The chef behind Esther’s Kitchen continues his Arts District expansion with a new French bistro Downtown that's nice enough for date night but not so nice that it’ll break the bank. It's in an idyllic corner location with big windows facing Main Street, chic but relaxed. All the classics—escargots, French onion soup, mussels in white wine—are well-executed, and upgraded with ingredients like short rib (boeuf bourguignon). Don’t leave without tasting the ultra-crispy fries, which, when tossed in dry-aged beef fat, herbs, and sea salt, become the potatoes of our dreams. After dinner, rally before the Échiré butter settles in and head next door to the restaurant’s bar sibling Petite Boheme for a glass of Bordeaux or a French Rose cocktail to set the mood for Emily in Paris reruns before bed.