Williamsburg’s new Parisian-inspired playground, Deux Chats (1 Dunham Pl.), recently opened in late July. The newcomer is located near the Williamsburg Bridge in the prime corner location that previously housed Donna.
Deux Chats’ setting serves as both an idyllic first date destination or a cozy spot to gossip with girlfriends. The decor is elegant, but not overly fancy. Even with the space’s high ceilings, the restaurant manages to feel intimate. The upbeat soundtrack of fun oldies helps to maintain a laid back vibe.
Behind the bar, a hand-painted tile mural depicts the namesake deux chats, or two cats, in front of a large moon hovering over the Williamsburg Bridge. The remainder of the wall is lined with green and orange floral tiles surrounding patina-finished mirrors. Antique chandeliers and other French-favored lighting completes the restaurant’s design. Deux Chats also offers charming outdoor dining setups on both Broadway and Dunham Place.
Deux Chats is run by Jon Neidich and Golden Age Hospitality, who aimed to create a New York spin on Parisian art nouveau style. “I’ve always thought that these brasseries are the perfect setting for enjoying drinks and seafood,” said Neidich.
Deux Chats’ drink menu features cocktails and an extensive sparkling, white and skin-contact heavy wine list. The cocktail menu kicks off with two martini options including the Kinky Martini with spicy vodka, ancho reyes verde, vermouth, and cocchi americano, and the Deux Chats Martini with gin, manzanilla, vermouth, and celery.
Other boozy cocktail options include the Jinx with bourbon, vermouth, and amaro, the Le Syndicat with rye, cognac, pineapple amaro, vermouth, and benedictine, and the Le Bird with aged rums, campari, pineapple, lime, and grapefruit.
As the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks are on the rise, Deux Chats is ahead of the curve with zero-proof options that are actually enjoyable. The Si & Am cocktail includes raspberry, yuzu, cranberry, grapefruit, and non-alcoholic sparkling rosé. It’s light, citrusy and refreshing, and feels just as fun as the boozy cocktails.
Deux Chats’ food menu is focused on oysters and seafood with a couple of tasty additions. East and West Coast oysters come accompanied by lemons, limes, radishes, and cucumber, with cocktail sauce, horseradish, and Deux Chats’ unique and slightly spicy take on mignonette sauce.
Two multi-tiered seafood towers are featured on the menu and feature clams, shrimp, chilled lobster, crab legs, and East and West coast oysters, plus brioche buttons with seaweed butter. Other seafood selections include the lobster roll, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and the salmon crudo. The food menu is rounded out with an heirloom tomato carpaccio topped with corn and a citrus dressing, deviled eggs topped with smoked roe, and the Wagyu beef tartare.
Deux Chats offers only one dessert option that is not listed on the menu. For summer, there is a cold semifreddo with coconut granita and raspberries. It’s delightfully refreshing and the perfect way to end a meal during a heat wave.
The General Manager, Sophie Deverell, said that the neighborhood response to Deux Chats has been very positive. “The first couple of weeks have been wonderful, and we’re so grateful to have the support of the community, keeping us busy every night,” said Deverell. She also explained that the restaurant saves the majority of their tables for walk-ins, “so we always have space for our neighbors.”
Deux Chats is open Sunday 5 p.m. – 12 a.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., and Thursday through Saturday 5 p.m. – 4 a.m. Reservations are available on Resy.