French Restaurant Week in New York City is back, and if you’re a fan of French food (who isn’t?), this is the time to eat your way through the city’s many bistros and brasseries without completely blowing your budget. The event launched in 2011 as the French answer to NYC Restaurant Week, and it usually runs in July, around Bastille Day (July 14), which is France’s national holiday. This year French Restaurant Week is July 7-20.
The idea is simple: Make French dining a little more affordable and a lot more fun, while supporting local restaurants with French roots. Participating spots offer special prix-fixe menus at a set price that’s significantly lower than what you’d normally pay. Some places stick to the classics like steak frites and French onion soup, while others get a bit more creative, depending on the chef and the vibe.
Just like NYC Restaurant Week, you book your table directly with the restaurant or through the official French Restaurant Week website, where you’ll also find a list of all the participating restaurants and their menus.
Here are some of the dishes I’d go for this year:
Le Pavillon: Ratatouille
La Sirène SoHo: Escargots à la Bourguignonne
Le Petit Village: Onion soup and wagyu beef tartare
LouLou: Mousse au chocolat
Jacques Brasserie: Moules frites marinières
Café Boulud: Hanger steak au poivre
And this year, there’s even a chance to win a trip to Paris with Air France. The airline has been an ambassador for French gastronomy in the sky since 1933, serving 55 million meals and 1 million bottles of champagne every year.
Starting this July, Air France is teaming up with chef Daniel Boulud, who’s bringing his signature style to the La Première and Business Class cabins on flights from the US. Boulud is one of the most celebrated French chefs in New York, known for his elegant, seasonal take on French cuisine.
Visit the French Restaurant Week website
