Thanks-
$100. prix fixe is food only!
Wine def. extra-

I am hosting a birthday/retirement party for my saintly husband in the spring. We will be coming from away and joining others in Manhattan.

Classical French or Italian cooking preferred, open to American intrepretation of such. Farm to table a nice touch. Excellent and deep wine list a must. Private dining room required, no interest in watching chef cook. $100. or under prix fixe target.

My boots on the ground NYC foodie has suggested:

Jean-George
Craft
Il Buco
Marea
Gramercy Tavern
Picholine

Comments, reviews other suggestions most welcome.
Thank you!

Appreciated suggestions for dinner reservations. Our trip was late September. Had a good meal at 555, service, so so, wine list, fairly priced, food, good. Superb meal at Bresca, excellent service, unusal wines on list, food was creative and delicious and the chef was getting married the next day. A tiny dining room however. Street and Co. - should have stayed at the bar eating oysters and drinking martinis- dining room, hot, crowded and food, so so. Yummy fish sandwich and a Geary's ale at Portland Lobster Co. for lunch. Caiola's has a great Sunday brunch, better make a reservation- take home a polenta cookie. Check out Rabelais- foodie bookshop down the street from Bresca and next door to Hugo's which we will try next time. Also heard good things about Emilista and Evangeline. Portland is blessed with many fine restaurants, we shall return!

Just made a reservation at Bresca- report will be forthcoming. Has anyone been to the newish Greek restaurant Emilista? Cheers!

Thanks! 555 is an old and reliable on my list, same for Street and Co. Anybody tried Evangeline or Bresca? Merci.

3 day stay, 2 nights for good dining in late September. What is new and fresh or still good and reliable? Interesting wine list is a bonus, creative cooking, welcome! Thanks.

Thanks, checked out the Olde Hickory Brewery. Delicious fish and chips, very lightly battered and not greasy at all, good slaw. Wonderful fresh brewed beer, very refreshing. Sweet student waitress took good care of me, always appreciated by single gal looking for good chow.
Next time, may have to check out that desert bar at the Holiday Inn- sounds amazing!

Single gal looking for good chow in Hickory. Dining early, comfortable atmosphere, open Sunday pls. Suggestions?

Good point about Michelin Guide rating, after all they do know French food and what La Grenouille served a few nights ago to our table was a pale and very poor imitation. The kir was so-so, the glass of Pol Roger, lovely. The fish quenelles tasted like water and the lobster and tarragon ravioli were way too salty and a very meager portion for which one pays a $15.00 supplement. It's summertime- can't they find strawberries that are not white in the center which is what garnished the so called vacherin desert. My husband asked about the cheese course- it is indeed only a very pitiful 3 cheeses (by this point in our sad meal my food savvy son asked if one of the cheeses was boursin). No one at the table was impressed by their meal and we rated the food about a C-. The room is pretty but the highly vaunted flower arrangements are mainly notable for their ordinary but high quality plant material not arranged in any especially creative manner. The service is too familiar and jokey and plates are cleared before everyone at table is finished- in France, they send waiters to the guillotine for such a crime. The room was full on a Thursday night. The head waiters and maitre d's make a point of shaking one' s hand as one departs but that doesn't make up for the lousy meal. It's hard to see La Grenouille getting away with this- it would be great to have a really fine classical French restaurant in Manhattan. Don't waste your money here. How in the world can Zagat give it a 27? New Yorkers must know better!