HELP! Planning last-night-in-NYC dinner. Would love your input!
 

Hi Everyone,
 
We will be relocating to the West coast and wanted to do a final special dinner in NYC before leaving.
 
We are doing a toast at Penn Top bar (bar at the top of Peninsula Hotel) around sunset. Then wanted to do our dinner afterwards.
 
Looking for nice NYC crowd, great-looking decor, comfortable seating, very good food and competent service. Decent acoustics too (not super-blasting music!)
 
Please weigh in on which you'd pick and why:
 
1) BLT PRIME -- because of the nice food and atmosphere; seems like a fun New Yorkers' restaurant;
 
2) ASIATE -- great view; we're not as sure about the food, service or crowd;
 
3) KITTICHAI -- high marks for its space; not certain about food and service consistency;
 
4) BOULEY -- perhaps dining in the Red Room; heard good things about their tasting menu;
 
5) FOUR SEASONS -- a NY Classic; would love to hear feedback from anyone who's been...
 
Also, WE LIKE PLACES THAT FEEL "LOFTY", cavernous with high ceilings, as opposed to that closed-in bistro feeling.
 
THANKS A MILLION!!

topping for restaurant advice

Lofty cavernous is usually very noisy.

Bouley would be my favorite out of that bunch however it has been some time since I've eaten at The Four Seasons.

There is nothing like the service at the Four Seasons.

Congrats and good luck on your move, betty!

Our last dinner in NYC was at an old favorite where we said goodby to the owners and those we had seen over the years..it is hard to leave :)

Hi Scarlett!

Where was your last NYC dinner? (From your post, it sounded like it was not at the Four Seasons.)

Oh, and thanks to GoTravel!!

Hmmm. When you mention "lofty" and cavernous high ceilings plus something very New York, I thought of Gotham Bar and Grill, sitting near the "Statue of Liberty".

I agree with Patrick on this one. You are describing Gotham. Good luck with the move.

From your choices, Bouley would be the the one that represent true fine dining experience in NYC.

Four Seasons has been referred to as a "big letdown" or has had some consistently unfavorable reviews over the last few years.

Gotham Bar & Grill, hands down.

Well, it's not on your list and I've never been (but will be going in December) but how about the River Cafe? We're going based on many recommendations on this and other travel sites and I think that dinner with a beautiful view of Manhattan and then a walk 'home' over the Brooklyn Bridge sounds like the perfect good-bye.

Thanks to all your replies! What makes GOTHAM special aside from the space? (I have never heard anything particularly good about their food, and have only bad things about the snooty hostess/reservationist.)

Just curious...

As for The Four Seasons: I've heard several times that The Pool Room is very beautiful and the food (and Grand Marnier souffle) very good too.

Gotham has been renowned for the food created by chef Alfred Portale for about 20 years....Zagat gave it a 27 for food last year. It consistently ranks among the best in NY with readers of that guide.

Thanks, crunchy!

Bettyo, I can't imagine anyone complaining about the food at GB&G, and I personally have never had any of the staff be anything but pleasant and professional.

"What makes GOTHAM special aside from the space? (I have never heard anything particularly good about their food. . ."

Huh? That's hard to believe. Alfred Portale started the "towering food" idea, where ingredients are stacked -- the concept that has become almost a standard among fine and trendy restaurants around the country.

In addition to what ekscruchy said, here are just a few quoted comments from Zagat. I can't imagine anyone NOT raving about the food, although it isn't a "grand" or "pretentious" restaurant.

"art on a plate"
"inspired" (referring to food)
"stellar service"
"tops in every detail"