Ideas for a birthday dinner

[Pan]

Hi, everyone. My girlfriend loves delicious food, with or without some wine (and 1 to 1 1/2 glasses are usually sufficient for her). Last year, I took her to Degustation for a 10-course tasting menu with some wine (no pairings), which she considered probably the best meal she had ever had. It cost me some $240 including tax and tip, as I recall. I'd prefer not to pay more than that again this time but would be happy to top that in quality, if possible. My absolute maximum, including 2 glasses of wine apiece, tax, and tip, is $300 total for two.

To give you more ideas, my girlfriend has really enjoyed the wide variety of cuisines represented in the restaurants I've taken her to. She's enjoyed Burmese food (Rangoon Restaurant in Philadelphia), various regional Chinese cuisines, North and South Indian, Malaysian, Indonesian (though all the coconut in our meal was hard on her stomach), Greek, Turkish, Italian (loved Lupa), Ethiopian, Yemeni, Moroccan, etc., etc., and also lunch at Jean Georges, dinner at the bar at Momofuku Ssam Bar, and a delicious dinner at Apiary (it was on a Friday, so no prix fixe, and it cost $150 for the two of us and was worth it - I thought our meal was outstanding in every way).

One place I've been to without her that impressed me recently was the Bar Room at the Modern ($60 for a Restaurant Week dinner, including the second-best sweetbread preparation I've had in New York [Degustation's was the best]). I also liked the appetizers I had at a Restaurant Week lunch last summer at Gramercy Tavern quite a bit.

What I'm basically looking for is a varied meal, bursting with imaginative flavors; excellent, fresh ingredients cooked expertly; a good wine program (I'd consider beer pairings, too) including well-priced wines by the glass ($14 or less) or/and quartino/demi carafe, etc.; preferably, not such a huge amount of food and not so terribly rich that it will be a real problem for a sometimes delicate stomach; and all possible within $300 for 2 people.

What do you suggest? Thank you very much in advance. By the way, her birthday is actually on Wednesday, February 24, but because I've been focused on practicing up a challenging work for a concert on the 23rd, I think it will end up being a post-birthday meal, just like last year.

Finally, I looked up Momofuku Ko. Their dinner menu is $125 and their weekend lunch is $175. If their wine prices aren't outrageous, it might not bust my budget too much. Do you suggest I go that route, or would you suggest some other possibility?

[LeahBaila]

What about Apiary?

www.thelunchbelle.com

[CantStopEating]

I like Apiary too, but it seem they've already been there. Rrems also had a good idea for Eleven Madison Park which was my first choice. How about Jewel Bako? They're much more than just sushi!

www.inbundles.com

[RGR]

Re: EMP. See my post below.

[Pan]

I haven't been to Jewel Bako, but I'd sooner go back to Degustation, where we were both very satisfied.

So far, from this list, I'm considering SHO and Aquavit most. I don't want to deal with brutal wine upcharges at Corton.

What about The Modern (either Bar Room or the main room)? I was impressed with what I had there for Restaurant Week. I loved my meal at Babbo with my brother, but Degustation was a better and more varied experience, overall. Plus, I understand that the tasting menus at Babbo are nearly vomit-inducingly heavy.

[RGR]

Haven't been to the Bar Room, but we've had one meal in The Modern's Dining Room, and the cuisine was sensational. Service was faultless, and the large, appropriately modern space has a soaring ceiling and a lovely view out to the Sculpture Gardens. I have, of course, seen the Bar Room, and I must say that it doesn't have anywhere near the celebratory ambiance that the dining room has. My only quibble is that there is a giant opening at the rear of the wall separating the two dining spaces and the high level of noise from the Bar Room filters into the dining room.

As far as costs go, the dining room's 3-course prix fixe is $88, and there are two tasting menus: Chef's Tasting for $125 and Winter Tasting for $135.

We've been to Aquavit a few times. One meal we had totally blew us away. Another was fine but nothing to rave about. If you like herring, you'll love the Sunday smorgasbord. Service can be a little too brusque. Personally, I wouldn't choose Aquavit for a celebratory occasion.

[Pan]

Thanks for that advice. I'll take Aquavit out of consideration for this.

By the way, I finally had a chance to go to Bamiyan for dinner with my mother a few weeks ago and had a very good meal, so thanks for recommending the place, as well as Apiary, which is a real gem.

[RGR]

The fact that Scott Bryan was for many years the executive chef at Veritas tells you a lot about why the food at Apiary is so delicious though it is more rustic than the style of cuisine he was serving at Veritas.

We enjoyed our meal at Apiary. We went early on a Sunday evening in the dead of winter last year, and it wasn't extremely busy. While most of the tables eventually filled up, the bar area was empty. There have been numerous reports that when the pIace is packed, i.e., tables filled and crowded bar area, the noise level is insanely high.

[rrems]

Aquavit is very good, the food is interesting, but I thought it was somewhat overpriced, also didn't care for the rather austere atmosphere and stiff service. SHO will be less expensive and is IMO a better value. The Modern Dining Room was sensational the one time we were there, and we will be going again tonight. I will give you a quick update after.

[rrems]

Had a great dinner last night at the Modern. Dishes of particular note were the hamachi filet and the squab and foie gras croustillante.

[daffyduck]

you don't have to get a tasting menu. if u order a pasta they will split it for you if u want which will save some $. so u can kind of make your own pasta tasting menu.

[fm1963]

How about Corton? I had an amazing dinner there recently. Some find it too precious but I think you might like it, given your preference for imaginative flavors and small plates. You would be within your budget with the three course menu (which comes with amuse bouches, several inventive side dishes, sorbet and mignardises) plus a couple of glasses of wine.

I think Corton's relative formality would be a better choice for a birthday dinner than Momofuku Ko, though the latter is certainly worth a visit if you haven't been yet.

[Pan]

I'm not sure formality is essential. Degustation wouldn't be celebratory for some people, but it was for us. Then again, I've heard that the bar stools at Ko can be uncomfortable for long meals.

[RGR]

Haven't been to Ko, but if the seating is anything like the hard benches without backs at both Ssam Bar and Noodle Bar, imo, they would be very uncomfortable for a lengthy meal.

[Pan]

I thought Ssam Bar was fine, but we weren't there for a tasting menu. I doubt it would be comfortable for a 2-hour meal.

[fm1963]

Yep, that was my main issue with Ko. I wanted to like the stripped down, minimal venue, which I thought would heighten the experience of the food, but the backless stools and narrow room became a bit uncomfortable and claustrophobic after a while.

But others don't seem to have a problem with the set-up and consider Ko to be the ultimate foodie experience, so to each his (or her) own.

In case it matters, Ko plays rock music too.

[Pan]

Unless it's super-loud, the music really doesn't matter.

[fm1963]

No, not super loud at all. Rock isn't my thing but it wasn't as if I was praying for Mozart.

The soundtrack did lend an interesting counterpoint to watching the staff assemble dishes with zen-like repetition, and savoring things like foie and caviar in a bare bones setting.

Surreal for sure, very much in keeping with the high/low concept of the restaurant. Now, if only the stools had backs, and maybe a few paintings on the walls... just kidding.

[gutsofsteel]

Seasonal
Allegretti
Maialino

[rrems]

While the suggestions above are fine, they don't say "special occasion" to me. Except for Corton (which I found disappointing, and watch out for the wine prices), they are well below your price point. You could squeak by for $300 at EMP, which would be my first choice, or Picholine. SHO has imaginative Asian-influenced French and fits easily at around $240, and you can request a table next to the glass-walled kitchen and watch the cooks at work, like at Degustation, which is also a favorite of mine.

[RGR]

Iirc, Pan had a disappointing experience at EMP and, from the comments he's made, I don't think he's much inclined to try it again.

SHO is a fine suggestion. The cuisine, as you said, is creative, there's a good wine list, service is excellent, and the space has very lovely decor. You can see the cooks at work from most tables in the front dining area. The 3-course prix fixe for $69 + wine certainly fits the budget. I don't remember the cost of the 5-course tasting, but I don't recall it being outrageously expensive, so it's probably doable as well.

Photos of our dinner at SHO here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622498126890/

I think Seasonal would also be a wonderful choice. The Austrian cuisine served there is superb, there's a very good wine list, service is welcoming and attentive, and the space has lovely ambiance. Staying within the budget should not pose a problem. Open a little more than a year, it's a hidden gem which has deservedly been awarded a Michelin star. (SHO also has a Michelin star.)

Photos of our dinner at Seasonal: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

[rrems]

I think you are right, RGR. I vaguely recall Pan's negative comments about EMP. I found Seasonal disappointing. I hesitate to NOT recommend it, as our experience may not have been typical, but though the appetizers were seriously delicious, the wienerschnitzel, which should be superb at an Austrian restaurant at this price point, was bland and heavily breaded, the flavor of the veal totally lost. Desserts were good but not great. We also had a service issue, an extremely long wait before the appetizers, with no explanation or apology, and the wines are ridiculously overpriced.

[RGR]

I'm sorry to hear that your experience at Seasonal disappointed you. That's really surprising about the wienerschnitzel. Mr. R. ordered it and I had a taste. We both agreed that one of the things that made it so good was the light, crispy breading.

[gutsofsteel]

I have been to Seasonal 5 times and have been delighted every time. I think the schnitzel is done perfectly - light breading, flavorful, and nicely presented. The veal cheek goulash is superb. Desserts are wonderful. And I disagree completely about the wine prices. While not inexpensive, completely in line with restaurant norms. I have found the service nothing but professional and competent and friendly and the room is quite pretty and pleasant.

[RGR]

Ah, yes! The veal cheeks goulash ("Kaisergulasch"). Heavenly! And the spaetzle that come with it.... :)

[rrems]

Perhaps it has improved. We were there several months ago, hence my hesitation to be too critical, but there does appear to have been a certain inconsistency, as indicated by some of the posts in the following thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/583414

[daffyduck]

i'm pretty sure u can get away with 300 dollars for 2 people at these 3 places:
babbo-i'm very sure the wine pairing with either the pasta tasting or chef tasting menu is under 150. but you have to try the maple mascarpone cheesecake andoctupus appetizer, tact it on to the the pasta or tasting menu if you must
aquavit-i think the you can get away with 2 glasses of wine each and the cheaper tasting menu. i ate there a few years ago. from my memory what wowed me were the dishes with herring and bacon. i also liked the artic circle dessert
le bernadin-i also think u can get away with 2 glasses of wine and the cheapest tasting menu option for 300. i remember being wowed by the langostine curry and the escolar.
for 300 dollars i even think u can do per se as long as u go to the salon menu and order a la carte.
in terms of food out of the 3 i mentioned i was wowed the most by babbo, but the service and atmosphere is the worst of the 3. if u decide to do babbo request to be seated upstairs, i think it's a bit quieter and more romantic than downstairs.

[Pan]

Thanks for all the comments, everyone, and please keep them coming!

I'd like to note that a tasting menu for $150 busts my budget to smithereens, because that's before wine, tax, and tip.

[LeahBaila]

Have you ever done Commerce?

www.thelunchbelle.com

[gutsofsteel]

Commerce is not a birthday dinner worth restaurant, in my opinion.

[Pan]

No, I haven't.

[RGR]

Tocqueville is another great option. We've been there countless times, and Chef/owner Marco Moreira's delicious cuisine never disappoints. Good service and the understatedly elegant dining room is one of the most beautiful in the city.

Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622307667453/

and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

[daffyduck]

aquavit has a 105 pp tasting menu and le bernadin has a 110 prix fix. babbo's tasting menu is 69 dollars plus 50 for wine pairings.
2 places i havent been too but really want to go are colichio and sons (78 dollar tasting menu) and alto (84 dollar prix fix) but i am a dessert fiend and these places look like they have off the charts desserts.
i know this is the manhattan boards but my favorite restaurant for food, service and decor is x2o xaviars on the hudson. but u have to take metronorth at grand central station up to yonkers. the place is absolutely beautiful, it is right over the hudson river providing a stunning view of manhattan, the water, and bridges. the place is also beautifully built, if u thought le bernadin's bathroom was clean, i would eat off the floor at this bathroom. The food is great and they are also really nice and will write out a happy birthday on one of the desserts free of charge just as long as u let them know beforehand.

[Pookipichu]

Aquavit would be a fantastic choice. I've had wonderful meals at both their locations and the new room is modern and stunning, if a bit austere. The ceiling has swooping waves of wood and the dining room itself is quite intimate.

Their tasting menu always has interesting and varied flavors and some unexpected combinations, I think what you are looking for. The presentation is impeccable as well. My last tasting menu had an exquisitely tender and flavorful rectangle of short rib, served off the bone. Another dish had a fragrant coconut, lemongrass curry soup poured steaming from a bodum tea press tableside. Service, presentation and food were immaculate and polished. The service is not particularly warm, and the ambiance is not the most romantic, but it has refined, calming harmony and is pleasingly organic.

The price is reasonable for the experience and you can sample one of their many aquavits and be within budget whether you order the tasting menu or prix fixe.

I also highly recommend their brunch (although I have not tried it since they moved). They would have 6-8 different flavors of herring for you to sample, Swedish meatballs with ligonberries, different salmon preparations, roasted wild boar, and a table length of amazing pastries and sweets. At $35, It was one of the best values in NYC.

[RGR]

What do you mean by "both locations"? Aquavit is located on 55th St., b/t Madison & Park. Afaik, that's the only location.

As far as the ambiance in the dining room goes, I would hardly call the feeling one gets as "intimate" unless you are sitting in one of the comfy booths.

And when was the last time you had the Sunday smorgasbord? The current cost is $48, which is what we paid when we were there in '09.

[Pookipichu]

I mean their old dining room with the waterfall before they moved. It was such a lovely space. And you are right, I am talking about the booths at the new space.

The last time I had their brunch was at their old location and it was $35, it was such a good value and considering inflation, $48 isn't too outrageous but pretty expensive.

[kathryn]

I wonder if Kyo Ya would be an option? I believe the 10-course kaiseki meal is in your price range, but I can't remember off the top of my head. Maybe you could reserve the semi-private tatami room. The cooking is very seasonal, not insanely carb-loaded or fatty, and the service has been impeccable in my experience.

[kathryn]

Additionally, have you been to Aldea yet? I think a meal at the chef's counter might be nice and there is a 5 course tasting for $80 and apparently the wine pairing is only $30 (!) which sounds like an incredible value.

[Pan]

Kyo Ya is right down the block. I've never been there.The menu looks pretty interesting. I haven't been to Aldea, but I've seen mixed reviews. Likewise with SHO. I think Kyo Ya is a good idea. They're not on Open Table, so I'll have to call them or stop in for reservations.

[gutsofsteel]

What about Sugiyama? They serve a wonderful kaiseki prix fixe. Not sure what the current pricing levels are.

[Pan]

I think Kyo Ya is a better idea because it includes a lot of cooked items. I have liked some really high-quality sushi and sashimi but have my doubts about how much I'd like an entire meal composed only of that, particularly as I hate raw shellfish, and my girlfriend also dislikes raw clams, at least.

[gutsofsteel]

A traditional kaiseki meal includes many cooked items. Sushi and sashimi are usually only a small part of the meal. And you could certainly tell Sugiyama to exclude raw shellfish, if it was to be included.

http://www.sugiyama-nyc.com/11701.html

[Pan]

Do you feel that it's a much better experience than Kyo Ya?