The Modern - Dining Room

[financialdistrictresident]

Did a search of this site (and menupages.com), read the recent post re: The Modern - Bar Room and still need your help. We are going to The Modern - Dining Room in a week and would love your suggestions on what to order, what to avoid, chef's tasting menu vs. ala carte vs. three - course prix fixe dinner, etc.

Thanks in advance. We will share/post our experience.

[kathryn]

Agreed that the two are very, very different beasts. The dining room is more formal and feels more like you're Having A Meal.

I went earlier this year and ordered the Winter tasting menu. It had a LOT of truffle dishes in it. I really enjoyed my meal but the flavors didn't feel as bold as in the Bar Room (which I've eaten in several times now). It wasn't necessarily bad or anything, just a different style of cooking. More refined/subtle.

To me the standouts were the langoustine, venison, and the foie gras, but the menu has probably changed a lot by now (unlike the Bar Room). The only thing I didn't like was dessert. The Gran Marnier Baba dessert was too heavy on the alcohol -- bleh to my palate, and a disappointing finish!

I did love the pre-amuses (fried fava beans!), amuse bouche, petit fours (macarons were great), palate cleanser, etc. All of the little additional flourishes were excellent.

We snagged a booth facing the sculpture garden, and the atmosphere was lovely. This was while that video installation was going on, too, and we could see little peeks of it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathryn/...

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, kathryn. The suggestions and details are a huge help. Fried fava beans sound wonderful I hope they still have them.

[nattie23nyc]

I was given, as a gift from my old boss, carte blanche for a dinner for two in the city and (unfortunately) spent it in the Modern Dining Room. While the food was good, I didn't think it was by any means sublime (actually, rather bland in some instances), and with a bottle of wine and two cocktails we walked out for about $450 with tax and tip. If it were me, I would tell you to go elsewhere, or at least to the Bar Room. I had one of the best seats in the house, right on the sculpture garden, and it really didn't make me feel much better about the meal. Also, the atmosphere was very sedate.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, nattie23nyc. Appreciate your advice. We should be okay on the wine front because my friend will probably have one glass. Which means I'll follow suit because a bottle won't make sense. Do you remember what you had so I can avoid ordering the same?

[Mandymac]

I think with this type of place, the tasting menu is the way to go. I've had that in the Modern dining room and it was very enjoyable, great service, you've got the sculpture garden right there. I think there's no real point in comparing it to the bar--they're just different experiences. If you want the ultimate experience--and you're up for a tasting menu, then do the dining room. If you want something casual and to sample small plates, the bar room is the way to go.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, Mandymac. Your suggestions are very helpful.

[smon320]

I went to the Modern a month ago and the food was great. Of the whole meal, the one that stood out was the "palate cleanser" after the entree. It was served on a silver spoon with chilled fruits(rhubard, strawberries?) and some sort of sorbet?. It was cold, refreshing and was probably one of the best things I've had in a long time. For those who went recently, can you clarify what the contents of that spoon was and how to recreat it at home? Thanks

[UES Mayor]

the filet of beef -i think soaked in wine-AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!! I truly love the bar and menu MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, UES Mayor. We were very undecided about whether to dine in the Bar Room or Dining Room. My friend spoke with a few people who said the Dining Room is a better experience if it's our first time dining there.

[Fallon]

I've eaten @ in the Bar Room several times & really liked it. I've only looked @ the Dining Room menu & felt the Bar Room had more choices, cost less, was more in a more relaxed setting & was a better fit for me.