If you’re tired of QR code menus, TikTok cocktails and being asked how your “vibes” are — Chez Napoléon restaurant might just be your antidote. We checked out their new website, it’s a hoot!
The interior of Chez Napoléon is lined with antiques. Photo: Chez Napoléon
Tucked behind decades of scaffolding on West 50th Street, this tiny French restaurant is a relic in the best sense. Since 1960, it’s been serving coq au vin, cassoulet and absinthe-drizzled escargots to a loyal crowd who prefer their dinner with a side of tradition (and rules). No tank tops. No athletic shorts. And please, gentlemen — tuck in your shirts.
Chez Napoléon doesn’t just serve French food — it lives and breathes it, quirks and all. “We’re not your quick snack before the theater,” says Guillaume Bruno — better known to some as Sir William Welles, bartender, website designer, beef jerky artisan, and fully committed Goth. “Chez Napoléon is a transportive vessel. You step in from Midtown and you’re in early 20th-century Paris.”
And he means it. The walls are lined with antiques. The soufflés take 30 minutes and must be ordered with your entrée. The dining room holds just 35 seats, and the dress code is proudly printed on the wall and the website. “We’re not asking for tuxedos,” Guillaume says. “But this is not a place to wear your gym clothes. We’ve had to send people away before. It’s about self-respect — yours, ours and your fellow diners.”
Chez Napoléon’s updated website gives a bit of the restaurant’s history with vintage style advertisements. Image: Chez Napoléon website
The restaurant’s roots run deep. Opened in 1960 by a Frenchman known for his short temper (hence the “Napoléon”), the restaurant has remained in French family hands ever since. In 1982, it was bought by Marguerite Bruno — a wartime survivor, ski-lodge chef, and, at the time, one of New York’s only professional female French chefs. She ruled the kitchen with an iron whisk and a glass of Dewar’s until her last night alive.
“She trained her kitchen staff with stern precision,” says Guillaume. “She was fierce — and beloved.”
Now, Guillaume and his mother, Elyane Bruno, who started out as a waitress at the restaurant before buying it with her parents, run the show. Elyane handles the front of house. Guillaume tends bar in full goth regalia, crafts elaborate cocktails (like the jet-black Bloodbath), and even bakes baguettes by hand to save on costs. During dinner service, you might spot him elbow-deep in flour behind the bar. “We used to spend up to $1,000 a month on bread,” he explains. “Now I do it myself. It’s cheaper and more authentic — and I get to scowl while doing it.”
Chef Marguerite Bruno and her husband Alfred (left) purchased the restaurant in 1982 and their daughter Elyane and grandson Guillaume (aka William Welles) still operate the restaurant today. Photos supplied
He’s in his element — even if he suggests you approach him cautiously. “Yes, I’m scary-looking. And yes, I adhere to a spooky lifestyle — not unlike the Addams Family. If you absolutely must talk to me while I’m mixing drinks, approach like you would a feral black cat. Slowly. Calmly. I’ll probably warm up.”
Over the last five years, the restaurant has endured more than its share of crises. The COVID shutdown in 2020 postponed its 60th anniversary celebration. In late 2021, a building-wide gas line issue shut them down for nearly a year. Permits, inspections, and red tape nearly did them in — until neighbors and readers rallied. W42ST’s reporting helped launch a successful GoFundMe campaign that raised nearly $60,000 and quite literally helped get the gas back on.
“You guys helped save Chez Napoléon,” Guillaume says. “We were down for 50 weeks. That campaign, that awareness — it kept us going.”
Elayne and Guillaume persevered through a series of setbacks starting during the COVID pandemic. Photo: Phil O’Brien
Even after the reopening, trials continued: scaffolding still cloaks the building, and long-time chef Carlos has been out with medical issues since late 2024. But the Brunos push on — slowly updating the décor, refining the menu, and recently launching a full-blown website to share their story and set the tone for newcomers. “Bring your appetite as a guest,” it warns, “but leave your diet at home.”
They’ve even started rewarding patrons who dress up in vintage style — a nod to the restaurant’s love of old-world flair. “If you show up dressed like it’s 1955,” Guillaume says, “there’s a chance a dessert or cocktail might appear on the house. At the owner’s discretion, of course.”
Chez Napoléon is serious about their dress code — but if you show up with vintage flair you may just get a free cocktail or dessert. Images: Chez Napoléon website
Chez Napoléon may be small, and occasionally cranky — but it’s also warm, soulful, and rare. “Like Napoléon Bonaparte himself,” Guillaume says, “we may be small, but we’re not backing down. This restaurant has heart. And a hell of a steak au poivre.”
So if you’re craving French classics, a little ceremony and want a taste of that legacy, Chez Napoléon is open — just don’t forget to tuck in your shirt.
Chez Napoléon is located at 365 W50th Street (bw 8/9th Ave). Check out their new website at cheznapoleon.com
To enjoy some laughs and pick up a few lessons in proper French dining etiquette, check out The Cranky Restaurateur on YouTube — Guillaume’s video series where he dishes out old-school “savoir-faire” with a sharp tongue and a side of sarcasm. Watch Episode 1 now →
