NoMad lunch experience vs. EMP Lunch Experience

[burgeoningfoodie]

I have done EMP for lunch and given the NYT review of NoMad which is probably for dinner. I wonder how the lunch experience compares both to its dinner but also to EMP.. If there is a thread that discusses this, I'll gladly just take the link as a response.

[burgeoningfoodie]

Hope everyone is okay!

[burgeoningfoodie]

Oh well to clarify it is usually only my wife and I that jaunt into the city and the inlaws just question it all but they are our ride from home to LIRR to get to these places. Maybe, I'll just have to plan a food vacation with a guy friend and use something like Air BnB to stay in the city ;-)

[kathryn]

EMP now only offers the same tasting menu for both lunch and dinner, BTW.

The NoMad, dependent upon where you sit, is much more bright and airy during the day. But also the menu is shorter.

[burgeoningfoodie]

Yes I ate at EMP this spring and went with the $75 grid vs the tasting menu. I guess I was looking for more on the food aspects both style and the experience for the price.

[Spiritchaser]

I don't want to speak for kathryn but I think she was trying to point out there is no longer the $75 option at EMP, it is now a $195 tasting menu only, lunch and dinner. It makes it difficult to compare to The NoMad because the price points are so far apart. That being said, both restaurants are exceptional for their category, NoMad service is not as refined, nor do I feel it is suppose to be, as EMP. The food comes from two very talented kitchens but the over the top (and I mean that in the very best way) presentations now at EMP are almost incomparable.

[burgeoningfoodie]

Hmmmm okay. Thank you both :-) My wife and I are going to NYC and she has given me the option to choose just 1 lux dining spot. Last time it was a lunch venture to EMP. Per Se is too much and I do realize that places like Del Posto and JG do a lunch special. Just considering my options. I've wanted to try Daniel and Babbo for the longest time, but recently saw postings about Picholine. Then I start thinking about it and I want to try Le Grenouille or Ai Fiori, or Annisa Lo's place or XYZ and well you can see where this is going.. the list always increases even if I strike off a place or 2, but I'm guessing for those that don't live in the city that this is a general (but happy) problem to have.

[Spiritchaser]

Then do The NoMad. You'll see the call outs to the EMP style of food but it will be more relaxed. Of course if you need to have an EMP fix you could do a la carte at the bar. FWIW, Picholine just reopened and I am a big fan (just to make your choises more complicated).

[burgeoningfoodie]

My choices were already complicated since there are so many places and the list keeps growing.. in short here is a list of places I would like to dine at some point..

Corton
Picholine
Le Grenouille
Per Se
Daniel
Babbo
Del Posto
Torrisi
Kinshop
Perla
A Colicchio establishment
Blue Hill
Union Square Cafe
Gramercy Tavern
Mailino
Al Di La
WD-50
Buvette
Prune
Minetta Tavern
Good Dim Sum (be it the city or flushing)
Authentic Ramen
Momofuku Milk Bar (and one of their other places)
Taim

And that is just off the top of my head...and NOT considering bakeries like Dominique Ansel

[RedDevil10]

NoMad is, predictably, not as "lux" as EMP, but I recently had a solo birthday lunch (they allow corkage, finally time to dip into some old Bordeaux) that was nothing short of spectacular. One nice thing about NoMad is the different room options, pre or post meal cocktails in the library, option of eating in the parlor or the main room (btw, I prefer the parlor, the main room is a little busy/loud). An excellent choice, but I also agree with Spiritchaser on Picholine (so glad it's back).

[joshuamcfarren]

You've got a great list but may I also suggest Jean-Georges for lunch? The main dining room is bright and open. The location is next to central park. The food is exceptional—I was blown away by the prix fixe on my visit. I had lunch at Jean-Georges and dinner at EMP. I'm dying to go back for dinner at JG. Both have 3 Michelin stars.

Taïm is worth the trip and probably some of the best food for the price in NYC. There are now two brick and mortar locations, the newest one is in SoHo on Spring Street near tons of shopping. They also have a truck that I frequent: http://www.taimmobile.com

Finally, one of the things that I enjoy most about living NYC is the outer-borough ethnic food. You can venture out to Flushing or another enclave, eat very well on the cheap, and feel like you've visited another country. I'm sure there are enough suggestions on this topic to fill an new thread—and one probably already exists.

[burgeoningfoodie]

yes I know. I've read enough in the NYT and from others about Flushing and the.. was it the L train that goes to some part of queens where it's multiethnic? We stay with my in laws on LI so it makes a little hard. They don't get my wanting to go to places like Xian or one corner of Brooklyn just to go to say Robertas...*sigh*

[joshuamcfarren]

Xian has a location in Manhattan now. And Roberta's just spun off Blanka next door: a twelve-seat chef's table tasting menu that was awarded a Michelin star. So you could use that to say, "See guys we should have gone before it blew up. Trust me next time."

I guess you need to resign yourself to the fact that not everyone will appreciate food as much as you. Some people would rather stick with what they know and go to Olive Garden to play it safe because they don't want to be challenged by new food and sit thought a potentially long wait to try a hot-spot. So maybe go with the in-laws to a restaurant of their choice and take your wife on a culinary adventure.

Back to my original suggestion: Jean-George might make everyone happy

[kathryn]

It's the 7 train through Queens. But you can also get to Woodside or Flushing on the LIRR, if that makes it more convenient, dependent om what line they're near.