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Ian Hunter's Guide to New York's Best Restaurants, Bars, and Gourmet Markets
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FRENCH/ BELGIAN
 
La Mirabelle: French. 102 W 86th @ Amsterdam-Columbus; 22/18/$48; 496-0458; Old fashioned French Bistro; Excellent French food for a classic evening of top cuisine.  Excellent service from family-owned business. Older crowd, full of regulars;
 
Bistro Citron: French. 473 Columbus @ 82-3rd; 21/19/$40; 400-9401;  Bistro classics; Warm atmosphere and pleasant Parisian experience; Outdoor seating; Energetic scene. Neighborhood standby.

 

Bistro Cassis: French. 225 Columbus @ 70-1st; 20/17/$42; 579-3966; Authentic French Bistro fare; Neighborhood favorite serving French classics. Affordable; Pistachio-crusted lamb stands out.

 
Café Luxembourg: French. 200 W 70th @ Amsterdam-West End; 21/18/$54; 873-7411; There for 25 years, produces excellent French bistro food; Sexy crowd and a great scene; Especially outdoors.

 

La Bonne Soupe: French. 48 W 55th @ 6th; 18/14/$28; 586-7650; Authentic French food; Bistro feel; Cheese Fondue menu; French soups including perfection in French Onion. Large place.

 
Chez Napoleon: French. 365 50th @ 8-9th Av; 20/15/$45; 265-6980; Old fashioned setting; Great service; Large menu with all the French classics; Excellent food! Pre-theatre; Family-owned.

 

Marseille: French. 630 9th Av @ 44th; 20/22/$47; 333-3410; Mediterranean influenced; Unique menu with classics and innovative dishes; Spacious setting with a nice pre-drink bar area; Sexy scene.  Cool décor

 
Chez Josephine: French. 414 W 42nd @ 9-10th; 20/21/$50; 594-1925; Tribute to Josephine Baker; Fine French food; Elegant and welcoming. Fun decorations reminding one of her day; Large menu.

 
La Lunchonette: French. 130 10th Av @ 18th; 21/15/$41; 675-0342; Relaxed, laid back feel; Great traditional French offerings; Nothing ultra fancy but steady. Rabbit and Venison stand out; Quaint and charming bistro.


Gascogne: French. 158 8th Av @ 17-18th; 22/19/$48; 675-6564; French hideaway; Garden in back; Date spot; Bistro style fare. Honey glazed duck; $27 pre-theatre prix-fixe; Rack of Lamb with Thyme.

 
Café de Bruxelles: Belgian. 118 Greenwich @ 13th; 21/15/$41; 206-1830;  Moules-Frites; Incredible, extensive selection of beers; Old Europe feel; Modest prices, relaxed.  Large menu; Classic fare.


Jarnac: French. 328 W 12th @ Greenwich; 23/20/$52; 924-3413; Neighborhood spot; Romantic; Worth every penny; Quaint. Jarnac BLT with unique ingredients; Ever-changing menu; Bistro heaven.


Pastis: French. 9 9th Av @ 12th; 21/21/$47; 929-4844; Known as a top scale brunch spot; Celebs, models and Eurotrash; Bistro feel in tradition of Balthazar; Keith McNally owned; Open all the time; Essentially an upscale French diner. Parisian fix.  

 
La Ripaille: French. 605 Hudson @ Bethune-W 12th; 23/20/$48; 255-4406;  Like visiting a quaint French village Bistro in France; Traditional dishes; Amazing service. Warm, cozy- a neighborhood standby.


Tartine: French. 253 W 11th St @ W 4th St; 22/14/$30; 229-2611; Dirt Cheap French Bistro; BYOB policy & no Rez; Saucy chicken in garlic white wine; Packed always; Simple classics.
 

Le Gigot: French. 18 Cornelia @ Bleecker- W 4th; 24/19/$53; Small place, only 11 tables, but cozy location; Incredible food; Not a huge menu but contains classics – duck, escargots etc; Parisian experience. Great staff.

 
CamaJe: French. 85 MacDougal @ Bleecker-Houston; 23/15/$35; 673-8184; American twists to the food; Bistro feel and setting; Walls adorned with artists’ works; Romantic, like a Paris street. Lamb stew amazing.

 
Jean Claude: French. 137 Sullivan @ Houston-Prince; 22/16/$41; 475-9232; A bistro so romantic you’ll think you are in Paris; Ideal date spot; Solid food- cash only. Affordable, rustic fare with big portions & tastes. Hanger steak.

 
Raoul’s: French. 180 Prince @ Sullivan-Thompson; 24/20/$55; 966-3518; Truly authentic first-rate French fare in an authentic bistro setting; Been around since 1975;  Always popular and just like dining in Paris; Romantic ambiance; Back garden; Can’t go wrong here; Steak au poivre; Duck breast are amazing.

 
Bistro Les Amis: French. 180 Spring @ Thompson; 22/17/$42; 226-8645; Charming Soho French bistro with the usual classics plus some special preparations; Romantic, smallish place; Fair pricing & great service; Steak Frites with herb butter.

 

Bouley, Upstairs: French, Eclectic; 130 W Boradway @ Duane; 25/17/$50; 608-5829; Next door to super expensive Bouley – get nearly same quality food for ½ the price; More elbow room as well; Cuisine-crossing menu including sushi & highest end French.

 
L’Ecole: French. 462 Broadway @ Grand; 25/20/$52; 219-3300; Students trying hard to impress at the French Culinary Institute; Overall inexpensive for the service & quality; Breeding ground for chefs.


Balthazar: French; 80 Spring @ B-Way-Crosby; 23/23/$54; 965-1414; French; Insanely popular; Brunch specialist; Dinner date spot; Epic good; Happening. Keith McNally owned; Absolute spot-on Paris brasserie; Models, celebs, and tourists in the crowd.

 

Degustation: French. 239 E 5th @ 2nd-3rd Av; 27/21/$61; 979-1012; Small 16 seat tasting bar; Spanish-infused small plates, French style; 12-15 items on the menu – all epic in quality; Like sitting at a sushi bar. 

 

Bourgeois Pig: French. 111 E 7th St @ 1st Av – Av A; 23/21/$48; 475-2246; Café feel yet sexy and enticing; Top drawer Cheese Fondues; Cheese plates; Basically a cheese specialist. Known for excellent wines and cocktails.

 
Tree: French. 190 1st Av @ 11-12th; 21/18/$40; 358-7171; Very popular Bistro in the Village. Romantic back garden; Excellent French selections at great prices. Not a sizable place; Delicious homey cuisine.


Les Halles: French. 411 Park @ 28-9th; 20/17/$44; 679-4111; French Bistro setting; Great Steak Frites; Down home fare; Cool look and decent date option; Trendy location;  Sausages, Crepes suzette; Fun time.

 
Resto: Belgian. 111 E 29th @ Lex-Park; 22/15/$45; 685-5585; Very popular, well reviewed scene; Energetic, with great bar; Belgian beers- one of the best collections; Lamb dishes are excellent; Trendy and often crowded.  

 
Artisanal: French. 2 Park @ 32nd; 24/20/$54; 725-8585; Brasserie; Brunch friendly; Cheese-focused; Great wine list; Celestial fromage with signature Cheese Fondue & cheese flights; Good looking space with surprisingly good service.  Standard French selection as well done as well as anywhere.

 

Jubilee: French. 347 E 54th @ 1-2nd; 22/16/$48; 888-3569; Exactly the menu you want to look at in a French Bistro; Mussels are the best here; Ultra French feel.  Older crowd;

 
Sel et Poivre: French. 853 Lexington @ 64-65th; 20/18/$41; 517-5780; What a lovely, unpretentious bistro; Even serves pasta besides excellent, not overly spiced French cuisine; Brunch as well; Been around forever- reliable.

 
B. Café: Belgian. 240 E 75th @ 2nd-3rd Av; 249-3300; 22/18/$39;  Belgian bistro with amazing beer selection; Intimate setting for Belgian fare; Moules frites is specialty; When you want a refreshing twist of classic Gaullic grub.

 

Café d’Alsace: French. 1695 2nd Av @ 88th; 21/18/$47; 722-5133; Feels like you are in Paris at this energetic brasserie; 500 types of Beer!;  Outdoor seating; Tradition French cuisine. Large portions. Fun time.