Cafe Charmant opened on September 15 in New York’s West Village neighborhood. The 70-seat restaurant is a coastal take on a classic French brasserie, and it’s Catch Hospitality Group’s fourth standalone concept to open in the past two years, following the Corner Store in 2024 and Eighty Six and Or’esh last year.
The restaurant was designed by the Rockwell Group, who imagined a traditional brasserie with a brighter, seaside-driven spirit — like a little piece of the French Riviera in New York. Neutral limewash walls are joined by deep woods and leather upholstery, and it’s all complemented by navy blue tones and maritime influences.
Cafe Charmant is a brasserie with coastal influences. | Photo by Emily Andrews
Cafe Charmant is helmed by executive chef Jake Tyler Brodsky, an Eleven Madison Park alum who’s also bringing some island perspective to the restaurant from his time working at Palm Heights in the Cayman Islands.
Brodsky called Cafe Charmant a “sun-kissed interpretation of the classic French brasserie,” and noted that he wants to bring a sense of discovery to French cooking by creating unexpected dishes that tell a story.
“The goal is a restaurant that feels effortless and transportive while still feeling right at home in downtown New York,” he said.
The menu begins with several raw dishes, such as oysters, diver scallop crudo, and wild shrimp carpaccio. Starters include leeks and stracciatella, curry duck pastel, spicy moules gratin, and a couple of salads.
The menu features lots of seafood, including a scallop crudo. | Photo by Nick Johnson
Steak frites, chicken paillard, and a 30-ounce côte de boeuf show off the brasserie side of the menu, while razor clam pasta and a crispy red snapper sandwich bring out the coastal influences from Brodsky’s background.
The cocktail program was developed in collaboration with the kitchen to complement the food. It features lots of house-made ingredients and draws on techniques like sous vide and fat washing to create modern interpretations of classic cocktails. Signature drinks include the Provençal Dirty Martini, Vanilla Garibaldi, and Cucumber Sour.
Catch Hospitality partner Eugene Remm said that Cafe Charmant reflects the group’s continued evolution.
“We wanted to give chef Jake the opportunity to create something with his own point of view — a modern take on a simple, elegant European feel that is familiar yet unexpected.” He added that the restaurant is a unique project for CHG, but it stays true to what the group has always stood for: great food, great service, and a great vibe.
CHG’s next project is the Corner Store in Las Vegas, which will debut Nov. 9 at the Cosmopolitan. Just like the original location, it was designed by the Rockwell Group. The restaurant features an intimate storefront design and the lived-in character of a classic New York neighborhood spot that sets it apart from the glitzy hotel and casino.
The Corner Store Las Vegas will serve many of the same signature dishes popular at the New York original, like lobster and caviar rolls, a wagyu French dip sandwich, and a Caesar salad featuring everything bagel croutons and cream cheese croquettes. It will also feature a few exclusive items and an expanded selection of premium meats and hand-cut steaks from Rosewood Ranch.
