Jean-Georges
- Nearest Transit:
59th St-Columbus Circle (1, A, C, B, D)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
57th St-6th Ave (F)
- Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Garage
- Attire: Formal (Jacket Required)
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
99 Reviews for Jean-Georges
The lemon grass sauce was just... mmm-mm....
My mouth was having an orgasm.. =x !
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
(Jan/ 2007)
While in down, do not miss a chance to eat at Jean Georges- La Nougatine. If not for the intricate and savory food, then just go and rub elbows with the posh of the posh.
I enjoyed my soup poured tableside.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
So I'm just reading through some of the other reviews here. Much as I'd like to think lunch ought to be just as good, it seems that dinner is really where it's at. Given the reviews, there seems to be a difference.
Also, just to clarify, the "casual restaurant" outside JG, through which you walk to get to the main dining room, is officially a different restaurant (Nougatine), and the food there is nothing like what's served in the main room (I've eaten at Nougatine -- it's good, but it's not JG)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
06/11/2008
My new favorite restaurant in the whole wide world! (That's the old fashioned www!).
Really, this… Read more »
It's hard to be perfect. So few of us really are. How can a person say the right things, look the right way, smile at just the right moment, all day, every day, 24/7? We're not superman and, lets face it, most places aren't either. But some places do get close.
And Jean Georges is one of those places.
I love tasting menus even though my stomach is small (though I cram way too much in it on a regular basis). I took my girlfriend here for her birthday. We had the signature 10 course tasting menu. The best dish, overall, was the egg caviar in vodka. Every other dish was just as delicious. The foie gras wasn't too rich for my inexperience pallate. The portions were correct. The bread was fabulous. And the service was impecable. It was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. And also extremely affordable (relatively). The lunch menu is suppose to be amazing but if you want to impress or take someone out on a special occasion, dinner is always an excellent way to do it.
Oh. And the pile of desserts they give you at the end is amazing. The marshmallows, the chocolate, and everything else is just utterely amazing. I love sweets and these are top notch sweets. Which makes me kinda sad for the family with two small children that I saw. The kids were around 5 and 8 and were both bored and fidgety. They weren't really enjoying their food while their parents talked and ate. They seemed BORED with the food. They probably eat like this all the time. I hope, when they're older, they'll actually get and remember these culinary experiences.
O. They probably won't which is why I'll take my kids to McDonalds. They'll at least like the Hot Wheels in the Happy Meals. Varoom Varoom!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
After reading all these good reviews, I decided to try it for myself. We went there for lunch and the verdict- Perfect and worth every cent. The service was so so but the foie gras, calamari , our main courses - fish with lemon grass sauce, pork chop made up for everything.
we also had one of the most unforgettable and delectable deserts ever. My desert was a fruity sort of mouse with a sweet almond crispy base. My sister had a chocolate praline desert which melted our senses away. A burst of creative flavours- simply unforgettable. JG lives up to their many star reputation . I cant wait for my next visit. ;)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Had lunch outside on a warm Spring day, *sigh* it was great. Small tables with umbrellas and generous spacing. Service was very attentive and not at all snooty.
The $25 prix fixe lunch is a steal! Had a soup, salad, main course (I got the fish), and a lovely dessert--all delicious!. The portions are small to modest, so keep that in mind. If you think dining out = stuffing your face, there are other places for that (Sizzler, Mickey D's, Burritoville).
Actually, I take that back about everything being delicious... I was disappointed by the fish. But since I'm always picky about seafood and everything else was great, I'll give that a pass.
Haven't been to dinner here, and probably won't be for a while. Not too keen on spending twice what my lunch cost for basically the same food.
If you are going to bitch about this place, you are probably a very anal/picky/whatever eater and you should probably check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Only knock I have on this place is the price...but you must be able to expect to pay that for top notch service/food/atmosphere/EVERYTHING.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Jean George has a handful of successful restaurants in the city but this still is the best one. I had dinner here with a lady friend, at the time we went there was a seasonal menu we picked from the food that came out was excellent. 100% perfection the atmosphere is also beautiful very calm and the waiters are very attentive - the most attentive waiters i've seen in my life. What an amazing dining experience, food + wine + service totally top notch. I highly recommend.
Excellent food, as you'd expect from a Michelin 3-star.
Wine was excellent as well.
Atmosphere was so-so. I felt like if I didn't sit up straight, I'd get weird looks. Also, it wasn't very cozy. Kind of felt like I was eating in an auditorium. Price was a bit high as well, but my dad paid for it thankfully :-D
Do not miss lunch at this place if you go to NYC. and if you live in NYC...why are not having lunch there? Amazing food for about $30.
I not a good enough writer to fully show how great the food was but I'll try. I felt like I was eating a piece of art. every aspect of the meal seems to be planned, from which plate was used, to how the food was paired. Amazing
I had a mushroom soup, it has a little bite. my girlfriend had a crab salad on toast which was amazing, the toast was crispy and the crab was creamy, but not dripping of sauce. I had pork with a cube of deep fried sushi rice, Asian influenced. My girlfriend had a breaded Salmon, which was juicy and crispy. desert she had mango soup, with angel food cake, mint jam, and ice cream. I had a chocolate cake, with a rum jelly.
I will come back here for lunch.
After reading all the raves people gave JG, I was really excited to check this place out on my last trip to NYC. My friends and I went here for lunch and left with mixed feelings. The food was definitely good... maybe... sort of. Ok it was, but there were a few things amiss. Here's what I got:
DRINK: Cherry-Yuzu soda. Definitely get this. I've seen some places try to pair yuzu with other random fruits, but when it's joined with cherry let no man tear asunder! (A+)
AMUSE BOUCHE: A bunch of cute little things. The only one that was really memorable was the mushroom infused with pure awesomeness. (A+)
1ST COURSE: Foie gras. It was good but, sorry, my cherries were way too burnt. (B)
2ND COURSE: Jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon accompanied by awesome dipping sauce. Perfectly executed, no complaints. (A+)
3RD COURSE: Undercooked fish in light green broth (D-). Definitely my low point here. About 1/3 of my fish was rubbery and undercooked. Didn't want to make a fuss because our server already gave us enough attitude.
And that was another thing. -1 star goes to the undercooked fish, but an additional -2 stars for the horrible, aloof, snobby server. Every other server there seemed cool and we were stuck with the bipolar chick on PMS. If you happen to get the tall girl with the curly black hair in a ponytail, RUN!
DESSERT: Pomegranate sorbet and something with pumpkin. Sorry my memory is really failing here. The homemade marshmallows and chocolates were good, but no wow-factor. (B+)
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
This is a review for the ridonkulous lunch. And by ridonkulous I mean, "OMGWTFBBQ, you can still get a superbly phenomenal value in NYC?"
Yep, $28 for two courses of your own choosing, plus an amuse bouche, bread and butter, truffles, and marshmallows. You can be glutinous like me and add more food for $12 per course. Unfortunately for those of us who don't work in the area, the lunch special is limited to M-F, so if you really want to try this out, plan for your next company holiday.
I had the sea urchin (TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP), duck confit salad (good, but I wasn't too impressed by this), and the black cod (also good, but I'd order something else next time). There are so many choices it's almost overwhelming.
Service is top-notch, decor and ambiance are breathtaking, and once again, you get the creme de la creme for pennies on the dollar. I'll be back for dinner one day.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (3)
Cool (5)
Do I really need to reaffirm the popularity of Jean-Georges by writing another raving review? Probably not.
For me...
The chef's dinner tasting menu with plenty of wine = 5 stars
The lunch tasting menu with a glass of wine = 4 stars
Average = 4.5 stars
I do believe that the food here is phenomenal. You expect every dish to be perfectly prepared and presented, and so far, I have not been let down. At least, there hasn't been any bad surprises.
The service is impeccable. They must assign each staff one single task - like pouring water, delivering butter, exchanging utensils, folding napkins, etc...because you keep on seeing new faces at your table.
But when will I go back again? Probably not for a very long time. There are too many other restaurants in this city (just around Columbus Circle alone) to keep up with!
People thought this was:
Useful (8)
Funny (6)
Cool (7)
I fully realize there's got to be something seriously wrong with me because I didn't give JG 5 stars. But trust me, I have a better palate than those folks at the Michelin Guide and the masses of Yelpers who have seen Jesus after having a meal here. Yeah, right! Anyways - we had the tasting lunch which is for sure a great deal. There were 6 of us so we had a variety of courses and while they were solid and good and some dishes were very good, it just wasn't the life-altering experience I expected. I'd rather take Bouley with his measly 2 Michelin stars any day!
Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe it was the sticker shock, but I was disappointed.
The food was great. There, I said it. There was nothing served to me that I didn't like. Absolutely everything was perfectly portioned and the presentation was flawless.
Maybe its just me. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough to 'get it', but nothing really made me take a pause and think. There was never a single 'Oh, wow! That was really good!' moment. For the prices that they were charging (it was for dinner) and the 3 Michelin stars, you'd think that you'd have at least one... or two of those pauses. Eh, ah well.
Edit 5/04/2008: I just remembered how awesome the Tuna Ribbons I had for my appetizer was. Adding a star for that.
A nice place to take your mum.
I'm really torn on the "star-rating". It's definitely not a five-star ~experience~.
My friend and I had reservations for dinner in the "casual dining" area. We had no problems in reserving a table for two, a couple days in advance. The casual dining menu ranges from 25-40 dollars per entree. It's an average price for a place of this culinary ranking (not entirely sure how many michelin stars). And yes they do have a more upscale dining area with a fancier menu and fancier interiors, that also comes with a "fancier" price tag. I peeked into these dining halls and it did seem romantic, but somehow felt very old.
Keep in mind that the attire is business casual. I wore a jacket yet no tie and they didn't mention anything. I saw a guy in jeans get declined access, so it does happen. I'd imagine that the fancier hall requires a tie.
The entire place has a modern/contemporary vibe to it. It feels too boxy and has a trapped feeling. There are nice paintings hung around. I couldn't entirely take in the interior because it was all candle lit (tiny little table candles). Personally it was way too dim. I know they're trying to create an intimate feeling but I don't enjoy eating in a dungeon. I really enjoy looking at the presentation of the meal. The lighting certainly didn't add to this. If you expect to take any pictures in here, do so with a flash, or very long exposure.
The service was alright. It was like everyone was doing just their job. The restaurant was pretty busy with waiters quickly pacing this way and that. They came to light our candles a couple of times because they kept blowing out. The biggest mistake of the day was when a waiter dropped a kind of glass water bottle on the floor. It bounced several times until it finally crashed. The incredibly loud ruckus gained everyone's attention. I wouldn't be surprised if someone got fired that night... I hope he kept his job since mistakes happen.
We sat near the kitchen. It was interesting to see them busy at work. They looked like they were actually having fun, unlike the wait staff who appeared flabbergasted.
Our table is a bit small even for two people. I tend to write these reviews based on memory because I believe that if you remember it, it was worth it. Strangely I don't recall any of the food as extremely noteworthy. Keep in mind we both had a three-course meal (appetizer, entree, dessert). The food was spot on and perfectly cooked. Yet execution alone isn't enough for me to remember it. Although very well executed French cuisine is always welcome in my book, where is the innovation? I don't come to a renowned restaurant to have food produced by robots, but a chef's creativity and willingness to play around with flavors.
The only must-have dish that my friend and I both agreed on was the soft-shell crab. It is so light, crispy, and delicious! The only problem is that they only give you a small one split in half. This is served as an appetizer yet we again both agreed that we could have gone with this dish as an entree. If you added a couple more soft-shell crabs and some starch like risotto, we would've been set.
The worst, or best, thing about the extremely good soft-shell crab dish is that it set the bar very high. But after that, every other dish didn't match our expectations.
_____
Overall I'd say that, in yelp terms, the food is easily four stars. The overall experience I give three stars. And that's why we go to restaurants after all - for the experience. I want my senses to be stimulated, my tummy full, and something to brag about.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!!
From the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, the entire experience is remarkable. Service is 110% top notch!!
My fiancee took me here last night (Valentine's Day). We opted for the 5 course tasting menu. The food was completely out of this world and definitely unforgettable!
The foie gras and the arctic char were my favorites! All the desserts were fantastic! Presentation of all the food was extremely well done.
This is my favorite restaurant in NYC!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I must say this is one of the best meals I've had in a LONG time. The food, service, and staff was impeccable. Upon arrival, the hostesses took our coats and directed us to the double doors of the dining room. She told us to wait a second for the draft to pass through. How great was that. The server was very pleasant. Now onto the food...the soup I had was nice and full of great detail and ingredients. The filet mignon with herb fondue was mouth watering and the sauce had this wonderful flavor. I am still thinking about that filet. I'm usually not a huge salmon fan and the crackled salmon was just perfect. Desserts were good, but I've had better. I would definitely come back to Jean Georges! The best thing is that we saw Jean Georges there that day. What a treat!!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (3)
After MANY spectacular lunches at Nougatine, I had the pleasure of dining in the main Jean-Georges restaurant this past weekend. The experience will go down among the top 5 dining experiences of my life (so far!) - second only to fantastic restaurants I have had the opportunity to visit overseas.
I am only 33 years old, and contrary to the experiences of others here, I felt no lack of warmth or attention from the incredible wait staff. Every question was answered quickly and expertly, and every request was granted with ease.
Here is a rundown of the consumption for my party of three:
2 Iced Teas - $10
1 Gimmonet Bottle / Champagne - $90
1 Delamotte Bottle / Champagne - $98
1 Manhattan - 10
3 Prix Fixe Dinners - $294
2 JG Flourless Chocolate Cakes - $24
(the Prix Fixe desserts are just too small!)
The Amuse Bouche featured a sashimi fritter, chestnut soup with ravioli, and a sage infused oyster on the half shell. Each crafted with care and precision to bring their unique flavors to the palate.
For the first course, I had the Peekytoe Crab Cakes. Fantastic! The Crab Cakes were perfectly breaded and seasoned, and delicately cooked to maintain the texture of the crab meat.
For the second course, I had a chevre and beet salad, while one companion sampled the Prawns with Papaya Mustard and another the Turbot. Just as the waitress predicted, the Turbot was ALL about the sauce. Magnificient!
For the final course, two of us had the Neiman Ranch Beef Tenderloins and the third, the Arctic Char. The Beef was tender and delicious - on par with the best steak houses for quality of cut and preparation.
Dessert offered a selection of tastes in the Chocolate or Apple themes. The chocolate plate I ordered included a Brioche, Gianduja, Fontina, and Black Olive "sandwich", a freshly made chocolate donut, a small JG chocolate cake, and a unique hot + cold chocolate beverage. Knowing my appetite for dessert, and the incredible experience that is the JG chocolate cake, I ordered an additional (full sized) chocolate cake as a complement to the chocolate dessert plate included with my Prix Fixe.
Finally, the petit-fours and house-made marshmallows (lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla) were presented and the meal was complete.
3 hours
$700+
Total Satisfaction
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Cool (6)
4.5 stars
I agree with the high praises given to J-G. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is overall very good. I love how they keep feeding you after dessert. I noticed that the portions are on the larger side for a chef's tasting menu, which I suppose is good but hard to get down on 7 courses. We had one dish that was so-so -- the venison. The venison, which was beautifully prepared, came with cranberry chutney and chocolate and spice. One would have been fine but neither were very good. I was a little disappointed because the fact that they didn't go well together was very obvious to us. Otherwise, the wine matches were good, not great and the 4-course mini-dessert plate was fantastic.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Blasphemy. Three stars for Jean-Legendary-Georges?! Tantamount to:
1) Denying your mom loves you
2) Electing Dubya to a third term
3) Suggesting Bikram teaches yoga
4) The list goes on ...
But I waited almost ten trips, many of which were on my own dime, before now pronouncing judgment. Notwithstanding the risk of potential adverse reactions from Audrey, Atif and legions of Jean-Georges fans in yelpdom.
Essentially, my visits to Jean-Georges were a game of chance.
_____ .-----------. Five visits--business lunches.
/ \ \ / o o / | Even as my Brioni-
/ o \ o \ /______/ | jacketed companions
/ \ _____\ | o | o | were savoring the
\ o / o / | o | / foie gras, I enjoyed the
\ / o / | o | / watercress and pea
\/____o_/ '----------' salad. Delicious!!
They arranged for a steamed vegetable plate, which was heavenly. I haven't had asparagus cooked so perfectly ever. My table manners went by the wayside, and I was attacking the veggies like a starved Malay baboon forced to don a suit and tie to simply get a seat at the table. The butternut squash souffle was a work of art. And, yes, the service was classic. So was the setting. The one concern was the additional time it took for customizing the order.
Another three visits--dinners with friends (one at a time) at my behest, on special occasions--birthday, new job. Yes, I love my friends like that. The service quality was starting to show some inconsistencies. Mind you, I was dressed up on all occasions. And so were my dinner companions. We felt like we were being closely scrutinized once, ignored another time and denied a simple smile a third time. The food, whether it was my friends' squab and veal tenderloin, or my special-ordered veggies, was phenomenal. And the desserts were the crowning glory. But the service left a weird aftertaste.
Couple of other occasions--breakfast events to recruit chirpy business school graduates in the making. I was on my best behavior. The food quality didn't quite matter. The conversations were all pleasant and so was the food, for the most part.
In summary, I would pick Daniel, for example, over Jean-Georges for a consistently high dining experience. And that is my final answer.
People thought this was:
Useful (25)
Funny (22)
Cool (24)
OH.
MY.
GOD.
Food, if it is defuckinlectable, has the power to make one feel all kinds of feelings. When I came out of here, I wanted to run to Cha-An tea house in the village to use the Japanese bidet. Just sayin.....
And thanks to Counselor Kitty for the suggestion. I can never repay you for bringing JG into my life.
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (11)
Cool (7)
This has been my favorite restaurant for years. I keep waiting for another restaurant to kick J-G off its pedestal, but it hasn't happened yet.
The food is delicious and the serve is impeccable. What more could you ask for?
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
An incredible dining experience. I can't even describe how brilliant the chef is. We got the tasting menu which I highly recommend. Service was perfect as expected. A great special event restaurant.
Jean-George is such a charmer. Have you seen his eyes?
My boyfriend and I flew in to NYC for the weekend. We are huge fans of du Monde, Relais, and Michelin. So, it was no surprise that we made reservations at Le Bernadin and Jean-George, on this short trip to the island. I called Per-Se, but they were on a winter break.
Nonetheless, the food was delightful at both of these places. The ingredients really shined with each bite on each plate.
But, what made Jean-George even more special was the staff. They were the most hospitable group... And, without any instigation or regard, one of the hostess informed us that Jean-George wanted to met us. (Yes. "Us!" we thought," whom are we?") That was a pleasant surprise!
This is a lunch review.
After reading much about Jean Georges' lunch, I finally booked a reservation for a 12pm lunch. It was everything I'd hoped for. The head waiter was professional and efficient, and the dishes came out with a choreographed panache.
I had the sea scallops with cauliflower and caper/raisin emulsion, sweatbreads with grilled pear, and braised shortribs. I loved every dish I had. One of my friends got the uni - if you like uni, you MUST get this dish if you eat here.
For dessert we had the apple and winter desserts, the highlights being the tamarind and pomegranite sorbets.
I highly recommend everybody trying this place for lunch at least once, it's a 3-Michelin star restaurant that you can try for very modest prices.
Arguably one the best restaurants in the city. Beautifully prepared plates of food. Impeccable and attentive service. Delicately balanced flavors that will satisfy both sophisticated palates and novices. Unparalleled selection of fantastic wines.
AND, the three course prix fix brunch they offer on weekends are under $30 per person (without the wine pairing) so... what the !@#$ are you waiting for??!?!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
First thing's first,
I didn't see the Donald.
I didn't see Chef Vongrichten either.
So how do I make this latest review of the world famous Jean-Georges restaurant really stand out?
I saw a HUGE unicorn trot across the dining room!!! And it was eating marshmellows!!!
Well, not really. But I did see marshmellows.
Located in the lobby level of the Trump tower on Columbus Circle, this restaurant is one of the few Michelin 3-stars in the US. Being one of the elite 3-stars, it is also the target of every nutjob, hack, and wannabe foodie with a credit card and food blog. Tough crowd...
As a fellow nutjob food blogger, I think I owe my loyal fans at Yelp my two-cents about this iconic restaurant. Some observations first. Other than the food, you could learn a lot about life here at the Trump Tower:
- The separation of social classes is perfectly illustrated as you walk past the "heathens" dining at the Nougatine room on your way to the main dining room. Our snooty hostess told us not to stare...
- Everything probably tastes better if you're surrounded by gold. An age-old fact confirmed by dragons, king midas, and leprechauns. Gold seems to be the dominant decor theme 'round these parts.
- ESP is for real... servers here at JG's knew I wanted to take a leak even before I moved a muscle. They must've sensed the strain in my bladder.
Wifey chose Chef Vongrichten's signature menu (one that hasn't changed in over 10 years since the restaurant opened). While I opted for the autumn menu with more seasonal ingredients.
The food is excellent and nicely presented, but there were some side dishes and accompaniments that were misses for us.
I think the timing of our decision to dine at Jean-Georges plays a key factor in our less than perfect score. In any other time, Jean-Georges would have been an easy five-star for us. But after dining at more innovative places like Charlie Trotter's and Alinea in Chicago, wifey and I just couldn't justify the extra accolade.
Did that sound snobby and conceited?
It would to a heathen...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
The lunch menu at Jean-Georges is great. It's only $28 for a 2-course meal, with each additional course an extra $12.
Atmosphere: Nice, well-list, clean atmosphere.
Service: Excellent. They discussed each dish when they presented it, making me feel like I was a judge on Top Chef. hahaha.
Food: My companion and I got 6 courses between us.
To start, there was a complimentary amuse bouche of a radish, slightly flambed seedless cherry, and a celery drink with a turnip cake (tastes just like lou ba gou from chinatown).
First course: I got the fois gras brulee, and my friend got the blue fin tuna ribbons. The foie gras brulee included slow-roasted strawberries, and it was absolutely divine. The blue fin tuna ribbons dish was surprisingly large. I heard they have small portions here, but they gave a whole fistful of tuna.
Second course: I skipped second course, but my friend got the corn-filled ravioli with touches of corn and cherry tomatoes. This was my favorite dish. It had bursts of different flavors, served in a hot place, and melted in your mouth. Wow.
Third course: My friend got the halibut with mushrooms, and I got the crusted red snapper. Both dishes were decent. I was impressed how they were as sizable as fish you might get in any other ordinary restaurant.
Fourth course: We tried the brandied cherry souffle. It comes with a rich chocolate ice cream soup as well as peaches with goat cheese and pistachios. The servers actually poured the cherry juice into the souffle while at the table. Pretty good, though I'm personally not a fan of non-chocolate souffle.
Extras: Like most restaurants, it came with some little macaroons and 4 pieces of chocolate. What really impressed me though was that they also gave us 3 marshmallows each (vanilla, strawberry, and mint). They were all freshly made. My fave was the strawberry one because you can actually taste the strawberry seeds. Yum.
Overall, this is a great value for lunch. Not as good of a value as Bouley's lunch, but pretty good for a 3-star michilen-rated restaurant.
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (2)
Cool (5)
Although we couldn't get formal dining room seats we got great service here and I have to admit I once again did it all wrong - I had French martinis all throughout the meal and didn't feel guilty. The Butternut squash soup was great and Halibut was good, so after that the berry tart felt a bit under whelming. Berries do not go well with fish and the combination must be avoided.
What gives four stars here is the service, which is very smart and highly efficient ! We had to run to the Met Opera for the evening and the waiter knew exactly what to do, had been used to theater crowd and there was no need to remind him at any point that we were in a hurry...
If you can plan ahead - book the good places like this in advance and avoid the "ristorante" types, where you will get charged almost as much but will get a lot less in terms of service and time well spent.
had seven course signature tasting menu with wine pairings, companion had seven course tasting menu with wine pairings.
service was polished, formal, but not obtrusive. food was exquisite. highlights included the egg cream, young garlic soup with thyme and sauteed frog legs, squab, and the lamb.
price was commensurate with experience.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
A lot of things can be accomplished in 4 hours:
A round of 18 on the links;
Watching LOTR: Return on the King;
Completing about half of your work day;
Take the GMAT;
and , completing the 7 course tasting menu at Jean-Georges....
I was really looking forward to this experience. I was going to be in NY for a couple days with the gf, and wanted to take her there to eat. I called them up 6:30am PST exactly 1 month beforehand (their reservations opens up 1 month in advance), and got a 7:45 pm spot. Sweetness I say!!
So far, my fave restaurant and dining experience has been Fleur de Lys (SF). I was blown away by the experience, and it was only a 1 star rating on the Michelin guide. Jean-Georges on the other hand, 3 BOMBDIGGITY stars!! I COULD NOT WAIT!!
So the day came finally, and we were ther, sitting in the formal dining room, and I was expecting something good, something grand, something that will keep me thinking back to this place 50 years from now after I've blown my cash. So....how'd it go? Well, it was 4 hours of sitting....and waiting....and....well, i'll just explain.
I heard the service was suppose to be top-notch. Everything in your command, all the attention to you. However, what me and my gf received was.....well, not so much. The host seemed very disinterested in serving us. First of all I could barely hear him when he was explaining the menu. This wasn't due to the constant NY honking outside....no, you actually find the dining room is sound proof, and very quiet. And so it goes that the host was really quiet too. However, from what I did pick up, there are 3 menus. The 1st is a 4 course prix-fixe including dessert for $98. Then the other 2 are 7 course tasting menus. The Jean-Georges menu that has never changed, and a seasonal menu, both for $148 or so. Since this is suppose to be an experience, we both decided to try the tasting menus, my gf with the Jean-Georges, and me with the seasonal.
Now, back to the service. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it's wasn't anything more. It was like....we just got the bare minimum. The host quickly explained the menu (whispered), and quickly left. That was it. No engaging conversations or small talk, didn't even stick around for questions. However, observing him with the other patrons, he stuck around, chatted, made them feel comfortable, part of the experience. So I wonder, why did we get gipped. Was it because we were younger than all the patrons by at least 15 years?? Who knows, but it never improved. When the food came out, he brought it over, quickly told us what it was, then scurried away to check on the other guests. As for us, we were just left along most of the time, never any attention towards our side. For that, I have to give them 2 stars out of 5.
Food-wise, it was good....but again, nothing exceptional. I've had better many times, and out of the 7 courses, and dessert, the best was dessert (the chocolate), and maybe....the foie gras, and the asparagus and mushroom dish. The foie gras was definitely heaven. It was the definition of delicacy and perfection, and the asparagus and mushroom was another slam dunk. However, the rest (the other 5 dishes) were just....ehhh, nothing special. No soul is the only way I can describe them. They were good...but nothing to die for. Not what I was expecting. The dessert tho....OMFG. TO DIE FOR!!! I got the chocolate menu, and man o man, was it good. I could've just had 7 courses of this, and would've felt I got my money's worth. All I can say is....you gotta get it.
Time-wise, be prepared to spend some time there if you get the tasting menu, I mean...FOUR HOURS!!! Now, consider 7 dishes and dessert, which mean 30 minutes for each dish. Now consider this, these are tasting dishes, which means each dish only take about 4 bites to finish, which can't take longer than 5 minutes. Unless you have jaw arthritis, taking longer than 6 minutes on each dish is just...stupid. Which means, 8 courses mutiplied by 6 minutes each only add up to......48 MINUTES!!! That's 192 minutes, or just over 3 hours of sitting around and not getting any attention. I'm sorry, but no matter how good the food was, sitting around for 3 hours doing nothing is not worth a bill of $500 including tip. This may just be with the tasting menu though, since other guests who arrived after we did and only got the prix-fixe was out long before we finished.
So, finally, midnight, 4 hours and $500 later, were we satisfied? Eh, it was alright. We were definitely full, since we had 7 dishes and dessert, and my butt had already fell asleep, was tired of just sitting and waiting there the entire night, and just wanted to lay down somewhere.
Was it all worth it? Sure, for the experience of being at Jean-Georges, the supposed best restaurant of New York, but maybe it would be more worth it if you were at least in your 40's, so they might actually give a damn about you.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
Had lunch at Jean-Georges. One of the best meals I have ever had. The service, ambiance, food, the plating and everything else was excellent.
Before our tasting portions were brought out, they brought out an amuse-bouche before hand with with a trio of items. Asparagus soup with raspberry sauce at the bottom, pekoyte crab on a mini piece of bread with papaya sauce, and grilled fava beans on a spoon.
My brother and I had ordered a bunch of tasting plates of the Hamachi with pink grapefruit sorbet and chili, some lobster dish with mangoes, and beef tenderloin with wasabi and ginger, gulf prawns wrapped in smoky bacon sauced with a sweet, tangy and spicy Passionfruit- honey mustard sauce, pekoyte crab salad with asparagus and melon juice. (I don't remember exactly what everything was called).
Dessert was also a tasting menu where you could choose under the categories of Chocolate, Citrus, Rhubarb and Exotic. We chose Chocolate which consisted of Jean-George's signature molten chocolate cake with vanilla-bean ice cream, and came with a little cup of icy choclate concoction. Exotic had the Flambee banana topped with crispy phyllo and praline ice cream and Passion fruit-mint sorbet. Topped with a coconut foam.
After the check, they brought out mini-choclates, and raspberry, pistachio, and vanilla flavored macaroons, and their home-made marshmallows which tasted like coffee, pink grapefuit, and vanilla. Who know marshmallows could taste this good.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (3)
A Michelin rates Restaurant and it isn't that great - I have to say I was expecting more. The food was good but as good as plenty of other restaurants in the city, I suppose it was more for the 50+ category than it would be for myself, but even then I have enjoyed my meal more at neighboring restaurants.
Indeed if I had a business lunch/dinner for the targeted age group I would endure another meal here but in the meantime I will steer away. (Too expensive and its not a breath-taking experience).
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I have been dining out at fancy lunches like, every day for the past two weeks. Boo hoo, poor me. But seriously, I've gotten sick of fancy food, and was starting to worry I might not like it anymore. Then my six courses at Jean Georges yesterday restored my faith in high-end dining.
The menu is comprised of "plates," ordered from lightest to richest. You are to order at least two for a lunch, but the server recommends you order three, telling you the portions are small. Actually, I didn't think the portions were particularly small, with the exception of the teeny tiny desserts, but I did NOT regret ordering three.
First came a vegetarian amuse bouche, possibly because the server noted our dietary restrictions when we placed our order. There was a little drink involving fennel, an adorable little spring roll, and a tiny salad with cherry tomatoes. I began the meal with the rare tuna in a ginger broth with avocado mousse; the tuna was cut like very thick noodles and delicious. Next came a pea soup with carrot tofu and some kind of herb served tempura on the side. Finally, a nut-crusted black bass in a mushroom broth. I had three courses that were soaking in something delicious, and the flavors were explosive and unbelievable. (Note to vegetarians: I am told Jean-Georges will accommodate if you call in advance).
Dessert was lovely - I ordered the famous chocolate molten center cake, which came with a bite-sized chocolate panini. And, of course, they provide you with additional chocolates and freshly snipped marshmallows to send you off.
Plate presentation was impeccable, as was service. The square-jawed, high cheekboned hostess was the picture of snooty sophistication. If this chick treats me with respect, I've really made it!
Jean Georges--because sometimes the hype is legit.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
"Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Jean Georges! If I may guide you all through our extensive menu options - we have the Pre-fixe dinner menu, the seasonal menu, and the Jean Georges menu that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Our specials tonight include a smooth, silky...with ....foam, truffles flown in just today that I highly, highly recommend in two distinct....one's an airy....succulent.... feel ... melange of flavors....exploding...the other.... nuanced... aroma. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I hope you will have a great time".
As the server left our table with that enthusiastic introduction, the six of us sat dumbfounded, staring quietly at the menus in front of us.
As I hold back the saliva, and imagine that the rest are also going through the same state of inner turmoil, I blurt out: "Ok, what the hell happened just now? We're the definitive foodies, We've been to Bouley, Boulud etc., why am I feeling like a complete fool right now? Why can't I think straight? I couldn't even listen properly to what he was saying"
To which, a friend responds, "You know, for the life of me I can't figure out! I need a pen to mark through the options on the menu, and then select through a process of elimination. Looking at