SAATCHI EATS is a casual insider’s guide to cool food finds around the neighborhood.    This week – French café fare from Café Henri (27 Bedford St).

Last week, the H/H team took a trip over to Cafe Henri, a local French hotspot on Bedford and Downing Street. The verdict? A new favorite lunch spot for pretty much all of us. With reasonable prices and a rustic-chic atmosphere, we were excited to dig into the extensive menu of French classics. Here’s a run-down on what we ate and what we thought. Oh, and did we mention they do breakfast all day?

Gratines A L’oignon (French Onion Soup)

A warm appetizer with baked cheese rarely disappoints – and this soup definitely hit the spot. A tasty pre-meal treat with a twist: the rosemary baked into the cheese kicked it up a notch.

Eggs Benedict with Ham, Roasted Potatoes and Mesclun Salad

A classic done well! Some people will argue that brunch is strictly a weekend engagement, but this dish makes the case for why those people are wrong.  You can opt for ham, bacon or smoked salmon, but the ham was a salty and wonderful selection.  In the end, it made for a heavier lunch option but so worth it.

La Poulet Ratatouille (Roasted Chicken and Ratatouille on a Toasted Baguette)

This sandwich was just the right amount of healthy, without being boring. The chicken was tender and the bread was moistened by the delicious ratatouille vegetables. The side salad was classic, with slight oil and vinaigrette.

Le Croque Madame (Toasted Country Bread with Ham, Cheese and a Sunny-Side Egg)

A true French lunch – a croque-anything! The lady-counterpart to the Le Croque Monsieur was to die for. The difference between Madame and Monsieur? Madame comes with the sunnyside egg. Paired with a mixed green salad as the lighter side dish, this was a perfectly balanced meal.

Tags: Cafe Henri, Cristina Pansolini, food, french food, NYC French onion soup, Saatchi Eats, Saatchi NY, west village food