Nestled on Orchard Street, this cozy bistro serves up exquisite French dishes like hanger steak and grilled octopus, all in an intimate, trendy atmosphere perfect for date nights.
"This tiny 270-foot restaurant with tons of heart is an industry favorite. Saddle up to its bar stools for a changing menu of classics like socca, beef tartare, or beef Bourguignon. Enjoy the French wine list, the convivial scene, and keep your cameras off." - Melissa McCart
"An intimate and trendy walk-in restaurant with a seat bar around an open kitchen, offering delectable French bites like socca and hanger steak."
"If you’re like us, eating the buttery French food at Le French Diner in the LES is a therapeutic exercise not unlike walking around the block or doing a sun salutation. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to stop now since they’re offering pick-up at their restaurant. Go online or call 212-777-1577 to place your order." - hannah albertine
"What It Is: A tiny French restaurant serving bistro food and natural wine Perfect For: Date Night To the person who wrote us the following email: “Subject: Le French Diner, LES Orchard St Body: Run, don’t walk, it’s a gem. Sent from my iPhone” Thank you. We took your advice, and now we agree. This restaurant is a tiny little place on Orchard Street that looks like it could have been a taco stand in a past life, and serves really excellent French food while a French hip-hop soundtrack plays in the background. Most of the seats are at the counter, where you can watch cooks prepare fantastic octopus or steak, and over which there’s a short menu and wine list written on a chalkboard. Expect a full review on this restaurant sometime very soon. The Verdict: Come here with someone you really like and want to share a bottle of wine with." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren
"The Waiting Room: Mary’s The Back-Up Plan: The Ten Bells If Le French Diner were a walk-in closet, it would be large. But it’s a restaurant, so it’s tiny. And unless you arrive at this Lower East Side spot just before 5pm, you can safely bet that you won’t get a seat anytime soon. Enter Mary’s. There’s a disco ball in the back, a weekday Happy Hour from 3pm-7pm and lots of seating, so drink a martini while you wait for your dinner phone call. Or—if it’s nice out—head to The Ten Bells, which has a daily oyster Happy Hour and $20 carafes of wine." - willa moore
