Rue 57

Rue 57 Restaurant Review:

With its Art Nouveau detailing --- including a red awning, a gold script sign, mirrored walls and leaded glass windows --- you might be tempted to dismiss Rue 57 as a gimmicky restaurant, especially since it occupies one of the most touristy of New York corners. Though the eatery certainly fits into a classic brasserie formula, the menu manages to break out of the mold. For instance, there's a sushi bar with the usual maki rolls of spicy tuna, crab and salmon plus mildly creative dishes like Dover sole meunière and roasted corn with lime. There are pan-seared dumplings with spiced cabbage and traditional offerings along the lines of steak frites, oysters on the half shell, burgers and bouillabaisse. During the day, Rue 57 tends to be filled with weary shoppers, but at night it attracts a well-heeled, uptown crowd.