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63rd St-Lexington Ave (F)
68th St (6)
5th Ave-60th St (N, R, W)
Mon-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"You don't have to be a card-carrying member of the Social Register to dine here but if you are not you will most likely be in the minority.…" read more »
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So maybe it is only 4 stars b/c I only got the 3-Course Dinner rather than the 6. It definitely wasn't the best restaurant I have ever been to but up there.
Loved the peeky toe crab salad wrapped in an apple slice. Didn't like the sea scallop rosette - the marmalade on top was not very good.
Also had the farm chicken which was a bit salty. The duo of black angus beef was amazing. Warm Guanaja Chocolate Coulant was awesome.
Service was amazing, but of course that is what I expected. I am still sad when I look at my credit card bill b/c as a friend said, sometimes you enjoy these places more when you put it on the company card. Touché.
This institution of expert French cuisine really proves its leadership role in culinary finesse. Get the tasting menu coupled with wine pairing - the only way to go.
You can't go wrong with anything - I had nary bad bite.
Fantastic little braised short ribs in this joint. While the music piping in the dining room, much like the braising of said ribs and flavors of such from the chef thinks it moves like it should be considered dangerous or... out....there.
New York has gone tame. Like its French cuisine. The artichoke soup showed some boldness. Some. That's it.
The wait staff needs to act less and serve more.
My 2nd experience at this fine French cuisine. Service was excellent and charming from top to bottom although my main course was brought to the table incorrectly. My waiter immediately checked, his face turned red and apologized repeatedly with respect and politeness. Service attitude goes a long way even when mistakes are made. The waiter offered tasting on the wrong entree, the sea bass which wasn't to my liking however, my wife certainly enjoyed the taste.
Had the abalone and scallop as appetizers and then the lamb and squab as main courses which were all amazing. Typically French cuisine is cooked with a bit more butter for my taste. Not at Daniel, it was just right. A good wine recommendation from the sommelier pairing with exceptional flavor and presentation which were all first class!
I usually rate my restaurant by if I would notice the time spent while eating. I enjoyed every moment without realizing 2 1/2 hours have past at Daniel. Sure, the check wasn't cheap at $600+ but if you have a special dinner occasion, Daniel is highly recommended!
My husband and I went here for our 1 year anniversary and even though I found the place a bit stuffy for my taste and filled with client dinners and couples over the age of 65, I can't say anything bad about their food or service. We probably had about 10 waiters who were at our beck and call every few minutes. There were a lot of things to taste from the chef, before we even began to order. All of them were incredibly creative and the flavors definitely were new to me - which was very refreshing. This was a great experience, but honestly I don't think I would come back just because I prefer a more casual dining experience. However, the service here is fit for a king!
Not long ago, my parents celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary by taking themselves (and thankfully their children) to NYC for a few days of fabulousness. I figured since I was one of the best things to come out of their marriage, I deserved the all-inclusive trip =)
Before we took off for Manhattan, a friend and culture blogger from my church said we absolutely had to make reservations at Daniel, which she said was the best restaurant in Manhattan. I value her opinion HIGHLY, as her taste is exquisite (I mean, she did give me a list of rare perfumes to purchase at Barney's that even I had never heard of). She knows her stuff, and it showed.
Jackets required, no problem because I have this fabulous Oscar de la Renta that I never get to wear in Texas because it's so hot. Mom also got to wear her exquisite Catherine Malandrino dress, but I digress.
We had a short wait for our table, so we sat at the bar and I was fascinated with the efficiency and attention to detail the bartenders gave even to the simplest of cocktails. They were also very friendly, even though they were inundated with orders. They welcomed us to NYC and to the restaurant with genuine friendliness.
Our table was ready, and although we didn't plan it, we got the table in the far left corner, which gave us a sort of intimacy that we appreciated. Low lights, relaxing atmosphere, obviously a very discerning clientele...the only skecthy guy in the place was what looked to be a greasy Russian mobster with his arms around two model-quality blondes. So cliche.
Anyway, we all did the six course tasting menu, and all I can say is it was a rich, tantalizing menu with superb execution. My favorites included the duck foie gras terrine, handmade spinach tortellini, duo of dry aged black angus beef, and the manjari chocolate mousse.
As a surprise, they gave us an extra serving of dessert, complete with a confection that said "Happy Anniversary". So sweet!
The staff was attentive and very affable; like I had read in previous reviews, the place was high on class but low on attitude.
The dinner was almost $1000, but it was well worth it! It was a wonderful Manhattan experience for my family and me. I hope it is for you too!
I must say the space is beautiful and service was flawless. Was it the absolute best meal I have ever had? No. I will say outright that EMP is better in my opinion. But Daniel is definitely a quality institution. You get a lot of freebies and hey you are paying a nice price tag so they should do this. They started me off with a little amuse, then a gift from the chef in the form of a rabbit porchetta terrine, selection from the bread basket which I chose raisin, garlic cheddar, and butter roll. Cheddar was the best.
I had a hard time deciding on which appetizer too choose since there were also specials and many sounded great. So the server told me I could do a 4 course menu for $140. Since I am a sucker I went for it. I decided on the following:
I had a hard time deciding on which appetizer too choose since there were also specials and many sounded great. So the server told me I could do a 4 course menu for $140. Since I am a sucker I went for it. I decided on the following:
1st course- Lobster Soup (forget the actual fancy french name) with Root Vegetables, Duck Prosciutto, Foie Gras, Black Truffles- This was actually very good. I was suspicious because I normally am not huge on soups and feel like they are a waste of stomach space. But when the description has things like Lobster, Duck, and truffles I can't pass that up. The young woman who was my server was incredibly helpful, and she eased any worries I had about there not being much lobster meat. The dish comes with about 4 nice chunks of lobster wrapped in duck prosciutto and 2 chunks of foie gras. The broth contains root vegetables, cream, duck confit, beans, and the truffles. Really was more like a stew than a soup. The broth was deliciously creamy. Lobster was very good and the duck confit made the dish. Only negative was the beans but I am not a huge beans person.
2nd- HANDMADE SPINACH TORTELLONI-Chanterelles, Tomme de la Chataigneraie, Lomo, Black Garlic- This was quite delicious. The pasta is handmade and is basically 5 mini raviolis in a delicious broth like sauce. The mushrooms and the lomo (spanish pork) made the dish. I only wish there were more mushrooms and black garlic in there. But overall, this was a very generous portion and the ravioli were stuffed with delicious spinach.
3rd- DUO OF DRY AGED BLACK ANGUS BEEF
Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Parsnip-Potato Gratin
Seared Rib Eye with Black Trumpets, Gorgonzola Cream
Supplement $13- Let me preface this by saying I think it is ridiculous when a place is already charging an arm and a leg and then they add in supplements because well they can. This is his signature and I must say it was unbelievably good. The only drawback was the portion size. If I didn't add in the extra course I definitely would have left here hungry. I'd rather have smaller appetizers and a large main than the other way around. Daniel seems to have it backwards. Generous app portions and a miniscule main.
However, The ribeye was cooked to perfect rare and the short rib was incredibly succulent. Both were covered with a delicious red wine sauce and the gorgonzola cream worked perfectly with the combination of the short ribs and mushroms. The parnsip potato gratin was a 1 inch square of potato heaven. One of the best things I have ever tasted. Again, the only regret here is that everything on this place wasn't three times bigger.
Dessert- The cranberry lychee vacherin was delicious and a beautiful presentation. The gianduja sable was comped so I got a nice free dessert. Great complimentary madeleines and petit fours.
Overall, the food here was really good, service one of the best no doubt. For the price I think there are definitely better meals and definitely ones that are cheaper and right on par. Nevertheless, I think this is one of those restaurants all foodies should experience and am glad I did. On to the next culinary journey for me.
After complaining to a Yelp friend that his one word Yelp review of "sigh..." was unclear, he explained that it was all he had to say about this wonderful place. After experiencing their tasting menu, I now clearly understand his review.
Wow. Rather than me getting into the details of the course, which many others have already done, here are some of the thoughts that rattled in my head.
MICHELIN: Daniel was NOT one of the four restaurants chosen as 3-Star restaurant in 2009 Michelin Guide NYC. I do not live in NYC, so I have not been to those four restaurants out ranking Daniel, but those places must be REALLY good.
PRICE: $175/person for the 6-course tasting menu. Expensive or cheap? Well, depends on the point of view. If you take a global perspective, that is cheap. When comparing other top gourmet cities like Paris and Tokyo, you cannot get this kind of experience for $175 at those cities. Well, you can blame weak dollar for that.
SERVICE: Wow. They are really on. Staff on the floor knows their roles and operates with precision.
ONE WORLD: Paris, NYC, Tokyo - three cities with very different history and culture. Cultural food at these three cities are quite different. Yet, when it comes to top level gourmet, especially with French influenced restaurants, there is quite a bit of commonality. No question that worlds top chefs communicate among each other and study each others food.
CONCLUSION: Definitely need to go back to this place!
Example of dinner per person:
$175 6-course tasting menu
$ 50 Three glasses of wine
$ 6 Coffee
$ 58 Tip and taxes
---------------------------------
$289 Total
A love letter...
Dear Daniel,
I'll always remember the night you swept me off my feet. You didn't have to flaunt what you've got by being surrounded by limos and flashing lights, nor did you have to whisper sweet nothings in my ear and make false promises of how great you are, like other restaurants. No, instead you were just you, the definition of New York City sophistication - sleek, refined, and confident.
The second I walked inside, I knew I was in love with you. Your spacious, chic atmosphere made me feel elegant (in no way out of place in my fancy black dress) yet comfortable at the same time. And, as soon as our waitress opened with "I think champagne is the best way to start almost any occasion - a dinner, a night out, breakfast," I knew I was in for a great night. Actually, I offered up the breakfast comment, but she laughed and agreed, which made me feel more relaxed than that first glass of champagne.
I could go on and on like Shakespeare and count the ways I love you, but really when it comes down to it, there is one thing that absolutely stole my heart - the food. It is rare that I can say this, but every single one of the 8 dishes of the CHEFS TASTING MENU blew me out of the water, not only in terms of presentation, which was the finest presentation I've ever laid eyes on, but also in your choice and quality of ingredients (managing to keep things somewhat seasonal, yet metropolitan at the same time), the combination of flavors, and finally, your execution.
Of note, the FOIE GRAS with bing cherry chutney, almond, purslane, and celery was smooth, creamy, and rich enough to leave me satisfied with my portion without wanting more. The RED KING SALMON with citrus cured sorrel, olive oil confit with smoked caviar and a Meyer lemon coulis was deliciously light and refreshing. The BABY SQUID made me feel good about eating infants, as it was perfectly cooked and paired with Mediterranean ingredients which complimented the chewy texture of the squid. Finally, and most importantly, the LIBERTY FARMS DUCK BREAST was the best duck I've ever tasted - perfectly crisped skin, tender, moist, with a roasted plum to bring out its natural sweetness and a rich reduction that didn't overshadow the rest of the plate.
Daniel, to put it simply, you had me at "hello." No really, you did, literally, as I actually got the opportunity to say "hello" to Daniel Boulud himself and have a lively 15 minute conversation (in French!) with the celebrity chef after most of the other diners had cleared the restaurant. It was at that moment, at the end of the night, when I knew this had been one of the best dining experiences of my life, rivaled only by the French Laundry. Daniel, how can I ever forget you? My only hope is that I have the opportunity to see you again next year. Until then, you'll be in my thoughts.
Yours always,
Kelsey
The bartender made perfect Rye Manhattan's and very tasty white Cosmo's with a big round ice cube which was a fine start to what I expected to be a perfect Boulud experience. However I was a bit surprised that both my appetizer, Peekytoe Crab salad, and my main course, Scottish Hare, were underwhelming at best. The crab salad was reminiscent of tuna salad wrapped in cucumber and the Scottish Hare was weirdly presented , a chopped pile of Hare under a thin veil of pasta , and simply strange tasting.
The rest of the meal including freebee app, cheese plate, dessert , service were outstanding as expected.
The people in my party that ordered different items raved about their meals.
Exceptional experience from start to finish. Wear a jacket, dress up, and get ready for a high level dining adventure. We had the six course tasting menu, plus wine (a glass for each course), and were basically blown away. It actually ends up being 10 courses, since they give you three amuse bouche and an extra dessert when we mentioned next month was our anniversary (and then a basket of baked goodies plus a tray of chocolates). In addition, each course offered two choices, so we had one of each and shared! I tried 19 dishes!
Without describing every detail, we loved all the dishes, but the amazing standouts were the abalone (in the shell with spinach); roasted skate wing; beef tenderloin (with a rich, earthy flavor); turbot; thin, almost raw fluke; and the warm chocolate desert. We loved the wine pairing, which featured older (1999, 1998, 2000) vintages of perfectly paired flavors. Service was impeccable. For true foodies, Daniel is a must-see!
another Dr. Cordaco experience :)
so, another Christmas dinner, and he took us to Daniel. another wonderful French seafood restaurant. not as wonderful as Le Bernardin, but i'd definitely recommend. i loved that they had palette cleansers after every entree; tre bien! i loved the atmosphere, even though it was a little tight (space-wise), and the decor was nice; very French & I loved every minute of it.
because of the size, i guess, it tended to be a little loud, but that's ok...makes me feel right at home :) if you're not into that though, maybe it's not the spot for you. overall, a great dining experience...again, a little too tipsy to remember what exactly we ate, but the food was great; i definitely don't remember not liking stuff, lol.
maybe cuz it's so late at night and im tired, but i don't have anything else to say about Daniel? oh!!! i actually wanted to give them 4.5 stars, but im not so sure how to do that as of now :)
nite-nite, yelpers!
Best restaurant in the world, or at least top 5.
There is almost nothing better than this. I've been at least a dozen times and every time is better than the last. There is nothing to gripe about. There is also nothing in particular to rave about as literally everything is absolutely transcendent.
If you're not in the income bracket to afford regular encounters with luxury cuisine, this should be the top of your splurge list.
Oh mon dieu! Monsieur Boulud! Let me just say I came to NYC with the main intention of exploring the foodie landscape. This was my first dinner reservation of the trip. We had a reservation for 1030p on Saturday (which was perfectly fine by me since I was still operating on Chicago time). When we arrived around 1020p, our table wasn't quite ready, so we sipped on some sparkling water and these amazing olive bread sticks while we waited in the lounge.
When our table was ready, we were guided from the lush dark wood of the lounge into the dimly lit yet amazingly beautiful dining room. (I was envisioning my imaginary multi-million dollar wedding reception happening in that room... It's one of the more beautiful interiors I've seen, restaurant or otherwise. Where's a winning lotto ticket or sugar daddy when you need him?) Our table was dressed with crisp white linens, clean pointelle-themed china, sleek stem and flatware. It was decorated by a small and tastefully elegant floral arrangement and illuminated by a votive. This would be a perfect place for a special date (alas, a great gal pal would have to do!).
We were presented with wine and cocktail lists, and I looked on longingly as I couldn't indulge. I settled on a fauxjito while my girl got some sort of white cosmo with a frozen orb that had some sort of flower petal in it. I took a sip and it was delicious (as was my mocktail). In an effort to be moderately budget-conscious, we opted for the three-course prix fixe instead of the more luxe six or eight-course meal.
The drawback of such a late dinner reservation is that a lot of the menu items are 86'd by that time of night. No worries. There were so many great options that were still available. I chose the Duo of Hamachi to start while my girl went with the Broiled Sea Scallop Rosette for our appetizers, and her main course was the Elysian Fields Lamb Chop with Sweet Garlic and I went with the Duo of Dry Aged Black Angus Beef per our server's suggestion.
While we awaited our first course, we were presented by an array of delectable amuses bouche and the bread service. It was so tempting to gorge on the bread, but I wanted to save room for the rest of the meal. Then came our starters, served in unison by two food runners. (nice touch!) I'm pretty much a sucker for hamachi. And half the duo was Tandoori-spiced? WIN! The other half to this dynamic duo was lettuce wrapped in tartare form. They were both wonderfully presented and balanced in flavor, texture and color. And the scallop rosette? I'm a pretty well-documented hater of brussels sprouts, but that dish WORKED (I think it was the luxe black miso sauce that tied it all together so well).
Then came more food runners with our main course, also served in unison with a dramatic unveiling of their silver covers. Of course the plates were gorgeous as well. Everything was so well thought out and seemingly well executed. Carmen's lamb dish was decidedly Mediterranean with the use of pesto, feta and what I deemed a gourmet spanikopita. My dish was definitely the highest form of meat and potatoes, which appealed to my midwestern sensibilities just fine. The braised beef melted in my mouth. And the carrot puree? Smooth and perfect. The potatoes? Amazing. The seared rib eye left a teensy bit to be desired in texture (not sure if it was the way it was cut or cooked, but it was a little on the chewy side), but the flavor was AMAZING.
When it came time for desserts, we were nearly stuffed, but up for the challenge. Again, I asked our server for suggestions and went with their classic Warm Guanaja Chocolate Coulant while Carmen chose the other option I was contemplating, some fantastic melange of strawberries, yuzu sorbet and cake. They were both heavenly (and I'm not a big dessert kinda girl by any measure). And I guess because we expressed to our server that I came explicitly to NYC on a foodie trip, she gave us an extra dessert (the Gianduja Sablé with Hazelnut Cream), which was also wonderfully delicious. By this time, we were pretty much stuffed. But then came the petits fours, which were tasty in their own right. And to add delicious insult to fully stuffed stomach injury the brought the most wonderfully delicious warm madeleines out in the cutest little basket. Like Lay's potato chips, you cannot eat just one. No matter how full you are. I promise you this. Thank heavens for the delicious Verveine tea to help me digest it all, otherwise I would've been toast.
The thing about our 1030p reservation is that by the time we'd concluded with the various amuses, bread, starter, main, dessert, petits fours, madeleines and tea, it was late. Like 115a. Pretty much any other restaurant you'd go to, they'd be rushing you through your courses if you're the last reservation of the evening. Here, we barely noticed we were the last customers there. Our service was PERFECT, the food delicious, and we left stuffed! Daniel is JUST how a dining experience should be!
For $175/person for the 6-course tasting menu it was well worth it. The service was the best I've ever had, best I've ever had. The only problem was the mistake I made ordering a 150$ truffle pasta on top of the 175$ fixed course menu! I definitely need to go back here again when I'm in New York.
All things considered, it's difficult to recollect a better meal than Friday evening's Bouludian banquet, airily set in a classically beautiful space defined by elegant black and cream columns. As per the chef's trademark lofty standards, the service was warm, impeccable, and the food. . . well. Let's just say that today's Cup 'O Noodles are going down rough on this butter-waxed throat of mine.
My companion and I did double duty on the six course tasting menu ($175 pp), to ensure that we sampled a hundred percent of the goods:
Canapes were pea-themed; sugar snap, pureed, and whole, served alongside snips of lobster and whitefish.
Round 1:
Foie gras terrine and bing cherry chutney vs rabbit chorizo porchetta.
Both cold plates were excellent; the tart of the cherry gave the foie gras a slight edge.
Round 2:
Shrimp and Iberian ham vs tai snapper ceviche in cucumber puree.
. . . easily, the latter, with tapioca pearls providing textural complexity.
Round 3:
Butter poached abalone vs spinach tortelone.
A rhyming round! KO for the abalone; the pasta was plebian. Ding!
Round 4:
Lightly seared yellowfin tuna vs black sea bass with syrah sauce.
Buttery bass was a touch too rich at this point in the meal; hats off to the tuna, for showing me the meaning of 'perfectly cooked'.
Round 5:
Garlic lamb chop with mint zucchini vs dry aged black angus duo.
Overzealous sauce rendered both meats salt-heavy; the braised short ribs trumped the seared rib-eye, which trumped the accompanying corn fricasse and braseola-topped cornbread. A narrow victory to the beef.
Round 6:
Poached pineapple Napoleon vs chocolate lava cake
The caramel-filled cake went half-finished (I was heaving); the pineapple, served with a coconut ganache and pina colada sorbet, was much more special. Win.
The standard finishers - Lewis Carrollesque petite fours and those ToDieFor Madeleines (Proust me back to Beijing, where I devoured two tins at Maison Boulud) - were enjoyed slowly (painfully, even, so full and fat were we).
Eating a meal at Daniel is one of the experiences that will remind you how good we have it here in NYC. I may get frustrated with the MTA sometimes, but a meal like this makes it all worthwhile.
We did a four course tasting menu and sampled a lot of different things, but by far the most transcendent part of the meal was the foie gras stuffed wild grouse ("It was wild birds hunted in Scotland so you have to watch out for any shot that may be in the meat"). Extremely gamey and very rich, this is not a dish you will see in very many restaurants. Everything else including the short ribs, garlic-lamb, veal sweetbreads, and desserts were fantastic also.
7 course chef's menu with wine pairing was worth it. At $299 per person, it better be worth it -- and it was. We stayed for 4 hours and never hurried unlike other places in town - and every dish was something to cherish.
The service was excellent, food was classic French with reserved flair, but not heavy, & wine pairing allowed us to discover some interesting and delicious wines we've never tasted before. it is no doubt a 5 star premise, but is it really one of the best in the US? That I am not sure. Chez Panise still ranks a level higher in my opinion in food quality and taste, and I still haven't tried Per Se to see who stands better. It was definitely comparable to some dining experiences we had in Lyon.
But as a memorable dining in Manhattan goes, this place still ranks one of the tops. You can't go wrong.
The revolutionary is a must have drink. It is a slow-paced delightful restaurant where you are waited on with care. There is no rush to get you out of the door even though the restaurant is always booked. The food literally melts in your mouth and the servers continually check in to make sure everything is all right but not to the point that it gets annoying. The amuse bouche and dessert add ons are a few of the complimentary extras that make the experience even more pleasurable.
It's time to be on diet and to take a shower before our visit in 3 days.
I have to say that this is the finest dining experience I've ever had. What I loved most is Daniel is not at all stuffy, the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive, the decor is modern but comfortable, and last but not least the food was amazing!
Simply the best dinner I have ever had. This Daniel guy is truly remarkable with his culinary skills. When my friend and I waited for our table, no one other but Daniel himself came out and wished us a nice dinner! We may or may not have been starstruck.
I ate here more than two weeks ago, but I still dream about the pea soup, the bread, and every single bite I took here. Ahhhhh.
It's also important to note that it's very evident that Daniel loves peas. Which is a-OK in my book. Mmmm... Daniel's pureed peas.
Marry me, Daniel, and become my personal chef?
I think what you don't remember about a restaurant can often be as informative as what you do remember. I don't remember much about Daniel. I admit its been a few years since I ate at Daniel. But I did go twice, and any memory of food I ate on either visit quickly faded. I remember a luxurious decor and attentive waitstaff. However, the food is a faint, distant memory of general satisfaction, but not amazement or wonder. What I remember most clearly was the price. Over $250 per person, each visit. Shouldn't a meal that expensive leave a more lasting and punctuated impression of delight in one's mind?
Simply put...the best meal I have ever had in my life.
I'm glad this restaurant finally got 3 michelin stars.
The food is some of the best I've ever had. Daniel himself also personally came to every table to say hi which was very exciting for me.
The bad only thing was the waiter we got was quite arrogantly pretentious at first. I asked what was the best thing on the menu and he just turned his nose up and said everything is amazing. So helpful!
This is one of the best restaurants I have tasted. They have a wonderful and very attentive staff, and Daniel was very nice and charismatic. He has some nice culinary skills.
Incredibly lovely inside, it is like walking into an exquisite home where comfort and taste and elegance about in perfectly balanced proportions. Beautiful flowers, soft lighting and an embossed ceiling. Romantic beyond words. Everything is eye candy.
Everything is fresh, each flavor and texture offsets the other beautifully.
Three hours seemed to fly by. Truly, this isn't just dinner - it is an experience for the senses, all of them.
The complimentary dessert tray that finishes off the meal was just another perfect touch.
Daniel is definitely on my "Top Ten" list of best restaurants in NYC. In fact, it's safe to say that it's in my top 3.
It's also the only restaurant I've ever been to where my handbag got it's own little ottoman...lol.
For that and MANY other reasons, I highly recommend Daniel to anyone who is looking for a great dining experience.
My husband and I came here to celebrate a special occasion recently. From start to finish, our dining experience was impeccable.
The atmosphere is lovely and so serene. Once you step inside, you feel like you are a million miles away from the bustling streets of Manhattan. The decor is rich and tasteful - beautiful flowers everywhere and the lighting is just right. We sat in the "balcony" area (the main restaurant is basically one large sunken room with a raised sort of balcony area surrounding it on all 4 sides). The view from this area is the best in my opinion because you are overlooking the rest of the restaurant.
The service from start to finish was perfect. We had an entire "staff' of servers that were polished, professional and friendly. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and warm as well. If any waitstaff ever deserved a 40% tip, this is it.
Culinary skills delight and amaze here. from appetizer to dessert, each course was like a flawless work of art. Seriously. The portions, although not large, really seem to fill you up because there are all these extra little amuse-bouches served in between courses. Even with dessert, we got an additional "dessert" of these fresh baked mini madeilenes as well as these amazing home made chocolates afterwards!
The highlight of our evening was when Daniel himself came out and walked around the dining room, greeting his clientele! Considering he oversees a small restaurant empire at this point, I never expected to actually see him make an appearance!
Daniel gets my vote for one of the best and romantic restaurants in NYC. For a special occasion, you cannot beat this place - it is worth every dollar!
Amazing amazing. If you are looking to be treated like royalty without all the pretentiousness, this is the place to be.
The service is mostly what deserves the 5 star. I went there for my birthday and I am surprised how genuine they still are considering how many people go there for their birthdays. We were fed from the moment we sat down to the moment we left. They were attentive but not pushy. The service really shines at the end when I ordered their tea and they keep on coming back to pour more into my cup. I don't even need to pour my own tea. The tea is always hot and enjoyable.
The food is good but doesn't blow my mind. The dessert is what blew my mind. The most memory course I had was the Duo Angus Beef. Beautifully presented and great flavors. For appetizer, try the handmade spinach Tortelloni, I never imagine it to be so good. The Red King Salmon was okay. All in all listen to the server's advice, usually their recommendations are the best ones. Do not leave without trying their Warm Guanaja Chocolate Coulant. This is what blew my mind.
Would I come back? Definitely. It's pricey but so worth it. The place is amazingly classy. The interior design is amazing. So down-to-earth yet classy. The lounge were very comfortable. We were sitting on some big comfy sofa and is very intimate. It was also relaxing with the low light condition.
Love this place. They still got it!
All my friends told me, "Andy, you have to go see Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It's sooooo good!" They couldn't stop praising the film, saying it was one of the best movies of the year. Finally, I went to see the movie, and didn't laugh once. I wondered if I had seen a completely different movie from my friends.
I feel like I must have went to a different restaurant from the other reviewers. I agree with Andrew C for the most part. My experience at Daniel left me thinking, "Eh, So what?" Although the atmosphere and service are excellent, the food fell short. I expected to be wowed but was very disappointed. I'm completely surprised at the high ratings from the other reviewers.
First, a word on the ambiance. Very nice setup, very noticeable though the old dudes with their "daughters" and, occasionally "granddaughters" in sexy dresses. Yeah.... it was like that.
On to the food! To start, an amouse bouche trio - a piece of yellowfin, chickpea "mousse", and a shrimp in cilantro oil. The yellowfin was warm and had a nasty fishy taste, like the fish had been left out for a few days, then heated, then left to come close to room temperature and served. Let's not kid ourselves here, chickpea mousse? Sounds suspiciously like hummus. Let's look at the recipe for hummus "Crushed chickpea, lemon juice, olive oil." Hm.... So, the dish was a flavorless hummus that just made no sense on the plate. It was very boring, necessitating a piece of pita bread or something to save the day. Last, the shrimp. It was decent. Just decent.
Next up, the bread. Now, I take my restaurant bread very seriously. A good piece of bread with butter is awesome - forget that pate crap that makes you wish you were chewing your bread with butter but thinking, "Oh, this pate is different. I find this restaurant unique for serving pate with bread instead of butter. How charming." This place didn't serve pate though, so it was okay. Forget about it. Anyway, the 80 varieties of bread here didn't stack up to the stuff they serve at Bertucci's. Sure there's walnut raisin bread, garlic something-something, and a regular baguette, but it didn't do it for me.
The appetizers, also just okay. The Jerusalem artichoke soup was a brown, bland mess. I didn't get it. The scallop appetizer didn't taste like a scallop, oddly enough, but the ceviche was decent. Decent, no more no less.
So, the main courses... Remember that movie Memento when that fellow couldn't remember anything? I was at the restaurant an hour ago, and can barely remember the main courses, if that says anything. I got a beef dish that was average.
The desserts all involved a ridiculous ice cream. My peanut butter-chocolate ganache had sweet corn ice cream. Sure enough, the ice cream tasted like sweet corn - didn't at all work with peanut butter and chocolate though. Just because you can make any flavor of ice cream doesn't mean you should. With great ice cream maker comes great responsibility!
Overall, nothing stood out in my mind as memorable. For the money, I could take some friends out for drinks and wings and have a better time.
One of the finest places I have ever dined, amazing service and the butter us even better!!!!
The best dining experience I've ever had! I almost didn't make a reservation for Daniel because there are so many places to eat in NYC, and we only had a week. But I'm so glad we went! And the crazy part is, I had Morimoto the night before and Jean-Georges for lunch the same day. I know, we're crazy... but it's not like we get a chance to go to NYC all the time. Gotta live it up! And Daniel is still the most memorable dining experience we had of our entire NYC trip!
We were seated on the outer edge of the dining room which is slightly elevated and looks down into the main area. A fantastic table which allows you to have a wonderful view of the elegant decor. I love that the decor was classy but had modern touches.
The menu has so many options and every dish sounds amazingly good. Once we saw that the six course tasting menu had 2 options for every course, we knew we had to get it. We basically ordered everything on the tasting menu, so we could try all 12 dishes!
We started off with a watercress themed amuse bouche. Already a wonderful start to the evening. and they have a huge selection of bread! I had a hard time deciding which bread I wanted.. :) I'm not going to go into every detail of each dish, but here's what we had from the six-course tasting menu:
FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH MARCONA ALMOND
Kumquat-Date Napoléon, Mâche, Asian Pear
CHILLED RABBIT "PORCHETTA" W/CHORIZO
Spring Vegetables, Purple Mustard, Colza Vinaigrette
MAINE PEEKYTOE CRAB
Anise Hyssop Spring Roll, Pickled Papaya, Champagne Mango
DUO OF HAMACHI
En Tartare with Romaine Lettuce, Wasabi
Tandoori Spiced with Pickled Onions, Black Sesame Tuile
PAPRIKA CRUSTED MAINE LOBSTER TAIL
Broccolini, Pine Nut Gremolata, Piquillo Coulis
BEAUFORT RAVIOLI WITH GREEN PEPPERCORN
Black Trumpet, Brussels Sprouts, Speck Ham
GRILLED ARCTIC CHAR WITH SPRING GARLIC
Wilted Spinach, Glazed Ramps, Marcona Almond Emulsion
LOUP DE MER WITH SYRAH SAUCE
Leek Royale, Pommes Lyonnaise
DUO OF DRY AGED BLACK ANGUS BEEF
Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Carrot Gratin
Seared Rib Eye with "Pommes Dauphine", Shallot Confit
ELYSIAN FIELDS FARM LAMB CHOP
Ras el Hanout, Chickpea Panisses
Cannelloni of Braised Shoulder, Bulgur, Apricot
TAINORI CHOCOLATE DACQUOISE
WITH RICE CRISPY
Lemon Curd, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
CILANTRO POACHED PINEAPPLE
WITH COCONUT
Lime-Rum Gelée, Piña Colada Sorbet
Every dish was amazing and cooked to perfection. I love how Daniel brings together ingredients that you wouldn't think would go together, and creates an amazing harmony of flavors. Some of my favorites were the peekytoe crab, the duo of hamachi, the grilled arctic char, and the lamb chop. The lamb chop might be the best lamb i've ever had!
And of course the dessert! The cilantro poached pineapple w/coconut was the BEST dessert i've ever had! The chocolate dessert was good too, but I just could not get enough of the pineapple dessert. Every element of that dessert was perfect.
Daniel exceeded my expectations in every way. The service is fantastic and clearly the best. Daniel Boulud was actually receiving a James Beard Award that same evening for Best Service! It's unfortunate that he wasn't at the restaurant when I went, but very deserving of the award.
It's no cheap meal, and the bill was pretty expensive. We also had a wine pairing, so with tax and tip we ended up close to $600, but it was money well spent. An amazing experience that I highly recommend!
Consistently Pleasing. It's not the most innovative menu, but it's delicious and interesting cuisine. The tented table in the corner is the best spot in the house, unless you're at the sky box.
The sommelier is extremely helpful and will give several options to pair with what you will eat in several budgets. Five stars for him, three and a half for the rest.
There is no dessert option without wheat or gluten, making it extremely difficult for those with food restrictions to order But alas it's french so it is expected.
I think the atmosphere is perfect for any occasion. Been here many times and it just feels always comfortable. The food is always on the money which for the prices it should be.
"Hi, my name is Daniel."
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"Oh my God, I am such a big fan of yours, I've been to all of your restaurants and I love your food!"
I sounded like I was meeting a rock star. But I WAS meeting a rock star- more like a food God, an extremely friendly and personable one. He casually sat with us at the bar as we waited for other guests to arrive. I told him about YELP. Yes, I did. And he asked me how to spell it. I told him not to worry, his reviews on YELP are all really good.
I had a conversation with Daniel Boulud, yes I did- and it wasn't in a dream or in my head!
Obviously the experience was amazing, but the food itself was quite good too:
1. FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH MARCONA ALMOND - Kumquat-Date Napoléon, Mâche, Asian Pear
2. DUO OF HAMACHI - En Tartare with Romaine Lettuce, Wasabi Tandoori Spiced with Pickled Onions
3. PAPRIKA CRUSTED MAINE LOBSTER TAIL - Broccolini, Pine Nut Gremolata, Piquillo Coulis
4. CRISPY SALMON WITH TARRAGON CREAM - Daikon Sauerkraut, Salsify, Smoked Bacon
5. DUO OF DRY AGED BLACK ANGUS BEEF - Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Sunchokes Seared Rib Eye with Hazelnut-Potato Croquette
6. TAINORI CHOCOLATE DACQUOISE WITH RICE CRISPY - Lemon Curd, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
Daniel Boulud showcases the main ingredient in a simple dish. It really is more about extracting the flavor from the protein than adding for flavor. Favorite dishes include the lobster tail and the black angus beef. The lobster tail was so warm, inviting and comforting. Everyone at our table was savoring each bite slowly so to prolong the bliss as much as possible. The braised short ribs were so tender I really did not have any use for a knife. The sunchokes and potato croquettes were a wonderful addition to the dish. The salmon dish was so incredibly flavorful, Mr. Boulud is truly a master chef. Never have I tasted anything so perfectly seasoned.
The desert was a wonderful showcase of how delectable chocolate is. Combining chocolate mousse with lemon curd was a brilliant move. The dish of petite fours were so beautiful it was a pity to watch each piece go. As we were celebrating two occasions, they were nice enough to bring out two other desert dishes with candles.
Service was impeccable, in every sense of the word. Mr Boulud walked around his restaurant greeting guests, happily posing for pictures and it is quite apparent that his waitstaff thoroughly enjoy working for him. They do anything and everything they can to keep guests happy and satisfied.
I walked out of the restaurant with a huge smile on my face, and a signed copy of the menu in hand.
Our reservation was for 8;pm/ we waited half an hour to be seated.
Service was fairly slow and the food not nearly as good as it should have been for the very high price.
This restaurant is for less sophisticated foodies with lots of money.
There are many good restaurants offering better food,service,and
style than Daniel.
Alan
My dad took my sister and I here to celebrate her graduation from college. Since this was almost a month ago now, I cannot remember what I ate specifically, but I do remember that everything was delicious! Looking at all the other 5-star reviews I think it will be okay that this review will not be all that detailed.
Service (hostess, waiter, sommelier, bussers, etc)= Amazing
Food = Amazing
Wine = Amazing
The room = Amazing
Ambiance = Amazing
Bathrooms = Amazing
Price = I'm glad I wasn't the one paying the bill!
This is the type of place that you see in the movies where someone gets proposed to. A serious special occasion restaurant, where your every need is catered to. For example, my sister is vegetarian (she doesn't eat cheese either, she's almost vegan really) and they have a pre-fixe menu she could order, even altering a couple of dishes to ensure she could eat them.
Men: A jacket is required! This is a place that has a dress code.
I'm going to step out of the way here, as I have little to add. Look at my 5 stars and move along. You're only here because you are so skeptical about making a reservation at Daniel that you had to browse through to page eleventy-billion to see who didn't give 5 stars. I pity you. On the other hand, if you've already been and want to read about others' experiences, then I will provide mine.
I'm going to go out on a limb and do what no one I know would ever do. I'm not just going to say that Daniel is the best place I've ever been, I'm going to stipulate that I am a low-rent futhermucker and have so little class and culture that this truly was the consummate dining experience of my life, to date. There. Look down on me. I don't mind because I'm willing to be that if you have all the class and culture in the world, you will still find Daniel worthy of 5 stars on this and every other website.
Daniel is impeccable.
Pascal and his 5 wingmen (and wingwomen? winggirls?) ensured perfect, literally perfect service of the perfect food. All our requests were met with a gentle nod and flawless execution. Timing was spot on.
I will always remember the venison, boar, and scallops. Omitting details to save you from pangs of hunger and lust and envy as you're clearly not sitting there right now, about to partake.
Lots of the 'most-special' parts of the Daniel experience are similar to those you'll find other places. I found Bouley to be remarkably alike. But Daniel simply shines. It's hard to explain.
It's like that little bit of lying you do to yourself is gone when here. It doesn't matter if you're there with someone who is simply not the one for you, or if you hate your job, or if you simply want to die. And no matter how good you are at hiding that from yourself, no matter how easily you slip in with the throngs of placid, "good" people, it all slips away. You are not playing that game when you are here. There's no game to play. You sit here, and the fancy people treat you well, and you get to try things you've never had, and you are happy.
What can I say? "Daniel" was AMAZING. I'm so glad it did not disappoint as I had high expectations. I love that it is an exceptional dining experience without the pretentiousness. The service is warm and sincere from beginning to end.
The dining room is elegant, calm and dream like. The first thing your eyes are drawn to is the centre rear wall of the room adorned with gorgeous flowers. We were seated on the perimeter of the dining room; it was a great table as we had a great view of the entire restaurant. Everything is done with such detail and thought - just like the tiny ottoman that was brought out for my purse.
We had the six-course tasting menu:
- Foie Gras Terrine with Marcona Almond / Pate of Squab and Foie Gras
- Maine Peekytoe Crab / Duo of Hamachi
- Paprika Crusted Maine Lobster Tail / Beaufort Ravioli with Green Peppercorn
- Crispy Salmon with Tarragon Cream / Black Sea Bass with Syrah Sauce
- Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Chop / Duo of Dry Aged Black Angus Beef
- Cilantro Poached Pineapple with Coconut / Tainori Chocolate Dacquoise with Rice Crispy
Almost everything was delicious, except for the Maine Lobster dish. Unfortunately, it was overcooked and you know what lobster tastes like when it's overcooked - tough! It was inedible and I was disappointed because I took one bite and did not continue after that. The server noticed that I ate everything on that plate except for the lobster and asked what was wrong. I told her that it was a little over cooked. She nodded her head and took the plate away. I was a bit disappointed that she didn't even utter "sorry". But whatever, I didn't want to let that ruin the meal. So as they were changing our cutlery for the next dish, I noticed the servers came back and took away our knives and forks and replaced it with spoons. We were a bit confused at this point, but then the servers came back with two plates of risotto. Our server said, "Mr. Boulud apologizes for the lobster." And then she brings out the biggest black truffle I have ever seen and begins shaving a generous pile of truffle over our risotto. We were happily surprised, the only thing that would've been better was if Mr. Boulud himself came out and did that! The dish was exquisite and the truffles were so fragrant and unforgettable.
Post dessert, we were served with a basket of warm madeleines and a plate of petit fours. We were really full at this point but we managed to eat a few madeleines - so warm, buttery and lemony. We didn't even touch the petit fours, so when our server came around she said she could package that up for us and leave it for us to pick up at coat check. We noticed that she even gave us another fresh batch of madeleines in our little to-go package!
But the best part of the evening was seeing Daniel Boulud walking around the dining room!
It's an expensive meal but worth the visit. It was such a treat to dine there and I am glad it lived up to it's many accolades!
I'll cut right to the chase -- you will not have a better meal anywhere else in New York. Daniel is mindblowing. It's ethereal. Everything I've had off the menu is absolutely divine. There are a lot of expensive restaurants in NY, and most are not worth it. Daniel -- which is, of course, very pricy -- is really worth every penny.
And if you're in the mood for a cocktail, I highly recommend the white cosmopolitan. It sounds simple, but it's the best cocktail I've ever had. It's served with a globe of ice in the middle that is filled with frozen tropical flower petals, and not only is it delicious and unique but also surprisingly refreshing.
2.6.09
This is why you're fat dot com.
Last month, tasting menus at Gilt and Jean-Georges.. this month, Matsuhisa and Daniel. I'm just waiting for Kevin Spacey to strap me to a chair and force feed me spaghetti till I explode.
First, an olive bread for myself and a French roll for J, which we smothered with our favorite butter. I don't remember the amuse-bouche trio, but I thought only one of them was particularly good.
SIX COURSE BURGUNDY TASTING MENU
J had the pate (which hilariously he couldn't pronounce.. silly, Asians, pate is for Frenchies). It was gorgeous, complex, rich.. I had the FOIE GRAS TERRINE, which was much lighter and simpler in texture and flavor, but still creamy and delicious.
[Domaine Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Chassagne-Montrachet La Maltroie 2006]
I went with the MAINE PEEKYTOE CRAB while J had the YELLOWFIN TUNA TARTAR WITH CAVIAR. Order the tuna tartar.. it was magnificently presented, as well as fresh, properly seasoned and well matched to the tiny black salty pearls of caviar. Even though it wasn't my dish, it was one my favorites of the evening. The crab was a blander dish, erring on the side of watery crab salad.. would not recommend.
[Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon, Mâcon-Villages 2007]
Next, we both had the KATAIFI CRUSTED SEA SCALLOPS. This was J's favorite dish, although I didn't care for the steak-like treatment of the scallop. The porcini mushrooms, however, were the most delectable porcini mushrooms I've ever had.
[Domaine Chandon de Briailles, Savigny-Lès-Beaune Les Lavières 2006]
We both had the BAKED ATLANTIC BAR WITH MAINE LOBSTER. Once I saw lobster, do you think I got past that? And the lobster was amazing. I love the French! I love tender lobster claw, perhaps poached, tasting of the sea, and butter, and lobster-y goodness. J detested the bar.. I ate mine up, but it was different.
[Domaine Henri Gouges, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2006]
In the last of the savory, J had the ELYSIAN FIELDS FARM LAMB CHOP, which he quite enjoyed. I don't like lamb, so I tried a bite.. it tasted to me like.. well, lamb. I had the DUO OF DRY AGED BLACK ANGUS BEEF, which was heaven in beef. I don't like short ribs, so J polished those off.. but the seared rib eye.. sigh. Moist, tender, juicy.. each bite was better than the next.
[Domaine Denis Mortet, Gevrey-Chambertin, 2006]
For dessert, I had the CILANTRO POACHED PINEAPPLE WITH COCONUT [Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos, Hungary, 2003]. J had the TAINORI CHOCOLATE DACQUOISE WITH RICE CRISPY [Rozès Port, Late Bottled Vintage, 1994]. We ended with a huge basket of warm Madeleines and the usual mignardises.
Six Course Tasting $175 pp
Wine Pairing $95 pp
FINAL NOTES:
Go to Daniel on a weeknight. The weekend crowd ranged from the usual to downright skank. At one of the nearby tables we could overhear some 45-year old's 24-year old mistress loudly begging him to pay her rent this month because she loved him, babyyyy! Seriously?
Jean-Georges vs. Daniel- Although I shouldn't generalize until I revisit Daniel, I have found the waitstaff at Jean-Georges to always be more pleasant than Daniel's difficult to understand, at times absent staff on this particular night. Decor-wise, hands down Jean-Georges. Lastly, on food, it would be pretty much tied, which is why Jean-Georges comes out on top for the overall experience.
Biere de Garde: Beer Dinners!
Neighborhood: Nolita
Happy Hour !
Neighborhood: Long Island City
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Category: Seafood
New York, NY
Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: French
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: TriBeCa
Category: American (New)
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