VIBE

Chef Daniel Boulud’s first Downtown restaurant is a sexy comfort food-focused joint that embraces its industrial Bowery digs. The modern space is decorated with racks of kitchen supplies (glassware, white china, boxes of spices, et cetera), a semi-open kitchen, and mirrored walls etched with culinary quotes. Monochrome silver and black furnishings clash with the restaurant’s colorful crowds of Bowery and banker types, who enthusiastically scarf the dozen or so house-made sausages and range of brasserie plates. The front bar is buzzing.

CROWD

Downtown bankers and assorted suits, media and fashion types, Bowery residents, and Boulud loyalists. The crowd trends young-ish.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Though frequented by future power players (think young Wall Streeters, fashionistas, and the like), the burger-and-dog fare tones down the scene. Wear something casual with a bit of funky edge–we would go with designer jeans and a trendy top.

GO HERE WITH

A group of friends; clients or colleagues

WHY WE LIKE IT

The masculine, sexy design, coupled with a gourmet comfort food menu, makes this one of the better spots in town to take a lively bunch of friends. We love dining with a group in the large, elevated booths along the outer rim of the space. On the food front, we especially dig the flatbread, shrimp dish, and schnitzel; the hyped sausages and burgers are also worth a go.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

All that concrete and steel contribute to the loud factor which, on busy nights, can get to be a little much. Our service was okay, but we’ve heard very mixed reports on this front.

GOOD TO KNOW

The name DBGB, for those curious, is actually a play on the now-vanished Bowery punk institution CBGB. The bar here is perfect for walk-ins, and serves a pared-down version of the main menu. Techies and iPhone addicts rejoice–DBGB offers free Wi-Fi. A daily prix fixe lunch and brunch is available for USD 27, and a prix fixe dinner is available for USD 35. We’re also fans of Boulud ventures Café Boulud (Palm Beach and New York), Bar Boulud (New York), and db Bistro Moderne (New York).

CLOSEST COMPS

db Bistro Moderne (New York)

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