always looks so intimate and beautiful.
I haven’t tried the food yet, but came in here one night after work with a friend for a night cap. The service behind the bar wasn’t that great. There was only one couple drinking and just me and my friend.
We had to get the bartender’s attention a couple of times as we only had about an hour left to order our drinks before they were closing.
They seemed to have really delicious sounding cocktail drinks but because of the time, I ordered the usual: a Riesling. It was kinda dry… but did its job.
I’ll be back though.

I’d say this is 4.5 stars but since there’s no option for that, I’m giving this a 4, in spite of this being the best thing to happen to the UES in 4 or 5 years. I want to see it survive so please tell all your New York friends to give it a try. 59^th and 63^rd St. subway 1 – 3 blocks, so there’s no excuse not try it if you’re one of those «don’t venture above 14^th» types.
I went once for drinks and appetizers the night I arrived on ¹²⁄₂ and once for dinner a week later.
The mixologist/​bartender/​informal sommelier is *amazing*. He knows a lot about food, wine and booze and is an NYU-​trained actor well-​versed on international affairs to boot. I.e. a highly educated, cultured, talented New Yorker who knows the elite restaurant and bar scene in the city and finds himself now working on the UES because August had to leave Bleecker Street in the W Village.
There’s so much to say, but I’ve taken a blogging break so realistically won’t devote a whole blog on Victorian Chick to August, so here’s my take:
PROs:
1) Gorgeous. I wouldn’t change a centimeter. The granite bar with the white/​green placemats is beyond charming. It’s modern but cozy, sleek but unpretentious décor. The old brick from Pane e Vino is still there, but the place looks nothing like the mediocre Italian which finally closed its doors sometime in October.
2) Specialty cocktail list is not overly long but very good. As the bartender said to me and my friend, specialty cocktails have gone crazy in the city. No cocktail needs 14 ingredients. The NYT did a hilarious piece recently about the problem with cocktails in high-​end restaurants, which I highly recommend and have reread several times. Great writing.
Single large ice cubes are common these days, but he uses this contraption that produces a work of art in your glass. Fun to watch.
Wines by the glass are pricey but bottles not so bad.
3) Appetizers are great and mid-​teens.
The tuna tartare isn’t like everywhere else in the city: a big circle of tuna atop a layer of avocado. That’s gotten very old. This is a work of art though not very large. And it’s not just pretty to look at: it’s a delicious and innovative interpretation of a New American standard all over the country.
The Jerusalem artichoke soup is exquisite. One dummy walked in and asked if the restaurant was kosher because it happens to be the first listed appetizer. We had a good laugh about that.
4) Roasted chicken: This is quite simply the best chicken I’ve eaten in any restaurant anywhere. It’s actually the bargain of the menu because double the size of most entrees (25), so if you’re hungry that’s your best bet. Black truffles and the perfect sauce.
Artcic char with purée looked good and my friend seemed to enjoy it, but there weren’t enough potatoes for someone who skipped lunch and some of the other entrees looked a bit slight, though by no means old nouvelle.
Brunch is popular (or was when it was in the Village), so if you want heavier fare at August, I’d suggest going for brunch.
5. The hummus and yogurt that comes with the toasted dill bread (I don’t even know what to call it, but it’s kind of a thick cracker like Rye Krisp but not) is amazing. I usually hate it when restaurants get cute with the bread basket but I could eat cups of that hummus and yogurt and a basket or two of whatever that toast/​bread is.
CON (just one):
August is loud primetime. By loud, I don’t mean Tao loud, but it’s hard to hear. I ate dinner around 8PM Monday (drinks were 10PM Tues so it was quiet) and if you were with three people at a four-​top, you’d essentially be able to speak only to one of your friends. Apparently in the push to open, the restaurant’s powers that be elected not to install adequate insulation.
This was a mistake. If you are an upscale restaurant on 62^nd and Lex, far more innovative than other restaurants in the area, and you want to induce old rich people in the hood to branch out, you have to make it possible for them to hear. Old people go deaf and often wear hearing aids.
Unless the old August devotees with perfect hearing plan to schlep up to the UES for dinner (and we saw a group of six wealthy young wives – huge rocks on their hands, 5 definitely WASPy blondes you can imagine having attended Chapin or Miss Porter’s – or perhaps Brearly if brainy), August has to pull in people from the UES.
It’s loud even by downtown non-​lounge standards. By UES standards, it’s almost deafening. A friend formerly in the restaurant biz said that short of closing down and installing insulation (expensive but possible after-​the-​fact), there are other ways to mitigate sound problems. For instance, something can be put under the tables and chairs.
I think you’re probably better off at the banquettes. In the middle zone with the two and four-​tops, it’s crazy loud.
For two (entrees only) and bottle of wine, it was 133 pre-​tip. Not bad at all for this area and a restaurant this beautiful.