You can find a story or review just about anywhere for Faux, the new French bistro on Church between White and Franklin, since it’s creator is George McNally, Keith McNally’s 23-year-old son. The last name certainly pulls its weight around here — the senior McNally not only created Balthazar, Minetta Tavern and Lucky Strike, but Tribeca stalwart The Odeon (with his brother and ex-wife Lynn Wagenknecht, who still runs it).

George never planned to veer far from his father’s formula; in fact, the furniture is largely cast-offs from Keith’s former hotspots. But in the ain’t-broke-don’t-fix department, it’s a formula that works, especially around here. Casual yet buzzy; predictable but with a twist; comfortable and familiar.

We went early — at 5ish — with no reservations and easily settled in at one of the curved booths on the left. (The weird structure in the front of the space on the northside is a bulkhead around the basement stair and it really set my teeth on edge. I hope they quickly come to a more elegant solution — think Two Hands — and reclaim the light of the front window.) The bar is in the back and looks like an excellent perch to me — especially if you can grab that inner corner.

The downstairs is a speakeasy-type bar called Prevz — it was the jazz bar B Flat when Shigure Sake Bar had the same space. And I am running A.’s photos here, since they would not let us take pictures when we were there. George had toured me around that when I stopped by during construction; he retained and restored the vaulted ceilings, which are totally native Tribeca.

We all said we would come back for the pasta — with fennel sausage, kale and perfectly crispy bread crumbs — and the halibut ($43) with lentils. Of course the fries are top-notch, and the burger ($29) had a little kick thanks to the creamy sauce algérienne — the French version of the Big Mac special sauce. Excellent. There really were no disappointments. A glass of red ranges from $21 to $26. The chef is Kristina Ramos, formerly of Eleven Madison Park and Oxalis.

I’m looking forward to a drink downstairs…

Faux
277 Church | White & Franklin
Seven days, 5p to midnight (probably earlier on Sundays)

Prevz
277 Church, but downstairs
Tuesday to Saturday, 7p to midnight (or so?)