16 Timeless French Bistros and Brasseries in NYC

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The best steak frites, onion soup, chocolate souffle, and more

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There’s something immensely satisfying about a great French bistro meal, from luxuriously buttery snails to an excellently seasoned steak tartare. It’s often filling fare that doesn’t skimp on robust flavors and offers plenty of richness — and is meant to be paired with wine. Luckily, New York City has a strong range of bistros and brasseries around the city.

Some are spacious, bustling operations run by major restaurateurs, like Keith McNally’s Balthazar and Andrew Carmellini’s Lafayette, but most are venerable family-run joints committed to timeless classics. Ahead, 16 excellent options for when a French onion soup craving or strong hankering for steak frites strikes.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

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