Hello again, in addition to my last post. I'm trying to decide where to have our last night dinner on our trip to NY in december. The more I read, the more confused I get, and I keep on adding restaurants to the already long list...
we are in our mid 30's, we travel every year (or every 2 years) to NY and want some nice place not too expensive (per se is obviously not in our list this time...)

but with flavour for some reason (romantic like river cafe, classic american like club 21, the "it" restaurant like babbo 2 years ago...)

The restaurants that I have on my list are (at the moment):

- eleven madison (I think the most expensive of this list)
- Gramercy Tavern
- One if by Land
- Grenouille
- Spice Market
- Jean Georges
- Gotham
- Cafe Boulud

What do you think?

You should try and get reservations for Nougatine for lunch. One of the great food values in NYC. I like Boulud and Gotham. But I assure when this topic is done, you will not receive any clear answer.

I don't think 11 Madison Park is necessarily the most expensive. Grenouille, Jean Georges and Cafe Boulud are right up there. Grenouille is more traditional (some would say old fashioned) while the other 2 are more modern. I think most locals would tell you On if by Land is mediocre food and not worthy of the list. I'd replace it with Blue Hill or Annisa, both very well regarded romantic Americans in the village.

But you should have a look at this for newer places. http://nymag.com/restaurants/whereto...rest-sub-where

I love Spice Market and it's Asian street food menu. The setting and interior design is beautiful too.
Also, I find it's easier to get a reservation there thn some of than some of the others on your list.

I think One if by Land is very tired.

Grenouille is a classic - very pretty and good food - but perhaps too much ladies who lunch. (That was my second "nice" lunch when I stated working 30 year ago - right after Four Seasons.) It hasn't changed much - but then it doesn't need to.

Have you checked out the menus in detail? sometimes I find that helps mae a selection.

Bookmarking.

Warren (Adu) directs you to Nougatine (adjoining Jean-Georges) for a prix-fixe lunch, a good idea. But, since you want dinner, I suggest you avoid its prix-fixe. They've changed it from four courses to three and drastically simplified the menu: one entrée choice (of two) is a cheeseburger. Probably pretty good, but hardly fare for a "last night' dinner.

mclaurie's suggestions of Blue Hill and Annisa are worthy. However, in my opinion, Blue Hill suffers from its almost complete dependence on sustainable food sources to the exclusion of anything else. It's as though chef/owner Dan Barber is on some kind of crusade. I believe Annisa is a better choice. It's unique in that it is owned and operated by women and features wines solely from woman-owned vineyards. A relatively intimate space on Barrow Street (near OIBLTIBS, which isn't anywhere near Annisa's class), recently reopened to great acclaim after a sixth-month or so closure because of a kitchen fire. Excellent, knowledgeable and relaxed service. Not an easy reservation, so be vigilant.

Other places not on your list that we've recently enjoyed greatly are Telepan, A Voce Madison and Estiatorio Milos. Give them a look; you may want to choose one of them.

And, don't overlook Del Posto, recently awarded four stars by Sam Sifton, restaurant critic for The New York Times. We haven't dined there since that accolade, but it's been terrific every time we have been there.

If I were choosing solely from your list, I'd pick Eleven Madison Park, one of NYC's best. Vongerichten has been known to "phone in" his presence, so Jean-Georges slips a bit. OIBL and Spice market aren't in the same class as the others. The rest are all exemplary and you really won't go wrong with any of them.

Remember to be mindful of reservation deadlines. It makes sense, especially at holiday time, to call ahead just to find out when the reservation book opens. Each place is different: some begin reserving four weeks ahead, some a month. Some open the book at 9 a.m., some at midnight online. Always worth a call to avoid disappointment.

I think that you are neglecting the site of one of my best dinners last year: The Modern Dining Room. It would be perfect for you given your parameters.

http://www.themodernnyc.com/




Out of that list, I would certainly skip One if By Land. I am not a fan of Blue Hill.

I AM a fan of Jean Georges and Gotham. I've not been to the "new" Eleven Madison Park so cannot comment on the current scene there.

How about Asiata? It's at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. You can have a really nice view of the Central Park and the Columbus Circle.

After reading all the comments, taking a look at the menus and reasearching, I've narrowed the list to the following 4:

- Eleven Madison
- Gramercy Tavern
- Grenouille
- Gotham

The modern looks very nice, but I've seen that that night is the "free teen night at the MOMA) so it might bee crowdier than usual... Asiate looks very nice and we'll try and have a drink or breakfast there. I found Annisia to be original, but prefer the menus os the 4 listed above

How can I choose? All four seem fine!!!

When I choose one I'll try to get the hotel concierge make the reservation for us. Is there anything I should tell him? if there are more than one dinning room, the best sitting area, etc... so it's important first to choose one and then to see what to tell the concierge!!

THANKS again!!!

I don't frequent these types of establishments when I travel, mostly because I don't have a willing partner, but also because I am usually loathe to spend so much money on a meal which could be great but could also be mediocre.

That said, I did read, by chance, yesterday in the New York Times on-line (and I just checked again now and could not find it), that at Jean Georges there was quite a ruckus when a large cockroach walked across the table of some diners.

We all know that cockroaches will outlive eternity, but it seems just a bit too much for this to happen in a place like that, no?

Carlotta: A "free teen" night at the museum will have absolutely no effect at The Modern Dining Room. The restaurant is separate from the museum and in no way does it resemble a typical "museum restaurant."

I just reserved the Modern for a celebration dinner for the second year in a row.


I would advise you to look into the recent changes at 11 Madison PArk and see if you are all right with the new format before you book.

Grenouille is the last survivor of the formal French restaurants that no longer exist in this city. It has a much "older" feel than the other places. Food is good and the place is beautiful but in no way is it "classic American, or in the 'It" category. For many that is a good thing, but with your parameters, I think it might not be the best fit for you.

ok then...I'll "change" the list and choose between these four:
- Eleven Madison
- Gramercy Tavern
- The Modern
- Gotham

Now you have a great list and one that will be difficult to winnow down to one! Interestingly, three of the four are Danny Meyer restaurants. He is a restaurant owner/manager known for welcoming service and excellent food.


http://www.unionsquarehospitalitygroup.com/





But you have other nights--where else do you plan to eat??

this time we are splitting our trip in 2: first we go to Miami, than fly to nyc. we arrive on wednesday (I thought earlier but it seems like at 3-4pm), I'm still thinking where we'll have dinner but it'll be probably near the hotel (midtown) on thursday we want to have lunch at peter luger and then have tickets to see spiderman (we'll have post theatre dinner but not too special dinner) we leave on saturday afternoo, so we just have Friday night left....

You know those are really four of NYCs best restaurants so you will be fine at any of them....


Are you from Spain?

Yes!! I know but it's hard to choose just one!!! Yes!! I'm spanish!!

Ok..you still have weeks before you can book any of these places. Let's see if you get more comments. Really, each one is excellent.

I am headed to MAdrid in January so will be looking for advice on eating in that city soon!

Going to Peter Lugars which is in Brooklyne before a matinee seems terribly rushed to me.

You might be able to make a 3pm matinee after eating at Peter Lugar's (although I would hate to have to sit through a show with such a big, heavy meal inside me) but there is no way you could make a 2 pm matinee. (You would have to be out of Peter Lugar by 1:15 at the very latest and I don;t see how you could do justice to the meal/experience in so little time.)