Artisans

Artisans Restaurant Review:

Brothers David and Sylvain Denis (Le Mistral), along with French-trained chef Jacques Fox, operate Artisans at The Mix at Midtown. Perhaps not as good as Le Mistral, but more convenient for the downtown crowd, Artisans features what they describe as a French eclectic style of food. If you’re inclined, the best place to perch is the 28-seat chef’s counter surrounding the open kitchen. And the best meal for the price had been a five-course tasting with wine pairings. One dinner started with pan-seared foie gras, included a good but not great scallop, and presented pistachio-crusted Chilean sea bass. The highlight was the black pepper-crusted tenderloin, prepared medium rare and topped with a green peppercorn sauce. For dessert, you might encounter a soufflé or a simple almond cake. There's also a full bar and a lengthy wine list, heavy on French wines.