Veritas, 43 E. 20th Street (Park), 212.353.3700. One of the best meals of my life (if not the best) (DEC99). I've also been to Jean Georges twice and think Veritas is better.

Peekytoe Crab Ravioli (fines herbs, tomato, lemon and shellfish emulsion). Roasted Sweetbreads (marinated shitakes, ginger and soy glaze) (normally wouldn't be into sweetbreads, but these were extraordinary). Seared Maine Diver Scallops (truffle chive potato puree, pea shoots and perigord black truffle vinaigrette).

My favorite dessert was the Maple Pot de Crème (with walnut biscotti).

The menu changes (luckily I've seen the scallops make repeat appearances on my three or four visits). The prix-fixe is about $70 plus wine/tax/tip. They have one of the widest selections of wine in the country, and the list can be found at their site: http://www.veritas-nyc.com/

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LGA:
I've also been to Jean Georges twice and think Veritas is better.</font>

Having dined at Jean Georges, this is high praise.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geo1004:
Having dined at Jean Georges, this is high praise.
</font>

Veritas was always under-rated. I like it
over many other high profile restaurants in
the city.

Meal of my life in NYC was at Le Bernardin. I was most impressed by absolutely perfect service. I only hope that I can top that experience someday... (possibly Taillevant in Paris?)

I've had many memorable meals in NYC, at all types of restaurants ("dives" included!).

But the most memorable expensive meal was at Chanterelle a few years back. Everything just clicked: food, atmosphere, service, wine ... very expensive, but it was worth it.

My favorites are Le Bernardin, March, and Union Square Cafe. Food (and prices) at USC aren't at the same level of the other two, but it is always a great experience and superbly prepared for what it is (simpler New American).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gleff:
Meal of my life in NYC was at Le Bernardin. I was most impressed by absolutely perfect service. I only hope that I can top that experience someday... (possibly Taillevant in Paris?)</font>

Le Bernardin is good. It used to be very very good in its service, in the last two outings, we had to wait 10 minutes (even through we has reserved way in advance, and we were the first seating of the evening). Food continues to be consistently good.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by akhullar:
Le Bernardin is good. It used to be very very good in its service, in the last two outings, we had to wait 10 minutes (even through we has reserved way in advance, and we were the first seating of the evening). Food continues to be consistently good.</font>

Pleae, could you tell me what' the average price at Le Bernardin ? Just to wonder if I can afford trying it next time with one of my colleagues...
Thanks in advance

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LGA:
I've also been to Jean Georges twice and think Veritas is better.
</font>

One of the former Jean George sous-chefs, Wylie Dufresne, has a fantastic restuarant with extremely interesting cuisine -- 71 Clinton Fresh Food. There are some aspects that may not appeal to everyone --it's tiny (think living room), trendy, and located in what might be called a transitional neighborhood on the lower east side -- but I think all of these things enhance the dining experience and best of all, it's not outrageously priced. Just a few weeks ago I saw the chef listed in one of the food magazines as one of the 10 best new chefs in North America.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by felis:
Pleae, could you tell me what' the average price at Le Bernardin ? Just to wonder if I can afford trying it next time with one of my colleagues...
Thanks in advance</font>

Haven't been there in a long time, but I think the fixed price dinner is $75pp plus wine and dessert (and of course tax and tip..)

Including tax, tip, and a modest (for Bernardin) wine, you probably need to budget $130 - $200/per person at Ler Bernardin.

Le Bernadin has both a fixed price lunch and dinner. As in many great restaurants the lunch tends to be a bargain. It's about $40 and its the real Le Bernadin.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by felis:
Pleae, could you tell me what' the average price at Le Bernardin ? Just to wonder if I can afford trying it next time with one of my colleagues...
Thanks in advance</font>

Approx $150-170/pp without wine & tip for dinner. There are Lunch specials and tasting menus.

My husband and a business client had a $500 tab for dinner for 2 at LeBernardin (including great wine and tip) about 6 months ago.....boy, did he have to explain that one to the corporate business manager, who said the IRS would never allow such a dinner.

By the way, he didn't have to explain it to his wife, who was not jealous once she found out the menu there consists mostly of seafood, veal and other dishes I would not eat.

[This message has been edited by flyerwife (edited 07-17-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by flyerwife:
.......

By the way, he didn't have to explain it to his wife, who was not jealous once she found out the menu there consists mostly of seafood, veal and other dishes I would not eat.

[This message has been edited by flyerwife (edited 07-17-2001).]</font>

Yes, the restaurant is known for its seafood.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jtrader:
My favorites are Le Bernardin, March, and Union Square Cafe. </font>

March is TO DIE FOR! It was recommended to me by another FF when I was heading to the city last month. I had the best meal of my life there... as a solo diner, to boot! Seven courses with wine selections... the staff treated me like a princess.

For a foodie diva, this meal marks the first "perfect 10" I have ever given a restaurant.

Had dinner at Nobu's for my 40th Birthday last year. This place is to die for!!!!

With the sushi they server real wasabe not the green food colored horseradish that is served everywhere.

Had some rock shrimp that were served with two sauces that had a great taste.

I have eaten at a lot of restaurants around the country and in Manhattan and I must say I would want to eat at Nobu all the time if I lived there. Alfred--

For those who follow such things, the ex-head chef of Nobu (Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto) left last winter to start his own restaurant in Philadelphia. So please don't go to Nobu or the place next door !!!

Thanks. http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/wink.gif

Flightrisk- I was suprised by your comments. Has Nobu declined that quickly since the Iron Chef left? Elaborate please.

Dugernaut - Sorry, I was trying to be funny. I guess I still haven't learned that sarcasm translates poorly on a message board. I was trying to suggest that those people who ate at restaurants only for the head chef could stop going so it would be easier to get into for the rest of us!

I had lunch at Aureole a couple of weeks ago. Since I was able to push lunch to 2:00/a few minutes after, the three-course set lunch (and I mean set: no choices) was $20.01 (continuation of Restaurant Week promotion).

------------------
Life's a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Auntie Mame

For a really remarkably good Japanese eat in New York I highly recommend Honmura An on Mercer Street just below Houston. Probably the most gracious restaurant in NYC. It is a "humble" soba noodle shop with absolutely fabulous appetizers including the best uni and bay scallops that I have eaten anywhere including Tokyo. The owner is a dedicated FF bringing back remarkable goodies from Japan regularly.

Veritas is indeed a great place. Scott Bryan pays enormous attention to the wine list, and is surprisingly deferential with his food. Most items on the menu are very wine-friendly, and give the wine geek lots of latitude in ordering. I often like to sit at the bar at Veritas and have a lower key experience of the great food and wine list. USC also has a great bar, and if you get there just as they open, you can have the experience without the wait for a reservation.

Diva, March isn't far from my apt., and I've still never been. I've heard great things.

Le Bernardin has some great fish, but their wine markups deprive me of one of my favorite pleasures, so I just don't go, even though it is around the corner from my new office.

Bon appetit.



------------------

Ditto on Nobu.
One of the best meals of my life. Had a huge meal and not one grain of rice(when was the last time you had any Asian meal where that happened?!)
One bit of advice: If you have more than two people in your group, don't even look at the menu, just tell the waiter to pick his or her favorites and give them a price range (we did $50.00 per person)and certain foods to steer away from, and you will undoubtably be served a delightful feast.

Where is Le Bernardin Located?

51st, between 6th & 7th Av - and it is VERY good, IMHO! http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif

Another nod for Union Square Cafe.

Also Gramercy Tavern. We were able to order a couple of items off the tasting menu in addition to our ala carte choice. Claudia Fleming's desserts are outstanding, esp. the coconut tapioca with cilantro sauce. ~$250 for two people including wine, tax and tip.

Le Bernadin and Veritas are next on my list, in that order.

I am a Chef Daniel Boulud fan. I recently had a Boulud weekend. We arrived on Friday and had a late lunch at Cafe Boulud (20 East 76th Street)for about $110. Saturday pre-theater lunch was at DB (55 West 44th Street) for about $85. After theatre had dinner at Daniel (60 East 65th Street) for about $225. All three were fabulous, but I prefer the less formal and great food of Cafe Boulud.

Daniel Boulud (http://danielnyc.com/index.html)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ToddDeck:
Ditto on Nobu.
One of the best meals of my life. Had a huge meal and not one grain of rice(when was the last time you had any Asian meal where that happened?!)
One bit of advice: If you have more than two people in your group, don't even look at the menu, just tell the waiter to pick his or her favorites and give them a price range (we did $50.00 per person)and certain foods to steer away from, and you will undoubtably be served a delightful feast.</font>

Avoid the sushi dishes, not that they are bad, the treat at Nobu are the signature dishes. We learned this the hard way. Insisting that we wanted sushi, we ordered loads of it ... it was ok, but really no different than other sushi restaurants. We then ordered from the menu and were amazed at the delicious entrees. Alas, we were only able to try 2-3 dishes since we were so stuffed from the mediocre sushi.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by raffy:
Avoid the sushi dishes, not that they are bad, the treat at Nobu are the signature dishes. We learned this the hard way. Insisting that we wanted sushi, we ordered loads of it ... it was ok, but really no different than other sushi restaurants. We then ordered from the menu and were amazed at the delicious entrees. Alas, we were only able to try 2-3 dishes since we were so stuffed from the mediocre sushi.
</font>

I had my "birthday dinner" there a few weeks ago. I had been to Nobu next door (the "no reservations" sibling) a year and a half ago, and my mouth had been watering for the yellowtail sashimi with jalepeno ever since.

We ordered a few cold appetizers, a ton of hot appetizers and a little of sushi and tempura. Our server recommended that order, and I believe the menu is laid out that way, as well, so we didn't fall prey to the sushi first http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif

To get to the point- yup, stick with the signature dishes- miso cod (I never thought fish could be sweet enought to be a dessert!), rock shrimp tempura in sauce, squid "pasta," creamy crab, etc.

I'm not much of a "foodie," and I'm not big on drawn-out multi-course meals. That said, our meal at Nobu was over 3 hours, and I hardly noticed.

Some of my favorites are Grammercy Tavern, Daniel, Nobu, and One if By Land TIBS.

Of the list, my favorite is probably Grammercy Tavern, the first time I went there, I was expecting a very good meal, considering Bobby Flay was walking in at the same time. The service and food is always wonderful, and I suggest never skipping out on dessert here.

I've had some great luck at Nobu. I actually met Masaharu Morimoto at another restaurant (before he left). He was trying to bring the Nobu in Las Vegas up to par with the one in NYC. When we sat down our waiter had asked us if we've ever been; I told the waiter that I haven't been to that one, but go to the one in NYC all the time. Next thing I know, he comes out of the kitchen asking if I trust him to prepare whatever he suggests and then to let him know how it all compares to NYC - needless to say, we highly praised the food!

My parents love to go to Daniel when they come to visit me in the city. The food is very rich, delicious, and filling. Everything is very good there, but I will probably reserve this place for only super special occassions as it is a very heavy meal.

Are there any fans of Beef Wellington out there? If so, go to One If By Land Two If By Sea. The food was delicious and the setting very cozy/romantic. I've only been one time (around the winter holiday season) and the place was very warmly and tastefully decorated. The service is amazing here as well.

11 Madison Park, Rouge, db Bistro

Are among my favorites in the city.

I especially like 11 Madison Park's decor and the cool Art Deco building.