NYC News

Le Chene Brings Bold French Cooking to the West Village
May 20, 2025, 4:32.26 pm ET

Print


Photos: Andrew Bui

Opening this Friday, May 23, Le Chêne marks the much-anticipated solo debut of chef Alexia Duchêne—a Top Chef France semi-finalist with roots in Parisian fine dining—and her husband and front-of-house partner, Ronan Duchêne Le May. Located at 76 Carmine Street, the intimate French restaurant blends classical techniques with a distinctly New York edge.

The menu is unapologetically French but far from predictable. Think: Sweet Shrimp Tartlette with crème fraiche, maple, and shiso; Foie Gras Lucullus with sea buckthorn gelée; Uni French Toast topped with bone marrow and pepper cream; Halibut and Scallop Quenelle with dry-aged halibut; and a Pithiviers Terre & Mer, Duchêne’s elegant ode to surf-and-turf, combining smoked eel and pork in flaky pastry. Even the fries come with pedigree—modeled after a Joël Robuchon recipe from the ’80s.

Ronan oversees a massive, mostly French and Italian wine program featuring thousands of bottles, from iconic vintages to lesser-known gems, while cocktails like the Monceau Spritz and Flavigny balance old-world spirits with seasonal flair.

Designed by Frédérique Mortier, the space feels like a stylish apartment in the heart of Paris—warm woods, vintage lighting, cherry-toned Pierre Frey banquettes, and gallery-worthy artwork curated by Van de Weghe Gallery, including works by Warhol, Basquiat, and Dubuffet.

With walk-in seating at the custom U-shaped bar, a moody back dining room, and a menu as refined as it is surprising, Le Chêne is setting a new standard for French dining downtown. Reservations are now open via Resy.


^Top