Cafe Boulud: In NY, French cuisine is not rare, but the authentic spirit is often lacking.

We love French food. (Do you know anyone who doesn’t?) In this world of bastardized menus with mashed-up cuisines, authentic French cuisine in a fine restaurant setting is rare. But when it happens? That means, at that moment, with that meal, things are right in the world.

Such is Cafe’ Boulud, a Daniel NY restaurant, tucked, innocuous, off the corner of the lobby of the (superb) Surrey Hotel on 76th and Madison. The restaurant feels like an act of love from the famed chef, Daniel Boulud. Although a Michelin-star restaurant, for all that implies, the atmosphere feels comfortable and unpretentious. Having eaten recently in a Michelin 1-star in Paris (restaurant Laurent), where everything felt so formal as to make the staff seem more important than the clientele, this restaurant — whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner — feels very French in style and atmosphere, but of a more relaxed and friendly tone.

Make no mistake, the service, the poise of the staff, and especially the fantastic quality of every single item we have ever eaten there, makes this one of our favorite restaurants in NYC.

Every time we stay at the Surrey Hotel, we have at least one meal in our NY visit at Cafe Boulud. Last time, it was breakfast — with an amazingly creative croque madame encased in a perfect croissant, an omelet made perfect, and veal sausage.

This restaurant is an example of luxury that embraces comfort; class delivered in every detail and a staff ready to engage in banter, which speaks to the culture of the place itself. Amazing.