Frenchette

Frenchette was one of the most anticipated openings of 2018. The winning chef team of 20 years, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, left the Keith McNally legacy (Balthazar, Pastis and all that jazz) to finally open their own spot in April 2018. Frenchette has almost immediately become a neighborhood staple and won widespread praise, including the 2019 James Beard award for best new restaurant.

Great cocktails but the best is Frenchette’s natural wine list

Bar area where you’ll find many of NYC’s best chefs dining solo

Frenchette is a modern French brasserie (what the Nasr-Hanson duo does best) in Tribeca, with the signature lively bistro vibe. If there is one thing Frenchette excels at, it’s the ambiance. Brown leather banquettes and comfy booths surround the dimly lit restaurant that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Paris. Frenchette is also a favorite haunt of New York’s best chefs and hospitality peeps (most often spotted dining solo at the bar).

The menu changes regularly, but you can be sure to always expect a unique twist on hearty, French comfort food. You’ll find the classic brasserie dishes, but I wouldn’t recommend going that route. If you’re going to be paying the Frenchette premium (très cher), ordering the expected will leave you disappointed. To truly experience Frenchette at its best and get your money’s worth, be adventurous and experimental, and focus on their signature unique in-house dishes. Think veal tongue & mackerel, escargot on your scrambled eggs, trout roe on your tortilla, duck instead of the traditional steak-frites, a truffled veal blanquette, sweetbreads on squash etc. You get the picture. The menu is not ideal for vegetarians, and definitely not for vegans (buttered veal brains anyone?). And not if you’re watching your figure – the food at Frenchette is f*ckin’ rich – pardon my Frenchette!

Keep room for the Pistachio Paris-Brest dessert for 2!

The signature Spanish Tortilla Trout Roe ($10)

Buttered calf brain anyone?

Start with the Couteaux Casino ($10)

Super fluffy Omelet Soufflé – often served with uni or crab

Frog legs bien sûr.

Ris de Veau: veal sweetbreads, wild asparagus, crayfish, morel cream ($36)

Rognons a la moutarde: veal kidney in mustard sauce served with tagliatelle ($34)

Stewed Rabbit with egg noodles & morrels ($34)

Asperges Blanches: white asparagus, sorrel, champignon de Paris, bottarga ($26)

Brouillade: soft scrambled eggs, Peconic escargot, garlic butter ($24)

A classic Bavette à l’échalote ($38) 

Spaghetti Bottarga ($22) – just meh

Prices are steep, the service is spotty, and the truth is the food is hit-or-miss, but the cuisine takes New York bistro dining to whole new level (as does the natural wine list). One thing’s for sure, chefs Nasr and Hanson are reinventing the modern French bistro in their own distinctive way. Frenchette is still one of the hardest tables to score (easier to get in for lunch), so make sure to be on top of your reservation game!

Lunch – Mon-Fri: 11:30am-3pm
Dinner – Mon-Sun: 5:30pm-11pm
All Day Menu – Mon-Fri: 3pm-5:30pm
Weekend Brunch – 10am-3pm

The very best thing at Frenchette and must order: Pistachio Paris-Brest dessert to share ($18)

Millefeuille Vanille dessert ($12) – just ok