Loulou Petit Bistro & Speakeasy is a charming French bistro in the heart of Chelsea, where I met a friend for lunch during Restaurant Week. We both did the two-course $30 lunch, selecting an appetizer and an entree but skipping dessert.

The portions at the French bistro are generous. We each savored each bite of their frisée salad in a citrus vinaigrette topped with a poached egg and smoked bacon lardons—a classic French ingredient of small cubes or strips of fatty bacon or pork fat.  This plentiful salad could have satisfied us as lunch.

Deciding to share, we asked Gabriela, our attentive server, to have the kitchen split the entrees in the kitchen. They obliged. We finished a good portion of half a grass-fed burger, topped with clothbound cheddar and caramelized onions and the accompanying fries!

We had her pack for each of us, the chicken paillard (pounded thin) topped with fresh arugula in a light creamy dressing. Those crispy chicken thighs came with roasted tomato and a pinenut relish. I recommend it, especially for those who prefer moist, dark meat as I do.
I highly recommend a visit to this comfy, cozy bistro.

LouLou
Chelsea
176 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
(212) 337-9577
loulounyc.com