Le Halles is owned by Celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain and is featured in his cookbook Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.
I visited Les Halles on Park Avenue on Christmas Day! It was difficult to find anything open during Christmas except perhaps Chinatown or K Town (Korea Town) and we were fortunate to be able to get a reservation. Upon reaching the restaurant, there was a queue. Many people were waiting to be seated even though they had a reservation. Similarly, we needed to wait for our seats as this place was a madhouse. Waiters darting between tables and the kitchen, some carrying really heavy huge piles of dishes, impatient diners waiting to be seated, a huge crowd huddled in front of the reception cos no one wanted to be out in the cold. Thankfully, in 15 minutes we were seated. The wait didn't dampen our spirits though, it was Christmas :)
To be in a warm cozy restaurant for our Christmas dinner seemed right.
French Onion Soup
Soup is very comforting in the cold weather especially with the howling wind outside. This French Onion Soup topped with a thick layer of cheese made a hearty meal on its own. It rather filling and fortunately I shared it with someone otherwise I wouldn't have had space for my mains.
Don't remember what this is but it must be some sort of Pâté
Steak Frites
If they don't serve steak frites, its not a French Brasserie. haha. This is French comfort food.
Mussels Steamed in White Wine and Garlic
A simple dish that can never go wrong.
Caramelized bananas“flambéed” with rum table side
This dish was prepared tableside and was most pricey amongst the dessert however, it was disappointing. The Bananas were soggy though hardly hot and the sugar didn't crystallize to give that sugar crunch. Hmmm and whatever the what sauce was, it was dubious. Well this was the only dish that disappointed. Maybe because it was too busy that night. Nonetheless, it was a nice Christmas dinner :) And it was nice being transported to Paris for a night :)
