Daniel Boloud is a famous restaurateur with about a dozen NYC restaurants under his belt and several others around the globe. He’s an empire, I guess.

When I first moved to NYC back in 2014, we hit up his namesake restaurant, Daniel. It was one of the snootiest experiences of my life. We were not impressed.

I was also in a dinner jacket that was FAR too tight, so not loving anything that night.

Daniel has a dress code, Bar Boloud does not. Both places are on the pricy side, but Daniel is definitely the higher end eatery. Go to Bar Boloud instead.

I’ve been to several “Jackets Required” restaurants in NYC, and only Daniel gave me snobbery overload (that’s what I get for venturing to the Upper East Side). The service was also too aggressive (couldn’t blink without someone there to dry my tears) and the food was not worth the blood circulation being cut off in my lower half.

I think I had a temporary case of Deep Vein Thrombosis directly after that meal.

What I liked about the food at Bar Boloud is that, while it was traditional French fare, it wasn’t overpriced and the portions were substantial. Neither of us finished our meals.

And I was dressed in my finest eatin’ pants, so if there were any room left in my belly, I would have filled it with those leftovers.

The French Onion Soup was perfection! Order that, damn you!

The service was far from snooty and it’s just a few blocks from Lincoln Center so it’s the perfect pre/post show dinner.

The best part is you can depart Bar Boloud free from any of those pesky Deep Vein Thrombosis worries.

1900 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
b/t West 64th St & 63rd St
Upper West Side
(212) 595-0303
barboulud.com/nyc

Oysters of the Day – 6 for $21

FRENCH ONION SOUP
sourdough croûtons
gruyère cheese
$ 14

COQ AU VIN
red wine braised chicken
lardons, mushrooms
pearl onions, spaetzle
$30

DUCK BREAST A L’ORANGE*
potato confit, rutabaga
swiss chard, pink peppercorns
seville orange marmalade
$33

VANILLA CRÈME CATALAN
raspberries, orange confit
sablé Breton
$14