Silly me. I’ve avoided dining on Theatre Row, remembering it as too touristy. I decided to book the longtime French bistro serving classic fare in an old-world, rustic setting, mentioning we were celebrating a birthday.

Since reading both Danny Meyer’s “Setting the Table” and Will Guidara’s “Unreasonable Hospitality,” focusing on hospitality, I’ve been noticing exceptional service even more. The hostess warmly greeted me as I entered the restaurant for lunch, inquiring whose birthday it was. I said, mine.

A few minutes after being seated, my server came to the table, introduced himself, welcomed me by name and said, Happy Birthday! We were off to a great, hospitable start. When my guest arrived, she was asked if she was Bonnie’s guest.

We both were impressed with that hospitality and the food. We selected their $45 prix fixe lunch, with the waiter arranging for the ratatouille to be added as a vegetarian option to the offerings for my dining partner.

She started with their green salad with lettuces in a champagne vinaigrette topped with a goat cheese croquette; I had the delectable herbed goat cheese stuffed piquillo peppers nestled together in a puddle of rich olive oil topped with sliced toasted almonds.

The next course included the ratatouille with its concentric veggie circles and the classic tender wine-braised chicken — coq au vin — with potatoes and carrots. Both very French and tasty.

Since it was part of the prix fixe, we shared the creme brulee and the Belgian chocolate mousse. With a candle in one, singing waiters delivered the desserts, which were so good they were both worth the calories.

I now plan to re-discover theatre-row other restaurants.

We left happily satiated as we headed downtown two blocks to the Shubert theatre to see Hell’s Kitchen, the tony-award-winning musical with music and lyrics from 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys. Not to be missed.

I recommend both.

Le Rivage
Theatre Row
340 W 46th St,
New York, NY 10036
(212) 765-7374
lerivagenyc.com