La Boite en Bois
Went to La Boite en Bois last night, the 22 Zagat rated Upper West Sider’s pre-theater Menu. Very cute place – the ambiance reminded me of my last trip to France and the little cafes I dined at. The restaurant was more than slightly cramped, but that added to the ambiance. It’s one of those places where you can’t help talking with the people at the next tables.
Service was friendly and efficient. We especially liked the fact that they made their onion soup for my wife, which was not on the dinner menu. The soup paled in comparison to the amazing onion soup we had at Artisinal the other week, but it was a nice gesture.
The pre-theater dinner offering is a $44 prix fix with traditional French favorites like pate, French onion soup and escargot for apps and duck, steak au poivre, etc. for entrees. I had the specials of the night. I started with pumpkin soup. It was creamless. In my opinion, it was a little too liquidy and lacked impact/flavor. I needed to salt and pepper it up to eat. Next, I had the entree special which included little pieces of monkfish, salmon with a large scallop and a large shrimp cooked in parchment paper with creamy leek sauce. For the record, I hate ordering fish and then ending up with creamy sauces but that was my fault. Nevertheless, I ate it and it was good – I especially enjoyed the leeks and sauce. Another nice compliment to the entree was a generous portion of risotto with mixed vegetables and simple steamed spinach. To close out the meal, I enjoyed a tasty bread pudding but since this restaurant is blocks away from Magnolia, I would recommend skipping dessert at La Boite en Bois and heading to Magnolia.
In summary, I would go for lunch to La Boite en Bois but would skip dinner. It was fun getting out with my wife on our historic October snowstorm, but when I think back to this night a couple of weeks from now, it will be hard to remember the food.
Food – 6/10
Ambiance – 6/10
Service – 8/10
Category:
Food Type – French
Style – Casual
Price – Moderate
Wanna go?
75 W 68th St, Near Columbus Ave., New York
Plein Sud NYC
Plein Sud is a French brasserie located inside the Smyth Hotel in Tribeca. The Chef is Ed Cotton, who was runner up in Season 7 of Top Chef (Washington DC). We went for an enjoyable brunch with friends and their 10 month old. Judging from the four strollers lined up in the entrance and the well behaved kids all over the restaurant, this is a popular destination for parents with little ones.
I ordered their extremely fresh Nicoise salad. I appreciated the fresh, non-fishy tuna, flavorful sardines, the crispy green beans, the fresh bib lettuce (which reminded me of lettuce I had in Hawaii on my honeymoon) the pealed grape tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, raddish for color, scallions, and a light vinagarette. The salad was a winner and I would come back and order it again.
Others at the table enjoyed scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes with fresh blueberries, and eggs Norwegian, toasted english muffins / smoked salmon / 2 poached eggs with sauce hollandaise.
I understand that this is a hotel restautant and for this reason they have to charge $14 for the bread basket with croissants, muffins, etc. Had it been provided on the table with compliments of the house (as they do at B R Guest restaurants), it would have been a nice touch.
I am intrigued by this place and would like to go back for dinner one of these days.
Rating:
Food – 8/10
Ambiance – 9/10
Service – 8/10
Category:
Food Type – French
Style – Casual
Price – Moderate
Wanna go?
Address/phone –85 West Broadway, 1(212)204-5555
Web – pleinsudnyc.com
Le Relais de Venise
There was nothing like arriving in Paris and finding Le Relais de Venise. Our email recommendation from a friend of a friend said, “you can have anything you want at Le Relais de Venise as long as it is steak.”
I write this review after realizing that I could relive my France steak experience in NYC and several other locations around the world including London and Barcelona. The ONLY difference between NYC and France (the two restaurants I had the pleasure of trying thus far) was a larger, more modern and spacious NYC location. The food tasted the same, it was presented the same way by waitresses who dress the same and act the same, same wine and dessert… exactly the same!
Here’s the menu….
Within minutes of sitting, we were served our Green salad with walnuts. Crispy lettuce, tangy dressing – the perfect start to our meal.
After we finished the salad, like clockwork, steak and frites were presented on a small plate. The steak was prepared as ordered, it was butter soft but unlike like fillet mignon, it had more flavor and personality. In addition to the natural steak flavors, it is covered in a rich, but not too rich, “secret” green sauce. I wasn’t sure what the sauce was in France and I didn’t venture to ask because I didn’t understand the language. In NYC I asked the waitress what was in the secret sauce….she said, ” If I knew I would tell you.” She said lots of people ask, but they don’t tell her, so she couldn’t tell us. Trust me, it is good!! The frites are thin and crispy.
After we finished what would certainly be enough for a meal, then came serving two of steak frites. That’s the way they do it, so who am I to question why?
We washed it all down with 2005 Relais de Venise – Côtes de Bordeaux – $21.95 (full)/ $11.50 (half). Where can you get a bottle for this price?! Normally house wine isn’t so smooth and easy to drink.
For dessert, they have a full menu, but they steer you to the best items with bold red underlines. In Paris and in NYC, we had Le Vacherin du Relais, which included.
- row 1 – vanilla ice cream
- row 2- crunchy, yet chewy meringue crisp
- row 3 – hazelnut ice cream
- row 4 – another meringue crisp
- row 5 – whipped cread
- covered in rich and smooth chocolate syrup (I am not talking Hershey’s here).
Almost tall enough to fall, but not quite. It only fell when it was attacked by two forks.
After dessert. No check until you ask. Just sit back, enjoy your remaining wine, and talk. No pressure here.
Rating:
Food – 9/10
Ambiance – 9/10
Service – 9/10
Category:
Food Type – French
Style – Casual
Price – Reasonable
No reservations (but we were able to sit without a wait prime time on Saturday night)
Address/ phone: 590 Lexington Ave (Corner of 52nd street), 1 212-758-3989