As these five neighborhood French restaurants prove, the city that never sleeps also never fails at making some dynamite French dishes for its locals. Catch some serious French flavor with a dash or two of New York sophistication. Try one dish or try them all, just be sure you’re dine in at one of these five fabulous French spots in New York City.
Best of NYC Neighborhood French Restaurants: Paname Restaurant (Midtown East)
Paname offers a contemporary French dining experience, serving up tempting entrees that include oven-roasted duck with barley and mango coulis, slow-roasted veal chop topped with wild mushrooms, and a Niman Ranch pork scallopini with wild mushroom crème sauce. A prix fixe menu is also available for lunch ($23 or $26) and dinner ($39), which includes a perfect pairing of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. 1068 Second Ave., 212-207-3737, panamenyc.com
Best of NYC Neighborhood French Restaurants: Amélie (Greenwich Village)
Amélie has that ultimate French flair, serving as both a wine bar and restaurant. The wines available come from all over the world, with a heavy emphasis on France. The food is given just as much attention, with a menu that is meant to pair nicely with the many flavors available on the wine list. Expect to see beloved dishes such as coq au vin and Hudson Valley duck leg confit on the menu. 22 W. 8th St., 212-533-2962, ameliewinebar.com
Best of NYC Neighborhood French Restaurants: Lafayette (NoHo)
Doubling as an everyday grand café and bakery, as well as a full-service restaurant, Lafayette has all the French neighborhood charm you could ever expect to find in New York City. Stop in for a pastry, or be seated for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Menu items include Moules Frites, Moroccan Spice Glazed Duck, and Lamb Daube. You’ll find Fromage Blanc Cheesecake, Macarons, and a range of cheeses at the bakery station. 380 Lafayette St., 212-533-3000, lafayetteny.com
Best of NYC Neighborhood French Restaurants: La Sirene (South Village)
La Sirene is just hitting its ten year anniversary, and there’s no doubt that the modern French bistro, as it calls itself, knows exactly what it’s doing. The menu is filled with traditional favorites, including French onion soup au gratin, roasted escargots, and steak tartare on the appetizer menu. Entrees range from seared filet mignon topped with foie gras to braised young rabbit with mushroom, white wine, carrot, dijon, and pearl onion. 558 Broome St., 212-925-3061, lasirenenyc.com
Best of NYC Neighborhood French Restaurants: Le Parisien (Midtown East)
Murray Hill’s go-to French bistro has got to be Le Parisien, headed by Chef Johnathan Masse. Bistro steak frites served with a red wine thyme sauce and glazed shallots is a local favorite, as is the pan-roasted half chicken, served with wild mushrooms, potato puree, and tarragon pan jus. The atmosphere at Le Parisien is undeniably, well, Parisian, and there’s not a thing that we would change about that. 163 E. 33rd St., 212-889-5489, leparisiennyc.com
Psst! This year's New York French Restaurant Week takes place July 3-16.
