HELP! Need an Exclusive, Expensive, Incredible Lunch Place, Midtown West

[mckeeke]

I am looking for any recommendations for a lunch restaurant in midtown west (ideally in the 50s around 6/7th ave) that will make a special client feel incredibly loved and pampered. Probably safest with milder palate (ie: American, French...not Japanese). Thank you!

[sgordon]

Per Se, Le Bernardin, Jean Georges... three of the four-starrers are in Midtown West. Also Marea, The Modern, etc...

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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

The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[peter j]

Le Bernardin will reopen on September 9. Per Se will reopen on August 17, offering lunch only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Otherwise, these are great choices.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

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

[nycsmile6]

I second Jean Georges & Marea. Per Se is amazing but sometimes takes a very long time with all those courses (and in my experience lots of time between courses). Le Bernardin as well as long as you and your client really love fish (it's the best) - especially raw preparations.

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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

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

The Dining Room at the Modern? When is this lunch?

http://www.themodernnyc.com/

[pbjluver]

When are you planning to go?

Le Bernardin would be perfect, but they are closed for renovations in August

How about Aquavit? http://www.aquavit.org/restaurant/newyork/index.asp

Remi? http://www.remi-ny.com/index2.htm

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Aquavit
65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022

[sgordon]

I think Aquavit's been very good lately, but I find their prices a bit too high for what they're serving. But it could fit the "special client" thing if money's not really an issue and you're not really worried about value for your dollar. (Then again, I think the same thing about Per Se, and I went ahead and recommended them...)

That aside, it kind of bugs me that the main dining room at Aquavit has no windows, and while I think the service is excellent, the ambience is a bit personality-less. It feels a bit claustrophobic / antiseptic in there, IMHO.

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Aquavit
65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022

[floretbroccoli]

I have to second The Dining Room at The Modern. I can't think of any argument against it.

[msny98]

+1

[Spiritchaser]

+2

Although Jean George would be another excellent choice.

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

[coasts]

Seasonal

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Seasonal
132 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019

[dafunk]

Easily JG.

[edwardspk]

I'm a big Jean-Georges fan and like The Modern Dining Room also. But I think you should add La Grenouille to your list for consideration. Yes, it's not Midtown West, but it's just BARELY Midtown East, and even if you're a first-timer there, the maitre d' and waiters have a way of welcoming you and making you feel like a regular. And the formality of the service, the huge floral arrangements and the classical french food will make anyone feel special.

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

[sgordon]

Do keep in mind that most of the above places are jacket required (though some are less fussy about that at lunch) - just in case you or your special client is male and not wearing one.

[wreckers00]

I had lunch at JG and the Modern Dining room recently. At both, some diners were wearing shorts, and I also saw 2 people wearing t-shirts at the Modern.

For what it's worth I thought the food at the Modern was better (a little more expensive prix fixe at lunch), but the service was slightly better at JG.

[Hey19]

Milos? Always makes an impression.

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Milos
125 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019