The Beatrice Inn Revisited: Inside Angie Mar's New-Old Spot, Le B.

What's a restaurateur to do when their downtown spot's struck a chord with an uptown crowd? Why, just a bit of New York real estate juggling.

While Angie Mar's much-fêted fine dining haunt Les Trois Chevaux will return next year in a sure-to-be-chic perch farther north, she's just debuted a new restaurant, once again reimagining the storied West Village space she's called home for years.

Prepare yourself for Le B. - the name a nod to the legendary restaurant whose late night stories have lingered in that magically missable subterranean spot on West 12th Street for 100 years, The Beatrice Inn.

“I love the West Village, and have cooked here for almost 15 years, so it made sense to me to open a restaurant that reaches into my culinary roots here and fits the neighborhood,” shared Mar. 

“Le B. is going to be a more downtown restaurant. The lighting is lower, the jackets are off, it's come-as-you-are. It's a restaurant for the fans and friends of The Beatrice Inn, my friends and neighbors... fun, witty and a little more grown up, like them.”

Setting the scene with a dark, plush redesign heavy on the mood, Mar's true magic touch, of course, is found on the menu.

The "Continental" offering - read American cuisine with French flair - features an array of artfully curated dishes. Crab Wellington, Lobster Newberg, Pheasant a la King, Oysters Mornay and Crepes Mademoiselles. For a classic turned fancy, there's a luxe onion dip, served with Pommes Soufflés. And for those crying a taste of nostalgia, the original Beatrice burger will be available nightly at the Bar, one per bar seat.

We can see the 4PM line forming now...

Sturgeon Charlemagne

Petit Plateau

Autumn Parmentier

Salad Chinoise

Duck, Duck, Goose

Lamb Chops Roy

[Photos courtesy Le B.]