France in New York?
 

I have decided to forego traveling for the next couple of years and buy a house instead. I hope to satisfy my cravings for french culture here in my home state of New York (New York City to be exact). Do any of the New York Fodorites have suggestions where a girl can go to get a French fix (i.e., cafes or bistros with oodles of french ambiance, french music, etc.)? All suggestions are greatly welcomed!

There is a Fauchon on Park Avenue which should help.

I'm looking for the same type of places, especially places that play french music. Anybody out there?

Try Les Deux Gamine on Waverly and Christopher streets - smoke, the best onion soup ever, and you can sit forever.

Claude's bakery on West 4th Street in the West Village (betw/ 6th and 7th Ave--great croissants and pain au chocolate, not so great coffee); Cafe Bruxelles (Belgium), again in the west village; there's a French Bistro (haven't been there in a while) around 50th St. west of 7th Avenue called Tout Va Bien; the newer trendy upscale Balthazar in Soho (there's a smaller bakery run by the restaurant that's terrific, to-go only); go a couple of blocks east on the same street as Balthazar and on the north side of the street there's another small French cafe, can't remember the name. I'm sure there are a million more places, this is off the top of my head. Enjoy!

Sally, why don't you take a long weekend in Montreal? It's very French, very safe, very inexpensive, and not that far!

hope a greyhound for Quebec City and gaspe penninsula.

Wow, what a great suggegstion. I know I'm stretching here but does anyone have the same type of information for Chicago?

Try Pastis in the meatpacking district. Just like a real French bistro.

not to insult but wouldn’t German, Polish and the like restaurants/shops be the forte of Chicago. We (NYC) are pretty renowned for all things French in particular, and Italian to a slightly lesser degree. I think this is why this thread is getting such a poke.

Back to NYC, I like wondering around 17th century french rooms at the Met Museum. If paintings are your fancy check out the impressionist collection on the second floor.

to:xxx, <BR> <BR>No insult taken; I did not realize that about NY City. I've only been there once, long ago to see the debut of Cats. Chicago is very heavy on Italian as well (I'm very grateful). As I'd said, just stretching. Thanks. <BR> <BR>

Hi Sally! I agree, go to Quebec, but if you need a french fix right away, this week, La Bonne Soupe is holding its annual Tour de France. Tonight, it's Le Lyonnais and tomorrow it's La Provence. Check it out at www.labonnesoupe.com It's pretty inexpensive, and the owners/people who work there are French. They also have live French-caberet live musice on Tuesday nights, no cover charge (complete with accordion). Good luck!

I think it would be interesting for European posters if you make a separate thread discussing the ethnic diversities of Chicago. I have never been and would never guess there was authentic Italian there. Also you might get some feed back with a European perspective.

Mariarosa: Le Bonne Soupe sounds exactly what I am looking for. <BR> <BR>Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions.

Try the French Institute/Alliance Française for their programs, lectures and the like.

Les Halles on Park Avenue South and 28th St. has excellent bistro food. Check out Zagat's listings of French restaurants/bistros etc. There's a very large group of Francophiles in NYC who support many French restos--large and small, cheap and expensive. Ouest has good bistro food and is on the Upper West Side--83ish/Broadway. Of course, you can't forget Payard's patisserie/cage on Lexington/73rd for really extraordinary patisserie (with prices to match)and treat yourself to dinner at Daniel's some evening--Oh la la!!! On the other hand, you can always buy an album by Charles Aznavour, pick up a baguette and some great reblochon from Zabar's, and a bottle of good burgundy and spend a delightful evening a la Francais chez vous!

There are a number of bistro -type experiences in Chicago -- among them Le Bouchon, Cyranao Bistrot and Petit Zinc [or le zinc -- I'll check the name later.] Also many Chicago retaurants have outside seating in the summer -- so you can watch the crazy local drivers -- *very* French I'd say :)

Another vote for La Bonne Soupe! I was just there this weekend and love to go there for an inexpensive lunch/dinner every time I'm in New York. They have a $13.95 fixed price menu for bread, salad, soup, and dessert that is always terrific (their onion soup is great). They also have a $20 fixed price menu for a more substantial meal, and also have very good fondue. The waitstaff is French, the atmosphere is very French (those red-and-white checked tablecloths), and the bread is fab.

Honey, try Le Zinc at 139 Duane Street. www.lezincnyc.com. It is open util 4 am. Say hi to Lee for me if you go.

Hi there, I live in the NY metro area and since we cancelled our trip to Europe this year, we thought that the next best thing,by car, would be Montreal.It is so French,young,fun etc.But when we get back, not to lose the French flavor of things,I am taking down all of these suggestions and trying them all out.Some rstaurants I have already been to, they are all such good suggestions.Bravo,everyone for being so helpful and kind..these days that is appreciated so much more,don't you think?

There is a French bookshop in the Rockefeller Centre. It's on that little street that runs down from 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Plaza. I can't remember the name of it though.

In NYC, at 2 Park Avenue (although the entrance is on 32nd street), is Artisanal. Has many wines by the glass, the most amazing cheese shop, and a great traditional bistro menu. <BR> <BR>It's new as of this summer...and a slice of St. Germain!

Sally, what fun! The quest for France. Imagine the great time you will have sampling breads and wines. I have a similar dream of researching the ideal pizza in New York, but have been indulging in French wine sampling over the last few months. Whenever I want a dose of romantic France, I put on a Piaf CD. Let us know your discoveries. And good luck on the home-buying. My advice there: small yard, very small. Less work and allows you to get to know your neighbors. Oh, my mother loves Quebec for French ambiance.

There is a cafe on 44th street -- Cafe Un, Deux, Trois. Beautiful and sometimes they play French music.

I've never really thought of NYC being heavily French. Italian, yes. We have a little Italy (near Soho) and just had the Columbus Day parade. MANY Italian restaurants. <BR> <BR>thought Alliance Francaise was a good suggestion, and the French period rooms at the Met. Name of that French cafe in Soho I was trying to remember: Ceci Cela. <BR> <BR>The neighborhood I live in in Brooklyn has a heavy Polish pop--we have a very nice Polish gourmet store a few blocks away with great cold cuts/salamis and other dishes (babka, stuffed cabbage rolls). <BR> <BR>It's not French, but Murray's cheese shop, one in the West Village another in Chelsea, has an incredible selection. Get a baguette there, some olives (great olive selection as well) and find a nice French wine, there's another great Chez Home French experience.

There's a little restaurant called Provence that is wonderful, also Pastis, Zinc, Balthuzar, and there are shops like Pierre Deux, Fanon French Country that carry french things for the home, Buy a croissant, some lavender honey, coffee au lait, put on a George Brasson cd and your french morning has begun. Voila!

Lucky for all you folks who live in NY and other big cities. I live in a small city with not much cultural diversity! I had also thought about going to Quebec or Montreal does it really have the feal of Paris. I need more info. Thanks for the help.

Montreal has the largest French community outside of France.The language is French although everyone also speaks English.The food is great, and there is great variety, we will be going to a wonderful Portugese restaurant while there.There is a street called rue St Denis, where you can sit out at a cafe and have coffee and read the paper and listen to everyone speaking French and imagine you are in Paris~There are plenty of museums, and wonderful sightseeing,the parks are great,the architecture, let me see, have I gone overboard yet? NO! you must go there and see for yourself~I leave tomorrow, Bye!

I've been to Paris a lot and speak French fairly well, and I don't think Quebec is remotely like Paris, except they speak French there (but different accent and some slang is different). It's just nothing like Paris at all, I think people just say that because they speak French. I haven't been to Montreal since I was a kid, but I think I'll try it next as it's more of a sophisticated city with things to do and a metro system. Quebec is small-townish, there wasn't even a movie theater in the Old Town part of the central city when I was there last year, you have to go out in the suburbs to get to one (no metro system), and the suburbs seem like US to me, not Paris. It was very very expensive, also, some things cost more than in Paris.

That was Quebec City I was referring to in the last post, not the whole province of course as Montreal is there also and I don't know about it. And, I also have dined at Cafe Un Deux Trois in NYC and liked it a lot, it seemed to have a pretty good French bistro atmosphere.

Actually-there is NOWHERE like Paris~ <BR>and you are right Christine about Quebec City-we found it a real tourist trap, but Montreal has that cosmopolitan air that makes it much nicer to visit, and there are some great universities there so there are a lot of young people..good shops and places to eat that are geared towards student budgets, and then you can also eat in really good 4Star places, <BR>If one cannot get that far away-Canada/Montreal are close but feel far away~

"Author: DJ ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 10/11/2001, 2:01 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Wow, what a great suggegstion. I know I'm stretching here but does anyone have the same type of information for Chicago?" <BR> <BR>There are tons of great restuarants from all nationalities in Chicago! I know the common assumption is that it's all German, Polish, etc., but trust me, there's a lot more than that! <BR> <BR>First, it's Bistro Zinc that I think you're thinking of... <BR> <BR>Then, what about Brasserie Jo? Great chocolate mousse! And the chicken ravioli was simply the best chicken dish I can remember having anywhere! <BR> <BR>Finally, there's the pearl in the oyster -- Aubriot. It's where Charlie Trotter goes to celebrate, and once you eat there, you can see why! Yum, yum, yum, and (relatively) affordable! Try it and let me know what you think!

I second the vote for La Bonne Soupe. I was there last month and the food and the music was good.

What's the name of Josephine Baker's son Bistro?

Josephine :)

sorry-Chez Josephine

It's Chez Josephine. And, there's certainly no one more French in NY than Jean-Claude Baker, its owner and maitre d'.