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Suggestion Box: Le District
Much of Le District has been open for a month and a half. What do you think about it?
I’m hoping, perhaps naively, that we can stay constructive—less Yelp review and more here’s-how-it-could-change-in-ways-I’d-applaud. Our goal is to help them make it better!
I’ll start. A couple of weeks ago, I went shopping for dinner ingredients. I was impressed with the cheese and yogurt selections; the place was crowded, though, and the line at the cheese counter was unclear, so I wasn’t surprised—but I was frustrated—when someone got helped ahead of me. Also, the barista at the rear café told us we could pay for anything anywhere, but at the cheese counter, when a patron wanted to buy garlic, the clerk asked if he knew what the price-per-pound was, because she had no idea. When our turn came, I asked if we should just go to the market registers, and she said yes. In summary: I’d prefer more organized lines and I’d suggest equipping and training the various cashiers to ring up everything, because waiting in two lines took a long time.
I have yet to dine in the market area yet (it’s pretty meat-centric) or try the prepared foods….
Your two cents?
17 Comments
Comment:
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I dined at the meat counter last night and it was a huge improvement over chaotic service on a Saturday night a couple weeks ago. As long as you’re in a steak frites kind of mood, it’s worth checking out.
waiting for one’s turn in the Crepe line was painful. No one knew whose turn it was next…
I’ll add another vote for “clarifying the lines”. My wife and I were waiting to get some desserts the other day, right next to the crepes, and everyone waiting was just basically looking at each other and unsure of who was next and/or where to stand.
the lines are a logistic problem for them, as is more training for their staff who tend to clump together and chatter every time something goes wrong, so 4 people are handling one disturbance, rather than one person and three others keeping the line moving…
My comment on the recently opened food hall at the back – it’s too minimalist. Food needs a sense of abundance, and these stark small shelves just don’t do it for me. I find it a bit depressing actually. If you go to Whole Foods or Eataly, there is just this sense of plenty and deliciousness (whether the food lives up to the hype or not) but the food hall here appears too stark/barren.
Also their steaks are great but their charcuterie is overpriced for what it is. The ham is French style, not French, and not worth 50% more than ham I could get elsewhere. But their nougat is fabulous!
I was hoping for a wine shop to be included somewhere in the Garden District. Seems to make sense for a French marketplace to offer some decent (and not so decent) wines to bring home, no? God knows the wine shop on South End Ave stopped caring…
Might make Beaubourg diners a little peeved to see the premiums on their wine lists but hey…comes with the service.
Even if the State Liquor Authority allowed it (unlikely), I doubt they’d want to cannnibalize business from their Vintry Fine Wines shop in Goldman Alley
The day the market district opened there were green bell peppers for $1.99/pound. Wonderful! I thought. I can afford to shop here. This week the green peppers are $5+/pound and the red and yellow ones are $3ish and $4ish. Green ones are always less expensive, so I don’t understand this.
Eating at that wine bar thing in the middle was insane. I think they need more stools as people kept taking them somewhere else.
The prepared foods in the market are yummy, but expensive. Koulibiac was nice, also shrimp nantua, there was waterzooi last week that was nothing like real waterzooi but very good. I hope they continue to do things that are somewhat different like that, and expand the non-meat selection.
Best part has been the chocolate mousse bar and being able to stop for a dessert waffle on the way home from dinner when it’s not so hectic and watch them making cookies for the next day.
I completely agree with the price increases needing to be rolled back! Strawberries were $4 now the same carton sells for $7!!
I’d love to see a real brunch menu at one of the places on weekends.
I think Beaubourg serves a different brunch menu (though it’s not online…).
The flower shop is very nice. The owner is very attentive and will try to get you what you want if she does not currently have it in stock.
I’m afraid my post sounded more negative than I intended. I’d like to add that I’m glad it’s here and it’s a pleasure walking through in the morning and evening when it’s not packed, and watch them setting up and shutting down for the day. The young people in the market area and creperie/ patisserie have been really sweet and helpful and trying very hard. I’ve seen Harry walking around several times and if I see him again will ask about the produce pricing.
I live and work nearby and have gone about 15 times so far (mostly for lunch). I guess I’m kind of obsessed give our culinary deprived neighborhood.
The espresso is terrible but it’s a French eatery, not Italian. Too bad though. By contrast, Eataly possibly has the best espresso in the city (not much competition admittedly).
Le Comptoir was like the keystone cops initially but has become the gem of Le District. The bread, wine, and cheese special is very good, especially if you complain when they pour half a glass of wine after which they will make it a full glass (which it should be). The steak frites is also solid. The white wines in particular are refreshingly off the beaten path for New Yorkers.
Beaubourg needs some work. The portions are actually too large but some dishes are terrific. Fingers crossed that the outdoor area being built will have a bar component and not just the restaurant. They may finally break the mediocrity curse of restaurants on the water in Manhattan (though the same company I think owns Pier A which is a disaster so far).
I have not shopped for groceries yet (the brandade looks tempting). However, on three occasions I bought a bottle of French sparkling water I’d never seen before only to find it flat. I think they got a bad shipment. I now stick to tried and true Perrier.
I forgot to mention the carvery. I’ve only orders the turkey so far. It’s good but not up to Eataly standards yet. I wish Le District would dress sandwiches with olive oil and salt like Eataly instead of heavier and more caloric mayonnaise. I guess I prefer Italian sandwiches.
I’m very happy that it’s here and agree the task is to make it better. I agree with most comments listed above, especially the lack of abundance and prices in the grocery. At eataly you want to buy everything and sometimes you don’t care what it costs. Presentation means a lot. I don’t know where Le District gets their Coffee roasted but it is awful. There are people who make coffee but there is not a true barista in sight. The counter people need to be trained to have a passion and knowledge of food. Something that’s also lacking at Hudson Eats. I’ve been to the bar at Beaubourg several times and my biggest issue there is the awful music. It doesn’t want to make you linger for a second drink. I notice, like me, my neighbors wanting to buy, wanting to love, but just looking kind of lost and frustrated.
Good to see the majority of feedback is constructive! The natural reaction is to compare to Eataly, which makes it challenging yet aspirational. Eataly is owned by celebrity chef’s and has brand recognition and it’s in a space with massive ceilings, is colorful and to Slue’s point you want to buy everything even if you know it’s very expensive. With Eataly, you go there because it’s Eataly while with Le District you go because it’s nice and more sophisticated than the upstairs of Hudson Eats. On items that could be addressed, Le District is on the drab side (all dark colors except for the chocolate/cookie section) and lacking the colors and vibrance of Eataly (it feels like you are shopping/dining in a basement). The rotisserie sounded fantastic in write-ups but when I walked by yesterday it looked a little sad with chickens sitting under the heat lamps. Made me think that Whole Foods rotisserie is more appealing and moves there birds a lot faster. It’s a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and I want to see it succeed. Somehow it’s lacking the buzz of an Eataly-like establishment.
I’m so thrilled to have more dining options and appreciate overall investment this group is making into the lower Manhattan area with Le District, Pier A, Dead Rabbit and others to open soon. The interior fit outs are of a high quality and are sensitive to the historic surroundings.
I’ve shopped and eaten in Le District and Pier A numerous times as they are both convenient but would like to see a couple of aspects improve as they bed themselves in.
1) Le District would benefit from meat being labeled with place of origin, organic chickens as an option on the rotisserie and d’Affinois cheese offered at the fromagerie (actually the d’Affinois is just a personal favorite but please, Le District, if you are reading this get some in!).
2) Pier A – well, I’d like to say more but the food is …. fried. It seems to cater towards a tourist menu with little skill executed. Even the burger (something most American restaurants do well) is flavorless.
3) The service staff at both Pier A and Le District can be very hit and miss – and unfortunately it’s normally a miss. Surly and ill mannered wouldn’t be a too-stronger words. There are a couple of attentive team members but the rest need to rethink which industry they are in. Le Districts product selection is head:head with Battery Place Market but BPM always makes you feel especially welcome with their always smiling service staff.
I really want these places to be successful and remain in the local area. Best of luck to the team and I hope to see more over the coming weeks.