Tres Magnifique! Five Stars for Bruno Jamais- Upper East Side French Restaurant and Dance Club!

Last night I experienced heaven on the Upper East Side (who knew right??). Typically when I decide to go out for a night on the town and some fine dining I end up at your typical steakhouse or something trendy around the Meatpacking district. But being a little older now (and wiser) sometimes settling for STK or Striphouse leaves me longing for originality and personality. With my boyfriend living on the Upper West Side we decided to take a quick cab across the park to Bruno Jamais. Lately with the current economy, when I’m spending my money I want to feel like it’s worth it–something extraordinary for once that surpasses a regular dining experience. And that’s exactly what I got at Bruno Jamais.

Owner, 46 year old, Parisian born Jamais is no novice in the world of Manhattan dining, prior to opening BJ. his resume included Maitre D at Daniel and Alain Ducasse.

Nestled in a beautiful townhouse on 81st between Madison and Fifth I entered the restaurant and walked through their exquisite wine cellar towards the dining room. When you reach the entrance to greet the Maitre D you may be confused. The sliding, glass door, a la James Bond, has a discreet button, which if you don’t know, leaves you standing on the outside for a moment looking in (*until your boyfriend realizes you’re not going to figure out how to open it and does it for you–but that’s neither here nor there). I was greeted by Maitre D, Jaques, with a charming French accent and a warm demeanor, who showed us to our table. The space is dimly lit and romantic. The walls are covered in unique artwork by artist, Cyrille Margarit.

We kicked off our evening with Champagne (a must for every night out!). Next I decided to test out a signature cocktail to get the full restaurant experience. My favorite drink was called “Sexy Back,” while I can’t remember exactly what was in it (a true testament to the strength of the thing!) I do remember it was a cotton candy pink color and tasted very peachy but not in an overwhelming way.

For dinner we had a hard time picking as there were so many wonderful options. Before our appetizers even arrived they brought us each a sampling of lobster salad, tuna tartar and foie gras (I even tasted the teeniest bit-I’m a very picky eater so that was scary for me–but it asked so nicely, I mean it literally had a cherry on top!) For the first course I went with the Tuna Tartar (24$) which was a huge portion and came paired with mango salsa covered in avocado creme. It was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend went for the Mushroom Risotto ($17 ) which was creamy and perfectly portioned–not too much to fill you up but just enough to leave you happy. (*Note-Recessionistas you could easily split an App to save some cash!) Did I mention that the service was friendly and full of helpful suggestions (not snooty at all like many other French restaurants in NYC).

For our entrees, I ordered Filet Mignon au poivre ($41) and BF got a Hanger Steak($38). But here’s the best part–unlike most steak restaurants where the meat alone costs $40 or more, this price here includes a side dish which was honestly larger than some of the portions I’ve been given when I pay for it a la carte (at many steakhouses). The Filet came with creamed spinach and the Hanger came with pommes frites. Both were scrumptious! Then, since we couldn’t resist, we ordered the Truffle Mac-n-Cheese as well (totally unnecessary since we would have had plenty of food). It was covered in breadcrumbs and bursting with truffle essence. It was divine. The portions were so hearty, neither of us could even finish our meals (and for those of you who don’t know us we’re strong supporters in the NO STEAK LEFT BEHIND school of thought–hence these huge meals were worth your money unlike chi-chi restaurants which gauge your wallet and leave you wanting more and stopping for a slice on your way home). I was thoroughly satisfied by our delectable dinner and can’t wait to go back!

But just as we were finishing up dinner was when the party really kicked into high gear. Who knew you didn’t have to leave the comfort of your neighborhood (Above the 60s) to hit a happening bar? (I’m an honorary upper-Mannhatanite since I basically cohabitate with BF who attends Columbia on UWS). So this is where all the adults go who wanna party! The music got louder and the champagne was flowing by 10pm . The people watching was fantastic–couples snuggled up in booths, dinner parties and birthday celebrations. I wish I could buy a cd of the music they played–remixes of old classics (done tastefully) like Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” The Stones’ “Miss You,” Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong’s “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” and more. A great time was had by everyone. I can’t believe I had never been to this place before! The patrons seemed like regulars and it’s easy to see why–once you’ve gone Jamais you can’t go any other place! (So cheeeeeeeezy but we couldn’t resist).

I can’t say enough great things about this wonderful restaurant. I don’t know how more people hadn’t recommended it to me before because I will be singing its praises for years to come. I will definitely be having my birthday party here next year. I mean they brought the cake out, turned down the lights and blasted Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” to celebrate. What’s better than that?

Just as I was leaving I even met the owner himself. He personally wanted to make sure we enjoyed our experience. How could we not? The food was yummy, the staff was charming, the ambiance was fun, French and enchanting!

So, in sum, Rececessionistas, if you’re going to be spending a night out on the town I highly recommend you do it at Bruno Jamais. It’s well worth it! And you may even see someone you recognize…Bruno is a favorite discreet destination for luminaries such as Keanu Reeves, Former President Bill Clinton, Kim Cattral, Billy Baldwin, Chris Noth, and Spike Lee to name but a few.

Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club
24 East 81st Street (near Madison Avenue)
Tel: (212) 396-3444

Je t’aime Bruno Jamais, Je t’aime!