Café Forant

Closing soon in January.
The restaurant is extremely small, and filled with regulars. They were setting up for a party of 10 so they suggested we leave our number and they’d call once a table became available. 15 minutes later, we got a call saying our table was ready because the large party was a no-​show.
We had come mostly because we were gifted a Groupon that had expired. But knowing that expired Groupons can be used for face value, we had hoped to enjoy the crab cake benedict with the cash value. Sadly, we were informed that due to a dispute they are no longer accepting Groupons. What the crap is that!!! Good thing they refund coupons that aren’t honored.
Regardless of the dispute the crab benedict came out wonderful, tasty, and perfectly made. There are countless other establishments who can’t even figure out how to properly poach an egg.
The people who work there seem nice and it sounds like they’re all moving to better careers.

Everything about my meal and experience here (with a Groupon) was 5 star worthy, except for the garnish on all the dishes. I know, weird complaint, but hear me out.
I purchased the groupon for the 3 course brunch or dinner, and of course did not properly read the fine print to see that I couldn’t use it for brunch on the weekends. oh well, my mistake, i can make a weekday work before it expires, and i did. I sympathize with fellow grouponers who were unable to properly redeem their groupons, but when it comes down to it, trying to redeem at the end of the promotional period or on the wrong days will always lead to problems, and since I redeemed mine completely hassle free on a weekday a week before expiration, I sympathize a little less.
The space is small, nestled below street level, and adorable. We were the only patrons present on a lovely rainy morning, so we enjoyed having the space to ourselves. To start I opted for the curry cauliflower soup and the bf got the turkey chili. Both were delicious. I loved the flavor of my soup… but the garnish was a thick and dry spice/​herb (it reminded me of rosemary, but it didn’t look much like it, so i don’t know what it was). Unfortunately, the warmth and moisture of the soup did not quench the spice and I didn’t enjoy the barky crunch of it so I finished all of my soup except the parts that still held the garnish. I know, picky complaint, but it made my soup a little less enjoyable.
For the entrees I went with the smoked salmon benedict and the bf got the chicken and spinach crêpe special. Both came with a side salad and breakfast potatoes. Both were delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The smoked salmon wasn’t cooked from the heat of the eggs. Ideal, really. Unfortunately, they added the spice garnish to the eggs and the potatoes again. It was still too firm for my tastes and so it diminished the greatness of their food. (they totally didn’t need the garnish!).
For dessert we shared a warm brownie (no garnish in sight!) and it was decadent.
In all, it was a great brunch, and I would gladly go back and try more things on the menu, but I would ask for there to be no garnishes (I still can’t get over how awful I must sound complaining about garnishes, but they weren’t easily removable since they were small and nestled in the sauces).

As with others, I made this mistake of buying a Groupon for this restaurant (which is no longer open for dinner).
On my third try to visit the restaurant when it was open, we were greeted with an obnoxious sign saying «Groupons will be accepted as a $ 22 value on the weekends. And please be nice.» Of course the Groupons *cost* $ 22, but were supposed to cover a 3-​course brunch for 2. Without the Groupon, that would cost far more. And you want me to be gracious about you allowing me to spend more money with you?
Café Forant, not only are you blatantly violating the terms of your agreement with Groupon, but you are also alienating potential customers. If I had a good meal, I would’ve likely come back without a Groupon. Now, though, based on my experience and the similar experiences posted here, I will go out of my way never to give you a dime.

Wish I could comment on the food, since I was looking forward to it. I trekked all the way out to the middle of nowhere only to be told very rudely that they would not honor my Groupon and to «go get a refund if you’re not happy.»
Very unfortunate.

Absolutely a gem in Hell’s Kitchen. A neighborhood eatery that caters to the local neighborhood. Stepping inside I feel ilke i’m in the south of france having provincial local eats. Great brunch. Authentic french bistro food. I can lazily spend a late morning and early afternoon here drinking my coffee and enjoying my food with the weekend ny times newspaper that is complimentary here. Great outdoor space in the summer right on a quiet block and sidewalk. The service was great and many a customer was known by name as they had their meal. A sign of repeat visits means its great food, affordable price, and great atmosphere. On occassion you can see the owners lil cute dog lazily sleeping or walking around to great and play with customers. How cute!
On to the food. Had many a brunch here and you can’t go wrong with any of the omlettes or poached eggs. The classic eggs benedict, smoked salmon benedict or the chicken hash with poached eggs were delicious. The right balance of richness and amount of hollandaise. On one visit my poached egg came cracked and well done so they provided me with another poached egg that was poached correctly at no request from myself. Great service! Their baked goods were buttery and great tasting as well. Go for the scones and croissant bread pudding. Heaven. Great strong hot coffee, thirst quenching cranberry ice tea.
I have had their french onion soup in the winter which was warming but i must come back for a full dinner to see what they provide. Update to come I’m sure as i’m becoming a regular.

What an adorable place tucked on a quiet street in Hell’s Kitchen.
Like other reviewers have stated, staff here are extremely friendly and kind. The no-​frill style of hospitality really animate here. My boyfriend and I got the Groupon deal for two salads, two entrees and a shared desserts. We order a caesar salad, king salmon while he ordered the garden salad and flank steak. Everything was excellent except for the flank steak, which was inexcusably chewy and cold. Both of us got mashed potato and grilled Brussels sprouts for our sides. They were tasty although we could have used some gravy.
The true highlight of the meal was the fresh hot bread pudding, which was an absolute delight. I would go back to this place just to have that dessert.
Of course, remember that this place is ‘cash only’.

Wow! I am shock to see all the rave reviews for this French-​wanna-​be café. Are those people mad?! Strange! Anyway, I came here for dinner a few weeks ago with a Groupon and was immediately hit with a guilt trip from the owner… like, oh we had so many groupons eater today that we ran out of food, so we can’t serve you anymore… ok? I came all the way to this hole in the wall in the secluded side of Hell’s Kitchen just to be turned away because they couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain? Fine, I had no choice but to leave and return another day; otherwise, I’ll lose the money I’d paid to Groupon and this place.
So, I came back the following week and learned that they are… oh, closed for the entire week for their summer vacation. btw, it’s the same week that my Groupon expires. Great, now what?!
I returned tonight to see if they could still honor my Groupon since they had closed all of last week. Again, the owner came out and denied me of redeeming the special offer from Groupon and told me to contact them for a refund instead. I told them that I tried to use it before the expiration date, but they were closed all last week. Her response was too bad, there’s nothing we can do for ya. Plus, they’ve been serving too many Grouponers that they’re tired and don’t want to do it anymore. sigh… then, why in the world did they sign a deal with Groupon, twice?! Since, I’m not the confrontational type and it’s just too damn hot in that place to argue that I just left. In the end, I didn’t have a chance to sample their food.
But, really I lost my appetite as their bad attitude about the whole Groupon thing stank up the place and left a bitter taste in my mouth. There are way too many other charming delicious restaurants in NYC, so don’t even bother with this out-​of-​touch mom and pop place. Au revoir!

The food is lovely, but even more lovely are the women who own this place and make you feel like you’re home. It really is literally walking into their home kitchen and having them act as if you walk in every day.
I had the sweet potato galette with ham and eggs ($ 15), which was comforting though not mindblowing. The bf had eggs benedict ($ 15), which looked absolutely perfect.
After we had settled up and were getting ready to leave, one of the 3 ladies stopped us and said, «Sit back down. The cobbler just came out of the oven and you need to try it.» UHHAMAZING. Their bread pudding looked totally enticing, but I have to say that piping hot cranberry cobbler, spooned from the single ceramic dish into a little bowl right in front of you, really hits the spot even if you’re halfway to exploding with food already.
I only came here because of Groupon (the location is entirely out of my way…) but I’d try to come back, just because of how wonderful our experience was. The owners’ warmth is just infectious. The food by itself (and at that price!) doesn’t really hit 5 stars — but Café Forant can’t be beat for a perfect homey brunch with a French country feel.

When I was browsing the deals on my Groupon ap I realized I had bought one for Café Forant that was about to expire on July 4^th. Since my dad is in town for a few days I figured this would be a good time to use it after some fun with guns at the West Side Rifle Range. You work up an appetite after firing off a few hundred rounds!
When we walked up to this place in the Hells Kitchen area we noticed that the whole front was opened, which surprised us since it was over 90 degrees out at that point. Yup, they don’t seem to have any AC and had set up some fans to help cool down the place. We decided to take a seat right near one of the fans blowing on us, and even though still warm, was not too bad to deal with.
I must say that the staff here is super friendly, and make you feel like you’re eating at a family or friends place. Café Forant is a tiny bistro hole in the wall that is a terrific little brunch spot. A few tables out by the sidewalk and maybe a half dozen inside. They happily accepted our Groupon which included appetizers, entrees, and a dessert for two. It was valued at $ 64 so at the $ 22 fee I paid it was a nifty deal. Since it was 2pm on a Friday we pretty much had the place to ourselves, and happily chatted with the owner Lea and our waitress as our meals were being prepared. It had to be way hot in that kitchen so big props go out to Lea for soldiering through it.
Since it was hot as heck out we went with garden salads over soup. Came with a mustard vinaigrette dressing that had a nice kick to it. As entrees we both ordered the omelet of the day which was feta and tomato. I love that bit of saltiness that feta offers and the omelets were hearty and filling. Seasoned potatoes, multi — grain toast with jam, and salad also came on the plate. Their home brewed cranberry iced tea was totally refreshing on this sweltering day. The dessert was a moist cheesecake that came drizzled with nutella on top. Oh yeah, nutella makes any dessert taste better!
I couldn’t have been more pleased with this Groupon deal, as it was well worth the $ 22 price tag. Might have been a bit pricey otherwise for brunch though without it.
Café Forant is a cozy little place that is perfect for a casual brunch for two with terrific service and tasty homemade food. Quaint exposed brick walls, old school tin ceiling, pictures and little accents here and there help bring out the warm ambiance and home style vibe that the owner and staff conveys.
Also, be warned that it is cash only here!

Had a spectacular brunch here, when we just popped in for a bite. The staff is utterly charming — funny, efficient & always going the extra mile to make sure one feels cared for. (I noticed they remembered names & were extremely welcoming to regular & newbies alike.)
The food was totally divine. I said to my husband, «This omelet tastes like it was made by Angels in Heaven. Seriously.» I highly recommend the chorizo-​manchego omelet. Also, the ham & Gruyère crêpe comes with a sherry sauce that is slap-​yo-​mama good. Those were two of the specials available today, but if they can do that well on two of their specials, I would guess each special is truly deserving of the name.
Go prepared to get to know your server, your neighbor and your dining companions — this kind of deliciousness makes you feel like hugging the world!!!
We will definitely be back!!!

I went here this morning around 11:30 AM for brunch, while I was on my way to Eatery for brunch. I just moved into an apartment down the street, and as we walked by we saw this little hole in the wall.
I have to say that the most remarkable thing about this place was the service. I would say that it is possibly the best service I have ever gotten in the city. We really were made to feel at home, and the server was unbelievably friendly. The coffee was good and I ordered the omelet special (mozzarella and pesto). I asked for egg whites and they said sure for no extra charge, but insisted on putting one yolk in. It came with a small side salad, breakfast potatoes, and two slices of wheat toast. All were absolutely delicious. My friend ordered a sandwich with ham and cheese and an egg on top (the madame something — can’t remember the exact name). Everything was absolutely delicious.
All in all, I couldn’t recommend this place more highly. It is small, quaint, has some outdoor seating, and remarkably friendly staff. Interesting food choices without being very «out there», and all the food was perfect.
Only downside is that it is cash only.

Summary: Cute little brunch spot that reminds me of Tartine’s in the West Village, but not quite. The staff if friendly and service is un-​rushed. It’s hidden without door seating.
Atmosphere: As the title suggests its a café off the beaten path in Hell’s Kitchen. You really wouldn’t know it’s there unless you’re walking from the dessert of 10^th Avenue back towards 9^th Ave. Outdoors is nice as it is on the tree-​lined portion of the block. Indoors is a cute little tiny place. Because most of the seating is outdoors, I would preference this place in nice weather. It looks like it would be a pretty tight fit in the winter months. I could see this having the proper ambiance to be romantic.
The Service: They know the menu well here. Service is very nice, but a little on the slow side for brunch. That can be nice, as other popular locations are quite mechanized as they try to churn people out.
The Food: If you’re looking for plain old eggs and bacon, this is not your place. If you’re looking for something a little different, I would recommend this location. The Sweet Potato pancake was an excellent choice. The crab benedict was solidly good. However, Taboon, down the way has a better offering.
To me, Tartine’s in the West Village is the closest comp to all three categories. It does not quite compare. Taboon down the street in the same neighborhood is slightly better in the way of food, but it’s a totally different type of brunch, so hard to compare. Overall 4 stars. I will definitely be back and especially to try them for dinner.

It kind of pains me to give this place a low review because the service and atmosphere were so wonderful. Even in the winter cold we felt like we were outside enjoying a nice dinner in the middle of spring. But the food was just too sub-​par to go unnoticed.
Luckily we had a Groupon, or we would have been very, very upset. 70 dollars (without the Groupon) would have bought us two salads, two entrees, and a dessert. My friend got the Shrimp du Jour and I got the salmon. Almost everything on both of our plates tasted exactly the same, and unfortunately that taste was very bland. We both found ourselves dousing our plates in salt and pepper just to have a little bit of flavor. The dessert, a chocolate strawberry tart, was pretty good, though also kind of plain and a little dense.
The cooking just wasn’t impressive. I definitely have made better dinners in my own home. However, the majority of the five-​star excellent reviews they have are for brunch, so maybe dinner just isn’t their thing.
I would maybe go back for brunch, but definitely not for that price.

The service and the atmosphere was as friendly as it gets and it made our visit quite enjoyable. However I was disappointed with the food. Everything was pretty bland; especially the sides with the mac and cheese and the broccoli lacking the most taste. The entrees itself was a little better. We ordered the:
Grilled Flank Steak ($ 15.95) — I made the mistake of ordering it medium well which was too overdone for it. I should have ordered a level less to keep some tenderness. It was still decent though.
Shrimp du Jour ($ 16.95) — Definitely the best dish we had. The shrimp was good and had the blend of seasoning gave it a nice flavor.

I’m not quite sure that when I did a search for desserts while dining at a local establishment, Forant didn’t come up. I say this because, it’s a perfect spot to grab a quick bite or dessert on the go. And really tasty too.
The bread pudding was made from croissants and tasted as buttery and decadent as you’d think. And while the brownies were served directly out of a baking dish, they were really rich, moist and delicious. Maybe not the prettiest presentation, but damn was it good.
They also do a homemade lavender syrup that makes lavender lemonade that I tasted. And yeah, pretty delicious. The guy said that it mixes well with vodka, but I thought whiskey or gin would work well too. Yum.
I’m not sure what this place is like for an actual meal, but I’m looking forward to checking it out.

Nice neighborhood, french inspired café… worth seeking out. Daughter had Nutella crêpe and I had Croque Madame. We sat outside, as they have tables along the sidewalk, but only because the AC was out inside. Seems like a review from May said the same thing about the AC. Probably time to get that fixed.
The owner was super nice, and really made you feel welcome. My daughter said it was the best crêpe she had ever eaten, and she’s had quite a few. The croque was on buttery texas style toast with plenty of ham, emmentaler cheese and a fried egg on top. Not good for you I’m guessing, but a joy to eat nonetheless.
We took a chocolate chip cookie for the road and a cherry scone. The cookie was very good. The scone was just so-​so. I’d go back again next time I’m in the area!

5 stars for friendly neighborhood caring service
3.5 stars for food
it’s a small restaurant close to 10^th Ave with two cooks in the kitchen and a server in front who is quite kind.
I loved that the food is cooked fresh right after you order. You can tell because the server takes your order and turns around to relay the message to the cook staff right after. I trusted Unilocal and ordered the chicken hash with poached egg. Food came out piping hot. Overall, the potatoes tasted like a fresh home-​cooked meal– accompanied with whole wheat toast, I felt healthy eating here!
after eating out at so many places in Manhattan, there are the places with good, great, and not so great food. The food here is decent but what stands out to me about this place or why I would return is because of the caring staff. You can tell that the people who come here are regulars. I even saw the server in front get up to help a lady out the door with her groceries. Café Forant, thanks for demonstrating such stellar customer service to your patrons.

Food very good
Service good
Drinks lacking — I don’t think they really have a liquor license, they serve mimosas and bloody marys. We tried the bloody mary, which at $ 6 was a bargain but was only average.
Traditional Eggs Benedict was very good
Crabcake eggs benedict was average. The crab cake was mostly filler/​breading.
The crows is very Hells Kitchen if you know what I mean…

Knowing that I would be spending a day in the upper west side, I wanted to pick a cute place to have breakfast with my girlfriend in the area. Café Forant came up as one of the first choices in my handy dandy iPhone Unilocal app so I bookmarked it and today, off we went!
Located off 10^th avenue, you could easily walk past this place if you’re going too fast. It’s an adorable little restaurant that you step down into. Exposed brick walls, a classic metal ceiling, little knick knacks on shelves along the walls and small tables make this a wonderful spot for a couple to share a meal.
Service was super friendly and quick, which given the rush we were caught up in was really nice to see.
I had read about the crab cake eggs benedict so that was definitely on order for my girlfriend (who loooves crab cakes, possibly more than I do). I ordered the grilled chicken hash. Both dishes came with a small side salad of greens and carrots with a nice mustard dressing. My dish included a slice of rye toast while my girlfriend got some wonderful roasted potatoes.
The crab cake eggs benedict was absolutely wonderful. The crab cake was not greasy at all and went perfectly with the english muffin and eggs. To be fair, this was not a Maryland crabcake, but for the «New York City style» of crab cake, it was very well seasoned and the texture was nice and crispy on the outside with a good chew on the inside. The included potatoes were very tasty and had a great bite to them.
My grilled chicken has was tasty, with a wonderful rosemary flavor permeating the dish. The salad was tasty and fresh while the toast was nicely toasted. The coffee I ordered as my drink was quite tasty as well.
I will echo one sentiment expressed in other reviews, the prices are a tad high for what you get in terms of quantity. I would say each dish should have really been $ 2 – 3 less given the quantity of food given compared to say, what you would get in a good diner.
If you’re looking for a cute little breakfast spot with some tasty food and a nice atmosphere, this is a good option.

I’m so glad that my friend suggested that we go here for brunch instead of your typical over-​hyped NYC brunch spot. The place is small and cozy, however we were able to snag a table outside. Service was quick and friendly. I ordered the croque monsieur and my friend ordered the eggs benedict. Both were served with a small salad and potatoes. I have to tell you, this was probably one of the best brunches I’ve had in the ‘nabe. Only one problem, I found a piece of saran wrap in the middle of my sandwich. Double ugh. But yeah, it was so good that I removed it and continued eating. I definitely was part of the CPC!* Oh, and they will refill your iced coffee for free.
Remember to bring cash as they do not accept credit cards!
*Clean Plate Club