201054 Wed Apr 30 17:01:23 -0700 2003 6 18 Manhattan 0 1072093 someone posted last week that 66 is "below haute-cuisine chinese standards". other than the shrimp and foie gras dumplings with grapefruit-tinged dipping sauce, i was mostly disappointed by 66 as well (although i love jean-georges). i would rather go to NY Noodletown or Grand Sichuan than return to 66. in china i mostly ate at street vendors and in people's homes, so i'm not quite sure what "haute-cuisine chinese" would yield. if anyone can direct me to real haute-cuisine chinese in nyc i would be thrilled. Wed Apr 30 17:01:23 -0700 2003 0 panda 1 1072122 I'm sorta cynical about the whole haute-chinese thing, I'm like you, I get way more satisfaction out of a $4 noodle soup at Big Wongs than spending $50 for americanized chinese food. HOWEVER, if you want excellent chinese food in a very nice, very classy (read: expensive) setting, try Mr. K's on 51st and Lex. Thu May 01 00:43:23 -0700 2003 1072093 0 Mistersmuckers 2 1072146 when i think haute-cuisine, i don't necessarily think "americanized"...i thought the poster meant fancy food that people in taiwan, hong kong or china would have if they were going out for a big night. i guess i might be wrong. but as for that upscale stuff...don't know how much is available around here. Thu May 01 11:22:47 -0700 2003 1072122 0 Nancy 3 1072151 Chinatown places like Pings and Sweet&Tart (20 Mott) with a banquet trade produce some of it. I am sure others have other suggestions. Thu May 01 11:47:19 -0700 2003 1072146 0 jen kalb 4 1072176 thanks. that was the sort of thing i was asking for. Thu May 01 13:49:38 -0700 2003 1072151 0 panda 1 1072136 I guess the most obvious choices are Shun Lee (the one near Lincoln Center, though the Palace on the East side is good too) and Mr. Chow, on East 57th Street. The food's great at both, and it's an experience to dine there, but like a previous poster, I can get more excited over a really good $4 bowl of noodles. Thu May 01 09:23:30 -0700 2003 1072093 0 kristen 1 1072226 66 is not really a chinese resturant, its really a great chef doing the mood first and then the food, and expanding on a theme resturant. The comfort zone that he creates is for foodies with a copy of zagats in their pocket not real chowhounds that have the need for quality and price. If The chef would have opened this resturant in a neighbor hood far away from chinatown then I think it would have more impact in some way. I would never go there on my own given the choice of walking alittle further to my favorite places on Mott st or mulberry streets. I would only go there to be trendy and to look hip and rich and fabulous and show it off to touristas that want the overpriced versions of Asian food. I think glamourous chinese resturants are about the scene more than the food. Thu May 01 20:37:20 -0700 2003 1072093 0 love handles