Le Tout Va Bien - French Restaurant

"Should you ever find yourself lost and hungry in the Theater District, just follow the warm glow of red neon down West 51st Street. Once the smell of deeply caramelized onions and beef stock hits you, you’ll know you’ve come to the right place. Le Tout Va Bien makes homey, beautifully executed classic French fare, like beef bourguignon and escargots persillés, at a refreshingly reasonable price. Le Tout Va Bien first opened in 1949, then closed for several years amid the pandemic. Thankfully, a former server purchased and revived the beloved French bistro. Anyone attending a Broadway show should consider the prix fixe dinner here a gift straight from the almighty gods of duck fat and Bordeaux. The three-course pre-theater menu is served 4-6:30pm daily, for $45 per person—which quite helpfully intersects with Le Tout Va Bien’s Happy Hour, from 4-7pm, when a glass of house wine or cocktail at the bar is just $10. Break a leg. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick photo credit: Le Tout Va Bien photo credit: Le Tout Va Bien Food Rundown photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Homemade Country Pâté The pâté is seasoned enough to cut through all of its glorious fat (and the sharpness of the mustard does a great job with that, too). photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick French Onion Soup Your nose will never forgive you if someone else in the dining room orders this and you don’t—the intensely beefy smell alone is incredible, and the taste is even better. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Escargot Persillés So herby, so garlicky, so delicious. Make sure you dip the pleasantly crunchy table bread in the excess butter. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Hangar Steak And Frites There’s a great crust on the steak and a nice crunch to the fries, both of which play very nicely with the creamy au poivre sauce. (If you’re ordering the prix fixe menu, the steak is $3 extra—as are the escargots—but we can assure you they’re both well worth the upcharge.) Coq Au Vin The chicken is very tender, but a little underseasoned. This isn’t your best option for a main here, especially given the competition is so stacked. Salmon Ratatouille Another menu highlight. The moist, flaky fish is beautifully cooked, but the fragrant, tender ratatouille—especially the zucchini—is secretly the star. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Apple Tart You might find you’re so full that you’re tempted to bypass dessert altogether, but that would be a mistake. You’ll find room for a slice of this lovely tart, served warm, with not-too-sweet, thinly sliced fruit and a scoop of ice cream on the side—we believe in you." - Molly Fitzpatrick

"For the second time in the last month, one of NYC’s oldest French restaurants, closed through the pandemic, has reopened. First, it was Le Veau d’Or. Now, it’s Le Tout Va Bien in Hell’s Kitchen, a pre-theater spot that originally opened in 1948. You can get classic bistro fare, like steak tartare, boeuf bourguignon, and escargots with garlic and parsley butter here, and there’s a three-course menu from 4-7pm that looks convenient for before a Broadway show." - will hartman