MFNYC

Bistro Les Amis is a nice, small bistro. Check menupages.com. You can search by locaiion and type of food, view menus and read user reviews.

lizziea06

Continuing our sidebar...I agree. I think Blue Ribbon is better, it just gets so damn crowded.

mdn

I'm hesitant to post this because the restaurnt is a little secret for me. A French, Provencal restaurant in Soho called Le Jardin Bistro. Amazing food, never too crowded and in the summer months, their garden in the back is just about the perfect place to be. Half the area in the garden is partially sheltered with grape vines. Their foie gras is one of my favourites in the city. Truth be told, I like the lunch & dinner here more than that at Balthazar.
It's fits your requirements although it's not a "cool atmosphere" if you meant the new glass & dark curtains look.