219726 Thu Mar 03 04:28:45 -0800 2005 5 18 Manhattan 0 1169366 Having a hard time deciding between the two for a birthday dinner. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thu Mar 03 04:28:45 -0800 2005 0 Dani 1 1169368 You will no doubt get many responses to your post, but I wanted to weigh in on behalf of Daniel. I think it's the prototypical occasion restaurant. You are always received with a warm welcome and the food is consistently excellent. Moreover, Ducasse is a very stiff place with rather humorless service. It's also has a dark, oddly decorated dining room. The food at Ducasse is obviously quite good, but I think your birthday would be more fun if you spent it at Daniel. Get the Egly Ouriet Rose to start -- they're one of the few NYC restaurants to offer this champagne. It's awesome. Thu Mar 03 08:03:02 -0800 2005 1169366 0 millefeuille 2 1169405 definitely daniel Thu Mar 03 11:50:59 -0800 2005 1169368 0 kiki aru 3 1169514 In my opinion, the food is much better at Daniel, though still not consistent and not nearly as good as it should be at those prices. ADNY offers a quieter, nicer room with better service and overall a more luxurious experience. But I think it would be the rare diner who would prefer to spend so much more at ADNY for such mediocre food, just to have the experience of nestling even further into the lap of luxury. Definitely Daniel. Thu Mar 03 21:28:15 -0800 2005 1169405 0 Caseophile 1 1169513 Totally concurs with Ref 1 and 2. In fact I find Daniel Boulud's cooking even better than Ducasse's Paris restaurant these days!! May be Ducasse is spreading his tentacles too thin with his 'Spoon' ventures worldwide?! Thu Mar 03 20:35:35 -0800 2005 1169366 0 CYu 1 1169547 Having worked at both, you will be much happier at Daniel. Fri Mar 04 08:58:29 -0800 2005 1169366 0 cassis