Zucco: Le French Diner

I love cozy little, hole-in-the-wall restaurants. I live in the epicenter of cozy little, hole-in-the-wall restaurants: the intersection of the East Village, Lower East Side and Nolita. Yet despite claiming residence here for over two years, I hardly know of any cute little nosh joints.

Zucco: Le French Diner is just one of those establishments. It's a tiny little place; one of those Indian/Korean/recent-immigrant run newspaper/grab-a-6-pack/junk food shops aren't much different in size.

I ordered the duck cassoulet, even though I really wanted the steak frites because I figured not many places offer cassoulet, and not many places are frequently mentioned for their cassoulet. The dish was warm, hearty and tasted of the country. It would have been the perfect thing to order if I was on vacation traveling through cute little towns in search of tiny gems of restaurants in the heartland of France. Seeing as how I was perched on a stool after a long day and in the heart of the Lower East Side, I probably would have enjoyed the steak frites more, but I'm proud of myself for doing the nobler thing and ordering the cassoulet.

Zucco: Le French Diner, 188 Orchard Street (near Houston)