Restaurateurs Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato brought their love for French culture and cuisine to New York City by giving the Big Apple an authentic slice of France when they opened Brasserie Cognac de Monsieur Ballon in April 2008. Located in the theater district and frequented by celebrities, businessmen, locals and tourists, the setting is both exciting and charming. The Brasserie style menu combines French classics with Executive Chef Florian V. Hugo's modern creations. Guests can choose to dine in the outdoor sidewalk café, casual original French bakery, classic main dining room, lively bar/lounge or the private Cognac Room as they enjoy meals complimented by 102 varieties of cognac and a gorgeous wine list including first-growth Bordeaux sold by the glass.

The main principles for Brasserie Cognac are: (1) incorporating only the highest quality ingredients available; (2) pleasing the guests with friendly and professional attention; and (3) maintaining reasonable price points with no menu item costing over $35.