"There’s nothing subtle about the wooing process at Josephine Bouchon, a Lyonnaise spot in Chelsea. Heavy, red velvet curtains frame the doorway and the dining room is all dangling, low-level lanterns and breathy candle flames. But this isn’t a stuffy place. Champagne arrives with a silky smooth cheese soufflé, garlic splatters from excellent buttery frog legs onto white tablecloths, and waiters banter with you while whipping out a ruler to measure how much wine you’ve drunk." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, daisy meager, sinead cranna