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Set in a former furniture showroom in Kensington, French-inspired Fleur’s has only been open a little over a month, but you’d never guess it. From start to finish, our experience on a recent Friday night was flawless. It’s a rare accomplishment for a brand new restaurant, but it’s converted us into big fans.
The space is beautiful. The 130-year-old building has been reimagined with an Art Deco aesthetic and a Parisian supper club feel. Frosted glass, white marble tables, and soft jazz set an elegant tone. The chandeliers and fresh-cut flowers add just the right touch of glamour.
On the first floor, a marble bar anchors the main dining room and includes an oyster and clam bar with shelves full of pickled vegetables that provide a colorful backdrop. Upstairs on the mezzanine level, there are a few additional tables, a standing bar, and a private dining room that show the restaurant’s ambitions for larger gatherings.
The menu is seafood-forward with a French flair and features lots of vegetable options. Pescatarians, rejoice!
Our dinner began with a half-dozen oysters shucked right in front of us. We opted for three plump ones from the East Coast and three from the West Coast to sample the range. They were served with a watermelon mignonette that we didn’t expect to love as much as we did. It added a bright, vinegary twist to complement the briny shellfish.
The chilled corn nage, which was one of my favorite dishes of the evening, came next. Singing with late summer produce, the velvety corn sauce was poured tableside around a lobster salad with more corn and scallions. Everything was accented by a subtle lime crème fraîche that melted into the dish as we ate. It was exceptional in every way: fresh, silky, and full of flavor.
Our next two courses—one from the “fancy” section of the menu and one from the “petite” section—were essentially served together. The scallop gratin came on the half shell with scallop slices in a corn-filled cream sauce. Green chili butter left a faint heat, and the crispy breadcrumbs added a contrasting texture. The grilled sweet potato served with sauce gribiche (a tartar-like sauce) offered a tangy complement to the seafood dishes.
The pasta course was another standout. We loved the pâtes fraîches, a pasta that’s made in-house daily and is served with snow crab, spinach, and basil pistou. The noodles were delicate but substantial enough to carry the crab and herbs. The Parisian gnocchi—dumplings in a ragout of local mushrooms—got a crunch from hazelnuts. The dish was good but less remarkable than the crab pasta, which we would happily order again and again.
For dessert, we shared a chocolate torte topped with whipped labneh and macerated persimmons, which was recommended by our server. The rich chocolate and creamy (but not sweet) topping were a satisfying end to the meal.
Service matched the food in polish and professionalism. The staff was friendly and attentive. It’s the kind of place that replaces dishes and silverware between courses, folds your napkin when you step away, and consistently cleans up crumbs from the table. Courses were well-paced, and nothing ever felt rushed.
We also enjoyed two cocktails that were as thoughtfully composed as the food. The pomme d’or is a calvados and green tea creation that balances fruitiness with depth, and the risograph is built around pear brandy, grapefruit, and lavender-oat orgeat that adds a floral note. We enjoyed both so much that we indulged in two each.
Though the mezzanine bar and private dining room are still being finalized, Fleur’s already provides a high-quality experience. The restaurant will eventually be part of a larger project that includes a hotel and rooftop bar—but even now, it’s clear this place is destined to become one of the city’s most sought-after reservations. We look forward to returning as it evolves.
Fleur’s is located at 2205 N. Front Street in Kensington.