The Big Apple knows a thing or two about diner culture, and Revelie Luncheonette in NYC’s fashion-forward Soho neighborhood is adding to the list of must-visit diners in the city.
In an unassuming Prince Street storefront, this retro eatery and bar reimagines classic diners with French-American cuisine. Helmed by the team behind downtown Manhattan’s 47-year-old Raoul’s, it exudes the same energy in a casual yet elevated setting.
Inside the 1920s-inspired luncheonette, Art Deco-influenced design constructs the intimate space: retro vinyl banquettes, original mosaic-tile floors, and textured tin accents set the scene. A classic bar front swathed in dark wood and a shiny pearl-white countertop is reminiscent of teenagers slipping into the diner for a late-night soda pop or cherry-on-top milkshake.
To match the laidback ambiance, acclaimed Raoul’s Chef David Honeysett whips up casual American dishes infused with French techniques: think boiling French Onion Soup with croutons and Comte and Chicken Cordon Bleu with ham and gruyere. We highly recommend ordering the Green Chile Cheeseburger Spring Rolls as an appetizer. The Iceberg Wedge with Roquefort and bacon or the Baby Kale Caesar with pecorino cheese pair nicely with their soup of the day, too.
For heartier plates, there’s a selection of burgers and sandwiches, such as a Classic Burger served with shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, American cheese, and mayonnaise, and a Patty Melt comprised of rye sourdough and caramelized onions. The Lobster Roll served with house-made potato chips caught our utmost attention. And if you’re in the mood to have breakfast for dinner, an Omelette All Day comprises French ham, Comté cheese, and a green side salad. We didn’t forget their lineup of homemade crinkle-cut fries and haystack zucchini, either.
Since the restaurant is a modern rendition of America’s nostalgic soda fountains, there’s an assemblage of specialty sodas, including Cherry Cola, Vanilla Coke, and Root Beer, all of which can seamlessly turn into mouthwatering ice cream floats. Its traditional diner roots shine through with its slurp-worthy cherry-topped milkshakes and ice cream sundaes made with chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and pistachio scoops. True sweet-tooth diners will indulge in the warm, homemade Apple Strudel.
Karim Raoul and Jillian Fracassi, a husband-and-wife team who are the second-generation owners of both Revelie Luncheonette and Raoul’s, named Revelie after their daughters, Reve and Amelie, embodying the essence of family-driven, heartfelt New York City diner culture serving exceptional classic cuisine.
Top Takeaways
Location: Soho, New York City
Address: 179 Prince Street, New York, N.Y. 10012
Cuisine: French-American
Price Point: $$
Takes Reservations: Walk-ins only
The vibe: A modern take on the traditional American diner in NYC’s buzzy Soho neighborhood.
Our favorite thing on the menu: We loved the French Onion Soup, but the Green Chile Cheeseburger Spring Rolls blew everything out of the water.
The attire: Casual
Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner: Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
