Cafe d'Alsace
Upper East Side-Yorkville, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
A useful Upper East Side choice when flexibility matters more than ceremony. Cafe d'Alsace makes the most sense for lunch, early dinner, brunch, solo dining, or a small repeat visit; for a private-room-style occasion, cross-shop more format-specific venues first.
About Cafe d'Alsace
Cafe d'Alsace is a New York City restaurant with hours that cover midday and evening periods on weekdays, plus morning-to-afternoon and evening periods on weekends. The clearest planning facts are practical ones: check the day's split schedule before you go, and dress smart casual.
Use it for a low-friction New York City meal, not a big production
The main reason to choose it is convenience. The posted schedule gives diners multiple windows across the week: Monday runs 11:30 AM–3:30 PM and 5–9 PM; Tuesday through Thursday run 11:30 AM–3:30 PM and 5–10 PM; Friday runs 11:30 AM–3:30 PM and 5–10:30 PM; Saturday runs 10 AM–3:45 PM and 5–10:30 PM; and Sunday runs 10 AM–3:45 PM and 5–9 PM. Plan around the hours and the smart-casual dress code rather than assuming a particular menu format, private dining setup, or special-occasion service style.
The better timing depends on the day you want to visit. Weekdays have a midday period followed by a separate evening period, while weekends have an earlier daytime period and evening period. If the meal is time-sensitive, confirm current hours directly before making plans.
Where it sits for repeat diners
Among comparison options, Cafe d'Alsace is a New York City choice to weigh against Papaya King, Delizia 92, Tinos, Italianissimo Ristorante, and Jacques Brasserie, depending on the kind of outing you want. The key planning points for Cafe d'Alsace are direct: New York City location, smart-casual dress code, and posted hours across the week.
For more planning options, use our full New York City restaurants guide, or branch into New York City hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences if the meal is part of a wider plan.
Planning details
- Location
- 1703 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- cafedalsace.com
- Phone
- +12127225133
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Cafe d'Alsace presents Alsatian regional cooking in a quietly confident Upper East Side setting. The copy frames it as a neighborhood brasserie rather than a formal, destination French house: less about theatrical tasting menus and more about choucroute, tarte flambée, riesling and a reverence for pork in its many forms. The tone is domestic and restrained — a place that rewards repeat visits and comfort-seeking rather than novelty hunting. Expect the soft, residential pulse of Second Avenue in the upper eighties: unshowy, steady, and quietly devoted to classical Alsatian dishes.
Best For
This is a neighborhood spot built for regular meals across the day — especially brunch, lunch and dinner — when Upper East Side residents want dependable regional French cooking without ceremony. The description highlights a family-oriented, residential dining rhythm, so it suits family outings and casual meet-ups as much as solo or weekday lunches. It tends toward familiar comfort rather than event dining, making it a practical choice for people who want a steady local brasserie rather than a special-occasion splurge.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the Alsatian basics the profile emphasizes: the signature Choucroute Garnie and Tarte Flambée are genre-defining and make smart entry points. Steak Frites is another straightforward selection if you want a classic bistro main. The copy repeatedly cites riesling as part of the regional repertoire, so consider a crisp Alsace white to complement pork dishes. Because the place 'functions as a regular rather than a reservation,' you can often rely on walk-in or casual plans rather than formal booking.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm and familiar bistro atmosphere with classic French brasserie lighting and comfortable seating.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Choucroute Garnie
- Tarte Flambée
- Steak Frites
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1703 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Choose Jacques Brasserie if the group wants another French-brasserie-style option in New York City. Choose Delizia 92 if the table would rather pivot toward an Italian neighborhood dinner.
Restaurant context
How Cafe d'Alsace compares nearby
For a sit-down Upper East Side meal, Cafe d'Alsace is the more flexible choice than Papaya King, which is better treated as a quick hot-dog stop than a full dinner plan. If the night needs lingering, table service, and a calmer pace, choose Cafe d'Alsace; if value and speed matter more than ambiance, Papaya King is the cleaner call.
Against Delizia 92, Tinos, and Italianissimo Ristorante, the choice comes down to mood rather than confirmed price advantage. Those three read as better cross-shops when the group specifically wants an Italian-leaning meal; Cafe d'Alsace is stronger when the brief is a neighborhood brasserie-style dinner with lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch flexibility.
Jacques Brasserie is the closest alternative for a French-brasserie lane. Pick Jacques Brasserie if the group wants a more directly comparable French option; pick Cafe d'Alsace when the priority is an easy Upper East Side booking window and a repeatable regular-night setting.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Cafe d'Alsace guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Cafe d'Alsace
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe d'Alsace | New York City | , | 2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence |
| Delizia 92 | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Papaya King | New York City | Hot Dogs | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Recommended2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5492024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5192023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
| Jacques Brasserie | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Tinos | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Italianissimo Ristorante | New York City | , | No published awards |
How Cafe d'Alsace New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cafe d'Alsace good for solo dining?
Cafe d'Alsace can be considered for a solo meal if its posted hours fit your plan. The schedule includes midday and evening periods on weekdays, plus daytime and evening periods on weekends. Dress is smart casual.
What are alternatives to Cafe d'Alsace in New York City?
Other options to compare include Delizia 92, Tinos, Jacques Brasserie, Italianissimo Ristorante, and Papaya King. Cafe d'Alsace is a New York City restaurant with a smart-casual dress code and posted hours across the week.
Is Cafe d'Alsace good for a special occasion?
It may work if the posted hours and smart-casual dress code match the tone of your plans. For private dining formats or special-occasion packages, confirm directly before relying on specific arrangements.
How far ahead should I book Cafe d'Alsace?
If you are deciding when to book, plan around the posted hours: Friday and Saturday evening periods are listed until 10:30 PM, while Monday and Sunday evening periods are listed until 9 PM. Confirm current availability directly before you go.
