The New French

REVIEW

March 2, 2010


CUISINE: American (New), Bistro, French
NEIGHBORHOOD: West Village

Jeff Gurwin for TONY

522 Hudson St at 10th St.

(p) 212-807-7357

New French on Urbanspoon

 

Don't be fooled by the name; the menu is more New American than it is French. Hanging out on Hudson Street in what used to be Le Gamin, the New French is small and poorly advertised, so don't miss it!  With plain wooden tables and a chalkboard menu the atmosphere is more laid back than the food, which is detailed, thoughtful, and damn good. From start to finish, the meal exceeded my expectations. If I lived in the neighborhood, The New French would easily become a go-to dinner spot. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on March 2, 2010 3:38pm by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments





Balthazar

REVIEW

February 25, 2010


CUISINE: Bistro, French
NEIGHBORHOOD: Nolita, Soho

(photo taken from Balthazarny.com)

80 Spring Street

(P.) 212-965-1414

Balthazar on Urbanspoon

 

To me, Balthazar is a New York institution.  I remember when I made my first solo trip to the city, I ordered the shepherd’s pie.  When I graduated from college, my family squeezed around a circular table, and the light reflected off of the speckled mirrors and white tabletop, where our wine left purple rings.  I remember meeting an ex-boyfriend for martinis at the long wooden bar, and squeezing an impromptu business gathering into one of the booths that flank the area.  The last time my grandmother was in town, we ate salade nicoise and drank cups of coffee.  Such are my memories of Balthazar.  CONT'D

 

 


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Posted in FOOD on February 25, 2010 3:22pm by Rachel Hochhauser | 2 comments





Les Enfants Terrible

REVIEW

February 22, 2010


CUISINE: African, Brazilian, French, Moroccan
NEIGHBORHOOD: Lower East Side

Photo:Time Out NY

37 Canal St. at Ludlow St.

(p)212-777-7518

 

Walk in and prepare to get a serious once over from everyone in the place — bartenders and bus-boys included. If you return the favor, you'll see that mostly all of the gawkers are good-looking. 

 

Without a reservation, chances are you'll have to wait at the bar for a while, which isn't such a punishment considering the hot crowd.  However, space is tight. In fact, my only complaint about the restaurant is the extreme number of people they seat during peak periods. CONT'D

 

 

 


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Posted in FOOD on February 22, 2010 10:59am by Jena Steinbach | 2 comments





Joseph Leonard

REVIEW

January 4, 2010


CUISINE: American (New), French
NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenwich Village, West Village

Photo: NY MAG

170 Waverly Pl. at Grove St.

(p) 646-429-8383

 

Dining at Joseph Leonard is an exercise in patience. First, there's the inevitable wait —  usually between one and two hours — and then the space itself, which is unbearably small.  There are only seven tables, most of which fit two people plus the knees and elbows of waiting diners. It was so packed that I couldn't lift my arm without unintentionally poking the girl next to me. Run by Gabriel Stulman, JL bares a striking resemblance to Stulman's former haunt, The Little Owl, in that they are both nestled in teeny-tiny west village corners and are decorated in a rustic, low-key fashion. But unlike The Little Owl, Joseph Leonard does not take reservations, and the food isn't worth waiting for. CONT'D

 

 


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Posted in FOOD on January 4, 2010 5:43pm by Jena Steinbach | 1 comment





Minetta Tavern

REVIEW

November 2, 2009


CUISINE: American (Traditional), French, Steakhouse
NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenwich Village, West Village

photo: NyTimes.com

 

113 MacDougal St at Minetta Ln

(p) 212-475-3850

 

Minetta Tavern has been around for almost a century, but last spring Keith McNally turned it into a trendy steakhouse, attracting foodies and scenesters alike. Living up to its namesake, the space is very tavern-like: checkered floor, red leather booths, wooden bar, all very dark. But the McNally touch is obvious. Though not as hip as when it first opened, it's still a scene, housing models and trendy older people and loud-mouthed girlfriends from New Jersey trying to get a table. The walls are creatively littered with caricatures of strange men — regulars like 'the well dressed truck driver.'  House cocktails, like the Murray Sour (whiskey, cardamom, nectar, fresh lemon and orange) add to the overall effect of the place, and they taste pretty darn good. The bar itself is a grand beauty; rows of shiny liquor bottles and cocktail glasses line the cherry-wood shelves like something out of a Mad Men episode. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on November 2, 2009 11:43am by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments