226854 Wed Sep 28 17:38:06 -0700 2005 11 18 Manhattan 0 1206112 there's a les halles by my apartment (downtown) and i'm curious to see if it's any good. i'm an anthony bourdain fan, have read kitchen confidential and got a big kick out of it. is his restaurant any good? the fear i have is that many chefs/owners have gone the celebrity route (books, tv shows, newspaper columns, etc.) which is fine, seems to have not taken away from mario batali, bobby flay or gabrielle hamilton but i'm wondering how much of les halles is about the food. any help, stories, recommendations would be appreciated. Wed Sep 28 17:38:06 -0700 2005 0 p 1 1206115 I don't think Tony B. has anything to do with Les Halles. My understanding is that he cooked there once (mid town) but that was some time ago. Both he and Les Halles have moved on. Wed Sep 28 17:56:37 -0700 2005 1206112 0 steve h. 2 1206123 He was definitely in charge of the Park Av. S. kitchen for a number of years until fame took him in a different direction. At this point, he's bascially out of there. As for the downtown location, he has stated in the past that he has never had anything to do with it. Wed Sep 28 18:25:24 -0700 2005 1206115 0 RGR 3 1206124 I don't think TB ever had a piece of the action. In a nutshell, he cooked there. Wed Sep 28 18:29:35 -0700 2005 1206123 0 steve h. 1 1206120 The only thing there that I think is superb is the Chicken Sandwich- no joke. Roasted Chicken, tarragon, lettuce and tomato, Mayo, fries....about $12 chico Wed Sep 28 18:20:52 -0700 2005 1206112 0 Chico 1 1206139 AB has nothing to do with the downtown Les Halles (and never has) Wed Sep 28 19:31:17 -0700 2005 1206112 0 Nathan 1 1206146 Les Halles is mediocre food w/ a loud atmosphere, a poor reservations system, and medicore service: a place for tourists and non-chowhounds, imho... For good bistro food: go to Lucien or La Luncheonette... Wed Sep 28 20:12:02 -0700 2005 1206112 0 Simon 1 1206173 i see, my oversight. can any hounds out there comment on the resto regardless of TB's association? Wed Sep 28 23:03:28 -0700 2005 1206112 0 p 2 1206196 The Park Ave location, supposedly the best of the chain (including DC and downtown and who knows where else), is decent. I've never been to the downtown and likely never will. Why don't you try and report? Thu Sep 29 09:42:33 -0700 2005 1206173 0 Dave 2 1206233 Do a search...you'll find dozens of posts ripping the place to shreds, rightly so... Thu Sep 29 11:49:54 -0700 2005 1206173 0 Simon 1 1206255 ive actually been to les halles downtown, many times. the service as of the past year or two has tumbled dramatically. ive had a few of the menu items, steak au poivre... pork tenderloin, etc... both are quite good. i actually think the au poivre sauce is excellent. i actually like their pommes frites as well, although i can understand why some wouldnt. ive not been that impressed with the rest of the menu, however. the soft shell crab wasnt so good, neither was the tuna. desserts not so good either. Thu Sep 29 14:01:35 -0700 2005 1206112 0 hihihi 1 1206256 ive actually been to les halles downtown, many times. the service as of the past year or two has tumbled dramatically. ive had a few of the menu items, steak au poivre... pork tenderloin, etc... both are quite good. i actually think the au poivre sauce is excellent. i actually like their pommes frites as well, although i can understand why some wouldnt. ive not been that impressed with the rest of the menu, however. the soft shell crab wasnt so good, neither was the tuna. desserts not so good either. Thu Sep 29 14:04:38 -0700 2005 1206112 0 hihihi