birthday dinner in the city -- Picholine, Degustation, or Corton?

[4tines]

My boyfriend is taking me out for my birthday in a couple months, and after perusing my list of restaurants I would want to go to, I finalized my list down to three: Picholine, Degustation, and Corton. Would anyone be able to provide any insight on any of these restaurants and whether it'd be a good fit for a birthday dinner for two? We're both pretty adventurous, and these three restaurants would definitely be three we would go to -- just need some help in deciding! Hope you can help -- thank you!

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Degustation
239 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

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

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[ellenost]

I've dined at both Picholine and Corton during the past year, and loved both dinners. Both restaurants would be great for a birthday dinner celebration. I would say that the food at Corton is "edgier", but both are delicious. Service at both restaurants was excellent. Location may be a factor for you: Corton is in Tribeca and Picholine is near Lincoln Center.

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

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[4tines]

Thanks for the advice :)

[RGR]

We have not been to Degustation. I can only say two things about it: (a) a new chef took over not long ago, and (b) it's counter seating which, to be honest, I don't find appealing for a celebratory dinner, but you may feel differently.

We have been to Picholine and Corton. Both have delicious cuisine, albeit very different in style.

I wouldn't call Picholine's adventurous; however, they are known for serving game in season (which to many people might be adventurous), so if that interests you, this is the time of year to go there. Service is cordial and polished. The decor is traditional, i.e,, tablecloths, comfortable seating, etc. I prefer the rear dining room (square-shaped and cozier) to the long, hallway-style front room.

Picholine photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622875676042/

Liebrandt's cuisine at Corton is definitely for the more adventurous person as his style includes many unusual ingredient and flavor combinations. Service is pleasant and professional. The decor is modern and fairly stark, i.e., white walls embossed with a white tree pattern.

Since you have focused on these three, I presume you are aware of their price points and are comfortable with them..

ETA: I posted this before seeing your reply to Spiritchaser.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[sgordon]

Everything RGR said above. I was about to type the same thing. I'd rule out Degustation (the only counter-seating places I'd have a celebratory dinner would be Ko or Brooklyn Fare) and Picholine isn't exactly the most adventurous place. Also, many feel they've been a little off their usual game of late - not BAD or anything, just perhaps getting a bit tired, not up to where they once were, needing to find their mojo again.

My only qualm with Corton is the new tasting-menu-only format. To me, a romantic dinner involves each person having different dishes, that way there's the fun of swapping / sharing. Everyone having the same dish isn't as exciting, to me. YMMV. Also, it's nice to have some input into one's meal, as a diner.

But if it's absolutely down to those three, Corton for sure.

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Degustation
239 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

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

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[4tines]

@RGR and @sgordon, if you all have other suggestions for celebratory dinners, I'm all ears. You both seem to be well-versed in the area :)

[sgordon]

Well, if "adventurous" is the main criteria, the places that come to mind are...

WD-50 - Obviously. Controversial, but I like 'em. More casual than Corton, and more playful.
EMP - More refined & fancy than WD, certainly, and the food is a bit lustier & richer, but they share a similar playful approach. The most adventurous of the NYT four-starrers, by a mile. And the service is extraordinary.
Aquavit - really been on their game lately, the last couple meals I've had were spectacular. Adventurous in that, well, we just don't have many Scandinavian restaurants here, let alone refined ones. But admittedly, I'm fond Scandi / Nordic flavors to begin with.
The Modern - Only place I've had (or ever seen) snail eggs. Gotta count for something in the "adventure" category.

And, as far as counter dining goes:
Momofuku Ko - make a reservation somewhere else, but try your hand at getting a Ko table one week before the date you're going out - hey, you might get lucky... you can always cancel your other rez if you score it.
Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare - same thing, only start calling them Monday at 10:30 AM to get a table for Tuesday-Sunday six weeks out, helps if you're able to just take whichever night(s) they happen to have open once you get through...

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

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

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

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

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[4tines]

@sgordon I've been to three of the six you recommended -- WD-50, Eleven Madison Park (four times!), and The Modern! Only think about the Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare is the chef doesn't permit photography, which is something that is important to my side blog -- major sad face to that! I'll have to look into Aquavit and Momofuku Ko -- thanks for the suggestions :)

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

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

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

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

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[Cheeryvisage]

Oh no, Momofuku Ko doesn't allow photography either! I still highly recommend it though, even if you can't do it this time....

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Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[4tines]

Ooh! Thanks for the heads-up :)

[RGR]

If you haven't been to SHO Sean Hergatt, I think you should definitely consider it. The cuisine is superb (well deserving of the two Michelin stars it just received), and Chef Hergatt does put together many interesting/unusual ingredient and flavor combinations.

The only possible drawback -- though not for me -- is the one sgordon mention with regard to Corton. SHO is now serving only tasting menus, either 5 courses for $85 or a longer tasting menu (don't know the current price).

Service has been excellent each time we've been there, and the space has very attractive decor. If you go, be sure to request a table in the front dining room which has a view of the kitchen.

SHO photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626669210098/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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

[Cheeryvisage]

And if you go to SHO, be sure to book your reservation via Savored to get 30% discount on your entire bill.

[4tines]

Thanks for the heads-up, @Cheeryvisage

[4tines]

Ooh, I'll definitely have to look into that, too! Thanks, @RGR!

[Spiritchaser]

IMO, for a birthday, SHO is not the place to go unless all you are concerned with is the food, which is fantastic, but the room leaves me unimpressed. We've tried sitting in several different areas of the restaurant but it still comes off as corporate which is why we now only go there if work happens to have has us in the area.

[4tines]

Also, would you recommend the wine pairing at SHO?

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

[RGR]

Because I drink very little alcohol (a bit of sweet wine only occasionally), Mr. R. almost always does wine pairings, and he was very pleased with them at SHO.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[sgordon]

SHO is a good call. I should point out, though that when I use the phrase "tasting menu" I mean a preset menu. SHO may be a series of small to medium plates, but you DO get to choose each course, usually from about three options. Corton, on the other hand, is a set menu (i think one course has an option)

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Corton
239 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

[Spiritchaser]

They are actually quite different from one another so it may help if we knew more of what you like, e.g. refined spaced and food, more laid back atmosphere, etc. Also, is price a consideration?

[4tines]

A laid back atmosphere would be a plus, but not too casual. We're always up for trying something new -- whether that mean a unique presentation/preparation or just really well done tasting menu. Essentially, we're looking for a restaurant that will impress us on all levels -- i.e., cuisine, execution, decor, and service.

Price isn't a big consideration -- as long as the food/service/experience justifies the price range/level. We've certainly been to our share of restaurants that are highly regarded, receiving many great reviews all around, that we found to be utterly disappointing and overrated.

I keep a food blog on the side, for which my boyfriend occasionally guest blogs, so I would like for us to be able to co-write about a wonderful dinner, documented with great photographs of the courses/dishes/food, to celebrate my birthday.

Hope that helps clarify!