Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of 30 June 1878

Claude Monet

You don't have to go to Paris to get into the spirit of Bastille Day – New York is full of places to show your Gallic pride. Because July 14th falls on a Monday, the city's two biggest celebrations have been moved to Sunday the 13th. But on the actual holiday, plenty of French restaurants around town will be serving special meals and drinks to celebrate their independence.

On Sunday, July 13th, the French Institute Alliance Française once again hosts its annual Gallic celebration, Bastille Day on 60th. Loads of French treats like crêpes and frites along with live music, can-can dancers, raffles, and children's activities like face painting and tournoi de pétanque (street bowling), should make for a festive afternoon (noon–6 PM; free to the public; E. 60th St. from Fifth Ave. to Lexington Ave.).

Also on the 13th, over in Brooklyn, Smith Street between Bergen and Pacific will be taken over by the annual Bastille party and Petanque tournament. The block's resident bistro, Bar Tabac, will have its grill out on the street offering fare like merguez sandwiches with frites ($6). There will also be live music ranging from French gypsy tunes to American big band jams (noon–10 PM; free to the public).

On the Upper West Side on July 14th, Alouette will be offering special dishes served along with special Ricard cocktails (212-222-6808).

For the holiday, Alain Ducasse's newest bistro, Benoit, will be keeping its festivities to the bar area, but that doesn't mean it's holding back. While a DJ spins tunes, guests will be offered discounted select drinks and complimentary fare like croque monsieur, egg mayo, a type of pizza called pissaladière and bleu, blanc and rouge macarons for dessert (5–10 PM; 646-943-7373).

TriBeCa brasserie Cercle Rouge gets into the action on July 14th with live music, a three-course prix fixe of French favorites and lots of decorations evoking the French revolution. Yes, there will be a guillotine (6 PM–closing; $39.95 per person; 212-226-6252).

L'Absinthe will have live accordion music and decorations to go along with its regular à la carte menu. The chef's specials for the night will stick with the holiday though and include crab cakes with asparagus in a lobster reduction ($18), poire belle Helene, aka poached pears with vanilla ice cream ($14) and "Marie Antoinette headless trout" with ratatouille ($29; 212-794-4950).

At Le Bonne Soupe, those looking for a French fix will be privy to a three-course prix fixe including a "Normandy summer cocktail," frog legs, puff pastry with mushrooms, grilled rib eye with Bearnaise sauce and pommes boulangeres and crème brûlée (6:30–11 PM; $32 per person; 212-586-7650).

West Village bistro Le Gigot is taking Bastille day to the next level, honoring the holiday for an entire week. From the 13th–20th it will offer a three-course prix fixe featuring classic dishes like escargot, paté, duck confit, steak au poivre, crème brûlée and brioche pudding ($45 per person, $60 with wine pairing; 212-627-3737).

Meatpacking bistro Paradou wants to emphasize the celebration aspect of the holiday. The restaurant is offering unlimited drinks and cocktails for the evening for a mere $25. Just don't forget that Monday is a work night (212-463-8345).

Recently moved Park Avenue Bistro is serving a three-course prix fixe. Along with dishes like frog legs, escargot, mussels and frites, crispy duck and profiterolles au chocolat, diners will be treated to a complimentary glass of wine from the meal's sponsor, Lillet ($35 per person; 212-689-1360).

Upper East Side favorite François Payard’s Payard Bistro is also offering a three-course prix fixe dinner for July 14th. The special menu includes "crispy pig's feet" with haricot verts (string beans), a twice-baked cheese soufflé, monkfish with baby artichokes, pork chops with lemon crust and apricot-pork jus and a vanilla-and-raspberry baked Alaska with blueberry sauce (5:45 PM on; $45 per person; 212-717-5252).