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“Bar Blanc Bistro by Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	New American	West Village	Moderate	Good

It had been a beautiful day in the neighborhood when we set out to Bar Blanc Bistro, with an afternoon of neighborly moments, exchanging waves with the ex-cop bar owner on the corner and catching up with our favorite French framing guy on Bleecker. It also happened to be the day of our block association’s street fair; the air smelled of barbecue as local artists splayed their wares and residents unloaded garage-sale items (though we don’t have garages) all along Bedford, Barrow and Commerce Streets. When the sun set, and a jazz band kicked in, kids and the kids-at-heart danced in the streets. The warm-and-fuzzy feeling of community overflowed; it was one of those nights that I didn’t want to be anywhere else but the West Village.    

I love the pace of the Village, a beat slower than then rest of Manhattan. A sense of bohemia is still buried in its brick and mortar, with a fascinating, if eccentric, collection of characters—from Larry the “Collector of Bedford Street,” always panhandling for a good cause, to the supermodel who lives next to the music school. But what establishes the character of the neighborhood just as much as its people, and architecture, is the abundance of great food.   

So much of the West Village’s appeal relies on the restaurants we frequent, like Commerce, with its amazing bread basket, or Market Table, where I know I can always get a great soup. I look forward to an excellent cuppa and conversation from Patrick, the owner of Mojo on Charles, and I find the company of Matthew, the barkeep/owner of Bayard’s as refreshing as my pint of Smithwicks. I love the waitresses at Mary’s Fish Camp just as much as the crab beignets; I adore how the retired chef of Marinella’s still comes in twice a week to make lasagna; I’m always enthralled by the creations of chef Soto at his namesake, no matter how many times I go. I can count on the primo quality of proscioutto at Otto and the consistency of Mexicana Mama. And few things say comfort like a burger and tater tots at Daddy-Os or the truffled egg toast at ‘ino. The culinary charms are certainly plentiful, thanks to willing, and hungry, neighbors. Winning the local loyalty is the trick.     

When Bar Blanc opened about a year and a half ago, it won deserved critical acclaim for its food, garnering a spot on Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants& ... [more, click below]

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Posted: June 27, 2009

Other restaurants in West Village :
+ Jefferson-- Closed   + La Palapa Rockola   + Sumile   + Babbo   + Tasca   + AOC Bedford   + Home   + The Spotted Pig   + Barbuto   + Numero 26   + Mas   + August   + Alta   + Cru   + Blue Mill Tavern-- Closed   + Employees Only   + Lassi   + Metropol--Closed   + Turks and Frogs   + Bellavitae   + Yumcha-- CLOSED   + Gusto: SEE EARLIER REVIEW; THIS CHEF HAS LEFT GUSTO   + Perry Street   + Home   + Ditch Plains   + The Little Owl   + Cafe Condesa   + Cafe Cluny   + Gusto   + The Waverly Inn   + Morandi   + P*ONG   + Perilla   + Soto   + Market Table   + Centro Vinoteca   + Barfry   + Dell'Anima   + Bar Blanc   + Smith's   + Commerce   + Elettaria   + Bar Q   + Cabrito   + 10 Downing   + Minetta Tavern   + Braeburn   + Scuderia, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Bar Blanc Bistro by Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Joseph Leonard   + Bar Henry, by Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Kin Shop   + Monument Lane   + Wong   + Bin on Bleecker, by Dara Pollak   + Ristorante Rafele   + Cole's Greenwich Village by Guest Reviewer Claire Jaffe   

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