593112 Tue Feb 03 08:17:26 -0800 2009 25 18 Manhattan 0 4383297 I have birthday reservations at both restaurants as I recently lucked out with the Momofuku reservation system. Would love to hear some opinions. Thanks so much! Tue Feb 03 08:17:26 -0800 2009 262838 champers09 1 4383302 Which Momofuku is it? There are several as you might know. Tue Feb 03 08:19:52 -0800 2009 4383297 213669 silencespeak 2 4383331 Momofuku Ko. Thanks! Tue Feb 03 08:27:27 -0800 2009 4383302 262838 champers09 3 4383880 I'd go to Ko over L'Atelier. Tue Feb 03 10:46:43 -0800 2009 4383331 213669 silencespeak 4 4386963 L'Atlelier does not have a menu on their site. Does it change every day or something? Wed Feb 04 10:17:48 -0800 2009 4383880 76968 steakrules85 5 4386983 You might want to try the Four Seasons Hotel website. There is a link to the L'Atelier menu under the "dining" option. Also menupages.com lists the menu. Wed Feb 04 10:23:44 -0800 2009 4386963 12019 ellenost 5 4387637 Steakrules, just wanted to warn you that portions at l'Atelier are on the smaller side. I may be wrong, but I think you wrote a post recently where you were dismayed by the small portion size of a certain restaurant (where I thought the portions were adequate). Wed Feb 04 13:12:35 -0800 2009 4386963 10763 Miss Needle 6 4387673 Oh yes. Roubuchon has portion sizes similar (or smaller) than Del Posto. I don't think steakrules will be very pleased Wed Feb 04 13:22:15 -0800 2009 4387637 54254 kobetobiko 7 4389878 LOL thanks for the heads up guys .... Thu Feb 05 08:57:30 -0800 2009 4387673 76968 steakrules85 1 4383516 Momofuku Ko was such a better experience than L'Atelier. I thought the food at L'Atelier was good but very overpriced and thought Ko was a more unique experience. Tue Feb 03 09:16:32 -0800 2009 4383297 12821 ESNY 2 4383583 Terrific, thanks so much for responding! Tue Feb 03 09:36:32 -0800 2009 4383516 262838 champers09 1 4383851 I don't know if I agree with ESNY that Momofuku Ko is superior to Robuchon, but I will pick Ko mainly because 1) it's very hard to get reservation and you got it! (Robuchon is quite easy to get in any day) 2) Ko is NYC only. Robuchon has branches in different cities and worldwide 3) The main chef at Robuchon NYC left a while back. You can always go to Robuchon when you go to Vegas or Japan or Hong Kong or London or many other cities... Tue Feb 03 10:38:34 -0800 2009 4383297 54254 kobetobiko 2 4384161 I agree that Robuchon's restaurants are all very similar. I havn't eaten at Ko but lets not carried away. Robuchon is one of the master chefs of his generation. Tue Feb 03 12:02:53 -0800 2009 4383851 200097 sethd 2 4384171 Even though I haven't been to Ko (and I've tried a few times), I agree with kobetobiko's assessment. That said, I love L'Atelier, but would do Ko in your shoes. Tue Feb 03 12:05:38 -0800 2009 4383851 10763 Miss Needle 1 4384545 I've been to both Ko and L'Atelier. I agree with the others that Ko is a better experience. Happy Birthday and have a great time! Tue Feb 03 13:49:53 -0800 2009 4383297 12019 ellenost 2 4384586 I haven't been to Ko since it first opened but the food was delicious then. However, I felt really sick afterwards b/c of the amount of food I ate and some things were really heavy like the deep fried apple pie thingy, it was a big portion too. I guess I didn't have to eat it all... I was a little annoyed that the waitress/hostess kinda insisted that on us ordering the wine pairing after I told her that I had no tolerance whatsoever. She was very insistent and I ended up drunk of course plus the sparkling port thing was disgusting. Should have just stuck to sake. I really like L'Atelier too but like someone said already, it's pretty easy to get a reservation there. Tue Feb 03 14:04:09 -0800 2009 4384545 15968 lanadai 3 4384650 I've been to Ko six times in the past six months, and don't find the food heavy at all (they may have changed it since you were there--no deep fried apple pie). Also, I find the staff not pushy at all with the wine pairings. I ordered it only once (too much to drink so I now stick with ordering a half bottle instead). Tue Feb 03 14:19:48 -0800 2009 4384586 12019 ellenost 4 4385268 ellenost, as a point of reference, do you find the food to be much heavier at ssam and noodle bar? I like the food at both (have not been to ko), but think that it is pretty heavy. Tue Feb 03 17:42:16 -0800 2009 4384650 246333 ian9139 5 4385790 Thank you all so much for your notes! Based on your responses, I plan to try Ko. I'm very excited!! Thank you again! Tue Feb 03 21:47:34 -0800 2009 4385268 262838 champers09 5 4386285 Unfortunately I haven't been to either Ssam or Noodle Bars. I do want to try Ssam Bar though. Wed Feb 04 07:03:46 -0800 2009 4385268 12019 ellenost 5 4387171 Hi ian9139, Having been to all 3, I think Ko is definitely the most refined in terms of flavor and presentation of the 3. The dishes themselves weren't as heavy as Ssam's or Noodle Bar's, and less offals or pork were used. I did feel very full after the dinner (couldn't finish the last few dishes) mainly because there were 11 courses and they didn't skimp on portion. Wed Feb 04 11:10:09 -0800 2009 4385268 54254 kobetobiko 6 4391018 thanks, when i think of the heavy dishes at ssam and noodle bar, they are generally of the pork fat delicious kind, which i think I'd like to avoid in a longer meal. Thu Feb 05 13:55:57 -0800 2009 4387171 246333 ian9139 7 4402645 There's absolutely no comparison between their other restaurants and Ko. I went to Ko yesterday expecting a more refined version of the other two (not having read any updated reviews) and was totally caught off-guard by the price and the amount of food. I spent $300 (including wine pairing, tax and tip) for lunch for one! While the 13 courses were mostly amazing and oveall it was an experience, I left feeling over-served, both in food and wine. I spent the rest of the day trying not to throw up my over-priced lunch. Based on an earlier thread, it seems like the price may have doubled since last year. Not a good move in this economy. Had I known beforhand, I probably wouldn't have spent that kind of money for Sunday lunch. Be forwarned! Mon Feb 09 19:18:38 -0800 2009 4391018 164556 rdmorrow 8 4403517 Actually the price of the lunch has not risen since it was introduced late last summer (it has always been $160--the same price quoted on Ko's website). The dinner is $100 for fewer courses. My multi-course tasting at L'Atelier with a half bottle of champagne cost over $400. I find Ko (even at $300) to be much better value. Tue Feb 10 07:28:41 -0800 2009 4402645 12019 ellenost 3 4386101 i had quite the opposite experience as lanadai-there were not pushy at all-in fact i had to make them bring more! Wed Feb 04 05:28:31 -0800 2009 4384586 105205 UES Mayor 4 4387623 I was there only once, and I felt absolutely zero pressure to do the pairing. In fact, when I asked what on earth they would pair with the foie gras dish, the server brought me a small taste of the (I think) sake they were serving that night. Wed Feb 04 13:08:21 -0800 2009 4386101 94227 egit