Mrs. Peabody and I will be in Manhattan the end of August and would like to try one of the celebrity chef restaurants. The problem is that celebrity status brings high expectations, difficult reservations, and I have been seeing too many negative reviews mixed into the expected raves. I have no illusion that Bobby Flay or Mario Batali will be chopping onions for us, but I do want a really top-notch meal.

So, has anyone on this board had useful experience at New York City celebrity restaurants? Or are there some non-celeb places that put them to shame?

Our favorite is Bouley. Especially for lunch. The prix fixe lunch menus are amazing, and they let you mix and match.

As for "negative reviews mixed into the expected raves", we're often underwhelmed, considering for the prices.

Menusonline is a good resource for restaurant reviews in NYC and selecting restaurants most appealing to you.

opentable.com is also a good resource for reservations.

I personally avoid celebrity restaurants ; a classic like Gramercy Park tavern is what I go for, I'm not a risk taker.

Since you know the celebrities won't be cooking and these places are pricey and hard to get a table, why is it you want to go? Why not just ask for a top-notch meal? I agree the tasting lunch at Bouley is terrific and good value (but Bouley may be closed end of August for vacation). Also agree with Gramercy Tavern. Eleven Madison Park is another option.

Many people do rave about the Batali restaurants, especially Babbo. If you're staying in a hotel with a concierge, maybe they can get you reservation. Otherwise, be prepared to hang on the phone a month in advance of reservation. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/375691

The cookling competitions on TV, ask for viewers to vote for their favorite chef. How the hey do you vote for a dish you SEE on TV?

The same thought can be applied to restaurants

The Celebrity restaurants where we have been such as Lupa and Cafe Mono were disappointments. Batali has a neavy hand with salt. We have a friend in the food book business, however, who thinks he is a genius.

We do like Mesa Grill but Flay's Bolo was plain awful.

We found Felidia above average but not impressive although her grandma arms lend credence.

That is a very poor percentage of successes. We also avoid trendy places.

We went to Tao because a visitor from out of town wanted to go. It was an unmitigated waste of money.

There are thousands of restaurants owned and run by people who have not been on TV, who run excellent establishments. Weathermen are on TV but I am not sure I would eat at their houses.

So, Bouley yes, Batali no, Flay probably no.

I'm interested in interesting food, and the TV shows do show intriguing ideas, so that's the source of our interest. Of course we are open to non-TV places.

Has anyone had any experience with Daniel Boulud's places, even if he isn't on TV?

Daniel is wonderful (but very pricey). Cafe Boulud is also terrific.

Batali's OTTO has fantastic designer pizzas. Mario is there about one night per week.

We had dinner again at Babbo last night - probably the 10th time in the past 5 years - once again it was very, very good - excellent service, terrific food. We reserved exactly one month before - it took about 20 minutes of redialing at 10AM last month. For a special birthday dinner - it was worth the effort. It was around $320. for 3 people, including wine, 4 courses, tax and tip.

We've been to Casa Mono and Lupa, Otto and Del Posto and always had very good experiences. (Whoops - when we tried Otto the first week it opened, it was a little ragged - we gave it a few more chances and it has improved over the years . . . )

We've enjoyed very good, consistent meals at Mesa Grill and Bar American - and had one great one and then 2 inconsistent ones at Bolo.

We actually had a very poor, overpriced meal at Bouley 2 years ago - i've been a few times and do not think I'll ever go back - it's just not my taste. I think the service and food at Chanterelle is more appealing,

I'm not sure exactly what kind of food you're looking for, or if you just want to be able to say - we went to so and so's.

I can say that if you're looking for an upscale, fine dining experience and are comfortable spending about $80 - $100 per person, I would recommend Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar and Grill, Eleven Madison Park, Picholine or Aquavit. Check out menus at www.menupages.com

Aduchamp - "grandma arms lend credence" - I had to laugh at that . . .

Glad you enjoyed the grandma arms reference.

We too find Acquavit consistently wonderful.

This ole Mississippi boy loves Restaurant Daniel. I think it's one of the top 10 restaurants in NYC. I have been many many times. If you need help getting a reservation please tell me. I know the Maitre by first name and I have his cell phone #......Cafe Buloud is equally outstanding. Speaking of celebrity chefs I had dinner at Cafe Buloud with Emeril Lagasee during a trip to NYC this past year. His wife's parents and I went to Ole Miss together. He's a very fine person to visit with. I think we stayed in Cafe Buloud 4 hours and no one bothered him the first time. Another of my favorites is Il Mulino and Eleven Madison. I like Babbo also. I also like Del Posto which is owned by Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich. We had dinner there last December and Mario and Emeril were both there at the same time. Good luck.

Speaking of top (celebrity) chefs and top restaurants, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Per Se!

Thanks for the info. I will look into your recommendations, MP. As for Per Se (and Momofuko, if anyone says), I think my price range would be exceeded. The $80-100 range, pp, plus mwine, tax tip is as high as I ythink I want to go, although maybe a bit more for Daniel (I like the menu).

I'm more interested in great food than saying "I was there." The attraction of the celebrity places is a direct result of seeing various culinary creations on TV and in print. But if even better food is available, I'm game.

If I read your last post correctly, you are putting Momofuku and Per Se in the same price range - which is incorrect. Per Se is an incredible experience - and now is around $225. per person, I think (I could be wrong) Momofuku averages around $30 without beer . . .
I love both restaurants but . . very different experiences!

If I could have dinner in any Manhattan restaurant, it would certainly be Chanterelle. The Waltucks are celebrities to me.

Harold Dieterle, winner of Top Chef (don't know if that qualifies as celebrity chef) opened a restaurant in the West Village called Perilla. I haven't tried it yet, but it's gotten some good reviews.

I've never had a bad meal at a Mario restaurants (Babbo, Lupa, Otto, and Po which he has since sold), and I've also eaten at some Flay spots. Last time I went to Mesa Grill (a few months ago) I was disappointed, but when I tried Bar Americain about a year or so ago, I did enjoy it.

We ate at Daniel this past April and it was the biggest disappointment ever. Daniel did come out of the kitchen for awhile to meet and greet. Although the restaurant was beautiful and opulent, the food was average at best, service was less than stellar, except when it came time to leave the tip, then the waiter was all over us. We are world travelers and I would never recommend Daniel.

We were totally underwhelmed with Daniel. For one thing, it's a virtual temple! Huge columns and huge flower (reminded me of a funeral) arrangements! The place was very, very loud, we did not find the menu all that appealing, and the service was perfunctory at best. Our starters were excellent, but the main courses and desserts were dismal. It was so loud that we asked for our coffee and desserts to be delivered to the lounge, which was much nicer (with friendlier service).

If you want a top-notch meal why don't you try the Four Seasons Restaurant. I went there several years ago with my two brothers after a show and thoroughly enjoyed it. We got out of there for about $300, including a $50 tip. This did not include wine, we had mixed drinks instead. I know it is a bit pricey, about $100 per person, but the food and service was top-notch and well worth the price. If you go, definitely get one of the souffle's for dessert. These have to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, so save some room.

Since you specifically asked for "celebrity chef" restaurants, I can list out a few here other than the typical Food Network chefs, yet are still consider celebrity for a few, ie. has/had a TV show. I haven't been to all of them, so I can't comment on it. The best advice I can give is, go to each of their own website and look at the sample menus, and see if it caters to your taste/style. If there's a restaurant you really want to try but it's unsure, then just go for lunch or visit their more laid back lounge/cafe/bar area, other than their formal dinning rooms.

Gordon Ramsey - Gordon Ramsay at The London in New York. Opened last year in November I think, has a formal dinning room and then there's the causal The London Bar. The Bar serves breakfast, traditional styled English Afternoon tea , snacks and cocktails.

Todd English - Olives. Located at Union Square. He closed English is Italian back in March.

Marcus Samuelsson - Aquvait and the more causal AQ Cafe inside the Scandinavian House.

Good luck and be adventurous!