Very Nice , quality addition to NYC , without too much fuss, lines or too much PR . Started with one of the best foie gras in the city , not cheap , but real delicatessen. As for the main it was obvious to take the "photo trap" Pithiviers , but as good as it looks it's even better when it's being eaten. Fantastic ! Finished with their excellent warm mousse, one of the best dessert all over the city . Fantastic service, low key , quality atmosphere. One tip , if you are a tall person don't sit on the bar :) Even though . Highly recommended!!!!! Definitely a destination!!!! read more

I was very excited to try Le Chêne. Unjustifiably so, it seems. The menu offerings were limited, which can sometimes be a good thing, but here nothing struck me as particularly compelling. There is a side salad for $16 which I was told is too small to serve as a starter. Ironically this ended up being the best thing we ordered - the dressing was superb. The white asparagus was bland. We decided on the special, an aged bone in strip for $250. The sauce was overly salty, the steak small for 19oz plus the fat cap was left on. A $90 porterhouse at nearly any steakhouse in the city would easily top this experience. I attempted to end the evening on a high note with the apple and dill sorbet which I did not notice was topped with some kind of cognac. I'm not sure what the thought was here but the alcohol in the congac overwhelmed the subtle flavor of an apple-dill sorbet - and my taste buds. It was horrendous. I wasn't charged, which was appreciated, but I left the restaurant thinking "what are they doing here?" I'll need a palate cleansing experience at l'abeille to right this wrong. read more

Le Chêne - Bone-in aged strip steak with mushrooms. - French Near Me - New York, New York

Had the time of my life here. Got friendly with the sommelier and he kept pouring me several fun wines. All the staff were fun and engaging. Favorite bites were the sweet shrimp tartlet, cod nugget with caviar, pithivier which was a masterpiece, and the clafoutis. I think the clafoutis is one of my favorite desserts this year. Not sure if any of these are in the menu anymore, but everything was pretty solid so I'm sure the current menu is just as good. Overall, great place for quality French and wines that I'd love to bring a group of foodies to read more

See all

Great ambiance and vibes, stepping in the place has a cute yet elegant feel to it. Drinks were more on the average side, with neither being that amazing. Food was a bit pricy for what you got, but it was still pretty delicious. The pithiviers were obviously a highlight, though they are a bit pricey. Stuffed pastry with a beautiful gravy sauce on the outside, they kind of remind me of the pate chaud from Ha's Dac Biet. We had the sweet shrimp tartelette (small bite but actually quite delicious), pate en croute (would pass on this in the future, not that good), baked razor clams (delicious, with a nice crunch from the bread crumbs on top), grilled squid (tasty, loved the sauce), and dessert. Overall good food, though a bit pricey. read more

See all

Le Chêne first landed on my rader via my brother - he saw on social media that the restaurant had recently opened, and since we periodically grab dinner we thought it would be a good place to try. That being said, I booked a table and linked up with him after work to check this place out. Located in the West Village, Le Chêne is only about a month old; it's the product of husband-wife team Alexia Duchêne and Ronan Duchêne Le May and (as the name suggests) serves French cuisine. The restaurant is split in two, with the front room dedicated to the bar area and the adjacent room housing the main dining room. The decor is lovely - it's very bright with pops of tasteful color in the bar area and clean lines in the dining room. The white tablecloths play against the darker chairs and the art on the walls add a touch of flair. They really paid attention to the details - even the tableware was tastefully decorated. The menu is separated into bites, apps, mains, and sides. Before diving in though, we got some wine and were served hot bread with compound butter - an awesome start. We then decided to share everything and went with a couple of items from each section. We started with three bites: the sweet shrimp tartelette, uni French Toast, and the corn beignets. These were all very good - my favorite was definitely the shrimp - it was flavorful with contrasting textures that provided a nice mouthfeel. The toast and beignets were also very good - both had great flavor as well. We also got the fatty tuna app - the fish was tender and served in a light broth that (yet again) provided great flavor. For the main we decided to share the pithiviers. Their version contained pork, potato, and eel which was complemented by a beet puree and sat in a small amount of gravy. This was excellent - all the components worked together really well, the puff pastry was tender, and the sauces were delicious. It's definitely pricer than the other menu items but it's really meant to be shared between two (or more) people - either way it's worth it. We also got a side of sautéed spinach which was a good complement to the main. We could not leave without dessert - they had a special one that needed to be preordered but we decided on two off their standard menu: the strawberry and the vanilla mille-feuille. The former was a light-ish dish that contained strawberries, pound cake, and topped with cream and a light cookie. This was really good - very refreshing and summery. The mille-feuille was definitely more of a showstopper; in addition to the vanilla cream in between the layers of pastry, it was topped at the table with chocolate sauce mmm. This was really good - the flavors were mild which was a good thing, and the chocolate sauce wasn't sweet which I definitely appreciated. Service was excellent - honestly some of the best service I've had in a long time. Ronan was greeting diners at the door, and also made a stop at our table to make sure everything was going well (it was). The other members of the team were also super warm and friendly - they provided some background into the restaurant as well as the dishes, and we had some great conversation. While the food was great, the hospitality of the team was the biggest standout for me - keep up the great work. Overall, Le Chêne was a total yes - the food and service are top-drawer, and I wish the team nothing but success as they embark on this new journey. I would definitely return for another meal. read more

See all

The West Village explodes with restaurants, many of them Italian. I prefer French, and was able to try 2 new places during my last visit. Le Chene was one of them, open less than a month when I visited but bustling nevertheless. It's helmed by the young and photogenic wife-husband team of Alexia Duchene (chef) and Ronan Duchene Le May (front of house). The restaurant has a smallish dining room lined with art and an 8-seat bar where I sat. The menu is also smallish with additional daily specials (which were not mentioned to me). The specialite de la maison is the pithiviers terre et mer, which I knew I wanted to try, so the bartender advised me to start with a lighter appetizer (I was interested in the crab thermidor). I began with shrimp tartlette amuse bouche, creamy and delicious, topped with a shiso leaf. The complimentary bread and butter were great. My appetizer choice was the oeuf mayonnaise, a traditional French dish that Le Chene transforms into a deconstructed tuna sandwich with tuna tartare, jammy eggs with a parsley mayo cream, topped with a thin toast and mimolette cheese. Unique and fabulous. Very different from nearby French restaurant Libertine's (also non-traditional) version that I had last year. The pithivier is a large dome of puff pastry (could feed 2) filled with layers of potato gratin, pork farce, smoked eel and cabbage, with a dollop of beetroot "ketchup" alongside. Also very unique, fabulous and substantial. Of course I still ordered a dessert. The peach and basil tarte fine was half of a small tart topped with in-season peaches served with peach ice cream. Yummy. Overall a fantastic dinner! read more

See all

Paris is a city of culture, history and food. You go to Paris and know you might be lucky to have everything you only imagine. As for the food, you have had it over there, and only tried it over here in New York. And when you try it here, it is rare to find a place where when you step inside you are actually stepping into a small private place in the heart of Paris. Bonjour tout LE CHÈNE. A special Chef has created a true French restaurant that is true to the French cuisine. And she has done it on an old street in what was known as the West Village here in New York City. Located on Carmine Street you will find you have walked into a small establishment that reminds you of a typical place in Paris. A reservation is necessary, as you would find in Paris. Dinner is the time to be here and have a table waiting for you. Because once you are here then you are waiting for a dinner you never imagined. Once taken to your table, you are seated and presented with a menu for the evening. This is not a large menu. It is the menu of what will be created for the evening. It is a simple selection of courses to select from. There are select cocktails for the evening, and even select wines. Naturally you can receive the wine list, which is really a wine book of all types of wines, vintages and prices. It is very in depth, and the Sommelier wine steward will assist you with your selections. Depending on what you might select for dinner he can recommend a specific wine or two. For us the Sommelier recommended the wines that were on the evening list. In my case we both selected the Rieslingl. They were both light and refreshing. Once this was placed, our waiter for the evening stopped by and helped us select. He was perfect in assisting us. He answered all the questions we might have. He presented special combinations. He made his own recommendations as to what he would have. In French, it is known as Amuse-Bouches. It is the first of the concept of appetizers. It is smaller and has a fresh taste to hint at what will be expected. It's a bite-sized, often creative dish meant to "amuse" the palate and get diners excited for what's to come next. For us, we did select two items. First was the Sweet Shrimp Tartelette. It was a tart filled with creme fraiche, sliced semi-raw fresh shrimp and a touch of maple. It was a combination that was stimulating and could have been an ideal meal itself. It was at room temperature so it was easy to try and taste. We also ordered Potato Rosti. This was a combination of Comte cheese and topped with a mushroom. It is made with grated crispy rosti potatoes then sauteed with butter and topped with Comte cheese. A slice of mushroom is added on top. This was the formal appetizer we both wanted to have. It was a classic French dish, but more so. It is the Foie Gras Lucullus. That says it all. True tradition here that is made in Paris, But here, at Le Chêne, it went beyond that. It is a combination of wagyu beef tongue that is finely created into the appropriate shape. This is served with a toasted brioche, and then a small scoop of Sea Buckthorn berries that are minced into a spread that is soft to the touch. The flavor was inviting and interesting. The smooth touch added to the taste. You could take a slice and add it to the piece of the brioche. You could add a dab of the Sea Buckthorn for added taste that is fruity and with citrus. It could even be tart. It was the best we ever had. First up was to have what was listed as the appetizer as the main course. That was because what was listed as such we decided would be something to have as an entree itself. It was special and unique. This was the Crab Thermidor. The traditional style is with crabmeat, shallots, garlic, and butter with other ingredients. But here, the mixture had something extra. The way it was created had a touch of flavor that cannot be described. It was cooked to perfection and placed in the crab itself. True, the legs were gone, but the body remained, And, in this case, it became the bowl that held the thermidor within. We also ordered the Halibut with Scallop Quenelle. It was a fresh piece of halibut with the skin still on and a touch of caramelized onions. It was sauteed perfectly in a sauce vin jaune, a special and characteristic type of white wine that has the flavor of nuts, dry fruits and spices. Along with this was the Scallops Quenelle. It is like a scallop dumpling that provides a difference to the dish. For dessert we selected the Mousse au Chocolat in a French tart. Once more, a traditional French pastry but with a flair that made it different. Le Chêne is more than you can imagine. Our compliments to the Chef. Chef Alexia Duchene is a true work of art, skill, and wonder. Her dishes are technically refined. Co-owner Ronan Duchêne Le May, oversees the operations of the establishment. The portions are fine. The prices are to be expected for the quality. Make a reservation. Merci! read more

For a Tues night we walked in for our 6 pm rez to find the place almost 4/5 fulled already. The atmosphere was quite busy, hectic, and just loud. Definitely the new place on the block and all want to try it scene. There are some decent artwork on loan here (eg, Jean-Michel Basquiat). The menu was more limited but the wine menu was pretty expansive. There were only two mains (halibut; lamb) and a house special. We ordered a bottle of Pierre Paillard, the shrimp amuse bouche (yes, ordered not comp), a fennel salad and the house special. To provide a sense of just how loud the dining room was, while I was reading the menu, the wait staff was next to me describing the special--not until my wife signal to me did I realize someone was talking... I'm old but not dead. Additionally, since my wife was situated against the wall, thus farther away from hearing shot of the waiter -- she couldn't hear at all the description. This is the main challenge for the restaurant. If one expects to talk to their dinner companions here, you would have to not only shout but repeat yourself. The champagne came NOT chilled, but the staff did a very light pour "for a toast." -- as they said. Shrimp tartelette was excellent but the fennel salad was a bit too astringent. The service was excellent with the refilling of water and a slow short pour of the wine. We would've preferred for the wine to be fully chilled before service. As such it was not until about 30 minutes in that the wine was adequately chilled. By then 1/2 of the bottle was gone. We went with their special -- pastry wrapped concoction with chopped protein baked inside. Overall, food was good but the question is whether if one wants to tolerate the hectic sound with rather tight seating. It's a balancing act for each diner. Since the west village is not exactly short of French places, I await to see how inventive they are with their menu after their newness wears off... read more

See all

Le Chene appears to take pride in its pretense, but the food and service make up for it. Everything we ordered was delicious, but especially enjoyed the Pithivier (easily enough for two to share) and the Clafoutis. Service was also strong, striking a good mix of relaxed and appropriately formal. As a side note, I've never seen so many large format bottles of Chateau d'Yquem proudly displayed on tables...if you can handle that vibe you'll enjoy Le Chene. read more

Came here with my eating group of four and had one (or 2-4 from the amuse) of everything on the regular menu. The restaurant definitely does a great job with the food, as everything tasted great, with some standouts. The pithivier with eel and pork was a very strong dish and quite large, and the shrimp tart in the first section of the menu was scrumptious. However, I will note that the menu pricing is a tad high, especially considering the portion sizes. We ended up spending $200/person with only one person getting a single $14 drink. This is more of a splurge place. Given that it is a new restaurant and our server was on her second day of work, I will not fault the establishment for service and believe that it will improve! read more

See all

Spent New Year's Eve dinner here. The food was spectacular and the service was even better. The Pithivier was easily the best I've ever had. Also the nugget with petrossian caviar was over the top in the best way. Allison the bartender was awesome. Got the champagne and the milk punch. Le Chene definitely makes you feel like you're transported to France from the west village. Would highly recommend read more

See all

I thought this was an OK meal, but a bit overrated. We came in for dinner on a Saturday night after having had to cancel last minute a couple of weeks prior as my husband was ill. They were kind enough to offer to apply the cancellation fee as credit for the next meal on a day of our choosing. Though after a couple of reminders to the restaurant to help us get a table or bar seats on a subsequent Sat night, I made my own reservation. Food-wise: - Sweet shrimp tartelette was very good - Squash beignets were good but feels like you can get this anywhere - Uni toast was ok not memorable and quite small. We are uni afficionados and have had so many uni toasts all over the city. I prefer the version at Rosella - Foie gras - great, to be expected at a french restaurant :) - Scallops - our waiter recommended this but it was somewhat strange. There were very little scallops in it and they were drowning in a kind of creamy sauce. Would skip - Pithiviers - the highlight. I would probably come back just for this. It has some breading so probably too much for 1 person, but very well done and delicious! Ambiance was nice with the paintings. Space was a bit cramped. Waitstaff kept bumping into my chair. Overall, fine, glad we tried it. Might stop by if in the area. The bar looks very cute. read more

Le Chene is a charming little restaurant on Carmine Street that has great potential. The food is excellent and creative. The wine list is fabulous and the wine service is impeccable. The room is beautiful with superb art on the walls. Overall a good experience, but not yet five stars. The service, while professional, is wholly impersonal. The noise level is very high, in large part because they have too many tables in a relatively small space. Also, the desserts do not match the mouth-watering quality of the savory dishes. This is a great addition to the neighborhood and I'm looking forward to them tweaking the details so that it becomes one of our regular spots. read more

See all

came with my family for a friday night dinner and made a reservation at 8:45pm. we arrived early and they kindly were able to seat us early we ordered pretty immediately upon being seated and drinks came out quick. the food not so much but the restaurant had mentioned they had a chef call out and therefore the kitchen was taking longer than usual highlights food wise are the melon cucumber salad and octopus for sure -- flavors here were excellent. texture was great too. the other foods were great - lots of dishes reminded us of indian flavors funny enough. servers were kind and the ambiance and overall vibe was pretty good. totally recommend but just order the octopus and melon salad tbh read more

Le Chêne - beneighs - French Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We had been to le Chene about two months ago, and had a very nice dinner. We returned there, looking forward to a simple and elegant French meal, and we're astonished that the quality of the food we were served basically fell off a cliff. The pea soup was green but had little flavor other than weird spicing (probably was made weeks ago). The lamb was dry and spiced in an unpleasant way. The pithivier was boring, and overly sauced. The cherry clafouti was excellent. In sum, this dinner was abysmal. The cost was about $500 with a few glasses of (excellent) wine. That food should never have been served. Would avoid this place. read more

Le Chêne is a cute little French restaurant that opened up in West Village - their menu includes amuse-bouches, apps, main courses, and house specialties. They also have a nice list of wine. Note that they are open for dinner, and making online reservations was seamless and easy! We started off with: +the Sweet shrimp tartelette - with creme fraiche, maple, and shisho +the Uni French toast - with roasted pepper and bone marrow +the Potato rosti - with mushrooms and conti cheese +the Cragb Thermidor +the Foie gras Lucullus +and, the Green beans beignets - with tarragon sauce For our mains, we tried their Halibut, the Lamb saddle, and the Pithiviers, Plating was beautiful, and the food was light and tasty with a modern twist on the classics. The restaurant itself was so pretty, including their cute menus, with the framed Basquiat triptych and the crown molding. Staff were very friendly, and made each party felt welcomed. The ambiance was elegant while being cozy at the same time. +great amuse-bouches and apps +shareable entrees +friendly staff & service +online reservations accepted read more

This was excellent. The bread/butter, shrimp tartlets, uni french toast, and French fries were all perfect. The green been beignets and fennel salad were both great but not a must reorder. I thought the crab thermidor was incredible, but my wife didn't love one of the spices in it. I also loved the pithiviers but she was also less sold on that. We both loved the chocolate tart. read more

See all

What a lovely and elegant addition to the WV. From the moment you arrive the Husband and co-owner who runs the front of the house greets your personably and makes you feel welcomed. The wine selection was second to none in the neighborhood, and the food was very good. Some unique items I usually don't see on menus. Overall we had a wonderful evening, but good luck getting out of there for under $200pp with drinks read more

Le Chêne - Excellent white wine suggested by the Somm - French Near Me - New York, New York

Fantastic food, wonderful ambience. The fritters and the "terre et mer" were amazing. Loved my gold rush cocktail too. Just delicious, unpretentious food. I could have eaten more of those uni toasts, but you know $$. We sat at 6:40 and told them we had to leave by 8:10. They sent everything out quickly, and we got home in time to relieve the babysitter! read more

Le Chêne - French Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Beautiful space, nice warm welcome. It felt like a dinner party at someone's home. Delicious non traditional French food. Great flavors with a fun twist. Very talented chef. read more

The best French restaurant New York has to offer. The service is second to none, the food is beyond and the wine is on an another planet. After 3 visits, I can confidently say that this is THE BEST food money can buy in the city read more

Good cooking, pleasant professional service. The aggressive marketing of LVMH products was the only sour note.

La Chêne aspires to be a Parisian restaurant in the West Village--and in some ways, it succeeds. The space is stylish. Service is generally attentive. The menu is compact and thoughtful. And the wine list is exceptional. But the illusion starts to fray at the edges. The kitchen looks the part--team clad in whites, huddled around a few stations--but the execution doesn't hold. A striped bass arrived cooler than room temperature, while its shredded spring onion garnish was inexplicably piping hot. The lamb was fatty and also oddly tepid. The appetizers fared worse: a single bite of spring pea and endive for $10, and deep-fried green beans with a tarragon mayo that lingered on our table longer than welcome--perhaps in hopes of redeeming the rest. It didn't. This is where the French part ends--and the West Village takes over. Tables nearly adjoin, which made the presence of a loudly nostalgic gentleman from Queens at the next table hard to ignore. Service, while pleasant, often drifted into indifference. The crowd--both diners and staff--skewed young, stylish, and self-assured. If you're in your late twenties, you may feel right at home. But if you've actually been to Paris--and remember what a truly great French meal tastes like--you'll likely leave disappointed. Better to head uptown. Or better still, to France, where the provinces still know what they're doing. read more

Divine, simply divine! Beautiful and unpretentious and perfect and delicious and 10/10. Ronan (co-owner & his wife is the amazing chef) and team excellent! Well done! Can't wait to return! read more

Unfortunately, Le Chene was Le Shit. The food was overthought and beleaguered with sea foam that is so 2010. I suspect the chef didn't taste any of the dishes. They were unpalatable. For three, dinner was $500 for food alone. A complete waste. read more

Amazing food and service. Brilliant evening with a team that is dedicated to hospitality from the servers to the owners and it really shows! read more

The food quality far exceeds what the prices suggest. Employees provided both friendly greetings and attentive service. The restaurant sits in a good neighborhood. The dishes show knowledge. Try to experience this spot if possible. read more

I'm sorry, but the food is pretty gross. Even if the meal was $100 for two, I still would've been very disappointed, but I spent hundreds on a horrible experience. Service was good, normal. Atmosphere basic. I just cannot even fathom how I spent hundreds of dollars on multiple dishes and I did not like any of them. It is wild how some restaurants get attention that makes no sense while other great places don't. They think it's special because the dishes are creative? I don't care. Cold bland weird beef tartar, a disgusting puff pastry beet eel meat thing that had the exact flavors of pigs in a blanket for $80? Absolutely no thanks. The cocktails are good. The pricing is WILD. We've been laughing about this place for weeks now. Fool others with your fancy "beignets" I'll go home and fry something myself. Worst "fancy" dinner ever, next time I need friends recommendations, not random articles. read more

Food fine, a little expensive. Service very good. Very energetic young crowd. Miss the Spanish restaurant it replaced. Happy that a nice restaurant took its place. Will reurn read more

I went here last night for dinner. The place is cute, it's very tight seating. The staff are nice and friendly. They have a great Wine list. If you're into French Wine, We had the only French toast, and the cod cheeks. They were both OK. The price is very high. $33 for a tiny piece of cod cheek is Ludacris. The issue was when the main courses came. We ordered the squab and the spiced duck at a price point of $135. You would expect the swabs to be perfection. It was barely cooked, borderline raw, and the seed for agra, accompanied it, although beautifully seared, it was clearly premade, and came out cold. Discussed the spice duck was the cheapest cut of duck that we couldn't even even even. I can't remember the last time I sent back a main course. Let alone to in a restaurant. There is no way this place is going to last at these prices, and with this poorly executed food read more