Well, where to begin? This was an amazing dining experience. Let me start by saying that this was ridiculously expensive, but we knew that going in, & were going to enjoy it, budget be damned! Everything is prix fixe. The absolute cheapest you can get out of there for is $155 per person--drinking only water & tipping 15% on food only.

Enter under the big 'Jazz' sign on 60th & Broadway. The elevators to the 4th floor are on your right. It is a big mezzanine type level with PerSe on one end and Jean George's Steakhouse,'V', on the other. In the middle is Masa's and Masa's sushi bar. There is also Randy Gerber's bar, Stone Rose, next to the steakhouse. Everything is very classy and just shouts-MONEY! Ca-ching. Felt a little Vegas-ish.

PerSe-The space is gorgeous. All natural tones of beige, tan, gold, brown, and white. Natural woods, marble, mosaic. Beautiful view of Central Park from all 16 tables. Tables are all round and nicely spaced. Noise level was non-existant (no shouting across the table). All the men wore jackets and ladies work short dresses or nice pants.

The bathrooms are stunning and the bar area seems like a nice, quiet place for a drink.

There are 2 menues that change daily, the dinner menu for $125 per person or the 9 course chef's menu for $150 per person. We were 5 people at the table. 4 ordered the chef's and 1 ordered the regular, so I saw (and tasted) both. The chef's menu is by far superior in value and in assortment.
We also had 3 bottles of reasonably priced wine. Total per peron with the wine & 20% tip was $242.

This is the first time I ever ordered a 9 course tasting and loved every single course. If you are interested in the food, keep reading (but watch the drool!) This is just the chef's menu which I thought was the one worth typing out. I will type the regular one if anyone is interested and asks for it.

Chef's amuse-cone of salmon & creme freche 'ice cream'
1. Sabayon of Pearl Tapioca w/Island Creek Oysers & Iranian Ossetra Caviar.
2. Salad of roasted mission figs, marinated fennel bulb, sweet Holland peppers & fennel-balsamic vinaigrette. (Or you could have foie gras for $20 supplement).
3. Sauted filet of mediterranean rouget, applewood smoked bacon lardons, vallarta beans, glazed pearl onions and confit of lemon.
4. Nova Scotia lobster tail w/split English peas, chanterelle mushrooms & garden mint.
5. Juniper glazed Cavendish Farms quail w/endive marmalade & granny smith apple puree.
6. Snake River Farms calotte de boeuf grillee w/wild asparagus confit of fingerling potatoes, upland cress salad & sauce mignonette (this was unbelievable).
7. Grazalema cheese w/slow poached bing cherries, Blue Moon Acres mezza arugula & Sicilian pistachi Vinaigrette.
8. Berry sorbet w/summer berry consomme.
9. Milk chocolate cremeux, hazelnut streusel w/condensed milk sorbet, sweetened salty hazelnuts & pain au lait sauce.
2 plates of assorted merangues, chocolates, mini tarts.
And then we were rolled away.
We got there at 7, and had drinks. Sat and ordered by 8. Rolled out at 11:30.

While this isn't for everyone, and not something you'd do all the time, it is absolutely fantastic for a special occasion. They even have a fireplace to go with the view! I have to say, this meal was better than the meals at The French Laundry and Alain Ducasse. First class on every level. Going to the gym now!

Oops. Forgot that there is also a vegetarian menu for $135. I have a copy of that is well if anyone is interested.

Holy Cow I couldn't be more jealous. How far ahead do you have to make resies?

Mmmmmmm....

2 months to the date.

That was cruel.

What was the special occasion bugswife? Not that you need one to treat yourself like a queen, I'm terribly jealous!

Actually, no occasion. But, our original reservation was for March 22nd, right after they opened. Then they had a fire about 2 weeks before the 22nd and were closed until just recently. They called everyone who had a reservation during the time that they were closed, and let us all reschedule before opening up their books again to the rest of the public.

We are just food junkies. We belong to James Beard house and have to go to every nice restaurant that opens in NY. Some people take drugs.........

I might have to ask you to translate the menu into English (ah, to live in the hinterlands ) I recognize pearl onions and chocolate but not 'Sabayon'(1st course) and 'rouget' (3rd course).

If you have the chance could you post the veggie menu. Would love to see if it's vegan or consists of 'swimming vegetables' on the menu.

Bugswife, I am so jealous. Am currently trying to decide between Per Se, V Steakhouse (did you happen to get an impression when you walked by?) and Jean Georges for the annual Bonus Blowout. (Although after my trip to Italy next week, I may not be able to afford it!) Question about the tasting menu - did you get the impression that they would be willing to modify it a little? My bfriend is allergic to shellfish, although I think that lobster course sounds divine...

ncgrrl- sabayon is like tapioca pudding. I have no idea what the pearl is in the description, as in pearl tapioca, but it was great. The oysters were swimming in it, with a generous scoop of caviar on top. heaven on earth. Rouget is a fish. Tasted a bit like red snapper, but firmer.

The vegetarian menu:

9 courses for $135
1. Sweet carrot soup with carrot 'roe' and curry 'mousse'.
2. Jicama ribbons w/Haas Avocado Emulsion, Persian Lime gelee & cilantro sprouts.
3. Warm salad of jumbo green asparagus w/Satur Farms radish, garden mache, & Perigord Truffles. Oh yum!
4. Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms w/red wine glazed Walla Walla shallots, Savoyard spinach & red wine-port reduction.
5. Gateau D'Aubergine-tomato confit, nicoise olives, country bread croutons, roasted sweet peppers, spring garlic coulis, & shaved basil.
6. Hand rolled Trilli-soft scrambled Zvi's hen egg & summer truffles.
7. Azeitao-Spring 3 bean salad w/rosemary infused extra virgin olive oil.
8. English cucumber sorbet w/marinated summer melons and cream cheese coulis.
9. Cube Magique Au Chocolat-valrhona white chocolate & yogurt cremeux, sirop au caramel et au chocolat Amer, & chocolate sorbet.
10. Assorted meranges, tarts, truffles.

KikiLee - the waiter advised us that the chef is more flexible on the chef's tasting menu than on the regular dinner tasting menu, but I got the impression that they are willing to try anything to make you happy.

V - looks gorgeous. They were closed so I could not get in to see the menu though. I have heard that they have the usual steakhouse fare, plus typical Jean George stuffs that you won't find anywhere. Foie gras seems to be his plaything of the moment, now that he has stepped away from 'foam'. Will post the regular dinner menu in another reply and get it over with since I have the menu in my hands.

Dinner tasting. $125, 5 courses. Full size plates.
1st Course choice of:
Cappucino of forest mushrooms, pearl tapioca, mushroom 'biscotti'.

Salad of French white asparagus, soft boiled Zvi's pheasant egg, garden mache, green asparagus coulis, & brioche croutons..

English pea agnolotti w/ Lolla Rosa lettuce, split peas, applewood smoked bacon & summer truffles.

Sauteed Florida frog's legs w/ajo bianco, green almonds, crispy capers, & pickled grapes.

Softshell Chesapeake Bay Crab w/confit of tomato, toasted brioche, frisee salad & French pickle sauce.

Pied de Cochon-slow braised Eden Farms Berkshire Pig's Trotter (that's feet!) w/ ragout of French Green Lentils & aged red wine vinegar sauce.

Confit of Moulard duck foie gras-Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, poached Big Island Lychees, black pepper gastrique & Molokai Black Salt ($20 supplement)

Choices for 2nd course:

Pan Roasted Chatham Bay Cod w/olive oil poached russet potatoes, caramelized spring onions, preserved quail egg & tarragon vinaigrette.

Saffron Poached Halibut, fleur de courgette farcie avec legumes de provence, & black olive oil emulsion.

Grilled Atlantic Grey Sole w/jumbo green asparagus, trumpet royale mushrooms & sauce bordelaise (serves 2)

Choices for 3rd Course:

Tasting of Hallow Farms Young Rabbit w/applewood smoked bacon, sweet carrot puree, sugar snap peas, and rabbit jus.

Aiguillette of Liberty Valley Peking Duck Breast w/forest mushrooms, wilted arrowleaf spinach, sauteed Hudson Valley Moulard Duck Foie Gras, & pickled ramp vinaigrette.

Chateaubriand of Four Story Hills Farm Nature Fed Veal w/globe artichokes en barigoule, tomato confit, nicoise olives, & Sauce Gremolata (serves 2)

Choices for 4th course:

Petit Fiance -celery branch salad, candied hazelnut, summer truffles & hazelnut vinaigrette.

Tarentais-carmelized onion pierogi, scallion salad & onion soubise.

Bellwether Farms Pecorino & Ricotta Ravioli w/extra virgin olive oil & al profumo del Chianti.

Persille du Beaujolais-poached Santa Rosa plums, upland cress, & honey tuile.

Choices for 5th course:

Yuzu Bavarois et son gateau - mango pate de fruit & sweet garden cilantro sorbet.

Creamsicle-orange-scented vanilla ice cream w/valrhona chocolate crunch.

Alsatian Rhubarb tart w/ brown butter frangipane & poached California rhubarb w/creme fraiche ice cream.

Crispy sweet polenta w/roasted mission figs, mascarpone sorbet & sangria syrup.

Saveurs Exotiques - passion fruit creme chiboust, lime gelee & braised pineapple ravioli w/passion fruit ice cream & Persian lime syrup.

Declinaison au chocolat et au cafe-valrhona chocolate brownie, milk chocolate ganache, coffee ice cream & caramel chocolate croustillant.

Assort tarts, truffles, merangues.

Notes: Even if you all pick a different menu (5 courses, 9 courses), they make it all come out so that everyone is done at the same time. Amazing. Also, this menu changes nightly, and sometimes twice during the night if the chef decides he is unhappy with an ingredient.

Whew. Got my workout for the day : - )

I'm hungry....

oooohhhhhhh. I'll start saving now . . . .

I've heard others say it's wonderful - quite remarkable coming from some very jaded NYers. . .
Thanks bugswife - it's on the list for my next birthday - should soften the blow of turning 50!

Bugswife..Stop it at once!

topping for recent inquiry.
Also, have been to V Steak since then--for lunch. I liked it at lunch time, very lively and nice views. We shared a huge burger and some salad. Much more reasonable than the full blown steak dinner and an experience that was just as nice.
Now, don't get me started on Cafe Gray down the hall. Eat at the bar if you have to, but it is a definite to put on the list of 'musts'.