Which to choose??? A restaurant conundrum.
Hey Chowhounders,
I am in Manhattan in two weeks, and have all my restaurants chosen except for one night. I am already going to Le Bernardin for the second time, and I want to go to another higher end place as well. Unfortunately, I am torn between Gramercy Tavern, La Grenouille, and Danielle. I am leaning towards La Grenouille, but would like to hear opinions from people who have been to the above establishments. Thanks!
~Sydney~
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Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019
La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
By sassysyd64
on Jul 15, 2011 08:18 AM
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Daniel. Hands down. The other places are quite good, and I'm partial to the classic French cooking at La Grenouille as it was my grandfather's favorite place and I've had many a lovely family dinner there, but Daniel is considerably better.
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Daniel would be the "highest end" and is lavish and glamorous. La Grenouille is also wonderful and has perhaps more of a French atmosphere. I adore Gramercy Tavern but it is more of a cosy place than a stupendous experience.
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Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
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I simply love La Grenouille (though in all honesty, I have not been to the other two)...it is the last of a special breed so get there while you can!
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Thank you! That helps my decision a lot!
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I can't imagine that you would be disappointed: excellent food and the most wonderful service. It is like a (good) step back in time...and very different from Le Bernardin.
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I agree completely.
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Well, had trouble with some of the reservations. Le Bernardin is sadly closed in the month of August. Also, Daniel is a lot harder to book than one would expect. The best I could do was on a Thursday at 6:45, which I guess isn't so bad, seeing that Daniel is a dining experience, and will take more time. I got right in to Gramercy and La Grenouille though. I am thoroughly excited about La Grenouille. I am also going to Beauty and Essex, and Recette as well. Anyone been?
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Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019
La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
Recette
328 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
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Le Bernardin is closing in order to do a major renovation.
I would be wary of taking a 6:45 reservation at Daniel. Our last time there, we had an early reservation, and we encountered service issue mainly because they wanted to turn our table.
I'm not a fan of Gramercy Tavern's dining room as I've never had a meal there that even came close to wowing me. In fact, the last time we had dinner there, my first and main courses were quite awful.
I adore La Grenouille. As has been said, it's one of the last of NYC's Grandes Dames of haute French cuisine. The cuisine is wonderful (the Dover sole with mustard sauce is not-to-be-missed!), the staff is very friendly and attentive, and the dining room with those renowned gorgeous floral arrangements is truly lovely.
La Grenouille photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626561877288/
We have been to Recette. I liked the food a lot, but seating can be cramped (we got lucky and had a table for two in a corner) and the noise level was much higher than I prefer.
Recette photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157624261721193/
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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Yes. I was stunned, but then I remembered reading something about Maguy wanting to re-do the place.
6:45 was the best time we could get. It didn't even seem like they did any 7:30's or 8's. The next reservation was 9:15. The food was worth it wasn't it?
I am very excited for La Grenouille. I will definitely be having the sole as well. Your pictures are lovely, by the way.
Recette should be very interesting. I like the menu, so I am looking forward to it.
Thanks!
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La Grenouille
3 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
Recette
328 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
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Thanks for the compliment about my photos, sassysyd64. :)
Daniel very often restricts prime time reservations on OpenTable, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. You have to call the restaurant directly to see if those times are available. Yes, the food is excellent. However, there is absolutely no excuse for a restaurant of that caliber to treat patrons the way we were treated. We'd been there before a couple of times and service was fine. So, we'll probably go again at some point, but we'd only take a late reservation like 9:15 since there's no way they'd be turning that table.
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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That is definitely something I need to think about.
Have you been to Annisa?
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Annisa
13 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014
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I've not been to Annisa since it reopened after the fire, but have heard good things.
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Annisa
13 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014
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We have reservations there, and are looking forward to it.
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Just thought I'd chime in and second RGR on the service at Daniel - we weren't rushed, but we did encounter some other issues. You can read my review here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/517924
As for the food, I would certainly go back if someone else were footing the bill, but it didn't blow me away the way some other spots have. I haven't been to La Grenouille so I can't comment on which would be a better choice!
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Thank you for your opinion. I am seriously thinking about canceling, but I don't know what to substitute it with. Any ideas?
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You should consider 2 of my most favorite restaurants instead of Daniel (where I too found their service a serious problem): either Eleven Madison Park or Bouley.
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I like Bouley, but my dining mate does not. I feel as though Daniel, may be out of the question now. Although I have heard such wonderful things about it from some, I also feel that a restaurant of this price range and caliber, shouldn't have anything going against it. Thank you!
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We preferred Jean Georges to Daniel, so you might consider that if you haven't already been there. I'm planning a restaurant itinerary for my parents' upcoming visit and we're planning to visit Tocqueville and Eleven Madison Park - I also got suggestions for Corton, which has been getting very high marks lately. I wasn't blown away by Picholine when I was there, but it has been years and it looks like the restaurant and menu have both gotten a major overhaul. If you are into cheese, they specialize in it.
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I will look at Corton again. I don't think that I have a chance to get into EMP at a reasonable hour, so that is out of the question. Thank you for the opinion. I so appreciate it!
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Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
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Corton is an excellent suggestion, and is easier to get a reservation.
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Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
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I love the menu options, but I am slightly confused on the format of the menu. How many courses do you get for the seasonal menu?
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I found that slightly confusing too, but I think it is 6 courses for the seasonal menu and 8 courses for the regular tasting.
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Six courses for the seasonal menu is correct. There are seven dishes listed, but you choose one of the two options for the "meat" course.
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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With regard to getting a reservation at a "reasonable hour," it's always worth a call to a restaurant since there's a chance, albeit slim, that there could be an opening on the day(s) you have in mind. Also, it pays to put your name on a waiting list because cancelations do happen. Of course, you should have a Plan B....
Since you have now decided against Daniel, if you want to experience a Daniel Boulud restaurant, I highly recommend Cafe Boulud. We've been there often as it is one of our favorites. Though It is Boulud's second-tier restaurant, in *every* way that counts, it is first-rate! Gavin Kaysen, C.B.'s excutive chef, is cooking some of the best cuisine in the city right now. Service is cordial and polished, and the dining room has lovely ambiance.
Cafe Boulud photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626251539228/
and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626281943793/
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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Well, I am on a waiting list at Daniel, and have an opentable reservation as well, but am thinking about canceling all together. I also have called Annisa multiple time and they have only 5:00 PM on the day that I want, so I took an 8 reservation on a Sunday which is really okay, but I am going to keep trying.
It is funny that you mention Cafe Boulud. I was so fixated on going to Daniel, that I didn't even really give it a chance, but now that I am hearing a few complaints here and there about Daniel, maybe the Cafe would be a better option. How do you feel about Lounge Seating at Daniel? Have you been?
Your pictures are lovely. I thank you so much for the opinion!
~Sydney~
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Cafe Boulud
20 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021
Annisa
13 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014
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We've never done the lounge at Daniel. At restaurants of that caliber and price point, the formal dining room is the only place we'd ever sit. Actually, we aren't keen on lounge dining in general.
We haven't been to Annisa. Our daughter and son-in-law ate there once well before it closed and re-opened (because of a fire). While they thought the food was good, they were not bowled over by it. Still, it is on my "go to" list, but not near the top.
Again, thanks for complimenting my photos. :)
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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Well, we are looking forward to Annisa. I will let you know what I think. I love the menu.
I agree with you on the lounge. It just isn't the same. Lounges aren't meant for drinks and bar food in my opinion...not $500 dinners.
Thanks!
~Sydney~
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Annisa
13 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014
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We decided on Aureole. What do you think?
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I'd recommend you to reconsider. Aureole is no longer the haute cuisine restaurant in the jewel box of a restaurant with excellent service. They moved to 42nd Street in the theatre district. I was a regular at the old Aureole, and stopped going completely when Charlie Palmer fired his old FOH staff including his maitre d' of 20 years (who was the heart and soul of the restaurant). Seems they wanted to turn their back on their loyal fans and appeal to a "hip" crowd. Maybe it's working out for them, but from the demotion to one star by the NY Times, I guess not.
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Aureole
135 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
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Have you at least been happy with the food?
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Haven't been back since the move. Aureole has recently changed its chef. No idea whether he's any good.
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What about Ai Fiori?
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Ai Fiori
400 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
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I had a wonderful dinner at Ai Fiori at the end of March. Highly recommend it!
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Ai Fiori
400 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
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I agree with my good friend ellenost about Ai Fiori. We've had two truly excellent dinners there.
Ai Fiori photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157625968016066/
and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626404002836/
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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I love the menu, and will keep it in mind.
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By the way, what did you think of Adour? I saw that you have been on your blog.
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We've been to Adour four times. The food is delicious, service is professional (the very best server is Laurie, the only woman on the wait staff), and the elegant ambiance is wonderful.
We've not been to Aureole in either its previous or current location.
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
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Adour Alain Ducasse
2 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022
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Anyone been to Aureole???
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