Gosh, Patrick, I just cannot fathom your experiences at Chez Josephine. We stopped by last Thursday night, after the Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise, for drinks and to listen to the music (we had planned on dinner, but had lunch too late). We were warmly welcomed, as always, and room was made for us at the small bar. By the time we'd enjoyed a few drinks and walked nearly all the way back to the Hilton Towers, we were ready for a light bite.

It was a lovely evening, so we stopped at the newly re-opened Maison on the northwest corner of 7th/53rd (formerly Brasserie Central). The terrace here is fabulously pleasant with faux marble topped tables, comfortable rattan bistro chairs, potted palms and vintage multi-globed street lamps around the perimeter. (A glorious place to sit and watch the "passing parade"). The menu here is extensive with low prices. And, you are welcome to enjoy breakfast, just libations, small plates, any time of the day or night (we witnessed a couple of ladies enjoying a beer/glass of wine with their scrambled eggs Saturday morning). We returned for breakfast early the following morning, which was magnificent.

Following "The Boy from Oz" (positively awesome!), we wandered over to Le Rivage. From 8PM on, they offer an unbelievable $19.95 prix fixe menu (three courses - appetizer or soup, entree preceded by salad, dessert, coffee - all included). Quite the bargain for NYC! The food was wonderful (generous portions, too) and service was not the least bit rushed, despite the fact that we were seated 15 minutes before closing and one of only two parties.

On Saturday night, following our second visit to "Gypsy", we went to Chez Josephine for dinner. We were given the option of a table near the rear or right by the piano (we opted for the latter). It should be noted that we've always been seated at the best table available, then moved as soon as another in a "better spot" as soon as one became available, as were others during this visit. But, we were quite content right by the piano. In fact, three gents seated in the corner by the piano, requested to a table farther away, and were moved before they had finished the first drink. Next to us was a couple from Denver (she celebrating her birthday) who also visits NYC several times a year, along with Chez Josephine. As always, Jean Claude sat down with us, asked us about the show we'd just seen and visited for a while. Our meals were the usual extraordinary. My husband's beloved choucroute was on the "specials" list, along with my favorite lobster salad (an ethereal perfectly steamed whole lobster atop gorgeous greens, sliced fingerling potatoes and a whole avocado sliced all about, drizzled with remarkable "shallot vinagrette". Over all our visits, several times a year, the food has always been perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. I cannot imagine less than perfectly cooked chicken.

But, if you want perfectly roasted chicken (French version of the breast), I highly recommend Cafe Loup on 13th just west of Ave of the Americas. For lunch on Friday, we experienced that, gloriously accompanied by pommes puree, along with red cabbage, some sort of incredibly tasty "greens", and haricots vert, along with some sort of squash. The plate was worthy of one of those cookbook photos. Amazing! Be advised that there's serious construction going on right outside, not noticeable once you're inside and seated.

AND, it's RIGHT around the corner from the Forbes Magazine Galleries - incredible (whopping) collection of IMPERIAL Faberge Eggs, Toy Soldiers, Model Boats/Ships, Historical documents, and so forth. It's a LOT more interesting and captivating than you'd imagine. And, there's no charge for admission.

Thanks for the personalization, but your report should be for everyone!
Sounds like a great 3-4-day NYC experience.
Glad to hear the good report on The Boy from Oz. Hope to get tickets soon.
And, naturally, I am delighted with your reports about your experiences at Chez Josephine!

Why is this directed to Patrick and Howard?
We had not so great experience at Chez Josephine two years ago. What a noisy and dark place! But that was two years ago so maybe things did change. We will not go back there

Since you were singled out by name, I figured I would say hello to the two of you ~ Hi

I don't get the comment, "I cannot fathom your experiences at Chez Josephine." Why? Because I mentioned we happened to be seated next to some loud and obnoxious people? That can happen anywhere. And for the record we were given the best table in the house at the time -- the place was full except for that little alleyway like section behind the stairs where we were ostracized to last time we were there. Because I mentioned our chicken was dry? Why is that so hard to fathom? Sorry if it sounded like our experience there was awful, it wasn't. Just not overwhelmingly great! And to Pat, yes it is very dark, which doesn't bother me, but my partner found it toooooo dark. As he said, he'd at least like to be able to see what food he's stabbing on his plate at any given time. It really was THAT dark at our table.

And I've already made up for the chicken. Saturday night had perfect rotisserie chicken at the simply wonderful D'Artagnan on 46th near 3rd. Went there because that recent thread about foie gras made me hungry and I had a spectacular starter of the stuff before the perfect chicken with roasted potatoes. D'Artagnan are the importers/distributors of some great French products including the foie gras and their small restaurant is a delight!!

Interesting about Boy From OZ, one show I haven't gotten tickets for. I never particularly cared for Peter Allen, so don't particularly care about a show about him. But last week we past through the crowd coming out of there, so I "lingered" to hear the comments mostly which weren't good -- but I didn't hear very many. I was aware that the crowd coming out was in that "WOW" state like they always are coming out of The Producers or Hairspray, for example.

And djkbooks, I agree, posts like this shouldn't be personalized. Don't worry, I'm sure both Howard and I will see anything with Chez Josephine or even "New York restaurant report" in the title.

Chez Josephine is still dark and usually noisy (any restaurant, when full, is very loud - even Daniel).

I have never seen the entire audience rise to their feet so fast for the star of a Broadway show as they did for Hugh Jackman (not even for Bernadette the following night for "Gypsy").

I usually agree with HowardR's New York restaurant suggestions, but I have to say I have never liked Chez Josephine's food, even though it is a great place to go for drinks and music. Even Zagat rates them one point lower for food than Virgil's Barbeque, and equal to the Carnegie Deli. What does that tell you?

What it tells me is that taste is subjective. I've never heard any negatives about the service at Chez Josephine, the decor is a matter of personal taste and reports on the food range from the uniformly positive such as Howard's (and many others I've read) to the less than enthusiastic (such as Patrick's). Have never read anything really negative about the food and my own personal experience was smack dab in the middle - it was good but didn't wow me.

That said.... I use Zagat's as a great reference for finding certain types of restaurants and getting a rough perspective on the type of place it is (upscale or casual, moderate or pricey etc) but I take their ratings with a grain of salt.

Well said, Owen. And you really have to read between the lines of Zagat. I especially like the ones that seem to have very low ratings, but nothing but extremely positive comments, or vice-versa. I think also the "food" and "service" ratings have to be taken with a grain of salt. Really good service rating a 20 at a deli is different from the service you'd expect at an expensive and formal restaurant to get the same 20. And a 20 for food at the Carnegie Deli is not the same as a 20 for food at a Four Seasons.

Enough about Chez Josephine, already! (I can't believe I'm saying that!) Seriously, I think the subject has been beaten to death on the forum lately. We love the restaurant and make no apologies for that. Many agree; many don't agree.

May I also add that I don't get all the hype about Virgils. Mediocre at best.

I do agree that threads should not be personalized. If DJKBooks was really interested in getting people looking for restaurant reviews, a headnote "For Patrick and Howard" doesn't do it.

The headnote looks too much like a personal attack to me and it is nutty. So some people like Chez Josephine and some don't. That is what makes the world go round--and opinions about restaurants are certainly not worth a slug fest anywhere--much less on a message board.