La Gamelle on Bowery Street, NYC is now under the new direction of consulting Chef Michael Burbella (Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar & Grill) and Executive Chef Denis Kuc (The Modern, BLT Bar & Grill). La Gamelle recently won my heart with it’s fabulous French fare, service, and wine list!
The menu is updated seasonally and offers daily specials including all the dishes you’d expect at a French restaurant. Onion Soup Gratinee, Foie Gras Terrine and Pate de Campagne. I enjoyed the Beet and Mache with goat cheese, creme fraiche, and pistachio. Paired with a glass of Champagne, it was a winning start to a wonderful evening. Alongside the beets was Roasted Octopus “Citronette” thats tender and perfectly charred.
The extensive wine list is now under the direction of Master Sommelier Harold Toussaint, who will walk you through the wine list with comfort and ease. Whether you are new to wine or at some what of a “Somm” level, his passion will excite you and entice you to try new things! Harold is extremely knowledgeable and expertly pairs the wines with the menu, and is happy to help you choose the perfect wine to compliment your meal. His experience, stories, and charming personality will win you over and add that extra something special to your evening.
After an array of appetizers came some incredible mains such as the Branzino and Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb. The Branzino with fennel confit, cherry tomatoes, artichokes, and olives was out of this world, delicious! Perfectly cooked, flaky, and just the right amount of flavor to compliment a glass of Muscadet and Sancerre. The Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with flava bean puree, baby fennel, sauteed spinach, and red wine lamb jus was deliciously cooked to a proper medium and paired with 
Harold’s wine pick: 2010 Daumen Lirac. The wine was full bodied and seductively enticing with aromas of cherry, cooked plums, and chocolate. Some notes of tobacco and sweet baking spice linger behind the bold fruit, and pair beautifully with a lamb dish or La Gamelle’s 10-ounce certified Angus Beef Burger, served with gruyere cheese, truffle mayonnaise, caramelized onions, mushrooms and frites, and thick slabs of applewood smoked bacon.
To finish the wine and end the meal on a sweeter note, Harold brought out a beautiful 2012 La Fleur Renaissance Sauterne. Paired with this stunning dessert wine was an assortment of French cheeses, almonds, quince paste, and honey, as well as the Profiteroles with vanilla ice cream, topped with chocolate (table side).
For those seeking some fabulous French fare, a fantastic wine list, outstanding service, and live jazz (on certain nights), be sure to check out La Gamelle! The seasonal French menu will entice your palate while the relaxing atmosphere will make your forget you are in the heart of busy NYC for a while. This French spot is a great escape for brunch, dinner, or dessert.
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