Iconic French Food Takes Over New York!
These are Frog Legs, served sizzling noisily in a very hot pan – I will share that video soon, but this dish, above all, cements New York’s Le Veau d’Or as the most delicious French food in the city – and one of the best restaurants in the US!
An 88 Year Turnaround!
Established in 1937, Le Veau d’Or ( “The Golden Calf”) was a New York staple for years before finally closing – and was then re-opened under the culinary vision of neo-bistro extraordinaires, Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson of the terrific New York restaurants Frenchette and Le Rock.
The renaissance pays homage to the nearly 100 year history of the space while bringing an elevated level of execution to the food and beverage programs.
Le Veau d’Or Was Just Named One Of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants:
Our good friend James toasted with us as we celebrated the terrace news that in September, Le Veau d’Or debuted at #10 on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The list, which includes restaurants from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, recognized the bistro’s impressive comeback.
The Infatuation New York raved as well, noting something we didn’t know as we enjoyed our ceramic Calf greeting us at our table:
“Also charming: the calf-shaped, porcelain vases on each gingham tablecloth, including one golden calf that graces one lucky table each night—a small thrill.”
And little did we realize that, on the night we were there to celebrate our anniversary, the table right behind us has the golden calf! Look closely and you will see it!
We’ve been to Le Veau d’OR many times now, so you will get a nice look at most of their menu over different nights!
The menu is delivered in French, but the expert, friendly and fully engaged staff is eager to walk your through it all.
Special shout out to Erika, who expertly run the front desk! Oh, and when we toasted the restaurant, did I not notice that our Calf was golden colored as well one night?
While we perused the menu, those Martinis were delivered, well actually THEIR Martinis, because you can order them “your” way or “our” way – which is “THEIR” unique way:
You see, that’s a classic Gin Martini with a unique twist: in the glass behind it is icy sparkling water and a nice infusion of Vermouth: one sip of each back to back makes this a uniquely special presentation and a delicious drink!
Now, time to dig in to the menu!
Pate en Croute
A classic country pate, with a chunky constancy that gives the various ingredients a chance to pop…cornichons, mustard and crusty bread make this a nice way to start the meal.
I also love this starter plate of shaved ham, oeufs mayo, celery root remoulade and French radishes…a purely French dish!
As it is a French restaurant after all, so get ready for these to arrive sizzling loudly to your table:
Frog Legs Persillade!
The Infatuation review nailed it perfectly when they wrote:
“Need some sizzle in your life? Order the frog legs, which eat sort of like chicken wings swimming in a pool of at least a quarter-cup of hot, bubbling garlic butter.”
It tastes even better than they describe!
These meaty frog legs are swimming in this sizzling garlic butter, and to dredge the meat through it is a culinary delight….a highlight to be sure – and it sounds great too!
The next dish is also a happy surprise:
What was described online as “elongated, air-filled, crisp potato chip pillows served with a creamy dip” is a perfect description: the trout roe offers a salty pop to the creaminess of the sauce and the light, delicious potato pillow….
You can also get beautifully composed white asparagus: delicate and delicious.
Duck Magret aux Cerises!
Again, Infatural Ny sums this dish up perfectly:
“Duck and cherries must have a lock on a bridge somewhere in Paris. It’s a classic combination, and Le Veau nails their version. This is our favorite entree and, just like the duck frites at Frenchette, the duck is golden-skinned and pink. It has a bit of a white pepper tingle, and the cherries are sweet and boozy.”
Yes, a beautiful dish that is delicious as well!
Here’s another main course that we love:
Fish with potato scales
A delicate white fish is poached then finished with a crusty potato covering, with a creamy sauce….
Speaking of fish – how about these?
Fish Sticks With Tartar Sauce!
Now this is frivolous in the very best way! Classic fish sticks come with a delicious tartar sauce – a really fun side dish!
The hits just keep on coming: every dish from the kitchen is beautifully composed and rich with flavor – without feeling heavy:
Gigot of Lamb with beans: the dish is served rosy pink, with tender white beans and jus, along with a roasted tomato with a little hat of green breadcrumbs.
As The Infatuation notes: “This dish is a successful nod to the past that still plays ball in the 21st century. Order it for the beans alone.”
And my wife does just that!
One night the special was shortbreads and boy were they delicious!
As you an see, beautifully composed with nice touches: this is a place to come with friends and get everyone to agree to share it all!
And because it’s a French restaurant, you will always have a plate of these on the table:
Golden, cristy fries with mayonnaise!
These are perfectly executed: a nice crispness on the outside and velvety smooth inside…
We aren’t dessert lovers bu this Crepe Suzette is delciious without being too heavy at all, and since it was her birthday one night, they surprised Alex with a nice cheese plate!
Does Le Veau d’Or deserve the accolades?
Absolutely! The entire team is wonderful, the wine list is varied and reasonable, and the food is delicious from beginning to end…it is, without a doubt, one of the best dining experiences in New York!
But how does it measure up to this?
These braised oxtails are just one of the unique dishes on the menu at Tatiana in New York – see my entire review here:
Alex and I have been on a food journey through New York: some of the classic restaurants as well as new places with some very unique dishes like this:
Yes, that is a “Cacio e Pepe Ravioli-Topped Filetto!”
Click here for details and more wild food!
And have you eaten at New York’s oldest restaurant?
I did and here are some classic dishes invented there!
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Categories: Alcohol And Bars, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Fine Dining, Food Travel, Recipes, Restaurants, Travel, Wacky Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
oh my goodness! I could eat everything from that menu! When I was growing up I always asked for brains and sweetbreads for my birthday meal! Everything looks French on the menu, and the restaurant does as well. I’ll have to put it on my list for when I visit my daughter next!
Thank you for the note! It’s getting such great reviews and accolades and they really are the nicest people!
Great menu! Nice to see that they also have classics like Chou Farcie and Oeufs en Gelée. We love a Île Flottante – tried to make it ourselves, not very successful, our îles were very small….
It’s been some time since we last enjoyed Frog Legs. They’re not popular in the Netherlands. We looked for them when we stayed in Nice (France) earlier this year, but we could only find frozen ones.
Thank you for reading! There is so much to explore on this menu: we have been multiple times and still have more to explore…thank you so much for commenting, always great to hear from you!
Poulet au Vin Jaune et aux Morilles sounds like a dish we would love to make in Spring!
Yes, so much to explore on this menu – and I want to make that at home! Thanks for the comment, always great to hear from you!
This sounds like an amazing culinary adventure 😋
I am shaking my head and getting mad at my memory >>> have not been to NY for decades but my husband and I would come for a fortnight just to eat (sometimes not even telling local friends 🙂 !) and go to the theatre and concerts . . . and I am absolutely certain, absolutely that I have been there more than once and loved it . . . obviously very different times and dishes! OMG – we were in town when ‘Lutece’ and ‘La Grenouille’ et al were the ‘it’ places to go 🙂 !!!
yes, you probably did go there! we love that it has been brought back to life…thanks for the memories!
I remember eating Frog’s Legs in France many years ago, and thinking the tasted a lot like chicken. Do you choose from that menu for $125 per person, or get a little taste of the whole thing? I ask as you seem to have had numerous courses. It looks like a wonderful place for a special celebration, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete, I showed dishes from several trips there – there is no tasting menu, you choose anything from anywhere on the menu…we usually do an appetizer and main course, but the starters are so much fun its great to have others there with us to get more! Cheers!