Tartine: West Village French Bistro

If you're looking for affordable French fare, and don't mind waiting for a table, Tartine offers diners an excellent value.

Bring your own beer or wine, and be sure to hit the ATM before you visit Tartine -- they only accept cash. You may have to wait a while because they don't take reservations, but once inside, you'll find the waitstaff to be quick, if a little curt, to take your order and bring you water and glasses for the libations you've brought.

The food is deliciously prepared -- the roasted portobella with tomato fondue and herbed goat cheese ($7.95), served with a lightly dressed salad, was marinated in balsamic vinegar before grilling and had a wonderful meaty texture. The poached pear ($8.25) was served with blue cheese, walnuts and prosciutto -- all of which contrasted nicely, yet combined to create a delicious appetizer. There was also a zucchini soup ($5.95) and a number of salads.

Entrees ranged from a croque-monsieur($7.95) to a sesame crusted tuna ($16.95). The tuna was cooked as requested(rare) and served with an olive tampanade and wild mushrooms. The sirloin steak was served with crisp, perfectly salted french fries, though it was done a little more well than ordered. Both sauces available for the sirloin, a red wine bordelaise and a green peppercorn, were virtually indistinguishable, though both worked nicely with the sirloin.

Desserts were well received by all -- blueberry pear cobbler ($5.50) with vanilla ice cream was delicious, and dacquoise($5.00), of ganache chocolate, meringue, & hazelnut with toasted almonds was divine.