Zagat Editor Jacqueline Wasilczyk takes a look at Alison Eighteen, a new French-influenced American restaurant located in the Flatiron District which run by the eponymous veteran restaurateur Alison Price Becker.

Becker shared her thoughts on the concept:

"The concept really encompasses the idea behind a rotisserie, brasserie, the feeling of '20s Paris. I went to photographs for inspiration," says Becker. "I love markets, especially the markets of France, you have berries and cherries. Everything was so red, and that really inspired what it was going to feel like. The red little buttons on the banquettes.

"I wanted some kind of whimsical things in there. Our wallpaper is very much so. I met Payton Cosell and she was showing me some samples and she had this unbelievably fun toile, and I said, 'Payton, can you make me a toile?' So we went through lots of photographs, the same ones used to inspire the colors in the room as well as things I love.

"The food our guests are going to find here is very gutsy, flavorful, simple, clean, very approachable food that's actually been a through line in all my restaurants. We need to cook it perfectly, and have the flavors brought out of it rather than us instilling flavors into something else.

"One of my favorite dishes, it has contradictory flavors in it, but complimentary at the same time. It's a Long Island black bass with manila clams and chorizo served with artichoke barigoule and chervil, so you've got a nice mixture of textures in that. It's really just luscious.

"One of my favorite salads is watermelon radishes, escarole, red beets and honeycrisp apples, so you've got all sorts of colors and flavors going on in there.

"Our ideal client is someone who comes in here who just wants to eat, relax and get rid of their day. Our favorite person is just hungry and happy."

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