From the classic dishes of a traditional bistro to the sophisticated flavors of fine dining, New York has some restaurants that offer a true taste of France.
We’ve rounded up the best French restaurants in NYC that you simply must try.
Bon appétit!
1. Le Bernardin
Le Bernadin is one of the most famous French restaurants in NYC for serving authentic dishes, especially seafood, in casual environments since 1986. Step inside, and you’ll be wrapped by its warm embrace and home-y atmosphere. They are pretty busy by lunch, so you might want to book a table in advance!
Be enchanted by Le Bernardin’s exquisite Tuna creation. Delicate layers of thinly pounded Yellowfin Tuna interweave with Foie Gras, accompanied by toasted baguette for a delightful crunch, all elevated by the subtle infusion of fresh chives. This dish will not only blow your mind but also redefine your standards when it comes to dining.
Among the dishes on their menu, the Lobster definitely reigns supreme. The tender poached Lobster’s sweetness is artfully complemented by the refreshing Grape-Fennel Salad. A touch of elegance is added by the Verjus Sabayon with its velvety texture and subtle acidity. One thing’s for sure: this Lobster is nothing like what you’ve tasted before!
What to order: Tuna, Lobster, Peruvian Dark Chocolate
Address: 155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
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2. Benoit New York
Housed in the venerable La Côte Basque space, Benoit is a much beloved French restaurant in NYC for its Old World look, feel, and taste. This is an excellent choice to satisfy your appetite by serving classic dishes and an assorted wine list to pair with them. You’re going to love this place!
The menu consists of comforting food that feature familiar dishes like cassoulet, pâté en croûte, and foie de veau. But we highly recommend you take a step further and order the Tartare Flambee with a crisp base and a cheesy top that is hard to beat!
The Tuna Carpaccio is no less stunning with a natural sweetness and tender texture, complemented by the fresh mint and rainbow beetroots. End it right with a delicious Benoit Profiteroles.
What to order: Tartare Flambee, Onion Soup Gratinee, Tuna Carpaccio, Benoit Profiteroles.
Address: 60 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
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3. Le Coucou
Are you in search of a romantic and intimate French restaurant in NYC? Search no further, Le Coucou is here to help! Pay a visit to this full of white-linen tables, dimly lit candles, and washed brick walls space to enjoy a variety of seafood prepared to perfection!
Classics like Quenelle de Brochet or Ris de veau à l’estragon are absolutely stunning. But you might want to try something new, such as the Tout le lapin which is cooked in three styles: gently braised legs with vegetables; stuffed saddle with a rustic pan sauce; and the rest matched with delicious mustard-enrobed onions.
For seafood, you can choose from oysters and seaweed to Bar noir, they have all of the interesting flavor combinations for you to choose from! And don’t forget to have some Mille-Feuille for your dessert, you’ll be surprised!
What to order: Ris de veau à l’estragon, Tout le lapin, Huîtres, Bar noir, Canette à l’orange
Address: 138 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013
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4. La Sirène
Combining classic tastes with modern methods to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience, La Sirene is definitely your next go-to in NYC! Besides an insightful vegetarian menu, La Sirene is pretty impressive with its wide range of wine, liquor, and a variety of different drinks that can go great with any meal. Save this for your next date idea!
The Baked Goat Cheese Tart is a must-order for every visit to this restaurant, which comes with mixed greens roasted cherry tomatoes, and mango. These individual tarts make a great starter or light lunch served warm with a salad!
You can’t go wrong with their Little French Ravioli served in a cocotte with truffle cream sauce and is surprisingly delicious! Mussels are also a specialty of the house, the best version is White Wine & Herb Mussels as the broth isn’t too overpowering.
What to order: Baked Goat Cheese Tart, White Wine & Herbs Mussels, Seared Hangar Steak, Little French Ravioli
Address:
– 558 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
– 416 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
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5. Jean-Georges
Located in the Trump International Hotel, Jean-Georges is a two-time Michelin-starred French eatery with gorgeous views of Central Park. Unlike other French restaurants, Jean-Georges offers you a blend of French, American, and Asian influences in every dish. Come by and immerse in the luxurious yet cozy ambiance at Jean-Georges!
Everything about this place is mesmerizing, including the velvety Foie Gras Terrine with spiced fig jam coated in a thin brûlée shell, or the Green Asparagus with rich morels showcasing the vegetables’ essence. And the famous dessert called “Late Harvest” is made with plum sorbet, verbena-poached pear, and a palate cleanser of melon soup!
Don’t miss out on their Six-Course Vegetarian Tasting Menu, with highlights like Avocado Crispy Sushi, Wild Mushroom Tea made from burgundy truffle, Autumn Mushroom Ravioli, and Orchard for dessert, which comes up with caramelized apple, cinnamon cake, and quince!
What to order: Six-Course Tasting Menu, Six-Course Vegetarian Tasting Menu
Address: 1 Central Park West, New York, NY 10023
6. Balthazar
A quintessential eatery in Soho known for its French cuisine, Balthazar is the breakfast spot of the rich and famous people. With exceptional service despite the bustling atmosphere, you’ll be greatly taken care of at Balthazar. This restaurant has earned its status as an all-time New York favorite, and you’ll know why when you get there.
Balthazar’s French Onion Soup is a favorite among many with its strong baked aroma and plenty of melted cheese. You might spot the same order on two or three tables near you because it’s just that good.
Steak Frites, anyone? Balthazar makes them crazily good that it feels like you’ve been transported to Paris. Their french fries, in particular, are the best you’ll ever taste in town. If you want a killer meal, this one is a no-brainer.
What to order: French Onion Soup, Steak Frites
Address: 80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
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7. Frenchette
If you’re looking for something surprising, head to Frenchette, where the menu is constantly changing every day! Serving up French bistro classics with a twist, you’ll love its dedication to the craft and flavor of its signature dishes. Pay a visit and try some of the richest flavors in the city at Frenchette!
Though the menu is always changing, some of the signature dishes remain stable over time. Especially the Côteaux Casino with tiny slivers of razor clams layered with browned breadcrumbs. This starter is too good to be true! Or you can get the Joues de Porc with delightful confit pork cheeks, sea island peas, chanterelle, escarole.
Brouillade is one of Frenchette’s most popular dishes as well! It is a bowl of a soft scramble with rotating ingredients, which is buttery, a bit salty, and perfectly paired with a baguette on the side. And don’t miss the Gnocchi Parisienne with thin bits of ham and a Comté sauce, which have a crisped exterior and are pillowy soft on the inside!˙
What to order: Joues de Porc, Brouillade, Gnocchi Parisienne, Duck Frites, Côteaux Casino
Address: 241 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
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8. Buvette
Over the past decade, Buvette has been serving top-notch French-inspired dishes to the New Yorker. This lovely spot can either be your light-filled space for an early morning coffee, a quick brunch, or even a spot for a special night date! Come by and enjoy the casual yet elegant ambiance at Buvette!
If you come here for breakfast, the Saumon Fume is definitely your go-to! It comes out perfectly fluffy with little pieces of toast underneath, and you can choose to have it with smoked salmon or prosciutto. Or you can get the Croque Madame with excellent cheesy toast topped with sage and prosciutto!
In case you’re coming for dinner, settle down with their Coq au Vin, a classic chicken dish stewed in a rich red wine sauce. Then move on to the Merguez with merguez sausage topped with sautéed peppers and onions, which is rich, salty, and a bit spicy.
What to order: Belgian Waffles, Saumon Fume, Croque Madame, Coq au Vin, Merguez
Address: 42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
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9. Raoul’s
Raoul’s is a lively French bistro that has been serving fine French food since the 70s. If you can’t have a good time here, you probably can’t have a good time anywhere! From a casual date night to a home-y family gathering, this place is sure to make you proud!
Start it right with some Seared Foie Gras that tastes like the best Foie Gras you’ve ever had! The soft, buttery, delicate foie is simply perfect, along with Russian kale, chanterelle mushrooms, and an amazing concord grape puree. Heaven!
Then, grab the Steak Au Poivre, a massive piece of perfectly cooked, medium-rare filet with a pepper crust and peppercorn sauce. You’ll be amazed by how juicy and flavorsome this steak can be!
What to order: Seared Foie Gras, Bigeye Tuna Tartare, Seared Sea Scallops, Steak Au Poivre
Address: 180 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
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10. OCabanon
Located in the heart of Manhattan, OCabanon is a family-run French restaurant where you’ll be trying authentic, comforting food in a home-y ambiance. Give it a try and you’d wish to know this coziest spot in the area sooner!
Settle down with the Quiche aux Champignons, a pastry crust filled with savory custard and mixed mushroom, which has a rich, buttery taste that is surprisingly delicious. And the Poulet facon Monsieur Georges comes with chicken breast marinated in thyme and rosemary, then served with fingerling potatoes, string beans, and creamy mushroom sauce!
End it right with the melt-in-your-mouth, richly caramelized apples on a crisp, flaky pastry Tarte Tatin, or the rich, creamy custard filling Profiteroles. Both are amazing!
What to order: Quiche aux Champignons, Poulet facon Monsieur Georges, Tarte Tatin, Profiteroles
Address: 245 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001
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11. Daniel
Feast on your eyes and palate with Daniel, the fanciest French restaurant you can find in NYC! Once you’re here, choose between the main dining room, the bar, the lounge, or their private areas, and don’t forget to try one of their famous champagnes!
Treat yourself right with their four-course or seven-course tasting menus. The four-course one is pretty impressive with East Coast Crab Duo, pairing a Tempura Soft-shell Crab, and tender Lamb Chop with minted breadcrumbs.
If you’re about to grab the seven-course tasting menus, get ready to experience the most amazing King Salmon, Sea Scallop, Lamb Rib, and mouth-watering dessert with a mango brandy-moistened sponge cake, green peppercorn custard, and peaks of vanilla chantilly. They have Vegetarian Choice as well!
Note: The Vegetarian Tasting Menu is also worth checking out.
What to order: Four-course Tasting Menu, Seven-course Tasting Menu, Vegetarian Tasting Menu
Address: 60 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065
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12. Le Parisien Bistrot
Le Parisien Bistrot is your next go-to for authentic French tastes with a lively modern atmosphere in Murray Hill. You can find all sorts of classic dishes like steak frites, escargots, and moules marinieres, along with a well-curated list of French wines. Trust us, you’ll soon love this place!
The crowd pleasers include Pan Seared Chicken Paillard pounded to perfect thinness and dressed with a buttery shallot-lemon chicken paillard sauce, then served with arugula salad. And the Bistrot Steak Frites, which is super flavorsome when paired with red wine thyme sauce!
Now, end your meal like a French with a Creme Brulee! The heavenly light and airy vanilla custard with the nuttiness of a caramelized sugar top layer. You can’t say no!
What to order: Pan Seared Chicken Paillard, Bistrot Steak Frites, Pappardelle Pasta, Creme Brulee
Address: 163 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
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French cuisine is always a good choice to impress anyone, even yourself! Let your food journey go on with our suggestion on the best restaurants in NYC with a view you must visit once.
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