Best fine dining lunch deal?

[OakTownHound]

When I was in town last spring, my wife and I had a fantastic lunch at Eleven Madison Park, when they were still offering their incredible two- and three-course lunch deal (for $25 and $35 dollars, respectively, I think).

Now that it's been discontinued, what is the best fine dining lunch bargain in the city? Is there anything that compares to what EMP offered in terms of price and quality? I'll be back in town in a couple weeks, and as a grad student, this is the only way I can experience the best high-end food that New York has to offer.

Thanks - I'm looking forward to another delicious week in your city!

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

[buttertart]

SHO Shaun Hergatt (Financial District) has excellent food, good service, pleasant atmosphere and a 3-course lunch plus amuse-bouche and mignardises with a bottomless glass of decent wine for $35.00. You can't beat it with a stick.

-----
SHO Shaun Hergatt
40 Broad St, New York, NY 10004

[sgordon]

With the unlimited wine it's now $43 (or $37 for two courses) - do keep in mind, too, the choices on the prix fixe are rather simple dishes, nothing (with the exception of the Loup de Mer) that's on the normal a la carte menu. It's good stuff, but a bit downscaled from their usual fare.

[buttertart]

Yes of course, I regret the factual error. We had the whole nine yards for dinner there and enjoyed it very much - this is a more simple menu but unless lunch is to be the only big meal for the day that can sometimes be an advantage.

[OakTownHound]

Thanks all for the great suggestions! I hadn't thought of Del Posto - looks like it could be great. I'll report back after my trip if I end up going with one of these options.

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

[gutsofsteel]

I highly recommen Bouley and Toqueville as far as fine dining bargain lunches go. I found Del Posto quite disappointing, and my meals at Jean Georges have been erratic. I have not been to Picholine for lunch, but I like the restaurant very much. Also consider La Grenouille.

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

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

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

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

[buttertart]

Toqueville is, indeed, also wonderful, and very reasonable.

[sgordon]

The Del Posto lunch is a steal and a half for the price. Rather than recount it all, I'll just direct you Ed Levine's write-up on Serious Eats - it's a year+ old but it gives you the idea of what they do: http://bit.ly/5tfImw - even if you pay the supplement to add a third savory course to do something more akin to a scaled-down full Italian dinner (antipasti, pasta, secondi, dolci) it's a relative bargain compared to most places for the quality and amount of food you get.

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

[sgordon]

For the price, Del Posto or Jean Georges. I prefer DP, personally, but it depends on the kind of food you like. They're both great deals, though.

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

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

[ellenost]

Bouley offers a 5 course tasting menu at lunch for $45. They also offer an a la carte menu. Bouley is one of my most favorite restaurants.

[greatcook8]

heard Milos has a good deal too. def yummy eats

[H Manning]

Prices are a bit higher now, but look into Jean Georges, Bouley, and Picholine.

I love Tocqueville too.

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

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