Just as the city’s best dim sum restaurants are packed with Chinese families and the most authentic ristorante is full of boisterous Italians, the primarily French crowd that lounges at Tout Va Bien’s bar and tables each night is a harbinger of the delicious and traditionally prepared food to come.

The Theater District’s oldest French bistro, Tout Va Bien opened in 1948. Today, the cozy cafe is run by the third generation of the founding family, who continually refine the bistro’s classic formula of rich, hearty dishes complemented by—bien sur—earthy, aromatic French wines. The portions are generous, the plating simple and appealing, with none of the flourishes or distractions of haute cuisine.

Not to be missed are Tout Va Bien’s escargot, drenched in a buttery garlic sauce that diners mop up with baskets of warm, doughy bread. The tête de veau (calf’s head), which is cooked for at least five hours, also has a devoted following of diners.

The atmosphere, thoroughly French, grows livelier as the evening unfolds and the wine bottles are uncorked. Francophones can try to join in with the regulars as they sing along to regional drinking songs, while more timid diners can quietly enjoy the spectacle over a cappuccino and one of nearly ten desserts. As you crack the solid sugar crust on a creme brulee, the world outside feels far away and you think to yourself, “Tout va très bien.”

• Two three-course prix fixe menus | Total $51.98


• Escargots De Bourgogne & Snails
• Pâté Maison
• Boeuf Bourguignon
• Moules Marinière (16.95) | Marinated mussels
• Caramel custard and a cappuccino
  Total $59.85
• See full menu.

(4 stars and 69 reviews on Yelp)

"I've been coming here since 1994. You will not find a more authentic French bistro anywhere in New York. The owners and most of the staff are French...The food is wonderful and as authentic as you are going to get." - Yelp Reviewer Frank F., Harrington Park, NJ, 5/26/2010
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"What's so great about Tout Va Bien is the warm and friendly, homey vibe...They treat you like family- it's such a nice retreat from the outside craziness of the NY streets! Go here on a week night - on weekends, they're super packed!" - Elite Yelp Reviewer Kristen Q., New York, NY, 4/5/2011
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"Our neighborhood french restaurant that we seem to frequent frequently...The Escargot are so good. You can eat a basket of bread slurping up all the garlic sauce from them!" - Yelp Reviewer Julie L., New York, NY, 5/7/2008
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"I am that fully confident that no other place will ever come close to taking Tout Va Bien's place in my heart...The food is amazing. I have tried just about everything on the menu and I have never been disappointed." - Yelp Reviewer Yasmin P., Astoria, NY, 7/24/2010
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