Babouche, Brooklyn, NY

My friend Ashlyn has been working as a server for the past several months at Babouche. Although I go to Park Slope pretty frequently, I hadn't made the effort to try out her restaurant until this past Friday. It was definitely worth it. Officially, Babouche is a Moroccan restaurant, but in reality, it offers a great mix of authentic Moroccan dishes, such as zaâlouk, couscous, and kefta tagine, tradition French cuisine, like tartare and magret de canard, as well as some American-style appetizers like Cobb Salad or crab cakes. As soon as I walked into Babouche, I knew I liked it. The decor was certainly Moroccan-inspired, with huge bronze lanterns hanging from the ceiling, poufs, a warm fireplace, and beautiful carpets. The night I was there, they also had live Moroccan music, which complimented the restaurant's theme. You can also enjoy shishah in the downstairs lounge. I honestly was not too excited about the menu, since I'm not a huge fan of Moroccan food and I generally avoid French restaurants outside of France. However, if everything at Babouche is as good as the tartare de thon and the crab cakes à la Marocaine that I had, then I will definitely be returning a lot. Both dishes were very flavorful, had generous portions and were reasonably priced. What I loved the most about Babouche though is the layout. In the front, there is a more Western-style dining room, with elegant tables and chairs, as well as a lounge area next to the wood-burning fireplace. The backroom is traditional Moroccan, resembling the inside of a genie's lamp. Finally, the downstairs is a swanky, Arabic-style lounge... a great place to enjoy shishah and mint tea.
I am definitely excited to go back to try some more of their food and relax in the lounge.

-Marcus

Babouche Restaurant and Lounge
2 Lincoln Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
www.babouchenyc.com/

The Bourgeois Pig, New York, NY

The Bourgeois Pig is one of my favorite East Village hangouts. The decor is over the top, but really adds to the great ambiance. Who doesn't enjoy pretending that they're having drinks in the boudoir of a 19th-century Parisian vampiress? Not really a dinner spot, The Bourgeois Pig does, however, offer an Alpine-inspired menu of cheese plates, fondues, and tartines. The food is good, but slightly overpriced and not quite authentic. The real reason I come here though (and I think this is becoming an overriding theme in my posts) is for the drinks. Don't come here looking for tequila shots or screwdrivers! The Pig's drink selection is much more sophisticated.

For starters, The Pig has an extensive list of wines from all over France... reds, whites, rosés, sparklings, and aperitifs. The Veuve Ambal is a great deal at $8 a glass. When I'm feeling like a splurge, they have an excellent red from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of the Rhône Valley. For those who are looking for something with a bit more kick, The Pig also has a wide array of wine cocktails, sangrias, champagne cocktails, beers, and beer cocktails. If you have a big group, be sure to order the champagne punch, which is served in an elegant silver punchbowl. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.

-Marcus

The Bourgeois Pig
111 East 7th Street (between 1st and A)
New York, NY 10009
www.bourgeoispigny.com/

Les Enfants Terribles, New York, New York

Les Enfants Terribles is one of my weekend hangouts. My friend Christy introduced me to Les Enfants when I first moved to NYC and I've been back just about every other week since... Les Enfants Terribles resembles a French bistro thanks to the sultry bartendress, the elbow-to-elbow seating arrangement, and the ubiquitous kirs found in the hands of its patrons.
Even the waiters and bartenders are French... although this can sometimes result in very French-style service (aka slow and nearly nonexistent). Nevertheless, Les Enfants is a great hangout spot, whether to catch up with some friends for dinner or to meet des expatriés over drinks at the bar. The menu is distinctly Franco-African, with inventive dishes like "Koroghofefemugu" (steak marinated with spices from Côte d'Ivoire) and "Bozo-Bozo" (potato crusted, pan-roasted seasonal fish).

The location is a little off the beaten path, on a rather dead section of Canal Street, which arguably contributes to the ambiance... one would say that you're in a quiet section of Montmartre or back in colonial Casablanca rather than downtown New York. In any case, Les Enfants Terribles comes highly recommended whether you're looking for a champagne cocktail or some African cuisine. There's also a DJ on weekend nights. Be sure to reserve a table if you're planning on dinner.

-Marcus

Les Enfants Terribles
37 Canal Street (and Ludlow)
New York, NY 10002