Pastis - Review - Meatpacking District - New York - The Infatuation

"Pastis opened in 1999, when there was still enough meatpacking in the Meatpacking District to justify the name. The Olsen twins ate there. So did Jude Law and Lindsay Lohan. In 2014, the restaurant closed, but it returned a few years later in a bigger space a block away with twice as many subway tiles, distressed mirrors, and globe light fixtures. Even if it's less scrappy than the original, the current iteration is a useful place, where everything comes doused in butter and everyone seems to have a second home in Amagansett. photo credit: Teddy Wolfe If you need something lively and French, where you can drink a martini, pick at pâté, and gab with full confidence that 10 people are eavesdropping, Pastis is perfect. A sprawling cafeteria for mirror selfie enthusiasts, the all-day restaurant serves a crowd-pleasing selection of bistro classics like escargots, chicken paillard under a blanket of chopped almonds, and a saucy double-patty burger with the sort of textbook fries you expect from a sibling of Minetta Tavern. The food doesn't change lives, but for a sceney spot that operates at the pace of a NASCAR pit, it's great. Food Rundown Escargots These snails are purely an excuse to eat an excessive amount of garlic and butter. And there's nothing wrong with that. Get an order for every two people at your table. photo credit: Teddy Wolfe Bar Steak A quality steak covered in butter, with a pile of fries on the side. This is a very safe move, and, at around $40, a reasonably priced one, too. Trout Amandine The trout amandine can occasionally lean dry, but it has enough butter to cover up any defects. If you absolutely want fish, it's a solid choice. If not, choose the chicken paillard. Cheeseburger à l’Américaine If you're thinking about ordering the burger, just do it. With its two slender patties doused in special sauce, it's the most reliable option here." - Bryan Kim