Dejavu
West Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Dejavu is a situational West Village pick for a late-week night out, not the place to choose when cuisine, price, or special-occasion certainty are the priority. Use it when location and timing matter; compare with Perry St, Joomak Banjum, Libertine, Wallse, or Casa La Femme if the meal needs clearer structure.
About Dejavu
Dejavu is a better fit for a repeat visitor planning a narrow New York City evening than for someone trying to solve a broader night out with detailed advance criteria. The useful call is simple: consider it when the plan is centered on a Thursday-to-Saturday evening, and choose a more documented venue if cuisine, menu structure, or occasion planning matter.
Information about the venue is limited, so the decision should be made around logistics rather than a promised food identity. That is not a reason to dismiss it; it just means Dejavu works well as a situational pick for someone already committed to a New York City night out. If the previous visit was casual and the next one needs clearer expectations around food, service style, or group planning, cross-shop before committing.
Use it for a late New York City plan, not a high-certainty dinner brief
For a second visit, the smart move is to treat Dejavu as a night-out component rather than the anchor of a heavily planned meal. Details are concise: Dejavu is open Thursday through Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM, closed Sunday through Wednesday, and lists smart casual dress. There is no cuisine type, chef, price range, seat count, or awards signal to help justify a special-occasion choice on paper. That makes it weaker for people comparing menus in advance, but more reasonable for someone prioritizing timing and a later evening window.
If the goal is a more legible decision in New York City, Perry St, Joomak Banjum, Libertine, Wallse, and Casa La Femme give useful comparison points. Dejavu is the looser pick; those are worth considering when the main venue has to carry the night.
What to do next if the brief is still open
Plan around Dejavu only when timing is doing the work. For a broader scan, use Our full New York City restaurants guide first, then narrow by cuisine, occasion, and reservation certainty. If the night may include bars, Our full New York City bars guide is the more useful second tab; for visitors building a full trip, add Our full New York City hotels guide and Our full New York City experiences guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 394 West St, New York, NY 10014
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- dejavunyc.com
- Phone
- +12016213040
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Dejavu presents itself as a measured, classic entry in the West Village fine-dining scene. The copy frames it as an address that signals intention—guests make deliberate reservations and arrive with expectations. Rather than trading on high-profile publicity, Dejavu occupies a quieter, peer-level position that asks the room to deliver through coordinated service. Coverage emphasizes the interplay between front-of-house and kitchen—sommelier pacing, service that reads the table—so the overall impression is of a polished, attentive dining environment where the experience is composed and purposeful rather than flashy or frenetic.
Best For
This is a restaurant for diners seeking an elevated, reservation-driven evening. Dejavu suits date nights and special occasions where a formal, well-paced meal matters; it also works for business dinners and group celebrations that rely on coordinated service. The write-up places the venue among the city's higher-commitment addresses, so guests who prioritize careful timing between courses and wine service will find it rewarding. Because the room’s operation is emphasized over casual foot traffic, it’s less of a drop-in spot and more of a planned outing.
Ordering Tips
Book ahead and plan for a paced, multi-course experience—this is not a casual walk-in. Take advantage of the restaurant’s signature items (Lemon Spaghetti with Caviar, Pastrami Croquettes, Scallop Crudo with Fennel and Orange Zest, Tuna Tartare with Yuzu Ponzu, Filet Mignon, and the Caviar Service) and consider sharing plates to sample highlights. The description underscores sommelier-led pacing, so ask the wine team to guide pairings and timing. Arrive with expectations for coordinated front-of-house and kitchen service to get the most from the meal.
Venue details
Ambiance
Candlelit and luxurious with live jazz music, featuring plush seating and an opulent atmosphere designed for presence and ritual.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- Lemon Spaghetti with Caviar
- Pastrami Croquettes
- Scallop Crudo with Fennel and Orange Zest
- Tuna Tartare with Yuzu Ponzu
- Filet Mignon
- Caviar Service
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 394 West St, New York, NY 10014
Planning details
Location
Restaurant context
How Dejavu compares in New York City
Choose Dejavu when the brief is a late West Village plan with flexible expectations. Compared with Perry St, it offers less advance clarity on dining format, so Perry St is the safer choice when the meal needs to feel planned rather than improvised.
Joomak Banjum is the better cross-shop for diners who want a defined Asian restaurant direction, while Wallse is the clearer call for Austrian cooking. Dejavu is less useful when cuisine is the deciding factor.
For atmosphere-led alternatives, compare Casa La Femme and Libertine. They make more sense when the group wants a stronger sense of occasion; Dejavu makes more sense when convenience and a narrow late-week window matter more than a documented restaurant identity.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Dejavu guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Dejavu
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dejavu | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Perry St | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Joomak Banjum | New York City | Asian | No published awards |
| Casa La Femme | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Libertine | New York City | , | 2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #2242024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #290 |
| Wallse | New York City | Austrian | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2932024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3312023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America RecommendedWorld's Best Wine Lists 2022 |
How Dejavu New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Dejavu?
Treat Dejavu as a late-night New York City plan, not a lunch place, because it is closed Monday through Wednesday and Sunday, then opens Thursday through Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM. That schedule makes it a better fit for an evening outing than for an early daytime plan.
Is lunch or dinner better at Dejavu?
The schedule points to evening planning, since Dejavu's hours are Thursday through Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM. If you want a daytime meal in New York City, look elsewhere; Dejavu is scheduled for evening hours.
Is Dejavu good for solo dining?
It may fit a solo New York City evening if the Thursday-to-Saturday 6 PM to 2 AM schedule works for you. Solo diners who want a more structured plan may also compare it with Perry St.
What are alternatives to Dejavu in New York City?
Perry St, Wallse, Libertine, Joomak Banjum, and Casa La Femme are natural comparison points if you are still deciding where to spend the evening. Dejavu is the later-week option with Thursday-to-Saturday 6 PM to 2 AM hours.
Is Dejavu good for a special occasion?
Only if the occasion fits Dejavu's late-week schedule, because it is open Thursday through Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM and closed the rest of the week. For a celebration that needs more advance certainty, compare it with Perry St, Wallse, or another New York City option before committing.
Does Dejavu handle dietary restrictions?
Dietary information is not available, so do not count on specific accommodations without checking ahead. If restrictions are a major issue, confirm directly with the venue before making plans.
