Apologies for the long overdue review of Dirty French and subpar photos. I've been here a few times now, including brunch and I really like this spot. The food is actually subtly unique. You'd think it's your typical play on Italian or American food, but it's not. It's so much more. In fact, it's Algerian French.

Ambiance

It had a very retro feel accompanied by classic 80s music. The vibe was fun and boisterous but not overly loud. I've said this before, but Major Food Group kills it when it comes to setting the mood. The decor, ambiance, and music were all so well intertwined. I loved the choice of utensils, cocktail glasses, and music.

Food

The food here was pretty solid. The free bread might have been the best aspect, partly because it was free. But no, it was actually really fucking good. So soft and delicious. I fantasize about falling asleep next to it sometimes.

My favorite was the lamb carpaccio, it was so well spiced. I've had the crudo carpaccio at ZZ's Clam Bar and the beef carpaccio at Carbone, and I must say, the lamb carpaccio at Dirty French was my favorite. It's unique and well seasoned. Granted, the three carpaccios at each location are all very different and delicious, but I am a bit bias towards the slight Middle Eastern flare of the lamb carpaccio.

The mushroom mille-feuille was very excellent. It had an Asian flare with Thai accents. I really enjoyed the texture of the thinly sliced mushrooms. It was a clever original play on the classic French dessert.

The famous chicken & crepes were mediocre in my opinion, definitely worth a try but nothing off the wall in terms of flavors. However, what I enjoyed the most was the visual and interactive components. It was fun creating your own crepe. It reminded me of Peking duck, also interactive and delicious. The scandalous chicken feet was intriguing and provoking. Another great play on this style of eating.

I did not particularly enjoy the duck a l'orange, it was very ordinary and I did not think the flavors were well paired. Something was a bit off but I can't quite pin point what exactly.

The grilled oysters at lunch were also very delicious. It was cooked very similarly to French esgarcots with butter and parsley.

Overall, I think Dirty French is a great spot for an upbeat dinner with friends, dates, and weekend brunches. The bread and appetizers alone are worth coming back for.