If you had only one dinner and were going to choose Eleven Madison Park or La Grenouille, which would you choose and why? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
ddavis
Nov 04, 2009 08:33PM
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Eleven Madison! Much more "breathing room" and beautiful space to compliment the food-however La Grenouille not a bad choice for an intimate setting.
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Personally I'd choose La Grenouille but that is because I am very depressed about the old school restaurants closing in New York and will do anything to support them! La Grenouille is more romantic if that's what you're looking for and has been stated EMP has an expansive sort of vibe.
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Both are absolutely wonderful for food, ambiance and service, so it comes down to what the occasion is, and what the mood you wish to convey.
imho, La Grenouille is the most romantic restaurant in New York. Eleven Madison Park is one of the hippest. Both are beautiful spaces, albeit different from each other.
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Unless you're looking for "cuisine classique" Eleven Madison Park is a far better restaurant. by nearly every metric. La Grenouille is one of the last French restaurants in NYC serving very traditional, Escoffier-era dishes and is only suitable if you're looking for that type of cuisine specifically. Otherwise, EMP is in a completely different tier altogether.
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totally different places. and since you are apparently looking for french food . . . Grenouille is traditional, wonderful, and you will be hard pressed to find a better souffle. and come on . . . who doesn't want a delicious, puffy, sweet: grand marnier, pistachio, chocolate, raspberry ( i could go on, and . . . on ) SOUFFLE!
oh, not to go on even longer about the souffles, but the cheese souffle is amazing as well. when i go i never order for myself since i go with a friend who knows the owner very well: things i have had that were fabulous: lobster ravioli, cheese souffle, burnt ends on the beef, lobster with butter poached leeks, mushroom risotto, the "special tea", i think that may only be at lunch, floating islands-if you order these, tell them that you want the dessert that is LIKE floating islands, because theirs are a little different, floating islands are apparently only cooked on one side, but grenouille makes a very similar dessert where huge mounds of meringue are turned constantly while they are poaching so all sides are cooked, ok, keep going: pike quenelles, dover sole, kidneys with cognac, pot au feu with horseradish and sea salt.
ok, you are getting my point i hope. everyone has a different opinion. it is hard to rely on someone else's opinion because we all have different food experiences, palates, and dining expertise. and in reality i like eleven madison park (i like tabla too, the indian sister restaurant on the other side), but i am a huge fan of grenouille. i have always been treated with respect and never had a single thing i didn't like. if you go, the owner's name is charles, tell him a regular sent you in, and i am sure he will take god care of you. he won't know : ) plus Brian (the bartender) makes the best cosmopolitan you have every had in your life-normally i would never drink one. i am more of a wine drinker (and champagne, which you can get by the glass too, and it is very tasty). let us know where you decide. either way : )
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If it matters to you, EMP was recently re-reviewed by NY Times and became New York's 6th 4-star restaurant. It's been a while since La Grenouille was reviewed, and at that time it received 3 stars. As others have said, the dining room at EMP is more modern and open, as is the excellent food. La Grenouille is much more traditional and classic. So it really just depends on which appeals more to you.
But to directly answer the question you asked, I would pick EMP. Outstanding, innovative food matched with great service and a comfortable dining room (no jacket required).
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Frank Bruni did indicate in his exit interview with Eater he would have had to downgrade La Grenouille to 2 stars if he reviewed it. Apparently he felt the food quality wasn't consistent enough for 3 stars. Perhaps Sam Sifton will have a different take on things.
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2009/08/...
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Thanks to all of you. Decided to go to La Grenouille for dinner and try to get to EMP for lunch one day. I do have a second night for dinner but it goes to Le Bernardin. I'll report back.
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