Inside the Newly Reopened Café Boulud in New York City
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Café Boulud is back.
After opening in New York City in 1998 and then closing during the pandemic, Daniel Boulud's Upper East Side restaurant is reopening on the corner of Park Avenue and East 63rd Street on December 15. Returning diners will recognize a familiar menu split into four quadrants: La Tradition (French classic), La Saison (seasonal flavors), Le Potager (vegetables from the farmer's market), and Le Voyage (a rotating international cuisine).
The menu for Café Boulud in New York "has always been the four muses," Boulud said in an interview earlier this week. "I think it gives us the chance to keep changing dishes and it gives a chance for people to find something that fits their mood at that time." Boulud noted that he always felt that the four menus were aligned, and the menu format encourages diners to select from, say, a Thai appetizer and a traditional French main course, or a vegetarian starter and a seasonal seafood dish.
In January, the restaurant will offer daily, market-driven specials. Boulud says that he was committed to finding a new location and welcoming regulars back to the restaurant. "Creating a new home for Café Boulud has been my focus and priority for the last year," Boulud said. "Given the special place it holds in my heart, I feel very fortunate to be able to bring it back to the Upper East Side and look forward to sharing it with our guests."
The new space, designed by architect Jeffrey Beers, is bright and airy, with velvet green banquettes and dark red chairs. “Chef Daniel Boulud and I have been friends for nearly thirty years, and I was incredibly honored that he chose my studio, Jeffrey Beers International, for the new Café Boulud New York," Beers said. "I particularly love how the new restaurant looks as it personally speaks to both our connection to the Upper East Side and our love of art, while also honoring Boulud’s French heritage and culinary tradition."
In its new iteration, Café Boulud has a partner, the Paris-based Barnes International Realty. Early next year, Boulud and Barnes will open Maison Barnes, a separate area within the space featuring a bar, dining salon, private dining rooms, and a speakeasy.
Café Boulud also has locations in Palm Beach, the Bahamas, and Toronto, with a Beverly Hills location expected to open next year. The restaurant is named for the original Café Boulud, which Boulud's great-grandparents opened more than 100 years ago near his hometown of Lyon, France.
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