Celeb chef Alain Ducasse is behind this old-school bistro, which means that the service is flawless, the atmosphere (with its burnished wood walls and velvet banquettes) tres Gallic, and the food is, for the most part, parfait. Benoit doesnt try to be creative, but thats part of the charm of eating here: Whats served is a paradigm of classic French cuisine. The cheese soufflé is an old-fashioned high-calorie treat (its an appetizer), the French onion soup is one of the best in the city, and the roasted chicken cant be improved upon (its simple and utterly delicious).