High End Restaurant Rec & Steak House Rec

[travertine6]

Hi,

My future husband and I will be in NYC in August. We'd like to go to one high-end resto and one high end steakhouse. We'll be celebrating our wedding & my birthday (& his love of steak?)

Can anyone recommend a steakhouse? He loves old places with tons of history.

Can anyone recommend a restaurant?
- I'm looking for something more innovative than the typical foie gras, tiny lamb chop, seared scallop kind of place
- But it doesn't have to be an El Bulli (SP?) wannabe
- I don't want a place that's super formal - I am looking for a cool, hip vibe.
- I like food that isn't tight and restrained.
- I was considering Momofuku Ko - is it worth it?

We'll be eating the rest of the time at divey, ethnic places - any recs would be appreciated too. We're willing to go anywhere in NYC.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[taboo]

For new high end, I would suggest you try Scarpetta. I also had a wonderful meal at Babbo although not new. For a more hip steakhouse, try Striphouse , Primehouse or Dylan Prime which has a nice vibe. For more traditional, maybe Ben & Jacks in the East 40s or they just opened a Palm in Tribeca.

[rrems]

Degustation is similar to Momofuku Ko in that you sit at a counter, though on chairs, not stools. The 10-course tasting menu is wonderful, and it's easy to get a res. The atmosphere is casual, the food very creative, and the service is proper but not at all stuffy. I definitely fits what you are looking for.

[ukitali]

In terms of the ethnic stuff...I like Mitali East for Indian, Yuca Bar for Latin American, and either Stage Restaurant or Ukrainian National Home Restaurant for Ukrainian food.

[kathryn]

One more thing: you can only get reservations to Momofuku Ko online, and 6 days in advance. Since you are not going to be here for more than a few days, it seems risky to me to leave it up to so close. Definitely have a backup plan.

[kathryn]

Congratulations! Have you been to NYC before?

What's your price range for the "innovation, cool, hip" place?

For divey / ethnic, we could recommend a variety of spots...a lot depends on what you like and where you're from and if you're willing to go to say Brooklyn or Queens (some of the best is out there). Since you say you're willing to travel, I would post on the Outer Boroughs board with some preferences indicated (Indian, Chinese, Thai, etc.)

Make sure you read through these...

Don't Leave NY Without Eating
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/610739

Best brunch:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598414

Three week chowfest
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/611116

Londoners Seeking Top Restaurants in New York in June
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/612723

Help narrow down must trys for 3 night anniversary foodie trip!?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/596477

Need some recommendations for a "different" foodie weekend
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/615462

big discussion of more obscure, unique, unusual non-Western restaurants in the city:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/549769

Rare or unusual ethnic cuisines:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/382942
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/442254
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/453435
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/478515

[travertine6]

Thanks for the extensive reply! We've been to NYC before. I grew up in NJ. We'd like to do two expensive meals, no price limit really and the rest street food/ethnic/NY. We're definitely going to Katz's and eating pizza (the pizza in SF just doesn't compare!). We have good Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese in SF, so maybe Korean, Indian, etc? We will eat anything, really. Maybe Russian in Brighton Beach?

[kathryn]

Corton is innovative but from what I've read, the chef has really toned it down from his previous places. It's gotten a lot of buzz. I haven't been but other 'hounds have -- I'd do a search on this board. It's pricey, though, and you need to be on the ball when making reservations (I'd call about a month before your trip to ask their policy, if it's 30 days in advance, etc. and then reserve as soon as they let you).

For Brighton Beach, I'd post on the Outer Boroughs board.

[goodhealthgourmet]

for a steakhouse steeped in history, it's got to be either Peter Luger (in Brooklyn) or Keens Steakhouse.

as far as a high-end restaurant (and your query about Momofuku Ko), you should really search the board and read some of the threads. there's plenty of information in previous posts.

congrats on your impending nuptials!

[heinlein42]

Congratulations on your wedding!
Highly recommend Keene's- and one of you should definitely get the mutton!