Le Petite Maison opened in December in the former Acquavit restaurant space, which is an old town house with lots of charm that previously belonged to the Rockefeller IMG_9293family with Alain Allegretti, an adorable Nice native (Allegretti restaurant; Atelier and Le Cirque) as consulting Chef and Arno Busquet (chef at the famed La Guerite in Cannes), as chef de cuisine. It’s located right behind MOMA.

When I dined there recently,  I oped for the 10 tastes of Nice ($75 per person, two person minimum)  – and was so glad I did as I was able to have a real sampling of the chef’s amazing IMG_9297Niçoise cuisine.

The “Attrait de 10 saveurs” consisted of their signature baby artichoke salad served over heirloom tomatoes, Petits Farçis Niçois (light and crispy zucchini blossom beignets), fairly thick slices of smoked salmon with a dollop of crème fraiche, creamy burrata also with heirloom tomatoes in a reduced balsamic vinaigrette, stuffed baby vegetables (zucchini, red and yellow pepper and a tomato stuffed with a blend of lamb, chicken and Parmesan cheese), warm shrimp salad with basil, IMG_9298ethereal French-style eggs whipped with black truffle, Provençale fish soup, delicate langoustine with herbs and earthly black truffled creamy macaroni.

Although I had no room for dessert, so I ordered some refreshing lemon sorbet “Colonel Style” ($10) with a splash of chilled vodka to clear my palate. Perfect.

My companion has the gooey chocolat fondant (molten chocolate cake with stracciatella ice cream ($10).

Note to self: Be sure to try sister restaurant La Petite Maison on 11 Rue Saint-Francois de Paule next time in Nice, France.

– bonnie

La Petite Maison
13-15 West 54th Street
New York, NY
(212) 616-9931

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