Like Per Se but not stuffy

Per Se is actually pretty friendly compared to its peers. Daniel, Jean Georges, and Le Bernardin have a more reserved service style. The last time I dined at Eleven Madison Park a few months ago the servers were quite reserved as well.

Maybe Del Posto? The service wasn't stuffy at all when I dined there.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Dinner for one near Park Central Hotel

It would be helpful to state your food budget before drinks, tax and tip since there are many high end places that you might like around 56th St. and 7th Ave. Per Se, Le Bernardin, and Jean Georges are iconic though it will be tough getting a reservation for Wednesday.

You might look into:

The Modern
Picholine
Lincoln
Marea

Let us know if you have a specific cuisine in mind or if you would prefer something casual.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Have $50-$75 to spend on dinner for one. Want something fun/interesting, possibly a tasting menu.

If your $50 to $75 budget excludes drinks, tax, and tip, then:you might try Lincoln, which has a 4 course menu for $75. Colicchio & Sons and Telepan offer 4 course menus for $69. Also look into the tasting menus at Babbo.

If not, Torrisi would be a great choice. Tori Shin has a multicourse omakase for $55. You could also do the 3 course pre-theater menu for $55 at Boulud Sud and supplement it with small plates.

Other ideas: Casa Mono, Boqueria, Txikito.

If you're dining on Sunday, Maialino is now offering a 5 course pasta tasting menu for $55.
http://maialinonyc.com/CMS/files/global/uploads/MAIALINO_PASTA_MENU.pdf

fm1963 in Manhattan

Kin Shop Review (Thai Fried Chicken)

I had dinner there last Friday and according to my server the fried chicken has been pulled off the menu for now but should be back soon. The fluke with shiso, fried broccoli, and braised goat were amazing.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Babbo dish recommendations please (researched)!!

This is a great list. My only sub would be lamb's brain francobolli for the bolognese. The bolognese is decent but it's such a common dish, whereas you wonl't find lamb's brain francobolli anywhere else in the city.

The last time I was there they let us order a la carte portions from their tasting menu (not all of the tasting menu dishes appear on the regular menu), so that's something to keep in mind as well.

The pig's foot milanese is the same as crispy pig's foot, deboned.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Breakfast near the Ace

The Breslin is open for breakfast.
http://thebreslin.com/i/menu-breakfast.pdf

fm1963 in Manhattan

Looking for a restaurant in mid-town for a BREAKFAST meeting

Try Ai Fiori.

fm1963 in Manhattan

The Modern

Thanks for the report. I've been meaning to return to The Modern Dining Room so it's nice to read a recent review!

fm1963 in Manhattan

Dinner after NYU Graduation nights

Given your preferences, you might enjoy:

Marc Forgione
Mas (la grillade)
Perla (they will take reservations for six and have a large booth by the bar)
Colicchio & Sons
Millesime
Manzo
Minetta Tavern
Empellon Taqueria or Cocina

fm1963 in Manhattan

Best Octopus in Manhattan?

The new octopus prep at Lincoln is great - grilled octopus, crispy potatoes, and tapenade. I liked it even better than the previous braised version.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Best dishes at Congee Village Allen Street

Try the house special chicken. The congee is good too.

fm1963 in Manhattan

NYC - 2 people visiting from CA - suggestions?

This is a broad request. If you can specify your food budget, before drinks, tax and tip, you'd probably get some useful responses.

That said, for under $250 per person you can pretty much dine at any of the top restaurants if you order the prix fixe and a couple of glasses of wine. The exceptions would be Per Se, Masa, and the Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare.

Here are some restaurants that my friends from California have found memorable:

Jean Georges
Le Bernardin
Corton
Minetta Tavern
Marea
Babbo
The Modern
WD-50
Sugiyama
Junoon
Casa Mono

-----
WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Sugiyama
251 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

Junoon
27 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

fm1963 in Manhattan

Best Octopus in Manhattan?

2nd Marea. Both dishes are delicious.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Jiro Dreams of Sushi - the movie.

Fascinating documentary. It's playing at Lincoln Plaza Cinema in NYC.

fm1963 in Food Media & News

Where should I eat on my 30th birthday?

You could call Babbo the day before for any cancellations. Babbo has also been tweeting last minute openings: https://twitter.com/#!/BabboRistorante

fm1963 in Manhattan

Where should I eat on my 30th birthday?

Since you liked the other Batali restaurants, I think you'll enjoy Babbo, his most personal restaurant. It's one of a kind. Great food and service.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Tribeca brunch or lunch?

Locanda Verde

-----
Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

fm1963 in Manhattan

Where should I eat on my 30th birthday?

Have you tried Babbo?

-----
Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

fm1963 in Manhattan

Willing to make time to try NYC's BEST Southern Fried Chicken - But Where??!!

I felt the same way about the fried chicken at The Dutch in Miami. I'm assuming that they used the same recipe as The Dutch in Soho, but maybe I'm wrong.

I liked the fried chicken at Blue Ribbon Brasserie though I can't claim that it's the best since I haven't been to most of the places mentioned in this thread.

Underwhelmed with Red Rooster, but others seem to like it.

-----
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
97 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

fm1963 in Manhattan

Exciting restaurant for dinner tonight?

How about WD-50?

I haven't tried Acme or Empellon Cocina yet, but they just opened and might be what you're looking for. The online buzz and tweets seem positive for both restaurants

-----
WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

fm1963 in Manhattan

Good place to dine after the theater, solo

"In New York City, you can have a fabulous time, if it's your choice to do so, almost anywhere."

Yes indeed.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Per Se or Eleven Madison Park?

I'd choose Per Se. But if you've been to French Laundry, then Eleven Madison Park.

-----
Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010

fm1963 in Manhattan

Restaurants settled! Now, need recommendations for Best French Pastry and Gourmet Food Stores!

The TKO cookie's great. Thanks for the tip!

fm1963 in Manhattan

The Best Tiramisu I Ever Had is at Osteria Morini

Tiramisu is still on the online menu, and the price has dropped to $11.00.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Lunch midtown west or uws this fri

How about Benoit for French bistro fare? Or maybe La Silhouette.

-----
Benoit
60 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

La Silhouette
362 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

fm1963 in Manhattan

Vegetarian-friendly but not exclusively vegetarian restaurants

Cafe Boulud and Babbo have quite a few vegetarian options. Ciano, Perilla, Lincoln, Balaboosta, Osteria Morini, Lupa and Hearth usually have at least one vegetarian pasta as well as vegetarian sides and appetizers.

I've also had delicious vegetarian entrees at Joseph Leonard, Whitehall, Junoon, Nuela, Empellon, Yerba Buena Perry, and La Silhouette.

For high end, Per Se and Picholine will accommodate vegetarian requests.

In addition to Tertulia and The Breslin, the Momofuku restaurants don't seem to cater to vegetarians.

fm1963 in Manhattan

Baby-friendly restaurant in UWS?

Maybe Landmarc at the Time Warner Center?

http://landmarc-restaurant.com/menu.php?which=Dinner&menu_id=4

-----
Landmarc
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

fm1963 in Manhattan

Best early Saturday lunch

If you also like black truffles, here are two alternatives to EMP:

Ai Fiori - braised veal agnolotti with butternut squash and black truffle ragu (this dish also had black truffle shavings the last time I ordered it)

Cafe Boulud - agnolotti with black truffles (I haven't tried this dish)

As an alternative to Keens, Wolfgang's is open for lunch on Saturday.

-----
Cafe Boulud
20 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021

Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018

Wolfgang's
4 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016

Ai Fiori
400 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

fm1963 in Manhattan

50th Birthday Dinner - Funky and Reasonable

The Breslin is a great choice. If you want a funky (unique) dessert experience:

Spot
Kyotofu
Momofuku Milk Bar
Cafe Sabarsky
Lady M
Minamoto Kitchoan

-----
Kyotofu
705 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Cafe Sabarsky
1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

Minamoto Kitchoan
608 5th Ave, New York, NY 10020

Momofuku Milk Bar
251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

Spot Dessert Bar
13 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

fm1963 in Manhattan