Lucien
Address:
14 First Avenue (1st St. near Houston)
City:
New York, NY
Zip:
10009
Phone:
(212) 260-6481
Site:
Visit the restaurant site
Map:
Map
Cuisine:
French
Area:
East Village
Entree Price:
$15-20
Review:
Lucien is a sliver of a restaurant near Peretz Square in the East Village. Owner Lucien Bahaj says entering it is "like entering his home" and everyone is treated like family.
On a visit with my family I found that to be quite true. With baby in tow, I was amazed at how well we were treated. Our waitress, Eude, who developed quite an attachment to our son, Thomas, was very accomodating.
The food is French bistro. Steak frites and that sort of thing. I couldn't resist ordering the frog legs which came cooked in a butter sauce and tasted as good as I've had in Paris. Lucien also has a nice selection of French wines.
Dinner for three with a bottle of wine
ran $98. Major credit cards accepted.
Review By: Benny Prim
Behind a modest storefront you can find some of the most genuine French bistro fare in New York. As a matter of fact it's the sort of honest, uncomplicated meal featured in down-to-earth neighborhoods in any major French city. The frog legs in mustard sauce are esepecially worth enjoying. M. Lucien, the owner, presides over the sometimes ditzy service, always intervening to set things straight. It's the place to go if you're unrushed, not in need of faux decor but hankering for an honest, well-prepared and uncomplicated French meal. The wine selection is surprisingly good, the price is fair and th4 experience worth the visit. Allez-y!
GA
January 31, 2006, 7:23.34 am ET