Frenchette Takes Home James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant

The 2019 James Beard Awards winners are out — and last night, New York City chefs and restaurants took home three awards, including for best new restaurant.

This year’s best new restaurant award went to Frenchette, a big accolade for the French bistro by chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr. From the moment the Tribeca restaurant debuted in April 2018, it rose to the top of the local dining scene.

The Balthazar alums were quickly praised for the restaurant’s warm hospitality, updated French fare, and an exciting, all-natural wine list, also winning Eater NY’s restaurant of the year award. Though the duo has been hugely influential in the New York dining scene — they also helped open Pastis and Minetta Tavern — this is their first James Beard Award win. They were up against Atomix, Bavel in LA, Majordomo in LA, and Angler in SF.

As for the best chef in NYC title, it went to two standout local chefs: Jody Williams and Rita Sodi of West Village staple Via Carota. The duo was honored for their simple and rustic, yet always surprising Tuscan cooking — which has made Via Carota one of the top places to dine in the city.

Winning for outstanding restaurant design in the 75 seats and under category, Seoul-based design firm Studio Writers was honored for the making of Nomad tasting menu restaurant Atomix. The restaurant has wowed diners since it opened in 2018, with owners Ellia and Junghyun Park serving deeply personal and refined seasonal Korean fare. See more pictures of the restaurant here and here.

Trinidadian restaurant A&A Bake & Double and Roti Shop in Bed-Stuy was also honored with the America’s Classics award, which was announced earlier this year in February. Owners Geeta and Noel Brown opened the spot in 2002 and expanded into a bigger space just last year.

The prestigious organization, sometimes called the Oscars of the food world, honors all things in the industry, from bar programs and baking to restaurant design and cooking.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.