Favorite French Restaurants
Being fond of French cuisine, I would like to know your favorite spots - from the bistros and cafes to the more refined servers of the Haute stuff. I am an out-of-towner and will be visiting in either Jan. or Feb. Price is of no concern.
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ambrose
Oct 6, 2010 02:58 PM
Just south of La Mangeoire is another bistro, La Mediterranée. It's at 947 2nd Ave, between 50th and 51st.
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re: ambrose
After walking by this place a thousand times, I had a lovely dinner at La Mediterranée a couple of weeks ago for the frst time. The food is not haute, but doesn't pretend to be, just simple and comforting, as I expect bistro food to be, and easy on the wallet. A bonus: an old-timer played beautiful, traditional tunes the entire time. It was a charming experience and I would definitely return.
At the other end of the spectrum I do love La Grenouille!
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Wilfrid
Oct 4, 2010 02:46 PM
Sadly most of the modest bistros named in the thread so far are average at best (I am sentimental about La Petite Auberge and Chez Napoleon but expecting excellence [sic] will lead to disappointment) . The closest we have to a good Parisian brasserie is L'Absinthe on the Upper East Side, or Balthazar if you can get in.
Benoit generally does a good job of imitating a decent French bistro, although it tends to get dismissed because people expect more from Alain Ducasse.
La Grenouille does very traditional cuisine bourgeois quite well - quenelles de brochet, oxtail, veal kidneys - but the price is astonishing.
For authentic but much more downscale French experiences, the tiny Zucco on Orchard or Lina Frey on Houston. Zucco is quirky but has a real French sensibility. Lina Frey feels like a casual, young persons' restaurant in Paris - a reminder that Paris is now a cosmopolitan city.
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022Zucco
188 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002Lina Frey
201 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002›4 Replies-
re: Wilfrid
MMRuth
Oct 6, 2010 07:42 AM
Certainly La Grenouille is very expensive, but I don't think the prices are astonishing when compared to other high end restaurants in the city. If you want to see astonishing, check out Le Cirque. I was gobsmacked -- and relieved that I wasn't paying.
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022Le Cirque
151 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
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EV_Eats
Oct 4, 2010 01:04 PM
I love La Grenouille, but I'd have to pic Casimir for the fact that I live around the corner. Best Steak Tartare that I've had in the city. The Maple & Soy glazed duck breast is really good too, as well as the Boudin Noir.
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022 -
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Second (or third) La Sirene. Add Cafe d'Alsace (stick to the chooucroute and beer), Raoul's (still good after all these years), Gasgone (again, they are best at their own regional offerings), and, if you can travel, Tournesol--Long Island City, but very close to the subway. All are low key and on the smallish side--so plan ahead or go on an off hour. Please let us know what you do and how it all works out.
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re: Upperwestsider
My brother and I had a very good and pleasant meal at La Sirene some time ago. Has the restaurant continued on the same high level, now that the chef has to also spend time at his fondue restaurant, Taureau, in the East Village?
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La Sirene
558 Broome Street, New York, NY 10013Taureau
127 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
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JoanN
Oct 2, 2010 03:28 AM
La Mangeoire, 1008 Second Avenue between 52rd & 54th. Christian Delouvrier is serving outstanding Provençal meals at comparatively modest prices in a charming setting.
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La Mangeoire
1008 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022›3 Replies -
There are very few authentic, traditional bistros, but two that have been around for many years and are still serving excellent food are La Petite Auberge and Chez Napoleon. For haute cuisine, La Grenouille gets favorable reports on this board, and is generally considered the last of the great high-end traditional places. For more modern, there are Jean-Georges and Picholine.
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