Restaurant Daniel it ain't, but you're living on the Lower East Side, bucko, not Park Avenue, and you should be grateful that you can even get good steak tartare down here. Le Père Pinard will put together gourmet picnics for a night indoors with the honey (we recommend putting some Serge Gainsbourg on the hi-fi). Choose a nice red wine or a bottle of Pernod to go with it. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
Prix-Fixe Dinner
Daily, 5 p.m.—7 p.m.; three courses, $16
Recommended Dishes
Mussels of the day, $12
5.7
"Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10
I've been coming here for years and always enjoyed it. Admittedly, I've had the occasional meal that didn't measure up, but overall it s a great value, good food, and fun atmosphere.
Part of the charm is that it is entirely run by a changing crew of French people here for short or long stays. Chat up the bartender and he might share a Calvodos with you. Chic? Not really. Solid and a good value? Absolutely.
Pere Pinard was recommended by our guide book, and, although the place was almost empty (maybe all those bad reviews are working) we still went. The daily starter (a lentil pate with merguez sausage) was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten, and after a 3 week diet of dreary american food, rekindled my interest in food again! All four of us agreed that the food was really superb...
The wine was ok - maybe a little expensive, but no more so than the usual outrageous restaurant mark up.
Yes, the service was authentically French - standoffish and slightly aloof - but as an Englishman I'm used to that from the French. Maybe you New Yorkers need to calm down a little!