Patois

Erin Behan

Citysearch

The Scene
Honeycomb-colored walls, random wall art, a peek into the kitchen from paper-topped tables--all combine for a casual, thrown-together ambience. The devoted late-night crowd of the neighborhood's bohemia--don't be surprised to hear French drift from table to table--lingers at tables over steaming plates and brimming glasses of wine. On winter nights, a fireplace gently warms a side dining room.

The Food
Classic French cuisine like smoked duck on a bed of frisse or mussels in a simple white wine broth immediately set a poetic mood. Specials--get the perfectly crisped duck confit when offered--should be taken advantage of. Seafood shines at every turn: The generously sized crabcakes arrive crunchy on the outside and meaty on the inside, while tender scallops melt in the mouth. But the rib-eye steak frites with a rich au poivre are especially hard to pass up. Desserts keep up the pace, with an Earl Grey-flavored pot-au-creme taking the cake.