The newly opened Provence is worth all of the buzz. On a recent night out with my brother, we ended up at the bar for a delicious dinner in the company of a cute bartender, a quaint ambiance, and top-notch tunes. Daft Punk and a remix of Air’s All I Need were great background while diving into my new favorite frites—hand-cut in the morning and served with mayo.
Don’t miss the Ravioli with snails, nettles, and walnuts. About ten mini ravioli come per order, stuffed to the brim on a plate doused in herb butter. The snails, so hearty and rich, are an accompaniment alongside the stuffed squares.
Another starter not to be missed and that can easily serve as an entrée is the Squid and Octopus with currants and toasted pine nuts. The seafood is tender—barely cooked—and the nuts give a subtle earthiness to the dish. Lap up the sauce with the tradition French bread (sort of a nice change from the usual, ever-present Sullivan St/Grandaisy Bakery filone).
The standout main course was a black cod served in “aigo boulido,” a garlic broth. It arrived steaming, flecked with toasted almonds and resting on a pile of wilted greens. Yet another dish that faired well for bread dunking.
The aforementioned cute bartender recommended almost everything we ate and checked up on us frequently but in no way obtrusively. The casual but attentive service made me and my brother feel at ease and forget that we were at the most anticipated spring restaurant revamp.
If Provence is too crowded, which it could be if you go between 7-9pm, then put your name down and head around the corner to Goblin Market for appetizers. They, too, have a lovely octopus starter. Theirs is served atop a potato confit, which turns out to be thick-cut fried potatoes. The atmosphere is delightful—small and intimate without seeming too love-y dove-y, just in case you aren’t on a date.
Hitting both spots will surely please your mate—or your brother.
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