DBGB Soft Open

I was lucky enough to eat at DBGB's soft open over the weekend. DBGB is Daniel Boulud's downtown venture into casual dining. Most people know Daniel because he serves a $100 dollar burger at DB Bistro Moderne. It has foie gras and shaved truffles on it. He's also a regular on the Top Chef judging panel. Lastly, he's adorable.

The food at DBGB was very flavorful. We tried 2 of the in-house made sausages and a HUGE beer menu. The menu lends itself well to sharing, so it's a great place for friends and big groups. I tried the Frenchie Burger which was very spicy, but in a good way. We finished off our meal with a Beer/Cherry Ice Cream Sundae. As you can see from the picture here, I really liked it. The ambiance is a big departure for Daniel - the kitchen is open so you get flashes from the pan and can hear the hustle and bustle of the hard working chefs serving you. The music mixed Franz Ferdinand, Klaxons and Ratatat and the servers were young and friendly. Daniel's Chef friends donated pots from their personal collections and he puts them on display throughout the house. The stars were aligned for me that night as we were seated between gifts from Tom Colicchio and Anthony Bourdain -- two of my favorite food personalities!