NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud opens Le Gratin, his Downtown Manhattan casual restaurant housed on the ground floor of the celebrated The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel. Le Gratin, inspired by the notable bouchons and bistros of Chef Daniel's hometown of Lyon, France, known for their welcoming ambiance and soulful cuisine, will welcome its first guests for dinner tonight.
“Drawing upon inspiration from my family and upbringing in Lyon, France, this restaurant is a project that is very close to my heart,” said Chef Daniel Boulud. “Le Gratin is a special name for me, reminding me of many symbolic dishes from my childhood, overflowing with love and soul. It also connects me with the traditional bistros and bouchons of my hometown, with a menu inspired by some of the classic Lyonnaise cuisine. The lively ambiance and inviting service at Le Gratin will keep guests coming back time and again, like a neighborhood favorite.”
“It’s an exciting new moment for us to be opening our first bistro in the Financial District, especially as the area continues to see so much residential growth and business activity,” said Sebastien Silvestri, CEO of Dinex Restaurant Group. “At the epicenter of City Hall, the World Trade Center and Wall Street, we look forward to welcoming the community’s residents, neighbors and visitors to Le Gratin for a memorable experience and an introduction to delicious Lyonnaise cuisine.”
The restaurant, located in the heart of the Financial District, puts diners just steps away from City Hall, the Fulton transit hub, the Oculus at World Trade Center, Tribeca and the revitalized Seaport District. Its name is not only inspired by Chef Daniel Boulud’s fond memory of his mother’s delicious homemade gratin dishes and the many classic gratin recipes he learned as a young chef, but is also a French expression referring to the ‘who’s who’ in the room.
Culinary and Service Team
Le Gratin’s Executive Chef, Guillaume Ginther, is a native of Strasbourg, France and an alumnus of Restaurant Daniel and former Chef of Le Coq Rico Bistro in New York. With techniques and experience rooted in modern and traditional French cuisine, Executive Chef Guillaume collaborated with Chef Boulud and Corporate Chef Jean François Bruel on a menu that showcases beloved French classics from Chef Daniel’s childhood, with seasonal flavors.
Overseeing the pastry menu is Executive Pastry Chef Kristyn Onasch, an alum of Chef Daniel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Boulud Sud.
Menu
The menu features specialties such as the “Quenelle de Brochet au gratin,” a rustic Lyonnais dish famed for its delicate pike mousse with a crust of Gruyère cheese in a mushroom sauce. Chef Daniel and Executive Chef Guillaume keep a soulful approach to seasonality, bright flavors, and classic techniques. Every month the menu will showcase regional cuisine with an iconic French dish to share, while featuring special ingredients from local purveyors.
For Le Gratin’s pastry program, Executive Pastry Chef Kristyn Onasch has created a dessert menu that balances French classics like Chou et Prune à la Crème, a cream puff with roasted plum, and Crème Renversée au Caramel, alongside refreshing options that highlight seasonal fruits including a Tarte Aux Abricots with pistachio ice cream and a Fraise Melba, a raspberry meringue with Greek yogurt ice cream, strawberry marmalade and almond, both perfect for spring and summer.
Beverage Program
The wine list boasts more than 100 offerings, with a focus on the wine radius around Lyon, including Beaujolais, Maconnais, Côte de Vienne and Collines Rhôdaniennes. A short list of global fine wines will also be available. The cocktail menu features both the classics as well as fragrant French Mauresque and red wine Kir Communard, drinks customarily enjoyed in the bouchons of Lyon. A good selection of fortified wines and bitter liqueurs are offered as aperitifs and digestifs.
Design
Full of charm, Le Gratin’s interior design transports guests to the bright and boisterous bistros of France. Marble floors, wooden chairs, cigar-colored banquettes, and decorative painted tiles that adorn the walls featuring garden flowers and playful cockatoos contribute to the restaurant’s character while the coffered ceilings and mirrored walls make the space feel bright and airy.
In addition, Marc Dennis, a local Brooklyn-based artist best known for his hyper-realistic paintings, has created several new floral-themed artworks to be featured throughout the dining room. Dennis’ paintings can be found in several prominent private and public collections including The JP Morgan Chase Art Collection, New York; The Neuberger Berman Collection, New York; The UBS Corporate Art Collection, Zurich, Switzerland; and the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California among others.
Le Gratin is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner service. Reservations for Le Gratin are available on Resy. For more information and full menu details, please visit www.legratinnyc.com or call (212) 597-9020. Visual assets, including interior and menu photography, can be found here.
About The Dinex Group
Founded by Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud, The Dinex Group, LLC is a collection of internationally renowned and acclaimed restaurants with an emphasis on hospitality, from fine dining to casual cuisine, served at the highest level. A culinary innovator and iconic restaurateur, Daniel founded The Dinex Group in 1993 with his eponymous restaurant, DANIEL, growing it today to multiple owned and licensed venues around the world including DANIEL in New York City; Le Pavillon in New York City; Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar in The Bahamas, and The Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto; Maison Boulud at The Ritz-Carlton in Montreal, Bar Boulud in New York City; Boulud Sud in New York City and at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami; db bistro moderne in New York City and at the Marina Bay Sands Resort & Casino in Singapore; DBGB in CityCenterDC in Washington D.C.; Brasserie Boulud in the Sofitel Dubai; and three Épicerie Boulud locations throughout New York City. The company additionally operates a commissary kitchen, an online platform named Daniel Boulud Kitchen, and the majority stake in Feast & Fêtes, one of New York City’s premier catering and events companies. Additionally, Chef Daniel is Co-President of Citymeals on Wheels, an organization dedicated to serving meals to New Yorkers in need; is Co-Founder of Food1st, in partnership with SL Green Realty Corp. responding to the COVID-19 food crisis throughout New York City; and is Chairman of Ment’or, providing grants to young chefs to advance their culinary educations.
About The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel:
Celebrated for its extraordinary nine-story Victorian atrium and majestic skylight, The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel is located at the epicenter of downtown Manhattan’s revitalized neighborhood, surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic sites including the Brooklyn Bridge and the World Trade Center. Housed in a historic 1881 landmark property and one of New York City’s last architectural treasures, The Beekman features 287 elegantly appointed guest rooms, including 38 suites and two private penthouses, as well as two signature restaurants, the newly launched Le Gratin led by Michelin Starred Chef Daniel Boulud and Temple Court, by James Beard Award Winning Chef Tom Colicchio.
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About Thompson Hotels
Founded in 2001, Thompson Hotels is an award-winning boutique lifestyle hospitality brand with a collection of stunning, dynamic properties. Each of Thompson Hotels’ urban and resort locations offer a carefully layered environment that molds into its surrounding community. Guests are provided tailored stays with connections to world-class culinary offerings, arts and entertainment, and groundbreaking design. The Thompson Hotels portfolio of lifestyle hotels includes The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, Gild Hall and Thompson Central Park New York in New York City; Thompson Washington D.C.; Thompson Nashville; Thompson Seattle; Thompson Chicago; The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico and Thompson Playa del Carmen in Riviera Maya, Mexico; Thompson Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific Coast; Thompson Dallas, Thompson San Antonio, and Thompson Austin in Texas as well as Thompson Savannah, Thompson Hollywood, Thompson Buckhead and Thompson Denver. Follow @ThompsonHotels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and updates. For more information, please visit www.thompsonhotels.com.