A shared hobby of mine and my roommate just so happens to be enjoying a lovely night out, especially where we can indulge in some fine French food. If we find a restaurant with escargot on the menu, we will absolutely be there. So, naturally, she found Jacques Brasserie, a quiet neighborhood French restaurant in the Upper East Side. The reviews seemed promising, the prices reasonable and the atmosphere casual yet slightly upscale. 

The day before we went, I told my parents about our dinner plans at Jacques. To my surprise, during their early days of dating and living in New York City, they would go there on their weekend date nights. Knowing this lore made me even more excited to experience such a beloved restaurant myself. 

Upon arriving at Jacques, my first impression of the exterior was that it was very cozy, yet refined. Going there felt like a special occasion in itself, despite it being a regular Saturday night. The atmosphere inside felt authentic to a French bistro, with low-lit lighting and white table settings. The other diners seemed like regulars, engaged in their weekly dinners of traditional French cuisine. Our waiter, Edgar, greeted us kindly and we soon would become good patrons of his over the course of our meal. 

We quickly glanced over our given menus, despite knowing what we already wanted. For our appetizers, we planned to share escargot and French onion soup. Having dined at a few French restaurants in the city before, I had reasonable expectations that our appetizers would be promising. Surprisingly, escargot can be difficult to find on a French menu in New York City, so it was critical that we dined somewhere that offered it. For our mains, we picked two different steak dishes: the hanger steak and steak frites. My roommate and I planned to share both, since we love to sample everything we order. In the meantime, we were served bread and butter to snack on. 

Soon after, the escargot and onion soup arrived — both light, flavorful starters before the steak. The escargot came sizzling, six snails split between us, rich with garlic-parsley butter. It was, without a doubt, the best I’ve had. The extra bread paired nicely with the leftover garlic butter. I have no idea why this escargot was so revolutionary to me that evening; maybe it was the ambiance or the faith I put into believing it would be divine, but it certainly was my personal favorite that night. 

Following was the onion soup, a classic in its own right and always a trustworthy comfort dish. Unlike other onion soups I have enjoyed, this one was tidy in that the cheese was not spilling over the crock. The cheese on the surface was perfectly torched, soft when the spoon broke the surface. The escargot is better for sharing, but should I order an appetizer for myself, I would always get the onion soup.

The moment we were waiting for arrived — our beautiful steak dinners, the hanger steak and steak frites, medium rare. The hanger steak, made from certified Black Angus beef, came sliced with fries and au poivre sauce on the side — cleanly plated and easy to share. The sauce paired well with the tender cut, while the thin fries complemented both. In comparison, the steak frites featured an 11-oz., thicker Black Angus cut with Béarnaise sauce, which was my personal favorite. Rich, well-seasoned and topped with salt flakes, the steak was elevated by the creamy sauce, just as the hanger steak was by the savory au poivre.  We enjoyed trying the steaks with different sauce pairings, interested in seeing how the flavors of the meat contrasted with the béarnaise and au poivre sauces. On the side, we had some wild mushrooms, light with garlic and parsley flavors, enhancing the taste of the mushrooms and accompanying the steaks perfectly. 

For dessert, we finished with crème brûlée, rich and creamy in a custard base. The hard layer of caramelized sugar was easy to crack with a spoon. The vanilla bean taste was delightful, leaving us wanting more, but still a perfect way to end the meal. We felt our dinner was well-rounded in French classics and left Jacques feeling satisfied. 

Unlike other French restaurants, these steak dishes were priced reasonably at around $50, and still served as perfectly good cuts of beef. Looking back, I can understand why my parents adored coming here so often so many years ago. Jacques’ comforting French dishes and warm ambiance invoke a sense of belonging and nostalgia that you do not know how much you need until you’re fully immersed in the atmosphere. For a promising, traditional French dinner, Jacques Brasserie is the perfect neighborhood spot.