Raoul’s
180 Prince Street
212-966-3581

Perhaps you have been dreaming of studying in France because you love the accent and those dirty French novels of the 19th century or you've always wanted to become a budding poet like Rimbaud or a celebrity philosopher like Sartre. Well, if those dreams haven’t yet come to pass, you can still experience the excitement of an authentic French bistro right in the heart of Soho.

The story behind the restaurant is that two brothers from Alsace moved to New York. The first brother, Guy, “turned his Alsatian cooking skills to fine steaks and fish” while brother number two, Serge, stood outside enticing pedestrians to enter the newly established bistro. Suffice it to say, Guy and Serge have succeeded in creating a “resto” with outstanding food, excellent wine, and an ambiance packed with joie de vivre.  

Both casual and elegant, the lively atmosphere seems to usher in a flood of conversations from the tables, debates over current events and music, I heard talk of theater and art incessantly from the other customers. It’s as if this bistro francais sends us straight to the Parisian streets of St. Germain de pres or the Quartier Latin. This really is one of those special restaurants that is perfect to bring a new love, a blind date, a group of friends, or your parents (even your grandparents!).

The appetizers are served beautifully on stark white serving plates. The butternut ravioli with oxtail, pumpkin seed and spicy coriander is excellent, while the steak tartare with quail eggs and cornichons salad is the best I’ve experienced in the city. The robust and complicated flavors make up for the small portions (and it helps to keep the wine flowing).

This is really a meat lover’s paradise. We shared the steak au poivre which so easily can be over cooked and under-seasoned. Raoul’s execution was flawless. We reveled in the organic chicken with chicory and andouille sausage and toasted to the beauty of a perfect meal. The house wine is a perfect addition, subtle and fragrant and, as we were told by our French-speaking serveur, goes very nicely with most entrees. We finished our experience with the cheese-cake served with chocolate sauce and a dab of cranberry.

On our way out we stopped to have our cards read by the in-house Tarot reader who we asked, “what do the cards say about our meal?” She paused, drew slowly a card from her deck and we all stared wide-eyed at what emerged; the card for Dionysus, god of ecstasy and drunkenness, the god of libation which is exactly how we felt. She smiled at us and we knew we would be back…soon.