Le Basque, an upscale vegan restaurant blending culinary flavors from France and Spain into a unique dining experience, opened up in Union Square. The restaurant was founded by vegan entrepreneur Chef Guy Vaknin, who created a carefully curated menu celebrating flavors from both countries.
Vaknin is best known for launching City Roots Hospitality with a mission to shape the way people eat. Le Basque is just the latest of his many kosher vegan restaurant launches, including Beyond Sushi, Willow, Coletta, Anixi, and Sentir, all located in Manhattan. Vaknin also appeared on Hell’s Kitchen Season 10 and Shark Tank back in 2018.
Le Basque combines bold, rustic flavors of Spanish tapas with the elegance of French gastronomy. Guests will experience the richness of these cuisines while witnessing the versatility and creativity deriving from plant-based cooking.
The menu will offer options like Port “Beef “Bourguignon featuring braised beef, port wine, heirloom carrots, pearl onions, crimini mushrooms and yukon potatoes, in addition to the Mojo Flank “Steak” which is steak from Grilled Chunk Foods, sea salt, a mojo kalamata sauce, beluga lentils, garlic confit and roasted heirloom tomatoes. All meat items are actually plant-based, but closely mimic the real thing.
Other dishes include a Blue Oyster Mushroom Steak with lemon orzo, asparagus, red wine gastrique and spring onions, in addition to starters like Fau Gras, Escargot, and Salmorejo.
La Basque’s bar offers kosher wines from France and Spain, alongside several creative cocktails. The restaurant provides an intimate setting for romantic dinners or special gatherings with tufted velvet banquettes and sola wood flowers by Little Miss Delilah, plus a mezzanine under a skylight.
Le Basque open Sunday – Thursday from 4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., Friday until 11:30 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. It’s located at 15 Union Square West. The restaurant is kosher-certified by the IKC.
