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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Midtown EastGILT's four-course menu features classics like Roasted Turkey and Pumpkin Strudel served 11/26 from 2:00 - 8:00pm. Reserve: 212 891 8100
5th Ave-53rd St (E, V)
Lexington-3rd Aves-51st St (6, E, V)
47-50th Sts-Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, V)
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
"We looked at a number of options for dinner and decided on South Gate. This is a very classy place and the food is great. It is very cool…" read more »
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I loved it. For me this was one of the best restaurant experiences in NYC. The food, service, and atmosphere were all top notch. We had the 7 course sampling menu with wine paring. Each dish was prepared with extreme attention to details, and combinations of textures and flavors were unexpected and superb. The wine paring was also excellent - it started with champagne, very different flavors of White and red wines, ending with two desert wines.
The restaurant sits in the center of the elegant Palace hotel, and the dining room is I believe is very true to original dining room of the Palace. It is very much like the dinning room you see when you tour the European palaces. The table settings, lighting, historical wood carvings, paintings, etc created very warm and intimate ambiance.
I would definitely go back.
Honestly, one of the best dining experiences of my life. If this is what gilt looks and taste's like than give me more!
The bf took me here for my birthday dinner and I was so ecstatic.
Everything about this place is amazing; decor, staff, food, wine list, and location.
If you want the full fine dining experience then come here, i can't wait to go back!
We came here after dinner for drinks at the bar. The place was pretty dead on a Saturday evening, besides a large group of older patrons (who were probably staying at the hotel).
The stars are for the service and the alcohol. Our bartender was very nice and attentive and she refilled our glasses before we needed her to.
We ordered their house champagne. It was $19 a glass and well worth it. I would definitely go back if I was ever forced back into the touristy area its located in.
Everything about the meal was decadent and "over the top" from the high ceilings, the paintings on the mahogany walls, the formal service, the $20 cocktails, and and most importantly, the ingredients and elaborate presentation of food.
Nils E., who reviewed Gilt in tremendous detail captured everything I would say, starting with his first line..."Food is my religion, and Gilt is where I go to pray." I loved everything but, to be honest, it would be a chore to research exactly what I ate in the three course meal. He either has a really good memory or recorded everything as he ate. I have to admit, I am much more comfortable reviewing casual restaurants.
Food is my religion, and Gilt is where I go to pray.
I enter Gilt expecting pretension, attitude and a meal that won't live up to the hype. Upon entering this opulent temple, I worry less about whether I am socially acceptable and more about whether my wallet will ever forgive me for the sins I am about to commit. Opting to forgive myself later, I supplant my guilt with Gilt; my biases are checked at the door; and I remove my shoes at the threshold (out of respect, of course).
We leave the antechamber and enter the inner sanctum. Seating is surprisingly spacious, allowing for intimacy and private conversations - perfect for my dinner guest who prefers lewd humor to the whisper of sweet nothings.
The attentiveness of the service is striking at the onset. Our waiter is on top of us like a nun to misbehaving Catholic schoolboys, but instead of a penance, we are offered drinks and asked our water preference. The rest of the evening carries on in much the same fashion, with nary a minute going by before a server appears to refill glasses, answer our (annoyingly) frequent questions, and offer more bread...
Oh, that bread of heaven....(pause for a moment of silence and a brief reprieve).
David Carmichael is the pastry and dessert chef, and he will delight us in many ways throughout the night, starting with his selection of not one, but five assorted dinner rolls. Typically, there's a clear favorite, but not when our options include smoked sourdough, butternut squash focaccia, an apple cider muffin, multi-grain with raisins and a lemon tarragon baguette. We each sample all five and they are gone in the blink of an eye. THIS is a subtle and yet obvious request of restaurants everywhere: make phenomenal bread, offer it in abundance, and leave it to the guest to determine when enough is enough. Stuffing oneself on bread is our problem, not the restaurant's. Gilt, thankfully (and very graciously) never let our bread plates sit empty. We ate bread from the basket that runneth over, and there was much rejoicing.
And now, back to our story:
Justin Bogle brings a kaleidoscope of culinary wonders to bear in his kitchen. We know right off the bat that we are in for a treat when the amuse bouche is presented: a solitary blue cheese tortellini with sweet corn puree, Thai basil, and speck. This is a simple yet gorgeous mouthful, and I've never before tasted a better blue cheese filling (Cabrales sheep's milk blue cheese from Asturias, Spain).
Every single course we experience is beautiful, decorative, inventive and has a surprise in store. EVERY course. Chef Bogle, who was visible taking charge at the front of the kitchen, boggled us repeatedly with his confluence of flavors: LAMB TARTAR with rhubarb, toasted buckwheat and horseradish crème fraîche; seared FOIE GRAS on a bed of orange mustard with sweet and sour olives and braised fennel (dusted with fennel pollen); SQUAB wrapped in savoy cabbage served with a beet reduction, smoked almond dust and a parsnip puree; ESCOLAR with summer truffles, crispy quinoa and foie gras consommé; and SUCKLING PIG prepared with three distinct portions of crispy belly, loin and braised shoulder.
We stop between courses to chat with the Restaurant Director, who is extremely hospitable and a fellow foodie (which makes for the best type of GM as he can empathize with our experience). He offers suggestions on pairings, including a TEA pairing with our suckling pig. The Japanese twig tea is served three ways: hot, warm, and iced, and each has its attributes that pair beautifully with a different portion of the pig.
After our main courses, it is Carmichael's turn once again to shine, and while his artistic presentations are certainly Bogle's compliment and equal, he chooses to use a more limited list of ingredients that accentuate one or two succulent flavors. A semolina STRUDEL; moscato poached APPLES with basmati rice pudding; the "duo" coffee ICE CREAM with sabayon and amaretto jelly; a MINT ice cream layered with cocoa dusted meringue and served with Strega jelly and mint chiffonadh; and a PISTACHIO mille feuille masterpiece with orange slices and pistachio chiffonade.
At the meal's finish, we bow our heads in reverence.This restaurant, its chefs and its marvelous staff create a decadent experience that is worthy of worship. Praise be to you, Gilt, I'm a convert.
Although I've never eaten in the main dining room, the bar alone warrants some praise. The eccentrically modern 'sculpture'/frame around the bar actually serves to artfully cover some water damage etc that occurred in the originally-intended mansion a long time ago. It may appear out of place, but I personally admire the juxtaposition of the old world architecture and gilded-framed artwork. The bar menu offers a variety of dishes that are excellently prepared and portioned. The truffle fries are worth a try! In addition to a very knowledgeable sommelier, the cocktail menu offers something for everyone.
Gaining well-deserved fame after appearing in several episodes of Gossip Girl, Gilt (with it's Michelin nod) is well worth its weight in gold! Go for drinks, dinner, or both!
The atmosphere was beautifully decorated with all this red fabric and uplighting made the room very romantic and mysterious. The service was the best part of the meal. There was one staff member who made our evening and whole experience almost better than the food itself. He was very attentive and made sure we were enjoying our food. He even told us a few humorous jokes in between courses.
The food had a unique asian influence and some dishes blended better than others. What I really enjoyed was after the meal they brought around a secret box full of chocolate goodies!! They were certainly a good ending to the meal.
Expensive!!! Atmosphere was really nice but to charge $20.00 per drink was so not worth it.
GILT is the five starts arquetype. This is not an easy review.. how can I describe my experience without going through and endless talk using thousand adjetives to explain how it was.
One word resume everything: speechless
So, I'm not describing it with detail but I can't resist to develop this a little; and talking about archetypes, so is the Executive Chef Justin Bogle: he is a Chef. Modern, creative. He takes ingredients and transform them into a completely new and unexpected dish. Their creations are really complex and innovative. Same with the dessert. David Carmichael is another Chef archetype. I really want to remember their names.
About the service and the ambiance, again coming to the archetype.... Gilt is the perfect name. You can think is a little intimidating .. and it is at the first step, but they makes you feel comfortable and very welcome. and you ended up "glowing" as the place itself.
To finish just to mention that they offer several complements including a modern version of gazpacho which is the first real that I try from I left Spain. Seriously, I though my mom was in the kitchen. The pistachios as topping, is the Chef touch. Lemon sorbet between meal and dessert: Perfect. And to finish a tray of assorted chocolates and candys for you to choose.
it's expensive but at the end you pay for memories; I swear I'll remember this.
Gorgeous bar with a beautiful ceiling and ambiance. The seats were comfy and the service was perfect. Sara was a gem that guided us through most of the wine list and cocktail list. We grilled her on the 1900 vintage wine and places to eat in Tribeca and surrounding neighborhoods. She was very helpful.
The fries were a sinful delight. We'll definitely return to Gilt on our next trip to NYC.
The only reason I am giving 4 stars as opposed to 5 is because there was nothing that had me begging for more. Don't get me wrong, Gilt is one of the better restaurants that I've been too, but I give that credit to the atmosphere and service.
As soon as we walked in the door we were treated like royalty. Not one thing went unnoticed by the wait staff who made you feel like you were their only table.
The food: we had the 5 course tasting menu. The best thing was the amuse of crispy sweetbreads. The chocolate panne cotta was delicious. The tiny fried ball of bone marrow with the rib eye was the best thing on that plate. The lobster and nut thing on that plate was not good. The ceviche was ok. The raviolis were really tasty. The cod was not my favorite. It's the only thing I did not finish. The palate cleanser lemon sorbet was perfect. I wanted to take the entire tray of breads home as well as the box of chocoates.
Overall, memorable atmosphere/service but some forgettable food.
Was everything here the best food I ever ate? No.
But one item was one of BEST things I've ever had at ANY restaurant...so this place is 5 stars for sure.
And what was that one item that you absolutely MUST order?
"Escolar - Summer Truffles, Cherries, Morels, Foie Gras Consommé"
Yum. Go there now and order it. You can thank me later.
The rest of the food was very good, too. I just had to shout out the escolar dish.
GILT was a true five star dining experience. Everything was exquisite in every single way. But I was mainly struck with the word - Elegant. The museum quality dining room and the fine table settings. True culinary art collaborated with professional butler(?) service.
There was no wait nor fuss even though I was a bit late. The dining setting was simply refined and beautiful. Sparkling glasswares. Silverwares are heavy and gilded. Most of my love went to the fact that all the table tops were lightly padded, like your firm pillow top mattress but seamless so that your dining ware wouldn't make noise. Top of that, the tablecloth and linens are thick and the finest without even a single crease. There, details do matter.
The waiter of our table spoke perfect english with frech accent and introduced each courses in killing me softly voice. Professional manner without any nasal attitude, accompanied by Mona Lisa smiles. Servers were gentle and serving so effortlessly that almost felt like they don't even exist. I have to say I am really impressed with non-noise making servings and the extra care of trying not to disturb our conversations.
I loved the 5+ bread selections and unsalted butter came with a celtic sea salt bowl. It was different and certainly made a difference with my smoked sour dough. We had three course prix-fixe menu ($89 per person). Every dish, you can tell it has been the results of true efforts. There are a lot of foam sauces... which requires immediate preparation and consumption. Portions were small but very potent.. By the time of second course, we were really full. I won't detail on each dish we had. It is a bit hard to describe but, any dish you choose, you will enjoy if you try to savor rather than looking for wow factors. Though, I was indeed wowed and my favorite was Escolar. But, different wows. So to speak, they do use fine ingredients to explore the texture and enhanced them with subtly flavored sauces avoiding strong punch lines. In the other hand, the foods weren't bland, nor as classic as the ambience of the dining room, but rather quite experimental. more fits to the deco of the bar which is highly modern and abstract. However, the main room was lit with neon red light - unexpected and shockingly stylish, definitely complimenting the majestic oil painting on the wall.
Desserts were absolute arts. We didn't know if we should even want to touch it wondering how long it takes to make them. And silly me softly... We didn't even realize that our desserts were presented by the famous dessert chef David Carmichael himself . " Enjoy! "
Oh My God..... I've found that out when I saw his picture online the next day... We wished we could have sent him a compliment right then. Oh Silly me softly..... softly please ~~
There were at least three small complimentary dishes between courses and we were giltly fed to the top of our throat, ending with 15+ different chocolate pieces to choose. ' choose as many as you want. take all if you want ' Gosh~~ Is he trying to kill me? LOL
The bill was $107 per person including wine without tip. It is pricey but honestly, I have spent that much in many other lesser quality restaurants in NYC. Compare to that, the experience at GILT was truely magnificent.
This place isn't for casual dining. Jackets are required for gentlemen but not that formal, either. However, do do dress up. We were well dressed up for the dinner WITH CLASS and it was very apparent that they did appreciate the fact very much and reciprocated with extra attention and noticible gilt servie.
The bar is cool place to hang out. when we got there (9:30PM ish, Sat) the bar was empty but by the time we left (11:30PM) it was full.
So,,, dress yourself in a royal manner and walk in there to play some Americana duke & duchess game. It is quite a fun.
Gilt restaurant at the Palace Hotel- absolutely great place to have a drink. Dinner is wondrful also, but a little stuffy- if you like that type of dinner. The bar at Gulit is very beautiful. A combination of modern art and beautiful old world classic masion. It feels as if you are eating/drinking in someone's grand library.
The Gates- the new outdoor space for the Palace Hotel. Drinks are pricy( as expected) $14-$20. Small venue. Tables only, no mingling. Nice for a meeting or small group.
Not sure how exactly I ended up having a drink with that Dan Humphrey guy from Gossip Girl here.
The Palace is by far my favourite hotel in the city.
After a long flight, I decided to relax at Gilt with a few drinks. I sat at the bar, and there was only one other guy seated. I ordered my drink before I did a quick double take and realized that I was probably the envy of every teenage girl on this planet at that moment.
We chatted for a couple of minutes as he finished his drink. I have to admit, despite his general dorkiness on TV, the guy is a total dreamboat in real life.
Opening up a restaurant in the former location of Le Cirque means that you had better bring your A-game. (yes, even if it was in the shorter lived LC2k location) We were hoping for magnificent and were underwhelmed. The food was good, although all of our party agreed that it was too salty and just trying too hard. The preparations were overly elaborate and fussy, with liver-infused sauce drizzled with reckless abandon. We decided to forego the $12k bottle of mid-century Petrus that leapt off the pages of the comprehensive winelist, and were pleased with the sommelier's more economically sensible selection at 1/120th the price, but again it fell short of amazing.
The otherwise excellent service was marred by a botched entree order for our dinner companion, but was certainly very professional without hovering or officiousness. Alas, I don't think Gilt has the qualities that made Le Cirque such an institution.
The final bill rang in at just under $700 for two on a rainy Tuesday night in late-December.
Was it worth it?
On a purely food-value level compared to the city's elite.. prob not. But if you factor in the complete experience (alcohol), where in just 2.5 hrs I left much better than when I came in.. then absolutely! After all, we live in NY, where that number is easily reached in hundreds of lesser establishments. (Faulty rationalizing? Check).
The evening began badly as first we were made to wait in an enclave of the bar for FORTY minutes.. served $16 cocktails paid separately to the model-waiter who kept inquiring if we wanted to order 'just one delicious appetizer.' Oh yes, I love to eat my food in a cold, dark marble foyer. Other than that, we were completely ignored as the three hosts competed to avoid eye contact.
At long last, we were escorted through the grand doors.
The first thing I noticed were some empty tables. Hungry and a fair share annoyed, I took my seat huffily. Then I looked up at the beautiful dining room, well-outfitted with gorgeous arrangements of fresh flowers, and was immediately zen-zapped into complacency. Although I didn't care for the curtains, splashed with weird fuschia light, inlaid carved wooden panels and a grand fireplace set an impeccably warm and romantic mood.
Next, I noticed the guests, perhaps the word patrons would be more fitting. Maybe GG has infiltrated (melted) my brain, but I expected at least one other young(er) couple to be there. Instead, we were surrounded by people in their 50s and up. Oh, and I did happen to spy with my little eye, a count of one escort, age 40(?) still going strong.
On to service. Not necessarily stuffy, uptight would better describe. While that doesn't bother the antisocial diner (me), my bf started w/ the jokes soon after. Unsuccessful with the heavily accented waiters at first, he found a friend in the sommelier. Later in the evening, as the others saw some merriment, they all started mingling at our table. Well, it was either that or the advantage of spending power- service does tend to warm up when one is going to spend, spend, spend (gasp, and in the recession!?).
On a general note, I found the rhythm of the various servers per table to be a bit haphazard rather than seamless and smooth. And disrupting my sense of order in the restaurant universe was the fact that the sommelier started delivering some of our courses here and there when servers couldn't be found. I can't complain too much, however, as we established a great rapport with him.
For food, we went with the Chef's Grand Seven Course Tasting Menu ($140) with the Sommelier's Wine Pairing. With my frustration at waiting for so long without even one word of apology, we immed ordered some champagne. Bread was brought promptly, along with two amuse bouche.. an oyster and some cheesy ball thing (for lack of proper name). From there, things took off.
Our dinner ended up being 8 courses, as we opted to add an extra one since I wanted to see what rice pearls were in the tartare. The procession of food was as follows (see website for mouthwatering descriptions):
Tasmanian Sea Trout Sashimi
Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare
Nantucket Bay Scallops
Veal Sweetbreads
Steamed Alaskan Halibut
Colorado Lamb Loin
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
Hot Chocolate Gratin
Pumpkin Pie
The food was MAGNIFICENTLY presented as dainty, pristine works of art. The flavors were very good, touching on excellent (appetizer section). The portions were very small, even for tasting sizes, but perfect for us. For once, we could actually finish the entire menu, instead of nibbling or not even being able to taste the last few dishes. This is not to say we didn't leave completely stuffed fat (I'll spare you the Gilt-y jokes).
The wine parings were served in rather substantial pours and ended up being a very good value at only $75/person (on a side note, while the pace of the dishes was perfect, the portions were so small that we ended up swigging a lot of wine to keep up). Each wine was described at great length, a nice touch as sometimes we hardly knew what we were eating. Call me immature, but I would burst out laughing when two foreign waiters in particular would leave after explaining the dish for 5 minutes, as we then had to conduct a blind taste test.
We finished with a whiskey for him and a double espresso for me in a much happier atmosphere. Even one of the hostesses who earlier avoided us joined in the revelry to play a game of guess everyone's ages, and we left to many a "You guys are the best couple," and "Come back soon!" from the now genial waitstaff.
Overall, I would def recommend Gilt, but particularly for a special occasion. While it can ride a bit on its decor and food presentation coattails, the price is best left for a meal where you have something to celebrate (and by something, I mean a bday or anniversary; I get the feeling a proposal would be a serious faux-pas).
Walking through the front doors of the Palace is breathtaking. Part of me feels special and part of me feels historical. I mean, "how can you stand in the middle of the marble pillars and stairs and not feel like this is one of life's rewards"? On the other hand, "the magnificence of the Villard Mansion is grand opulence in an Italian style not to be seen in many public properties anywhere in the world".
My guest and I sat for a quick bite and drinks; we ordered the grilled calamari and the pizza. The grilled calamari was very good, clean straight forward flavors with a simple presentation. The pizza was a full ten inch round with prosciutto and cheese, a nice crust, not too thin or thick. She was having a Jack and Coke (my kind of woman) and I had the Ice Wine Martini, not sweet like I thought but good as martinis go. Service was laid back, present but not in the way which I like when I am spending some quality time with my date.
An average value for you dollar, Gilt is an impressive space with a very good menu. I was here to get the evening going and it created the tone for a very good night out. I will be back for the full tasting and will update my review at that time.
I hate to be the one to break the 5 star reviews for Gilt, but I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars. My husband and I came here for dinner on our first visit to Manhattan. I think that reading all these 5 star reviews on yelp and reading a few articles in different magazines about this place over hyped it for me.
Sure, the dining room was gorgeous, the staff was very good and the food was pretty good, but I don't know if I was absolutely blown away.
The staff was very conscious that we were going to catch a show that night and they tried to ensure that things came out in a rather timely manner. With that said, the entrees did take a bit longer than we expected (perhaps about 15 minutes) between first course and the entree.
For a dinner for two, we spent about $400.00 including tax, tip and a relatively inexpensive priced bottle of wine. We didn't have enough time for the tasting menu, but we got two appetizers and the 2 entrees and shared a dessert. The pricing wasn't bad either.
Overall, the experience wasn't bad, the food was good, the service was nice, but for some reason, I'm just not sold on all the hype. I wasn't as blown away like everyone else, I guess...
Gilt introduced me to the best grilled cheese in the entire world lol
Yes - I ordered the "gossip grill" inspired by Gossip Girl...and YES it lived up to all of its hype!
Beyond grilled cheese we tried some otter apps like beef tartare, fries and assorted sliders that were also amazing!
beware that everything is pricey and if you want to enjoy yourself your wallet will be in pain!
The front bar is really swanky the restaurant part is a little more classic. They also have one of my favorite private rooms in the city - The Library which is absolutely beautiful.
Wow. This place is really great! First of all, I would come back to this bar anytime just for drinks. The atmosphere is cool, and they have some nice drinks I haven't seen elsewhere (ice wine martini!).
The food here is top, top notch. You get a 3-course prix fixe for $85, and the portions are generous. If I did not leave hungry, you will not leave hungry. I personally recommend both the rabbit terrine and the nantucket bay scallops (in that order). If you're trying to decide between the land dishes, go with the venison. You get two portions, a loin section with mole sauce and a terrine section with carrot sauce. Very yummy.
For dessert, try the sicilian pistachio mille feuille with an auslese. Or go for the warm apple strudel, if you're not a pistachio fan. Really, you can't go wrong at Gilt. Everything is great here!
Gilt wins my award for most beautiful dining room!
You feel like you are dining in the Palace of Versailles. Although the decor is leaning more towards Neoclassical than towards Baroque.The bar, on the other hand, is very hip and modern. We're talking Stanley Kubrick cool.
I've eaten here twice. The first time was for Thanksgiving Day Dinner. I was expecting marginally good food. I was so wrong. The food was phenomenal as far as Thanksgiving Day menus go. The menu is modern American with heavy French-Asian influence. Christopher Lee is the chef who replaced Paul Liebrandt who is now at Corton. Chef Lee's cooking perfectly suits this restaurant. He has a flair for cooking food that makes you hungry just reading the menu descriptions.
Check it out: http://www.giltnewyork...
The secret to Lee's success: Eatability. His food provides nice textural contrast and flavor. He also offers a texture for every mood. Want something decadent? Rich creamy chestnut ravioli. Want Unctuousness? Fork tender glazed Short Ribs lathered in braising jus. There's not much more to say folks. Gilt is simply magnificent. It is pricy, but let's face it. It's a special occasion spot.
I just might have to change my Fave 10 to my Fave 11!
Spotted: S at Gilt Lounge in the Palace Hotel.
Gossip Girled, Fancied, Sophisticated, Fine Dined, Wined, Cocktailed, Middle Aged, Prostitute Lined, Friendly Staffed, Intricately Designed.
Gilt, where I spotted Anna Wintour and posse entering to dine in the restaurant.
xoxo
Fantastic. I *love* this place!!! The interior is ornate, I love the walls in gold relief, along with the polished servers and excellent drinks. The wall with blue lighting is interesting...but it creates a soothing effect. I always have a good time here with friends, the atmosphere is classy, modern, low key, relaxed. The appetizers are pretty decent although not spectacular, but yesterday I had a glass of the smoothest rum ever! Chatting, eating, sipping on our drinks & relaxing @ Gilt really took the edge off of a tough week.
Holy crap!!! Now that's a dining room!
I've seen some spectacular dining rooms in my day (see our extensive, informative, and whimsical reviews) but Gilt has gotta be near the top of the list for over-the-top madness.
Pictures of their dining hall just don't do the place justice. The rich wooden walls and cathedral ceilings are covered in detailed ornate carvings. The entire atmosphere is solemn... and a little medieval if you ask me. The fact that all the walls are illuminated in blood-red L.E.D. lights and that a picture of an Elizabethan woman strutting (some would say running for her life) amidst dozens of spear-wielding psychopaths doesn't help to soften the mood. **see our uploaded picture entitled "creepy painting"**
Whatever the case, no one can deny the grandeur of this amazing room.
Gilt surprised everyone this year by earning 2 Michelin stars. Many say this was largely due to the addition of Chef Christopher Lee. The menu is largely French in flavor but definitely fuses modern elements to keep diners awake and interested. Chef Lee started his training in San Francisco (our hometown), so you gotta RESPECT!
The menu is straightforward and you can opt for a 3-course meal starting at $85/person, or go all the way up to a 7-course, balls-out luxo dinner if you're in the mood to seduce some poor innocent waif. You wanna spend more? White truffle season starts right about now and your server will remind you plenty that these little morsels can be shaved onto whatever you want for a nominal, heart-wrenching fee.
You wanna spend even more? Have a look at the telephone book they call the "wine list". Make one call using this book, and you'll be in the poorhouse for good...
I had a squash appetizer that looked like a modern masterpiece. Wifey's deconstructed paella looked even more amazing. Our duck and braised short-rib entrees tasted every bit as good as they looked... absolutely gorgeous. I think the blood-red L.E.D. lights made my meat seem all the more tender!!
Our meal at gilt stood in sharp contrast to our experience at Alain Ducasse's Adour only 1 night earlier. Whereas Adour took the minimalist approach to dining, Gilt lived up to it's name and lavished its diners in obnoxious luxury... that's a good thing.
Gilt recently got a new chef, 2 michelin star chef chris lee has moved on, but his sous chef has taken over and is doing an amazing job. their styles of cooking are similar, but chef justin bogle's creations definitely stand on their own.
i have had many an amazing meal at this establishment, pretty much the classic old NY glamour experience. from the beautifully ornate dining room, to the amazing service, to the spectacular wine selection (btw, former sommelier jason ferris was my fave of all time. ive had one meal there since pat cappiello took over and he is holding his own. he introduced me to a beautiful chardonnay, paired perfectly with sushi, that i still dream about.)
now... to the food.
if you are going to eat at the bar, the truffle fries are delish.. real shaved truffles adorned on top make the dish a bar food item that you really wouldnt get anywhere else.
i woudl also recommend the gilt burger...
and now to the REAL food.
the gilt tasting menu is amazing. if you have not been there in the past 3 months (since they changed chefs) its time to go back.
starting from their fresh baked breads to the real symphony of plates they bring out, its an unmatchable experience.
if you want to go a la carte - start with the seared foie gras. its truly a delightful foie gras.. not too rich, not too gamey.
if you like sweetbreads, the veal sweetbreads are also a great choice. looking for somethign lighter? the bay scallops have a velvety texture and will have you wishing there wre more on your plate.
entrees - you cant go wrong with any of them. and the staff there will let you know what to avoid, depending on what flavors dont sit well with you. im not a huge fan of indian spices, so the tandoori spiced black cod is not my favorite thing on the menu. my #1 is the venison. perfectly braised and presented with panache.
now the last tidbit i want to share is that if you still have room for it... the tea tasting menu is amazing. i dont think its on the menu, but you can ask for it and sample teas from white to pu-erh in all their glory.
I had a fantastic experience last night. First of all, the decor, particularly the entrance, is all about traditional grandeur a la the NY Palace Hotel where it is located, but mixed in with a funky modern flair - borderline over the top. theres a huge purple glowing sculpture behind the bar which extends the entire length of the bar and looks like it used to be a part of a space ship, or maybe disney's epcot center, heh.
the food came in small portions, but i was very full and satisfied nonetheless. the tuna taretare w/ kimchi on the side was incredible and i dont even like kimchi even though i'm korean! i was happy with my overall experience, although it was pretty damn pricey. staff was very friendly and helpful.
i do hate restaurants that have jacket requirements like this, but i noticed that there was a casually dressed group so maybe they are not very strict on that policy which is good. it is an old crowd too, so as a mid-twenty something, as much as i enjoyed the food, it probably won't become part of my steady rotation. its an ideal spot for a business meal or for a special occassion where you want to go all out for someone.
Gilt is one of those spectacular restaurants that you can immediately appreciate. I am a repeat offender at Gilt and can confidently say that the food here is superb. The dining room is gorgeous. My favorite seat in the house is the table at the center of the dining room so that you can see the chefs straight ahead in the kitchen cooking.
The wine list is very comprehensive you will find a lot of great reds on the menu that you normally would not expect to see. I give Gilt an all around A+
Dress good and make sure to secure reservations ahead of time.
Went here Wednesday night with a group of girls. We had just come from the spa and were not looking too hot (My awesome knee high snow boots, with dress pants tucked in, and no makeup - VERY attractive :P) We were treated as though we were just as lovely as the next table - off to a good start! We had drinks and ordered our meals - I had the Tasmanian sea trout sashimi, on a bed of crushed edamame, with yuzu foam and Asian pear. This was light and delicious, though I was also coveting my dining partners' tuna tartar - I tasted, lovely in texture and flavor, served with the cutest little scallion pancakes! And did I mention the amuse, a fresh raw oyster with American osetra caviar, nothing fancy or innovative, but delicious nonetheless. Between courses, we marveled at the gorgeous room, the great service and the surprisingly quiet ambiance (I must admit we stirred up the last point a bit, having a table of 4 girls catching up - but no one seemed to mind, too much :)
For my entree I ordered off the appetizer menu, the bay scallops (those are the small ones) with blood orange, endive and lemon poppy seed sauce. This was also very tasty, but to be entirely honest, not really well presented (kind of just tossed about the plate) all the other dishes came with beautiful plating, nice structure and balance (think squiggly lines of sauce, formed shapes, etc) In their defense, they increased the size of the portion for me, so that could have affected the aesthetic.
On to dessert! We were celebrating my birthday, and the waiter brought out (with prompting by one of my companions) an extra dessert with happy birthday written on the plate, they said they didn't do candles in their desserts, but I blew out the candle decorating our table (I'm SO classy :-P)
We ordered four desserts, and four glasses of frangelico on the rocks. (yummy!) My favorite by far was the huckleberry creme brulee, which unlike traditional creme brulees, was served with fresh fruit in a huckleberry syrup and small scoops of creme brulee scattered throughout. The caramel sauce on the plate was to die for. The Apple dessert (a strudel) was good as well as the chocolate souffle. The flour less chocolate torte was recommended by the waiter, and the peanut butter that accompanied it was amazing. I didn't really like the Mango Pavlova, but I was never one for meringue.
After desserts, we were presented with a tray of yummy little chocolate things, the best being the chocolate cup filled with peanut butter and peanuts. So good!
All in all a gorgeous and fancy dining experience that lived up to its looks for service and food. Sadly, we didn't spot S and lonely boy canoodling anywhere.
xoxo - foodie girl :)
First, let me say... this place is GORGEOUS!! My company had a cocktail reception here and it was a great venue to impress and entertain our business associates, colleagues and clients. The hostess of the event room was gracious and very accomodating. Their red wines are delicious and the food is fantastic
I will definitely return for lunch or dinner.
Major thumbs up~
Went for my wife's birthday and we loved it. Great service, beautiful dining room, excellent food.
I would like to go to Per Se so that I can compare it with Gilt. This place is superb.
Walking into the restaurant was like walking up the steps to Cinderella's manor house. Inside was very ornate with a classic tone.
The waitstaff from maitre' D to busser were very attentive and professional, as you would expect.
The chef, Chris Lee, has a savory talent for producing unusual flavors in his dishes that tingle the senses.
When you dine at a place like this....don't expect to eat a meal.
This is a dining event!
I'm always amused when people remark " the entrees are so small"! This is truly American thinking because our portions compared to the rest of the world are enormous! Expect many small courses with unique and titillating flavors (did I just use the word titillating?!?) This is not just any ordinary restaurant, you can find that anywhere! So don't expect big portions....how could you possibly finish a four or five course meal with large portions? Trust me, you will be satisfied by the end of the experience.
The wine list was fabulous! We ordered the price fixed menu with wine pairings. Yes, it was on the expensive side.
The reason for 4 stars? The waitstaff, while being quite professional and efficient, were...how shall I say?..... stuffy. We aren't snobs, so I won't be forced to act like one even in a restaurant as fine as this one!
Don't let this stop you from trying it .....but if you do.... laugh...out loud....unsettle their refinement! ;)
Gilt is the epitome of Old World glamour, but it loses a star because the food was, frankly, a bit strange.
French by design, contemporary american by flavor - GILT is a cool spot mes aimes.
I like the bar the best, good place to come after work to unwind; if wine is your thing xmas came early, Gilt seems to have it all, and if you're more of a beer, scotch, or more scotch (hi :) person - you're covered. Looking for something neon, a tropical fruit, finished with an umbrella? Not so much...
Restaurant side of things - I like that they do the whole pre-theater, prixe fix menu that seems to be so popular these days... I'd suggest the torchon or jerusalem soup as firsts, and lobster or lamb for seconds.
My girlfriend and I were in the city for the weekend and, after looking over numerous restaurants and reading various reviews, we decided to go to Gilt. Living in Boston, as well as being from NY originally, and dining out on a fairly regular basis, I feel like I've eaten at some great establishments. However, my previous experiences and reviews of Gilt did not do my anticipation of the meal justice. Simply amazing is the only way I can describe the 2 hours of fine dinning at Gilt. From the pre-meal amuse bouche to the artistic and decadent desserts, everything was outstanding. The exquisite decor and architecture are only outdone by the beautiful presentation of food.
Every course my girlfriend and I had was perfect. Her tuna tartare was accompanied by the most delicious tiny scallion pancakes I've ever had, and my hamachi sashimi was accented by Chef Lee's creation of jalapeno caviar (it's amazing how he makes that). My main course, rack of venison, was cooked perfectly and topped with a spiced red cabbage brandy jus; the meat melted in my mouth after the explosion of flavors. My girlfriend had the crispy sea bass in a saffron mussel broth; I can only image how good it was from the expressions on her face after each bite. The desserts were equally amazing and to top it off, after the meal we were presented with some designer chocolates.
As other reviewers have said, for a fine dinning establishment, it was not stuffy at all. As you would expect in fine dining, the service was impeccable and timing was on point. However, the staff was extremely friendly and engaging, something you usually won't experience at a high end restaurant.
If you haven't already guessed, I would highly recommend Gilt to anyone looking for not only a great meal, but also a remarkable all around experience.
My wife and I ate here on their pre-theater meal, and it was very good. The bring mixes of bread the whole time, including olive bread (very good).
First Course:
- "Canadian Lobster with Blood Orange" is lobster prepared three different ways: Chilled Salad, Asian Ceviche, Truffle Pot Pie -- it was ok.
- "Three Cheese Risotto" was very good, with Florida Frog Legs and the Risotto with Toasted Garlic, Fine Herbs, and Lemon Pure -- very very tasty.
Second Course:
- The "Aged Prime Strip Loin" was very good , with a side of mashed potatoes. My wife got this, and they didn't cook it to her liking, and they brought it back without any complaints. It was delicious afterwards.
- The "Macadamia Nut Crusted Venison" was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and melted in your mouth.
Dessert:
We both got the "Milk Chocolate Pot de Crme" and it was very good. Also, they bring around a box of chocolates for you to choose from.
I'd recommend it to New York visitors -- since I don't go that often, though, I'll probably venture out and try other places...
Celebrated my anniversary with my girlfriend here and it was PHENOMENAL.
Probably the most outstanding "stylized" dining room in new york.
Most high end gourmet restaurants offer very boring decor. Gilt differes in this regard because it is set in the beautiful Villard Mansion of the New York Palace. It truly feels like dining in a palace!
The food was amazing as well. Not too sophisticated to enjoy and portions were very generous. We had the tasting menu, and the salmon and steak was the best I have ever had!
Highly recommended.
I heard that Gilt will be getting a new chef soon, but hopefully is won't be ruined.
We had an incredibly delicious meal here last weekend on our visit to NYC. Everything was tasty and the place and hotel are gorgeous. Very enjoyable.
*sidenote: my first yelp review!
Short version:
Pro: A most memorable dining experience! Opulent decor, the food was molecular gastronomy at it's finest! Had the Tuna Wellington and never experienced such joy in such delicate bites of food. Wine list is extensive and impressive! (They have a 1900 Chateau Margaux, worth $12,000). The service was impeccable! And once again, I must stress the high-quality of the $85 three course prix fixe menu - if you go for the first time, make sure to order the Tuna Wellington for your second course!
Con: And I don't say this lightly, but I can't think of one bad thing to say about Gilt.
Long version:
I first dined at Gilt for my 25th birthday with two of my bestfriends and right away I knew this was going to be a memorable dining experience. The second you walk through the open court at the Palace Hotel to find the entrance of Gilt, you already feel a sense of class unlike any other dining trip you'll have. Once you enter, the opulent decor immediately catches your eye, along with the very attractive host at the front lol. I was a bit early, so I decided to catch a drink at the lounge. I must say, they had an impressive wine list by the glass at the bar (more about the dining wine list in a bit). The design of the bar was interesting, for it was a modern-art design, which was surrounded by classic, traditional architecture. I suppose this was to be a synonymous to the style of cuisine of Christopher Lee - a French background combined with neo-American. Christopher Lee, it should be noted, was awarded Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2006.
Gilt offers an $85 three-course prix-fixe menu, which to me is a bargain versus comparable restaurants such as, with all due respect, Daniel, Le Bernardin, or Jean Gorges. My first course was a tomato gazpacho; the way the crouton, mozzarella, and watermelon combined to create a heavenly taste was unreal! For my second course..... a moment please.... was the yellow fin tuna wellington. At this point, I really can't describe the sensation I experienced, because, quite frankly, any description I provide would do it no justice. What I experienced was the true art of molecular gastronomy - the "discipline involving the study of physical and chemical processes that occur in cooking". For dessert, I enjoyed the sorbet. Overall, the food at Gilt is heavenly - so don't feel "gilty" when you see the check, it was worth it (sorry, I know that was a pathetic pun attempt).
Oh yeah, I forgot about the wine list! Because this review is already longer than I had planned, I'll say it in 4 words, most impressive wine list!
Overall, you have to believe me when I say Gilt is one of the top 5 restaurants in New York. I mean, it's been 8 months since I've last dined there and to make this my first Yelp review has to say something about the place! So if you have a special occasion coming up, GILT is the restaurant of choice!
Most exquisite dining experience you'll ever find. I stay in New York half the time for various events and everytime I take someone with me to Gilt, they love it. I frequent this place many times for the unique experience the food and ambiance has to offer. Staff was extremely friendly and the food is the best part of it all, talk about quality. Worth the experience.
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Lounges
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