The Major Food Group (Torrisi, Parm, Carbone) has now opened up this French Bistro inside the Ludlow Hotel in the Lower East Side. I stopped by last week to check it out. The room has got that bistro/brasserie feeling, the lights are dim. The food is solidly executed and delicious. I wanted to try the chicken for two, but they were sold out at 8pm. No worries, what we tasted was all satisfying.

The complimentary bread needs to be discussed here. Baked in house, served with fromage blanc, it's exceptional. Addictive. Hard to not finish it.

Amandine ($14), roasted clams, berber spices, is very nice. #sexy

The Carpaccio ($16), lamb, yogurt, pita, is one of the top dishes I've had all year. It was sublime. That lamb so thin and silky, it's a fabulous dish.

Tartare ($17), tuna, piri piri, and crepe indochine , is tasty as can be.

Bouillabaise Noire ($37) comes with octopus, rouget, and rouille. It was well-balanced in flavor, and delicious.

I've haven't got to New Orleans yet, but the Best beignets I've ever had are at the Dirty French. Served with a salted caramel sauce, they were crisp on the outside, and light on the inside, and downright sensational. Absolutely unbelievable. #Magical.

So get dirty on the LES at the Dirty French, it's one tasty mess you'll want to get into.

Dirty French

180 Ludlow St. (in the Ludlow Hotel)

New York, NY 10002

212-254-3000

www.dirtyfrench.com