At this point in 2026, it seems obvious that Le Parisien is our best new restaurant, and one of the overall best in the city period. The combination of an incredibly talented team, remarkable food, excellent wine list, solid cocktail program, and beautiful buildout has made the Midtown French bistro a favorite for date night, special events, casual dining, and happy hour. Much of their success is due to Executive Chef Bryant Gallegos and operating partner Alain Jeu, both industry veterans, mainly in California, where Jeu worked at the famous/infamous Chateau Marmont for many years, and before that, he worked in San Francisco, where he met and worked with the great Kermit Lynch, a pioneer in the modern wine trade.

Jeu is a charming and engaging storyteller -- the French accent doesn't hurt -- even as he has to acknowledge that most of the gossip-worthy stories from the Chateau Marmont days are protected by NDAs. Still, we dig into his background, his coming to America story, and his experience of Oklahoma City, first as a guest dining around town to get a feel for our city, and now as a resident, exploring it both as business owner and new fan of the people and place, if not the weather.