BAR FRANCES BRINGS ELEVATED DINING TO NOLA’S FRERET STREET
CORRIDOR
French-Trained Chef Brendan Cahill Serves Up Stunning & Sophisticated
Dishes in Modern Bistro Setting
When Bar Frances opened quietly in late May 2016, it signaled the arrival of
elevated dining on Freret Street, Uptown New Orleans’ burgeoning dining and
entertainment corridor. Located at 4525 Freret Street, the 85-seat
indoor/outdoor restaurant features an impressive selection of French-focused
wines with an emphasis on small producers and natural wines; an array of
classic cocktails and New American cuisine with modern French influences. Coowners PJ Rosenberg and Mark Latter’s extensive knowledge of wines,
coupled with Executive Chef Brendan Cahill’s varied menu of small and
composed plates showcasing creative vegetable presentations and locally
sourced proteins, allows Bar Frances to cater to a range of palates and
pocketbooks, while embracing a convivial bar culture and spirit of communal
dining.
A veteran of Char No.4, Brooklyn’s Michelin Bib-Gourmand restaurant and
whiskey bar, Cahill comes to Bar Frances via France, where the rising star chef
helmed the kitchen at award-winning Parisian bistro Poulette. “Working in Paris
changed my cooking style drastically,” said Cahill. “I learned very quickly that the
ingredients are what count most, not all the fancy technique. And I’d see chefs
like Alain Passard go to a local market, pick out the freshest vegetables and turn
them into magnificent creations. Vegetables were in the forefront of the plate, not
a side dish. Simplicity and freshness are now the tenets of my cooking
philosophy.”
Cahill’s passion is evident throughout the menu and dishes are both visually
stunning and palate pleasing. Small Plates ($7 and up) are plentiful and include
snapper crudo with charred lemon, grilled scallions and shaved fennel; chicken
liver mousse on grilled bread with shallot aigre-doux; and billowy gnocchi with
charred eggplant, corn ragout and basil. Vegetables steal the show in dishes like
mushroom toast – grilled shiitake and pickled honshimeji served atop a grilled
country loaf and beet root tartare – a vegetarian doppelgänger of the French
classic with freshly diced beet root and pickled mustard seed, served with house
made sweet potato chips.
Entrees ($18 - $25) are locally sourced composed plates that change with each
season. Standouts include a perfectly roasted chicken with tomato vinaigrette,
shaved radishes and grilled little gem lettuce; grilled hangar steak with bitter
greens and French fries; and a pan seared pork chop with roasted candy cane
beets, blistered grapes and wilted kale. Charcuterie and Cheese round out the
menu, along with a rotating selection of snacks and sides. Diners can end on a
sweet note with a variety of seasonal Desserts including chocolate crèmeaux
with cherry confiture and balsamic strawberries with merengue.
Lunch at Bar Frances features a variety of composed plates, along with lighter
fare including a shrimp panzanella salad and a grilled cheese with Comté,
chèvre, cheddar and cherry preserves. Saturday and Sunday Brunch offerings
include a decadent polenta with Sauce D’Infernal and poached eggs; brown
butter pain perdu with peaches, caramel and brioche; and a beautiful avocado
tartine served on a grilled bread with colorful edible flowers.
The wine program at Bar Frances is sophisticated, yet approachable. The 100plus bottle collection skews Old World but also includes an array of natural
wines made without chemical and minimal technological intervention in growing
and production, as well as a variety of large format bottles and a thoughtful
selection of sherries. Bottles, housed in the restaurant’s cellar, start in the low
$30s with something to meet any budget. A selection of 25 wines-by-the-glass
is also available, as are several wines on tap. A full bar offers craft and classic
cocktails developed by talented Bar Manager Craig Seaman (formerly of Dante’s
Kitchen in New Orleans). Signature libations include the Boulevardier – rye
whiskey, sweet vermouth and Campari; the Paloma – blanco tequila, grapefruit,
lime and soda; and the Rebujito, available by the glass or carafe, featuring
manzanilla sherry, soda and fresh squeezed lemon juice. A daily Happy Hour
from 4PM – 6PM features $5 glasses of house wines and signature cocktails, $4
pours of Chartreuse, as well as a selection of bar bites ($3-$5).
Situated in a new mixed-used development that brings close to 25 apartments
and additional retail space to the Freret Street Corridor, Bar Frances is a modern,
airy eatery designed by architect and Tulane Professor of Practice Cordula
Roser Gray. Italian Carrara marble is set against warm woods, creating a
contemporary yet relaxed ambiance. Inside, a wood-slatted wall designed by
local craftsman Doug Harmon with integrated shelving and greenery serves as a
focal point and guests can choose to sit in the dining area or at the 16-seat
bar. The covered patio, seating 24, allows guests the opportunity to enjoy al
fresco dining.
Bar Frances is located at 4525 Freret Street in New Orleans. Lunch is served
Monday – Friday, 11AM – 3PM; Dinner is served Monday through Thursday
5PM – 10PM; Friday and Saturday 5PM – 11PM and Sunday 5PM –
9PM. Saturday and Sunday Brunch is available from 9AM – 3PM. Happy Hour
is served 7 days a week from 4PM – 6PM. Telephone: (504) 371-5043.
www.barfrances.com
Social Media:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/barfrancesnola/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/barfrances/
Interviews and images are available upon request.
Media Contacts:
Brustman Carrino
Public Relations
[email protected]
(305) 573-0658