Wall House

Consider French expats and chefs Denis Chevallier and Franck Mathevet the Ty Penningtons of failing restaurants. After changing the fortunes of a French chalet in Chamonix, the duo set their sights on Wall House, which was for sale in 2000. Eight years later the harborside bistro downtown has won just about every award, garnered rave reviews, and packs a full house on the daily. Pre-fixe is the name of the game--locals come for the bargain basement lunch, while tourists are still convinced the 29 € five course dinner offsets their bills at Hermes. If you like your options, try for anything rotisserie. Young male waiters de-bone the famous duck tableside while whispering where to, umm, bone later--more than willing to invite you along to the hottest parties--after work, of course. Closed Sunday lunch.