Frequently Asked Questions

For standard dining, we recommend booking at least 1–2 weeks in advance, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings. The Chef's Tasting Experience is limited to a small number of seatings per evening and typically books out 2–4 weeks ahead. For walk-ins, we do keep a small number of tables available each evening, but availability cannot be guaranteed.

Yes. You can modify or cancel your reservation up to 24 hours before your booking without charge. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a $25 per person late cancellation fee. For the Chef's Tasting Experience, we require 48 hours notice. To make changes, call us at +1 (212) 555-0182 or email reservations@bistrolaunch.com.

We hold reservations for 15 minutes past your booking time. If you are running late, please call us as soon as possible — we will always do our best to accommodate you. On busy evenings, tables may be released after 15 minutes if we have not been notified.

Yes, we welcome walk-ins. We keep a portion of our tables available for walk-in guests each evening. Availability varies — Wednesday and Thursday evenings typically have more availability than weekends. We also have bar seating available on a first-come, first-served basis, where our full menu is served.

You are welcome to request a preference — window table, quieter section, or proximity to the kitchen pass — and we will do our best to honour it. Specific table requests cannot be guaranteed, but please note it in your booking and we will do everything we can.

Absolutely. We have dedicated vegetarian and vegan dishes on our menu, and our kitchen is experienced in adapting dishes to suit plant-based diets. For the tasting menu, we can design a full parallel vegetarian or vegan menu with advance notice. Please inform us when booking.

Yes. Several dishes on our menu are naturally gluten-free, and we can adapt many others. However, our kitchen does handle gluten-containing ingredients, so we cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free environment. Please inform us of your requirement when booking so the kitchen can take appropriate precautions.

We take allergens very seriously. Please inform us of any allergies when booking and remind your server at the table. Our kitchen handles nuts, shellfish, dairy, eggs, gluten, and other common allergens, and while we take every precaution, we operate in a shared kitchen environment. Full allergen information for every dish is available on request. For severe allergies such as anaphylaxis, we recommend calling us directly to discuss.

Our menu changes four times a year, aligned with the seasons. Individual dishes may also change within a season if a particular ingredient is no longer at its best or if something exceptional becomes available. The Chef's Tasting menu is rebuilt entirely each season — spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

We do not have a separate children's menu, but our kitchen is happy to prepare simpler versions of many dishes for younger guests. We welcome families and will always do our best to make the experience comfortable for everyone at the table. Please let us know when booking if children will be joining.

We have two private spaces: The Library Room for 8–20 guests, and The Garden Suite for 20–50 guests. Both offer exclusive use, dedicated service, and the option to customise the menu. See our Packages page for full details and pricing.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own celebration cake. We charge a $25 cake-cutting fee per table, which covers portioning, plating, and service. We also offer custom celebration cakes made by our Head Pastry Chef Isabelle Fontaine — enquire in advance for availability and flavour options.

We do not permit outside wine, spirits, or other beverages. Our drinks licence covers all alcohol served on the premises. We have an extensive wine list and our sommelier can recommend pairings at every price point. For special occasions, we may be able to source a specific bottle — please enquire in advance.

Yes. The Library Room has a minimum spend of $950 on weekdays and $1,400 on Fridays and Saturdays. The Garden Suite has a minimum spend of $3,500. A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking, deducted from your final bill.

We ask guests to dress in smart casual or above. We want you to feel comfortable and at ease, so we don't enforce a strict formal dress code — but we do ask that sportswear, flip-flops, and athletic clothing are not worn in the dining room. Smart jeans are perfectly acceptable.

For the tasting menu, we suggest smart casual or smart dress. Many guests choose to dress up for the occasion — it is, after all, a three-hour multi-course experience worth celebrating. That said, there is no obligation beyond smart casual, and we will never turn anyone away for their clothing choices provided they are appropriate for a fine dining setting.

We are at 14 Harbour Lane, Old Quarter, New York, NY 10001. The nearest subway stations are Canal St (A/C/E lines, 4-minute walk) and Spring St (6 line, 6-minute walk). We are also easily reachable by taxi or rideshare — ask to be dropped on Harbour Lane.

We offer valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm. The nearest public parking facility is Soho Park Garage, approximately a 3-minute walk from the restaurant. Street parking is limited in the area, particularly on weekends.

Yes, BistroLaunch is fully accessible. We have step-free access from the street, accessible restrooms, and our team is trained to assist guests with mobility requirements. Please let us know when booking so we can arrange the most suitable table and access route for your visit.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. We do not accept cash or personal cheques.

A discretionary 18% service charge is added to all bills. This is distributed in full among the restaurant team — front-of-house and kitchen alike. You are welcome to remove or adjust it, though we hope you'll find the service worth keeping. For private dining and groups of 8 or more, an 20% service charge applies.

Yes, we can split bills for groups, up to a maximum of four separate payments per table. Please inform your server before the meal begins so we can prepare accordingly. For very large groups or private events, we typically issue one consolidated bill.

Yes. BistroLaunch gift vouchers are available in any amount and make a beautiful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations. They can be purchased in person at the restaurant or by emailing hello@bistrolaunch.com. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and can be used for dining, drinks, or packages.

Yes, gift vouchers can be redeemed against any bill at BistroLaunch, including private dining events. They cannot be exchanged for cash and are non-refundable. If your bill is less than the voucher value, the remaining balance stays on the voucher for a future visit.