French

Note: Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order and not in order of preference.

  • Balthazar – Iconic French brasserie with steak frites, brunch and pastries in a classy space with red banquettes
    • Location: Soho
    • Atmosphere: Parisian, “quintessentially Soho”
    • Suggestions: Balthazar salad, onion soup gratinee
    • Reservations: Strongly suggested; note that you can call to make a reservation
    • A Good Place For: People watching, dinner with the girls, dinner with the parents
    • Note: A popular spot for brunch, but I haven’t experienced it myself
    • Sister Restaurants: Pastis, Morandi, Minetta Tavern
  • Boucherie – Traditional French brasserie and steakhouse, celebrating Joie de Vivre (enjoyment of life)
    • Location: West Village, Union Square, Midtown
    • Atmosphere: Lively, Parisian, welcoming
    • Suggestions: Burger
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get
    • A Good Place For: Brunch, last minute dinner
    • Note: Boucherie has a great atmosphere, but I found the food to be way overpriced and not worth the cost 
  • Café Chelsea – French American bistro located within the historic Hotel Chelsea
    • Location: Chelsea
    • Atmosphere: Lively, trendy
    • Suggestions: Panisse, Ravioles du Dauphiné
    • Reservations: Required; Café Chelsea accepts reservations via Resy, up to 2 weeks in advance. The bar is first come, first served and offers the full menu
    • A Good Place For: A small group dinner (2-4 people), a date

  • Claudette – Mediterranean-accented French dishes served in a bright corner space with an elegant cottage feel
    • Location: Greenwich Village
    • Atmosphere: Elegant, comfortable
    • Suggestions: Truffle hummus
    • Reservations: Suggested
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, a really good last minute dinner reservation
    • Note: All the food here is outstanding – you really cannot go wrong

  • Frenchette – Contemporary bistro serving French standards and natural wines in a refined environment
    • Location: Tribeca
    • Atmosphere: Brasserie, noisy, sleek, wood-trimmed
    • Suggestions: The menu is constantly changing, but everything here is good, so if something speaks to you, get it
    • Reservations: Required
    • A Good Place For: Small group dinner (2-4 people), a nice date
    • Note: 2019 James Beard Foundation Winner of Best New Restaurant

  • Le Crocodile – Sprawling spot at the Wythe Hotel serving French fare, wine, and cocktails in an easygoing setting
    • Location: Williamsburg
    • Atmosphere: Upscale, trendy
    • Suggestions: Onion soup, roast chicken with herb jus and frites
    • Reservations: Suggested but not hard to get
    • A Good Place For: A nicer dinner with friends, when the parents are in town, a nice date

  • Maison Close – Maison Close is the new Bagatelle. It’s a French restaurant that is known for brunches filled with sparkers, cabaret parties, and club music that encourages table-dancing
    • Location: Soho
    • Atmosphere: Party, boujee, upscale, fancy, cabaret party, high-octane circus
    • Suggestions: Espresso martini
    • Reservations: Required
    • A Good Place For: Birthday parties, a party brunch, celebrations
    • Note: You come here for the vibes and the drinks, not the food. The food is fine but as the waiter said, “you have a tab minimum to meet, I would suggest spending more on alcohol than food.” The weekend brunch party is unbeatable – the music is loud making you want to dance and the lights of the outdoor world are quite bright when you make your exit slightly before dinner time

  • Minetta Tavern – Celeb-magnet, hot-ticket tavern with upper-end French bistro fare and reimagined vintage decor
    • Location: Greenwich Village
    • Atmosphere: Dark, historical, loud, exclusive, throwback
    • Suggestions: Black label burger
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance
    • A Good Place For: A third date, a casual night out
    • Sister Restaurants: Balthazar, Pastis, Morandi
    • Note: Coming in at $38, the black label burger at Minetta Tavern is arguably one of the best hamburgers in NYC

  • Raoul’s – Classic bistro dating to the 1970s with a bustling Parisian atmosphere and a serious French menu
    • Location: Soho
    • Atmosphere: Casual yet trendy, a place to see and be seen but subtly, classic, lively
    • Suggestions: Steak naturel au poivre, pommes frites
    • Reservations: Required; reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance. Their largest table size is 5 people. Bar seats are first come, first serve only
    • A Good Place For: When the parents are in town, a pre-going out dinner, dinner when you are hungry
    • Note: Raoul’s serves a hamburger but only to patrons seated at the bar. The catch – they only serve 12 burgers per night. Raoul’s may be my favorite restaurant in the city currently. The streak naturel au poivre is the best I’ve ever had

  • The Odeon – Lively bistro with outdoor seating serving French American food, plus brunch and late-night bites
    • Location: Tribeca
    • Atmosphere: Not noteworthy – a standard restaurant feel
    • Suggestions: French onion soup, parmesan fries
    • Reservations: Generally not required, though suggested on a Friday or Saturday
    • A Good Place For: A last minute dinner
    • Note: The Odeon is good but nothing on the menu will blow your mind. In my opinion, it’s overpriced. There are better French spots in the city, but you won’t have a bad meal or a bad experience here
    • Sister Restaurant: Café Cluny

  • Pastis – Theatrical evocation of Paris featuring bistro food and high-energy atmospherics from a chic crowd
    • Location: Meatpacking
    • Atmosphere: Welcoming, elegant, tasteful
    • Suggestions: French onion soup, chicken paillard, pommes frites, cheeseburger 
    • Reservations: Suggested
    • A Good Place For: Brunch, brunch / dinner when friends / parents are in town
    • Note: Pastis is consistently a great spot in the heart of Meatpacking. You can dress up or go casual. You can sit inside or outside. The food is always good. A bit on the expensive side, but worth it
    • Sister Restaurants: Balthazar, Morandi, Minetta Tavern

  • Wayan – Cédric Vongerichten (son of Jean-Georges) serves French-accented Indonesian fare in a sleek setting
    • Location: Nolita
    • Atmosphere: Warm, hip, eclectic
    • Suggestions: Any of the satays, vegetable spring rolls, lobster noodles, roasted cauliflower, corn fritter
    • Reservations: Suggested but not hard to get and you can usually get a last-minute reservation
    • A Good Place For: A last minute really good meal, a dinner date, dinner when friends are in town
    • Note: This is one of my favorite spots in the city. All the food is great. The dishes are unique, and the atmosphere makes you want to stay for hours. Don’t skip out on the cocktails