 Circuit
Court New
York
Le Gamin
183 9th Avenue/21st St.
New York, NY
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Restaurant
 When
I got up this beautiful Sunday morning, I fancied something a little fancy.
Maybe because I drank a daiquiri last night. Or maybe it was the entire
week watching U.S Open golf instead of the World Cup. It was a perfect
day for Le Gamin.
Sunday
brunch is serious business here in the city of eats. Doesn't matter if
it's 9 a.m. or 4 p.m., all the f¸d joints are filled with folks
armed with the Sunday Times, a New Yorker, and a cell phone. Le Gamin,
near the gallery district in Chelsea, is one of the prime places to witness
this phenomenon. Here's a snippet of overheard brunch conversation:
Bruncher
1: Hey, you know that scientists are genetically altering lambs to produce
spider silk?
Bruncher
2: Yeah, I'm reading the Times article right now. I don't get how spider
silk is stronger than steel though. Do you?
Bruncher
1: Oh, I don't know. I just read the first paragraph of every article
so I can tell people about them and look reasonably interested in things.
Bruncher
2: Funny. I'm doing the same thing! Wanna date me?
 Le
Gamin has been a neighborhood hangout for many years, and is authentically
French (I hear it's family-owned and run). They offer a delightful array
of fresh crepes, sandwiches, and omelettes, in an atmosphere filled with
dark woods, French street signs and hipster regulars. On Sundays it's
especially packed, so expect to stand around for 15 minutes or so before
you're seated.
I ordered
a chicken ratatouille crepe and an Orangina. And after an inordinately
long wait, my meal actually arrived. Uniquely, the crepes here at Le Gamin
have a different texture than at other places in the city. They are a
little more wheat-y than creamy, and are slightly more chewy than "melt-in-your-mouth."
I like that -- made it feel like a meal despite the size. More on that
later... The ratatouille tasted less like a "sauce" than a combination
of great stuff -- the vegetables inside are all incredibly fresh and distinct
in flavor, as were the pieces of grilled chicken.
All that
nice stuff aside, I felt a little light on the bench afterwards, as the
crepe was pretty small, and came accompanied by a few dressed-up leaves
and tomatoes on the side. And at nearly $8, I was a little disappointed.
In past
visits, I've had both sandwiches and omelettes, and have fared better
(a Croque Monsieur that was deliciously grilled and very filling), and
worse (a wild mushroom omelette that was a little on the dry and bland
side). So, your mileage may vary.
If you
ask me, the real heart of Le Gamin is their "Crepes Sucre,"
or dessert crepe selection. You can't go wrong with their chocolate, chocolate
& banana, strawberry sauce, or fresh fruit crepes. I've been here
many times and haven't picked a lemon yet. And for the extra $4 or $5
on top of your entrée, you'd actually have yourself a meal.
Really,
I like the place. The füd is unquestionably good. I just don't care
much for the crowd or the prices. If you can get past that, or if you
at least want to amuse yourself and take in a bit of a true New York neighborhood
experience, I suggest you put on a dirty, vintage, ill-fitting shirt and
join in on the fun.
Contact
Magistrate Tavee at plangent1002@hotmail.com
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