At Pardon My French, now open on Avenue B

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Getting to take a sneak peek at a restaurant prior to opening is somewhat thrilling: you get to see the conflicts, team-building and hints of what’s to come in terms of food, drinks and patrons.

I witnessed all of that at my visit to Pardon My French, which opened Monday at 103 Avenue B near East Seventh Street.

Mario Carta was the owner of the restaurant formerly occupying that space, the 16-year-old bistro Casimir. Along with former waiter, now co-owner Antonin Brune, the pair has teamed with mixologist Simon Sebbah to create a warm French-inspired local spot.








[Co-owner Mario Carta]

When I visited last Friday, the chef was Yllan Laloum. However, on Monday, restaurant reps told me that “PMF has decided to go in a different direction with the chef. The new chef is Guilherme Barreto and he has much more experience in the New York culinary scene.”


[Co-owner Antonin Brune with former chef Yllan Laloum]

Meanwhile, why the name — Pardon My French?

Brune said that he and Carta were tossing around names … when it came to Carta in a “lightbulb moment.” They are also fine with people saying PMF instead, and indeed, the website is listed under that as well.

The menu is not 100 percent French — it’s a mix of Mediterranean tapas and French-inflected fusion cuisine. I was shown duck tournedos with rutabaga confit and watercress, and stuffed mushrooms with quail eggs, goat cheese, mashed potatoes and microgreens.



I asked the owners about the bottomless brunch (PMF has one featuring mimosa and Bloody Marys for $25), the often-dreaded-by-neighbors weekend ritual. Is PMF trying to appeal to locals or the woo crowd? Both Carta and Brune spoke about how they embrace the neighborhood, how they wanted to stay here, but refresh the space. Carta was sad to close Casimir, but said it was time to try a new concept, a new menu, and bring people back to the spot.

He felt that people had forgotten about Casimir, and he hopes that the new spot will be ideal for family meals, brunches, a post-work drink and romantic dinners.

I also asked about the ADA lawsuit, the much-discussed one that neighboring bar Manitoba’s crowd-funded to pay. (The same man sued both Manitoba's and Casimir as well as a reported 25 other businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act.)

Carta shrugged his shoulders and said “we paid it of course, what else could we do?” There are plans in the works to make the space ADA-compliant, with a ramp and accessible spaces for patrons in wheelchairs.

As for the food, the kitchen plans to stay open until 11 p.m. during the week, midnite or 12:30 on the weekends; the bar until 2 a.m. weeknights, 4 a.m. on weekends.

You can find the PMF menus here.


[East Village resident Linn Tonstad was a guest at the Friends and Family Night last Friday]

[Updated] Pardon My French opens Monday on Avenue B

Updated 1:24: Edited to reflect that the restaurant opens this coming Monday, March 9

Pardon My French opens March 9 at 103 Avenue B near East Seventh Street in the space formerly known as Casimir.

Back in January, the bistro closed for a revamp, which included moving the bar into the north side of the space.

As Bedford + Bowery explained, one of Casimir's waiters, Antonin Brune, teamed up with owner Mario Carta to rework the menu and space. Per B + B:

Casimir fans can rest assured that Brune values the old-school feel of the interior, with its decorative tin ceiling and tiled archway leading to the bar. “It’s still going to have the same look with the low light and candles,” he said. “We don’t want to kill the atmosphere of Casimir, but the restaurant needed some love.

In announcing the reopening, Eater said to expect "dishes like creole-style cod fritters, roasted bone marrow with thyme, roasted lamb shoulder, and sea bass in a creamy French white sauce."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Adieu Casimir

Adieu Casimir

[Photo yesterday by Dave on 7th]

As we noted this past Jan. 13, Casimir closed for renovations at 103-105 Avenue B.

In the comments, several EVG readers who saw renderings for the revamped space noted that the bistro is relaunching as Pardon My French. Yesterday, workers removed the Casimir awning from the premises here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

Said one EVG commenter:

They are not making Casimir a speakeasy. There was a huge private dining room that was being under utilized right off the front of the restaurant. So it makes sense to move the bar into it, creating a really cool bar and lounge room.

The owner showed me the renderings for the renovation and it looks brilliant. The menu will keep some of the staples but also move the menu a bit more nouveau French, more smaller plate options. Although I wouldn't have changed a thing about the old Casimir, some weeknights and even weekends were a bit slow at dinner. It is a deceptively big restaurant so I applaud the attempt to bring in more of the dinner crowd and I am sure they will do it. As for the new name, hopefully they keep it off the door, ha. I am going to call it PMF. Or Pe-em-euf.

Bedford + Bowery recently spoke with Antonin Brune, a Casimir waiter who partnered with owner Mario Carta on the relaunch. Per B + B:

Casimir fans can rest assured that Brune values the old-school feel of the interior, with its decorative tin ceiling and tiled archway leading to the bar. “It’s still going to have the same look with the low light and candles,” he said. “We don’t want to kill the atmosphere of Casimir, but the restaurant needed some love.”

PMF was hoping for a Feb. 14 reopening. No word on a new opening date.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Casimir temporarily closes to move its bar

Casimir temporarily closes to move its bar

An EVG reader noted that Casimir at 103-105 Avenue B was closed last night ... with paper up in its windows.

There isn't any mention of this on the French restaurant's website, Facebook page or outgoing voicemail. In any event, the closure is just temporary.

The restaurant between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street was on this month's CB3/SLA committee agenda for an alteration. According to paperwork (PDF!) at the CB3 website, Casimir's management is moving the bar from the south side (103) of the restaurant to the north side (105).

The CB3 meeting was last night. We didn't hear how this vote went ... and we don't know why this bar move might be an issue.

Also, no word yet when the work will be complete at Casimir.

Update: see first comment for more details on the renovation.

Casimir starting a burlesque night; launching a mini-fondue bar

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[Peekaboo Point]

Starting Oct. 27 at 10 pm, East Village French bistro Casimir will host “Thursday Night Burlesque,” an evening of titillating entertainment sure to astound and delight. Join performers Peekaboo Pointe for classic burlesque, Russian contortionist Miss E. Katarina and exotic fan dancer Jezabel Express for saucy and sizzling fun – and admission is free! It’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend.

Every Thursday Night Starting October 27, 2011
10 pm
Free Admission

Featuring
Peekaboo Pointe - Classic Burlesque
Miss E. Katarina - Contortion (Russian)
Jezabel Express - Fan Dance

Also....

Date of Opening: November 9 or November 10

The former Moroccan Lounge at East Village French institution Casimir will be transformed into Casimir Fondue. The cozy 35-seat annex to the main restaurant will operate as a fondue-only min-restaurant featuring cheese, meat and chocolate fondue. New décor highlights the warmth of the space, making it the perfect backdrop for Casimir Fondue’s indulgent offerings. This new and exciting concept is the brainchild of new management that is poised to reinvigorate the restaurant, an early pioneer of the East Village dining renaissance. New owner Mario Carta has amassed over a decade of expertise managing and developing restaurant concepts which he plans to utilize in this his latest endeavor.

On Avenue B between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...

[Image via]

Casimir now offering a 'bottomless' drink brunch

Casimir on Avenue B is under new ownership... and some longtime patrons have been fretting about the changes in store at the French bistro... the following item should give those people more reason to worry... is a 25-cent wing night close behind? The following news release is from the EV Grieve inbox...

[Dave on 7th]

MAKE BRUNCH LAST ALL DAY WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS & BLODDY [sic] MARYS AT CASIMIR BRUNCH AND ENDLESS DRINKS FOR $19.95

NEW YORK- NY On Saturdays and Sundays Casimir is serving brunch with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys! For only $19.95 you can enjoy their delightful brunch menu and as many of the two brunch beverage favorites as you can drink. Come in between 11am and 4pm and get your Saturday off to a good start or begin your Sunday Funday!

Are you ready for some Monday Night ... Steakhouse at Casimir?

Back in April, our friends at East Village Eats pointed at that Casimir on Avenue B had new owners. What kind of changes can you expect there? This news release that arrived yesterday should give you some insight...

Who wouldn’t want to treat themselves to a decadent steakhouse dinner? However, steakhouse prices have put this luxury out of reach for more and more diners. But not anymore! East Village French bistro Casimir has introduced Monday Night Steakhouse – a weekly special featuring every steak on its menu for only $9.95!

Starting Monday, July 25, 2011 Monday Night Steakhouse is set to tempt your taste buds without sacrificing your budget. Indulge in 12 ounces of favorites such as ribeye and skirt steak, filet mignon, steak tartare, the juicy Casimir hamburger and even a grilled pork chop – all for the wallet-friendly price of $9.95.

This new and exciting special is the brainchild of new management that is poised to reinvigorate the restaurant, an early pioneer of the East Village dining renaissance. Mario Carta formerly of Chazal and Lea Midtown has amassed over a decade of expertise managing and developing restaurant concepts which he plans to utilize in this his latest endeavor. Monday Night Steakhouse is one of many new initiatives that Carta plans to roll out during the upcoming months. Although the management may be new, Carta plans to retain the inviting atmosphere, attentive service and uncomplicated cuisine that has made Casimir popular among destination diners and neighborhood locals.

Monday Night Steakhouse is available on Mondays from 5:30 pm to 12 am. Casimir is located at 103 Ave. B, between 6th & 7th Streets.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Changes in store for Casimir on Avenue B?

Changes in store for Casimir on Avenue B?

Casimir, the French bistro on Avenue B near Seventh Street, was on Monday's CB3/SLA agenda for a transfer. Our friends at East Village Eats have learned that owner Guillaume Blestel has sold the restaurant. EV Eats talked with some of the employees this past weekend "and not much is known about the new owner." One piece of info: Turns out that the new owner is also behind Midtown East-based restaurant/lounge comboLéa.

Never heard of it. Per New York magazine:

Small tables house an after-work crowd early in the evening, enjoying better-than-average bar fare from the kitchen, including sushi, bruschetta, and crab cakes. As the night wears on, the darkness deepens and the music—contemporary hip-hop and house beats that don't quite fit the lounge-y décor gets louder.

Anyway, no word yet if the new owner plans to keep things the same or turn the place into another Midtown East outpost... like too many other places already around here.