When it comes to fashionable French dining, restaurateur Keith McNally is as apt as they come in creating quaff yet delicious eateries like Balthazar, Morandi and Pastis. His latest foray is into The Bowery where this stylish but not overly fussy French bistro brings the charm of Left Bank Paris to a urban strip of downtown. A pounded tin ceiling contrasts white mosaic tile floors and red leather banquette with individual booths that wraps around the dining room. Walls are arranged in ornate mirrors tilted at just the right angle between built-out cabinetry displaying bottles of Margaux, Sancerre and Burgundy as well as the occasional reflective narcissist.
The Food
Open for lunch and dinner midweek as well as weekend brunch, Cherche Midi serves-up heirloom tomato salad, crudité ala St. Tropez’s Club 55, pan-roasted foie gras and steak tartare. Entrees of lobster ravioli, whole grilled fish, prime rib and skate bring a metropolitan translation to a typical French brasserie menu with crowd that mixes old and new downtown.
Last Word
Stylish brassiere by the creator of Balthazar enlivens, upgrades prime strip of The Bowery.
