Nice Matin Andrew D'Amico Nice Matin

Nice Matin

201 W. 79th St. (Amsterdam Ave.)
New York, NY 10024
Map
Cuisine: Mediterranean
The fresh flavors of the French Riviera find a sunny locale in Manhattan.
Openings: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily, Brunch Sat.-Sun.
Nice Matin, New York, NY


Nice Matin Restaurant Review:


Past the curved zinc bar facing the entrance, a luminously spacious room, fringed by intimate loggias, opens to a tranquil and handsome Upper West Side thoroughfare. The yellow, red and lime green colors of the décor are refreshing and relaxing and contribute to the sensation of free breathing in a cool environment. In this sunny brasserie, diners have plenty of elbow (and leg) room while they enjoy their meal and their company in an appreciably decent sound level. At Nice Matin, the name taken from the popular daily newspaper of the French Riviera, chef Andrew D'Amico (The Sign of the Dove) has chosen to reproduce the simple yet enjoyable fare of the Niçois populace. Specialties represented include the salade Niçoise to which you can't say no even if you are not hungry, the pissaladière, which is the Niçois rendition of the pizza where tomato is replaced with onions, and the soupe au pistou perfumed by its basil base. For entrées, the Moroccan-spiced salmon and grilled lamb panzanella shows D'Amico's own great art beyond the Niçois inspiration. Other highlights include any of the plat du jour, which may include the aïoli monstre, a traditional recipe based around salt-preserved cod and plenty of garlic, or the eggplant with ricotta and basil pesto --- another great Provençal recipe --- as well as the chicken paillard and the juicy duck confit. The wine list is flush with Côtes du Rhône and Provence wines including rosés that in summer match well with this type of cuisine, all at enticing prices. Service is youthful and smiling.