Tribeca
Get directions | 305 Church St., New York, NY 10013
Hours | Sunday 11am-, Monday 11am-, Tuesday 11am-, Wednesday 11am-, Thursday 11am-, Friday 11am-, Saturday 11am-
It all seems so innocent at first.
You walk into Belle Reve for the first time, thinking you’ve stumbled into one of those non-descript Tribeca bars on Church Street that’s been there forever but you’ve just never noticed it before. The place certainly has the look and feel of a random downtown New York shithole, but in a charming, ‘only in New York shithole’ kind of way.
True to its New York uniqueness, it’s 10pm on a weeknight, they are still serving food, and there are several financial bros drinking at the bar. Nothing seems out of the ordinary yet, except for maybe the fact that the bros are wearing name tags, even though they are all probably named Alex. You sit down and order a beer from a friendly server, then peruse a menu that ranges from chips and guac and cajun shrimp to burrata and a lobster roll. Not usually a good sign, but you’re ok with it because everything else in this area is either very expensive or very bad and full of even more Alexes. You decide to take your chances with some burrata, the lobster roll, and a burger.
Now comes the first of a few surprises. Primarily, the food is far better than you expected it to be. Your burger is interesting (there’s deviled ham on top) and definitely satisfying. Burrata is never bad. Even the lobter roll is solid, and eating a lobster roll in a place like this would normally seem like a poor decision.
The next surprise comes when you realize that Belle Reve has not been there since the 80s, but only since the spring. You then learn that it is owned by some of the same people behind Employee’s Only and Macao Trading company, which partially explains what happens next.
As you are finishing your meal at about midnight, you notice that while you were focused on your food, the crowd has changed. There are a few tables around you, and they all seem to be filled with people in their 40s who still act like they are 20. The guy next to you looks a bit like Jeff Goldblum, and fittingly has two younger women with him. The table across from him is occupied by two couples, none of whom appear to have day jobs, because they don’t need them. The Alexes have fled, and the music seems to be much louder than it was when you walk in. You ask for the check, because you do have a day job and you are not Jeff Goldblum. And then it happens.
Right as you are putting your credit card away, one of the ladies at one of the tables has put Donna Summer’s ‘Bad Girls’ on the jukebox. People are no longer sitting. The two tables next to you have turned into one big group. At first they are just dancing. But then there is kissing. Realizing that you are potentially about to be more than a spectator in a sport you aren’t good at, you get up and leave. As you walk out the door, another song comes on. This one is louder, and even more 70s sexy. There is giggling. Things are escalating.
As you get in the cab, part of you wishes you’d stayed. But you weren’t ready for that. All you wanted was a decent meal in Tribeca. You certainly got one. And you also got some surprises.
Maybe next time you’ll be a bit more prepared. Maybe next time, you’ll be Jeff Goldblum.
212-680-0101
bellereveinfo@gmail.com
BRUNCH
EGGS ANY STYLE
bacon, home fries, mixed greens, sourdough
$12
AVOCADO TOAST
two eggs, herbs, sourdough
$18
HUEVOS RANCHEROS
tostada, eggs, black beans, cotija cheese, bacon, avocado, crema, scallions
$16
BLTE
bacon, lettuce, tomato, egg, avocado, garlic aioli, sourdough, home fries
$13
STEAK & EGGS
flank steak, home fries, roasted tomato
$20
STARTERS
GUACAMOLE
housemade tortilla chips
$15
CHICKEN WINGS
buffalo sauce, blue cheese
$16
NACHOS
cheese sauce, black beans, salsa, guacamole, crema, pickled jalapenos, scallions
$14
add chicken $4
CRISPY CALAMARI
marinara
$14
MAC & CHEESE
cavatappi pasta, creamy cheese sauce, breadcrumbs, swiss cheese
$12
SOUPS
TOMATO
croutons, parmesan
$9
BIRRIA
shredded beef, onion, cilantro
$9
FRENCH ONION
caramelized onion, crouton, swiss cheese
$11
SALADS
KALE CAESAR SALD
paremsan, croutons, caesar dressing
$14
add chicken $4
GARDEN SALAD
mixed greens, edamame, cherry tomato, avocado, roasted almonds, oregano vinaigrette
$15
add chicken $4
BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Add: Cheese 1 | Egg 2 | Avocado 3 | Bacon 2 | Fries 4
BRUNCH BURGER
american cheese, ham, fried egg, BR sauce
$16
BR BURGER
bacon, roasted tomatoes, BR sauce
$16
RETRO BURGER
american cheese, chopped lettuce, onion, pickles, piquillo aioli
$14
IT’S POSSIBLE BURGER
4 oz impossible meat, american cheese, chopped lettuce, onion, pickles, piquillo aioli
$16
BIRRIA SLIDERS
shredded beef, cotija cheese, red cabbage slaw, pickled jalapeño
$18
REUBEN SANDWICH
swiss cheese, sauerkraut, rye bread, russian dressing
$17
DIRTY BIRD
fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, fried onions, lettuce, tomato, chipotle aioli
$16
GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP
american cheese, tomato, sourdough
$15
ROASTED VEGETABLE SANDWICH
zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, tomato, red pepper, brie, sourdough, balsamic
$15
TACOS
$6/each OR $15 for three
BIRRIA TACOS
two tacos, shredded beef, cheese, onions, cilantro, dipping broth
$14
THE GRINGA
ground beef, lettuce, onions, cheddar cheese, pickles, piquillo aioli
$6
CHICKEN TINGA
shredded chicken, lettuce, avocado, cotija cheese, chipotle aioli
$6
IT’S POSSIBLE
impossible meat, lettuce, onions, cheddar cheese, pickles, piquillo aioli
$6
FISH TACO
grilled catfish, red cabbage slaw, cilantro, salsa verde
$6
SIDES
TOAST
$4
BACON
$5
HOME FRIES
$8
FRENCH FRIES
$8
TATER TOTS
$8
DESSERT
FRESH CHURROS
cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce
$6
COCKTAILS
BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS OR BLOODYS
per person
$20
APEROL SPRITZ
Aperol, soda, prosecco
$14
STARTERS
CHIPS & SALSA
$5
GUACAMOLE
house made tortilla chips
$15
CHICKEN WINGS
Buffalo or BBQ Sauces: Blue cheese or Ranch
$16
NACHOS
cheese sauce, black beans, salsa, guacamole, crema, pickled jalapenos, scallions
$14
add chicken $4
CRISPY CALAMARI
marinara
$14
MEATBALL STARTER
red sauce, parmesan
$12
MAC & CHEESE
cavatappi pasta, creamy cheese sauce, breadcrumbs, swiss cheese
$12
SOUP
TOMATO
crouton, parmesan cheese
$9
BIRRIA
braised beef, onion, cilantro
$9
FRENCH ONION
caramelized onions, crouton, swiss cheese
$11
SALADS
KALE CAESAR SALAD
parmesan, croutons, caesar dressing
$14
add chicken $4
GARDEN SALAD
mixed greens, edamame, cherry tomato, avocado, roasted almonds, oregano vinaigrette
$15
add chicken $4
BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Add:|Avocado 3 | Bacon 2 |Fries 4|
RETRO BURGER
american cheese, chopped lettuce, onion, pickles, piquillo aioli
$14
BR BURGER
bacon, roasted tomatoes, BR sauce
$16
IT’S POSSIBLE BURGER
4oz impossible meat, american cheese, chopped lettuce, onion, pickles, piquillo aioli
$16
BIRRIA SLIDERS
shredded beef, cotija cheese, red cabbage slaw, pickled jalapeño
$18
REUBEN SANDWICH
swiss cheese, sauerkraut, rye bread, russian dressing
$17
DIRTY BIRD
fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, fried onions, lettuce, tomato, chipotle aioli
$16
GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP
american cheese, tomato, sourdough
$15
TACOS
$6/each OR $15 for three of the same
BIRRIA TACOS
two tacos, shredded beef, cheese, onions, cilantro, dipping broth
$14
THE GRINGA
ground beef, lettuce, onions, cheddar cheese, pickles, piquillo aioli
$6
CHICKEN TINGA
shredded chicken, lettuce, avocado, cotija cheese, chipotle aioli
$6
IT’S POSSIBLE
impossible meat, lettuce, onions, cheddar cheese, pickles, piquillo aioli
$6
FISH TACO
grilled catfish, red cabbage slaw, cilantro, salsa verde
$6
DINNER
BEEF BOURGUIGNON
braised beef, mushrooms, carrots, mashed potatoes
$21
CHICKEN POT PIE
seasonal vegetables, puff pastry
$18
SEASONAL VEGETABLE PASTA
spaghetti, zucchini, yellow squash, cherry tomato, garlic, parmesan, basil
$18
FISH & CHIPS
catfish, beer tempura, tartar sauce
$19
STEAK FRITES
flank steak, chimichurri sauce, truffle fries
$21
SIDES
FRIES
$8
TATER TOTS
$8
SWEET POTATO FRIES
$8
ELOTE
grilled corn, cojita, chipotle aioli
$8
DESSERT
FRESH CHURROS
cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce
$6
