West Branch

Only been once and it was for lunch, but I had their Cubano Sandwich, and I have to say, it rocked my world. The best I’ve ever had by far. I still have dreams about it. My wife had a salad which was just okay– which leads me to believe they may be a tad hit and miss, although we did share an apple crumble for dessert which wasn’t too shabby, so I’m lead to believe more hit than miss. Service and décor are both solid. But please believe me when I say that Cubano is worth the trip all by itself.

LOVED this relatively new UWS spot. It’s been around for at least a year now but I haven’t tried it yet because I hadn’t heard any reviews at all. On Saturday night my boyfriend and I were perusing OpenTable for open reservations because I wanted to use my $ 20 voucher they had sent me, and on a whim I chose West Branch, well mainly cause they had an available table for the time we wanted, but also because I had been meaning to try it at some point anyway…
From the moment we got there we were impressed. The hostess said we had a choice from 3 different tables, which she proceeded to show us. I have never been asked where I would like to sit before! We chose the romantic corner table in its own little nook. It was perfect. We started off with an AMAZING mushroom puff pastry appetizer. We ordered it because it was the only one we both were most curious about. Boy were we glad we did! The mushrooms were perfectly cooked, and the bacon and shallots added an extra intense flavor. We were both dreaming about it the next morning.
For our entrees I ordered the Trout and my boyfriend got the «Pasta al Forno.» Both were delicious and we were overall very impressed. For not being an «italian» restaurant, they did pasta quite well and the sauce was seasoned perfectly. We shared the leftovers the next morning, which were great cold! The wine I drank was great as well, especially at $ 7 a glass, which is rare for most restaurants these days for a decent glass of wine. Will definitely be back to try one of the other million things the menu has to offer.

Had dinner last night at West Branch and although we had a reservation, we waited almost an our to get seated. This was made up to us with a bottle of wine, which was nice.
The appetizers that we ordered included the chicken liver mousse, a cold mousse served with garlic croutons and chopped onions to place on top. The mouse was light and there was a layer of cold fat on top, which added a depth of flavor. The oyster pan roast seemed to have too many ingredients on it and although it was tasty, it was hard to pick out the oysters from the tomato, bacon, and mushroom. The mushroom vol-​au-​vent was great, very buttery and enough bacon to add a smoky flavor but not too much to obscure the mushrooms and puff pastry. The mussels in tomato saffron broth were great, comparable to the some of the better mussels I’ve had in New York. The special risotto last night was lobster mushroom and the risotto was cooked perfectly and the lobster was tender and sweet. The caesar was good and there was enough dressing to cover the lettuce but not drown it.
After the appetizers, we were already full but the dinner courses came. The Cuban panini was made with braised pork, and the chunks of meat were soft and pulled apart easily, although I couldn’t taste the pepperoncini in the sandwich. The gnocci with pork shoulder was very good, but the gnocci really came through in the dish like little pillows of fluffiness in your mouth that melted, and the pork was almost a secondary thought, even though it was cooked perfectly. The spicy sauteed calamari in tomato sopressata sauce was good, the calamari were chewy but not rubbery, and the sauce was nice.
We did not have any room for dessert but the meal was very nice. The lighting of the main dining room was on the darker side with candles on the table. The service was good and the place was packed on Saturday night. Some of the tables around us were very loud but as they left, the ambiance became more pleasant. There are only 3 bathrooms in the restaurant as one is broken. Overall, I would eat here again and it is a good place on the UWS to have dinner.

Pleasantly surprised! My friend and I walk by here all the time, and finally one night decided to stop in. The risotto special was amazing, as was the asparagus appetizer with poached egg.
Steak frites is a popular item on the menu. The skate and roasted chicken are other excellent choices.
The screaming child… not so great!

We were staying at On The Ave last month and on our first morning, we walked in for breakfast.
I liked the «look» of the place, the hostess was smiling, we had a good night’s sleep, it was our first day of vacation, etc etc.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations. We had omelet’s, a side of fruit and coffee. Our server was ok, but he could’ve smiled and/​or pretended to like his job!
The fruit & coffee were good and the bread that we started with was excellent. The omelet’s lacked flavor and were over cooked. We didn’t return again during our five day stay.

I expected more from a restaurant opened up by restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow and executive chef Tom Valenti.
I appreciate the fact that Tom Valenti will take traditional throw away foods like fried gizzards and offer them as appetizers. But at the end of the day, the West Branch is still an overpriced bistro serving bar food in an «upscale» environment. It becomes pretentious.
Balthazar can pull it off but West Branch can’t.
Skip this place and head over to Tom’s other restaurant, Ouest a few blocks north instead.
Cheers!
N.

This 4 stars is for the lunch of the cuban panini!
Absolutely amazing and tasted so good with the home made pork shoulder that was super moist. The ham, pickles and cheese were really tasty as well. The fries were perfect and had the right amount of Salt and a little side of ketchup.
The place is quiet at lunch along this stretch of Broadway on the upper west side.

I’ll be honest – I am tempted to rate West Branch 5 stars for the simple reason that I really believe that the current overall 3.5 star rating is too low and completely unfair. It is, indeed, 4 star good.
We’ve been before, months ago, and shame on us for not reporting earlier about the juicy, tender, perfectly seasoned fried quail and the beautifully seared cod with super-​fresh succotash at ridiculously affordable prices.
We’re Ouest fans and while West Branch isn’t as elevated as Valenti’s other dining room, it is probably, honestly, a somewhat better value for the price-​sensitive customer. And with a quieter dining room and better service, it’s a perfect first date dinner spot or a place for a small family.
So tonight, Thanksgiving night, after passing up the prix fixe at Blaue Gans, we went up to UWS for their turkey plate special. Where were you people? The dining room was ¾ths empty. $ 27 got you an open face turkey breast sandwich on thinly slice brioche toast with stuffing, a side of cranberry-(pear? rhubarb?) sauce and mashed potatoes with turkey gravy. An ala carte menu was also available. The turkey was very moist and tender, well seasoned and the stuffing was to die for. As for the portion sizes – I received 15 slices of turkey breast and barely was able to make a dent in my plate. My husband somehow plowed through his meal, a feat I am sure he will regret mightily in two hours. I came home with about a pound of leftovers. Really, we could have ordered one meal and split it. When does that happen in NYC’s better restaurants? Never.
Look, go to West Branch and you will probably love it for what it is – good food at good prices. And if you don’t, (a) you either need to eat at Per Se for your every meal or (b) the kitchen is having an off night and you should send your meal back rather than just Unilocaling about it © or you are a tool.

Went here late on Friday night… (yes, I constantly break this rule) still got surprisingly good food and good service!
Took my gf and her mom who was visiting from LA pretty late at around 10:20… we called ahead, they seated us and even waited for a bit before we ordered.
Shared order of steak frites and collard greens for the girls and the pork shoulder gnocchi for me. BWAHHHHH! I love my pork and that was porky tender goodness. Steak was solid too.
GF tried my dish and said the gnocchi was great and the sauce was quite nice. The waiter said that their specialties were the fish dishes and the burger so I’ll have to go back and try those sometime.
PQR is good. It’s toward the expensive side but worth the price you pay.
When I was there, people were relaxed and place still had a decent amount of people hanging out… I can see how it can be much louder during rush but it wasn’t crowded and people that complain about spacing need to get over themselves. It’s NYC… and for Manhattan that’s plenty spacious. Would definitely go back.

seafood salad starter was fresh and refreshing
trout preparation gets a 9.5 /​10
skate also was a winner, but the trout was better
mojito was ⁷⁄₁₀
staff was friendly and helpful… my waiter had 2 degrees from yale… the ambience was citified… but too noisy… unfortunately we were sitting next to a female piercing magpie

I’ve been to West Branch for dinner and brunch.
Dinner is a steal — the quality of the food is wonderful and at very reasonable prices! The burger is delectable.
Brunch was good… bloody marys were amazing, but at $ 11 they should be. I had a scrambled eggs/​cream cheese/​lox dish that was really yummy.
The service was good and it was easy to get a table, which is a plus in this ‘hood, and I’ll remember that the next time I’m looking for decent quality and wonderful bloody marys in a relatively low key environment.

Two words: Cheesy Pouffs
OK, honestly boyfriend and I keep coming back here to sit at the bar and have kronenbergs and cheesy poufs (aka gougeres). we have never sat at a proper table there, always make sure to eat at the bar. Nice wine list, amazing bartenders. Love to stop here when it’s just the two of us.
Three stars because: average age of the clientele is … well … older. But the atmosphere is still upbeat — décor is old school bistro-​ish. We have a hard time leaving that place without dropping $ 100 for 2. Would not suggest the paninis as they are pretty greasy. Burger is good, the duck confit last night was outrageous. The gnocchi when we had it was tasty (though it’s not the same one that is on the menu now). But, really, you should come for the cheesy pouffs and the bartenders.
If I could give it 3 ½ stars I would.
and p. s. the bread is served warm. I think it’s slices of foccaccia? whatever it is, YUM

I have been to West Branch twice, and although my experience there is somewhat limited I can sum up the highlights of my trips there with this: Great beer, great fish & chips, friendly bartenders!
Portions of the menu look a little bit pricey, but since I have not tried the food beyond the delicious fish & chips, I will reserve my judgement on how appropriately the price to quality ratio is set up.
The atmosphere is good for the post-​work colleague crowd as well as a group of friends. It somehow manages to look very classy without feeling pretentious (hence my previous comment). I think this is because of the friendly staff.
A bonus: last time I walked past I noticed the seasonal outdoor seating (which I have not experienced there) has been set up in full. :) Ah, summer in NYC… I will no doubt be making a return trip soon…

A little disappointed with my first experience at WB last night. I had high expectations and definitely felt a little let down.
The place was full, which is great — the crowd was a little older, but seemed lively and out for a good time. The hosts were pleasant and had us seated for an 8:30 reservation promptly. Service after that was questionable — at best. Our waitress seemed relatively uninterested and was not very good with the usual rapport. Over the course of the night we were pretty much ignored… we were brought one round of drinks and never offered another. Our food was delivered by a runner… we didn’t see our waitress again until she hastily dropped off the dessert menus. In short — service = not good.
I have somewhat mixed review of the food. The fish-​n-​chips were really pretty excellent. Crispy, hearty, flaky… everything they should be. Well done! Just don’t skimp on the malt vinegar next time.
The (highly recommended) calves liver and sweetbreads was a bit more of a disappointment. With no accompanying starch (polenta, mash, etc.) the dish was overpoweringly rich. I could have ordered a side, but the waitress never made this suggestion so I was unaware there would be no accompaniment. The sweetbreads were rubbery and bland, the liver — not so bad.
West Branch could be a really good add to the neighborhood if the wait staff starts to give a damn and the kitchen ups the game a little.

Met friends for a late Sunday night meal here at their suggestion. Beausoleils were perfection. Kumamotos a step down from there, but only by a shade. I ordered the house special side car, bourbon and crushed berries, interesting take on an old classic and one that complimented the oysters.
Sampled my DH’s Gnocci of veal and pumpkin, which was phenomenal. Sampled too my friend’s hanger steak, absolutely delicious. I’d ordered the skate, which was fresh and brightly flavored. Dessert was peanut butter cookies with chocolate pot de crème. Rich and not all the flavorful, waste of calories. I took 3 bites and drank my decaf cappucino thinking about how those 3 bites probably were the same nutrition density as my dinner.
Ah well, it was kinda fun to play with the food. The pot comes full up with chocolate on which you pour ontop a measure of heavy cream. There are only 2 cookies that come with the dessert, chintzy. Should have been at least 3 cookies to balance out the pot of chocolate. Our server brought us 2 more since we asked nicely.
If you crumble all the cookies into the cream and chocolate pot, it makes a soggy soup. Do not do this. Dip your spoon in the chocolate cream concoction and crumble a bit of the cookie onto the spoon and eat.
Nice place, excellent service, phenomenal bread. Good but still, I wasn’t especially floored by the place. I’d go again to please friends and this time order my own pasta and steak.

Go hungry. You’ll need your appetite to tackle this menu. I thought the food was very good, the service at the bar and our table was extremely friendly and attentive. The «wines by the glass» selection needs some help. We tried just about every red and settled for a jammy Red Zen. I really liked it at first, but after a few sips-​not so much.
I can’t put my finger on why I wasn’t blown away. I think the restaurant is trying to be all things to all people maybe. I think it will get it’s sea legs. It was packed on a freezing night. We traveled up from the West Village to meet our friends who live on the UES, so that says a lot for the buzz it’s receiving so far. I don’t know, I hate to give a critical review based on one visit. So, I’ll just say that the food was good.

Brilliant restaurant. The judgment of ‘casual, yet elegant’ is spot on.
Went there on a Saturday evening with my girlfriend. No reservation, but we took a seat at the bar and had a great little table within about half an hour. Cocktails and beers were very good, wine list is expansive, but the food was the real triumph.
The modern European menu wasn’t huge, but presented a wide number of options, really I could have ordered anything on there and been very happy. We had little neck clams (very fresh, very nice) and Arancini (best I’ve ever tasted) followed by mussels, and cod with fries (best I’ve had from a restaurant) and white beans with pork.
The whole meal was prefect, including friendly and appropriate level of service from everyone we came into contact with (despite the fact they were becoming very busy).
A brilliant restaurant, excellent food and lasting memory.

YO VALENTI. Thanks for opening a more casual restaurant in my hood. You and your free-​flowing greying locks rule.
I love Ouest. I loved ‘Cesca only when you were at the helm. Therefore, I love The West Branch — casual yet elegant, sophisticated yet approachable. I had one of the gougeres my dad ordered for the table and then promptly proceeded to steal four more. They were perfectly seasoned, light and meltingly airy. Your haricots verts with crème fraîche, mushrooms and lemon made me salivate for spring. The roasted trout was tangy and delicious. The crispy fried quail was a unique take on comforting fried poultry.
My only complaint is that the desserts were weak. An apple pie was plain and my mother makes better crust. My pudding-​like blanc niege could have used more bite.
Mr. Valenti, you are too cool. Thank goodness you are not too cool for our neighborhood («school»).

The culinary revision of the UWS continues in the right direction with this latest addition by Tom Valenti (Ouest etc.) The restaurant quickly filled up. Our waitress was kind but she forgot to tell us half the specials — unfortunately one of them was a favorite, «short rib». We over heard this from the male waiter (great attitude, heavy-​set) and felt it was too late to ask for it to be re-​done.
The burger is one of those super meaty — brioche types — not our favorite, but all the ingredients to absolutely everything we ate was superior quality with friendly pricing.
Atmosphere was spacious and convivial. All types. Casual to dressy.

Had a big group dinner here on Nov 4. The waiter knew everything about the menu items, including which wines would best suit what.
He recommended, rightly, the Rioja with the duck hearts and gizzards. The latter is to die for.
Funny how the hearts are served on little skewers. It was like eating yakitori for the upper-​crust set.
Oh yeah, the salad’s good too: fresh, not too soggy, slight complementary tang. You can learn so much about a place by the salad.