"Nasr and Hanson's Tribeca brasserie took 2019's Beard for Best New Restaurant — book it for duck frites with a wine-loving crowd."
About Frenchette
The rotisserie turns by the open kitchen, the Robata grill throws off charcoal smoke, and the wine list runs to dozens of low-intervention growers most New York rooms never stock. Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson opened Frenchette at 241 West Broadway in Tribeca in April 2018, after two decades cooking together in Keith McNally's kitchens. The duck frites, when it appears on the daily card, is the dish to chase, and the room won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2019. Expect $70 to $110 a head before the wine does its damage.
The Kitchen
Frenchette is the work of Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, who cooked side by side from 1997 onward at Balthazar, Pastis and Minetta Tavern before opening their own room. Their version of the brasserie is more ambitious than the genre usually allows: a rotisserie and a Robata grill anchor a menu that changes daily, built on what the market delivered that morning rather than a fixed carte.
The duck frites is the plate the address is known for, the bird seared to medium-rare with crackling skin over a thick seam of fat, served with béarnaise and a pile of thin fries. The steak frites runs about $56, the half poulet rôti $44, and the duck hache $36, with escargots, tortilla española and spaghetti under shaved bottarga rounding out the order. The natural-wine program, deep in low-intervention French bottles, is a reason on its own to come. Frenchette won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2019, and Nasr and Hanson later took the Outstanding Restaurateur title. Expect $70 to $110 a head before drinks at 241 West Broadway.
The Room
The dining room reads like a French brasserie redrawn by a downtown architect: art-deco curves, mint-and-cream tilework, brass fixtures and a long bar, seating roughly 100 across banquettes and counter. Lighting is low and warm at night, and the sound level climbs to a busy hum once the room fills, though it stops short of the roar at a McNally brasserie. Tables are close but not cramped. Dress is smart-casual; the Tribeca crowd skews stylish without any jacket rule. The bar holds seats for walk-ins and is the easiest way in on a full night.
Best for a Birthday Dinner
Book Frenchette for a birthday because it gets the balance right: the room is handsome and lively enough to feel like an occasion, the duck frites and shareable plates make ordering for a table easy, and the natural-wine list turns the night into a tasting. Take a banquette, let the sommelier steer the bottles, and start with the raw bar. For another celebratory French room, see Balthazar, and browse the best birthday restaurants.
Not for
Not for a quiet, hushed dinner or a tight budget. The room hums when full and the wine list is built to tempt you upward, so it suits a celebration, not a low-key, low-cost weeknight.
Frequently Asked
Is Frenchette worth it?
Yes. Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson cook brasserie classics with real precision, the duck frites and steak frites are among the best in the city, and the natural-wine list is a draw in itself. It won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2019 and still earns the price. See the New York dining guide for more.
How hard is it to book Frenchette?
Prime evenings are competitive. Frenchette books on Resy and the best weekend slots clear quickly when they release, so set a reminder for the window. The bar keeps seats for walk-ins, which is the easiest way in on a busy night. Weeknights and earlier tables are far more forgiving.
What is the dress code at Frenchette?
Smart-casual. The Tribeca crowd skews stylish but there is no jacket requirement, and neat jeans are fine. Dress as you would for a good downtown dinner: put-together but relaxed. The bar runs even more casual than the main dining room.
How much does Frenchette cost?
Plan on $70 to $110 per person before drinks. Steak frites runs about $56, the half poulet rôti $44, and the duck hache $36, with the rotating duck frites the order to chase. Natural wine pushes the total up quickly, since the list is the reason many regulars come.
Is Frenchette good for a celebration?
Yes. The room is handsome and lively without being deafening, the menu is generous enough for sharing, and the wine list turns dinner into an occasion. Book a banquette for a birthday or a milestone, and let the sommelier steer the bottles. For a quiet, hushed dinner, look elsewhere.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Frenchette
Frenchette books on Resy and keeps walk-in seats at the bar. Prime weekend slots open in advance and go fast; weeknights are easier.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address241 West Broadway, Tribeca
NeighbourhoodTribeca
CuisineFrench Brasserie
Price$70–$110 per person, steak frites ~$56
Dress CodeSmart-casual
Seating~100, bar + banquettes
ReservationResy · walk-in seats at the bar
