That's exactly what I was focusing on, curiousgo! I could be wrong, but on the ala carte menu it seems to only be for two people, but on the pre theatre menu it is for one.

I was going to say The Modern, but then I read that somebody named Peter thinks it isn't special. What do I know?

HTtY

Did you read that he used to work there? Wouldn't that make it less special for you -- going to the restaurant you frequent in your office?

Oh, maybe you didn't realize that Peter is my DH as Fodorites like to say.

Hope you have a grand time wherever you go.

Did I tell you I saw Turandot with Nilsson and Corelli?
Did I tell you I'm old -:)

<i>Wouldn't that make it less special for you -- going to the restaurant you frequent in your office?</i>

No, if there were an excellent restaurant connected to my place of business that would make me very pleased, and it would be a special place to me. I guess my values are topsy-turvy.

HTtY

"No, if there were an excellent restaurant connected to my place of business that would make me very pleased, and it would be a special place to me."

In for a nickel, in for a dime. Would you like to borrow a shovel?

I guess to most people "special" would mean something "not ordinary". But if your office cafeteria is extraordinary, I'm sure it would make a special celebration really remarkable. Whatever rocks your boat.

Our company used to have executive dining rooms on the 65th floor in Manhattan. The building has since been sold and they are converting those floors in multi-million dollar condos. The 66th was just an observatory and used for special small functions.

The food was so-so, but the view never failed to impress the most jaded person.

I vote for Boulud Sud, which is near Lincoln Center and has just the right ambience for après-opera.

No question that Jean Georges in a good bet. He is always on hand and service has always been super congenial and not at all stuffy. Not to mention to fabulous food and many extras.

Marea has lovely food if you stray from the set menu and order pasta and a whole fish, but it is not at all fancy unless you call young hedge funders shouting at tables, many wearing jeans famcy, along with a few well dressed older patrons. Service there varies from friendly to fairly uncongenial. And I am a big fan of Micihael White. Perfect meal there would be burrata with lobster, marrow/octopus pasta, and whatever whole fish they offer, hopefuly wild. Fish served a la carte are different than the ones served on the set menu. Maybe look at his new French place soon to open if you are also a fan of MW. I like Ai Fiori, too, but setting is hotel-like..

http://ny.eater.com/2015/7/7/8909357...te-park-avenue


I've not been to Four Seasons in years and years but not sure how food is these days…..

Have you been to Aquavit? REcommended.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/di...n-midtown.html


We also love Modern Dining Room with new chef (liked GK also) (not bar!) and go quite a bit for special occasions….is that the one Peter went to often? Ask to sit along windows.
I hate banquette seating and never accept those tables..ask in advance when you phone.


Wherever you end up I wish you a lovely evening….Turandot..WOW!

"I hate banquette seating and never accept those tables..ask in advance when you phone."

Ah, what a great idea. But we did just that at Le Grenouille for example, but got nowhere. Finally our choice was to accept the banquette or leave and try to find somewhere else to eat on Saturday at 8 last minute. "Sorry, we're very busy tonight and that's the best we have." Maybe I'm just not demanding enough -- although to be honest I really couldn't see ANY open tables for two. And that is not the only place that has happened, despite requests with the reservation. I am a "VIP" on Open Table and when I reserve that way I always state about no banquette seating and it almost always works. But even then, they will defend themselves if that's all there is as "it's always first come, first served" or something similar.

It's not unlike "view" tables. We reserved at Asiate the maximum time ahead for our Wedding Eve dinner and practically demanded a window table, but when we arrived, there were none (and they again repeated they never confirm window tables). They finally gave us a very large almost private booth -- no views at all, but at least we weren't sharing our conversation with people jammed up next to us.

I guess part of my answer to this is looking at pictures -- often it's pretty clear that the vast majority of the two person tables ARE banquette seating, so we just avoid those places.

Please give Jean George a try; they have non banquette seating and are so kind and friendly….

<i> I am a "VIP" on Open Table....</i>

"Registered users of OpenTable become VIPs once they have honored 12 or more OpenTable reservations within one calendar year."

I like OpenTable, but I find that a lot of restaurants prefer that we book directly and save them the fee the have to pay that booking service.

HTtY

Yes, HTTY, right. So? On the other hand there are many restaurants that link their reservations on their website directly to Open Table.

Have you ever looked at the Open Table screen at the host's station? It will clearly show VIP by your name along with special table requests. Have you like looked at reservation books at the same station? Rarely will the phone answerer actually have listed the requests.

And I once embarrassed myself when standing aside waiting to be seated while others were entering and being seated. When I questioned that, the host said, "oh we have your Open Table request and we're giving you the next window seat." And they did. Works for me.

More casual Gramercy Tavern Dining Room??? I see nothing casual about the dining room which you must be referring to as the Tavern does not take reservations. In fact last time I was there for a formal dinner, we had 5 gifts from the kitchen, an amuse, a palate cleanser, a celebratory cookie plate, chocolates and a muffin for the morning. That's just not casual in my book. We do love a casual lunch in the Tavern though. Such a pretty space. Now if only I could get keys to The Park!

I do note that they no longer offer a cheese course for dessert which is a shame as taking that with the muffin made a great bfast.

<i> Works for me.</i>

I've had similar experiences. I wish you a great time at the opera and dinner afterwards.

HTtY

11 Madison Park

330east, as I said above -- $125 a person is OK, but we are not wanting for this dinner to pay $580 minimum for the two of us BEFORE any wine or drinks.


Inakauaidavidababy, maybe we have different definitions of "more casual" or "formal" atmosphere, but I really do consider the DINING ROOM (not the tavern) at Gramercy Tavern less formal than say Bouley or the Four Seasons. And that's not considering that people are less likely to be in formal attire. By formal I am making NO comment about food, but rather the atmosphere. And I don't mean "casual" in a negative way -- it can still be wonderful atmosphere -- just not the more formal setting we're looking for in this case. I'm not sure if I'm making myself clear, but hopefully some would understand.

Meanwhile as I said before, if we do the pre-theatre dinner at Four Seasons on Saturday, maybe (if we can manage to get a reservation by calliing exactly at 10 four weeks ahead -- still not easy, I know) then Gramercy Tavern would be a great choice for our Friday night -- when we aren't so formally dressed and they don't even require jackets. I love the food there as well as the atmosphere.

Aureole at 42nd street could be a nice option.
We find always fine the meal and people are generally well dressed...
Erik