Per Se Salon Anniversary Help

[bartholomeu]

So I've got an anniversary coming up and I wanted to get a table at EMP first, but couldn't get one even after calling 28 days before. I've given it some thought and would like to try Per Se instead. I assume that I won't be able to secure a reservation this late, and I'm also worried that my partner and I won't be able to handle a full tasting menu. (Typically, we can't even finish our desserts after having an appetizer and an entree each.)

The Salon seems to be a good fit for us in terms of being able to just sample a few dishes without having to commit a full tasting menu. I'm just wondering if the ambiance will be romantic enough for our anniversary dinner. I've been reading some of the other posts here and many Salon diners mention tables that sit next to a window that overlooks the city and this seems like it could be quite romantic.

I'd also like some suggestions on what to order that is available on the Salon menu. Are they generally willing to serve you a dish that is on the tasting menu that night but not on the Salon menu? I'm also a huge fan on desserts but I sadly don't like the taste of chocolate--are there any great desserts at Per Se that don't incorporate chocolate? Also, the dessert tasting menu sounds fascinating but I don't think I'd be able to eat it all on my own. Can it be shared between two? Thanks for all the advice!

[bartholomeu]

Oh, and another question: Has anybody had an experience here as a fairly young diner? We're still in college and I don't know how they'll feel about serving us. I'm just a little concerned about fitting in since I assume that they typically have a slightly older clientele. (Sometimes, we're treated a little less graciously by the waitstaff at certain dining establishments because we appear to be quite young.)

[Sneakeater]

I think they are incapable of not being gracious here.

[Spiritchaser]

ditto what sneakeater said

[sunbrace]

There was a couple in their 20's when I was there last month and the staff seemed gracious to everyone in the restaurant. I myself look younger than my age and was still treated courteously by everyone and they even gave me a chance to check out their kitchen.

[bartholomeu]

So we finally made it to the Salon and it was an incredible experience. We really wanted that table by the window and so we got there a little early and were the first ones in the restaurant. I definitely recommend trying to get that table because it's truly the best table in the Salon. When I asked our waiter for this table, he let me know that he thought that it was not only the best table in the Salon, but his favorite table in the entire restaurant.

We each ordered 3 courses each (appetizer, entree, and dessert) and were quite satisfied with how much food we received. I'm not a very big eater but the food was so good that I ate it all and was quite full by the end. My favorite dishes of the night were the foie gras appetizer and the lamb entree. The foie gras came in quite a sizeable portion and I'm sure we would have been satisfied with half the portion even considering that we shared the dish between us. My lamb entree was much larger than her quail entree and I was really surprised at how generous my portion of lamb was. It was really delicious and the roasted artichokes it was served with were also quite delectable too.

While I really enjoyed the food, I wasn't particularly blown away by the presentation of the food. However, this isn't usually one of my main concerns when dining out. Where Per Se really shines in my experience was in the service, which was extremely gracious. They were very accommodating at all times. When I asked to retrieve my phone from my coat that I had checked when we had first entered the restaurant, they brought my phone out to me on a little silver tray. It was totally unexpected and it made us feel like we were just as special as those who were dining in the main dining room.

At first, I'm fairly certain they didn't know how to treat us since we were by far the youngest diners in the whole establishment. The waitstaff definitely warmed up to us as the meal went on and our main waiter turned out to be quite talkative once he realized that that we were really enjoying the novelty of the whole experience. We ended up spending a little over 2.5 hours for the entire meal and it was definitely the most pleasurable dining experience I've ever had. I really do want to go again and try the rest of the menu in the Salon. I think we had more fun in the Salon than we would have had in the main dining room and it was surely the best choice for us.

[calf]

Awesome, so glad this was worthwhile for you. I've only been to the Salon twice, and my second meal was even better than the first. So I found it very repeatable, if you want to go again!

I agree that the dishes are composed in a more restrained way—I think it expresses their Californian-inspired cooking philosophy very well. Which restaurants' presentations have blown you away in the past? I'll have to check those out sometime :)

[lovethosebites]

I personally think that Per Se is overrated ( haven't been there but heard many negative things, and it is very expensive ), so I would recomend Bouley, Le Bernardin, or Jean Gorges. EMP is also great, I would recomend trying it another time as well.

[jon]

That's a ridiculous statement. How can you think something is overrated if you've never been there?

Per se is incredible, both the main dining room and the salon. I remember there being a few tables that look out on to Columbus circle, no? In any event they will treat you like royalty.

[lovethosebites]

I have had 5 different friends go and say they had a horrible time. They may all turn out to be wrong but from the things I heard, I will be staying away.

[alepenazzi]

Well, you're missing out one of the best restaurants of the world and probably the best in manhattan...

It's often cheaper than the EMP bar, the sizes are bigger, the service is better...

Actually a starter+entree+dessert at the per se salon is cheaper than all the restaurants you've mentioned at dinner where you're stuck with prix fix or tasting menus.. (Jean George, bouley, Le bernardin, EMP)

[bartholomeu]

This is actually one of the reasons that the Per Se Salon is at the top of my list. We don't have the stomach space to truly appreciate a full tasting menu and it's much more economical to go a la carte. I like that the Salon still has that special occasion feel however.

[kosmose7]

Yeah, although I enjoyed dining at Per Se most of the time, my latest experience at Per Se Salon was really, really disappointing. The foie gras was way too salty and had too strong cognac flavor (which was not the case previously) and the serving interval was average 30 minutes between the dishes. Our dessert course, which used to be really amazing previously, was uninspiring and boring on that particular day.

[Spiritchaser]

Jon - I guess you and I can't comment on the ridiculous statements or our comments get removed.

[Spiritchaser]

The Salon would be an excellent option BUT I think there is really only one very "romantic" table that overlooks the city, you would be able to see out from the other tables and the Salon in general is very nice in the evening but that one table is the prime location and the Salon is first come, no rez so...

Per Se is extremely accommodating and if something jumps out at you from the dining room menu you shouldn't have a problem with requesting it in the Salon.

The menu changes on a daily basis so something on it today may not be on it when you go but I have always had great success with anything they do with lobster, beef, or fleshy white fish, and their pastas can be out of this World good.

Regarding the dessert tasting, they will absolutely split between two people but last time we did it some of it was chocolate, we didn't have a need for substitutions so I don't know if they can adjust it but I will say it was incredible.

And just FYI, if you have trouble finishing tasting menus then EMP or Per Se dining rooms would have been a bad idea because you get a lot of food. Lastly, you always have the option of dining a la carte in the EMP bar area...

[bartholomeu]

Hmm...I never thought of going to the EMP bar area. Do you know if there are tables in the bar area or do you have to sit facing the bar? I'm worried that it might be a little awkward to sit facing the bar in this situation.

Also, thanks for all the advice on Per Se! My SO likes to eat early so we'd probably get there right when it opens--perhaps there'd be more a chance that we'd get that table?

[Spiritchaser]

You would probably have a very good chance if you are early.

Regarding EMP, yes, there are some tables in the bar area and the bar area stays open all day BUT food service ends after lunch and restarts at 5:30. A good trick is to get there early and tell them you are going to have a drink but will be staying for dinner.

[alepenazzi]

That being said I always enjoyed immensely my lunches and dinners at the per se salon while I wouldn't go back to the EMP bar area...

I don't know how to explain it but the whole experience was a little bit of a let down. At per se in the salon you still feel that special occasion feeling, at the EMP bar I felt only that I was at a bar, the service didn't remember me of a special occasion, nor the food did.

Maybe I'm one of the few, but the per se salon for me is a winner against the EMP bar.

[cambridgedoctpr]

I have eaten frequently at the EMP bar, but it is noisy and crowded on a friday or saturday. but i really like the 35 dollar corkage fee as i am a wine collector.

Be there at 5 45 to get a prime piece of real estate.

i also think that you should consider Jean-Georges and Bernadin. I never have had trouble getting a table at Bernadin at 6 pm.