Cute lil spot in Long Island City that opened approx. a year ago serving up authentic Japanese fare. Great for impromptu lunch or to catch up with friends. They do open for dinner and drinks but I haven’t been yet.
I came for lunch with two of my friends. We tried the Omurice, Vegan Ramen and Matcha Soufflé Pancake. I omitted the bacon from my rice. The rice was a bit dry or overcooked and the egg wasn’t as eggy/runny as expected. We shared the matcha pancake, it was delicious enough to disappear in under 5 minutes. Our drinks were delicious as well. Mine was a bit too sweet for my taste so I watered it down.
I’ll definitely recommend and be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Angelica Castro (Angelica Castro)
I’ve been looking at it online since September to celebrate my 30th birthday last October 3rd. I made a reservation online but I cancelled it the last minute. Then I decided to go there yesterday by myself. There was a queue and I waited for like 35 mins but it was worth it. The staffs were very decent, attentive and nice. The food was awesome! I highly recommend the matcha soufflé and the matcha latte. As a matcha lover I highly commend their matcha soufflé and latte, it was so good! The portion is good for one person. The place is clean and neat. Will definitely comeback again soon!??????
I chose this new spot called Vert Frais for a lunch date, drawn by its nature theme which I love. It's a recent addition specializing in a combination of ramen and cocktails. I personally love Japanese food so it was a great find. I ordered the combo of the Ramen and Salmon Don for $27. While the lavender lemonade was a tad too sweet for my taste, I managed to adjust it myself with additional water. Everything else lived up to my expectations. There is no wifi so you can fully get the whole experience.
The service was good, and they even have a small area with items for sale. I was pleasantly surprised to see a table designated for one person, which is rare in restaurants. It's suitable for gatherings, but reservations for that size might be advisable.
Regarding areas for improvement, I would suggest offering some promotions and providing guests with a cup to pour the sugar themself. Half the sugar was sufficient for me. Additionally, mentioning about stirring the sugar at the bottom of the drink could be helpful as it quickly goes back down. Not everyone may think to do so and get a drastic drink experience.
Overall, I had a positive experience and would consider returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Xiangying Wei
Food was great. VERY understaffed. They literally have 1 server and 1 barista to cover the entire restaurant. I had to wait for 10mins to be seated and another 10 to start ordering although I already knew what I wanted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Kenny L
Went there on a Saturday around 1 PM, and the wait was about 20 minutes. The restaurant was spacious and had a relaxed vibe, perfect for taking photos and posting on Instagram. The food was even better—we ordered ramen, egg rice, and a soufflé dessert. The ramen was a bit over-seasoned, so I wouldn’t recommend drinking too much of the soup. The egg rice was delicious, with the sauce complementing the dish without overpowering the egg and rice. The dessert was excellent, and I would definitely come back just for that.
Vert Frais is completely delicious. Everything they have is a banger. Their Ramen is better than dedicated ramen places in lic. Their pancakes is better than even the souffle pancake place next door. The atmosphere is also really nice, and the waiters are nice and friendly. I rate vert Frais as the tastiest restaurant in NYC for my tongue.
So why the 4 star? Well...
They're slow.
Sometimes I sit down and it takes 10-15 minutes for the server to come take my order. Sometimes they even forget to bring the food to me! Other times, the kitchen is just slow. I recall waiting an hour and a half for the dessert once!
I don't think this is the problem of the servers. Again, all the servers I've seen at VF have been super nice and friendly. The issue is that the store just seems weirdly understaffed a lot of the time, relative to the business. I think Friday night to both weekends are where they have the most staff, but that's because on those times, vert Frais is so busy the line is half a block long.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Kevin Hardowar
The food and atmosphere was really good. However, it was just very difficult to get a server or call any employee over in general. I would still go back again if the same issue persisted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Elisa Lou
They did a great job with the space - beautiful decor. Very vibey for day time dining.
Omurice and hamburg steak are both yummy and hearty dinner options. Brunch food is also delicious - souffle pancakes wow! The rose latte and blue moon latte are extremely aesthetic and also well balanced.
Glad to have this option in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omurice, Hamburg Steak
Jasmine Yang
This place had it all: great food, amazing vibes, and good service! I’m not vegan but I highly recommend their vegan ramen - it’s super creamy. We ordered the Vert Frais Matcha Soufflé pancake as well, which was a bit disappointing as it didn’t have much of a matcha flavor. The pancakes came with a lot of bean paste on top, which over powered the taste of matcha and of the pancake itself. I’m looking forward to coming back again and trying other things!
Hidden gem in LIC for a cute date or friends hangouts (excellent food, slightly pricy) The kaarage are fried with a light batter to crispy perfection and seasoned slightly with some salt, loved it. The drip coffee may be a little gem because it also came with tiny Japanese confectioneries. We adored the omurice that was so fluffy with the slight runny eggs on top and well seasoned mixed fried rice. The soufflé pancake was worth the wait with lots of ingredients packed into a delicate dish. The presentation was cute and very demure. We enjoyed our meal here and appreciate the courteous services. There is currently a construction site nearby so it gets super noisy when you wait in line, and yes, there’s always a line.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omurice
JackJayC
Not authentic Japanese food. Omurice was plain and Shio ramen has strong msg flavor. Chairs were too low and tables were too high. Service was the best thing about this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Jess BoYd
All coffee, drinks, and food here are truly exceptional. The prices are remarkably reasonable, and the service is outstanding too - I'll definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Guan
Walked into Vert Frais on a weekend with a party of two and we were seated very quickly. Their indoor decorations are amazing but the temperature indoors was slightly on the hotter side, but that feeling went away completely after we started eating. We ordered the Anglaise Citrus Soufflé Pancakes and Shoyu Ramen. The ramen really soaked up the soup’s flavor, but it didn’t come off as overly salty or heavy. Each bite of the ramen was full of flavor and the char siu was extremely tender, falling apart super easily. The star of the show was the soufflé pancakes, I highly recommend trying them, especially the anglaise citrus sauce. The sauce was perfectly balanced with the citrus to come off as extremely refreshing. It wasn’t too sweet or too sour and the pancakes were extremely fluffy. If you’re in the area, make sure to drop by Vert Frais for an amazing brunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carol Jiang
Our group of four visited for lunch today, and while the food was generally good, the service left much to be desired. They obviously do not wash their vegetables/lettuces. Found two aphides in my side salad.
The experience started off fine, but things quickly took a turn when only two of our four entrees were served. About 20 minutes later, our waitress returned to confirm if we were still waiting on the remaining two dishes, to which we said yes. Another 20 minutes passed before a different waiter came by, again checking if we were still missing two entrees. By this point, one of our friends had been waiting for 30 minutes with his ramen cooling in front of him—not the ideal way to enjoy a meal, though we tried to be patient.
When all our meals finally arrived, I had ordered the omelette, which came with a side salad. After just a couple of bites, I noticed a living aphid on the plate beneath the salad. Upon further inspection, I found another aphid nestled in the salad itself. I immediately took the plate to the bar and informed the staff. The employee simply took it back to the kitchen without offering any apology or acknowledgment. I mentioned that it seemed the lettuce hadn’t been washed, and she confirmed they would remake the plate.
After only 3-5 minutes, they returned with the same plate, though the salad had obviously been replaced. While I appreciated that the new lettuce was clearly washed, the omelette remained untouched on the original plate—the same plate that had just had bugs crawling on it. Again, no apology was offered.
We didn’t want to make a scene, so we quietly paid the bill and left. What was disappointing was not just the presence of insects in the food, but the complete lack of acknowledgment or apology from the staff. They didn’t offer to take the omelette off the bill or show any concern for what had happened.
Flavorless food yet nice attention.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Cute lil spot in Long Island City that opened approx. a year ago serving up authentic Japanese fare. Great for impromptu lunch or to catch up with friends. They do open for dinner and drinks but I haven’t been yet.
I came for lunch with two of my friends. We tried the Omurice, Vegan Ramen and Matcha Soufflé Pancake. I omitted the bacon from my rice. The rice was a bit dry or overcooked and the egg wasn’t as eggy/runny as expected. We shared the matcha pancake, it was delicious enough to disappear in under 5 minutes. Our drinks were delicious as well. Mine was a bit too sweet for my taste so I watered it down.
I’ll definitely recommend and be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I’ve been looking at it online since September to celebrate my 30th birthday last October 3rd. I made a reservation online but I cancelled it the last minute. Then I decided to go there yesterday by myself. There was a queue and I waited for like 35 mins but it was worth it. The staffs were very decent, attentive and nice. The food was awesome! I highly recommend the matcha soufflé and the matcha latte. As a matcha lover I highly commend their matcha soufflé and latte, it was so good! The portion is good for one person. The place is clean and neat. Will definitely comeback again soon!??????
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Classic Shio Ramen, Matcha Soufflé Pancakes
I chose this new spot called Vert Frais for a lunch date, drawn by its nature theme which I love. It's a recent addition specializing in a combination of ramen and cocktails. I personally love Japanese food so it was a great find. I ordered the combo of the Ramen and Salmon Don for $27. While the lavender lemonade was a tad too sweet for my taste, I managed to adjust it myself with additional water. Everything else lived up to my expectations. There is no wifi so you can fully get the whole experience.
The service was good, and they even have a small area with items for sale. I was pleasantly surprised to see a table designated for one person, which is rare in restaurants. It's suitable for gatherings, but reservations for that size might be advisable.
Regarding areas for improvement, I would suggest offering some promotions and providing guests with a cup to pour the sugar themself. Half the sugar was sufficient for me. Additionally, mentioning about stirring the sugar at the bottom of the drink could be helpful as it quickly goes back down. Not everyone may think to do so and get a drastic drink experience.
Overall, I had a positive experience and would consider returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Food was great. VERY understaffed. They literally have 1 server and 1 barista to cover the entire restaurant. I had to wait for 10mins to be seated and another 10 to start ordering although I already knew what I wanted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Went there on a Saturday around 1 PM, and the wait was about 20 minutes. The restaurant was spacious and had a relaxed vibe, perfect for taking photos and posting on Instagram. The food was even better—we ordered ramen, egg rice, and a soufflé dessert. The ramen was a bit over-seasoned, so I wouldn’t recommend drinking too much of the soup. The egg rice was delicious, with the sauce complementing the dish without overpowering the egg and rice. The dessert was excellent, and I would definitely come back just for that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omurice, Online Souffle Pancake
Vert Frais is completely delicious. Everything they have is a banger. Their Ramen is better than dedicated ramen places in lic. Their pancakes is better than even the souffle pancake place next door. The atmosphere is also really nice, and the waiters are nice and friendly. I rate vert Frais as the tastiest restaurant in NYC for my tongue.
So why the 4 star? Well...
They're slow.
Sometimes I sit down and it takes 10-15 minutes for the server to come take my order. Sometimes they even forget to bring the food to me! Other times, the kitchen is just slow. I recall waiting an hour and a half for the dessert once!
I don't think this is the problem of the servers. Again, all the servers I've seen at VF have been super nice and friendly. The issue is that the store just seems weirdly understaffed a lot of the time, relative to the business. I think Friday night to both weekends are where they have the most staff, but that's because on those times, vert Frais is so busy the line is half a block long.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
The food and atmosphere was really good. However, it was just very difficult to get a server or call any employee over in general. I would still go back again if the same issue persisted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
They did a great job with the space - beautiful decor. Very vibey for day time dining.
Omurice and hamburg steak are both yummy and hearty dinner options. Brunch food is also delicious - souffle pancakes wow! The rose latte and blue moon latte are extremely aesthetic and also well balanced.
Glad to have this option in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omurice, Hamburg Steak
This place had it all: great food, amazing vibes, and good service! I’m not vegan but I highly recommend their vegan ramen - it’s super creamy. We ordered the Vert Frais Matcha Soufflé pancake as well, which was a bit disappointing as it didn’t have much of a matcha flavor. The pancakes came with a lot of bean paste on top, which over powered the taste of matcha and of the pancake itself. I’m looking forward to coming back again and trying other things!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vert Frais Vegan Ramen
Restaurantji Recommends
Hidden gem in LIC for a cute date or friends hangouts (excellent food, slightly pricy)
The kaarage are fried with a light batter to crispy perfection and seasoned slightly with some salt, loved it.
The drip coffee may be a little gem because it also came with tiny Japanese confectioneries.
We adored the omurice that was so fluffy with the slight runny eggs on top and well seasoned mixed fried rice.
The soufflé pancake was worth the wait with lots of ingredients packed into a delicate dish. The presentation was cute and very demure.
We enjoyed our meal here and appreciate the courteous services. There is currently a construction site nearby so it gets super noisy when you wait in line, and yes, there’s always a line.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omurice
Not authentic Japanese food. Omurice was plain and Shio ramen has strong msg flavor. Chairs were too low and tables were too high. Service was the best thing about this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
All coffee, drinks, and food here are truly exceptional. The prices are remarkably reasonable, and the service is outstanding too - I'll definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Walked into Vert Frais on a weekend with a party of two and we were seated very quickly. Their indoor decorations are amazing but the temperature indoors was slightly on the hotter side, but that feeling went away completely after we started eating. We ordered the Anglaise Citrus Soufflé Pancakes and Shoyu Ramen. The ramen really soaked up the soup’s flavor, but it didn’t come off as overly salty or heavy. Each bite of the ramen was full of flavor and the char siu was extremely tender, falling apart super easily. The star of the show was the soufflé pancakes, I highly recommend trying them, especially the anglaise citrus sauce. The sauce was perfectly balanced with the citrus to come off as extremely refreshing. It wasn’t too sweet or too sour and the pancakes were extremely fluffy. If you’re in the area, make sure to drop by Vert Frais for an amazing brunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our group of four visited for lunch today, and while the food was generally good, the service left much to be desired. They obviously do not wash their vegetables/lettuces. Found two aphides in my side salad.
The experience started off fine, but things quickly took a turn when only two of our four entrees were served. About 20 minutes later, our waitress returned to confirm if we were still waiting on the remaining two dishes, to which we said yes. Another 20 minutes passed before a different waiter came by, again checking if we were still missing two entrees. By this point, one of our friends had been waiting for 30 minutes with his ramen cooling in front of him—not the ideal way to enjoy a meal, though we tried to be patient.
When all our meals finally arrived, I had ordered the omelette, which came with a side salad. After just a couple of bites, I noticed a living aphid on the plate beneath the salad. Upon further inspection, I found another aphid nestled in the salad itself. I immediately took the plate to the bar and informed the staff. The employee simply took it back to the kitchen without offering any apology or acknowledgment. I mentioned that it seemed the lettuce hadn’t been washed, and she confirmed they would remake the plate.
After only 3-5 minutes, they returned with the same plate, though the salad had obviously been replaced. While I appreciated that the new lettuce was clearly washed, the omelette remained untouched on the original plate—the same plate that had just had bugs crawling on it. Again, no apology was offered.
We didn’t want to make a scene, so we quietly paid the bill and left. What was disappointing was not just the presence of insects in the food, but the complete lack of acknowledgment or apology from the staff. They didn’t offer to take the omelette off the bill or show any concern for what had happened.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
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