Say Bonjour to Le Gratin: Daniel Boulud’s Lower Manhattan Restaurant Opens in May

Lyon, France, is coming to Lower Manhattan next month thanks to Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud’s latest concept. 

Le Gratin will open in the Beekman Hotel on May 6. Inspired by the lively ambiance and warm service of the bouchons and bistros in Boulud’s hometown of Lyon, the casual eatery was named after memories of his mother’s gratin recipes, as well as the classics that he learned to make early in his career. It’s also an inside joke, as the French use “le gratin” as a funny way to refer to the who’s-who of a party. 

“I want Le Gratin to feel like the perfect place to gather with good friends and to make it a Downtown hangout where everyone comes to relax and celebrate all of life’s moments,” the chef said in a press release. 

The eatery’s menu will feature classic Lyonnais specialties such as the quenelle de brochet au gratin, a rustic dish made of pike mousse crusted with cheese in a mushroom sauce. Expect Boulud to bring bright flavors, local purveyors and rustic cuisine to the rotating menu. The wine list will have more than 100 offerings with a focus on wines from around Lyon. The restaurant is bringing on Guillaume Ginther, an alumni of Restaurant Daniel and former chef of Le Coq Rico Bistro in New York.

Reservations will be available on Resy starting April 21; visit legratinnyc.com for more information. 

photo: Le Gratin