Claudette Reopens in New York City With a New Look and a Fresh Menu
New York’s Claudette is saying bonjour once more.
The beloved bistro, which occupies a prime position in Greenwich Village, has reopened after almost 20 months of extensive building repairs. It returns to Fifth Avenue with a new look and a fresh menu, but the same refined yet relaxed feel.
Claudette, originally opened in 2014 by Carlos Suarez’s Casa Nela restaurant group, was a neighborhood favorite for over a decade before it closed in 2024 because of structural issues in the landmark building. Following nearly two years of renovation work, the restaurant is looking better than ever.
Suarez, who has opened eight venues across New York City, Miami, and Tokyo, spearheaded the redesign, bringing a little French flavor to Fifth. The understated, whitewashed interior has been warmed up, with tobacco-hued banquettes and rich oak accents throughout. That brasserie-like vibe extends to the exterior, where dozens of bistro chairs line the avenue.
The dining room.
Caroline Friedman
The French theme is carried across to the food, too. The menu, previously with a North African bent, takes inspiration from Provençal cuisine, reflecting the city’s increasing appetite for French fare.
“After a decade on this corner, we better understand how to create that sense of a neighborhood clubhouse,” Suarez said in a statement. “Today, the tone is more polished, the food is classic yet distinctive, and even the experience has evolved to encompass comfort, a sense of occasion and fun.”
Portuguese chef Igor Almeida Cabral, who lived in Marseille and worked for Alain Ducasse for 10 years, will helm the kitchen, serving up classics such as moules gratinées, rabbit rillettes, and a creamy stew known as bourride.
Bourride.
Jeff Mills
“The first moment I tasted it, I understood the emotion and the passion behind the dish,” Cabral recalls. “I made a promise to myself: One day, when I become a chef, bourride would have a place on my menu.”
Cabral’s menu also includes lite bites, such as pissaladière and oeufs mayo with bottarga, which diners can enjoy with a cocktail on the terrace or at the bar.
Claudette will be open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with lunch and brunch to follow this summer. The Flamingo Room, a 22-seat private dining room with a dedicated bar, will reopen in the fall. Reservations can be made via the Claudette website or through Resy.
Click here to see more photos of Claudette.
Lizzy Rollins
