Libertine
French restaurant · West Village
684 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10014
Highlights
Stylish French bistro with updated classics, natural wines, cocktails
Stylish French bistro with updated classics, natural wines, cocktails
"As soon as you walk through this bar and lounge’s clandestine entrance, marked by a small lantern, you are transported to another world that is one part 1920s speakeasy and another part luxe British manor. From floors tiled with pennies to oversized mirrored walls, bookcases and an intimate stage, Libertine promises a grand ol’ time." - Lemon Yellow
"How Far In Advance Should You Book? You can eat here tonight. When Libertine opened, it was immediately impossible to get into. The formula was just too alluring for the citizens of the West Village: French food, martinis, a faux bistro setup complete with a Serge Gainsbourg poster. Two years later, you can stop by whenever you want. Given the quality of the food—special shoutout to the oeufs mayo and duck deux façons—that’s surprising. But there is one catch: a $60+ entree is not unheard of here." - bryan kim
"When you first moved to New York, you probably imagined yourself eating at a restaurant like Libertine, in a neighborhood like the West Village. With butter flown in from Normandy and a Serge Gainsbourg poster on the wall, it’s obvious this restaurant was opened by some real Francophiles, but it's also exactly the type of pristine bistro that New Yorkers are always yearning for. The prices are closer to what you’d spend on a special date night than on a casual lunch, but the French countryside cooking is worth the occasional splurge." - bryan kim, will hartman, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick
"This wine bar has rewritten the book as far as French bistro fare is concerned. Rib-sticking dishes from chef Max Mackinnon include saucisse puree, a fat pork sausage with gravy plunked on top of buttery mashed potatoes; scallop plus seaweed, the shellfish under a gratin presented in its shell; and jambon persille, a slab of ham terrine littered with cornichons. There’s no printed menu at this charming spot, so consult the chalkboard bill of fare." - Robert Sietsema
"Choosing a French bistro for a milestone birthday, reviewer Nadia Chaudhury, Eater Northeast editor, sat down to a (yes) charming chalkboard menu and ordered the duck deux facons ($68). The resulting dish was, per the French name, duck served two ways in really simple yet outstanding manners: first, the crispy duck breast is served atop this lappable au poivre sauce studded with green peppercorns for nice little bursts of zing; the second was confit duck legs underneath oh-so-creamy mashed potatoes. "Pro-tip: Drench the potatoes in the sauce, it’s very good." - Nadia Chaudhury
