ekscrunchy

Here is the site for L'Absinthe; you can see pics.
www.labsinthe.com

Gekko

For a visit to Provence, Le Refuge is an excellent choice. It's also on the Upper East Side.

winterland

I recommend La Bonne Soupe on either 45th or 46th street (I forget exactly which). Great little lunch spot where everyone speaks French. Feel free to place your order en francais.

sandypaws3

Here's a website for La Bonne Soup. We meant to go there when we were in New York summer before last. Next time, definitely! I love the way it looks

http://tinyurl.com/pk7rh

Sandy

SusanC

An earlier post mentioned Daniel. If that is too expensive or booked, you can go to his less expensive restaurant Cafe Boulud (don't be fooled - it is still quite expensive). It is on the Upper East Side and has outdoor seating (which I prefer for more casual ambience). I have never been to Daniel but Cafe Boulud is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC!

Rachele

Cafe Boulud is one of my favorite restaurants on earth...my husband and I go there for every anniversary. For a large brasserie type feeling and for great cheese, try Artisanal (2 Park Avenue at 32nd Street). Very fun and always hopping. I also love Provence restaurant in Soho on the corner of MacDougal and Prince streets. They have a pretty enclosed garden with a fountain in it and very good food. I would say that Cafe Boulud is pretty expensive, and that Artisanal and Provence are moderately expensive. Les Halles and Park Bistro are right across the street from each other and are both good. You're staying right across the street from Babbo, it's italian, but a great place to have a glass of wine if it's not too crowded. I live in the East Village, and you are near the fun streets in the East Village and Greenwich Village to roam around on. There are tons of little shops, bars and cafes in these neighborhoods. If you are in the East Village and go south of Houston, you will be on the Lower East Side, very funky and fun to walk around. Le Pere Pinard is a fun french place to have a drink and a snack on Ludlow. Enjoy!!!

pmode

there is a cute little place for brunch down in the meat packing district called Paradou. its right across from Pastis, but with no wait! tres francais!

111op

There's another branch of La Maison du Chocolat at Rockefeller Center (on 49th Street, across from Christie's).

There was (still is?) another branch of Fauchon on Madison Avenue (in the 70s?).

Madison Avenue has actually always seemed quite European to me. Try the stretch from the high 60s to low 80s.

However the interesting shops are probably found downtown, as suggested. The Meatpacking District is worth visiting, if that's not been mentioned, especially if you're going to visit galleries after.

Interesting that you'll be at the Washington Square Hotel. We stayed there in the mid to late 80s. It was not a very nice hotel back then, but it's been changed (don't know it now as we live in the city, but have walked past it many, many times).

Near your hotel is Mario Batali's Babbo.

lisettemac

Another vote for Les Halles -- it's one of my favorites.

I believe the Fauchon on the Upper East Side closed and returned to being Sant Ambroeus.

lizag

I second Chez Josephine in the theatre district.

Belledame

Isn't there a place called La Tocqueville in Chelsea? Circa Union Square, Flatiron district?