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Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East59th St-Lexington Ave (4, 5, 6, N, R, W)
5th Ave-53rd St (E, V)
63rd St-Lexington Ave (F)
Mon-Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 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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It's unfortunate that I can't give L'Atelier de Robuchon the extra half star that I think it deserves due to the way that Yelp only allows whole-star ratings. 4.5 stars would convey my feelings about the restaurant most accurately. I can say that it was an excellent meal, but I cannot say that it's the best meal I have ever had.
The service was excellent, knowledgeable, personable, and very professional all around--exactly what I would expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. This was true from my first contact with the restaurant to saying our goodbyes at the end of the meal.
We sat at a corner of the counter, which was perfect. I had feared that the four of us would be seated all in a row, but placing us at a corner allowed us to talk easily to one another, a nice touch.
We chose the tasting menu. We made one substitution, the Langoustine Papillote replacing Le Champignon, the mushroom custard with parsley cappuccino.
We started with an amuse bouche, which featured something done with foie gras at the bottom of the shot glass with a layer of some red fruit and parmesan cheese foam on top. Like a great song intro, the amuse bouche got us ready for what was to come, setting expectations.
The first official course, Le Caviar, set the tone for the evening. In a caviar tin, Osetra caviar sat on lobster gelee and crab meat at the bottom. I expected the dish to be more flavorful, honestly. I just expected more salty caviar flavor. I could not discern the lobster gelee. The crab was done well. I have to say that the dish was well-balanced, but I expected the flavor to pop a little more, like Le Bernardin's Salmon-Caviar, which is like a drug to me. I seek and seek, but nothing recaptures the ecstasy of that first taste of Eric Ripert's blend of thinly pounded smoked salmon carpaccio, brioche, creme fraiche, and caviar.
La Saint-Jacques came next. A perfectly seasoned and seared scallop sat in a white dish shaped like an oyster shell. The spicy chive oil brought color and mouth-watering flavor. It was a lovely dish.
La Langoustine was third. The langoustine papillote was the dim sum segment of the meal. It seemed like a light, fried wonton, to me. Inside the wrapper was a basil leaf. On the side was a teardrop of basil pesto. Other langoustine experiences still stand out ahead of this dish for me. The langoustines at Le Bernardin and the langoustine crudo I tasted at Del Posto offered me much more langoustine flavor. I think that Le Bernardin and Del Posto rightly did not cook the langoustine as much as L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon did. The dish at L'Atelier did not retain as much of the sweet, langoustine flavor that I got from Le Bernardin and Del Posto. La Langoustine was still a great dish. It's just the difference between shrimp tempura, which I rarely order, and a good ama-ebi, which I often order.
La Foie Gras was the highlight of the meal. Served with the foie were a quince compote, yuzu, and drops of a brown sauce with hints of ginger and vinegar, almost like a ginger-containing hoisin or barbecue sauce that complemented the dish perfectly. Certainly, it was the richest and most decadent--but still extremely well balanced--of our savory courses and easily one of the favorites of our party of four.
Le Bar, came next. It was a seared sea bass lemongrass foam and stewed baby leeks. It was perfectly executed, I must say, but after the sheer decadence of the foie gras and the flavorful L'Onglet that follows it, Le Bar got lost in the mix for me. The fish was beautifully done, and the lemongrass foam brought it into Thai-food mode (I was reminded of Tom Kha Gai soup). It was lovely, but it was overshadowed.
L'Onglet is one of the best hanger steaks I have ever had. Served with mushroom, sauteed shallots, and shishito peppers, the dish was beautifully executed and well-balanced. The beef was seasoned perfectly. The dish left nothing to be desired.
We received a pre-dessert course that was a shot glass with a mandarin gelee, hazelnut praline, and vanilla foam. Dessert featured two courses. First, we had a passion fruit custard with 10 Cane Rum granite and coconut foam. Lastly, we had probably the most beautifully constructed dessert I have ever seen, the pecan brownie with gianduja cream and coco nib ice cream. Both were excellent, but were overshadowed by La Foie Gras and L'Onglet.
It was a great experience and worth every penny, to me, but to crib a phrase from Anthony Bourdain, I may be a jaded feedbag. I pretty much got what I expected--a great meal with great people, but it certainly was not the best I have ever had. This conclusion, I believe, is consistent with the bulk of ratings and reviews I've seen of this location of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. I might be interested to try the tasting menu again with the suggested wine pairings to see how their sommelier pairs things.
First, I must include that I never eat French when I'm not in France. I was begged for days to go on a date at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon at the Four Seasons in New York. hEllO, if this restaurant is also in Paris then why not just wait until I'm there? But since I wasn't paying I decided "why the hell not," and caved in. Plus, any excuse to linger around the Four Seasons without getting ousted by security sounds good to me.
I put on my best Dior and showed up at the Four Seasons looking fabulous. Little did I know that I'd have to walk like a mile to actually get to the restaurant. That hotel is like a high-end labyrinth. When we finALLY found the restaurant I was exhausted, and we were seated immediately, next to a table full of classy-looking old people.
We ( = "I" ) decided to order our meal from the a la carte menus. I won't bore you with all the details of these intricately-made small dishes, but I'll tell you which ones I loved. The first thing you should know about me is that foie gras to me is like diamonds are for women. Foie gras and chocolate. Large supplies of either keep me happy. And seeing so much foie gras on L'atelier's menu made me feel like a little kid on Halloween.
I loved the foie gras burgers, and have never tasted anything quite like this. The foie gras raviolis in soup had excellent flavor, and I only wished this dish had been larger. The La Calamar was also spot-on, and the steak tartar made me feel like a man. At least until I remembered how tight my jeans are on my body.
By the time dessert came I was so high on foie gras that I didn't even mind the fact that the sommelier kept hitting on me. hEllO, you don't need to refill my glass after every single sip. BTW, the decanter was out of this world. Order a bottle of wine just for that experience.
For dessert we had a plate of cheeses, with a memorable Comte, and a cup of coffee to shock me back into a state of reality. I wish I could eat like this every night. L'atelier, please come to Miami Beach!!
This has been a Review by Fulgencio
I came here last night with my friend, who is the true foodie. This restaurant has been on my list of "must go" for the longest time and I thought it would take another few years of saving up to get here. I am forever grateful for good friends. :)
We sat at the counter so that we can watch the action in the kitchen. Didn't get to do much of that because I spent all my time admiring and savoring my food. For fear of messing up the names and making other people hug their foreheads in disgust, I won't go into all the details. Besides, I see some of the other reviews have gone through the $190 tasting menu rather thoroughly so I don't have to do it again.
Although there was one waiter who was less than helpful, and I did get a little intimidated by the waves of waiters who kept on passing by and glancing over our tables, that's no reason to take off a star. I got an extra plate of desserts (I think they were: Lemon custard, Key Lime Pie, Fudge & nuts and Chocolate) for my birthday and they switched my steak (non beef eater here) for the kampachi with no problem at all. My friend was blown away (I think) by some of the dishes, especially the second amuse bouche (tangerine jelly with vanilla), his steak, the caviar and the foie gras, which is always a good sign (since he's picky with food).
All I can say in conclusion is that... not really ever having been a big fan of French food, this experience really was just totally overwhelming. It was SO indulgent, SO decadent, and SO good. Divine even. I can't say I would go back any time soon because, cost aside, I think I just can't handle another meal like this for a while. But it certainly is something that I am so happy to have the chance to try!
4.5 stars. A bit inconsistent but generally great overall. Sit at the bar. Great service, ambience. I miss Yosuke Suga, the head chef there, but still one of the best in the world.
K and I came here and sat at the counter and moments later we were greeted with assortment of breads.
I was looking for my bread plate and so I asked the waiter if he could give me a bread plate. He looked down and said to K, that the one to the left is hers. We looked at it and obviously her bread plate was already being used by the woman next to her. I guess it wasn't obvious to him since he wasn't make any move on providing me with a plate. K had to tell him, that she's not using the plate that's almost on the other lady's lap for him to finally come up with another plate.
Instead of giving me the plate and butter knife, he places it to the left of K and away from me.
Okay, did he miss something here? The woman took K's plate and so K took mine plate and I have no plate anywhere near my reach.
So how hard is that to understand that the one asking for the plate, needs the plate. I am sorry if the woman threw the whole placement of the bread plate off track but just give me the plate.
K ended up trying to hand me the plate when her hand is full from the bread knife and bread.
The stupidity of the waiter annoyed me because I couldn't understand his way of thinking when he could see K already was using my plate setting.
Moving on I was more excited about their dessert than their entree. Since I have always wanted to come here to try their couture sugar creation desserts. Unfortunately, none of them were available when I went.
I wasn't hungry when I went there, since I pretty much partied the entire day for a friend's birthday celebration. Had a huge breakfast with H, which caused me to eat lunch at 3:30 then had drinks galore with never-ending birthday treats.
Didn't know the day was going to be this way, otherwise I would had rescheduled the dinner at L'Atelier.
Since I am a seafood lover - I tried the following things:
Amuse Bouche - it was foie gras with something else that I cannot remember, but I didn't care for it.
King Crab in a Thin Turnip Ravioli with Rosemary - even though the turnip was sliced very thinly, the taste of the turnip overpowered the sweetness of the king crab. It actually made the entire thing taste really bitter.
Day Boat Scallop in the Shell with Seaweed and Cancale Butter - eh, nothing to rave about.
Crispy Langoustine Papillote with Basil Pesto - the only thing that I enjoyed from the things that I have tasted.
We got to try a complimentary dessert - Hazelnut with mandarin orange. This flavour combination just didn't work for me. I don't like the fact that the citrus flavour was overpowered by the taste of the hazelnut.
Le Souffle (Yuzu Soufflé Served with Raspberry Sorbet) - I guess they ran out of raspberry sorbet, because I think I got a caramel flavoured ice cream instead. It just didn't pair off with the Yuzu flavour. I love yuzu and I just wish I could have tasted more of the tartness. It was very pretty and perfectly executed. The souffle looked amazing as it arrived before the ice cream was dropped into the center causing the souffle to deflate. It was good, but nothing where I felt I just died in my seat after tasting.
The sum of L'Atelier - aesthetically pleasing and that is all, I didn't taste anything here that I wanted more of or made me scream out on top of my lungs because it was so damn good.
I think the people who raved about this place, just doesn't feel right to give a place like this a low-rating. I am sorry but this place is just like Chez George in Paris. Food is mediocre but view is magnificent!
This place is like a good looking guy with no personality, presentation is amazing, but taste isn't that great.
I did the 7 course tasting menu with the wine paring when I came here. I wasn't really a fan of sitting at the bar for this event, but I guess it was to see the way they prepare your meal. I said that I didn't really like scallops either, and they had two dishes with them. I think the pre-dinner cocktails, followed by the wine paring made me drunk so I don't really recall how the rest of the meal went, but from what I remeber eating, I really liked it.
It's a pain to go to the bathroom; you have to travel down two sets of stairs.
The service was awesome though.
Based on reputation and expense, L'Atelier didn't live up to its expectation. Don't get me wrong, this meal was a delight, but I don't feel like there was much value.
We had the tasting menu which consisted of:
King Crab in a Thin Turnip Ravioli with Rosemary -- way too salty and the sauce (aioli?) was much too rich yet watery
Scallop Carpaccio with Toasted Poppyseeds - kinda generic. served lukewarm which doesn't sit well with me when it's Carpaccio
Crispy Langoustine Papillote with Basil - slightly greasy and this is supposed to be JR's signature dish?!
Seared Foie Gras with Cherries and Almonds - Very delicious but not worth $30 if you were to order a la carte
Sautéed Amadai in Yuzu Broth with Lily Bulbs - loved the texture and crispiness of the skin. The fish was absolutely tender and delicate
**Free-Range Caramelised Quail Stuffed with Foie Gras, Potato Purée and Summer Truffle - The highlight of the meal. I'd go back and order this as an entree
DESSERTS
La Pomme Verte - Light Jivara Ganache, Green Apple Brunoise and Ginger Ice Cream - very gingery. The foam was very flavorful, and the chocolate at the bottom made me smile :)
La Perle De Choux - Crunchy Paté-a-Choux with Tahitian Vanilla Cream, Spiced Red Fruit Coulis - typical choux... but I ate it anyway
Would I return? Yes. Would I order the tasting menu? Nope. I'd order the L'Amadai and Quail/Foie gras for sure though.
As for the service, it was "fine." Maybe the waitress thought it best to leave us "lovebirds" alone, but I like it when they check in to see if the meal is going well. My water glass was promptly filled but my bread could have been replenished more readily. For such a "high caliber" restaurant, L'Atelier has a bit to improve upon.
PS If you're drinking at the bar, they serve you gigantic olives and yummy mixed nuts
Seriously one of my favorite dining experiences EVER. SO GOOD. I guess for context, this restaurant is undoubtedly expensive. If you're expecting for a cheap-moderately priced meal, you're looking in the wrong direction. However, you should also remember that Joel Robuchon was named Chef of the Century by the Gault Millau and has the most Michelin stars in the world. That said, you should expect quality.
My friend and I were seated at the bar with a nice view of the preparation of dishes. The service was attentive, but not overly concerned/pushy, and very polite. It was a little strange to be the only 20 year olds in the restaurant -- as most people there were wealthy business men, but the wait staff didn't treat us any differently because of it, which was greatly appreciated.
We started with a basket of bread and a complimentary amuse-bouche. The amuse was a lemon vanilla gelee with vanilla cream and olive tapenade. I was a little weary at first because it didn't look like anything I had ever eaten before, but it was delicious and had a nice smooth texture.
For appetizers, my friend and I split the burgers. Seriously, I could've picked the entree version of this because these burgers were the best burgers I've ever eaten in my life. I seriously wanted to die after eating these burgers. SO GOOD. The burgers were kobe beef and foie gras with some caramelized bell peppers. I mean, I love kobe beef and I love foie gras, so this pretty much was the perfect marriage. The whole thing was succulent, rich, flavorful, juicy. I seriously dream about this burger. It was served on the side with hand-cut french fries and some homemade bbq sauce. The fries were light -- not super oily or salty (although I'm generally not opposed to either of those) and it really relied on the subtle potato flavor mixed with the richness of the bbq sauce. Our server joked that he was delighted to see two 20 year old girls eat the fries because his normal customers usually pass it up to cut calories. (Really? Trying to cut calories at a french restaurant?) Again, the wait staff was super friendly.
We followed up the burgers with a complimentary gazpacho. It was everything a gazpacho is supposed to be. Light, refreshing, a nice palette cleanser to our main course.
For my entree, I had "Le Bar" which was a pan-seared sea bass with lemongrass foam and stewed baby leeks. First, the fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The I was a little weary of the "lemongrass foam" when I saw it on the menu, but it fit perfectly with the flavor palette of the dish. I mean, in general I'm usually weary of foam -- they don't typically add that much to a dish, but take up space... BUT it worked well with this. The accompanying sauce and leeks didn't overpower the fish at all and the fish definitely was fresh. My friend had a fish entree as well and thoroughly enjoyed hers -- can't remember what it was called, as I dined here a year ago.
We passed up on desserts because we were too full, but were given complimentary homemade chocolates. I'm not really sure what was in each one, but they were all delicious.
Again, it's pricey but with the complimentary amuse-bouche, gazpacho, and chocolates, paired with the excellent service and french cooking, the price is nothing to complain about.
My only qualm about this place is that non-alcoholic drinks are really expensive. I ordered a coke -- came in one of those mini-glass bottles -- and it cost $10. My friend had a ice tea and it cost $8. There weren't refills, obviously. I think for wines, the prices would be more acceptable. Then again, my cokes in restaurants in France cost about the same. Nothing to deduct stars for, but if you're going for non-alcoholic, just go with water.
Going in for my reservation, I knew that I'm going to be tasting "chef of the century, Joel Robuchon's" cuisines so my expectation was really high. And, my expectation for this restaurant from service to food was met. The only dish I didn't like was the first amuse, the avocado tomato puree thingy, it tasted like baby food. But other than that, EVERYTHING ELSE was delish.
Also, I didn't like the fact that we have 3-4 waiters looking at our table continuously making us feel so uncomfortable while eating. It's fine dining at its best, and you can tell the waiters can be a little over the top. The waiters, who serves the free flow of mini breads, are really nice. I like them better than my own table waitress.
My "foodie girlfriend" Loren and I were fortunate to grab a 6:00 reservation on one of three nights that Chef Joel Robuchon was helming the kitchen in the NYC locale of his L'Atelier empire. Chef Robuchon's ideology, where indulgence and minimalism co-mingle, led him on a quest to bring L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon to New York in 2006. I passionately pursued Joel Robuchon for this meal after his appearance on TOP CHEF, and Loren and I both agreed this would be an exciting opportunity for us to meet Gault Millau's elusive Chef Of The Century. With the help of legendary architect L.M. Pei and famed French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, who was instrumental in developing L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon's inspired style, Pei has made this dream team palace of gastronomy totally innovative, dissolving the boundaries between kitchen and dining room. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, whose name refers to an artist's studio, allows a dynamic interaction between chef and diner, yielding direct access to the creative process. Seats are arranged around a U-shaped bar that looks directly into the kitchen; what was once behind-the-scenes becomes center stage. There is diner style seating for those around the pearwood counter and traditional seating at individual tables. We had reserved two chairs at the bar and by golly it was fun, fun, fun. The staff here is very friendly and efficient at the same time. L'Atelier is not as prim and proper as Per Se or Le Bernardin. Not to say those restaurants are a downer. But, it's rare to get this quality food in such a jumping atmosphere. The menu is a sheer "embarrasment of riches". The only negative about Chef Joel's menu is that it is too foie gras heavy. He's is definitely a "foie" monkey. But, if that's his only fault, then I guess that's not all too bad. We started with a heavenly amuse shot glass of macerated foie gras, reduced port wine and parmesan foam. I tossed it down and it just melted on my palate. WOW!! Another dish that particularly and perfectly captures the essence of this long-awaited restaurant from a true culinary superstar, "Le Burger", is actually two little sliders of foie gras atop equally juicy Japanese hangar steak patties and a tiny heap of caramelized peppers piled inside mini brioche buns. They are meticulously constructed, yet there's a winking flippancy in their decadent presentation and a stroke of comfort in their decadent flavor. Chef Robouchon made sure to honor his loyal patrons with a jaunt into the front of the house to say "hello" and took photos with everybody. He was such a nice guy and very appreciative. This lack of stuffiness signals exactly what is so great about L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Tucked inside the rear corner of the Four Seasons Hotel, 26 table seats add a twist to this outpost of Robuchon's brand, which also exist in Paris naturally, as well as Tokyo, Las Vegas and other exotic venues like Macao. But the 20-seat bar, an intimate stage, outcropped from an immaculate kitchen, is still the most coveted space. Glass showcases along the bar feature perfect red, yellow and green peppers and autumn pumpkins, while vases filled with apples, limes and other greenery lend flair to the blond wood room, trimmed with the trademark black and red. And the menu, like the other branches, is divided into small plates for tasting, or larger appetizers and entrées a la carte style. Among other highlights are the lollipop-like frogs' legs, the meltingly soft meat pushed to the end of the bone, then delicately fried until crispy; a tender, plump langoustine, wrapped in a crunchy wonton, making for a spectacularly juicy spring roll; silken strands of homemade spaghetti, brightly touched with fresh tomato, tuna confit and olives; and Le Sucre, crème anglaise inside a candied violet shell, drizzled with a blackberry and rose coulis and accompanied by a creamy milk ice cream. Everything is so wonderfully prepared that the only clumsy offering that stands out are perfect little squares of sashimi-style tuna lost in the salty overkill of sun-dried tomatoes, olives and fleur de sel. The free-range quail stuffed with foie gras is a culinary tour de force. But remember, put your prejudices and pretensions aside and order Le Burger. The desserts include the best Yuzu soufflé ever served with Raspberry Sorbet. Le Chocolat Tendance was a dream of Chocolate Cream, Bitter Chocolate Sorbet and Oreo Cookies As expected, this meal was not cheap, but it was worth every penny. Six course tasting for two with wine, tax, and 20% tip was $425.
Really cool restaurant with great food, especially if you like foie gras. Seemed like a good third of the menu had foie gras in it. I'd definitely recommend sitting at the counter. We chatted with our server the whole time while watching the kitchen in action behind her. Made for a unique experience. The dishes were on par with those served NYC Michelin two and three star restaurants.
I don't know what it is about L'Atelier that makes me give it three stars. The food certainly is good...
Perhaps one day I really must do the tasting. And sit at the bar.
That being said:
The cons?
I always know the places I want to give 4 or 5 stars and though I have only been to L'Atelier twice, neither time have I walked away reeling from the experience. I think a lot of it is just that I don't find the dining room very pleasant or impressive, and honestly find the price to food ratio more than slightly ridiculous.
Our waiter was nice enough, but he was not knowledgeable about the wine at all nor could he seem to get the sommelier or manager to speak to us about it. I will give him points for being enthusiastic when I asked for suggestions, but everything he suggested was related to foie gras, and I had already ordered a foie gras dish. On top of that, he just struck me as awkward.
The food:
The Amuse was, as my sister noted, delightful. It came in a jigger glass, as you would expect typically from an amuse soup. This however was thick and creamy and required a spoon: warm foie gras emulsion, very nice, rich, and full of flavor.
King crab and radish - (described as: "Le King Crab" king crab in a turnip ravioli with rosemary) tasty, with the perfect amount of shaved radish and small assortment of dipping oils on the plate. I thought this was a very nice, if small, dish - but at the same time slightly awkward to enjoy all layers together.
Foie gras and eel - (described as: L'Anguille - caramelized eel layered with smoked foie gras) - compliments each other well, the foie gras does not overpower the eel at all and if it is smoked, the smoked flavor is exceptionally subtle, the eel itself just a touch sweet. I recall being bored by this last time - and since it was the predominate reason I wanted to go to *this* Joel Robuchon, it was disappointing. On this second trip, I was impressed by the meshing of foie gras (this one far more subtle than the amuse) and the subtle flavors of the eel. Not a bursting-with-layers-of-flavor in your mouth sort of plate, but well done.
"Le Champignon" (described as: portobello mushroom tart with eggplant caviar, tomato confit and arugula) - Just as the king crab dish I'd had playfully calls the slices of turnip that encase the crab meat a 'ravioli', this dish describes strips of eggplant laid atop it as 'caviar' - which to me was not playful but all around silly. Perhaps it is because I actually like some caviar (and am not an eggplant fan) and was subconsciously disappointed? I don't mind anything that has tomato confit - but found the taste of roasted tomato and semi saltiness of the eggplant to overshadow the portobello. I was not fond of this dish, unlike my dining companions.
Sea Bass - (described as "Le Bar" - pan-fried sea bass with a lemongrass foam and stewed baby leeks) - Regarding this dish - IMO it is what it is - a cut of delicately cooked and nicely presented sea bass, semi-salty, but nothing to write home about. Nothing spectacular happening with this dish.
Dessert Amuse Bouche - citrus mousse with tapioca - tastes of basil, grapefuit. This was excellent - bursting with refreshing flavor, tangy, sweet. They really hit the nail on the head with this exciting punch of joy ;)
Dessert: (descibed as "La Pomme Verte" light jivara ganache, green apple brunoise and ginger ice cream) - apple, pear, what my sister describes as oreo, came topped with an extremely thin dried slice of apple, and a small amount of gold leafing. I think the oreo was actually the jivara (or chocolate) ganache - but whatever it was - I was not fond of it. This is probably just another case of - everyone has different tastes. This dessert just wasn't my thing.
The wine I wound up ordering by my fail safe method (if it is a grape I have never heard of - I order it) worked out surprisingly well. It was a 2005 Pinot Auxerrois Blanc from Alsace - and before you call me out, yes, it was in the front of the menu and easy. It was also semi-sweet, fruity but not overpowered by it; a medium bodied white with presence. Good job Val! Good job;)
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I want to say that this DID NOT live up to my expectations. Joel R. in Vegas was one of the best meals of my life. This was not as good. The service was nice but didn't connect. The table of people sitting so close to us they were almost on top of us was filled with jeans and t-shirt assholes wearing baseball caps, this isn't the game d-bags. I wear jeans and a T everyday but not to Joel R, not to a place with a dress code. They sat there talking shit about Americans loudly and pretty much at us. Then they demanded the chef make them what they wanted, a side of "spinach and broccoli together". Thank god they were denied. It was terrible.
The tasting menu here was 75 dollars more than in Vegas and wasn't HALF as good. Talk about a disappointment. The plating was not as imaginative and the food wasn't as memorable as my last experience.
I wish the staff would have not seated already drunk assholes next to me/on top of me when I'm trying to enjoy a nice meal with my mama on her b-day. I am spending 1/4 of my damn pay check on it and I called months in advance for a more "private table".
In all I would not come back to this location. The decor doesn't match the hotel walls at all and the ambiance is not very soothing. Joel in Vegas is much better all around.
I am having a moral dilemma here... Yes, the food definitely deserves 5 stars, but should I deduct 1 star for the price and lack of knowledge (particularly about wine) on behalf of the server? Hmmm... I suppose it's only fair.
I dined here with my sister and her good friend recently and was SO delighted by the meal we were served. My sister took detailed notes on everything, so I'll let her elaborate here. The foie gras amuse bouche was delightful. Our foie gras/eel tasting was amazing. The sea bass was... sea bass... not too special but tasty all the same. I really enjoyed the portabello mushroom portion. We also ordered crab ravioli which I found only alright.
For dessert we ordered a massive thing of ice cream with oreo bits and gold flaking. It was delicious, but even better was the amuse bouche served beforehand - a citrus, custard duo with tapioca pearls on top. Everything was beautifully presented. I am very glad we had the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely meal here - even if it was incredibly light.
Try to get a seat at the counter with its great view of the beautifully chic kitchen. Not only do you get to witness all the action, but the service is better as well because the waiters are constantly close to you. Our waiter, a tall Chinese guy named Danny, was exceedingly friendly and helpful, and even gave the bf a complimentary glass of wine because we gave him tips for his upcoming trip to Boston (having already imbibed a cocktail and being cursed with low tolerance, I chose not to partake in the free alcohol).
We were there for Valentine's Day, so I'm not sure what the food is like on regular nights. But I will say that the Valentine's menu was nothing short of spectacular, especially the two desserts. One of the desserts was an iridescent sugar sphere with red berry filling, and we were told that it's only served on special occasions because it's so hard to make all the spheres look similar. The other dessert was a delicious concoction of chocolate cream and chocolate sorbet. It had a ring of hard chocolate on the top that was decorated with gold dust and little drops of red, dark brown, and gold syrup, and it looked like a gorgeous chocolate solar system. It was so pretty it pained me to eat it - and that's saying a lot because I usually can't wait to dig into dessert.
The other courses were fabulous. A couple stood out in particular. The spaghettini with black truffle and shaved parmesan was amazing, though some people might find it too rich. The duck was also good, but what made it a highlight was the little tower of daikon and foie gras that came with. I would never have thought of pairing daikon and foie gras together, but it was amazing.
This restaurant had the most exquisite, delightful, and delicious cuisine I've ever had. From the amouz bouche opener, to the Japanese steak and sublime pureed potato entree at the end, we were absolutely in heaven. I wish I could give this place 10 stars.
Since we were curious to taste quite a few things, we ordered 5 small plates and an entree to split and it was really too much for 2 people. Don't let the small plate title fool you, there's quite a bit of food on those plates! We couldn't resist though, were absolutely out of our minds from all the goodness we ate. We literally stumbled out of the place woozy, as if we were drunk. Hey, heaps of creme and foie gras will do that to you!
I don't think I've ever enjoyed a meal quite this much. You have to go there at least once if you enjoy high quality French cuisine. Simply magnificent. And the service was flawless from beginning to end.
By the way, a lot of people and websites make a big tadoo about sitting at the counter. However, I just want to note that it seemed, to me at least, to be a bit of a gimmick. Why sit there in an uncomfortable chair on a small counter when you can get cozy and comfortable seating on the floor? I don't think it's that amazing, unless perhaps you want to see them cook. It's really a bit of a shtick for the rubes in my opinion.
A beautiful room of lacquered red and black with blond wood and soaring coffered ceilings tucked into a corner of the second floor of the gorgeous Four Seasons at 57th and Madison. Surprisingly accessible and downright nice service. Lots of off-the-menu specials, so make sure to ask. I had the eel-foie gras mille feuille and the mini foie gras burgers followed by a kamachi (or was it kampachi?) with sundried tomato that was divine. Several days later I'm still thinking about it. Wine list was very good, but both food and wine were scorchingly priced for what they were. It didn't help that the fire alarm went off for half the meal. Still, a great place to bring clients providing your company is paying. If you can, sit along the counter and watch the staff painstakingly dot dishes with perfectly formed circles of flavor.
Yes, the rumor is true. It costs you 200 bux a pop to enjoy a little piece of heaven. To me, it was well worth every penny. I had the tasting menu and not one but two complimentary courses from Chef Suga! The scallop is tender and cooked just right. The tapioca literally looked like little pearls that melted in my mouth. The Kobe beef is...you know...Kobe beef if you know what I'm talking about. I wish there's a vocabulary that can describe the tenderness, the juiciness, the layers of flavors that ranges from sweet to smoky. Their fois gras does not have the usual poultry taste. It's definitely one of the best fois gras I have ever had. They say to know if someone can make French food, try their fois gras. Hence, go and try it. No word in this world can describe the rich taste of delicious food. (One can always use some vulgar words to describe nasty food :p)
And prepare to eat gold foil with your ice cream. I was being cheap so I saved it. They gave me a little more tho. :)
Had to have a business dinner at L'Atelier at the counter. Food was fantastic, if you like foie gras. They seemed to put it in everything! the mushroom soup was sublime. We had the squab stuffed with foie gras which was delicious and the burgers with foie gras which were also out of this world! It was slightly reminiscent for me of the burger at db modern, but not as heavy.
our server Matthew was very knowledgeable and atttentive, however didn't seem like he was enjoying himself like the other wait staff...
overall very very good.
Though the restaurant is much smaller than you think it would be the food pays close attention to detail and more than makes up for the size.
Beautiful, well executed dishes, with professional courteous staff to serve you. Well done. Bravo.
Date Rating: 8
Pick up Scale: 2
Strong Suggestions: Business, date, or destination dining all will feel very comfortable here.
Stopped in at L'Atelier for a quick dessert.... Putain. C'etait incroyable! Looking forward to dinner here next month.
When making reservations, I'm told that the best seats in the house are at the bar.
A superb dining experience, period! Was in NY on vacation, and chose this establisment for the "special occasion" meal. Went early to the dining room. Very interesting and certainly different. The seating appeared to be only for 32 people, and there was like a dining bar with about 20 additional seats. Very unusual.
We were very pleasantly greeted and shown to our seats After looking at the menu, we choose the tasting menu with the wine pairing.
It would be very hard to describe the quality of the 6 courses and wine that flowed by us. Simply superb as every morsel seemed to explode in the mouth. Wine pairing was outstanding.
There were six courses as follows:
1. Cauliflower "panna cotta", light tomato coulis and white sturgeon caviar with wine pairing of Gruner Veltliner from Austria.
- a cold dish with distinctive taste, very interesting. Wine pairing went very well with this dish.
2. Fresh langoustine cparpaccio with toasted poppy seeds with wine pariring of a French Sancerre.
-Tasty and great consistency; nice touch; oustanding wine.
3. Day Boat scallop in the shell with seaweed and Cancale butter with wine pairing of Muscat from Spain.
-great dish, I could have eaten 10 of them. Nice wine touch.
4. Seared foie gras with gratinated grapefruit and a wine pairing of Pinot Noir from Talisman in California.
-So tasty and so decadent; rich complete; great down the palate. Wine was a bonus and a delight.
5. Pan seared sea bass served with exotic brunoise and light almond milk foam. Wine pairing was a Ribolla from Slovenia. Go figure. Lovely bass morels cooked to perfection. The wine burst out with flavors.
6. Pan-fried Kobe beef with mesclun salad with wine pairing of "Three Cape Ladies" from Warwick in South Africa. Bingo! Home run ball!
Amazing tender and well spiced Kobe beef coupled with a killer wine getting 98 points from Robert Parker. Just incredible.
7. For first dessert, they served some grapefruit segments, grape wine gelee and mint sorbet. Nice!
8. For second dessert, we received cherries with a souffle and bitter almond ice cream. Wine as Torrontes from Argentina. By this time, it was all good, but actually it really was. So tasty!
Service was exceptional with the main server and 4 helpers taking care of our every need. Truly a night to remember.
Caution: very, very expensive $$$$$
Service was great, but I definitely expected the food to be a lot better. We had the tasting menu, which included:
- Amuse bouche of foie gras with port wine reduction and parmesan foam: served warm, and absolutely amazing!
- King crab in turnip ravioli: disappointing
- Scallop carpaccio: very pretty, nice texture from the poppy seeds, but so-so overall
- Crispy langoustine papillote with basil: the langoustine was definitely very fresh, with a crispy wrapper, but I wouldn't say it was particularly memorable
- Seared foie gras with cherries and almonds: I always love seared foie gras, and there was a good balance of sweet/sour to cut the richness of the foie, but I wouldn't say it was prepared in a way that made it really stand out against other seared foie gras dishes I've had
- Amadai in yuzu broth with lily bulbs: very well cooked, with a light flavor, but again not anything particularly interesting
- Kobe beef with shisito peppers: melt-in-your-mouth, the way kobe beef should be
- Palate cleanser of basil sorbet on top of raspberry gelee: refreshing, light, and delicious
- Ganache with green apple and ginger ice cream: pretty good overall, but I was pretty full by this point and couldn't really enjoy it
- Choux with vanilla cream and raspberries: I didn't think the raspberries went particularly well with the choux and vanilla cream, but I did love the crunchy pastry itself.
Overall not a bad meal, but I didn't think it was worth the money we spent. It's probably a better choice to select your own small plates from the a la carte menu; it looked like they had some unique choices.
It's really hard to give this place 5 stars when the Wow to $$ ratio is like 1:$90. Which means for every $90 dollars spent I had 1 wow dish. That's really not a lot especially when comparing this place to something like Ko where the ratio is like 1:$40 or even Kenka (bull penis = wow = $7 = 1:7)
We had the tasting menu at the counter and the chef was nice enough to let us substitute the eel and fois, and the quail for a sea bass. So definitely points for letting diners be a little flexible.
The amuse, lemon gelee with olives, was OK. The flavors were unique and interesting but wouldn't say it was good.
The split pea soup again with lemon gelee was refreshing but didn't like the fact that we had two things back to back with lemon gelee. But no wows there.
The langoustine carpaccio was VERY good. No wow because I've had something similar at Ko and Robuchon's restaurant in Macao. Using langoustine was different but the flavor, while great, was very familiar.
The scallop was a wow dish. But the scallop wasn't really what made the dish wow, it was actually the pink/purple seaweed garnish that really made the dish. That garnish added a ocean/briny flavor to the sweetness of the scallop while adding a bit of extra texture.
Next was the quail and eel which was both very flavorful and rich. A minor Wow but that may have been due to not having fois in a while.
Kobe beef was Kobe beef. Cooked well, flavored well.
The pre dessert was nice, tasted like a banana daiquiri in a shot glass.
Mint sorbet with grapefruit was nice and light. I think the mint was a little overpowering but the plating of that dish was pretty amazing.
finally, the chocolate mouss/coffee ice cream with some type of crumble was a simple delicious dessert. Maybe a little too safe but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Their espresso and coffee was actually some of the best I've ever had. They were both really smooth and rich, with no bitter after taste. Wow.
So, for two, came out to ~$550, so divide by 2, then by the amount of wows (3) , the total comes out to ~$90 per wow which is pretty damn expensive.
To get to L'Ateleir, you first have to make your way through an (elegant) I.M. Pei lobby labyrinth. If you make it out, you'll be welcomed by such a high ceiling that you'll think you're in an art deco temple.
And you are...a veritable food temple, where each course is bracketed by treats (courtesy of the chef, of course), where a roving band of waiters orbit your table, and where the rotisserie chicken is so tender that it will fall off the bone. Amen to that.
Just DELICIOUS!!! nothing more to say. we had the new years eve set menu and it was one of the best meals i ever had.. everyone who has a chance should try at least once.. even though it was expensive as hell! : )
never had foie gras in such a delicious form (in chestnut soup with whole chestnut and pancetta), a must go resturant when in Manhattan~!
Walking into this restaurant, in the midst of the Four Seasons, immediately introduces you to a unique Asian-French fusionary decor. With traditional Hoshizaki style coolers filled with fresh vegetables, fruits and more you already know you might be in for something unique. Despite the legit amount of cash you're about to drop, it must be seen as a "when in Rome" sort of approach. Throw caution into the wind and let 'er rip. So prix fixe then? Allrighty.
And, it proved to be no joke. The meal turned out to be a culinary exploration that grew progressively in boldness and flavor. We covered a spread that included a seafood and lobster gelee w/ cauliflower cream, squid ink capellini topped with 24K gold and caviar, crispy langoustine papillote with a basil pesto drizzle, poached quail egg over spicy veggies and greens, cod fillet in a (miso?) aromatic broth, freerange caramelized quail w/ potato puree, green yuzy granite and a dessert I can't remember. Whew.
Every bite was a new adventure, and opened our eyes to a truly unique fusion of culinary flavors, textures and techniques that netted out at a meal I still speak of today. So a break from the traditional French cuisine, but a discovery of the unequivocal in Manhattan.
I was in the neighborhood for an appointment and decided to go to Robuchon on a whim. I had just finished a 2 month diet with very little fat, decadence and to my standards, very little taste. So knowing this was a 5 star yelped establishment, I thought, I've got a couple of hours and I'm not hurting for cash right now, so why not?
First off, the Four Seasons Hotel where Robuchon is located, is designed by IM Pei and is a sight in and of itself. I'd say get here a bit early and check the place out a bit. Its worth your time.
L'Atelier is split into two kinds of seating. The first is counter-style seating right in front of beautiful open kitchen. The 2nd is more traditional seating with generously spaced tables in the well-designed space. Since I was dining on my own and was curious as to see what was going on in the kitchen, I decided to opt for the counter.
And then I was presented with options...so many good options. The $190 discovery menu? The $60 "express" menu with 1 app, 1 main and a desert? An a la carte menu with traditional entrees or should i order from the immensely creative and appetizing menu of small plates? Since I was following my whims today, I decided for the tasting menu. One small problem though...eggs freak me out. I can have em baked in something, or used to coat something that's fried up, but the sight of egg in my meal makes me gag. I guess I'm just strange, but luckily, the helpful and kind staff let me substitute the asparagus with soft egg dish with the one dish I was dying to try- Les Burgers. Being a burger fiend and and eggophobe, this was greatly appreciated.
So out came the amuse bouche....a shot glass with a bottom layer of a mousse foie gras, a small layer of port wine reduction, and a top layer of a foam of parmesan. In translation, a shot glass full of fat. And oh, had I missed fat like the deserts miss the rain. In fact eating made a little Everything But the Girl techno beat start in my head and my senses dance. Oh man, was I ready for an experience!
Next came a beautiful looking starter in an amazing little oval/bowl plate that was obviously designed with a lot of thought for a dish like this. It was a layer of avocado, followed by a layer of gazpacho and a layer of crab meat. Light, cool and spot on. It was the perfect summer starter right in the middle of spring.
This was followed by an absolutely drop dead gorgeous dish of scallops and sea urchin. A very light and delicate plate- and extremely tasty, though I regretted not taking a picture of it since it was garnished so beautifully with a little bit of green and red.
Next came what I believe was the real show stopper. Langoustine pappilout with basil pesto. It was my first time having langoustine, and man, what a creative preparation. Again, artful and light. And this dish happened to be a perfect. The crispy shell and basil sauce was the perfect foil to the langoustine. I wanted more. Good thing more was coming.
When I thought that couldn't be topped, next was the burger. It's a tiny little thing, smaller than a slider. It almost comes out looking like a toy. But that's not a toy, that's a little hunk of high quality beef, topped with another hunk of foie gras and some bell peppers on brioche. And that is greasy, fatty perfection right there. I realized that its so tiny because any bigger would cause a spontaneous heart attack. It was accompanied by some perfect, thin crinkle cut french fries and a ginger ketchup that has to be one of the best condiments I've had. Now that is an artist's take on the burger and fries right there.
After that came a fish dish- L'Amadai. Again, something I've never had, and it was explained to me that it was similar to bass. But again, simple but elegant. It came served on a terrific citrus broth and a crispy topping garnished with some edible flowers. Much, much better than I expected and the perfect transition between the burgers and my next dish- Kobe beef.
The Kobe Beef- the 3rd perfect dish of the day. It was served with a little bit of onion topping, a side of incredible, buttery potato mousse (super whipped mashed potatoes) and a little salad. Ultimately simple, but just a beautiful execution of what the French can do with beef.
Dessert was more fun times. First a pre-desert shot of raspberry and lychee, a nice cool and refreshing introduction to the sweet part of menu. Than a little papplemousse- grapefruit with a mint sorbet that was again- served in a very unique dish. You can tell there was some real artistic thought put into this. And finally, a little chocolate and coffee mousse that was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal.
This was my first experience with a tasting menu and while it cost me a small fortune, it was worth every penny. An artist's studio indeed- every detail and every plate, the work of a true artist. Sometimes the experience is just worth it.
Since we didn't have time to wait for a spot at the dining bar in Paris, we were thrilled when Mr. Robuchon landed a spot in NYC. We made a resy immediately and headed over with another couple.
I don't understand why the entire restaurant isn't built as a dinning bar, like in Paris, and I really can't understand why you'd want to sit at a regular table when you can do that anywhere? But, hey-it's a free (kinda) country and to each his or her own.
I loved our server, I loved every bite I had and I would go back over and over again. If it wasn't just soooo...uptown. HOWEVER, I will make a special trip again. But, until that time, I'll just hold my time there near and dear to my coeur.
Am I required to be objective in these reviews? How can one objectively review something so visceral, so elemental and basic to life and pleasure as hospitality and the purveyance of sustenance. Especially when it is proffered in a way that is pleasing and exciting and thought provoking and truly inspirational.....
This is not really a review, it is an homage, an open love letter to someone whose life's work I admire and have repeatedly enjoyed and taken inspiration from.
Food: words fail me. Either great or not so, dish by dish, dependent on the reference frame and preferences of the individual diner. Always thought provoking and memorable!
Ambience: here is the deal clincher; my sweetie feels intimidated by high end French restaurants because of a negative experience years ago.
All of the staff at L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon made her feel comfortable, welcome and safe.....to experiment, try new things, and enjoy .
Merci, Monsieur Robuchon!
Food so good we survived the horrible service at the beginning.
We couldn't believe it. We're at the counter, have ordered, and watch our waiter bring the wrong wine, then the wrong first course, then apologize, but bring the wrong second course. I went to the maitre d', who started to tell me how I'd probably screwed up the wine order, but then realized from the rest of the story that there was a problem. We were moved to the other side of the counter, and everything went perfect from there on. Why else would I give it 5-stars, after that start?
The relationship with your server is unique for any restaurant. It was terrific and made the meal. You can read the reviews, look at the menu, then talk to the server when you're there. Go for the experience, watching each course being prepared, and enjoying the delicacies as they're served. It's a great concept for foodies, better than just having a small dining room in the kitchen.
Simply a delightful experience. Sat at the counter. Service was wonderful, and no one seemed to mind that I was in jeans for dinner. Great cocktails.
This was some time ago, so all the great stuff has slipped into a giant happy goo in my mind. I remember enough to caution against ordering the pasta alla carbonara with truffle... it did come in a lovely cracked-eggshell dish, but it also smelled vaguely of damp underpants (pardon me for saying so).
The food was amazing. I am so happy to have eaten here.
This restaurant is very overrated. I have visited the four seasons on several occasions to have drinks at their lounge area. One night i decided to dine at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. There is nothing that special about the menu, to be honest i found it kind of bland and boring. Aside from being boring and bland the food was very over priced.
The wine list was decent. Ambiance was great. I would not visit this restaurant again or recommend it to friends. There are far better fine dining establishments that you can visit in the midtown area for the same cost.
BEST MEAL I'VE EVER HAD. By FAR. My friend that's been to Per Se agrees with me, saying without hesitation that this place trumps Per Se with ease. Apples to oranges, but I myself definitely enjoyed this more than Masa. It's no wonder why Joel Robuchon was dubbed 'Chef of the Century'. He has mentored now famous chefs Gordon Ramsay and Eric Ripert. More world reknown than in the states, his restaurants are under the radar but those in the know go. The restaurant is located inside the Four Seasons Hotel. The staff is dressed in black and very accomodating, knowledgeable, attentive, and inobtrusive. Our table was in a high traffic area and they gladly moved us when requested, giving us new bread even. I finally got to try Robuchon's signature butter mashed potatoes. They were velvety, smoother than a baby's ass. My friend thought it was TOO soft in fact. I'm not even going to cheapen the menu with my usual verbiage, as EVERY INGREDIENT WAS ON POINT. Only a true master of his craft can have the accompanying ingredients make the main ingredient SING in EVERY DISH, all without the use of overpowering sauces or strong ingredients as a cop out. Some of the tasting menu items are changed every month or so. Only one Michelin Star? That truly baffles me. This is food at a whole new level folks. If you ever feel like treating yourself, find a cause for celebration or have a birthday wish coming up, this would be the place to go. Those who truly appreciate food will walk about giddy. I couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire meal. Well worth the money.
More on Joel Robuchon: http://en.wikipedia.or...
Bread: Baguette, roll, olive focaccia
CHEF'S TASTING MENU ($190)
-Foie Gras Mousse w/ port reduction & parmesan foam (amouse bouche)
-L' Oursin (sea urchin w/ mousseline of earl grey infused carrots)
-La Saint Jacques (scallop carpaccio w/ toasted poppy seeds)
-La Langoustine (crispy langoustine papillote with basil pesto)
-La Chataigne (chestnut soup w/ smoked bacon and foie gras, croutons)
-L'Amadai (pan sauteed amadai in a yuzu broth with lily bulbs)
-Le Boeuf (kobe beef *a la plancha* w/ shishito peppers)
-Lemongrass panna cotta w/ passionfruit tapioca and basil sauce (palate cleanser)
[Note: Total up til here is $177 a la carte, so if you aren't a dessert fan, order a la carte instead]
-La Pomme Verte (light Jivara ganache, green apple brioche and ginger ice cream)
-Le Baba (baba, thyme-scented pineapple, rum sabayon and caramel ice cream)
-Le Cafe Express (Espresso coffee served w/ salted caramel chocolate)
Total came out to $240/pp after everything
I took my foodie meetup here:
Pics: http://www.meetup.com/...
BEST French food in NYC. Was rushed to get a meal in before the Met Opera last time. The quail is to… Read more »
Exquisite & excellent french fine dining in a casual atmosphere - with waiters in white gloves serving small but divine dishes that are magical in sight , smell and taste! I went there more than a week ago and I still swoon whenever I think of the dinner we had.
It was our first time there, with another couple who are regulars. Initially, we wanted to order 2 sets of the Degustation menu and a selection of small plates to share amongst the 4 of us. However, we were told that the kitchen had just seen a large change in staff, including the chef, so in order to ensure good quality, they couldn't accommodate any changes to the Degustation menu and that everyone either had to have it, or else we all had to go for the ala carte menu. In the end, we all opted to go with the Degustation menu, and they allowed us to change the sea urchin to the Langoustine.
By then, I was somewhat miffed by the inflexibility but thought "what the heck, give them a chance".
Fast-forward thru:
3 bottles of french wine
Amuse bouche I - Foie gras mousse topped with cheese
Amuse bouche II - Tuna carpaccio
Avocado with crab meat
Langoustine papillote with basil pesto - scrumptiously crispy and light, not at all oily
Pan-Sauted amadei in a yuzu citrus broth
Spaghetti with black truffle - DIVINE!!!
Spicy eggplant with poached egg
Kobe beef with mash -The beef melted in my mouth and the mash was like a dream
The desserts were pretty and delicate, which gave a beautiful, gentle finish to a symphony of the senses. The meal was absolutely magical and phenomenal. Beware of the high price tag ($180 for Degustation menu; $17 to $25 for small plates; $50 for a main course), but for a special treat, why not? The memory of this experience will last for a lifetime.
The reason i didn't give it 5 stars was ...
THERE WAS A BUG FLYING AROUND!
C'mon, it's four seasons... dun disappoint me man
I dined here back in January, but I probably wouldn't go back mostly due to the price. Everything was okay, but none of the dishes really blew me away. I did their tasting menu and while everything was wonderful (especially the foie gras, which I'm quite partial to), and I did enjoy their dessert, although it was rather rich with all the chocolate, the dishes all seemed rather standard. With the amount of money that you pay here, and all the rave reviews, you would expect some real innovative dishes. It seemed like everything they served me was a version of something else I've had elsewhere.
The service was very attentive, everything I expected it would be. However, it felt like our server talked down to us a bit, most likely because there was 5 of us in our early 20's. It was a bit patronizing and highly unnecessary considering we were paying the same amount of money that everyone else was.
Overall the food was good and I wasn't really disappointed with anything (except some of the server's comments). I would recommend this as somewhere to try once, just to say you've been, but I don't think I would return considering the bill.
place looks much bigger in pictures! yes, restaurant was rather small. have about 10 table and bar enough to sit 15-20 people maybe. at one of my favorite hotel chain so i love this place. however, don't like the red+black decor.
server was extremely patient and helpful as he explained the many small plates. made very good recommendations. ordered about 16 out of the 18 small plates for the 4 of us. lots of foie gras. menu was overwhelming as there were way too many dishes to choose from(small plates, hot and cold appetizers, main course).
Most of their dishes were really good but the Caramelised Eel Layered with Smoked Foie Gras & Beef and Foie Gras Burgers with Lightly Caramelised Bell Peppers was my favorite(probably because its foie gras). Food are very interestingly put together(yes, fish and goose could co-exist peacefully) and flavors always comes out nicely blended. There's of course a few others i love too but just can't remember their names, simply because of the many dishes that's all in french names.
noise was moderate so you don't have to scream, not overwhelmingly quiet either. relaxing environment. will visit his restaurant in vegas!
Outstanding restaurant. One of the best in NYC.
Fantastic service, fantastic food, fantastic ambiance.
A++++
MAGICAL! i was fortunate enough to experience the divine tasting menu again this past weekend. it exceeded my expectations. simply magnificent. this restaurant far surpasses the las vegas outpost.
check out the pictures i uploaded.
this was the most decadent meal of my life!! we made this our special dinner during our weekend… Read more »
Biere de Garde: Beer Dinners!
Neighborhood: Nolita
Happy Hour !
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: French
New York, NY
Category: French
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: French
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: American (New)
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