THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Chelsea Bistro & Bar

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Chelsea Bistro & Bar Restaurant Review:

Though it's easy to pass by the entrance to this classic Parisian bistro, a forerunner of the bistro craze that swept the city in the late '90s, the hiddenness of the restaurant makes its ultra-French charm all the more authentic. The food exemplifies the best of its genre---rustic yet refined---and a knowledgeable, if occasionally brusque, staff complete the picture. Food and service aside, the décor alone reeks of Paris---velvet drapes, wooden floor, brass railings, candlelight, mahogany bar and vintage posters on the walls. The lusty fare is characterized by a sophisticated approach to bistro classics including dense foie gras terrine, roasted duck casserole and a beefy hanger steak in a dense red-wine sauce with de rigueur crisp frites. Choose wine from among almost 225 choices---mostly French, but with a few American selections.