Opening Night At Le Poisson: A First Look At La Crém's Metamorphosis

BEDFORD, NY — La Crém Est Mort, Vive Le Poisson. The opening night for what promises to be one of the Hudson Valley's hottest reservations is set.

The team at the popular Michelin-reviewed La Crémaillère will close after Valentine's Day to renovate the 1750s farmhouse in Bedford. When Chef and Managing Partner Thomas Burke opens the doors again in March, it will be as a new restaurant, Le Poisson.

Burke honed his skills in the kitchens of several Michelin-starred restaurants, including Le Bernardin and Aureole in New York City, Boulevard in San Francisco, and The French Laundry in Napa Valley.

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The project is led by Burke. La Crémaillère is currently closed but will serve customers for the last time on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, February 14, and one last private event is still on the books.

The new restaurant Le Poisson, meaning "fish" in French, will begin accepting reservations in the coming weeks. Burke led the reopening of La Crémaillère in 2022 and under his leadership, the restaurant was recognized by the Michelin Guide two years in a row. Le Poisson will remain devoted to French fine dining, but with a focus on inspirations from the sea.

The new menu will feature dishes like tuna carpaccio, hamachi tartare, Maine lobster, porterhouse steak, shrimp cocktail, and an over-the-top seafood tower, according to Burke.

"I'm excited to open my first restaurant in our current space and work with my talented team on offering our guests a new experience they will love," Burke said. "We are staying true to our fine French dining roots although making some necessary changes to the interiors of the restaurant and updating the menu with dishes our customers really want."

Le Poisson's owners recently made Chef Burke a Managing Partner and supported the launch of Le Poisson as his first restaurant concept that is "truly his vision."

The new restaurant will include a lounge area with a more casual atmosphere for light bites and after-work cocktails.

General Manager Alice Burke has enlisted the help of a design and floral expert to bring new life to the centuries-old property. Antiques from France, inspired by Normandy's coastline and lush green countryside, will be worked into the updated design.

The bar area will accept walk-ins and will feature martinis, premium oysters with caviar, and top-shelf whiskies.

The team said that while La Crémaillère will soon be no longer, they are not leaving behind the iconic restaurant's emphasis on unparalleled service and cuisine that has been a staple since the 1940s.

Join Le Poisson's new email mailing list here to be the first at a chance to book an opening week reservation and Follow Le Poisson on social media @lepoissonny for sneak peeks.

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