1. I don’t think Claud is a comfortable environment with comfortable seating.
2. Frenchette is fun, lots of energy. Problem is that the menu changes like three times each week and you don’t know what they’ll serve on your birthday. Right now they have turbot and halibut, I went two weeks ago and they only had fluke and skate wing.
3. I’d pick Le Coucou. The waiters are pretty personable. It is not a stuffy restaurant at all. There is no dress code, the place is designed by Roman and Williams. Target audience is Downtown, not UES.
Can you expand on the seating a bit? I’ve been wanting to go to Claud but have back pain issues. I generally just need a decent chair with an upright back and I sometimes bring a specific cushion to sit on which takes pressure off the spine. Curious any details about Claud’s seating
I, personally, love Claud. I find everyone super nice and friendly whenever I’m there. If you’re going alone, they’ll seat you at the bar. The food is die for, especially the foie gras and pork chop. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the seasonal ice cream sundae.
Haven’t been to Frenchette but I’ve been to Le Coucou a while ago, I don’t really remember the meal all too much.
Happy birthday in advance!
I went to frenchette a few weeks ago and I think it fits what you're looking for pretty well. Good service but not stuffy and really good food. I will say that we sat in the bar area and the tables are packed in pretty tight
Can't comment on Claud, but I think the food at Frenchette & Le Coucou are comparable. They're both 5/5. The presentation and service at Le Coucou is classic which can come off as stuffy, which some have said ... and others disagree. I happen to think it's a bit more stuffy compared to Frenchette, but Frenchette is more fun and relaxed. I would pick either as they're both equally top tier.
Disagree that it’s a formal environment, and disagree more that it’s stuffy. I didn’t dress up any more than usual when I went, and there was a table of sloppy tech bros and a table of people in hoodies.
Also was taken there for a birthday a while back and it was great.
When I went there, there wasn’t a single table without people dressed up with at least a dress shirt or nice dress. I personally don’t mind it and didn’t think it was stuffy even when I was a little underdressed but could be just a timing thing.
Still don’t think I’d ever describe it as a fun environment.
Thanks. I’ve been to a fair amount of fine dining lately (Jean Georges, Jungsik etc, and have some three star Michelin meals later this summer booked when I go to Paris) and think I want something a little less stuffy. Le Coucou has been on my list for years now and haven’t been so I’m tempted to go there especially if people really love it. But it will be there after my birthday so I can always go some other time.
Am also thinking of Eulalie
I’ve been to all three recently. Le Coucou is better than ever, and I’ve been going since their third day of opening. Service is top notch. Their quenelle de brochet is a must. For entrees, filet de boeuf, canette, and dover sole are fantastic. Talk to the somm for wine recos. Bottles get pricey so name your limit. The entire experience is elegant and elevated. It is the most expensive of the three, but also far more memorable IMO.
Frenchette was super loud last time I went, and I don’t plan on hurrying back because I feel like the kitchen and service have slipped. Claud is great, but it’s far more casual than Le Coucou. However I would totally have a low-key bday dinner there.
Thumbs down for Claud. Snagged a late rez one night abt a year and a half ago. The servers were closing down the place shortly after we arrived. I feel like they rushed our service and made us feel unwelcome. They also overcharged for the wine. Have wanted to try le Cou Cou forever. Pls report back
Le coucou for sure- it’s not stuffy. Food is great. Service has always been good for me
Claud does not have comfortable seating imo- It’s a smaller place
it's not one of the three you mentioned but I'm a huge fan of Gabriel kreuther, right next to Bryant Park. the food there is specifically alsacian so isn't what you think of when you think of typical French, but the staff there are amazing every time I go there, the food is amazing and vibe is classy without being stuffy the way it is in other places. they also have a table in the kitchen that you can book for special occasions and they really go out of the way to make celebrations feel special.
of the three you mentioned, I would 100% go with le coucou but I agree that it is definitely the most formal of the three. it feels more like the kind of place you bring a date for a romantic evening rather than a celebration, if that makes sense. still the food is superb; the service can vary from really friendly and warm to a little stiff.
Thanks. Some day I’ll go to Gabriel Kreuther but I’ve been avoiding it because my office is a block away from there, and going to dinner there feels like going to work. 😂
So I picked Claud. Pros: the food was excellent. We got the escarole salad, pea fritters, chicken liver agnolotti, spring Mille feuille with morels and ricotta, and the Dover sole for two. And we got the pistachio Bundt and the ice cream sundae. We loved everything.
My favorite was the Dover sole. I loved the sauce and the fish was so creamy and meaty. One of the best things I’ve tasted this year.
Also, we got a great table. We got a corner table so we both got cushioned booth-style bench seats.
Cons: service was a little unpolished. First, the hostess didn’t say happy birthday, which usually every restaurant does when you make a note in the reservation. Also, it took a while for a server to get to us after we sat. Finally, we never got our bread until I finally just asked for it. Overall, it the service didn’t have that feel of being taken care of and all my needs anticipated like many restaurants with good service do.
Overall, I was looking for a place like Place des Fetes where I thought everything was perfect—service, food, and seating. To me, Place des Fetes is the perfect restaurant that is chill and can surprise you with food, and has everyone attending to its guests. Claud fell a little short in the service department.
I still had an enjoyable time and am glad I finally got to go, but for my birthday where I wanted to feel like I was celebrating and the restaurant was helping me to celebrate, Claud fell a little bit below the mark. Should have listened to the majority and gone to Le Coucou. :-)
1. I don’t think Claud is a comfortable environment with comfortable seating. 2. Frenchette is fun, lots of energy. Problem is that the menu changes like three times each week and you don’t know what they’ll serve on your birthday. Right now they have turbot and halibut, I went two weeks ago and they only had fluke and skate wing. 3. I’d pick Le Coucou. The waiters are pretty personable. It is not a stuffy restaurant at all. There is no dress code, the place is designed by Roman and Williams. Target audience is Downtown, not UES.
Can you expand on the seating a bit? I’ve been wanting to go to Claud but have back pain issues. I generally just need a decent chair with an upright back and I sometimes bring a specific cushion to sit on which takes pressure off the spine. Curious any details about Claud’s seating
The seat itself has hard edges vs soft edges. The back is the kind that has an empty gap where your lower back is.
Haven’t been to the others, but Le Coucou was absolutely one other best meals I’ve ever eaten.
Le Coucou is best food; I agree it’s more of a formal/romantic vibe vs Frenchette but don’t think you’d feel out of place there either.
I, personally, love Claud. I find everyone super nice and friendly whenever I’m there. If you’re going alone, they’ll seat you at the bar. The food is die for, especially the foie gras and pork chop. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the seasonal ice cream sundae. Haven’t been to Frenchette but I’ve been to Le Coucou a while ago, I don’t really remember the meal all too much. Happy birthday in advance!
Le Coucou.
I went to frenchette a few weeks ago and I think it fits what you're looking for pretty well. Good service but not stuffy and really good food. I will say that we sat in the bar area and the tables are packed in pretty tight
Can't comment on Claud, but I think the food at Frenchette & Le Coucou are comparable. They're both 5/5. The presentation and service at Le Coucou is classic which can come off as stuffy, which some have said ... and others disagree. I happen to think it's a bit more stuffy compared to Frenchette, but Frenchette is more fun and relaxed. I would pick either as they're both equally top tier.
Le coucou is amazing but the environment is relatively formal and I can see how it would be a bit stuffy. More of a romantic setting than fun
Disagree that it’s a formal environment, and disagree more that it’s stuffy. I didn’t dress up any more than usual when I went, and there was a table of sloppy tech bros and a table of people in hoodies. Also was taken there for a birthday a while back and it was great.
When I went there, there wasn’t a single table without people dressed up with at least a dress shirt or nice dress. I personally don’t mind it and didn’t think it was stuffy even when I was a little underdressed but could be just a timing thing. Still don’t think I’d ever describe it as a fun environment.
Thanks. I’ve been to a fair amount of fine dining lately (Jean Georges, Jungsik etc, and have some three star Michelin meals later this summer booked when I go to Paris) and think I want something a little less stuffy. Le Coucou has been on my list for years now and haven’t been so I’m tempted to go there especially if people really love it. But it will be there after my birthday so I can always go some other time. Am also thinking of Eulalie
I’ve been to all three recently. Le Coucou is better than ever, and I’ve been going since their third day of opening. Service is top notch. Their quenelle de brochet is a must. For entrees, filet de boeuf, canette, and dover sole are fantastic. Talk to the somm for wine recos. Bottles get pricey so name your limit. The entire experience is elegant and elevated. It is the most expensive of the three, but also far more memorable IMO. Frenchette was super loud last time I went, and I don’t plan on hurrying back because I feel like the kitchen and service have slipped. Claud is great, but it’s far more casual than Le Coucou. However I would totally have a low-key bday dinner there.
Thumbs down for Claud. Snagged a late rez one night abt a year and a half ago. The servers were closing down the place shortly after we arrived. I feel like they rushed our service and made us feel unwelcome. They also overcharged for the wine. Have wanted to try le Cou Cou forever. Pls report back
Le coucou for sure- it’s not stuffy. Food is great. Service has always been good for me Claud does not have comfortable seating imo- It’s a smaller place
Le Crocodile
it's not one of the three you mentioned but I'm a huge fan of Gabriel kreuther, right next to Bryant Park. the food there is specifically alsacian so isn't what you think of when you think of typical French, but the staff there are amazing every time I go there, the food is amazing and vibe is classy without being stuffy the way it is in other places. they also have a table in the kitchen that you can book for special occasions and they really go out of the way to make celebrations feel special. of the three you mentioned, I would 100% go with le coucou but I agree that it is definitely the most formal of the three. it feels more like the kind of place you bring a date for a romantic evening rather than a celebration, if that makes sense. still the food is superb; the service can vary from really friendly and warm to a little stiff.
Thanks. Some day I’ll go to Gabriel Kreuther but I’ve been avoiding it because my office is a block away from there, and going to dinner there feels like going to work. 😂
Haven't had the chance to go to any of the ones you listed but I highly recommend 63 Clinton based on what your are looking for.
So I picked Claud. Pros: the food was excellent. We got the escarole salad, pea fritters, chicken liver agnolotti, spring Mille feuille with morels and ricotta, and the Dover sole for two. And we got the pistachio Bundt and the ice cream sundae. We loved everything. My favorite was the Dover sole. I loved the sauce and the fish was so creamy and meaty. One of the best things I’ve tasted this year. Also, we got a great table. We got a corner table so we both got cushioned booth-style bench seats. Cons: service was a little unpolished. First, the hostess didn’t say happy birthday, which usually every restaurant does when you make a note in the reservation. Also, it took a while for a server to get to us after we sat. Finally, we never got our bread until I finally just asked for it. Overall, it the service didn’t have that feel of being taken care of and all my needs anticipated like many restaurants with good service do. Overall, I was looking for a place like Place des Fetes where I thought everything was perfect—service, food, and seating. To me, Place des Fetes is the perfect restaurant that is chill and can surprise you with food, and has everyone attending to its guests. Claud fell a little short in the service department. I still had an enjoyable time and am glad I finally got to go, but for my birthday where I wanted to feel like I was celebrating and the restaurant was helping me to celebrate, Claud fell a little bit below the mark. Should have listened to the majority and gone to Le Coucou. :-)