La Boite en Bois

Classic. Tucked away down a short flight of stairs and into a small, rustic, wood-paneled dining room is this wonderfully low-key French charmer very near to Lincoln Center. Romantic and cozy, local regulars come in pairs or alone with a book and order comfort food such as escargots, steak au poivre, lentils with sausage and potato, duck confit or salmon with honey-mustard glaze and dauphinoise potato. Food is well-prepared and hearty of flavor. Service is casual and there when you need it. This long-standing restaurant, opened in 1985, has local notoriety as one of the Upper West Side eateries that was a favorite spot for the fictional characters in the much-loved TV show “Seinfeld”. Like “Seinfeld”, this eatery is timeless and a New York classic. Some of the most prominent New Yorkers might be found here today, thoroughly enjoying a meal at this under-the-radar spot.