Florent - Meatpacking District - NYC

Preface: Oops. I am an idiot and for some reason didn’t post this on Marathon Day.  So, just pretend.

As you can see we're busy blogging on this marathon morning instead of, well, running it. Okay, poaching it for the last 12 miles (well, actually miles 13-25, since it is tres uncool to go through the gates if you are a poacher). Could it have been the 8 Vintage Margaritas we had at Town Bar last night?? Naaaaaaah. We'll watch it on TV, go Lance Armstrong!

After a late lunch at Bicé yesterday and agreeing with each other that should be our dinner, where did we find ourselves? At Florent in the Meatpacking District, known for their Steak Frite, late hours and cash-only!

Think 200 people jammed into a hot steamy diner the size of a French elevator. SMALL. We were like "...as charming as it is, there is no way on God's green earth we're waiting in line for this..." when all of a sudden this hostess basically hip-checked a dozen losers ;)  outta her way and chose…US! Like celebs we were led to the last 2 seats at the bar. And we weren’t even sporting our VinDivine motorcycle jackets (on sale soon, fans!) Anyhoo, we bellied up to the counter and ordered, not moules, coq au vin or even onion soupe, but what we heard was a specialty -  Steak Frite  - plus a burger. Rare. And what convinced us this place was really French? When ya order rare, it comes r-a-r-e. Oh yeah, and lots of very reasonably priced good red wine. What? Us without red wine with our meal - very rare.

The food was solid fuur suuuure. Have your expectations in line – this is a great place for very good food and friendly prices. Not a fancy atmosphere. Pretty basic food treatment. Ya get whtacha order. I like that. The steak was very traditional French steak frite – entrecote cut, done rare to order, excellent fries. Nice and crispy on the outside, still some tender tot-meat on the inside. Mustard came on the side without me asking. And the burger was rare baby! Bordering on raw in the middle, but that doesn’t scare us! Hey, it’s not like we were in the UK or anything. Service was efficient  and friendly, even though the place was slammin'.

This place has been around for years, waaay ahead of the meatpacking popularity explosion. Like back when they actually packed meat here. Open late and very popular. And for good reason. A great vibe, great food, fair price. Go hungry and take cash. No credit accepted.

Restaurant Florent
69 Gansevoort St.       
New York, NY 10014
212-989-5779