OK
My first visit to Grammercy I scored a table day of by calling at 10am. Often when they confirm reservations a couple of tables open up day of. That or we were just very lucky.

My mom had ordered scallops as an app. They then delivered a spoonful of 3 tiny Nantucket Bay Scallops to each of us. She immediately thought "Oh no, it's one of those restaurants where you pick up a pizza afterwards" And then the look of delight as she tasted her first nantucket bay scallops while I explained it was an amuse from the kitchen and not her first course. Good luck, sounds like a decadent weekend.

We don't tend to eat at the very highest end places in NY because we're often in a larger family group but last year we ate at Daniel and enjoyed it very much. The food and service were excellent.It's formal and elegant without being stuffy.It is the definition of a formal dining experience and I highly recommend it.
However, I have to say personally I don't like to combine fine dining of this caliber with a major cultural event as for me I enjoy the food or art as my central focus.I find it too much but I get that this isn't the same for everyone.

FYI Four Course Prix Fixe $135

Jean Georges..could not be called stuffy at all unless you are a stuffy person and I think that is not the case.

"Jean Georges..could not be called stuffy. . ."

I don't think I've ever heard anyone call it stuffy. I have heard it called pretentious, but that's quite a different thing. I'm not saying it is -- just trying to clarify. I recall the reference was in regards to a server who kept saying over and over again things like "every bite you take here will be a work of art" or "get ready for an extraordinary sensation of flavors". That's not stuffy -- but it IS pretentious, but I sincerely doubt all or even most waiters there would do that.

But meanwhile, we're now kind of focusing on Jean Georges for an anniversary dinner in February.

Just a word on the banquettes. I didn't realize that was such a big deal for you, but I don't think Jean Georges has any tables for two that are not banquettes. It seems to me that the tables in the middle of the room are larger. At least I've always been seated at a banquette when I've been there.

Now there are many tables for two on the edge that are no in corners, so while one person must sit on a banquette, the other sits on a chair. If that works for you, then there are many tables like that.

Doug maybe we're using different terms. When I object to "banquette seating", I'm referring to that very common arrangement in NYC of a long "bench" with a row of small tables for two, usually with 6 to 12 inches between each table. Generally one person sits on the "bench" and the other person sits in a chair facing them. Sometimes, the tables are wider and both diners sit on the "bench" side by side. But in either case there are people at a table in line with you about a foot or two away. I never feel like it is "private" dining -- it is impossible to block out the conversation from the table on either side, for example. And if the host must pull out the table to allow the person to sit on the bench because there is not enough room to get between your table and the one next to it -- then it is a MAJOR issue for me.

But the pictures I see of Jean Georges aren't like that at all. I guess you might call those separated individual alcoves "banquette seating", but none of them would require a host pulling out a table for one person to sit as there isn't enough room to walk freely between the tables. I have no problem sitting side by side -- I just don't want the person at the next table able to reach over and say "may I borrow your salt".

I hope that makes it more clear.

Here's a picture of the kind of seating for two I DISLIKE! La Grenouille:

https://www.google.com/search?q=La+G...EHztfNvXtVM%3A

What you seem to have an issue with is not the banquette itself but rather the distance between tables, and you definitely won't have any problems with that at Jean Georges. Tables are adequately spaced so you're not sitting on top of anyone.

Jean Gorges is a no-brainer.

Patrick, stop being such a DIVA and pick something.

Take off your tiara, take a deep breath and make a decision.

Thin

Thin, if you'd bother to read, you'd see we HAVE made a decision (or at least a tentative one). Four Seasons for a more "classic" yet formal evening on Saturday and Gramercy Tavern, IF we can get a reservation for Friday. OK? Then we plan on doing Jean Georges in February.


If the continued conversation bothers you or is too involved to follow, why not stop reading?

By the way, sadly the difference between a dinner that may cost a total of $300 and one that will likely cost $500 total is NOT a no brainer to all of us -- I'm glad it is to you.

<i>Thin, if you'd bother to read...</i>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zANvYB93u2g

HTtY

It sounds like a wonderful occasion, NeoPatrick and I thank you for making me think of DH's and my similar special night in 2004.

(We ate at 21 Club before the opera-Tannhauser boy was it long-and it was super. Everyone was so kind to us 2 obvious tourists. Photo shows that we were in blanquette seating.)

Gee..we've never paid much more than $200 at at jg (glasses not bottlLES of wine and he is always ON HAND an so is is his brother...you sTrike me as non-pretntions guy and will get congenial service....


I am sorry for all my tYpos as i have broken shoulder (TOO MUCH SWIMMING!) and should probabLy give up typing for a while.


These are kind and noT fussy personS AT JGl Young eager to please)l and I like the place a lot..thikniNg about the main diing room at JG, the less pricy Nougatine and food is mile above Nougatine which is just a bar with decent food......agin forgive the typing errors..

As I mentionEd, I cannot type well now but wish you a lovely dinner...Lincoln is noT even close as the the same class s JG..BUSTLING, NOISY, IN A RUSH FOR CURTIAN TIME....NOT AGIAN FOR ME.

If you mean $200 per person at Jean Georges, then I agree. But it's not really possible to do it for less.

But I get where Patrick is coming from with regard to dinner at Eleven Madison Park especially. I did that last year and probably won't go again. Not only did dinner cost a small fortune, but it was an exhausting affair. I think I just don't have the patience for a 3+ hour meal anymore.

Gramercy Tavern is great, and if you can't get a reservation, you may still want to go to the Tavern Room, which is very reasonably priced and has great food. But while the food may be very well prepared, there's nothing at all that says "fancy" or "formal" there. It's actually quite informal, even in the main restaurant. Not at all cheap but definitely informal. Kind of like Blue Hill.

ekscrunchy, the BASE price at Jean Georges is $138 per person if you don't do anything with supplements. Add tax and tip to that and you're already at $356 for two people. If you each had a $15 glass of wine (plus tax and tip on that), then I guess it is possible you got out with only $200 each -- but that's still $400 of the $500 I mentioned. I doubt that we'd restrict ourselves to just one glass each of their very cheapest wine with such a dinner -- but good for you if you managed. I honestly can't imagine us getting out for less than $500 and that's with avoiding the really enticing entrees which all have significant supplements. Fortunately the caviar (an extra $80 for two) does not particularly appeal.

Doug, I love the Tavern at Gramercy Tavern and have eaten there a few times, but it is the dining room that is "calling" to me. I'll be poised at 10 AM four weeks before to call -- and willing to take an early reservation if necessary.

Gramercy Tavern isn't the top table it used to be, but it's still very popular. If you book a table early, I think you'll be able to get a decent time. Of course, this is a Saturday night.

FYI: I've had much more luck at Danny Meyer restaurants by booking through Open Table at 12:01 am because they always have a few tables there. If that doesn't work out, then you always have the phone call the next morning to fall back on. If you have an Amex Gold card, you can also use their concierge to book a table, but it's usually a 9:30 seating.

Actually, Doug I'm looking at a Friday night. Just for fun, last Friday I went onto Open Table at 10 and tried to book for 4 weeks from then and came up with nothing available the entire evening. I could be wrong, but I don't think the availability opens up before 10 AM on Open Table, although maybe I should look at that. Although admittedly I'm sure they limit the tables they give to Open Table. And from looking a number of times, it may be that they do not give ANY tables to Open Table for booking on Friday or Saturday. In any case I'll be calling.

Some restaurants only allow OpenTable listings for Sunday through Thursday, but I've often booked Danny Meyer restaurants on weekends. I don't know if Gramercy Tavern has a different policy. But I think it's quite likely that they only allot a small number of tables to Open Table or only give them the early or late seatings. That's common.

For example, I just looked for tonight. Tables at 6 and 9:30. But that doesn't mean you'll be able to book at able on a weekend. Most Danny Meyer restaurants do have waitlists, and I've been called on many occasions when I've put my name on one. And they usually reconfirm 48 hours in advance, so that's always a good time to get cancellations.

banquette!