The Little Owl

Cute and small venue in the West village
Quiet enough to have a conversation with a friend
Friendly service
FOOD
Gravy Meatball Sliders — Pay $ 6 per slider. I just ate the meatball, but it was good. It wasn’t doused in gravy… it’s as one would expect from the name
Chilaquiles — Two sunny side eggs (think you can customize the egg prep) with ½ an avocado sliced plus tortillas on the side covered in a slightly spicy red sauce. As someone who is pretty sensitive to spice, this really didn’t have much heat. This was filling but not as flavorful as it looks
Crunchy Chicken Culet — Delicious chicken. My favorite dish
The table next to me ordered the Beignettes, which didn’t look that appealing in person. Both the beignettes and the nutella had this ‘hard’ look to them as if the former had been slightly overdone while the later had been sitting out in the air for too long.
The Little Owl wouldn’t be the first place to come to mind for brunch, but it really is a solid brunch place. Everything was as expected (hence the 3 stars since nothing really wow’ed me). It’s pricey for the flavors.

As a West Village resident, this is by far my favorite dinner spot in the New York. As a regular here, I’ll start by saying that I’m quite frankly unsure how The Little Owl hasn’t won a Michelin star yet. The menu (which is seasonal) is loaded with a number of highly revered items, with the meatball sliders, asparagus risotto, and the pork chop the consistent favorites. The gnocchi (which is usually on their winter menu) will not disappoint either. The wine list is quite extensive, with a cocktail list that expertly plays of the cuisine and vibe (that said, get the winter sangria). With that said, the menu is only half of The Little Owl experience. The space is very intimate and cozy (holding maybe 35 patrons at most), with a usually youthful and upscale crowd. From the street, the space gives off a picturesque magical, warm, and highly inviting glow that almost makes you forget your’re in Manhattan.
Don’t expect any chance of getting a table during peak hours without getting a reservation weeks in advance (or having a connection). This is also only of the most coveted restaurants in the West Village, so expect to pay for the experience. With that said, if you’re looking for a spot to impress a special someone or simply need a place to celebrate an occasion, The Little Owl is highly recommended.

This restaurant is a little gem in West Village neighborhood. If you have never been in the New York City, this will be a good place to hang around with locals. However for me, I would prefer somewhere with a bit more room. We visited without a reservation so we ended up being tucked into the corner. After the meal, we were basically blocked in and couldn’t get out. The owner and the waitress noticed this but rather than getting involved, they decided to look away. Food is good, though.

This little restaurant made me forget I was in NYC which I always love! The restaurant décor and vibe earned little owl my 3 stars. My husband and I indulged and ordered some amazing wine ($ 18 a glass). I had the asparagus risotto. It was incredibly flavorful and my two shrimps were fried to perfection! My husband’s appetizer of soft shell crab over pasta was tasty but not as creative. I wish they did more with the pasta and the sauced. It was just marinara sauce so a but disappointing in my book. The entrees were beautifully cooked by an artist. However my chicken was really salty. We ordered beignets for dessert which were dry and doughy.
All in all it was a good experience but I wish the night ended better with impeccable execution on the dessert at least

Tina and I been coming here for couple of times already, this time we decided to try their burgers. I also realized I’ve never written a review about this place.
This place is around the corner, so it’s easy to locate The Little Owl.
Interior is fine, nothing special and not that spacious. Seating arrangement looks packed, but plenty of table and chairs. People around are nice and friendly.
I had their Bacon Cheeseburger filled with Gus’s pickle, lettuce, onion and spiced fries and a glass of Orange. A perfect place to chill with your buddy while enjoying you tasty food.

Great brunch, beinettes, sourdough, egg white scramble with peas, spinach, mushrooms — all fresh, Italian hot sausage breakfast patty. Great service — attentive and helpful.
Nice.

They had me at the spoon.
I had a dish with clams[1], with a sauce so good I dipped the table bread in it. In fact, I started to drink from the bowl[2]. The staff noticed, and someone came by to offer me a spoon (hilarious since I already had one). Moments later, they came back with a straw. Yes, a straw.
That’s top-​notch service, and it was a packed house.
Convivial atmosphere, yet dim enough for a romantic rendezvous. I know I’ll be back with a date, but I’ll try not to drink from my bowl.
[1] Not into seafood? Get the meatball sliders.
[2] Partially for comic relief.

Hypes:
— What a cute quaint place in the West Village! The food was all fresh, delcious, and flavorful. Service was impeccable. Anything you order from the menu you can’t go wrong with.
— Sliders — Definitely get these. They come in a set of 3.
— The portions of the food are all reasonable to the point where you finish your meal without feeling overstuffed or still hungry.
— We ordered french fries which tasted great with the aioli.
Gripes:
— There is always a wait. So come early!

The food is always good, love their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Love it that the portion is not big and the food is always delicious. Love the cozy space, especially weekday during day time; any weather. The menus are simple but unexpectedly yummy.. Always good.

Anniversary Dinner.
Incredible food served in a cozy and intimate atmosphere that’s nestled in the heart of the West Village. Meatball slider appetizer is a must.
We came on a rainy weekday night, and the staff was kind to let us wait inside and served us complimentary wine while we waited for our table that was running a few minutes late.
Place is almost always booked, so make your reservations well in advance.

Honestly, the food is great. The ambiance is also fantastic should you luck out and get a corner table or booth for a date. The lack of wiggle room between tables leaves a lot to be desired. The booth at the top of the stairs for an optional glass of wine while waiting is a ton of fun. The pork chop is divine. The meatball sliders are quite good. The risotto is as delicious as butter, cream, cheese, egg yolk, and truffles should be. It’s a terrible place for a large group dinner. But should you have an occasion to bring someone special, a dinner at the Little Owl will make for a cozy and successful date.

My partner and I just had the best dining experience EVER in this little charmer of a restaurant. We were greeted by a warm and gracious and attentive host, seated within 15 minutes on a busy night, had impeccable, flawless, service and the food was AMAZING. Our new favorite spot, we will be sure to make this our regular haunt. So impressed!

My husband and I came to The Little Owl for a V-​day dinner. I had such high hopes for a wonderful evening, but I was left so underwhelmed.
First of all, it was freezing inside. Despite having 3 barriers between the inside and the outside, there was a constant draft and I had to keep my winter parka on through the entire meal.
We ordered the risotto and french fries to start. The risotto was a bitter disappointment. The flavor was good, but the texture was completely off. The rice was cooked to an al dente and the dish was on the watery side. The french fries and dipping sauce were good, but not worth the $ 11.
For our entrees, we ordered the pork chop and the sea bass (special). The sea bass was quite delicious and cooked perfectly, but the pork chop was overcooked and dry.
Despite the inconsistencies in the meal, the service was great and everybody who checked on us were very kind and helpful.
I don’t think I’ll be coming back to The Little Owl.

I am so pleased I came here!!! Such a cute little French place, dim lit tucked away in a little side alley street of West Village. I didn’t even review the menu (surprise surprise) and am so pleased I didn’t! The staff was so sweet to us as soon as we got there and let my boyfriend and I switch tables because we were cold and wanted a booth. We ended up having the coziest little booth in the corner overlooking the whole restaurant. It’s so small and quaint, the food is so beyond delicious. I couldn’t stop thinking about my meal all day.
We got the meatball sliders (amazing)
CHIVE mashed potatoes — delicious but it was GREEN, so odd. but still great
then I got the steak with mushroom papparadelle and my boyfriend got the crispy chicken with Brussels
both were so so good, we ended up sharing quite a lot of it. Along with the cauliflower, red peppers and Brussels sprouts appetizer.
The only thing that was slightly annoying was that our reservation was at 10:15 and we didn’t get seated in the booth (that I requested) until 10:45 or so. Then after we started eating our entrees we realized that everyone slowly started clearing out the restaurant. My boyfriend felt anxious that we were going to get kicked out because they were literally taking down all the candles and moving the chairs to the side… (how awkward).
I was pretty much finished anyway but just annoying they booked us into a table so late and then began closing the restaurant down while we were still eating. Isn’t this New York? Since when do restaurants close that early or isn’t it a rule to close only after everyone is well finished eating?
I would’ve liked to stay a lot longer but I’m still obviously extremely glad I came. It’s one of my favorite spots now and I look forward to coming again.

Nice spot for lunch! Tiny little quaint restaurant with maybe ten tables
Had the special of the day lobster and mushroom risotto. It was very good yet with very little lobster. My friend had a salad she said was very fresh and flavorful.
For dessert we had to try the Nutella and jam doughnuts! They were really good, freshly made and warm and somehow light and fluffy. I only wish there were more Nutella !

4.5 stars– mainly for the food. Yeah I thought it was that good. And really if you don’t love those meatballs what DO you love in this world?
So this little (and I do mean «little») West Village favorite was a bit of a turn-​off when we first arrived. We were early and since they have no space for patrons to wait inside and apparently no liquor license (only wine) and therefore no real bar by which to lollygag, we were asked to wait outside in the cold. And not asked nicely either. So the night got off to a rough start.
But then the wine started flowing and the meatballs started coming, and things just got better, and better from there. So on to the food:
I really enjoyed my gnocchi but it actually wasn’t my favorite (I prefer my gnocchi to have at least a little «bite» and this was way too soft to me). My friends also enjoyed their truffle risotto, LI duck, and seafood gumbo.
The highlight of the evening, however, was my pork chop with butter beans and parmesan. Pork is always hit-​or-​miss, in my opinion, mostly depending on whether it’s cooked perfectly or, more commonly, overcooked. This pork chop was perfection– probably the best I’ve had in over a year. I could come back just for that one dish.
My friend’s various fish dishes were solid but nothing very special. The other real stand-​out, believe it or not, was the french fries which we ordered for the table. They were also perfect and special enough for their own shout-​out…
We ate too much so we had to skip dessert, but I’m happy the food for once rescued the evening. We’ll definitely be back…

This is a fun place, but it is very crowded and a bit overpriced given the quality of other neighborhood options for less.
It’s in the «friends building» so don’t be surprised by a bunch of tourists outside taking pictures.

We actually were going to a different restaurant and saw this cute little spot on our way there and figured we’d try it out. Considering this place has tons of positive reviews, I thought we would have had to wait forever to get seated on a Saturday morning. To our luck we were seated right away by an extremely generous and friendly host. We had the meatballs and poached egg dishes with a side of Brussels sprouts. All were so so good, I can’t wait to come back here!

The little owl is such a cute intimate restaurant in he west village. I came here for brunch with a group of 3 with no reservation, we only had to wait about 20 minutes, I’ll take it ! I’ve been wanting to try this place for a long time but it’s always super packed !
Great selection of brunch cocktails. Not your average mimosas, they have grapefruit lemonade and tons of cute options. For food I tried the kale salad, poached eggs, Brussels sprout hash and the beignets. Poached eggs were delicious with the sausage and served on biscuits yummmm also the beignets — their signature dish with Nutella is a must tryyyyyy !
I can’t wait to come back and try the dinner menu!!!

Delicious dinner and top notch hospitality. The small and cozy space coupled with the friendly service makes for a really comfortable dining experience. Be sure to make a reservation. We were seated promptly and never felt rushed. They have a nice wine list — bottles or by the glass. We went with the Tempranillo for $ 64. It poured 8 glasses. I highly recommend the meatball sliders starter and eggplant parm side. Also really enjoyed the green beans which had a little spicy kick to them. We each ate different entrees which all looked and smelled and tasted delicious: crispy cod, halibut, chicken and strip steak. Worth a visit! Or try their sister restaurants Market Table and Clam

Finally made it to the little owl this past weekend after over a year of wanting to dine here. I have to say, it was truly worth the wait. Every aspect of the experience, from the service to the atmosphere to the food, was memorable and of the highest quality. The cozy and charming space set an intimate environment in which to enjoy the deservedly-​praised meatball sliders, the tender lamb chops and the flavorful pork chop. We were worried about the wine selection because of the lack of a wine list on the website, but we had many options from which to choose and ended up with a wonderful Southern Rhone with the help of the wonderful sommelier. Ending the meal with the chocolate soufflé cake was the perfect finish. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and will return again myself.

The Little Owl, albeit being small and cramped, is super cute and cozy. My boyfriend and I wandered around the West Village (we joke that we feel like tourists coming from the UES) and stopped at a few bars before our reservation. We came by at our exact rsvp time but our table was not ready yet, and the hostess offered us glasses of champagne while we waited.
The food was served at a slow pace, but the servings were large and good for sharing between the two of us. The food was good but not memorable. I remember having a decent fish entrée and perhaps a risotto? Would come back if in the area, as it’s quite nice eating by the window in the small restaurant.

I’ve been wanting to try this place for some time, but it was hard to get a last minute reservation during prime time since this restaurant is tinyyyy (I think it sits roughly 30 guests). Finally got to try this place for dinner last night and had high expectations for the food and the food definitely hit it out of park.
ATMOSPHERE: Small cozy intimate restaurant. It was rainy that night so it definitely had an even cozier vibe. A small candle on each table with a tiny bar that sits four. Even though it was a tiny place, I didn’t feel like it was very cramped. Great for catch-​ups and dates.
FOOD: Menu is simple and straightforward. Ordered a BASIL GNOCCHI with pork belly to share and it was divine. The sauce was great… has a nice sweetness to it and great for dipping the bread. The gnocchi had a perfect texture. They split the pasta into individual dishes and I love it when restaurants do that! For my entrée, I ordered their special of the night which was SCALLOP AND SHRIMP RAVIOLI in a lobster broth. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the broth was so tasty. I loved everything about this dish. My friend ordered their famous PORK CHOP, which was a massive cut of meat. She enjoyed it very much. I was full, and really wanted to try their famous beignets but couldn’t bring myself to eat anything else. I will definitely try it next time!
DRINKS: Prosecco pink lemonade. Very good.
SERVICE: Good attentive service.
Joey Campanaro’s restaurant didn’t disappoint one bit. I tried his other restaurant, The Clam and loved it… now I need to pay a visit to his other restaurant Market Table.

I’m such a huge fan of these quaint, west village spots. Although I must admit I came here because this is the location where Central Perk technically should be and I’m a huge fan of Friends, this place stands on its own two feet.
I would absolutely recommend making a reservation if you’re a party of 3 or more, but I snagged a place at the bar for two around 11:30 on a Saturday so it can be done! (but definitely have a back up plan). You really can’t go wrong with their food – I got the eggs special and a café au lait.
Note: You must not miss the beignets if you like nutella.

Walking around the area with my date and decided to eat here instead since the place we planned on had 15 groups ahead of us.
We were hungry and ready to eat good food so we came in here. We were lucky because the party that was supposed to be seated did not show. We quickly got seats at the bar.
The place is so small and nicely decorated. The kitchen was right next to the bar so you can smell every thing. We ordered the specials which were the french toast and meatball sliders with espresso and iced tea.
The food came out quick and we were a bit surprised on how little food was on our plates. There was one slice of french toast and 3 meatball sliders. Sliders I can understand, 3, but one little piece of french toast? Bread is not expensive.
French toast tasted good, not too buttery, not too sweet. For me there should be at least 3 – 4 slices on my plate. Even then it wouldn’t have been enough to make a meal.
Meatballs were a disappointment. My date could make the same or better. My father definitely makes better tasting meatballs. The sauce was so so but the buns were freshly baked so they were good.
I could eat both of the orders and still not be full or satisfied. Needless to say, we left hungry. Nothing else appealed to us from the menu.
The service was good, prices too high for the amount of food, and we walked out smelling like the food.

Came here for dinner with a large group (6 people) on a Saturday night. We had to eat early, 5pm, in order to get a reservation. It’s a very tight restaurant, I certainly wouldn’t recommend if for more than groups of 4, you’ll feel like you’re in the way.
The cocktail and wines by the glass list, is decent — though it doesn’t appear that they stock a full bar. Which is no problem, just a heads up. I had a delicious glass of rose and red though, so I can’t complain.
Their menu is fairly diverse, if small. I guess maybe my biggest complaint is that while the food was tasty and cooked well, it wasn’t really memorable. Nothing stands out as over the top amazing. The chicken and brussels sprouts was cooked well, and the chicken wasn’t dry, but I don’t remember the potatoes. My dad had the meatball sliders and was pretty pleased with them. No one left hungry that’s for sure.
I did order the panna cotta after for dessert and was disappointed it. It was more like a milky jello an less like a melt in your mouth panna cotta.
All in all, it’s in an adorable nieghborhood and is probably really great for a romantic night of small plates. I wouldn’t go with a group, and that’s my mistake. But I do wish the food had been out of this world.

I’ve been meaning to try this restaurant for some time now — I was in the area for The Spotted Pig and this caught my eye with its sliders.
I’ve been meaning to try their brunch, but I figured I’d try it for lunch and see how it goes. I came for lunch with a friend, and split their Gravy Sliders, the cod, the crispy hen and the side of green beans.
Upon ordering the sliders (on the menu, they’re sold for lunch by each slider), we asked for 2, but the server told us they only sold them in orders of 3. So we went with 3, but slightly bothered as we had to split the last one.
The food was overall pretty good — the proteins all cooked well with balanced flavors. The portions were on the smaller size, but filled us up with everything we ordered. I really liked how soft the cod was. The sliders were good — meatballs were juicy, gravy complemented it well and the bread held it together but was soft as well.
Service was iffy — our server was particularly rude to us, slamming down the dessert menu when she arrived to
clean our tables. Someone came to refill my water glass while I just picked up my glass.
The part that got to us was when my friend and I looked around to neighboring tables and saw plates of only 2 sliders. Why were we the only ones forced to order in 3s? My friend asked the manager about this and he said that during lunch, they sell them by singles, and dinner, they’re sold in minimum orders of 3. He apologized to us for the mistake and claimed that our server normally only works dinner shifts. However, our server came to remedy the situation (she took off the sliders off our tab entirely, which was nice), but she seemed to do so begrudingly and even her apology sounded snarky.
Overall, the food was good, and I’d really like to return as their brunch menu sounds great, but I was pretty upset by their service of that one server.

After being told that our 20 min wait at Buevette would be another 45 minutes we decided to go down the block and check out this place. Overall this place is pretty good and has a cute atmosphere but is a little pricy.
I got a coffee to drink which was $ 4. Usually places charge 2 – 3 $ for an Americano so this was a little more than usual. Also they only have regular milk here.
I got the kale and potato frittatini which is basically 4 small pieces of frittata with smoked salmon on top. It is quite a small dish for $ 15 and I wasn’t very full from it. I would maybe order it as an appetizer rather than a main course
I also tried the special that my friend ordered which was vanilla French toast with strawberry compote and it was amazing. The bread was caramelized but not overly sweet. This was $ 12 and a much larger portion but personally I do not like sweet entrees.
I would come here again because the food was good but the specific entrée I got was slightly too small.

So I poked around a little to find Facts because many moons have risen since I last stumbled these streets on a regular basis. Things have changed. The Bank Street heiress that originally poked me into the nooks and crannies of this part of town is long gone (I checked) not ever to be found by me again. Chumley’s wall fell down and the new neighbors would prefer to not see it resurrected. There was a television show filmed with the Little Owl building and I was away but people still pay a homage like it’s a mecca or something.
But largely, if I fuzz my eyes and get a little nostalgic — a lot looks like it did when I left it.
So I checked and the NYT article heralding the beginnings of the Little Owl said it opened its doors in 2006. The wall fell down in Chumley’s in 2007. I wondered as I researched if it fell from piqué, or from sadness. Plaster, heavy with a bitter history’s tears …
So they’ve been here for nine years. Inside, it feels they could have existed from the beginning of time. Everything fit so perfectly. I didn’t count, but there are maybe a dozen tables in the cozy dining room (so cozy they were able to light our votive without us even noticing). Half were filled on the Monday evening, arriving early to account for not having a reservation. They were all filled with a few waiting upon the departure an hour or so later. Pleasant murmur of customers and small kitchen sounds made it even warmer. For me, ambiance perfect.
I wish I could tell you what we had to eat. Fish dishes, I think. Two appetizers split, bread. I really must get better at remembering details such as these, for as that’s the commercial purpose of these reviews, after all, not just a blank page for the memories.
Sorry. I don’t remember the gastro-​details. I do remember and will remember for a long time that the total experience was truly perfect. From the traipse through the neighborhood to the front door and its hello, to the inside and then to what was inside me by the end of the evening. Lovely, lovely, lovely. I will be absolutely back. I will bring friends, family and loved ones. If I see you at the table next to me, I’ll pour a glass of wine and we can tell stories about our stumbles back in the day.

The Little Owl has been on my New York bucket list for years now, so when I got the chance to bop in for brunch on a Saturday shortly after arriving in the city, I pounced, and I’m certainly glad I did.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
Wonderful. I strolled in around 11:00 on a Saturday, so shortly after opening and early as far as NYC brunches go. I was one of maybe three groups there, and the servers were more than happy to seat me anywhere I pleased. I opted for the Gravy Meatball Sliders, and was absolutely blown away when they came out no more than three or so minutes later. Unbelievable. Fast and friendly service within a quaint and beautiful atmosphere? That’s a Star Granted easy breezy.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Sure, The Little Owl can command a bit of a premium, but when it comes to New York City I’m down to pay $ 15.00 or so for brunch, which is exactly what my three sliders cost. There’s value elsewhere on the little owl menu, but know that you’ll be able to get in and out without having to sell your wares to stockpile enough cash. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
Wow. Mom? Mom I’m so sorry, but these meatballs competed with yours, and I honestly never thought I would say that. Piping hot and flavorful, the meatballs were fitted within flavorful rolls that may have even had some sort of cheese gratings on top? I can’t say for certain what it was, but these were some solid sliders. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
The menu is broad and caters to a wide audience, the service and atmosphere are phenomenal, and the prices are reasonable. Yes. Star Granted.

Deju vu hit me the moment I was outside of The Little Owl. This was where the exterior of where the Friends building was shot! I was here a few years ago searching for this building along with another Friends TV fanatic. How exciting it was to be sitting inside this building for dinner! I was ecstatic!
I came here for dinner on a weeknight and right away could tell that this was a brunch place. It screams cozy despite the high ceiling windows. It’s a little claustrophobic from where we sat but I’m glad we didn’t have to wait long for a table since we didn’t have a reservation. This place is popular! The staff did an incredible and efficient job servicing each table. Empty plates were immediately taken away and waters were filled before your glass was empty. The food is high quality and worth the extra splurge.
For appetizers, we shared the gravy meatball sliders ($ 15). It’s a small plate of 3 sliders with one meatball squeezed between the bread. The sauce was amazing and had hints of a variety of fresh herbs. The bottom layer of bread soaked up the sauce and was the best part!
For vegetable side dish, we shared the kale ($ 10). It was crispy but a little tough to enjoy with its overpowering lemon flavor. The natural flavor of the kale was completely masked. I didn’t like this dish.
For entrees, we had the Bell & Evans Chicken on asparagus and home fries ($ 26) and the special Tautog Rockfish with mashed potatoes ($ 29). I especially loved the chicken! Who knew CHICKEN could taste THIS good!!? The skin was crispy, meat was juicy, and the sauce packed a punch.
For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Soufflé Cake ($ 9) that came with a scoop of espresso gelato. They were perfect complements! Delicious and bold on their own and magical together! The soufflé had a brownie-​like exterior with a hot, rich chocolate filling. Amazing, especially for a chocolate lover like me!

Aspect néo bistrot avec lumières (très) tamisées, cuisine apparente derrière une baie vitrée, couples qui roucoulent au bar, 30 couverts à tout casser et un banc pour patienter à l’extérieur (oui, comptez plus d’une heure pour avoir une table) où l’on nous a apporté du cidre dans un mug pour patienter. Nice.
Tout est parfait au Little Owl. Le service, attentionné à l’américaine (si vous souhaitez partager vos plats /​entrées on vous propose de les séparer sur des assiettes pour que vous n’avez pas à piquer dans l’assiette de l’autre) et des plats tout en tradition avec ce qu’il faut pour l’effet waou: un peu d’huile d’olive à la truffe par ci ou un peu de homard dans la salade pour appuyer la raie, des assaisonnements /​sauces à mourir. Et un de mes meilleurs moment chocolat (appelé ici «chocolate soufflé». ouch!)
Pas très généreux sur les quantités (pour un restaurant US) mais on prend tellement de plaisir que l’on s’attarde sur chaque bouchée. Tout est bon. Tout est cuit à la perfection, assaisonné comme il faut pour vous surprendre.
Une adresse new yorkaise de quartier pour une soirée intime, gastronomique et initiée.
Entrées /​Plats entre 20 et 35 $