The buzz: Duxton Hill is now home to a fine dining French restaurant run by famed Au Petit Salut’s old head chef Paul Longworth and manager Jerome Desfonds.
The vibe: Intimate without being too cramped, this airy 40-seater space is surprisingly restrained with a muted dove gray, dark wood and white wall color scheme. It’s not stuffy in the least, though, and has a quiet but modern touch with its clean lines, colorful and bold artwork and a glimpse into the open kitchen.
The food: A perfect marriage of haughty French tradition with a light and modern upgrade. There are tons of interesting combinations like quinoa stuffed squid with squid ink aioli, chorizo and piquillo pepper froth ($26); a sculptural stack of Japanese scallops with pork belly, crisp chicken skin and white chocolate ($48); and their signature breast and confit leg of pigeon with glistening grapes rolled in candied nuts and sesame and finished with a rhubarb and rose purée ($64).
The drinks: In true French style, there’s a French-leaning wine list. They’ve got bottles (from $88) and by-the-glass (from $15) options like the stellar Champagne Chapuy Blanc de Blanc ($22/glass, $125/bottle) and an ultra decadent Chateau Lafleur for a cool $920.
Why you’ll be back: The food is refined without being gimmicky. There are interesting combinations not often found in other French restaurants and that don’t blow the budget. Plus, they’ve got a solid lunch deal ($42 for three courses).
