Re ABC Kitchen (am I the only one who thinks is spectacularly ordinary?) and Jean-Georges, even though J-G is involved with ABC Kitchen, I see virtually no similarity in the restaurants. Jean-Georges is really quite good; ABC Kitchen is a regular restaurant IMHO. One is a gastronomic restaurant, another is a good, ordinary place.
Any one have a current read on La Grenouille? I had always wanted to go there, then forgot about it, and then saw an article in one of the food magazines a year or two ago that restored my interest. I know it’s been there forever, and I know it is formal, but is it good? What well known restaurant would you compare it to for overall experience (quality of food, ambiance, price, service, etc.).
I had dinner there a couple of years ago. All the men were in bespoke business suits, the women in Chanel outfits.
Very good. Less expensive than one might fear, given the formal ambiance. Not a place for boisterous celebrations,
just genteel supping. Solicitous service, especially for regular diners. Traditional French haute cuisine.
So how much, without wine or drinks? I’ve been looking for a good reason to wear that Chanel hanging in the closet.
I liked ABC kitchen a bit more than Wilf, but agree it has nothing to do with Jean Georges.
Why not Marea for dinner?
For lunch bargain, if you don’t want Jean Georges, consider Toqueville. I went twice for lunch in the last year, very impressive (was there several years ago for dinner, wasn’t wowed, this was much much better and a real bargain).
It’s not that Marea is a bad choice for dinner, it is that the lunch is a steal. And some great places don’t serve lunch.
The point of my ABC/JG comment was not that the restaurants were particularly alike, but more, with all of the great restaurants in the city, I’m assuming one visiting for a brief period of time wouldn’t want two dinners at restaurants that were the vision of the same chef.
Merrill-We ate at La Grenouille last year. Food and service were excellent.
About $85 per person.
the dinner menu is now $102.00 and there is a prix fixe pre theater menu for $70.00 for dining before 6pm
without tip tax and beverages
Suzanne - so is it worth the visit? Price is not bad at all.
I don’t have recent experience.
La Grenouille is a classic 1970’s upscale French restaurant that maintains traditions of service, presentation, and cuisine that are rare today . I loved it when I went to NYU in the 70’s and I loved revisiting it recently.
Thanks - kind of what I was expecting from the article I read. Not this trip, then, but my next trip for sure.
I don’t think you’d know they were the vision of the same chef if you hadn’t been told. I don’t really see any similarity.
Wilf, are you sure? Whenever I see Shake Shack I think of Gramercy Tavern :>)
Regardless, there are thousands of restaurants in NYC - kind of silly to not completely depart. I wouldn’t recommend visiting two of Chang’s places on a short trip, either.
Wilfred - have you made it to Atera yet?
How about for a business dinner maybe seven or eight people some foodies most not?
How about the Modern?
Sadly, I haven’t. I’ve heard terrific things though.
One more plug for Jean Georges–they’re doing very nice things. Chang’s places ARE kind of alike. There’s a strong similarity running through all of them. I don’t experience that with Jean George (who lends his name and signs off on the menu to LOTS of places in which investors wish to put their money). Barry’s (purposefully exaggerated) example has some truth to it–like not going to Gramercy Tavern because one has been to Shake Shack. OK, a bit of hyperbole there, but take this example: not going to J-G because one has gone to Spice Market. There’s almost NO similarity in those two places, yet both list J-G as the top chef of record.
Sorry for beating a dead horse but I guess I don’t want you to miss out on a great experience needlessly. OK, I’ll shut up now.
Was there for lunch about a year ago. Very good indeed, but definitely a notch below the (previous) EMP. Pretty noisy room, though.