Ten-year anniversary. $500 to spend on one dinner. Hit me with recommendations

[Chocolator]

Ten years! With the same man! We're blowing the budget on this one. But where?

One caveat: No where near the theater district.

[Chocolator]

We wound up going to Daniel (we could only get a reservation for 5:45, which was doable). The food was sublime, the service, beyond compare. Pretty much everything I put in my mouth was the best of anything I had ever tasted, except the Wagyu tenderloin. It was wonderful, but I had better beef in Japan once.

Dawnfawn, you weren't kidding about spending $500 on wine alone. We discussed altering our budget, and it's a good thing too. The total, tip included, came out to $725.

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. It was a wonderful evening.

[Spiritchaser]

Okay so it is Brooklyn so I know I dare not mention it on the Manhattan board but how about River Cafe? Maybe too late for you but they have a 9:30. Just there for my B-Day and the food was wonderful (the service left a little to be desired but it was okay). We had tasting menus and a moderate prices bottle of wine plus a couple glasses and I think we got in under your budget (but it was my B_day so I didn't get to see the final bill).

[sgordon]

My first choice would have been WD, but like you said - closed Tuesdays.

So, downtown options:

Del Posto - tasting or a la carte.
Omakase (or, as I prefer, just ordering five or six courses a la carte and making my own "tasting menu") at Morimoto
Kaiseki at Kyo Ya (must be ordered one, maybe two days in advance)
Babbo (if you can actually get a rez)
Corton (a bit controversial on these boards, and with the caveat that I haven't been in some time)

If you can bear the Theater District (I kind of hate it, myself, so I know where you're coming from) though, I'll second tasting menus at The Modern - there are two different ones (chef's and seasonal), which makes it more exciting since you can each get a different one.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Morimoto
88 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[erica]

I hesitate to recommend to you since you liked Les Halles but did not like Jean Georges.

But leaving that aside for a moment, if you can get a table at The Modern, I would say "GO!"

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

Les Halles
15 John Street, New York, NY 10038

[gutsofsteel]

The Modern is a good choice for this.

[cubanat]

Hysterical point and right on Erica! Do per se without any hesitation! I would do jean georges but if you already have been and didn't like it then forget it. wd-50 was great the first time but then a bit boring the 2nd and 3rd times...Marea is nice as well but per se is better imo.

[3crazydogs]

Agree with MVNYC that if you can squeak out a little over $500 Per Se is perfect, although a bear to get a table. Jean George is a great alternative. I was there this past weekend and without the wine pairing my wife got we would definitely have been below $500 for the tasting menus. Not much below it but below.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

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

[MVNYC]

If you up your budget and you aren't drinking too much then Per Se would make the perfect choice. With so little time left, you will have to be flexible with your dates though.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

OpenTable says that Per Se has a table for TONIGHT at 6:15 and when I click on "next available," it says:

No Availability for Per Se within 8 weeks

Perhaps, though, you could try to snag a cancellation.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

[MVNYC]

Kathryn, you are better than a concierge service.

[RGR]

My experience with checking Per Se on OpenTable is that you almost never find any reservations available for 2 people (even for weekend lunch, which is usually the easiest reservation to get.) However, when you try 4 people, openings often do show up. That tells me that (a) there are tables available, but (b) to reserve for 2, it's pretty much mandatory to call the restaurant directly.

Btw, when we were there, I didn't notice any tables sized strictly for two people -- at least, not on the lower level where we were sitting. All were able to accommodate four.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[Chocolator]

Yes, it's Tuesday, August 31. Restaurants we like? Les Halles. Pure Food and Wine. Solo (two years ago; it was just okay two months ago). Union Square Cafe.

We thought Jean Georges at Columbus Circle was also good, but not spectacular.

We were eyeing WD-50, but it's closed on Tuesdays.

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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

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

Les Halles
15 John Street, New York, NY 10038

Pure Food and Wine
54 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003

[Rich D.]

I haven't looked at reservation times, but how about Marea?

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

Marea on OpenTable is only showing 9:45pm or later as available (calling might open up other times).

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

After doing a cursory search on OpenTable for August 31, party of 2 at 8pm, I see that Jean Georges has some prime times open.

Le Bernardin only has 10pm and later (and you might think it's too close to the theater district).

The Modern's Dining room has 7:30 and 8:30 (and at 53rd and 6th, possibly also too close to the theatre district).

Daniel says "restricted by restaurant" so I guess you'd have to call and ask.

Per Se doesn't show any availability and is a bit over your budget.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

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

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

[craig_g]

Can you narrow that down in *any* way? Even if it's just an example or two of something you liked?

It'd be hard to do much better than 11 Madison Park.

[kathryn]

They're closed after Saturday, August 28th for renovations and will reopen on Tuesday, September 7th.

[princeofpork]

Get a suite at the Soho Grand and order room service.

[Chocolator]

When: Tuesday. (As a sign of marital malaise, he had to remind me it was coming up.)

Total budget, yes, $500. I'm not a drinker, but my husband likes a glass or two of red wine.

[gutsofsteel]

You mean this coming Tuesday?

Do you want formal, dressy? Do you want a tasting menu? Do you want a 3-hour meal at table? You want a quiet place?

Any cuisines preference (or dislikes)?

[RGR]

This coming Tuesday, August 31st?

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[dawnfawn]

You could spend that on wine alone. What is your budget for food? Does this 500 include tax and tip?

[gutsofsteel]

When?