Jarnac Restaurant, Manhattan (West Village)

The West Village of Manhattan is a restaurant lover's dream, with nearly every kind of dining spot imaginable along its narrow, charming streets. And one part of the West Village that is perhaps visited a bit less--and hence an area packed with hidden gems--is the northwestern section of the neighborhood that borders the Meatpacking District. Within this area, and near the end (or beginning!) of Bleecker Street around the corner of W 12th and Greenwich Street, sits a highly-rated French restaurant called Jarnac. Small, unpretentious, and hidden away from the busier streets nearby, Jarnac is a warm and cozy looking place that fits in well with one of the most picturesque (and quiet) sections of Manhattan.

Jarnac features mostly contemporary French food, serving only dinner every night except for Sunday, when they offer a brunch. The menu at Jarnac is constantly changing, partly because fresh (and often seasonal) ingredients are used. Some sample menu items that are featured from time to time include fish pie, roasted confit of duck leg, pan-roasted pork chops, panko-coated jumbo soft shell crabs, and braised beef short ribs. Sample appetizers include squash and leek soup, ricotta dumplings in brown butter, and duck rillettes.

If you have been to Jarnac Restaurant in the West Village of Manhattan, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Jarnac Restaurant:
Jarnac Restaurant
328 West 12th Street
Manhattan (West Village), NY, 10014

The phone number is:
(212) 924-3413

And here is the Web site for Jarnac:
http://www.jarnacny.com/

Le Toukouleur, Brooklyn (Bedford Stuyvesant)

The Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is sometimes seen as a section of the borough to avoid, but "Bed-Stuy" has a lot to offer, including a number of interesting dining spots that also happen to be off most people's radar. One example of this is a French-African restaurant called Le Toukouleur that would probably be hugely popular if it were in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn Heights. But because it is in the heart of Bed-Stuy, it remains little-known.

Le Toukouleur has is an exotic-looking place with African art and decor mixed with trendy, modern touches. The menu at Le Toukouleur has a mix of mostly French, North African, and Caribbean items, including escargot, butternut squash soup, saltfish cakes, braised lamb, seafood stew, steak tartare, and prawns, and for dessert, banana creme brulee and apple tarts. Meals are very reasonably priced, with most entrees coming in a well under $20.

If you have been to Le Toukouleur in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, please tell us about it by posting a comment here. Thank you!

Here is the address for Le Toukouleur:
Le Toukouleur
1116 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn (Bedford Stuyvesant), NY, 11216

The phone number is:
(718) 611-0607

And here is the Web site for Le Toukouleur:
http://africanfrenchrestaurant.com/

Nomad Restaurant, Manhattan

Another restaurant I have been reading a little about is the Nomad Restaurant in the East Village of Manhattan. They have a combination of French and North African cuisine, and the prices seem to be pretty good, with most entrees being around $15 or so. And judging from the photos I saw, The Nomad looks very intimate and cozy, so it should be a good place to go on a date. The tajines (stew with herbs and spices) sounds really good, as does the couscous and pastilla dishes.

Again, if anyone has been to The Nomad, let me know what you think. Thanks very much!

Here is the address for The Nomad:
The Nomad
78 2nd Avenue
New York (East Village), NY, 10003

The phone number is:
(212) 253-5410

And here is the Web site for The Nomad:
http://www.nomadny.com/