Modern Bar versus Modern Dining Room

[Tony Calgary]

Having been convinced by some other postings that this is a restaurant we should consider during our weekend trip, I was wondering which destination the Chowhounders preferred. Both menus look delicious, so I was torn where to make a reservation, and when - for lunch or for dinner?

Thoughts?

[Tony Calgary]

One more thought, is it difficult to do either for lunch without a reservation? Was thinking we might just go to visit MOMA and eat when hunger hits us. If so, would there be a line for lunch and/or dinner?

Thanks again.

[kathryn]

Hard to answer without knowing what day you wish to dine. The Bar Room and Dining Room hours are quite different and the Dining Room is more expensive, especially for dinner. The Bar Room takes walk-ins, I don't believe the Dining Room takes walk-ins.

Dining Room
Lunch: Mon.–Fri., 12:00p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: Mon. – Thurs., 5:30p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays.

Bar Room (serves continuously)
Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Friday and Saturday 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

I would make a reservation regardless of where you end up. MoMA gets busy during the holiday season with lots of out of town visitors. Additionally, I would want to be dressed appropriately for the dining room, if you end up there.

[RGR]

Jackets are required for dinner in the Dining Room.

[Tony Calgary]

Thanks kathryn & RGR, I think based on your suggestion I'll make a Sunday reservation at the Bar Room for lunch, unless you think that the Dining Room is a better choice for Saturday dinner over Degustation or Adour. Thoughts?

[rrems]

I have not been to the Bar Room, but the Dining Room is spectacular. It's also quite expensive. The food at Degustation is not up to the level of the Dining Room, BUT is nonetheless pretty great, the dishes are all interesting, some are more successful than others, and a rather unique experience, and the 10-course tasting is a bargain at $75. It's a tough choice but I don't think you will go wrong with either.

[RGR]

I have not been to the Bar Room or to Degustation. I have been to the Dining Room and to Adour and, frankly, it would be tough for me to choose between them. Both have superb French cuisine albeit very different styles: Alsacian-accented in the Dining Room vs. tending toward classic French at Adour. There are differences in ambiance as well. As befits its location, the Dining Room has very modern decor while Adour, located in the ritzy St. Regis Hotel, is cushy and sumptuous (but not over the top). I was also surprised to find that the noise level in the Dining Room is quite high. That's because there's a huge opening in the wall separating the two dining areas, and when the Bar Room is very busy, the high noise level from there filters into the Dining Room. Adour is pleasantly quiet and, btw, does not require jackets.

[uhockey]

I've not eaten at Adour, but I'd rank the cuisine at lunch in the dining room on par with some of the best French (Alsacian or not) in the US. If they are still doing the egg-in-a-jar in the Bar room, request it whether you're in the bar or in the dining room - it is one of my five favorite tastes of last year.

[Tony Calgary]

What is the "egg-in-a-jar"?

[uhockey]

Under course 2 in the Bar Menu:
Slow Poached Farm Egg “In a Jar” with Maine lobster, salsify and sea urchin froth.

Here is a pic from my Blog:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xdnxgKcsXfw/SiHR-ZS7DiI/AAAAAAAADNk/ju1uvryxJ-E/s1600-h/179+-+Slow+Poached+Farm+Egg+%E2%80%9CIn+a+Jar%E2%80%9D+with+Maine+lobster,+hearts+of+palm+and+sea+urchin+broth+(2).JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xdnxgKcsXfw...

[ellenost]

Your second photo looks delicious! I'm having dinner in the Dining Room next week, and I'll ask to add that as a course.

[Tony Calgary]

I've been now posed a new dilemma -- the Modern Bar or Le Bernadin for lunch on Sunday? While I'd originally passed on Le Bernadin as an option, the reviews for lunch there are quite good. Thoughts?

[Nancy S.]

I think Le B is closed on Sundays.

[RGR]

You are correct. Le Bernardin is closed completely on Sunday. Lunch is served Monday through Friday.

[Tony Calgary]

With Le Bernardin, Jean Georges and EMP closed on Sunday, are there any other options other than The Modern?

[kathryn]

Fine dining on a Sunday:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/634344
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/637637#4870800
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/613895
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/624886

There are some places open for Sunday dinner, I think your issue is that you want Sunday LUNCH.

Lots of fine dining spots aren't open for lunch at all, and those that do serve lunch only do so on weekdays.

Right now on OpenTable for 2 on 12/6 for lunch, I see Aquavit, Bouley, Per Se, Telepan, db bistro, Dovetail, Park Ave Winter. So not quite all 4 NYT stars but you do have some options -- but you don't have to stick with upscale fine dining for your last lunch in town.

BTW, I see Casa Mono is now on OpenTable?! A bit similar to Bar Room at the Modern in style in that it's tapas/small plates. Not really fine dining but a lot of fun sharing plates and drinking cava.

[Tony Calgary]

I'm intrigued by the Per Se opening -- do you think it's a decent value pick? (e.g. is the food live up to the price?)

or would you choose Bar Room, Casa Mono or Jane's instead?

Thanks for the investigating kathryn and others!

[hcbk0702]

Per Se is easily a contender for best overall restaurant in NYC. It's in a completely different price range though; the shorter lunch tasting menu is $175 and the standard tasting menu is $275. Prices do include service at least. If you get wine there will be considerable extra expense, and astronomical extra expense if you're looking for a nice bottle or two.

[kathryn]

I haven't been to Per Se just yet since I've had friends go who thought it was good but left them feeling a little unmoved.

Jane will be serving their Sunday brunch, which is tasty, but different than the lunch menus that Bar Room or Casa Mono will be serving.

I'd choose Casa Mono if you're really like offal or Spanish food or open kitchens. It's a bit more rustic and cramped in terms of atmosphere.

I'd choose the Bar Room at the Modern if you're planning a visit to MoMA regardless or want more of a sleek, modern atmosphere, with food that's a bit more refined.

[RGR]

I haven't been to the Bar Room or Jane's. But Casa Mono vs. Per Se? Not even close. While the food at Casa Mono is fine, it's not in the same league as Per Se's. And the seating is excrutiatingly tight.

[hcbk0702]

Besides Per Se, nothing on the level of Le Bernardin et. al. is open on Sunday for lunch. Even the Modern's Dining Room is closed on Sunday; only the Bar Room is open.

The alternatives to the Bar Room at the Modern for Sunday lunch would be Café Boulud and Bouley. You would have considerably more options for Sunday dinner, but lunch is much more limited. Bouley is inconsistent, but Café Boulud is capable of better food than the Modern Bar Room IMO. However, if you're going to be in the MoMA that day, I'd just stick with the Bar Room; it's still very good.

[RGR]

On Sunday, Cafe Boulud serves brunch, not lunch, and the brunch menu is not like the lunch menu, i.e., very limited main course lunch-style dishes.

[Tony Calgary]

Thanks for all your quick replies. After much deliberation, I think we're going to stick with the original suggestion and go to Bar Room, since for $350 (the price of lunch at Per Se), we can basically have the entire menu there!

Since I want it all, I think I'm trying to see if we can get up early and drag us to Jane for an early morning breakfast. Ambitious, but the reviews are sooo good. I'd brave Shopsy's but I'm afraid of the line to just get some slut cakes!!

[kathryn]

You couldn't go to Shopsin's anyway because they're closed on Sundays!

[ellenost]

I had dinner last night in the Dining Room and was rather disappointed. I guess I've been spoiled by EMP and The Modern Dining Room isn't nearly of the same level of food quality or service. The captain for my table looked about 17 years old and was rather pompous and pretentious. The food was not memorable. The seared foie gras was somewhat overdone (it was a generous portion though). The lobster was okay. Biggest disappointment was when I had asked to have the beignets that are offered in the Bar Room (not much different than uhockey's request of the egg in a jar also served only in the Bar Room). My waiter said he didn't think that it would be permitted, but I asked him to check. He came back to confirm that the kitchen does not permit Bar Room food to be served in the Dining Room. I certainly could understand that the restaurant doesn't want people taking up valuable Dining Room space by ordering only the less expensive Bar Room food, but since I was paying for dessert as part of the $88 prix fixe, what harm would it be if I had the beignets instead of one of the Dining Room desserts. I am sure that would never have happened at EMP. My guest was disappointed too, and she was ready to make more of a fuss about it, but I said to forget it. I did confirm with my waiter that I would not have been permitted to ask for the egg in the jar dish either. My waiter did offer to move me to a table in the Bar Room, but at $88 per person I didn't want to eat in a noisy and crowded spot and give up my lovely table by the window. I guess the moral of the story is that when I want great Danny Meyer restaurant food and service, I'll stick with EMP.

[uhockey]

That is most disappointing - I'd personally consider writing to the restaurant as it seems Mr. Meyer's team really prides themselves on "the customer is always right" approach.

[KateMW]

That is the kind of silly thing that makes me not want to go back and try it again. We ate at the Bar Room for dinner last summer and it was...ok. I've been thinking we would try the Dining Room during our next trip in July, but maybe not.