"Tocque" to me about Tocqueville

[arepo]

There is very little said about it that I could find on this estimable forum.
Any comments yea or nay?

[uncledunkel]

i am finally heading here this Saturday! can someone please give me an idea of how long the tasting menu might take, need to give the sitter an idea of our timing. not sure if it'll be the 4, 5 or 7 course. thoughts, differences (besides number of courses)? noticed going from four to five is an extra $25, while five to seven is only an extra $15.

[SomeRandomIdiot]

I'd say give yourself about 3 hours for the 5 course and 4 hours for the 7 course. I prefer the 7 course. As you noted, it doesn't cost that much more and it lets you sample a greater number of dishes if you're dining with other people.

[ttoommyy]

This is timely. Check out #3:

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2012/01/...

[arepo]

That was a great website. I really got a kick out of the video on the sea urchin special.
I'll stick with the plainer fare but it was exciting to see how they put that thing together -- very creative.

Like you ttoomm, I too prefer updated reviews on restaurants and this thread has evolved into the best place for me to peruse various tastes and comments -- most all of which are positive.

Again to all who helped, a big thanks.
:-)

[ttoommyy]

I pretty much assumed you wanted more recent reviews/comments on the restaurant. Glad you started this new thread arepo.

btw...looks like we may be going to Tocqueville for Easter brunch next month. They have a very nice prix fixe menu for $68.

[plf515]

Sounds like me kind of place. Would it be good for dining solo (either lunch or dinner)?

[SomeRandomIdiot]

Just bring entertainment if you're doing the tasting menu solo. It's been taking me 2-3 hours for lunch and closer to 4 for dinner.

[plf515]

Thanks!

[ChefJune]

One of my favorite places to dine anywhere. Really delicious food, innovative but not weird; beautiful room. Excellent lunch prix fixes. My all-time fave dish is the foie gras and scallops. Yes, together. :)

[Pan]

I think it gets plenty of recommendations. I definitely recommend it, and I've seen Kathryn recommend it a lot of times.

[ttoommyy]

Recommendations, yes, but there are few threads that discuss it. That is why the OP did not come up with a lot of info on it when she did her search. Just seeing it recommended in a long thread does not give someone who wants to know about a restaurant much info to go on.

[ellenost]

That's surprising since I just typed in "Tocqueville" in the search feature and came up with 141 replies including some very detailed (including my own) reviews.

[ttoommyy]

Yours is one of the only detailed reports I see; most other hits are not nearly as descriptive. Plus, your review is almost half a year old at this point, and restaurants can change a lot in that amount of time. The 141 replies are also threads where just the name of the restaurant is mentioned. I do concede though that there are more "mentions" of it than I first thought.

[foodwhisperer]

Tocqueville is a really nice place with excellent food. I think the dishes have improved over the years. Initially I thought they over spiced or mixed too many flavors. But on my last visit, everything was excellent.
As far as searching the boards, I use an approach that Kathryn once recommended to me, when I could not find anything on CH. Go to google and google Tocqueville Chowhound.
The first one that came up was a review
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/809282

[ttoommyy]

That is a great way to search, foodwhisperer (and kathryn). Thanks.

But to my point, that thread is from 2011. I don't know about others on CH, but when I do research on a restaurant I am thinking of going to, I like to read more recent reviews. There are not that many current reviews of Tocqueville, which is what I think the OP meant when she made her comment about not finding much.

[biondanonima]

I took my parents there the last time they were in town and we all loved it - lovely food, lovely ambiance, very reasonably priced for the quality. I'm surprised it doesn't get much play on this board.

[arepo]

Thank you all for your (mostly) very kind replies. I certainly take your advice above other restaurant sites that I feel do not measure up and I tend not to trust them.
I intend to make a reservation and try it out for myself.
No loud music is a plus and I find it not necessary to have mignardises and stuff like that.
Sounds like a "me" kind of place.

[ttoommyy]

Glad you are going to try it, arepo. Let us know what you think.

[ttoommyy]

"I'm surprised it doesn't get much play on this board."

I stick by what I said up above; I just don't think many CHs find it "hip" enough to talk about. On a board where EMP is the subject or becomes the subject of many posts, Tocqueville will never get discussed much. That said, I find it a solid restaurant all the way around and would suggest it over and over again.

[arepo]

Your post above is the one that sold me on it.
You covered all the necessary points for me.
Thanks TTOOMMYY
:-)

[ttoommyy]

You're welcome arepo. I'm at a point in life where I just want great food, excellent service and a civilized environment. I no longer look for fireworks and surprises; I've had enough of that. Either I'm at the vanguard of a new phase in restaurants...or just old(er). :)

[Miss Needle]

Are you sure you did an appropriate search? Change the parameters to further than 1 year.

I love Tocqueville. Service is really polished. The food is delicious and make sure you save room for their bread. Bonus for those who like larger portions as they tend to be on the generous side.

[ttoommyy]

We went for Christmas Eve dinner in 2012. Very good food, excellent service and a nice atmosphere. I have nothing bad to say about it. I think it gets overlooked on this board because people here tend to rave more about places like EMP and Daniel. Toqueville may be too "sedate" to garner much attention here. You won't find cutting edge techniques, over-the-top presentations, "freebies" and the like but you will find a very good restaurant and an enjoyable evening.

[280 Ninth]

I recommend searching. In my experience, it is an excellent spot for dinner, have enjoyed it very much. Not for diners who crave loud music or other forms of stimuli with their dinner.

[plf515]

Oh! Yes! I crave an **absence** of loud music with my dinner.

I don't eat at your concert so why do you play music at my dinner?

[ellenost]

There are a number of very favorable posts about Tocqueville. Surprised nothing showed up in your search.