Please suggest restaraunt: Best food in NY, romantic

[cys19]

Please suggest restaurants with the best dishes in NY + romantic scene, without cramped seating.

[FiveDanFive]

One If By Land, Two If By Sea in West Village.

[thew]

i think that may be one of the most over-hyped places in NYC. It s always called romantic atmosphere, but i find it incurably dated and the food doesn;t shine

[rrems]

I wouldn't even call it over-hyped, it has been widely trashed, at least for the food. I agree with you about the atmosphere too, not romantic at all to me, just dated and pretentious.

[sgordon]

As many have said, EMP and Bouley are at or near the top. I prefer the food at EMP, but the atmosphere at Bouley is a bit more "romantic" to me. Not that you'll have a bad meal at either.

Leaving food aside, I think the River Cafe is probably the best in terms of setting - if you can score a window table. Better still if your meal will put you there at sundown. I have a hard time imagining a more romantic view - the Brooklyn Bridge, the lights of lower Manhattan, the sun setting on the river...

That said, you're paying for it. While the food is good it's a touch overpriced IMHO. It's certainly not on the level of EMP or Bouley - but the cost is, in part, for the view.

Some other ideas:
The Orchard
Peasant
Apizz

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Apizz
217 Eldridge St., New York, NY 10002

[LeahBaila]

Second Peasant, especially their downstairs space.

www.thelunchbelle.com

[City Kid]

Il Buco would get my vote for great food + romantic!

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Il Buco
47 Bond St., New York, NY 10012

[ChefJune]

The epitome of romantic dining = La Grenouille.

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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

[RGR]

La Grenouille's dining room is beautiful. However, what keeps the experience there from being romantic, at least for me, is that tables are so tightly spaced, you are sitting cheek by jowel with your neighbors.

[buttertart]

The one and only time we went we (well enough heeled, well dressed, but unknown to the restaurant) were put at a tiny table at the very back and alternately ignored and looked down upon. In the most pointed fashion. This did not conduce to a romantic experience. There are restaurants in this city that are canteens to the rich and La G struck me very much one of them.

[RGR]

No doubt lots of rich and famous people dine at La Grenouille. Our first time there last year, as we were walking throught the front dining room, I spotted the actor Robert Wagner and his actress wife Jill St. John.

We were given a very small, cozy table for two sandwiched at the front end of the right side banquette in the rear dining room. Despite not being either famous or known to the restaurant, we were never ignored and got courteous treatment.

When we went again a couple of weeks ago, we were a party of four. the reservation was not in our name, so the computer could not tell them we were returnees, and the other couple were first-timers. We were seated along the same banquette, this time at the rear, at a fairly sizable table which was not as tightly-spaced as the table for two. We again received excellent service. We had the same captain as the first time (I'm guessing this area of the dining room is his station), but I doubt he recognized us.

[buttertart]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves, I can only report on our subjective experience. I would rather spend this kind of money at a place I know will not dish out the same kind of service. (We were not alone in being snubbed that night, there were parties complaining around us.)

[RGR]

All our experiences are, of course, subjective. If we had not been treated well, I would certainly have reacted like you and never considered going back.

[buttertart]

Believe me, you wouldn't have. One of the worst luxury restaurant experiences in our extensive experience of same on 3 continents and over 30 years' dedicated restaurant-going.

[jycnyc]

Erminia on E. 83rd is romantic and has great Italian dishes and a decent wine list.

Asiate - if you can score a booth by the window.

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Asiate
80 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023

[bronwen]

I would add River Cafe, Picholine, Gramercy Tavern as having good food and being romantic, especially River Cafe at night!

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Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

Picholine
35 West 64th St., New York, NY 10023

[Upperwestsider]

Reflecting my age, I would add the Four Seasons to your list (www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com). The Pool room is very romantic (and you sit next, or across from...) and the people sometimes forget how terrific the food is, am what a wine list they have. Just bring your suit coat with the deepest pockets; it's worth it, but you'll need it.

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The Four Seasons
99 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022

[ellenost]

My vote is for either EMP or Bouley. I just had a marvelous Mother's Day celebration at Bouley, and the floral arrangements were the most beautiful I've seen. The food was wonderful too! Service could not have been more attentive and polished.

[kathryn]

I have always found Jean Georges and Eleven Madison Park romantic if you get the side by side seats. I think at EMP you can also request the corner of a banquette.

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Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010

Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

[RGR]

At Jean Georges, the most romantic tables are in the two cozy little alcoves on either side of the dining room, each with a table for two and side-by-side seating.

At EMP, I think the most romantic seating would be one of the two corner tables for two set back against the wall under the upper level's overhang. You can see that area in this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

I do think Bouley's opulent decor is romantic; however, I found the food at the one lunch we had there to be fine but not rave-worthy.

As for counter seating, I don't think it's romantic regardless of the surrounding decor.

[thew]

i've never found side by side more romantic than face to face. romance lives in the eyes

my dad used to say, when he saw a couple sit side by side" they can;t stand the sight of each other"

[RGR]

Your statement re: Degustation: "i find it very romantic there..."

You statement about side-by-side seating: "i've never found side by side more romantic than face to face. romance lives in the eyes."

You seem to be at odds with yourself since most counter seating is side-by-side.

[thew]

because there are other factors that determine the romanticity of a place. and degustation has enough to override the side-by-side. also side by side at a counter is different from side by side at a table. why? i dunno. but thats how i feel

[Will4Food]

Bouley, downtown, is the most romantic spot in the city. And very fine (and beautiful) food.

[daffyduck]

i like degustation. it's counter seating but i certainly didnt feel cramped.

[chewbie]

I was there this wknd and loved degustation. but i wouldn't classify it as romantic in any way. the seating is a little cramped and you're right on top of the chefs, which is by design.

[gutsofsteel]

I agree. I iike Degustation, but it is not at all romantic.

[thew]

i find it very romantic there. not traditionally romantic, but it certainly is a place where romance can flower and thrive

[gutsofsteel]

i disagree. It is very much a communal experience there.

[daffyduck]

I find it romantic, maybe because of the lighting. I also like side by side seats. I I personally think side by side seating is more romantic. The fake yawn to put your arm around your date never fails. whoever invented that is a genus, must have been the same guy who thought of blowing on nitendo game cartidiges when they didn't work.
I've had side by side seating at EMP and didn't think it was as romantic as Degustation, but I went for lunch and the dining area was really bright. So it might be a lot better during dinner.