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Patrons of this tiny spot tucked on a Bay Ridge side street might be surprised to learn that chef and owner Katarzyna Ploszaj is a native of Poland, since her cuisine is decidedly French. The brief, seasonally-changing menu lets diners choose from a $35 prix fixe or a la carte options, with classics like coq au vin alongside less obvious options like potato pancakes topped with caviar. Here, limited choices translate into more love and care for what is offered up-- a gnocci appetizer, for instance, sits in a thick mushroom cream sauce and retains its fluffiness, while a crispy duck, atop a bed of spicy turnips, is just that: crisp, and seasoned to perfection. Save room for bread pudding, drizzled with hot caramel sauced and topped with vanilla ice cream. It may not be French, but it is good. However, you can count on a long wait for your food: The kitchen is just as tiny as the restaurant, but an attentive wait staff keeps the bread coming.

— Jill Weiskopf

A three-course dinner is available for $35.

Crispy Free Range Duck, $27