THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bar Americain

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bar Americain Restaurant Review:

Food Network star Bobby Flay is nothing if not all-American, so after the highly successful Mesa Grill and Bolo, he gives us this patriotic takeoff on the classic brasserie; Bar Americain is what Parisians once dubbed that rare bistro with a full bar. And indeed, there is more than a whiff of Paris to the place, especially in the massive mirrored zinc bar imported from the City of Light; the black-aproned uniforms worn by the solicitous waitstaff; and the soft amber glow enveloping this somewhat noisy, two-story space---not to mention the appearance of the deluxe shellfish platter, a triple-tiered extravaganza-on-ice reminiscent of those we've seen in the French capital. But this onion soup is made with Vidalias; duck is accompanied by dirty wild rice, pecans and bourbon; and mussels are paired with fries Americain, amusingly served in a little silver vase lined with a paper cone. There are a few missteps here and there: for example, the crab-coconut cocktail that comes as part of a triad seafood sampler is overly sweet. But the well-fed, well-clad crowd here (some of whom clearly wield company expense accounts) appear more than satisfied with the coddling atmosphere and ample, good-old-U.S.A.-sized portions.