Well, what a disappointment with all the hype that Bourdain gives this place. The fries were boring. Want great fries? Go to Pommes Frites in the East Village.My husband and I had dinner there. The waiter recommended the wild boar turnover-yikes! this was a dried-out turnover, no sauce and very dry. My husband had the filet which smelled awful and he was not able to eat it. We travel quite a bit and the one thing we always try everywhere we go are steaks. The service was horrible and the place was not busy. We started off with a waiter then ended with the bartender serving us.

Take this review for what it is because I absolutely love Bourdain. His assholeness only makes me love him more. I will say this though, the restaurant was not what I expected. The small nosh I managed to fit on top of my Shack burger was however, outstanding. I guess I can’t say much for the rest of the menu.

I debated for awhile about what I would say about Les Halles. It has rave reviews mainly because of it’s ex-head chef, Mr. Anthony Bourdain. Also, it’s in Manhattan where food is king. I might have been overly excited to visit…taking pictures outside the doors as if it was the 8th wonder of the world. It’s a old brick building.

The inside is relatively small and dark filled with old wood pieces, lace over the kitchen window and white linen on the tables. I don’t know what it was that I had expected, but it wasn’t this. More laid back I suppose.

We got to the bar just in time. Soon after we ponied up to the bar the dinner crowd came rushing in. We were surrounded mostly by people who made me feel uncomfortably under-dressed, but as Erykah Badu and Radiohead started to pay in the dining area I felt more at home.

We partook in a little escargot action. I heart snails. These were super great. Each snail floating in its own little bath of melted butter, garlic and basil. Warm and tender with just the right amount of earthy twang.

All fare was actually pretty reasonably priced. We did beer and apps because that is all we could fit in after dinner. Wish I could have tried some other stuff, but that will have to wait for another time. I think I could see myself at Les Halles on a more regular basis. Should probably think about moving closer first.

I had the half roasted duck, shrimp risoto, pate, and apple tart. It was all very good

Intimate, dark, friendly neighborhood spot in a giant city. Great people watching. Frisee aux lardons, steak frites, followed with tarte aux pommes. What could be better?

Great simple French fare! The steaks are fantastic, but for a treat try something more traditional like duck confit, etc.

The house wine is more than adequate and provides a great value- or have the bartender recommend…

I went to Brasserie Les Halles with a group of friends. I didn’t realize until I got there that this is the place that Anthony Bourdaine hails from. He used to work here, so immediately I was excited to try it. Well, it was fine, but nothing like one would think it’d be. But I’m also not sure if I wasn’t so impressed since I just went to a fabulous French restaurant the previous week in Seattle. Brasserie is different though, they focus on the ever famous French steak frites type dishes. I ordered the mussels (maybe that was the mistake) – they were fine, pretty good actually – but I’d just had the best mussels I’d ever had the previous week. So I was less impressed.

Not only that but the service was very mediocre. The lady screwed up our bill and assume we were giving her something like a 40% tip (we did a combination of cash and card). Any way, if I come back here next time I am just getting steak.

The fries were pretty good though.

Juicy tender steak…crisp tasty fries….perfectly done foie gras salad…buttery escargo…friendly customers…;)