(Left) The handsomely rehabbed single house at Pitt and Montagu; (Right) Slow-roasted chicken.
Before even stepping foot into the low-key chic environs of Merci, the long-awaited Harleston Village spot from the couple behind event firm The Drifter, the warmth of its force field is apparent. The lively scene through the storefront windows of its beautifully restored Federal-style exterior is an anomaly in this residential stretch of the peninsula, but by all accounts, a welcome one.
Inside, co-owner Courtney Zentner greets guests as if she’s hosting a dinner party, and with just 26 seats, the restaurant does have the cozy feel of a well-appointed, if tiny, home. A brick fireplace anchors the dining room, and cherry wood hanging drawers line the back wall. Vintage sterling candelabra are displayed in a mirrored niche behind the bar, and a clutch of bottles from the all-French wine list are casually splayed on ice in a silver punch bowl, at the ready for the next pour.
(Left) The Zentners; (Right) The spring pea salad.…