Looking for recs: French restaurants in NYC

Old Aug 17th, 2006, 03:04 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looking for recs: French restaurants in NYC

Hi there. Any suggestions for a great one? Don't want Rene Peujol, Mon Ami Gabi or Les Sans Culottes. I've eaten there several times and would love to try something new. It's for my birthday (husband is taking me). It does not have to be chichi-foufou. Just looking for a nice little place with great food. I remember a post with suggestions last year but of course can't find it. Thanks!
caribtraveler is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 03:08 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try my favorite, Chez Josephine. Host Jean-Claude Baker will indeed help to make it a special birthday celebration.
HowardR is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 03:25 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's new, it's incredible, it earned two stars from the NY Times' Frank Bruni:

Cafe d'Alsace
Gekko is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 03:38 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks! By the way, I CANNOT believe I said "Mon Ami Gabi" which is in Vegas! I meant "Tout Va Bien". Maybe I need to go to bed now, I did wake up at 3am today.
caribtraveler is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 03:40 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The above is post re Cafe D' Alsace
is missing some information if you would like to pursue it:
It is located at 1695 2nd Ave (Corner of 88th & 2nd) the phone is (212) 722-5133. Also you might want to check out the website at www.cafedalsace.com
grantop is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 04:45 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My recs:

Chanterelle
Payard
Le Zinc
Les Halles

I ate an Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas and thought it was mediocre. I had a better meal at Cheesecake Factory.

Christine
handmaiden is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 04:54 PM
  #7  
jmp
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Le Refuge on 82nd b/w 2nd & 3rd is very nice.
jmp is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 04:55 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My favorites:
Bouley (exquisite fancy)
Daniele (exquisite fancy)
Pigalle (classic feench bistro food)
Balthazar (classic french bistro food)
Jean George (a culinary adventure like no other, breaks the bank but 4 stars NYT twice over)
plafield is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 05:00 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everybody. I will give all of these to my husband. He'll look into them and I'll let him surprise me.

Christine: Same here regarding Mon Ami Gabi. Tout Va Bien is one of my favorite French places in NYC (although our recent meal was not as good as the past ones). That's part of why I can't believe I said Mon Ami Gabi in the first place! There was a Vegas thread while I was posting..maybe that's why.

caribtraveler is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 08:02 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Chez Josephine is our favorite restaurant in NYC. We go there once or twice during every visit. We went to Daniel once and left wishing we had gone to Chez Josephine instead.

Lunch at Jean Georges was absolutely spectacular, but wouldn't do it again (just too pricey versus the "experience").

We've tried about two dozen (including some of the fanciest) French restaurants in NYC.

Another of our favorites is Bistro Les Amis in SoHo.

But, Chez Josephine is our absolute favorite for the food, atmosphere, and the music! There is no warmer welcome or being taken care of at any restaurant on the planet than Jean Claude...
djkbooks is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 08:47 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We have eaten at Balthazar often and have always been thrilled.
dina4 is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2006, 08:55 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My friends in The Village recently took me out to one of their favorite neighborhood places - Gavroche. It's really cool, esp. dining out on the back patio just after dusk. Candles, open air, good wine & food and friends. Reasonable prices too.
bluestar is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2006, 05:38 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think Le Zinc has closed.
LoriNY1 is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2006, 06:10 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Montrachet in Tribeca.
john127 is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2006, 08:03 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sadly, Montrachet is closed now to. The message on the answering machine says they are closed for the month of August and are directing people to the Tribeca Grill. When we asked at TG what the story was, they said it was closed for 'renovations', but he really wasn't sure it was going to reopen. Sad, I really liked Montrachet.
LoriNY1 is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2006, 08:29 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, that stinks.
john127 is offline  
Old Oct 17th, 2006, 12:17 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Actually, john, since Montrachet is a rather mild goat cheese it really doesn't stink much at all!

LOL
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Oct 17th, 2006, 06:11 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"A nice little place with great food", describes Fleur de Sel at 5 East 20th Street to a T. We stumbled across this little place a few years ago for a $25 prix fixe lunch and it has since become a favorite anytime. The proprietor and executive chef, Cyril Renaud, comes from France and his family is in the salt mining business, hence the name. I actually saw a documentary on his family and the French salt industry on the Food Network some time ago.

Here is a link to reviews:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/review/11408939
http://www.fleurdeselnyc.com/about_chef.html
Maggi is offline  
Old Nov 26th, 2006, 09:51 AM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi guys and gals. So my birthday was last month and my husband took me to Chez Josephine. We LOVED the atmosphere, and the music (REALLY LOVED the music). We thought the food was good but not great. I chatted with Jean-Claude while waiting for my husband who was parking the car (took forever...weekend night in NYC). Jean-Claude is a hoot. My first language is French and I don't get much chance to practice with an American husband...so it was a fun conversation. At some point he had me answer the phone and I took a reservation. The bartender had disappeared and Jean-Claude said his hearing was not great. Too funny.
Anyway, THANK YOU for all the suggestions. I plan to try some of the other restaurants that were suggested on this thread.
caribtraveler is offline  
Old Nov 26th, 2006, 10:16 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Glad you enjoyed Chez Josephine. As you so aptly reported, while the food is decent, that's not the main reason for going! With many, many hours of conversational experience, I can assure that Jean-Claude is the main reason for going there. PS: As you've probably guessed, his hearing is fine!
HowardR is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -