Two years after opening Les Trois Chevaux in Manhattan’s West Village, acclaimed chef Angie Mar is preparing for a new chapter. In 2026, she plans to relocate her celebrated French fine-dining restaurant to a larger uptown location, bringing it closer to her loyal customer base. Before that move, however, Mar is unveiling an exciting new concept in the restaurant’s current downtown home: Le B.
The new restaurant serves as both a tribute to and reinvention of the legendary Beatrice Inn, the iconic New York dining destination that Mar led until its closure in 2020. The timing is significant. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Beatrice Inn, and Mar saw an opportunity to honor its legacy.
“You only turn 100 once,” Mar says. “We had to celebrate the centennial in some way.”
While Le B. pays homage to the Beatrice Inn, Mar emphasizes that it is not a replica. Instead, she has created a fresh concept that blends the spirit and energy of the former institution with the creativity and refinement diners have come to expect from Les Trois Chevaux.
One notable nod to the past is the iconic Beatrice Inn sign, which now hangs prominently in Le B.’s dining room. The original sign was stolen shortly before the restaurant closed, making this carefully recreated version the only direct reproduction from the former space.
Mar describes Le B.’s menu as a modern interpretation of classic continental cuisine, viewed through the lens of her French culinary training. The dishes balance nostalgia, luxury, and playful creativity.
Among the appetizers is Onions Nancy, inspired by the onion dip Mar’s mother made for her as a child, elevated with luxurious additions such as caviar and foie gras. Salad Chinois reimagines the classic Chinese chicken salad, replacing traditional crunchy wontons with a delicate chicken lace. For main courses, Duck Duck Goose features jasmine tea-smoked duck served alongside jasmine rice, a contemporary homage to the flambéed roast duck that was once a Beatrice Inn favorite. Oysters, meanwhile, receive a dramatic tableside flambé with sherry and cognac.
Although the restaurant’s layout remains familiar to guests who frequented Les Trois Chevaux, its aesthetic has been completely transformed. The dining room now features deep blue walls that create an intimate, late-night atmosphere. A chandelier salvaged from Brooklyn’s former Grand Prospect Hall serves as the room’s centerpiece. The horse-themed lamps from Les Trois Chevaux will accompany the restaurant to its future uptown location, replaced at Le B. by brass lotus lamps and custom lighting imported from the Netherlands.
Art also plays a prominent role in the space. In the rear dining room, Mar has installed “Women Gathering No. 1,” a work gifted by renowned chef and artist Jacques Pépin. The piece complements “Women Gathering No. 2,” which will remain at Le B. until it eventually moves to the restaurant’s new uptown home.
At a time when New York diners are constantly seeking the city’s next must-book reservation, Le B. offers a compelling blend of nostalgia and innovation. It captures the essence of a beloved institution while introducing a distinctly modern dining experience.
“It’s definitely not going to be absolute insanity, party 24/7 like the Beatrice was,” Mar says. “But the lights are lower, the music is sexier—and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Source: WWD.com
