Where’s the best Fine Dining Restaurants in New York City?
February 28, 2010 by
Filed under new york fine dining
My girlfriend and I are going to have a year together and I want to make it special. I’m looking for a good romantic place where it’s a must to dress elegantly (suits for the men and dresses for the ladies, something like that), the food is a great and the price is modestly or at least reasonably priced. I’ve been looking all over the net but I’ve been having a hard time. Any recommendations?
consider London’s. it may be pricey, but it’s very elegant/
Here’s a list of NYC restaurants that have been awarded 3 Michelin stars (to get even one star is considered a major achievement in the culinary world):
1) Alain Ducasse (I think this is currently undergoing a relocation so it’s not open for business yet)
2) Jean-Georges
3) Le Bernardin
4) Per Se
The Gordon Ramsay at the London is also good as the other reviewer suggested. It’s a 2 star Michelin restaurant.
if you want to go to a place like you’ve described, you’ll have to spend a little money.
an old favorite of mine is Café des Artistes, West 67th Street and Central Park West.
You have to be more specific about “reasonably priced”. Exactly how much is your budget? New York, Paris and maybe London are considered the top foodworthy cities on the planet. A restaurant that requires elegant dress is going to be, by definition, an expensive proposition. All the restaurants listed so far, with the exception of Cafe des Artistes and the Gordon Ramsay, at least encourage elegant dress. I have eaten at Le Bernardin twice; both times cost $200 per person. I ate at Jean Georges once; the price was $185 per person (with a gift certificate). Per se will be over $200 per person (and is next on my list for a special occasion). Alain Ducasse is currently closed but would be more more than $200 per person. Four other “elegant” restaurants come to mind: Daniel, Bouley, Nobu and Aureole. I have eaten at all of them and they are also in the $200 per person range, if not more. You can reduce your bill by foregoing alcohol (my costs definitely included good wine), but then I expect the “special” factor would also decline.
Please note that one of New York’s most recent restaurant trends is the move towards a more casual atmosphere, including cuisine and dress. Thus, the number of restaurants that have a dress code is declining. I humbly suggest that you can have a special experience at an excellent restuarant that doesn’t require elegant dress (and is also more reasonably priced). If you choose the right restaurant, the fact that you are dressed up and others are not will not affect your experience nor your fellow diners’ experience.
My personal recommendation is Etats Unis (25 Zagat rating, one star Michelin rating) on the Upper East Side. I think this restaurant is the best kept secret in New York. I found out about this restaurant through a friend who took me there. I subsequently read a quote by Eric Ripert, the executive chef at Le Bernardin (mentioned above, and the site of the two best meals I have ever enjoyed), who called Etats Unis “a hidden jewel of New York”. The restaurant serves market driven New American food, which means that the menu changes frequently. Now that Bill Yosses has left New York and become the White House pastry chef, Etats Unis has, in my humble opinion, hands down the tastiest desserts in the city (please note the date pudding, key lime cheesecake and lemon pudding). You can bring your own wine for a $35 corkage fee, which is more than reasonable for a good bottle. When I bring my own bottle, my bill has always been around $100 a person (I have been at least a half dozen times). I have recommended Etats Unis to friends for birthdays and anniversaries, to universal acclaim.
Whatever route you choose, salut!
La Grenouille