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Aureole
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
One Bryant Park135 W 42nd St
New York, NY 10036
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 319-1660
- Nearest Transit:
-
Times Sq - 42 St (S)
42 St - Bryant Pk (B, D, F, M)
Times Sq - 42 St (1, 2, 3, N, Q, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
251 reviews for Aureole
Review Highlights
-
"Foie Gras Torchon - The almond brioche is quite tasty." In 28 reviews -
"diver sea scallop sandwich with seared fois gras." In 10 reviews -
"That came up recently, and we had the tasting menu." In 29 reviews
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie S.
New York, NY
4/2/2012
Aureole offered up a wonderful and sophisticated meal.
1st Course: Spring Rabbit and Foie Gras Terrine and Wagyu Beef Carpaccio
2nd Course: Chatham Cod and Peking Duck
The plating was whimsical and the flavors were original. The service was slow to start but our waiter warmed up to us and was finally having fun. I dislike stiff service, loosen up.. we're fun people!
Overall the meal was satisfying but was not special. I guess I can't really place my finger on it but when you spend the money you do at these restaurants I'm looking for that extra bit of attention and more details. This was just simple.. we came for dinner, we left full, the end. -
Review from Steph D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/10/2012
Yesterday was the second and last time I will try to eat at Aureole. The food cannot be THAT good if the front of the house is so amateur.
The first time I tried to visit the restaurant was at 8:30pm on a Sunday in February 2011. We were told that they could not sit our party of two because the restaurant would be closing soon. There were clearly people in the middle of their meal, basically, they wanted to leave early.
My second trip yesterday, they lost a business lunch reservation I made two weeks ago. So either the reservationist did not enter the reservation correctly or the hostess lost it in the computer. I knew something would be incorrect when I walked up to the front desk and the hostess looked at me with panic in her eyes, before I even spoke. Needless to say, we weren't about to wait 45 minutes for a table as the point of the lunch was business, not food. But after two poor experiences, I think I will cut my losses.
A shame, Aureole was excellent when it was at 61st. -
Review from Ann K.
New York, NY
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came in for lunch. Maybe it's because I looked young but I ordered a glass of wine (which I am very familiar with) and the woman taking my ordered proceeded to "teach" me about my wine choice. It was a bit annoying. We also we had to ask multiple times for bread.
I had the celeriac soup pear and ham coquette, fluke crudo, and spring salad. The food is better than average. The service is non-existent. -
Review from Warren N.
Hermosa Beach, CA
3/4/2012
Worst restaurant experience of all time!
The place and management are so poor and out of control that a manager in a grey suit physically manhandled our petite, nice Asian girl waitress who was trying to understand why we were so very unhappy. He literally grabbed her by her shoulders and physically pushed her away from us, and he did not try to talk to us.
We were seated in this strange back room. The waiter lied to us and said there was a glitch in their reservation system and we were listed as "Theater patrons". I know a very senior executive with http://OpenTable.com, there are no glitches in their system.
Then they told us as this room emptied that there would be more guests at the next sitting. No guests were brought into this strange room, and we felt like we were in a hollow morgue.
We ordered the tasting menu, remembering how Aureole's chef used to do very creative and well ordered and delicious courses.
This was terrible. The first course tasted like soap.
Two courses with foie gras that was not good in either course.
Two course in a row of red meat. They called one "New York Strip Steak", which is never used term in a New York steak restaurant, and the next course which tasted nearly identical, venison.
The waiter said he was a trained chef and had worked in Charlie Parker's corporate office. He did not recognize bad, fatty cuts of meat or improperly cooked food.
The dessert was awful. Aureole used to give you a few very beautiful creative treats. This 7 course tasting had one dessert, a "Baked Alaska" pineapple filled ice cream puff with some very strange tasting pineapple and coconut sweets that tasted more like a Thai Curry dish than a good dessert.
They comp'd us after a lot of discussion, which we did not want. We felt like it was "here is a tray with some sweets on it instead of a check, now please leave."
They had no 8pm times available on their system, but at 8pm and 8:30pm their dining room was empty. They have no idea how to manage the front of house of their restaurant.
Their supposed tasting menus are just an amalgamation of their standard dishes, which are no longer very good.
Moral of the story, don't eat in a high-price restaurant located on 42nd St. and changed to accomodate national development in places like Las Vegas.
Charlie Parker, you have no idea what you are doing, nor how you have destroyed a great dining experience.
NEVER AGAIN IN A MILLION YEARS!!!!!!!
P.S. Train your managers to talk to your customers and not physically manhandle your female staff. I almost called NYPD to report a Battery by your manager on that nice Asian waitress. I have been steaming over this all night. -
Review from Amit K.
Clifton, NJ
5/4/2012
The food is interesting but nothing great. The service was attentive but you would expect better in a upscale restaurant. Summary not bad but not worth the price.
-
Review from Alex O.
New York, NY
5/7/2012
I rate Aureole terrible not because it is terrible compare to the whole universe of restaurants but because it is terrible compare to other New York fine dining restaurants. Probably "poor" rating is more appropriate but since I expected much more, I rate my experience "terrible".
Negatives
1. Disgusting location near Times Square.
Some people here mentioned it is an oasis - yeah, it is oasis all right. The second you step out of Aureole you are surrounded by not so pleasant smells of street food and scary people.
2. Dining room is sub-par - small, low ceilings, boring decor and it is always very very very cold.
3. 5-course tasting dinner was way below our expectations.
I have a strong feeling Aureole wants to save money serving 5-course (surely this applies to 7-course as well) tasting menus.
First. The amount of food is half that of 3-course prix-fixe. Some people say the amount of food is not that important as people do not go to fine restaurants to pig out. Well, whatever, that is just bs. Portions are tiny. However, 3-course menu portions are well sized. If you decide to go to Aureole, order from $89 dollar menu and watch what tasting-menu-people get.
Second. What is the deal with pineapple?!! 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch pineapple cubes are everywhere (we found them in three dishes). They look out of place. They taste out of place. They look cheap.
Thirdly, strip steak was boring. Nicely cooked but boring.
Four. PINEAPPLE BAKED ALASKA? Really? Tasting menu and Aureole gives you the cheesiest the cheapest desert item they have. That sucked for us. Well, lucky for us, my wife does not eat pineapples. After some commotion, maître d' offered her a chocolate desert instead of alaska - that desert was fantastic.
Positives: maître d', chocolate desert, sea food items (bass with mustard greens was spectacular), no rush. -
Review from Vivian L.
2/28/2012
Came here for a Restaurant Week dinner and had a really great experience. No scrimping on the RW menu at Aureole! *cough, cough, Mesa Grill*.
First off, the restaurant is beautiful inside: open and airy, with an upscale vibe that comes off as more inviting than intimidating. I expected us to be seated in the outer room near the bar (seeing as it was RW), but surprise, surprise, we got seated in the dining room inside! Awesome.
We started off with some of the most fantastic bread I've had in awhile. I tried 2 kinds personally, the focaccia and the biscuit...which were both amazing and came to our table piping hot.
For my 3 courses, I had the ruby red shrimp, the veal cheeks, and the chocolate ganache twist. Shrimp was good, but a little ginger-y for my taste (not a big fan of ginger). Veal cheeks, on the other hand, were AMAZING...melt in your mouth, bursting with flavor deliciousness. Chocolate ganache twist, while tasty enough and beautifully presented, had a strange rubbery texture that threw me off a little. On average the food was good but not amazing, but the ambiance helps make up for it. Still, not sure if I would pay full price for a meal here, but definitely worth a trip during RW! -
Review from Daniel H.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you're making reservations and have never been here before, book for the Bar Room. We wish we had known the difference. The seemingly chic ambiance of the Bar Room may have pushed this to a five, but for now I can't be sure.
The quick summary: Cool scene in Times Square. Well-paced meal. Synchronized service (you'll see what I mean). Endless bread. Great food. Fair prices.
The deep dive: Four options (least expensive to most expensive): Pre-Theater three course for under 60 a person (must be seated between 5p and 6p); Pre-Fixe three course for 89 a person; five course tasting for 118, and five course chef's tasting for 148.
We opted for the Pre-Fixe, and it turned out to be just right for our appetite on this particular Saturday night.
Things kicked off with four choices of bread: sourdough, baguette, focaccia, biscuit. The biscuit is baked with dill and is awesome; the focaccia was also great. Borscht was also served; if you like this Russian beet soup, then you'll have no objections to the small cup served up at Aureole.
First course: went with the wagyu beef carpaccio and the yellow tuna tartare - both are great choices. The perfect bite of the beef carpaccio has a really nice acidity to it. The tuna tartare was pretty standard, and pretty standard tuna tartare is pretty delicious.
Main course: was deciding between the venison loin and the cod - the server felt the cod would be better since I was having the beef carpaccio. Well let me tell you... the cod was fantastic. I don't think I've had this mild, white, popular fish prepared better anywhere else. Served atop a caramelized onion and fried, cubed (tiny cubes) sweet potato mixture. She had the pheasant, with is a lot like chicken but definitely tastes a little different. I can't articulate, but if you get it you'll not only experience the taste for yourself, but you'll also see the tube-like presentation. Weird, but good.
A panicotta with blood orange cleansed our palettes, and then enjoyed a delectable gianduja chocolate dish and crispy crepes. Yes, gianduja chocolate (pronounced jee-an-doo-jia). I've never heard of this before - it's a fancy Italian word for nutella. Do I need to say more?
They'll leave you with four more mini farewell desserts (there's another fancy term for those), and then you'll be on your way. You'll also walk out the door with souvenirs (I won't spoil it).
Winning. -
Review from S P.
Merrick, NY
4/7/2012
I went there recently for a business dinner. I was somewhat disappointed with the food and the service. The restaurant is noisy, but in a great location. I had the shrimp appetizer, which was good and a fair portion. I had the strip steak as a main course, and when i asked the waiter if i could choose something else as a side order rather than the pureed potatoes, he told me they do not allow substitutions and said he would remove it from my plate and bring some greens at an additional charge. I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliper would do that. The steak was cooked to order, but rather than get a strip steak, it was just 4 slices. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, take your business elsewhere.
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Review from V B.
Burlingame, CA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they have one of these in Vegas?
If so then my preeatinghere impression was that it was over the top. Much like my orange headed Yelp friend.
No not you, the other orange headed Yelp friend who remains anonymous but still likes to send me nice little compliments and feed me up the minute Yelp status updates. Might try taking up a hobby as your act is getting really old.
Pretentious. One word I would have used to describe Aureole. But I didn't know you. I had never even set foot in your restaurant.
It was not my choice to dine here. I lost in a landslide vote of 4-1. Ok, so lets take the 5th wheel out to a pretentious fine dining establishment near the park and really watch him squirm when we hand the sommelier a bottle of wine to decant and pay the corkage which it turns out that same bottle is offered on their wine list. This is a big NO NO in my book, but again not my call and my vote counted for zilch.
How would Aureole react? With class and no mention that they offered the exact same Burgundy. He brought over six glasses (one for our Sommelier) and performed his magic turning it into a bottle of red swirly Heaven.
The food presentation I must say is a little over the top. But in a good way in that each ingredient was placed next to or on top of another ingredient as to blend the flavors to perfection. I wanted the cod but no cod was available. Today's catch was not up to the Chef's standards. This is a good sign. But they did have duck from Long Island. Why the ducks out on the Island are better than the ones in Jersey is beyond me, but they just are.
Aureole is near Times Square which makes it a magnet for theatre goers. But given the caliber of restaurant and the time it takes to dine here. Do yourself a favor and make your reservation for after the show. Nothing worse than shoveling duck down your throat and rush out to catch the 1st act of Lion King.
Well we were there just for the food.
For M Jayne Lynskey
Wish me luck today. -
Review from Angel K.
New York, NY
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lunch serice is so ridiculously slow. Food was allllright but the terrible service took away fom anything decent I can remember about this establishment.
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Review from Trevor P.
Manhattan, NY
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for restaurant week. Left wishing my job paid more so I could go back again.
Of all my restaurant week experiences this round, Aureole was the clear winner. Their scallop crudo was beyond anything I could ever dream to cook up on my own, and the braised beef entree was tender and matched with a delicious horseradish mashed potato and one of the best bites of broccoli I've ever had. Dessert was so-so, but I'm not a fan of sweet desserts so let it slide after two superb courses. Unexpectedly generous portions and fantastic wine list.
I never thought I'd enjoy being so close to Times Square. -
Review from Eva G.
1/22/2012 5 photos
*Winter Restaurant Week 2012*
We came for dinner at the bar room.
Apps:
Ruby Red Shrimp - 3 crisp jumbos, fine.
Farmed Baby Greens Salad - standard.
Entrees
Braised Veal Cheeks - I've had experience with dry and rubbery cuts of veal, but this was unexpectedly tender and juicy. It's balanced well with the mix of leeks.
Pearl Barley Risotto - This was also better than I'd expected; the use barley instead of Arborio rice gives the main a bouncy texture that worked in its benefit.
Desserts
Citrus Genoise - My favorite part of the meal. 2 scoops of grapefruit sorbet atop a soft spongy cake that's drenched with a tangy citrus juice, surrounded by slices of grapefruit and orange. The whole ensemble is topped with a thin caramelized wafer crisp. And surrounded by garnishing dollops of grapefruit syrup. The lightness negated some of the calories I scarfed down before it.
Ganache Twist - The ganache is dark and soft, it's good but not much out of the ordinary.
Overall, not a bad meal, but still expensive for what it's worth; it's a place you'd hit up for special occasions. It's in a central location, the service is decent, and the food comes fast. -
Review from Alison H.
There was a moment during my meal at Aureole when my mind began to entertain certain "thoughts." Thoughts of the things I could possibly do to make this dining experience an immediate regular occurrence, no matter how nefarious. Could I rob a bank? Could I become one of those sugar babies I saw on true life?
I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to dine here during restaurant week. It is meals like this that motivate me to do well in life. To one day trade my tiffany charm bracelet for a tennis bracelet then a set of pearls.
Excellent Food.
Excellent Service.
I will be back Charlie Palmer...give me a few.
You may be thinking why no 5th star? Well, my friend ordered a drink with tequila (the cheap kind) the bar tender returned to inform him they were out of that but had another kind. She gave him a try he didn't love it but said ok. When the bill arrived at the end of the night, we realized we could have fed another person for the cost of that drink. A bait and switch? an upsell? Can't say for sure but it was my turn to pay and I was sure cranky about that. -
Review from Michael T.
Fairfield, CT
2/23/2012
Aureole, NYC serves technically impeccable food, at the time of my visit accented with Asian flavors. Albeit top-notch, the restaurant is extremely expensive by any standard imaginable. That said - food, service, ambiance and wine selection at Aureole, NYC are as good as it ever gets.
Please take a look at the Aureole pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from John-Paul P.
Madison, NJ
2/1/2012 5 photos
My girlfriend and I came here to kick off January 20 for Restaurant Week, Winter 2012, in their Bar Room.
Upon walking in, we were greeted warmly by the hostess and. maitre'd. Before showing us to our table, they offered us the chance to check our coats, which we did.
Upon sitting down in a large and comfy corner table, our server came over and warmly greeted us, presenting us with food and drink menus. For our appetizers, we both had the Ruby Red Shrimp with Coconut Brother, Lemongrass, Asian Pear, Cilantro and Peanut. Overall, this dish was pretty tasty. The shrimp were warm and tender, while not rubbery at all. The overall mix of flavors worked quite well too.
For our main course, I had the Braised Veal Cheeks with Potato Puree, Leeks and English Mustard Jus, which was decent. The braised meat tasted pretty good and was tender and juicy, but the potato puree was a bit watery. I can't remember specifics about the leeks.
My gf had the Scottish Salmon with Bok Choy, Ginger Sesame Broth, Peanut and Bonito Oil. While the quality of the salmon was fine, whatever the salmon was crusted in, plus the broth, peanut and bonito oil really overpowered the taste of the fish.
For dessert, I had the Citrus Genoise with Marinated Citrus, Orange Crunch and Grapefruit Sorbet. This was yummy, sweet and citrus-y. My gf just had regular ice cream, tho I can't remember which flavors.
Overall, the food was good, but not exceptional. It was a meal that I'd expect to pay $35 per person for. I also felt that our server was probably handling a few more tables than she should've been.
The food wasn't bad for what it was and some items, like the shrimp, came off their regular menu. Just don't expect to be blown away. I had hoped for more from a restaurant with one Michelin star. -
Review from Charlie J.
Sharon, MA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Fois Gras was the best and my dinner and dessert equally spectacular. But the wine list is the reason I am in love with this place. Oh and by the way the service was special and the employees love to work here and it shows in everything they do!!!
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Review from Young R.
1/25/2012
Beautiful restaurant. Lovely decor and table centerpieces. Very happy with Restaurant Week deal. Good selection of breads, people particularly liked the biscuit. My eyes popped a little at the wine list with bottles selling for $9999, but they were able to recommend a nice $50 Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Service was nice. I enjoyed the slow pace, but maybe others wouldn't.
Food as follows: Appetizer -- Shrimp. Good. Entree -- Veal cheeks. Amazing! Super tender and flavorful. Definitely made my entire meal. Veggies were merely okay and I mistook the potato puree for... cheese sauce since that's how it seemed... Dessert -- Chocolate ganache twist. Surprisingly jelly-like texture, but pretty good. Food didn't quite blow me away enough to make this one of my favorite $$$$ restaurants, but it was a very enjoyable experience and definitely a great RW choice. -
Review from Kurt A.
Long Island City, NY
12/10/2011
We were a party of four, and we had dinner in the bar room. The food was very good, though portions were small. I started with the pumpkin soup, which was excellent, with wonderful flavor combinations. For the entree, I had the free range chicken, which was very good.
One star off for the small portions. Another star off for this: our server made a big deal about the risotto special, and we ordered it, only to see on the check that it was $85 (!). We expect a restaurant's special to be a bit more than the menu entrees (which were around $30), but not three times more. We would expect the server to mention if a special is inordinately pricey. This felt a bit like a scam. -
Review from Will R.
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Aureole is a solid 3.5 experience. The entire restaurant takes itself seriously, so I choose to review it with equal vigor. The service from start to finish is very good. Not telepathic like you'd find at similar level places such as Bouley and Gotham's, but good. I mostly enjoyed speaking a bit of Spanish with the waitstaff, which is always nice. There was never clarity as to who our server/ waitstaff was since the room is constantly served by a "team" of attendants. They were all very nice though and warm, not the typical cold efficiency found in most NYC upscale wait staffs. Now, the space this might be my biggest problem of the night. When you are paying these prices (which luckily my Girlfriends Father was paying hahahaha) the experience should be transformative. As I mentioned previously, I've experienced some upscale dining here and elsewhere, and in almost all of those establishments the physical spaces have been very special. Aureole feels like a sad tourist restaurant off of Times Sq. with a few bells and whistles. When you're inside you never feel as though you are away from the location of Midtown. Even the back dining room which is supposed to be the nicer part of the restaurant felt strangely city like with the brick wall walkway between 42nd and 43rd st clearly visible through the windows. And perhaps the most annoying and disappointing thing of the whole experience- the awful elevator music they play- I mean seriously? Are you going to play call waiting and elevator music at such a prestigious restaurant? When I dined at Gothams they had some nice light Jazz playing, at Bouley they played a mix of Vivaldi and Bach, Il Mulino plays Italian Opera. Maybe Bank of America offered a package deal when they moved into the space- they'd pipe their awful music from their call waiting straight into Aureole for no extra charge. It set my nerves on edge. Plus it was the first time I met my Girlfriend's Father so it all seemed some what weird/awkward. Now, the food was the shining part of the night especially dessert. Everything we had- Tuna Tartare, Beef Carpacio, Venison, Prime Steak, and Pheasant were all excellently prepared and presented. Nothing but good things there. The desserts were by far the standouts of the evening- Chocolate Gianduja and Caramel Banana Tart. Both were incredible. My sole complaint about our eating experience- the parsley beer list. They have an award winning wine list here, you'd think they could take 20 minutes to sit down and figure out how dismal their beer list is. When you are supposedly one of NYC's elite dining restaurants you don't offer Bud Light on the beer list especially when it's $6. That is not only an insult to people who love good beer, it's also an insult to the person who loves Bud Light, they know just as well that no one should charge $6 for a bud light. There were actually only a handful of European brews. Shame on Aureole for not offering more- Compare that to the deftly selected and sourced beer list of Eleven Madison Park. There is no comparison.
Some final thoughts on Aureole- It is not an elite NYC dining establishment as it claims. I believe I read that it has a Michelin star? If so then Michelin stars mean nothing to me anymore because they certainly don't deserve such an accolade. The food is excellent, but don't come too hungry because the portions are tiny (I left feeling slightly hungry). Overall our experience was fine butt I won't return unless someone else is paying....again!! -
Review from Saara H.
12/10/2011
Aureole will give you exactly what restaurant in this price range nestled amongst big firms in Midtown should: safe dishes with high quality protein. Nothing particularly memorable, but an enjoyable experience. Aureole definitely isn't well suited for vegetarians or anyone who doesn't have a few hours to spare for a meal. Likely best for business dinners where everyone is looking for ways to linger over bottles of wine or for older couples who can appreciate an easy-to-cut filet .
The spaghetti alla chitara, halibut, and beef tenderloin were all very well cooked and I think the sauce accompanying the beef tenderloin had a Sriracha taste to it??
I thought the foie gras was a not-so-pleasant surprise - way too sweet. Duck liver served with strawberries? Instead of inventive, the dish felt confused and generally unappetizing. -
Review from Marin G.
2/26/2012
Restaurant week in magical midtown. interesting. I refused to take part in Restaurant week unless we could go to THE fanciest place available. I think this place did it. It was worth the price and the limited prices. I had really AMAZING gnocci and a delish salad garnished with various citrus fruits in a great dressing. The dessert was equally yummy with a sort of grapefruit pound cake. And friends had the various homemade gelatos/ice creams and each flavor was fresher, yummier than the one before. I know this place is out of my league and I seriously dislike the location but once inside Times Square felt miles away. I'm glad restaurant week let me live beyond my means.
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Review from Claire O.
9/19/2011
Mmmm, amazing. Had dinner in the Bar Room, totally appropriate for a platonic meal on a weekend visit to the city.
Atmosphere - fantastic. Service - impeccable. Food - AHHHHH
The raw hamachi app was delicious - I loved the little pineapple cubes with with the spicy shiso powder, great contrast to the buttery deliciousness of the fish and the avocado. Loved it. We also had the spaghetti app - sauce was divine and the seafood was perfect.
I ordered the poached salmon - yes, I know, a played out protein, whatever. This was solid - not incredibly creative as it were, but mega tasty nonetheless. I especially liked the crispy puffed salmon skin. I didn't dabble in the beets too much.
Dessert was an assortment of sorbets - simple and a clean finish to the meal.
Overall, had a great time! Would definitely come back. -
Review from Joe L.
Castro Valley, CA
4/23/2012
Came here for a work dinner. Had the chestnut parppadelle which were yummy (not fantastic) and the veal shank osso bucco . I was really disappointed that a 'great' place like this served such dry and tasteless cut of meat. I can't even remember what the sauce around the veal tasted like because the meat was so dried out. I just glad I didn't have to pay for it.
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Review from Justin A.
10/29/2011
I feel that Aureole is a "soft" 3 star. Because it is so close to Times Square, you get a lot of tourists in the bar room complain about prices and the like.
First impression, wine list is very large (pages and pages and pages). The wine list is perfect for oenophiles, they have every type of wine imaginable, sorted by region and flavor. Ordered a nice bottle of Malbec and Reisling, both priced around $70. Not too bad.
Appetizers...ordered the Ruby Red Shrimp and 3 cheese tortellini. both were good but the portions were a bit small. However, this is an appetizer not an entree, so I guess that can be looked over.
Entree...ordered the Chicken Brest, dining partner ordered the Salmon. Both were delicious, perfect servings size, and the flavors in both were good.
Desert...Cheese plate and coffee. Nothing to say, pretty standard as far as cheese trays are concerned.
All in all, the presentation of the food was better then the taste. The big turnoff was that the the waitress left halfway through the meal (it was late) and this was quite a turnoff. We needed to wait a while for someone to fill up wine and take our clean plates. For a Michelin rated restuarant, this isn't the service you expect. -
Review from Joel H.
Clayton, CA
3/31/2012
Good food but very slow service. We arrived at 6:00 and confirmed that we had a play to catch. The main course arrived after 7:00, and the dessert as we were getting up to leave at 7:45. Not recommended for pre-show dining.
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Review from Liza P.
Somerville, MA
4/18/2012
I found my dinner here very underwhelming. It is beautiful inside but the service was eh and the food did not correspond to the high prices. The presentation of the food was beautiful but the taste - just ok. The desserts, however, were really great! Anyway, would not go back - there are plenty of other overpriced options in the area
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Review from Rachel T.
2/8/2012 1 photo
Came here for RW and was so impressed! The atmosphere was large and spacious and the glass wine cellar above was absolutely stunning. The service was incredible- although our table wasn't ready immediately we had drinks at the bar to start. I have to say I am happy we went over to the bar because the aureole signature cocktail was one of the most fabulous drinks I have had. It was flavored with passion fruit and lime citrus and was beautifully presented.
The bread selection that was brought out to the table was also notable. As for the meal itself I tried both the farmed baby greens salad and the celeriac and parsnip soup. The salad was full of citrus and bold flavors. The soup which came with a smoked ham croquette was also delicious. I ordered the scottish salmon as my entree (mainly because this is featured on their regular menu as well) and was so impressed! It was coated in a ginger sesame broth served under a bed of bok choy and pomegranate seeds. The salmon was beautifully prepared and presented- the flavors worked so well together. Having ordered salmon at a few RW menus this one by far was the most superior.
For dessert I had the chocolate ganache twist. I have to say the dessert was the least impressive on the RW menu- the flavors didn't work so well together but it was still decent.
Overall, an incredible dining experience and would absolutely recommend if you are the theater district with family or friends and want to be blown away. -
Review from ashley S.
New York, NY
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. Let me start by saying I worked for the pastry department over a year ago, so when my dad wanted to go to dinner in the city with me and my brother, I chose Aureole as I had been there but never eaten there.
We walked in and were seated in the dining room right away, the bar room was packed. We were given water and menus right away, I was talking to Matt our server (although maybe he was a manager of some sort) and mentioned I had worked there a while ago and he said the chef I worked for was gone, but they have a new one etc etc. He was very nice considering I was just a lowly pastry person a long time ago.
Any how we ordered and to start we were all given a red pepper granite with cucumber foam. Then I had the beef carpaccio to start, my brother and dad had the scallops to start. The beef was amazing, it came with a very nice cracker on top, the beef was soft as butter. The scallops were good (I'm not a scallop person)
For dinner I had the lobster, my brother had the duck, and my dad had the strip steak. The duck was the winner for the night, the steak was really good as well. The lobster was delicious, but the duck was still better.
Then we ordered dessert, and the few desserts we didn't order were all sent out as well. So we had 1 of every dessert on the menu. There was a strawberry with meringue and mousse that was the best and then the bah bah au rum was the second best. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted amazing.
I would definitely come back .... if I could afford it. -
Review from Mona W.
Aureole was not my first choice for a pre Broadway show dinner, not even my second or third. I originally has a reservation at Gordon Ramsey's London but had to let that go since the timeslot available is too close to the show. Apparently, 2 weeks advanced reservation is not good enough for many of the famous fancy restaurants even on a weekday. Lesson learned.
I was still slight bitter I had to 'settle' here. On the bright side, their pre frix menu price is really only 60% of what I had budgeted for my fancy dinner so more food later!
It didn't take long until I started to like this restaurant. Service is expected to be great at restaurants at this price range. Aureole had done a little bit more than I have expected. Waitstaff was professional, courteous and non obstructive. They always works in pair to remove both empty plates promptly at the same time.
The food did not disappoint. While nothing was really out of the world spectacular, everything from beginning to the end were strong. Excellent bread with quality olive oil for dipping. That alone was enough to make me happy.
Appetizers :
Foie Gras Torchon - The almond brioche is quite tasty. I wish the torchon is very buttery smooth but lacking the strong foie fras flavor.
Hawaiian Hamachi - Not a bad dish but I have seen too many similar dish to be impressed. Hamachi and Uni. Really can't go wrong with this combo. The baby red shiso has a oddly addicting bitter flavor.
Entrees :
Long Island Duck - Duck breast with cherry sauce is a bit too typical. This dish lacks originality but the execution is still great.
Maine Lobster - Love the crunchy texture of the lobster. The bone marrow is very addicting. Mix a bit of that with the orange fennel broth to eat with the lobster and it was heavenly.
Desserts:
Poached Pineapple in Muscat de Baumes-de-venise - Very interesting dessert. I love the cilantro and passion fruit combination. Light and very refreshing, perfect for hot summer days. Good use of contrasting elements and fairly innovative creation.
Chocolate Souffle - Again I think I had too many good souffle to be easily impressed. Everything is already but noting really caught my attention. I like the little chocolate cake bites on the side more.
were a pretty decent surprise.
Dinner was about $200 for two without any wine and before tips. There are a cheaper pre threater menu for early diners too. Aureole beats my expectation at this price with the impeccable service and outstanding food.Listed in: Michelin
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Review from Lu H.
The food and space are lovely. Dishes are carefully presented and arranged just so. Flavors are arguably creative. But honestly just not worth it for the high price point.
He:
1) Salmon Tartare, Lemon Balm, Radishes, Snap Pea, Basil Vinaigrette
Very light, came with great crisp very thin bread to eat with the tartare. They paid close attention to texture.
2) Free Range Chicken Breast, Spring Leeks, Fava Beans, Mousesrons, Sorrel Sauce
I tried some and it was good, but not outstanding.
I:
1) Ruby Red Shrimp, Coconut, Lemongrass, Asian Pear, Cilantro
Decent shrimp, the shrimp itself was plain but the coconut lemongrass sauce was very light and yummy. It was, however, a TINY portion of 2 shrimp for around $20.
2) Pink Snapper, Basil Potatoes, Zucchini, Red Peppers, Saffron
Snapper came with skin on top, which I usually don't mind, since I eat a lot of seafood, but this time it was a little distracting and tough. The tiny balls of zucchini in the saffron was cute, but it also made me feel like there was not enough of the zucchini.
Service was also not very good. Our waiter forgot my iced tea until halfway through my entree when I reminded him, and then he had to be flagged down for the dessert menu... and then to take our dessert order. I normally don't mind too much for a nice lunch, but since I was in a rush to catch a train, I did not appreciate the inattentive service.
Again, gorgeous restaurant with very pretty food. But I would consider coming back here for RW only. The regular lunch menu is just not competitively priced, especially since each entree is around $28-$30. Even the chicken. Appetizers hover close to $20 for minuscule portions. Compared to JG's 2 plates for $29 lunch deal, it's just not justified. -
Review from Karen C.
Sugar Land, TX
10/4/2011
I'm rounding up... I'd give this place 3.5 Stars. It's a really nice restaurant and it is located close to time square & the new york public library. the dress is fairly mixed - you can be dressy or casual (they're not strict on your attire). The service was good - drinks was always filled and table was always cleaned.
We ordered the market green salad, wagyu beef carpaccio, pink snapper, chatham cod & rhum baba. All the food was good, but nothing really stood out to me as amazing. The wagyu beef was pretty good, the beef melts when you eat it and it's so delicate in flavor. The pink snapper was really good too and I loved the basil potatoes. The BF order the last cod and I actually liked the cod more than the pink snapper. The rhum baba had too much rum for my liking.
If you're in the area and want something kind of different stop on by and give this place a try. -
Review from Vinotaine e.
Greenwich, CT
Updated - 9/22/2011
This review concerns 2 desserts: de-constructed crème brûlée with raspberry and basil sorbet &
De-constructed crème brûlée with raspberry and basil sorbet:
Visually stunning! On the bottom layer you have the regular crème brûlée with a thin sugar crust on the top. Then there's the layer of fresh raspberries. The next level up is the sugar candy layer, thick & crunchy. On the top layer, there's a scoop each of raspberry & basil sorbet, with a fried basil leave standing in between.
Very refined & sophisticated in terms of flavor & texture. The basil sorbet is a bit unusual and unexpected, but it didn't overwhelm the dish.
My only complaint was that the sugar candy underneath the sorbet was slightly too thick for my liking. But the rest of the dish was top notch.
Well done. Bravo!
Panna cotta with stewed baby pineapple and granita.
I found that the baby pineapple slightly too sweet for my sweet tooth.
That being said, I wish I could have had more of the panna cotta. Personally, I wish that there were more of it & prefer Lupa's version.
Granita with finely diced pineapple & golden raisin was super refreshing & devine.
Can I please have more of what's on the right hand side, please?
p.s. my server Orlando didn't seem to know all the ingredients that well.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/2/2011
I've eaten here at least 3 times. Consider that I'm a big whiner on most things in life, it's… Read more »
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Review from Lester M.
12/31/2011
I've been going to Aureole for over a decade. While I much preferred their previous townhouse location, the dining room here is quite nice as well. I dropped off a vintage bottle of Chateau Margaux hours beforehand for decanting, and the staff was very accommodating. The food has always been merely good (and I use merely intentionally here), although this time around a person in my party wasn't happy with his meal. I can only comment on what I ate, and the warm fois gras was amazing (but I'm very partial to foie, so 'amazing' is more a function of the foie itself, not necessarily the preparation), but my pork entree was, again, merely good. I was so full by the end that I didn't have room for anything but sorbet, but from my previous meals here, the desserts are always pretty decent. I am regretting the fact that I didn't try the white truffle risotto special that another in my party ordered. It looked well worth the supplemental charge (it was ~$50 extra for the appetizer portion, and I believe ~$80 extra for an entree size over an $89 prix fixe, but the amount of truffle shaved was very generous).
I would not say the food is on par with some other 1-star Michelin restaurants in the city. It certainly does not even approach some of the 2- and 3-star Michelin establishments (fairly obvious, otherwise Aureole would probably have been rated higher). Given the quality difference, though, I think there is better value to be found elsewhere. The three course prix fixe at Aureole is, as I said, $89, and, I believe, three course menus at some 3-star Michelin places like Daniel are in the $100-120 range.
That said, would I go back? Probably, but this is more a function of the fact that I used to live a few blocks away from their old location, so Aureole is more of a nostalgic excursion. Some of the staff is still the same, even though the location has changed, which is a plus for me. Overall, I think Aureole is definitely a place for a good, but not exceptional, meal with good service. Don't hesitate to eat here if you can't get a reservation somewhere else... -
Review from Mindy K.
Albany, NY
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicate carpaccio, sumptuous hamachi, delectable cod, decadent foie gras terrine, and the grand finale, wonderfully luxurious pheasant.
Beautifully executed and aesthetically marvelous dishes.
Oh, and we also had a modern rendition of the banana split for dessert. Simple yet satisfying.
I know not why a negroni was poured into a martini glass, but all else was well. The gin cocktail I had was excellent. Then again, I love any combination of gin, chartreuse and st. germain. :)
To try next time, peekytoe crab. -
Review from Garima M.
Jersey City, NJ
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here for the restaurant week and was surprised hw did i miss sch a nice rest rite in the middle of times sq! Awesome food, i knw salads could be really boring but this plc had 1 of the best salad i'v ever had.. Main course n dessert were eq good.. Grt service, nice ambience! Wud defi recommend this plc..
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Review from Barbara M.
New York, NY
9/2/2011
I've been here for drinks and snacks in the Bar Room after work, for lunch and for dinner. Different experiences because the Bar Room is more casual and lively while the dining room is elegant and serene. For dinner we tried the tasting menu and were very pleased with the selections, the hamachi and scallop were excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked with a scrumptious curry sauce, I had the duck and my husband the steak and both were tender and flavorful. Wine pairings (sake with the hamachi) were perfect. The weakest part of the meal were sweets, which were average at best. They serve warm madeleines (like the Boulud restaurants), however they almost seemed to be fried, too oily. Service was attentive and professional. Highly recommend, it's especially welcome in this neighborhood which offers few good fine dining options.
When 3 of us dropped in for drinks one evening after work, we had no reservation, but they couldn't have been nicer about it. The friendly hostess got us a table in the bar room and we shared a variety of small dishes with drinks. All were mouthwatering, especially the sliders. Lunch is equally wonderful with a similar menu to dinner.
Would give it 5 stars if the desserts were better, even though I tend to prefer savory to sweet courses and will skip dessert or substitute a cheese course at times. -
Review from Steve H.
Bothell, WA
8/16/2011
I attended Aureole for the first time this past week while I was home visiting family and my girlfriend. We chose this location based on it's proximity to the theater playing "Wicked" (awesome show) as well as its fantastic menu. This place did not disappoint.
The setting is sophisticated yet casual and attire appeared to be casual as well. To give you an example of the robust menu, I had the duck sausage with potato puree. I have never seen duck as a sausage on a menu before and I love duck, thus I could not pass this up.
There is a huge selection of wine and a full bar as well. The wait staff was professional and crisp. The food comes out at a nice pace to your table as well. One thing I really did like is that staff will ask you if you're seeing a show, and if so they appear to expedite your order.
This a great romantic setting to have some awesome food with your partner and then see a great Broadway show. -
Review from Phil L.
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came to this restaurant for restaurant week while on my lunch. Aureole is right next to Bank of America and their restaurant is segmented into several different dining areas. Since I didn't have a reservation and they were completely booked for lunch, I was forced to eat at the bar, which of course isn't a big deal as long as I get to eat! I ended up ordering the shrimp with melon salad, skirt steak, and a fig tart.
The shrimp smelled fishier than I am normally used to but more like the fresh ocean rather than rancid rotten shrimp. They were seasoned well with salt and I'm assuming it was a siracha mayo was artistically dotted along side the shrimp. The melon salad was interesting, it was a scoop of cantelope, watermelon, and honey dew with some micro greens on top. It tasted like they had dipped each melon ball in vodka, not sure why but it certainly didn't add anything.
The skirt steak was served with asparagus, and sliced fingerling potatoes. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly medium rare but sliced (LAME), the asparagus was unseasoned but obviously cooked in the same pan as the steak to get that meaty flavor. The potatoes were amazing as they must have been cooked in bacon grease. Perfectly crispy, and oozing that porky goodness.
The fig tart was essentially sliced fig across a puff pastry, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and some curled sugar on top. It looked pretty, but lacking in any real flavors that burst out.
The bartender was very friendly and service was ok, at the height of the lunch rush it did take a little longer than I would expect for a high end restaurant, so my lunch extended a little beyond an hour. All and all, Aureole is a pretty good restaurant with well executed dishes. But I will say at least based on the restaurant week menu, it's missing the "wow" that tasted amazing factor that I was hoping for. This is definitely a good place for a business lunch however, serving up some good food given the other choices in midtown. -
Review from Lucy Z.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
This review is for the Aureole bar room during winter restaurant week at dinner service. I had the shrimp appetizer followed by the braised veal cheeks and then the citrus genoise (sponge cake). For 35 dollars, everything was very tasty and well prepared. Our server was very efficient and knowledgeable. The flavors were pretty simple but this is also the bar room and restaurant week. My review is really for the execution of these dishes which was quite well. The shrimp were nice and tender. The lemongrass coconut broth accompanying the shrimp was bright and light; however my boyfriend received hardly any broth. The server poured most of it on my plate. The braised cheeks were very yummy, nice and tender. I especially liked the grain mustard sauce used and the creamy potato sauce. My boyfriend didn't care for the cabbage and leeks but i thought they were okay if not a bit creamy. Dessert was 2 small scoops of grapefruit ice cream on a layer of sponge cake with a caramel crisp on top. There were also 2 slices each of orange, blood orange, and grapefruit.
One pet peeve: I hate when restaurants serve you cold bread and cold butter, Aureole did this. Cold bread I can handle...it's not like they are baking it all during service but why are they giving me ice cold butter impossible to spread?
The only other thing i wish the restaurant would do is note that they are on the corner of Broadway and 42 rather than just stating it's in the BoA building. BoA is huge and the restaurant doesn't note that the bar is on ground level while the main dining room is at the top of BoA.
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