215923 Fri Nov 12 13:13:07 -0800 2004 3 18 Manhattan 0 1149726 I have eaten at the old location many times and at the new one also but it seems to have changed a lot. Does anyone have any good things to say. I have friends who have never been and they are having trouble finding a reservation at some places in mid December. Le Cirque took a reservation today on the phone with no problem. Is it still a great place. Thanks. Fri Nov 12 13:13:07 -0800 2004 0 Ike! 1 1149921 I had dinner there last night and was not impressed. Hadn't been for years - since before it moved to the Palace. My brother-in-law had a reservation for five of us at nine pm, to celebrate his wife's birthday. Her family is quite well known to the restaurant, including the owner whose name I don't remember, though I should. My husband and I arrived a little before nine, were asked to wait at the bar until our table was ready. The place was packed. We were served quite promptly at a table in the bar area, about ten minutes later the rest of our party arrived. It took about ten minutes for someone to take their drink order, and then another ten for their drinks to be delivered. We were not led to our table until 9:50 - as we left the bar, the Maitre d' told the bar tender that our drinks were on the restaurant. Similar slow service in the dining room - we had three courses, and left at 12:15. It took ages to get the first course, then a big gap to the main course, then the desserts - which were on the house, but which we did not choose - they just appeared, came quite quickly once we were done w/ our main course. Everyone enjoyed their food, but I would not go back because of the service. We ate: Apps - tuna tartare in a curry sauce, smoked salmon, beef broth with foie gras dumplings, terrine de foie gras and lobster bisque. Mains - sea bass, pigs feet w/ black truffles (amazing - I tried a bite), grilled salmon and chateaubriand for two. Now, owner told my B-I-L that he was having a terrible night and couldn't wait for it to be over - have to say he looked pretty bad - did come over to our table a couple of times. So, maybe it was just an off night. Don't know what it came to as B-I-L paid, but I was amazed at the price of the appetizers - pretty much all in the $20 - $40 range .... though the bisque was $12. And, this is an observation, not a value judgement so please don't any one give me any grief over this, but the crowd was very B&T - not the elegant crowd I would have expected. I would go to Daniel any day over Le Cirque, based on my experience last night. Sun Nov 14 14:17:30 -0800 2004 1149726 0 MMRuth 2 1149924 Thanks. My friends want to eat dinner there one night so I will let them find out for themselves. They have a reservation at Daniel one night so they will get to enjoy one nice meal out of the two nights they are in town. Thanks again. Sun Nov 14 14:59:23 -0800 2004 1149921 0 Ike! 3 1149968 The food really was excellent - hopefully they will have a better experience in terms of service .... Mon Nov 15 07:24:11 -0800 2004 1149924 0 MMRuth