Escargot? Here You Go!
If you happen to find yourself strolling along the out-of-the-way cobblestone streets of the West Village, be sure that you stumble into Paris Commune, a French Bistro offering neighborhood classics that entices a diverse clientele, from families seeking an early dinner to a multi age group of diners ready to enjoy a glass of wine with their appetizer or entree.
The first thing you should know about Paris Commune is that although the name implies that it's French, the food is not typical of French cuisine. Though many French touches lace throughout the menu, the cuisine at Paris Commune is catered more towards the people in the area, offering choices as simple as a burger to as quintessentially French as escargot, making Paris Commune a manageable dinner spot for whatever you may be in the mood for. Most menu items are casual dining options that have been spruced up a little to give them slightly more of a French feel, but owner Hugo Uys of South Africa feels that his cuisine will change as the neighborhood around him changes. Hugo stated, "As people continue to want to eat more healthy, we will have to cater the menu to give them healthier options, which means less butter and cream." Hugo also loves the fact that his menu includes grilled ostrich, a favorite of many locals.
Paris Commune has had a home in the West Village for over 30 years. Although they've changed location to a more low-key area, Paris Commune has seen a range of visitors from Lucille Ball to Candace Bushnell. Even upon entering now, there's still a classic vibe. I enjoyed my early dinner right before sunset, when the sun was still streaming into all the wall length windows surrounded by white paneling. Then once the sun set, there was a slight Moulin Rouge atmosphere that begins to take over. For me, that feeling began to occur as soon as I tried Jungle Red, a vodka based fruit cocktail with a giant rose petal on top.
A recent popular appetizer trend I've noticed is scallops served in a sauce made with apples and bacon. Although it's not on the current menu online, Paris Commune takes this a giant step further by substituting the bacon with pork belly and adds cranberries along with the apple. This appetizer is absolutely mouthwatering and makes a great light dinner for one along with a glass of wine (wine options are not just French, there's a nice selection). I also really enjoyed the fresh lobster cakes and (if you're feeling French) the escargot flambe. The escargot is covered in a light butter sauce with shallots and garlic, but the sauce is not overwhelming as it sometimes can be on escargot.
I then moved onto my entree. Usually my favorite part of the meal is always dessert, but the Duck Confit had the perfect amount of sweetness that took away the necessity of dessert (of course I had it anyway). The duck was served with roasted potatoes, oyster mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, chestnuts, roasted carrots, and caramelized onions and covered in a honey orange glaze. The duck reminded me of the way the French Canadians cook in Quebec emphasizing the sweetness of maple syrup flavors in many dishes. I found the sweet glaze to work well with the vegetables in the dish, and it paired very well with the French red (suggested by our waiter)I was drinking that had a less bold flavor.
Like I said, of course I had to try dessert. Hugo suggested the Creme Brulee and the Pot du Chocolat, which I thought were perfect compliments of each other. Of course it's not the norm to have two desserts (especially if you want to fit into your pants the next day) but if Paris Commune ever decided to be highly untraditional and combine the two, or perhaps offer a half serving size of each together, it would make a great dessert. The chocolate was rich and reminded me of decadent fudge mixed with icing, and the Creme Brulee offered a satisfying release, that still made me want to dip back into the Pot du Chocolat. After topping it all off with a cappuccino, I was ready to go home.
— Written by Valerie Cario
Photo credit: Rodney Folkerts
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