Mon Dieu! Another French Bistro in Brooklyn?

Carina Salvi for New York Mag It's true. A new French bistro is opening in Brooklyn - Jolie Restaurant. The gall (or Gaul, as it were)! Opening up in Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill, where standbys like Bar Tabac, Quercy, Banania and Patois have already cornered the Gallic gourmand market.

But Gothamist paid a "preview" visit to Jolie and has to admit that the new Brooklyn boîte has its charms. The sweet circular marble bar seemed like the perfect spot for an apertif, but since it was Sunday at 12 noon, we forced ourselves to sit at a table and review the brunch menu. Ooh la la! Not only were brunch classics like Croque Monsieur and Eggs Benedicte available, but so were unusual savory offerings like Sweetbreads in a Champagne Sauce, Celeri Remoulade and Oxtail Terrine. Intrigued, but not willing to take a full-on French plunge before our coffee, we opted for the Benedicte and its smoked salmon cousin, Eggs Norvegian.

Lovely renditions both, lightly sauced with rich Bernaise, accompanied by crisp frites and a small, bright salad. Mmm...

After we made "all gone," our waiter returned with the dessert menu.

Dare we?

We ordered not one, but four desserts. The Chocolate Bombe was just that - the bomb. The Profiteroles, stuffed with vanilla ice cream goodness, bathed in decadent chocolate sauce, was also a big winner.

So, Gothamist is thinking that another Frenchy entry to the Brooklyn restaurant scene might just be "bon."

Special Note: Grand opening celebration for Jolie is Thursday, November 18th. And, ladies will recieve a free jolie cocktail from 6-10pm. Tres bien!

Jolie Restaurant
320 Atlantic Avenue (nr. Smith St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-488-0777

Photo by Carina Salvi for New York Magazine

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By VittlesVamp in Food on November 18, 2004 10:25 AM

Comments [rss]

Serena

What is it with all these negative comments, people? I just went to Jolie yesterday with 7 other people for a birthday brunch and it was delicious. Is any of this related to the love/hate relationship with the French? I have my misanthropic, francophobic moments myself from time to time, believe me . . .but give these two struggling Frenchies a chance. No one knows how hard it is to open and run a restaurant, unless you have done it yourself. And yes, I have. As for grammar and the name. . ."femme" is a "sous-entendu" to the word "jolie" . . .so the "e" should really be there. We're lucky they didn't take the artwork the extra French mile (nudes with your brunch, anyone?) on that note (all the rotating artwork depicts women). For what it's worth, at least it's not yet ANOTHER pizza/pasta place . . .

Captain Foodie

Hopefully this place will fail just as the Brooklyn Grill which used to reside at the same location. Really crappy location right next to the juvenille detention center and not much else to do nearby.

Start your clock folks. I say 2.5 years tops. Strong buzz now. Then in 6 months it will be strictly catered affairs. 1 year it will try out a more "moderate" menu. 2 years, it will try a radical change that still won't help. Then, *POOF*. Gone.

Jen K

Of COURSE we needed another French bistro in the Cobble Hill / Boerum Hill area. Don't you realize there are, like, nearly SIX WHOLE BLOCKS between Bar Tabac and Bacchus? Those poor, trudging residents, I feel their pain...

Pat

Mon Dieu, why did I leave that nearly worthless American money when we paid for our lovely brunch.

Laren

What makes you think she didn't pay for them? All Gothamist Food columnists pay for their own meals at restaurants they review.

K.

My favorite French place in Brooklyn is iCi, on DeKalb. Step above the other Fort Greene bistros, reasonably priced, and very comfortable. Nice wine list, as well.

Satan

"Jolie" is the wrong gender, it should be spelled "Joli Restaurant" without the e because "restaurant" is a masculin noun.

Reality Mites

1. this is a blatant ad. No wonder you ordered four desserts. You didnt pay for them!

2. Gothamist should stick to Manhattan, and stay out of Brooklyn. We don't like this solipsitic pandering to the superfluous...

Tim N.

bitterwaitress.com ?

Nausea

What a terribly unimaginative name for a French restaurant. Who would go eat at a place called "Pretty"?

Amy Langfield

A new French bistro gem in my neck of Brooklyn is Pit Stop, on Columbia St. The owner/chef used to be at Bar Tabac. Nearly empty during the week, though the weekend brunch was packed last time we went.

Laren

Do you mean Manhattan Waiter?

A

Question: what's the website with gripes and complaints and secrets from New Yorkers working as waitstaff in restaurants? Not shamelessrestaurant - the other, older one.