Good News/ Bad News: Bar Artisanal

Just three weeks after the shutter of the failed Tribeca behemoth Trigo, Terrance Brennan opened his newest venture Bar Artisanal in its still fresh hull. Since the restaurant rushed to open in time for the Tribeca Film Festival, it didn't have much time to work out service or kitchen quirks. Nevertheless, the people have been coming in droves, critics included, and they've, naturally, filed early reports (and tweets) on the space, the service, and ex-Lever House chef Bradford Thompson's food:

The Vital Insatiable Critic News: Gael Greene is an early fan: "Terrance Brennan's Bar Artisinal in TriBeCa jumping Saturday night. Loved chicken with bread salad and ethereal beignets." [Twitter]

The Mostly Good News: A Yelper is almost won over: "Fantastic open space, excellent food, knowledgeable staff and wonderful service. Plates - not the largest in town but certainly pack a lot of flavors into those small dishes...The Lamb Burger (with a goat cheese center) was by far the table favorite with perhaps the duck confit as a close second...Desserts were hit and miss...Coffee was bottomless." [Yelp]

The Bad News: Boozy NYC is decidedly not won over: "After being seated, we waited ten minutes for some attention from the staff. Then a particularly zealous manager appeared - and gave us the 'evening's menus' and a brief overview of how they are designed. Huh?...The amateurish service included needing to waive down staff to get bread and steak knives for our hanger steak frites, which proved to be the best dish of the night. Worst dish was the underwhelming Poached Egg, Wild Mushroom, Ramp and Bottarga, which had undercooked ramps and none of the flavor one would expect from the ingredients. Other dishes were underseasoned as well and portions were on the small side, even considering the friendly pricing..." [BoozyNYC]

The Good News: Meanwhile JBA winners, the authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg approve: "Relishing our dinner tonight at the hopping BAR ARTISANAL (268 W. B'way), where we'll be returning for the awesome lamb burger very soon." [Twitter]

The News of Redemption: Two successive tweets from @katg43: "bar artisanal, ok food, horrible horrible horrible service. Did I mention how bad the service is?...the manager comped our meal + was v v v v nice at bar artisanal. Hope they work out the kinks." [Twitter]

The Severely Mixed News: Our final twittereview, from Houston's restaurant critic, Alison Cook: "At Terrance Brennan's 2 wk old Bar Artisanal--so far food scarily perfect...How do you make ramps bland? Bar Artisanal has the secret. Also: mushy skate tasted of elderly cooking oil...Agog at Bar Artisanal's pissaladiere w/ sheep ricotta, fava pesto, slivered speck & arugula. Plus wafers of parm. Fresh favas rule." [Twitter]