If you ask to put your name on a waiting list at Paradou, you'll receive a dubious reply: “We don't have list…but I remember your face.” Soon, though, you'll be seated in one of Manhattan 's loveliest gardens. Hydrangea and ivy surround patrons who linger over wine and share plates like the tartine sampler – tiny toasts topped with delightful homemade spreads. Entrées may be simple (buckwheat crêpes filled with mushrooms, asparagus, pecorino and truffle oil) or more technical (a special of seared sea bass perched on a bed of eggplant mousse). Crêpes rebound for dessert –this time encasing sensuous confections like chestnut cream with chopped nuts. Good news for folks who club at neighboring Cielo: Paradou now offers a scaled down menu on Friday and Saturday after 1:30am (try the spicy merguez sandwich).
