Acclaimed chef duo Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr - the longtime chefs at Keith McNally's restaurants - have opened their first solo restaurant in TribeCa.

The two men behind the restaurant met in the early 1990s while cooking at Daniel and went on to helm the kitchens at Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, and Minetta Tavern. Named after a 1970s song by David Johansen of the New York Dolls, Frenchette offers a French-inspired menu ranging from breakfast to lunch, dinner and drinks.

The 105-seat brasserie's interior features dark-wood panels, cream walls and red-leather banquettes and booths, with an atmosphere akin to the quintessential Parisian bistros where anyone who's ever been to France will instantly feel at home. 

The menu features things like foie gras toast, pigs’ trotter croquettes, watercress soup, Peconic snails with scrambled eggs, sweetbreads, rabbit stew and a gratin of cardoons. But U'll also find charcuterie, oysters and a rotisserie chicken for two as well as côte de boeuf and whole turbot. 

Developing the wine program is Jorge Riera, formerly the wine director at Contra and Wildair, with whom Hanson and Nasr opened Balthazar. His list focuses on small growers producing natural wines.  

Ideal For

Francophiles

Signature Dishes

Entrees include duck frites, a rotisserie lobster with curry beurre fondue, and a petite steak au poivre of the day, while dishes for two include a whole roasted turbot with wilted greens and buttered potatoes, a roast chicken with maitake and pommes purée toanda 50-day dry-aged côte de boeuf.

Signature Drinks

A section of the cocktail menu is devoted to French highballs, such as Calvados and tonic and Pineau des Charentes and soda.